Winter's Refuge
Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Six
JED 'KID' CURRY
It's been four days so I figure that's close enough to a week so I'm usin' a cane I found in one of Aiden's exam rooms and I'm practicin' walkin'. And doing pretty good, too. I need to get back to my blacksmith shop and make some things to repair the damage, like new hinges for the windows so they can open and close. And I know Rocky must be runnin' out of horseshoes by now.
Yesterday when he saw the cane, Aiden said firmly, "No, Jed, no. I said a week and I meant a week. Get back in that chair!" He was exasperated at me. (I've always liked that word that I found while readin'.) So, I let him wheel me over to the bank yesterday and I helped put stronger wood on the bottom of the clerks' cages. Me and Heyes went through the new safe catalog Gabe had ordered and settled on the newest model. I think Heyes just wanted to see it up close to see if their claim that it couldn't be broken into included him.
I got Heyes alone outside after. I wanted to make sure that he wasn't pushin' blame for the little girls' almost accident inside himself while tellin' Aiden and Chrissy he was fine. We have an understandlin' now and I expect him to ask for my help.
"Heyes, I saw you afterwards. I know you blamed yourself the little girls were in the way of that buggy," I started.
He was quiet as he watched two strangers on horses ride down the main street. Then without lookin' away from them, he answered, "Trying to believe that it was just an averted accident like Aiden said."
"That workin'?"
He turned and looked at me and smiled a real smile. I can tell his real smile from his pretend smile although not many people can. Maybe Angie can. "It really seems to be. I pledged to myself that I will watch all our kids closer, especially Ruth Ann. It was the first time I saw her hearing loss as a problem. But to answer the question you haven't asked, I'm sorry it happened but I'm good."
HEYES
The town improvements are making progress every day and I had Gabe Birde order more paint for the town and a bright blue for my new project at Phoenix. I hired the contractor Mr. Russell, that had done all the additions to our home. When he heard what it was for, he came and brought one man and they built the small place in three days for free.
It was next to Ken's and closer to the main road. "Something that will benefit the whole town," he told me, before making sure the place was as watertight as possible. He even built the shelves and a front desk.
I painted the sign out front myself. It read The Trinity Rose Memorial Library. I had Angie paint a red rosebush next to the words. Then I called the family together and told them about it and asked them to help me carry all my prison books down there. Only thing that was missing was the Kid. He will appreciate this. He donated all the books Lom sent him to the prison library so others could share them. He's still under doctor's orders to use his rolling chair, rest, and have daily sessions with Aiden.
I never realized how many books, including my prison books, we had accumulated in this family. Every book we could find went down to the library. Well, every book but one. Chrissy's copy of Black Beauty always stayed near her bed and there it still remained. Chrissy ordered more rose bushes for the front of the building. I paid Martha and Michael to write the name of each book on a card and put them in alphabetical order. When everything's ready, I'll hang posters in town for the grand opening.
I feel like it's a good job done.
JED 'KID' CURRY
I tried again the next mornin' over breakfast. I always have the same two requests. "Aiden, I need to practice my shootin'. You can watch me."
"No, Jed, not yet," he replied as always.
"I need to get to my blacksmith shop." I'm used to his "I'm tryin' to figure out what's going on in your mind" stare that he gave me in response.
"Denise, what appointments do I have today?" he asked his wife, nurse, and office manager.
"Sheriff Birde will be here in fifteen minutes for you to take a look at him. His wife thinks he's too active and not giving himself a chance to heal," Miss Denise answered.
"She's probably right. And after the sheriff?" Aiden asked between bites of his eggs and bacon.
"Free the rest of the day. I believe you owe your father a letter," she replied.
"That can wait. I'm going to Phoenix with Jed." He looked me in the eyes. "Two hours of work, no more or you won't go back for a while. No other work. Am I clear?"
I almost answered his authoritative tone with a 'yes, sir' but caught myself at the last moment. Still, I said, "Thank you, sir," and drew a sharp look from the doctor. We've talked about that word 'sir' in my sessions with him, sometimes includin' Father Patrick. It is not a word of respect to me. It's a sign of subservience. And both Aiden and Frank have come to see it as an affront comin' from me. But it's an old habit that was beaten into me and once it came back, it's hard to break.
"Err…I'm sorry. Thank you, Doctor."
"That's better, but I prefer you call me Aiden. This will work out. I can check on Chrissy while I'm there and Mrs. Clark's arthritic knees."
HEYES
I been riding into Three Birds every morning. I love being home at Phoenix, but each night I see the Kid hold that gun to his head and pull the trigger over and over. I need to be with him…to help him. Today, before I could get to the main road, I saw Aiden's buggy turn up Curry Road and the Kid sitting next to him! He's home! Probably not for good but Aiden said he would be visiting soon. I didn't see the rolling chair in the buggy so I figure the Kid has convinced him he's fine using a cane.
