Winter's Refuge
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-One
JED 'KID' CURRY
Tried to get out of bed quietly this mornin' so Father Patrick can get some sleep. The smell of Miss Denise's bacon and eggs got me movin', but I do miss Auntie's cookin'. Knowin' Aiden's gonna have a hangover this mornin', I limped to the kitchen so the clop-clop of the cane wouldn't disturb him.
"Well, good morning, Jed," Miss Denise said. "Sit down and eat."
"Thank you." I looked around. "Am I seein' even more books than last night?"
"Yes, I put an empty box outside the door before I retired last night. It was full and more." She laughed and baby Ajay on her lap laughed back. Somethin' so pure in a baby's laugh.
I looked down the hall to their bedroom. "He's gonna have a helluva…sorry, mighty handover when he wakes up."
Miss Denise laughed again then blew on Ajay's tummy to make him laugh. "I've made up what Aiden calls his handover cure that he gives to others. Think he'll be surprised it doesn't do much to help."
"He was gonna let me practice my shootin' today. Guess that will have to wait," I said, then looked at her. "Sorry, that sounded more like a complaint than somethin' positive."
The outside office door had opened while we talked and now I heard Heyes' voice. "Miss Denise, would you be so kind as to get the Kid's gun; me and these two friends are going to watch him practice shooting." Heyes smiled and winked at me.
Frank and Jeff Birde were with him. Frank followed Miss Denise into another room to get my gun and I could hear him say, "Don't worry, Miss Denise, I'll watch him closer than even Aiden could. But I think he's earned the right to practice shooting each day."
Jeff rolled up next to me and stole a piece of bacon off of my plate. "I brought plenty of bullets so you can practice as long as you want. Uncle Frank says shooting probably relaxes you."
HEYES
Sheriff Birde didn't give the Kid his gun and holster until we were back in the woods. He knows the area well and said this is where he goes to practice. The Kid is excited, anxious. His eyes are so deep blue when he's eager to do something that I had to smile and wink at him.
He took his time and fastened his gun belt around his waist and his thigh. He stood for a moment and adjusted it a bit.
"Trusting you with this," the sheriff said, as he handed him his Colt.
Cradling the gun in his hands, the Kid answered, "Thank you. I told Aiden last night, I ain't never gonna even think about takin' my life again. I give you, all of you, my word."
He was so earnest and sincere that I saw a seven-year-old Jeddie promising his ma and mine that he was giving them his word he would never ride their horse again without permission. Anything I said would choke me up, so I patted his arm and said, "Let's see if you can hit the broad side of a barn."
Jeff held out the box of bullets. I don't know what was in the Kid's head, but he hesitated before taking six out and loading his gun. He slipped it in his holster, set his cane aside and took a calming breath. Then, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, the six cans Frank had set up on a fence flew off and to the ground. But the Kid looked concerned. He limped over and picked up the fourth can he shot.
"Off center," he said to no one, shaking his head and setting the cans back in the fence. This time they were further apart.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. Even though I've seen it many times, I can't believe how fast the Kid can draw and shoot.
"Slow, too slow," he muttered. Frank reset six bottles on a second wall further away while the Kid reloaded. I've seen him like this before when he's practicing. He isn't really aware that he's not alone.
The Kid squared up, facing the bottles. I wondered what was going through his thoughts…or were they blank. In a flash, six bangs, six bottles hit at the bottom of the neck.
"Knew you were fast, Jed. But I never saw anything like that before," Jeff Birde marveled. His concentration was so deep, the Kid didn't respond, just reloaded his Colt. Each time he reloaded, he cradled the gun in his hands, like it was an old friend.
Frank reset the targets, but I could tell he was studying the Kid, his eyes, and his body language. I don't blame him after what happened, but I know my cousin; he's healing, and he'll keep his word.
JED 'KID' CURRY
Shootin' practice helped make me feel like myself again. Aiden was right to take my gun before and he was right that it was time to return it today. When I went back to the doctor's house, I placed my gun and holster on the table in front of Aiden, who was cradlin' some liquid in a glass and lookin' miserable. I could tell it was hard for him to raise his eyes and look at me. "Your gun?"
"Don't worry; Frank, Jeff, and Heyes all watched me shoot as close as a mama bear watches her cubs. Thank you for lettin' me practice," I told him.
