Winter's Refuge

Chapter One Hundred Ten

I was climbing the stairs to my room, glad of the bright lights of the lobby, when a young boy ran up to me.

"You H Heyes?"

"Yes."

"Got a telegram for you from the night clerk." He held out his hand for a tip before producing my telegram. But everything must be alright if the Kid got back to me so quickly. Tipping him, I grabbed the telegram and read it in my room.

It wasn't from the Kid. It was from Sheriff Frank Birde.

H Heyes

Walhalla, ND

Family quarantined at Phoenix two plus weeks STOP Grippe STOP Dr Oliver Arden with them STOP Will get message to them you are concerned.

Sheriff Frank Birde

Three Birds NE

I read and reread the telegram. It told me little except there was no fire. There was no accident. At least one person at home had the grippe. So now my worry had focus. Who was sick? One of the twins? They could have caught it in school. Jed deals with many people at the blacksmith shop. He's had it bad a couple of times. Or anyone could have got it in town. The baby, oh no, Ruth Ann is too young to fight it off. I knew I was trying to slip into my thoughts, but I couldn't help myself.

A knock on the door unraveled my train of thought. I stood behind the door. "Who's there?"

"It's me. Angie. Are you alright?"

Her voice focused me. I opened the door and hugged her tight. Then without a word I handed her the telegram. My words had slipped away.

"Doesn't really tell us much, does it?" she said. As was proper, she was still standing in the hall. "Let's go downstairs, sit in the lobby, and talk." But she had said 'us' not 'you' and that warmed my heart.

Angie sat on the settee, I paced, and we talked. The night clerk fell asleep behind the desk. And still we talked. Mostly I talked and she listened and offered suggestions. Kinda like the Kid does but without our shared experiences. And by the time she fell asleep on the settee, she had seen a glimpse of me at my worst and we had a plan.

Angie is sensible. Another thing I love about her. Instead of rushing home to Phoenix, she convinced me to see if there was another telegram in the morning from the family after the sheriff notified them. And there was. It was delivered to my room first thing in the morning, but it still wasn't from the Kid. It was from Chrissy.

H Heyes

Walhalla ND

Grippe at Phoenix STOP Got better but came back STOP Letter sent to you 9 days ago STOP Look for it

Christina Curry

Three Birds, NE

Showing it to Angie as I ate breakfast at the diner, I said, "You were right when you said to wait."

She smiled at me and blushed. "You would have done it anyway when you calmed down. I saw the post come in earlier, maybe your letter is there."

I left half my food on my plate in my hurry to get to the post office. It was a different clerk than last night.

"Looking for a letter for H Heyes," I said, trying not to sound anxious.

The old day clerk looked at me through thick glasses. You H Heyes? Seen you around with Angie but didn't know your name. Have that letter right here. Was just holding it until someone asked."

"How long you had it?" I asked.

"Three or four days."

Letter in hand, I went to my small desk in the back of the livery, lit the lamp and read it in private, wishing I had it four days ago.

"Heyes,

This is Chrissy writing. In case you haven't heard, William Knight brought three mares and the grippe to Phoenix. It's been a rough time, even with Dr. Oliver Arden staying here to doctor us.

Me, Ruth Ellen, and Martha never got sick. The doctor restricted the three of us to Juan's house. Thankfully, Hortencia stayed well and went to stay with her parents. Doctor said her baby should be here in about four months. We were lucky that we could go out and spend time with the horses and worked on planting Auntie's garden.

Ken never caught it either.. He stayed in the barn and managed with my and Martha's help to take care of the horses. I know she's only six, but she did a full day's work and never complained about anything except not getting to see Michael. The twins have never really been apart like this.

Auntie, Juan, Arnie, Glen, Joy, and Michael all caught the grippe from William. I wanted to take care of my babies, but the doctor said no. He said Ruth Ellen and Martha needed me. He was right. I was comforted that Jed was with Michael and Joy. But the worry never stopped. I was scared; I still am.

So, Doctor Oliver came to take care of William and stayed so he would not infect anyone in town. Ken's Mary and Jed helped him with the care and doctoring. Dr. Oliver believes in cleaning as much as his brother. The second day, Miss Duhamel joined the others in the 'sick' house. She must have caught it from Michael.

Mary, Jed, and the doctor did a good job taking care of everyone. The patients had headaches and fevers and aches and pains. Jed came and talked to us through the glass of our house windows and gave me updates. And he hoed up the garden at night to make our planting easier and I noticed clean straw and hay in the horse's stalls. I don't think he ever slept.

It lasted about five days before everyone started to feel better. But Dr. Oliver still kept us apart. He's dealt with this back east and was very cautious about us catching it. He said that even the ones that had it can get it again.

