Winter's Refuge

Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Six

HEYES

I was managing to keep everything under control at Phoenix until I wasn't. Juan caught the first problem. Three new mares were coming this week. I had checked with Juan and Arnie obsessively. They were patient with me at first but finally Hortencia asked to talk to me.

"Heyes, Juan said you are doing a good job filling in for Jed while he's away." She handed me a glass of lemonade.

"Thanks, Hortencia. Your husband and Arnie seem to have everything under control."

Then I could tell from her face she had something more to say that was uncomfortable for her. "Ahh…well, then, Heyes, maybe you could stop checking their work so often. They know what they are doing."

I did something I hadn't done since I was a boy, I felt myself blush. And for a moment I lost my words. I took a deep sip of lemonade. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize. I'm just worried everything…"

"Heyes, there are a lot of things you are worrying about here at Phoenix. Just know that the horses and the breeding operation doesn't need to be one of them. Please don't tell Juan I spoke to you," she finished.

I had to concentrate on what I wanted to say, to move the words from my thoughts to my tongue. I smiled and looked her in the eyes. "Thank you for telling me. It helps to have family like you to tell me what I'm doing wrong."

Hugging me, she gently kissed my cheek. "Not wrong, Heyes. But just trust in them and you can worry about other things."

I didn't know what to say and hugged her back. And I vowed to only check in with them at breakfast and dinner

And trusting Juan was the right thing to do. I was surprised that Chrissy had booked another mare from the Circle E Ranch. Last year they sent Speed of Light. She was a beautiful mare, but the foreman, Norwood Brown, came to Phoenix with the idea of capturing or killing Chrissy for the illegal reward out on her. That was thwarted. I asked Chrissy about having them back.

"The Circle E, Chrissy? You let them come back?" I asked when I saw the breeding calendar.

'Thinking' for a long moment, she said, "Not owner's fault. Not horse's fault. Give them another chance." But this time her instincts were wrong.

So today their new foreman, a Mr. Brian Perry, brought Emmy to us. She's a beautiful light brown mare with three white feet and a sweet spirit. I admired her and Juan took her back to the stables while I talked to Mr. Perry. Of course, the first thing he did was ask if Kid Curry was around. He seemed a little sad but pleased that he could talk to Hannibal Heyes. All he did was ask me questions about the Kid. We were still talking when Juan caught my eye from the corral. I excused myself for a moment and walked into the stable.

Juan pulled me farther into the stable near the mare named Emmy's stall. "Heyes. she's showing all the signs of being pregnant already." I looked into the stall and Arnie was with her.

He looked at me. "Yup, she's showing all the indications of being pregnant," Arnie told me.

"What do we do, Heyes?" asked Juan.

I didn't know. I never thought of anything like this. I'd never even discussed the possibility with the Kid. "Arnie, see if you can get Chrissy into the back door of the stable. She's been breeding horses a lot longer than us."

I went back out to see Mr. Perry. I needed to keep him talking because if that mare was already expecting, she needed to leave with him today. There can be no doubt that she was never with any of our studs. So, I got him talking about the Kid. He'd read a lot of the dime novels so it was easy. At last Chrissy came out of the stable leading Emmy.

I introduced her. "Mr. Perry, this is Mrs. Curry." She held out her hand but the man didn't shake it, so she started talking. I was proud that she talked in complete sentences with this stranger, but I heard the bite of anger in her words. "Emmy is a beautiful mare, Mr. Perry, but she can't stay here. She already carries a foal."

The look that flashed through his eyes told me what Chrissy had accused him of was true. But he steadied his features to look surprised. "Emmy's not pregnant. That's why we're bringing her here to your esteemed ranch."

Chrissy handed the horse's lead to Mr. Perry. "She carries a foal. Not Phoenix foal. You bring her here and later pretend it is a fine Phoenix foal and sell for a lot of money. Men tried to do that at Winter's Refuge, too. Good-bye, Mr. Perry." With that Chrissy turned sharply and headed for the house.