I rode quickly so I could be in front of the new building when they stopped in front of it.
The Kid was staring at the sign. I helped him out of the buggy and he stood looking up at it with tears falling down his cheeks. His emotions still get the best of him but not as often.
He left the cane in the buggy and gave me a bear hug, picking me off the ground, like he used to do when he came to visit me in prison. "Looks real nice, Heyes. Real nice."
"Chrissy had me order some rose plants for out in front here," I told him.
Aiden moved and got out the same side of the buggy that the Kid had and I could tell he had something on his mind. He hadn't really looked at the library. Handing the Kid his cane, he said, "Jed, if you don't obey what we agreed upon before we left, we're turning around and going home. Now use this cane and when I said you couldn't pick up your kids, that included Heyes. We have to limit the extra weight on that ankle."
I took the cane and handed it to the Kid, who mumbled a "Yes, Aiden," before he asked me, "You got books inside yet? Can I see?"
His enthusiasm reminded me of when he was little, but then books wouldn't have been worth a moment of interest to him. Prison changed that and now he reads whenever he can find time although he's been too busy to pick up a book lately…now I will make sure that he does find time.
"Yes, all my prison books and all the other books in the house except…" I started to say.
He interrupted me and put his free hand on my shoulder. "Your prison books, Heyes?"
"Every one of them. They were just getting dusty in the bookcase," I told him.
"I'm proud of you, Heyes," was all I gave him time to say as I unlocked the door and lit one of the lamps inside.
Looking at the stack of books, he picked up one of the cards next to them. "Who?"
"I hired Michael and Martha to write out a card for each book. They ain't finished yet. The neat little writing is Michael's. That boy is a perfectionist."
The Kid laughed and couldn't resist teasing me. "And this unreadable scrawl that looks like yours is Martha's. That girl wants to do everything fast and go onto somethin' new."
The Kid started to look through the books already on the shelf. "Heyes, you think I could check out King Solomon's Mines? I'd like to read about Allan Quartermain again."
"Seems fitting you check out the first book," I told him with a grin while searching the cards for the right one. "Sign your name right here." I pointed to the first blank line on the card. "And today's date. Return it in two weeks."
I had forgotten that Aiden had followed us in. "Heyes, this is just what a growing town needs. I have some books I'd like to donate," Aiden said.
"All donations welcomed. Thank you," I answered.
"But not them stuffy medical journals with the long words that all sound alike," the Kid teased.
JED 'KID' CURRY
Rocky had the blacksmith shop open and the forge goin'. He only uses the fire to shape the stockpiled horseshoes. It is the simplest of tasks. He came over to the new library to greet me. Rememberin' our last meetin', I felt awkward around him. But I need to talk to him, preferably alone.
"Rocky, show me what's goin' on in the forge," I said. I put one arm around his shoulders and, with my cane in the other hand, we walked slowly across the street.
"It's good to see you, Mr. Curry," he said very tentatively.
"Rocky, thank you for challengin' me. I told you then that I don't know why I can't believe in me the way you do. All I know is that Dr. Arden thinks it's something that started when I was a kid. He's helpin' me. I don't believe I'm a hero, never will. But I'm learnin' to understand that I done pretty good for my family and people close to me. I'm askin' you to not give up on me."
Rocky gave me a small smile. "You're the only one that didn't give up on me. What makes you think I'd ever give up on you?" he answered.
I had no answer so changed the subject. "So, tell me what's been goin' on here in the shop?" I repeated.
"Runnin' out of horseshoes. Lot of work in the back room for you. I labeled everything with the names. You comin' back to work?"
Aiden had come up behind us. "For two hours today, no more," he reminded me.
I looked around. "Rocky, get the fire hot and the material ready. I'll make a dozen horseshoes then maybe handle some of the faster repairs. Three Birds needs new hinges for the new windows but those take time. I'll work on them another time. Right now, goin' up to the house and see my family."
I rode in Aiden's buggy up to the house while Heyes walked Falls Bells next to us. A man I didn't know came to take the horses. I looked at Heyes, alarmed. Phoenix was a safe place. There weren't any strangers here.
"Kid, meet Vincent Borel, our new ranch hand," Heyes told me as he helped me down from the buggy without makin' a show of it. "Two things I've done since being Operations Manager, built the library and hired Vince."
"Please to meet you, Mr. Curry, sir," this new man said, holdin' out his hand to me. At least he hadn't asked if I was Kid Curry. Positive. I need to be positive. I trust Heyes' judgment and if he hired Vince I trust his decision.
"Vince, hope you like it here," I said, shakin' his hand.
