Winter Refuge
Chapter Ninety-Four
JED 'KID' CURRY
I rushed into the room next to my twins and gently set Chrissy in the chair I found there. She didn't acknowledge me or any change in her surroundings.
Aiden knelt in front of her. "Miss Chrissy, can you hear me? You're safe now."
She moved her head to stare at the ceilin'.
"Aiden, the baby?" I heard my words, and they sounded like a plea.
"I'll take care of both of them, Jed," Aiden said sympathetically. "Take care of yourself so she can lean on you as she recovers."
HEYES
I can't believe I threatened Mr. Wyatt in front of the governor. I felt strong and in control. But now I'm worried. The governor's marshal escorts surrounded Wyatt. I don't know what happened, but we were told Wyatt would not trouble our family again.
The Kid is focused on Chrissy, so I sat between Martha and Michael's beds and read to them when they woke up. Aiden had the Kid carry Chrissy upstairs and take a rest in his bed.
Before he went upstairs, the Kid told me about all the townspeople that came up to him with support and offers to testify for Chrissy. He said even without the Birdes this was a city of pretty good people. I agree. While the twins slept, I went and talked to the confused deputy. He's upset he'll lose his job with Sheriff Frank. He might but I told him maybe we'd talk to Frank about what happened.
Now that it's over, I'm scared. I was able to sit in the dark and talk to the Kid and Chrissy without falling to my knees and hiding in my mind. I don't know how I did it, but they needed me. I can't say that the dark will never intrude on my thoughts again, but I've learned I can survive without hiding.
And I'm stronger. I'm shaky but I know I'm ready to try and move forward with my plans to go to North Dakota.
JED 'KID' CURRY
Aiden didn't examine my wife before we came upstairs. He said we needed to rest first. I asked Chrissy to take off her dress and put on the nightgown Miss Denise provided. She did so with no emotion. Layin' in the bed, I put my arms around her and felt her stiffen. I think in her mind she's back in prison, so I remove my arms and talk softly to her. She rolled on her back and spread her legs, starin' ahead at nothin'.
My anger flared and I pushed her legs closed. "No, no, no, Chrissy! Never again will you be used by a man without your permission. No!"
I was yellin' and I knew it. I was tired, frustrated, and now enraged. Chrissy had been healin', doin' so good, even visitin' Matt did not defeat her. But now…
I could not help it; I start cryin' until I gasped for breath. I let all my anger, frustration, and inadequacies out in my tears. Once I started, I couldn't stop. I have not cried like this since I was a boy who lost his parents, lost everythin' except my cousin.
I felt a soft hand in my hair and Chrissy's hand patted my back softly. "Shh, Jed, shh." She tried to calm me the way she calms Joy.
"Chrissy," I reached out and held her, hidin' my tears in her hair.
"Chrissy darlin'," she answered.
And I knew she was fightin' to come back to me, to us.
"Chrissy darlin', help me," I whispered.
"Chrissy darling and Jed help each other."
LOM
I met with James Charwick today. I was right, he likes a challenge. And he was intrigued with the idea of getting Matt McWinters' sentence reduced to twenty years. We sat in overstuffed chairs, drank his good brandy, and smoked excellent cigars while I told him everything I know about Matthew McWinters. Including that he vowed to his sister that he had never killed anyone; watched while his brothers did, yes, but never killed anyone himself. Chadwick represented Chrissy in her trial.
"How is she? She's a strong, beautiful woman. I always wished I met her under different circumstances." He leaned back in his chair, twirled his glass gently and took a swig of brandy.
"Survived prison with some deep scars," I answered.
"Tell me, which one was she married to - Heyes or Curry? I told her not to tell anyone, even me."
"Neither."
He laughed deep and hard. "Like I said, strong woman. She wore a ring."
"Yes, the Kid's ring."
"And her baby was his? If I had known she was single, I would have considered marrying her myself. Smart woman."
"Yes, the twins are his. They're married and have three children now and a fourth on the way."
"She deserves to be surrounded by a big loving family. Even though it would not have done him any good, I wondered why her husband didn't come forward. I could have gotten her off, if he would have gone to prison."