"Emmy's not pregnant," he insisted.

"No matter," I answered. "Take her home. We'll refund any money you paid in advance." After watching Chrissy, I found I could pretend I was in charge and pull it off.

"Either I get the money now or Emmy stays…" he started to say but was cut off by Chrissy stalking out of the house. She threw an envelope at his feet.

"All your advance money and travel money for you. Now LEAVE!" I'd never heard Chrissy speak so forcefully before. For the first time since I was released, I wished I was wearing my gun. But I didn't need to. Chrissy was wearing the gun and holster the Kid had gifted her…and she was pointing the gun at Perry.

Perry bent down and picked up the envelope. He raised up slowly with his hands in the air. "Lady, you're crazy." He backed up, got on his horse and, leading Emmy, rode away. We all watched him in silence until they turned onto the main road. Only then did Chrissy lower her gun and start to cry hysterically.

I grabbed the gun and threw it into the dirt, then let her cry into my shoulder. "You did good, Chrissy. Real good. The Kid will be proud." I led her towards the house where Auntie had been watching from the porch.

Chrissy stopped when we got to the steps. Stepping away from me, she took a deep breath, patted my chest with both hands and tried to smile. "Chrissy okay now. Bad man."

The Kid always talks about her mountain green eyes, and they looked greener filled with tears. "The Kid will be proud of you, sweetie. You handled that really good."

"People try it at Winter's Refuge. I just did what my pa used to do."

JED 'KID' CURRY

This 'chapel' was a new buildin' since I'd been here. 'Course I haven't been inside this place since I left for the railroad camp. There are more cells, and it seems more men crowded into each one. There was no guard at the chapel door.

"Wait here," Neilson ordered.

"Yes, sir," Lom answered, but he wasn't gettin' a sir out of me. I looked at Lom closely. I knew he had been drinkin' on the train rides. I hadn't cared. Just tried to deal with my abhorrence at returnin' here. That's another word I got from readin'. Now I saw Lom's bloodshot eyes. He leaned against a nearby post for support. I didn't tell him that's one of the posts the inmates were tied to and whipped. My blood was on the ground there mixed with the others.

"Lom, you okay?" I know my voice was harsh, but I couldn't help it.

"I'm fine, Kid. Got this covered."

Then I saw a shackled, bone-thin Preacher walkin' toward us in front of Senior Guard Stanley Neilson. And I saw his eyes get wide, then look away when he saw me. Lom said he didn't want anyone to know where he was. I'm sure he felt betrayed.

Neilson unlocked the chapel door and I saw it was just a different kind of locked cell. Preacher went in first, followed by me and Lom. Neilson came in last and closed the door.

"Convict Jewell, I am taking these shackles off your ankles, and I leave you to visit with these men for thirty minutes. The door will be guarded so don't try anything." After he unlocked the ankle irons, he looked at Preacher. "This room has been searched for alcohol so don't bother looking. Don't know where you got the drink this morning."

We were all quiet until Neilson had closed the door behind him. The chapel was bigger than it looked from the outside with a nice, raised pulpit. As I had done with Heyes and Matt, I encircled Preacher in a bear hug. He shook loose.

"What's he doing here, Lom. Trusted you not to tell anyone."

Lom hadn't looked him in the eyes and Preacher hadn't sought it either. His attention was focused on a stone in front of the pulpit. He knelt and lifted it out. Reaching in, he came out with a half full bottle of whiskey. I grabbed it from him. He fought to keep it, but he was skinny and weaker than Michael.

"What are you doin' to yourself, Preacher?" I demanded.

He turned to Lom and only then saw his bloodshot eyes and head bobbin' from side to side. "Looks like I ain't the only one been drinkin'. Lom?" Preacher sat down on the steps next to the pulpit and I realized Lom hadn't said a word.

Lom tried to reach for the bottle but didn't get a hand on it. Knockin' on the locked door, I gave my outlaw stare to my two friends. When the door opened, I handed the bottle to Neilson. "Missed one." And I closed the door quickly.