Well, everyone was getting better, but Auntie and Miss Duhamel still felt very weak. Dr. Oliver was starting everyone on real food when the second wave hit. Jed, Mary, and Dr. Oliver had scrubbed Auntie's house again and used it to eat and sleep. My Jed went to take a nap on the couch there and was overcome with the grippe. Mary found him there with a raging fever. And he thought he was back in prison being tortured. He was talking about expecting the cat o' nine tails to 'rip open his back and how he wasn't going to allow himself to scream. Mary was scared. He was so hot, he tore off his shirt. I'm afraid she saw his back. He doesn't let anyone except me, you, and Dr. Aiden see his back. But he didn't know what he was doing.

Juan and Arnie were well enough to help move Jed into the 'sick' house. Dr. Oliver said since Jed was working so hard to take care of everyone, he didn't sleep. His tired system was easily overcome with the grippe. Oh, Heyes, he is so sick and Dr. Oliver wouldn't let me see him. And I need to see him, to nurse him.

Soon, Joy was pronounced cured and allowed to join us in the 'well' house. And she's a handful.

But Auntie, William, and Glen came down with the grippe all over again…and then Dr Oliver got sick. Mary was overwhelmed but she learned a lot from the doctor and did very well.

So now it is almost three weeks since William Knight brought the grippe to us. Most of us are fine now. But Michael and Jed have developed pneumonia. We keep them in separate rooms because in his few lucid moments, Jed tries to get up and put a wet rag on Michael's forehead. Twice he was found where he had fallen, halfway between the beds. The last time he hit his head on the corner of the dresser and Dr. Oliver is watching him closely. It is very close to where the board hit him in the mercantile fire. Dr. Oliver said the scar was weak there and when Jed hit it again it tore. It's stitched up and bandaged but Jed pulls at it. Without asking anyone, Dr. Oliver tied my husband's arms down to his bed…bad idea. He struggled against the binding until his wrists were bloody and he managed to stand, still tied and with the bed at his back. And he kept all the pain inside. Heyes I don't know how he did it. He's weak from the grippe and pneumonia but he found the physical and inner strength to fight the restraints and not make a sound from the pain. I know he doesn't know how amazing that is.

Auntie is still very, very weak. Doctor said at her age it was harder to fight off. The start of this all, William, is well and cooking. He's delayed leaving for a week. That's good because he needs to get well, but bad because we have another three mares coming in two days and not sure where to put them. Ken is sure that all three of William's ladies are showing signs of pregnancy. Jed would know just what to do but he's still fighting the pneumonia. Juan is doing the best he can.

Miss Duhamel acted like this was a hospital and everyone was here to wait on her. We were glad when she left a few days ago.

Glen is clear of the grippe, but it left him very weak and not up to ranch work. He's taken a job in Three Birds as a telegraph clerk.

We managed okay without Jed for a few days, but we need him to get well. I need him to get well. Heyes, we've talked about it. You and me, we borrow strength from Jed. I've learned that he helps everyone here. I don't know where he found the time but he was there for each of us. And I don't think we can survive without him…I know I can't. Life is out of control here in so many ways and he's not well enough to fix it. He was always able to fix everything for me. I need him to do that so much.

Now that the grippe has passed and he's fighting the pneumonia, I'm allowed to sit next to his bed. And if I hold his hand and read to him, he leaves his bandage alone and is calmer. He doesn't know what he's saying but he rants about his time in prison. He's probably shared it with you, but the horrors are worse than I ever imagined. I don't know how he survived. He calls for you and he professes his love for me. When he sleeps I make lists of things that need to be done around here. But I can't seem to do them without Jed. Mary is leery of sitting with Jed, I think seeing his back really upset her. I heard her ask Ken if that's what prison does to all prisoners. He told her he used to strongly believe in our prison system until he met Jed and Heyes. I'm sure Mary told him about the wounds on Jed's upper body. Ken continued to say that they tried to break Jed using physical violence. He bent but he didn't break. Anyway when I'm not with Jed, William or Juan sit with him. There's not much we can do to help except force water and cool his fever with wet clothes. I'm sure he knows someone is with him.

When they do that I sit with Michael and force water and broth into him. I can see him making progress. His eyes are getting brighter and he clings to my hand. The doctor is going to let Martha sit with him tomorrow.

Doctor said you can come home anytime. The contagion from the grippe has past. He's concerned about Jed; you probably have but I've never seen him this sick. He doesn't seem to be improving. I lost myself hiding in my mind a couple of times when tending him. I think only you would understand when I say that. But my children need me, Phoenix needs me, and my Jed needs me. I'm trying to stay in the present and hope and pray for a future.

Jed said you might be bringing a surprise home with you? Will telegraph when there is news of my husband.

Thinking of you

Chrissy."

Sitting at my desk, I thought about what I had read. She had not telegraphed Jed was better. Was he worse? Pneumonia almost claimed him a few times during his life. I feel like Chrissy. We both love and need him. Lost in my thoughts, I knew that Angie would look for me on our park bench on her break. I let me thoughts wander while I walked there but can't think of any way to help from here.