"She still wouldn't have given up the location of Devil's Hole. Her brothers were there. Heyes and Curry were up in the mountains mining. Hiding there with no contact with anyone. When they finally surfaced, they were arrested and sent to prison."
"For twenty years? But I heard of some kind of an amnesty?"
"Yes. They now own a horse ranch over in Nebraska and are law abiding citizens. It was Chrissy's idea for me to hire you for Matt. She calls you her smart lawyer. She's afraid her brother might commit suicide with a life sentence."
He became thoughtful, then sad. "Yes, I've heard of it happening more often than you'd think. If you get me witnesses from robberies where someone will swear that Matt didn't kill anyone…"
"Yes and I can get you some witnesses that will testify he tried to stop one of his brothers from shooting someone."
"That's a start. I'll represent him. This might be a long process."
"The Kid and Chrissy understand. Thank you."
"Think that I might meet up with Mrs. Curry someday? Just to check on how she's doing. Like to meet Kid Curry, too. Is he as fast as they say he is?"
"Faster."
JED 'KID' CURRY
Me and Chrissy held each other as we napped. In my dreams, I felt the wall of that jail separatin' us, but her touch reassured me. She ran her fingers through my hair and sat up. There was only the light under the door from the hall. She ran both her hands through my hair again.
"Curls," she said, pushin' them off my face on the left side. "No curls," she said. I reached up and touched the right side. She was correct.
"I was gettin' a haircut when…when..."
"Jed, go back. Get other half cut. Later."
While Chrissy was respondin' to me when we were alone, as soon as we left that room, I lost her again. She knew most of the people there - Heyes, Aiden, Miss Denise holdin' Joy, Charles, and Miss Tina Sanderson. But she trembled and her eyes fixed on the fireplace, and she didn't move past the third stair when she heard Deputy Fanciello's voice.
"Mrs. Curry, I'm so sorry. I thought I was doing my duty. Oh, oh, didn't know you were with child. I'm so…"
"Leave," I said, in a tone I reserved for disciplin' gang member. My left hand was under my wife's elbow, but my right hand moved to my side, feelin' for the gun I wasn't wearin'. Everyone stared at me. The deputy stopped mid-sentence and ran out the door, droppin' his hat.
Still, the room was silent until Charles spoke. "Impressive! I do believe I've just seen a hint of why Kid Curry is a great leader."
Heyes broke the followin' silence. "You should see him when he really gets mad."
"I hope to never be on the receivin' end of that," the governor said as his wife moved toward the stairs and looked up at us.
"Oh Chrissy, how brave you are!" exclaimed Miss Tina.
Chrissy looked past her, in her own world.
"Chrissy?" Miss Tina repeated.
"She's retreated into herself as she did in prison." I heard Aiden explain.
The look of horror on Miss Tina's face saddened me. This is somethin' very personal.
"Please everyone, step outside. Jed, take her to see the twins. Denise, bring Joy in there," Aiden said softly. I heard the sadness in his voice.
The others moved back but didn't leave. They watched closely as I asked my wife to walk down the stairs. I took her arm to steady her, but she didn't seem to notice. She obeyed me and climbed to the bottom of the stairs. I felt like all the progress she had made was lost. And it was my fault. I didn't protect her well enough. But she had talked to me in the bedroom, and that showed me she was fightin'. And I'd do anything to help her. And right now, she didn't trust anyone but me.
I had her arm and guided her into the twin's room. "Ma!" they yelled together. She backed up, looked at the door, and then at me.
I closed the door and led her to the chair between the beds. She reached a hand out and touched each child.
"Ma?"
They've seen her freeze before when she's 'thinkin'. This was the same but much longer.
"Pa, Ma stared like that when she shot the dog. She's a real good shot," Michael said while lookin' at Chrissy.
"Bad dog dead," Chrissy said, and we all looked at her. She seemed to notice Miss Denise with Joy and held out her arms for the baby. After handin' off the child, Denise slipped out.
Martha touched Chrissy's leg. "Ma, are you okay or do you need to think some more?"