Then I looked at Lom and Preacher.

"Need it," Lom said. "Couldn't travel alone like this."

"He means he couldn't travel alone drunk," I added.

Preacher is not a dumb man. He might be as smart as Heyes, but he didn't care about leadin'. And he's one of the few men I know that can function as well drunk as sober. Better sometimes. If he's drunk, he's a crack rifle shot…like the shot that saved my life in Brown River.

"Lom, last time you were here, you were looking forward to becomin' a pa. Somethin' happen?"

Takin' a step back and away, I caught Lom before he tripped on the pew. Steadin' him, I saw him fightin' tears. And I saw Preacher change. His focus was no longer on findin' alcohol or his anger that Lom had told me his secret. He softened. "Lom, what happened?"

Lom sat down hard on the front pew, shook his head, and hid it in his hands.

Preacher looked at me. "Kid?"

"He lost Susan."

Without lookin' at me, he knelt in front of Lom and put his hands on his knees. "And the baby?"

"Healthy boy. Named him Wayne," I answered for Lom.

Lom had become quiet, very quiet. Preacher spoke to him in a voice just above a whisper. "I know your grief very well, Lom."

Lom raised his head and put down his hands. Preacher took them in his own. I could see the questions in Lom's eyes. Preacher continued talkin', lookin' right at Lom. "Lost my wife, Joannie, and our baby daughter to measles. We were movin' to Wyomin' to start a new life. They probably caught it on the train ride."

"Preacher, I'm sorry…didn't know," Lom managed to get out, cryin' again.

And my heart broke for Preacher, but this conversation was not for me. It was between my two friends; I considered them both family. And I had failed them both. I never realized the pain that Preacher carried around, just thought the whiskey was to help him forget sellin' out his skill with a rifle. And I should have gone to Lom when I heard about Susan…or as soon as I recovered from the grippe and pneumonia. He could have used a friend there with him. But now they seemed to be comfortin' each other.

"Lom, I'm sure that the Lord welcomed your Susan and my Joannie into his eternal kingdom and they'll be waitin' for us. Jeremiah 31:3 says, 'Love yesterday, today and tomorrow.'" We will love and be loved forever."

Quietly, I sat next to Lom and listened and learned a lot about my friends.

Preacher was reachin' Lom through his sadness. And made me see that cloaked in that sadness was a deep despair. This was a new Preacher to me. I knew he was drunk when he walked in here, but he seemed sober now, and caring. I could see how he was a powerful minister.

"Lom, remember Psalms 34:18. The Lord is near the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Lom looked at me strangely. "It's not only the broken hearted that are crushed in spirit," he told Preacher but continued to look at me. I failed him and I'm addin' that failure to all my others. I stood up and replaced the brick in front of the pulpit after searchin' that the hole didn't hide any more whiskey bottles. I was thinkin' that if Preacher was servin' a long sentence in prison, I deserved to be here, too. Yet somehow, I'm free buildin' a life for my family.

I listened to Preacher again. "Lom, in Matthew's gospel he says, 'Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.'"

Lom nodded and Preacher left him and came to me. "Has Lom been lost in whiskey since Susan died? What about his son? He's blessed that he didn't lose both."

"J, I'm sorry. I never knew about your wife and daughter. My fault, guess I never asked."

He smiled sadly. "Even if you asked, I wouldn't have told you. I started a new life when I went to preach to the outlaws of Wyomin'. Thought the Lord had sent me to do that."

I looked over at Lom. "Failed him, too. Should have gone to Porterville as soon as I heard that he lost Susan."

Preacher was quiet, watchin' Lom starin' at his hands. "Thank you for comin' with him. Don't lay guilt on yourself, my friend, that is not yours. You've done that as long as I've known you."

Somehow, Preacher has always been easy for me to talk to…and I've always told him too much of my secrets. And I did that now, too. "Been tryin' to take care of my family, all of them, but failin'. I didn't even know my year-old daughter was deaf." Now it was my turn to look down and away.