He struggled to look at me through bloodshot eyes but still managed to ask, "What are you feeling right now?" before he lowered his head to the table.
"More like myself than I've felt in a long time. Didn't mind the audience watchin' me shoot, although Frank kept studyin' me close."
Without raisin' his head, Aiden said, "Good, good. Why don't you help Denise go through those books. I'll go with you when you shoot tomorrow morning and, if all goes like I think it will, I'll take you home to stay afterwards." He stood up and moaned. "Denise, you must not have followed my recipe, that stuff smells and did nothing to help my head."
He wobbled and I caught him under his arm. "Let's get you back to your bed, Aiden," I said, smiling.
"Yes, and pull the curtains and make the room dark, very dark and very quiet." He pulled sharply to a stop and looked at me. "You're my good friend, Jed."
HEYES
The Kid came home to Phoenix to stay about noonday. He was driving the doctor in his buggy with Winter's Glory tied to the back. Both horse and owner looked so happy to be home. The Kid parked the wagon outside the library, and I hurried down to greet him. I know they are bringing the donated books, but I have a couple of ideas and don't want the new books down there.
"Good to see you, partner!" I said, as soon as I was close enough for him to hear me. Shoeing a horse, Rocky waved from the blacksmith shop. "Bring the books on up to the house. I've got an idea."
I heard the Kid tell Aiden, "Another Hannibal Heyes plan. He's full of them since he made himself Operations Manager of Phoenix."
"Sounds like the perfect job for him. I'm betting your ranch flourishes under his direction," Aiden answered.
This time the Kid's arrival committee ran down to meet his wagon, led by Chrissy. He hopped down and swept her into his arms. "Should you be runnin'?" he asked.
"I'm healthy, aren't I, Doctor Arden," she returned as he put her down and got down on one knee to greet his four kids running toward him,
"Papa!" they were yelling. Even Ruth Ann was saying her version of "Papa" which was clearer every day, thanks to Angie's tutoring.
The new hand, Vince Borel, took Winter's Glory to the stable and left the buggy near the porch for Aiden's return trip. The Kid watched him closely while holding Joy in one arm and Ruth Ann in the other. "Heyes, he doin' alright?"
Nodding, I said, "Fits right in. Reports to Juan. Quiet. Hard worker. Has a case of hero worship for Kid Curry, but otherwise I think you'll like him."
Auntie made a wonderful cake and had it on the kitchen table to celebrate the Kid's homecoming. "Everyone, go wash your hands and come sit at the table," she ordered.
The smell of the cake had tempted us all day, so we were quick to do as she said.
Before he sat down, the Kid went over to Diane and Josiah and watched them take their nap. I know he's seeing everything, all of us, his family differently now.
I had Vincent, Juan, and Rocky carry in the boxes of books from the buggy and stack them in the living room. When we were all seated, I announced my plan. "Want to separate the books into three groups. First group will be the duplicates of what we have. The cards Martha and Michael made will help us with that. The second group will be all the dime novels."
Martha and Michael looked at each other and I knew that they had somewhere somehow gotten ahold of at least one of these books. Their pa saw the look between them, too, and looked at me with a silent question. I shook my head no. I hadn't given them any dime novels to read.
"The last group is books new to the library."
Aiden looked over at the stacks of books. "What are you going to do with the first two groups of books?"
"Well, I'm open for suggestions, but here's what I'm thinking. It doesn't hurt to have two copies of a book in our library, if we have room. Or we can talk to the library over in Mallard Springs, about fifty miles east of here, and exchange them for ones we don't have that they have duplicates. Or we can leave a few of them around town, like in your office, Doctor, where people are waiting so they can read them." I talked quickly so I could get everything out.
Everyone at the table was talking at the same time. I find that distracting. It makes me nervous even though these people are my family. Angie understood and clapped her hands. 'What do you plan to do with the dime novels?"
I looked at the Kid and smiled. "We can't fight it. Looks like everyone has read more than one of them. Thought we would put one or two of each of them in the library but set an age limit, like twelve, to take them out," I told them. Everyone seemed to agree. Even the Kid seemed to be tolerant of their inclusion in our library.
"Oh, Uncle Heyes, not twelve," whined Martha. "We want to read more of them now."