Chrissy was quiet but not starin'. She kissed Joy and looked at her us. "With family, good. You two do homework?"
And she had told us the truth. She was comfortable with us and Heyes. Her words were few and she froze often, but never for long. She tolerated Aiden, Denise, and the Sandersons, but if anyone else was in the room, she was gone, lost into her thoughts.
Miss Tina caught me when I stepped outside for a moment. "Er...Mr. Curry, Jed," she seemed embarrassed. "Is this what prison did to her? Was she er...er abused in there?"
I was tired and didn't think when I answered, "Abused, yes, and far more than you can imagine."
Shocked, her expression turned to sympathy. "How horrible! She will get better, I'm sure of it. What can I do?"
"Just reassure her of your friendship, ma'am." I really didn't know what to say.
"No, I must do more. She's the first real friend I've had in years. I'd say we'd pay for the best doctor, but Dr. Arden is the best you will find. Surely there is something I can do. I'm a fair cook. If you want, I'll go home with you and help her heal."
Chrissy must have followed me out as her voice came from behind me. I was pleased she was alert and not starin' at nothin'. "Miss Tina sweet."
"Oh dearie!" Miss Tina hugged Chrissy. At first, she was stiff, but I saw her embrace the other woman and start to cry into her shoulder.
"Want to go home," Chrissy said through her tears. "Jed, take home? Tina come, too?"
With Chrissy aware of us, aware of what had happened and what she needed to heal, I couldn't deny her. "Whatever you want, if Michael is able to travel," I answered.
She was still clingin' to Miss Tina. "You come? Visit, no cook. Auntie cook."
"Of course, we'll come dear," Miss Tina answered. She held Chrissy just as tight as she spoke through tears.
ASJ*****ASJ
Our party didn't actually leave until the next mornin' when Michael could travel. Heyes went home to get things ready for our visitors while I met with the well-wishers that dropped by. Chrissy stayed in the children's room, and I was relieved that she was gradually actin' normal around them. Miss Tina was always near her, like a mother hen takin' care of a sick child. I could never thank Governor Sanderson, er, Charles, for what he had done for Chrissy by comin' here.
"When I received Aiden's telegram, there was no doubt in my mind that I would come and offer my services," he had told me and Aiden the night before when Heyes had left and the ladies were fussin' over our children. The twins loved all the spoilin'...and the candy.
"Charles, thank you, again. We're in your debt," I told him.
He leaned forward in his chair and looked me in the eyes. "Jed, the Wyoming governor's office owes you and Heyes more than I can ever repay. The men before me in the job outright lied to you about your amnesty. But it stopped you from robbing and that was their goal. And I apologize again, I never listened to Lom. I mean really listened. He was such a nuisance, though, that when he stuck your prison record in my face, I started to see you as people."
I started to say 'what's past is past' but he kept talkin'.
"More than that, I personally owe you more than I can ever repay. I've asked you to do impossible things, like freeing the hostages, and you accomplished them. You could have become bitter towards me, yet you offered me friendship. I treasure that."
"The friendship of an outlaw, an ex-convict?" I asked, not believin' his words. Yet his comin' here so quickly supported them.
"The friendship of the best man I've ever met."
HEYES
I was glad the Kid suggested I ride back to the ranch in the late afternoon. Yesterday, Chrissy was amazing, strong. Around me and the Kid and their twins, she is healing. But not around strangers. For the afternoon, and probably the evening after I left, she stayed in the twin's sick room with them and Miss Tina. Dr. Arden examined her and said physically she and the baby she carries are healthy. And that it will take courage and support for her to leave the safety of the ranch again.
People kept dropping by. Jeff Birde brought her a few yards of the fabric she'd been looking at when the commotion in the street started and a bag of candy for the kids. The new barber stopped in to ask the Kid when he'd have time to come to the shop so he could finish the haircut. I sat across from the Kid all last night in the alley and never realized half his curls are gone until now. 'Course, he wore his hat most of the time but those curls of his are long right now and stick out. Guess I was not really looking at the man in front of me, just the troubled soul within him.