I was gonna say more, but saw the crowd anxiously waitin' for me on the porch. Chrissy, Angie, and Auntie held Nettie, Diane, and Josiah. Joy and Ruth Ann were standin' in front of them. Juan and Hortencia were there tryin' to corral their older son, Jose, while Hortencia cradled a new baby in her arms. I think Heyes told me they had another son.
Just seein' them, I know I belong here. I need to tell Aiden I can heal here but I know I'm not ready yet. Heyes saw me hidin' tears so he took my arm and led me to the side of the porch and a new ramp. "Told them this was for you, partner, but you won't need it for long. It's really to make it easier for Auntie." He winked at me. "Don't make me look bad and try to use the steps"
Chrissy wanted me in the room with her while Aiden checked her. "Want you to hear doctor say that I'm healthy so no worry," she said, takin' my hand and pullin' me into the room and away from our kids.
"I'll be right back," I told them.
Chrissy put Josiah in my arms while Aiden listened to her heart. He's an angelic lookin' baby...until he started wailin' loudly. I rocked him gently and he quieted some.
Aiden watched me and said, "Your wife is right. She's healthy and her pregnancy is coming along without any trouble. I still have advised her to take a long nap every day."
"See, I'm healthy. Doctor, how long Jed here today?" Chrissy asked.
"About another half hour or so up here and then two hours work in the blacksmith shop," Aiden answered. "I need to examine Mrs. Clark."
Chrissy smiled at me. "Go play with our kids," she told me. And that's what I did. Martha kept talkin', tellin' me everything that had been goin' on in her life and everyone else's at Phoenix. Michael asked and received permission to unbandage and rebandage my ankles. Joy and Ruth Ann were playin' with two toys I recognized, Martha's old doll Daisy and Michael's Doggy. Both had been patched and repaired many times but my girls showered love and care on them. Our time was up too soon.
"Doctor, can Papa come back again tomorrow?" asked Michael. "His ankle is still raw but he moves around real good with the cane."
Aiden messed up the boy's hair before answerin', "Depends on how today goes. But he'll be home for another visit soon."
Auntie gave me a peck on the cheek. "Then Sunday dinner, Aiden?" she asked. "You and your wife are invited."
It's hard to resist Auntie when she invites someone to dinner. Aiden accepted her invitation quickly.
HEYES
Aiden insisted on being in the blacksmith shop while the Kid worked. Don't know if he knows how hot and dirty it is in there. The Kid tied a bandana around his head and handed one to each of us - me and Aiden. I mimicked the Kid and tied it around my head but I don't intend to be too close to the forge. Aiden put his in his pocket. I just need to be close in case the Kid needs anything.
The Kid left his cane in the corner and hobbled over the forge. And started making horseshoes, talking Rocky through what he was doing at each step. After he had made three, and dunked them in the water to cool, he called Rocky over and stood over him as he heated the next one and moved it to the anvil. He watched him as he shaped the horseshoe. Next Rocky made a horseshoe on his own. It wasn't perfect, but the Kid told him it was a good start and melted it down and told him to start over.
Aiden hadn't fastened the bandana over his head and at first had sat on a stool near the Kid's anvil. The heat drove him to sit outside under one of the pushed-up sides of the building. He was coughing. And he was studying the Kid intently. I don't know what the doctor was thinking, but I could tell the Kid was concentrating on the work and I thought that was a good thing.
While Rocky made his second attempt at a horseshoe, the Kid joined me in the back where the rest of the work was neatly laid out. Aiden instantly followed him.
"Jed, put that down," the doctor ordered my cousin as he picked up a broken knife.
Startled, the Kid answered, "I'm gonna fix it, not use it. Look around. Most everything I work with is sharp and my hammers are heavy and could be used as weapons if anyone wanted to. I don't. Just want to make and fix things." His voice was strong, almost but not quite challenging.
Aiden softened his tone. "Just concerned about you, my friend. Don't want you tempted to try anything again," The Kid let him take the knife from his hand but I could see his temper near the surface.
Looking around, there was no one around who could hear us. Even so, I lowered my voice until only the Kid and Aiden could hear me. As I took the broken knife from the doctor and handed it back to the Kid, I said, "Kid, every night in my dreams I see you put a gun to your head and pull the trigger over and over and I can't stop you. I'm sure Aiden feels the same. We just want to protect you and make sure that never happens for real."
The Kid laid the knife down carefully right where it had been. "It ain't never gonna happen again." I could hear the shake in his voice. "And I know that because I have you two and Chrissy." He picked up a stew pot with a hole near the bottom. "Think I'll just have enough time to fix this today for Mrs. Kirk instead."
He was looking at the work on the table so he could get his emotions under control. I slipped out the back and watched Aiden go back to his stool just outside the shop.