"More of them?" asked the Kid, with a sharp look.
"Well, Papa, maybe we've read one or two of them already," she answered.
"Me and your pa will talk about that with you two later. Heyes, what about the rest of them? There seems to be multiple copies of all of them. I wonder what our neighbors think of us," answered Chrissy.
"Got an idea from the author, Hauser Sletten, when he was here. Me and the Kid are going to both sign them and we'll sell the signed copies somewhere, not the library. Maybe Ken's shoe shop."
"We don't need the money," the Kid said, and I heard the start of a growl.
"No, we don't need the money, but it can be used for the library. Maybe hire a part-time librarian. And if we run out of books to sell, we can buy more with the money. That way the library can be at least partially self-supporting."
Everyone around the table, even the Kid, was nodding. Chrissy raised her hand and waited for me to call on her. "Chrissy, you have something to add?"
"About the library, not about selling your dime novels. I think we should set aside a corner of the library for reading. We can have someone read children's books aloud…and maybe someone can read other books aloud so that people who can't read can hear the stories. I volunteer to go first and read Black Beauty."
JED 'KID' CURRY
It feels so good to be home, to be layin' in my own bed, holdin' Chrissy. I will never ever again not see this as the most wonderful thing that could ever have happened to me. And if I start to feel I don't deserve this, I'm right. But it's mine and I'm gonna fight to keep it.
When one of the little ones gave a cry, I told my wife, "I'll get her for you to nurse."
She giggled. "Get Josiah for me. He's smaller and wakes more often."
"You mean it's like Michael and Martha? She's still taller than him and they are eight years old."
She just nodded and took our son from me. I could tell there was somethin' she wanted to say to me. Hope that someday she'll forget what I tried to do, but it doesn't matter. I can see love in her eyes for me.
"When are you going to see Preacher?" she asked.
"You know where he is?"
"Yes, he wrote to Matt and Matt wrote to me. He didn't know Preacher wanted it to be a secret."
I got back in bed, sittin' next to her, and watched her and our youngest son. "Hard to keep anything a secret here," I told her with a grin.
"When are you leaving?" she repeated. And I realized she was gonna be visitin' Matt while I was gone.
"Lom will be here tomorrow, and we'll leave the next mornin'. Father Patrick will be goin' with us. You nervous about visitin' Matt without me? I know I promised I'd always take you. If you wait a week, I will."
"No, I'm glad you're not coming. Heyes and Dr. Arden will take good care of me. If you were there, Matt would be very mad at you," she answered, handin' me the baby to burp while she went and got his sister.
"For not bringin' you sooner. My fault. Tell him I'm sorry, but I'd like it if you didn't tell him what happened."
Concentratin' now on Diane, she answered in a soft voice, "Chrissy will let Heyes tell him about bad men in Three Birds. But..."
I moved closer so our legs were touchin' as we sat leanin' on the headboard. Somethin' was botherin' her, and I wanted her to tell me. She was using her proper name again and avoidin' eye contact. "If you need to tell him about me, I understand."
"NO! Not his business. Matt will be angry at Jed because Chrissy pregnant again."
I hadn't thought about that. "You haven't told him in your letters?"
Those green eyes of hers are my weakness. They remind me of walkin' with her in Devil's Hole by the stream and later kissin' her in front of the leader's cabin for the first time. Now there was tears in those eyes.
"No, Chrissy…I was afraid you would be angry with me. Only Dr. Aiden knew," she answered.
"I promised I'd never be mad with you," I reminded her. I was glad that she caught herself and used I.
"That was when I was struggling and had so many secrets. But Jed knows my secrets now," she said, startin' to burp Diane as I cradled Josiah in one arm. I regret that I never got to do this with Michael and Martha and that I almost gave up doin' this with our little ones.
I put my free arm around her and she looked at me so trustin'. I told her, "And you know I;m not mad now. And what I said still goes. I promise I'll never be mad at you."
"Good. Sheriff Birde mad at Beverly," Chrissy said. Standin', she laid first one then the other of our youngest back down to sleep.
"He is? It's not because I suggested she be on the Town Council, is it? I didn't mean to cause trouble." I do feel guilty about that, but I think good will come of it and that's my positive thought.
"No, she spoils Junior all the time…and just bought him a dog."