"I knew about the twins, but you've been blessed with another daughter? The Lord's sendin' you blessings."

"Two little girls, one three and the other's one. And Chrissy's pregnant, again."

"Kid, congratulations! He is indeed blessin' you." But Preacher hesitated. "If you care and bring love to your home you will only gain the same in return."

I shook my head. "Thanks for the nice words, but I know I really still belong in here with you."

"No, Jed. Psalm 28:13 "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." I see a lot of God's mercy in your life. You've always helped others, even when it was hard. From the size of the family you've collected, you're still helpin' others."

I shook my head. "We rode together. And I've killed men. Ain't no gettin' forgiveness for that."

"Weren't you listenin', God is forgiveness. Not your fault I'm incarcerated. You and Heyes gave me the chance to repent and seek amnesty. I refused and preferred to wallow in my grief."

"Was hopin' you could help Lom. He needs to stop drinkin' and take care of Wayne," I told him. I needed to change the subject. I can't let him see how discouraged I really am with myself.

Preacher didn't answer but looked out of the high window in back. "I loved my daughter. I would have done anything to protect her. I prayed and prayed but He still took them. I lost faith in Him. I never repented…until I got here. Kid, do you go to Sunday services?"

"Chrissy and Angie go and take the kids."

"Angie?"

I smiled. "That's Heyes' wife…she's with child, too," I told him and watched a small smile appear on his face.

"God is good and forgivin'. But you don't go with them?"

"He really don't want an outlaw, ex-convict killer dirtyin' up his church." I said it quickly figurin' he'd have a Bible verse ready to tell me and I wasn't goin' to believe his answer this time. But he said nothin', just walked over to Lom.

Preacher took Lom's hand and came back to me and took my hand. "Our time's almost up, I can hear the guard movin' around out there." He took a deep breath and looked each of us in the eyes. "I've saved each of your lives before," he started.

"More than once," I added, thinkin' of his doctorin' and that last shot at Brown River that killed Johnny McWinters before he could pull the trigger and kill me.

He just nodded. "I want to make a pact with you. Lom, let's me and you stop drinkin' alcohol startin' today. Can you do that?"

I expected Lom to say somethin' like 'yes, but not yet.' But he surprised me. "Yes, if we can do it together."

"And I pledge to do the same with God as our witness. And Kid, you are a witness and I need your promise you'll help Lom through this."

"I will," I answered, but knew Preacher wasn't through.

"And Kid, as your part of the pact, I want you to promise to also go to Sunday services with your family and listen."

"But God don't want someone like me there with all those good people," I argued.

Lom looked hard at me. "Kid, you're the best man I've ever known…but if you're not agreeing to this pact, then neither am I."

Standin' there with my two friends, I knew this was a way I could help them. "I agree."

HEYES

So, we only have two mares here for this session. It worked out well because the Kid still isn't home. He said he would be almost two weeks, but I didn't believe him. Lom must be worse than I thought. I can't picture him as a drunk. He's always been the strong, silent type to me, whether as an outlaw or a sheriff. But I have faith the Kid would help him…but I hoped he would be home soon.

And then I needed him home quickly. The telegram started it all. Chrissy took it, read it, and hurried to my office in the back of the stables. I had brought Joy with me. I never knew that a three-year-old could be good company, but being with her makes me smile; just don't get as much work accomplished because I play with her. By the time Chrissy found us, Joy had fallen asleep on her playmat on the floor, curled up with Michael's old stuffed dog.

Chrissy rushed in without knocking. Before she could speak, I pointed to the sleeping toddler. She listened for a moment and whispered, "Joy sleeps deep. No wake." And I knew something was wrong. Chrissy's words were short and quick. Handing me a telegram, she simply said, "Problem."

I saw it was addressed to the Kid.

'Mr. Jed Curry

Three Birds, Nebraska

Your presence is required at a meeting at 11:00 AM with the honorable governor of Wyoming, Charles Sanderson, three days hence at the capitol building.