"Heyes, where are you? I've been waving at you all the way across the street." Her voice broke into my thoughts.

"Sorry." As she sat down, I again took her face in my hands and kissed her for all to see. She kissed me back and smiled.

"Got a letter from Chrissy. Been at the telegraph office for at least three days. The older day clerk didn't know my name."

She wanted to grab it and read it but respected my privacy. I handed it to her. I want to share the rest of my life with this woman. And I don't want secrets. "Here, you can read it. Looks like we put plan A into action, if you're still up for it."

I watched her nod as she read, stopping to ask who some of the people were. She carefully folded it and put it back in the envelope. "Yes, I'm ready. But then, I'd marry you any day you wanted."

LOM

I am so glad Dr. Arden is here. He's forcing Susan to stay in bed and not even letting her see any of her bank correspondence. Miss Denise tried to teach her to do needlework, but that just ended in a tangle of threads and Susan exasperated. So, they play cards. I never knew that Susan could play poker. She said I make her nervous with my hovering, so I've been getting everything caught up at the sheriff's office.

Tonight I had two fools in the saloon who wanted to have a gunfight but both were too drunk to stand and one didn't have a gun. I locked them both in the jail before heading home just after seven.

When I entered, Miss Denise was running to the kitchen. "Please stay out of the way, the baby's coming!" she ordered. "If you must do something, put more water on to boil."

"It's too early! Stop it from coming," I told her. I realized later how foolish that sounded.

"Babies come when they want. Miss Susan didn't stay on bedrest until this last week. There were reasons Aiden ordered bed rest." She scolded, walking slowly back to our bedroom, careful not to spill the boiling water.

For a moment I was lost but then I did as she asked and started to boil more water, two large pots of it. I took the clean towels that Susan had prepared for this moment and knocked on her door.

"Sheriff, I told you to… Ahh, clean towels. Yes, we will need them." Miss Denise snatched them away and I was looking at the closed door again.

So, I paced. I started a fire in the fireplace and tried to read. It was quiet in the bedroom. I thought Susan should be yelling. I paced. I washed the few dishes in the sink. I ate some cheese and biscuits for dinner.

It was a long time before Miss Denise appeared again. I know Aiden keeps all his instruments cleaned in hot water and he keeps washing his hands.

"How is she?" I asked her. Her hair was disheveled and her apron askew. She looked at me with sad eyes.

"It's early for the baby and your wife should have followed doctor's orders," she said firmly as she carried another pot of water into the bedroom. "Are there more clean towels…or sheets or rags?"

"I'll find some. Susan? The baby?"

"The doctor is doing better than his best. You have a marvelous man in there. Maybe he can pull off a miracle." And she was gone.

My heart felt like a stone. My breath was stuck in my throat. All the excited anticipation of the last months turned to fear. I don't know how clean towels appeared in my arms, but I brought them to the bedroom and heard a weak baby wail…so quiet. Just a brief, light cry. I closed my eyes on my tears. But I heard Aiden slap the baby's bottom and the still soft cry became a bit louder and annoyed at whoever had hit it.

I opened the door.

"Denise, get him out of here," Dr. Arden ordered urgently but I had a glimpse of Susan laying back on her pillow and blood everywhere.

Miss Denise took the towels and pushed me out.

Worrying about Susan and about the baby with the tiny cries, I paced the hall hoping to hear something from inside. I heard Dr. Arden and Miss Denise's voices but couldn't make out what they were saying. And what they were doing was holding my family in their hands.

The time on the clock meant nothing. Waiting seemed like forever but I was terrified of what I would learn when that door finally opened. When the clock struck nine, I stared at it for a moment. How could it be only nine? Less than two hours since I got home? It should be morning by now.

Then the door opened and Miss Denise put a swaddled baby in my arms.

"Your son."

I couldn't stop looking at him but still asked. "He's small, he came too early." I said sadly sure that this was a kindness of the doctor to let me see the little one before he died because he was premature.

"He's small but Dr. Arden says he's healthy. He'll need some special handling for a couple of months, but he should be fine."

The tears in my eyes were of gratitude, of amazement.

Dr. Arden stuck his head out the door. "Sheriff, Denise will take your son. Please come in here."

And that's exactly what I wanted to do. To tell Susan I thought our son was beautiful and that miracle Miss Denise had been talking about. But Dr. Arden stopped me just inside the door. And I saw the sheet pulled up over Susan.

"I'm sorry. I tried but couldn't save her," he spoke softly and put a hand on my shoulder. "She knew she gave you a healthy son."

Walking the few steps to the bed took a lifetime. Shaking, I pulled the sheet off of her face, the face that I loved. She looked like any moment she would open her eyes and smile at me. And I cried…forever. When I finally looked up, I was alone in the room. I talked to her about all the plans we had for our child. About the things our little family would do. At last, I closed my eyes and kissed her lips before I pulled the sheet up again.