When I saw Miss Duhamel coming into the doctor's office, I dropped back into the twin's room with Chrissy and Miss Tina to hide. She makes me nervous. She is in charge of the schoolhouse. Anyone with power still makes me very nervous. And the Kid thinks she's got a crush on me. But I miscalculated my hiding place. She knocked softly on the door and Miss Tina let her in. Chrissy stared at the wood over the door and retreated.
"Hello, children, I came to see how you were doing. Your friends Josie and Henry told me all about what happened yesterday."
Martha answered, "Good day, Miss Duhamel. We got bit by a real mean dog."
"Well, I understand that dog won't threaten any of us anymore," the teacher added, smilin' at me, not the kids.
Miss Tina had taken a defensive stance between her and Chrissy. I moved to stand just behind Chrissy and put my hands on her shoulders.
"Good day, Mr. Heyes, Mrs. Curry." She looked at Miss Tina, curious why she was with us.
But Miss Tina is a politician's wife and I think the lady could handle any situation. Holding out her hand, she introduced herself. "I am Mrs. Sanderson, a dear friend of Mrs. Curry, and I believe you are the children's teacher?"
"Miss Duhamel. You're the Wyoming Governor's wife?" A look of awe crossed her face.
"I am. The Curry's are close friends of ours."
"They are?" I liked seeing the usually confident teacher, nervous and tongue tied. To change the subject, she handed some papers to Miss Tina. "I brought a summary of what we studied in school today and their homework. Perhaps there is someone, Mr. Heyes maybe, that can help them with it. I'd be happy to answer any questions he might have." She looked at me with that lovestruck look again and I kept Miss Tina in between us.
"That was kind of you to take the time. The twins need their rest. Say goodbye, children." I admired the way Miss Tina was forcing her to leave but very politely.
"Thank you for coming, Miss Duhamel," said Michael.
"Goodbye, Miss Duhamel," said Martha.
And Miss Tina closed the door behind the woman.
"Mr. Heyes, is there something between you and Miss Duhamel?" Miss Tina asked boldly.
"No, ma'am. Only in her mind. She's little more than a teenager who has read some dime novels about us."
Chrissy laughed. And like the Kid, it makes things better when we hear that sound.
Miss Tina opened the door a crack. "I do believe she's left. You're free to leave the room.
When I went out, the Kid had returned and was examining the many bags of candy well-wishers had brought. "Not one peppermint."
ASJ*****ASJ
So, I'm relieved to be going home this afternoon. When I told Auntie that the Sandersons were coming to visit, she wanted them to stay at her house. But if they want the real feel of the family, they need to stay in the ranch house with us. So, she started dusting the living room, cooking a special dinner, and ordered me to clean the spare bedroom on the first floor that used to be Chrissy's. Ken is in the Kid's old room. And tell Juan who was coming tomorrow.
After that I needed time alone, so I took sanctuary in my room. I refused to hide in my mind; I lost myself in one of my favorite books and calmed down. I had retrieved my gun from Deputy Fanciello who had imprisoned Chrissy and needed to think about what I had done. The Kid said he used to be Frank's deputy and had just returned. I don't remember him. I don't remember a lot of things.
"Gun's right here, Mr. Heyes. Mrs. Curry's a real impressive shot, killing that charging dog with one well-placed shot."
I nodded. It would have been better if he had stopped there, better for him and for me.
"'Course, as Mr. Wyatt said, she IS a McWinter and I heard all of them are no good scum and crack shots."
He didn't know what happened as my right fist hit his left jaw. I picked up the gun and left him.
Now, I was trembling. I'd hit a deputy sheriff, a lawman. I was in trouble. I took out my amnesty papers. They say I have to continue to be a law-abiding citizen in good standing. Well, I certainly am not that now. I considered running, but I can't do that again. Maybe it will just be a short stay in jail. Here in Three Birds would be embarrassing, but easier for me with Sheriff Bird, someone I know. I packed a small bag with a change of clothes and the new books the Kid bought me and waited. That's all I can do except think about how this is the second time my gun has gotten me in trouble without me firing it.