Colin Apperson

Aide to Governor Sanderson

"It's alright Chrissy. I'll just send the Kid a telegram about the meeting. He's required to attend so it doesn't sound like he can refuse. He can catch the train straight from Porterville to Cheyenne."

"Worried why." A worried Chrissy was an upset pregnant woman, and I knew the doctors wanted her to rest.

So, I pretended it didn't worry me and shrugged my shoulders. "Doubt it's anything bad. Maybe another meeting on the treatment of prisoners. The Kid missed the last one."

She nodded. I gently picked up the sleeping toddler and she sleepily cuddled her head down into my shoulder. It's a sweet feeling I enjoy. I put my other arm around Chrissy and walked her back to the kitchen. "Don't worry, sweetie. I'll take care of this. Going into town right now to send that telegram and I'll wait for his confirmation that he's going. Anything you need at the mercantile?"

ASJ*****ASJ

Well, I sent the telegram and went over and bought lunch for me and Glenn and brought it back to the telegraph office to wait. He's now the main person there and it fits him. And it didn't take long for the answer to my telegram to come back…but it was not the answer I wanted to hear.

H. Heyes

Three Birds, NE

Mr. Heyes STOP Sorry to report that Mr. Curry accompanied Sheriff Trevors on a trip west STOP No idea where they went or when they will return STOP

Deputy Nat Bickson

Porterville, WY

Glenn gave me a worried look. "Sorry, Heyes, I know that's not the answer you wanted. Anything I can do to help?"

In truth, the answer shocked me. I knew the Kid was hiding something about his trip, but I did expect him to leave Porterville. I thought maybe he'd bring Lom and the baby here. Glenn knows me. He knows how my recovery has progressed, so he was quiet after I read the telegram. At first, I felt betrayed that the Kid had lied to me. Then I thought, had he lied? He went to Porterville like he said. He just didn't stay there. And I remembered this was the Kid. I took a deep breath and calmed my racing thoughts.

I trust the Kid, always have. If he left Porterville with Lom, he had a good reason. He left it up to me to take care of things here at Phoenix…and that includes this telegram.

"Glenn, you have some time to help out at the ranch? Looks like I'm heading to Cheyenne."

"Sure, Heyes, I can work afternoon and evenings this week. You going without Jed?"

"My way of looking after things while the Kid is gone."

When I got back to the ranch, after picking up the twins from school, Dr. Oliver was at the house to check on all our beautiful ladies. They were gathered around the kitchen table with Auntie and the doctor having tea and fresh cookies. I kissed my Angie on the cheek saying, "Hello ladies, doctor. Can you spare a cookie for me?"

They all laughed as Auntie got up and retrieved another plate of cookies from the counter. "Take as many as you want." I smiled at the close family the Kid had built here. Phoenix is a safe place for all of us.

"Heyes, get answer from Jed?" Chrissy asked. She didn't sound worried but confident that he had answered. It was obvious from the looks of the others at the table that she had told them about Colin's telegram.

"No, the answer came from one of Lom's deputies. Seems the Kid and Lom went on a trip and didn't tell anyone where they went." I tried to sound calm like this wasn't a problem. But not attending when the governor ordered you to was not something an ex-convict should do.

Chrissy looked at me, then at Oliver. "Doctor going home to Cheyenne tomorrow. Chrissy go with him instead of Jed. See governor, visit with his wife Tina, and attend meeting."

"No, Chrissy, you're supposed to rest. I'm going. Glenn is going to come out and help out on the ranch."

Chrissy thought for longer than normal and I started to get worried. I'm always worried when she goes inside her mind…scared that she'll stay there. Everyone respected her thinking with quiet. She broke the silence. "Good. Heyes go. Dr. Oliver go. Both take care of Chrissy on trip."

I could tell from the way she said it that I if I argued, I'd lose.

ASJ*****ASJ

The next day, me and Dr. Oliver Arden and Chrissy left for Bridgeport. We took our best wagon. Summer's Gold pulled it and my Falls Bells was tied to the back. We drove slow and leisurely, stopping often. At the doctor's insistence that Chrissy would get more rest at the hotel instead of visiting with Mike Loveland, we opted for dinner at the hotel restaurant with Mike and Mikey and an early night so we could take the first train to Cheyenne in the morning.

Chrissy enjoyed the train ride. I watched her closely for any sign that she was tired but only saw excitement. I had been vague when answering Colin's telegram, saying only, "Arriving on the early train day of meeting." I didn't sign it. I'm afraid of lying to the governor or his aide, even though the Kids counts them as friends. I'm afraid he'll send me back to prison if I lie.

Colin met us on the platform. He watched as I helped Chrissy down the steps. I'm taking no chances that she may fall. Dr. Oliver followed. Colin advanced and shook my hand. "Colin, this is Dr. Oliver Arden."

"How do you do, Doctor. Heyes, where's Jed?" He looked around and leaned to see into the railcar.

Chrissy stepped forward and reached for Colin's hand. "Jed unavailable. We come."

"It's nice to see you but I sent for your husband," Colin returned, sounding peeved.

"Jed unavailable," Chrissy repeated. "Buggy?"

You can't tell that Chrissy is with child again. She's heavier, but that comes from having Joy Christina and Ruth Anne so close in age. Colin, always the gentlemen, answered, "Yes, of course, the governor's buggy is right over here."

JED 'KID' CURRY

Even after the guard took Preacher back to his cell, I didn't want to leave the solace of the chapel. I felt safe here and dreaded the walk through the center courtyard, in the bright sunlight where all the eyes of the prisoners could watch me. I know they are cursin' my freedom, thinkin' why him? Why not me? That's Kid Curry, an outlaw, a convict, a killer. Why is he not locked behind these bars?

"Time to go, Kid," Lom's voice broke my train of thought. He sounded sad and almost sober…as sober as he's been since I got to Porterville.

"Don't want to go out there. Feel safe in here," I told him truthfully.

"Brave thing you did today, Kid, coming here for a friend…well, two friends. I know you did it for us."

"Silly, but I'm afraid they're goin' to lock me up again. That's what happens in my nightmares."

"This is the real world and you are as free as the sunshine. Come on, we'll walk out together." Lom seemed sober. There was a different guard at the door that silently led us down the center of the courtyard. And the prisoners crowded to the front of their cells to watch us. I tried to look straight ahead but couldn't keep my eyes away from the prisoners. I was one of them. I still should be. I'm no better than them, worse than most.

"Easy, Kid," Lom whispered near my ear. "You don't belong here anymore than I do."

I looked at him quickly, but he just winked at me. "Could tell what you were thinking. You were taking tiny steps like you were wearing shackles and holding your hands in front like they were cuffed."

I stood up straighter and shook my hands to release their tension. Purposely, I took long strides. Still, I was relieved when we reached the rock buildin' that contained the exit.

"Train ain't coming for an hour," the guard told us. "You can stay in here where it's cooler, if you want, and I'll check you out when it's leaving."

Without lookin' at me, Lom answered, "Check us out now."

HEYES

The governor's buggy had a fancy dressed driver and the four of us sat facing each other. Colin and the doctor had their back to the driver. Me and Chrissy faced them. Two tall, matched gray horses pulled it smoothly toward the capital. It was very impressive.

Colin looked at me. "Unavailable for the governor?" he asked.

"Unreachable," I answered.

Chrissy tensed up as we neared our destination. "Court building," she whispered. I realized I was holding my breath as we got closer, too. It was in one of those courtrooms that me and the Kid were sentenced to separate prisons and torn away from each other without even a goodbye. I let out the breath but began to take short, quick breaths. Chrissy gripped my wrist firmly.

Sitting facing us, Dr. Oliver looked alarmed. "Miss Chrissy, are you alright, my dear?"

Colin looked from the doctor, to Chrissy, to me and whispered something. He changed course, but Chrissy's grip grew tighter. She started to shake.

"I've redirected us to the Governor's mansion. I should have done that the moment I realized Chrissy and you were here. I had been worried about Jed coming here but he's strong enough to ignore any fear."

"Miss Chrissy!" Dr. Oliver said louder. But she was staring past him.

I put my hand over hers. "Sweetie, Colin's taking us to the governor's mansion instead."

She turned and looked at me. The sounds of the city were around us, but in the buggy, we were silent until Chrissy said, "Good." Her hand still continued to grip my wrist until we pulled up at the side entrance of the mansion. "Good," she repeated. "Miss Tina?" she asked Colin.

JED 'KID' CURRY

We had left our bags on the train, as this was the last, and only, stop. It was empty and quiet except for the people refillin' the water. Even a train must need extra water in this heat…and I suddenly felt sorry for the men loadin' the coal and wood into the boiler. I shuddered. The heat of the blacksmith forge in the desert had been my reality, my hell. As I did often then I thought of Gramma Curry hittin' me and Heyes with her broom after we were naughty, yellin' we better be good, or we'd burn in hell. My burnin' hell had been here in the middle of the desert. I resented the pact I'd made with Preacher to go to church with my family…I was failin' everyone I cared about. Why would God care if I went to church?

"Ah hem, Kid." Lom stood next to me holdin' a half full bottle of whiskey.

"Where did you get that," I demanded, feelin' betrayed he was breakin' the pact already.

He smiled as he poured the alcohol onto the hot sand. "From Preacher…another one he had hidden under the pulpit. Sly man, our Preacher."

I took the empty bottle, threw it high into the air, and put three bullets into it. The gate immediately opened and two guards aimed rifles at us.

Felt good to twirl my gun in front of them before I put it back into its holster. I raised my hands shoulder high and smiled. "Just sealin' a pact with three friends with three bullets," I told them.

Lom, with raised hands, added, "It's okay. He won't shoot the gun again. Go on back into your shade inside."

LOM

When the guards retreated into the prison entrance, we overheard them say,

"Fastest draw I ever saw."

"And he hit that bottle dead center every time."

"Wouldn't have believed it unless I saw it with my own eyes. The stories about Kid Curry's speed and accuracy are true.

The Kid smiled at me. "Just wanted to let Preacher know we were thinkin' of him." He patted me on the shoulder and I smiled, too. Smilin' with the Kid again felt good. Preacher's pact touched me and his quiet words on the blessings of fatherhood reached a heart I was trying to bury in alcohol. And I knew that I could count on the Kid to help me every step of the way…even though I realize he's struggling with something. I hope he'll tell me what over time so I can help him, too.

"Want to stop in Yuma and buy something for Wayne," I told him. It was hot standing in the shadow of the train to find some shelter from the sun. The Kid was walking up and down the tracks, seeming not to feel the heat. "What do little boys like?"

The Kid's smile had turned to sadness, almost grief. "Don't know. When Michael was born, I was servin' time out here in Yuma. Didn't even know I was a father. Lom, how could you hide that from me?"

I didn't answer. Didn't want to remind him that Chrissy had never told the courts who she was married to…turns out it was neither of them. But she wore the Kid's wooden ring. I knew who made it although I never let her know that. And I didn't want to remind him of Heyes' manic confession in prison that he'd slept with Chrissy for comfort, not passion, when they thought the Kid was dying. The twins might be his children. I didn't answer but the Kid knew what I was thinking. He's always been good at reading people.

With his back towards me, he said, "Michael and Martha are my children - Currys. No discussion about that…ever." And he continued to pace along the tracks, studying them as if he'd dropped something.

I needed to change the subject. Break this tension. I need the Kid's support to help me beat alcohol. As much as I want to quit, I can't do it alone. "Kid, there's another bottle in the inside pocket of my overcoat. I want to pour it out before the train leaves."

And I got him to smile again. Kid Curry's special power is not his lightning speed and accuracy with his Colt, it's helping people. And he's very good at it.