Winter's Refuge

Chapter One Hundred Ninety Six

I was in Three Birds just finishin' a town council meetin' when the stage arrived. Now that it comes more than twice a month it isn't such a curiosity, but it's always interestin' to see who gets off. Today it was a muscular man with a tied down gun.

"I'm looking for Jed Curry," he said in a deep voice.

"He's right over there." Frank pointed me out. But he followed the man as he headed to me. We're all aware of the third gunman comin' after me. But I'm ready. I practice every day.

"Mr. Curry, I'm Louis Maday. We've been corresponding. I'm here to interview for the apothecary position.

Frank heard him but still stood behind Maday. And then Heyes was at my side. "You don't look like my idea of an apothecary," he said. He was darin' the man to prove who he was. I was proud of Heyes. After dealin' with our contractor, Russell, he had a long talk with Father Patrick. I talked with my partner, and he didn't say a lot but talked about inherent power, like the wardens and the guards at the prison have over us. And then there is perceived power. That's power we give somebody in our mind. That's what Heyes gave Russell. Now he knows the difference. He is still cowed by power, but he's workin' on tellin' the difference.

He held out his hand for me, then Heyes, sayin', "I know I don't look like the easterner's view of one. I'm from California. Didn't really fit in at school in Philadelphia, but I graduated third in my class. When my professor showed me your letter, I knew it was meant for me," he answered.

I thought of the people that only thought of me as a gunfighter because of how I looked and dressed. I was grateful to the people who saw more than that in me. "Glad to meet you, Mr. Maday. Didn't expect you here this soon. Want you to meet with our doctors," I told him. Frank backed away, but I know his eyes watched us as we walked to Aiden's office.

"Your doctors, are they the rigid, old school type?" he asked.

"Judge for yourself," I answered.

Heyes opened the door. I watched Maday stand a little straighter and wipe his hands on his pants. I knew he was nervous. Miss Denise was sitting at the desk holdin' a sleepin' Joyce. Before I could say anything, Maday whispered, "I'd like to see the doctors." His voice broke on the last word.

"Which one?" Miss Denise asked.

"Both of them. It's a surprise for Aiden," I answered.

ASJ*ASJ

I went in to see Aiden first. I needed to see if he remembered I had written to that Philadelphia school he told me about and let him know the man with me answered my letter. He looked shocked, then smiled. "When did I tell you about an apothecary school?" he asked.

"A while ago in the saloon," I answered.

"Oh, then…don't really remember much about that night," he smiled. "Anything else I told you that night?"

"A few things." I leaned close to him as we walked to his office. "How's Miss Denise feelin' with number three?"

Lookin' surprised, he answered, "No one knows yet. But she's doing well." He knocked on exam room two as we passed. "Dr. Crehan, need you in my office as soon as you finish with your patient."

Heyes had left when I went out to the waitin' area to get Maday. Aiden had asked that I sit in on the interview with Maday. I protested, but Aiden says he trusts my readin' of people.

Maday was nervous and squirmed in his chair. He answered all of Aiden and Dr. Crehan's questions, gainin' composure as the interview went on. Makin' eye contact and leanin' forward in his chair showed me he was earnest. When Aiden looked at me halfway through the interview, I nodded yes.

As the interview was concludin', I could tell both doctors liked this man.

"May I ask a question, sir?" Maday said lookin' at Aiden, recognizin' him as the senior partner. "Where would my shop be and my livin' conditions?"

"Ah, Jed?" He turned to me.

"Thought we'd talk to you first. What kind of space would you need?" I answered, hopin' that I didn't show he caught me off guard.

"A storefront would be preferable with living quarters in the back or upstairs. It's just me for now but if it works out, I plan on bringing my wife from California," he answered.

I nodded my head but he continued, "If this is a problem, let me know now. My wife is a Nisenan Indian."

"No problem, that I know of," I answered and Aiden agreed.

But Dr. Crehan exclaimed, "A real Indian? I've never seen one." He thought for a second. "It's no problem. Three Birds is an accepting town. I think they would accept an Indian easier than they accepted me. I'm from New York."

HEYES

The Kid and Chrissy bought a changed child back from Denver with them. Ruth Ann had learned what 'no' means and manners and a lot more. At Phoenix, she had assumed she was the center of attention and we had made her so, but now she was one of the kids. She was so excited to show Angie that she had learned to sign her alphabet and spell out some simple words like cat.

Aiden told the Kid and Chrissy he wanted Ruth Ann to return with him to the Deaf School two months later for a week. But since Chrissy would be in her sixth month by then, she couldn't go with her. So, my Angie went. She was anxious to learn more sign language. And Aiden surprised us by suggesting that Joy and Nettie go with her and go to school with Ruth Ann. It was an experiment about having kids with hearing learn with the deaf. And how teaching sign language to kids when they are young allowed them to pick it up faster. Aiden had done a lot of research before they left and was excited to have his findings published.

I didn't want my wife to go and argued against it until the Kid sat me down.

"Angie seems excited about goin'," the Kid told me. "Why are you against it? It's only a week."

"I need her," was the first answer that came to mind.

"Of course you do, and she needs you. You have to travel sometimes on ranch business. You're apart then," the Kid argued. As we sat side by side, he rested his hand on my knee.

"Only telling you, Kid, but I'm scared. Scared I'll lose her to Denver," I told him. Words couldn't really express my fear. "I offered to meet her for the last weekend and accompany them home. She said I didn't need to bother."

"How did you ask her? Did you say you would enjoy comin' to Denver for her last weekend and comin' home with them?" the Kid asked. He knows me well. Even with Angie I can get tongue tied, especially when I'm upset like now. "Heyes, did you say somethin' like you've got a lot of work, but could go to Denver to meet her?"

"Yeah," I put my chin down on my chest and looked down.

"Think about your words and go ask again and speak from your heart. She'll hear it," he told me.

And later that day, when I took her in my arms in a quiet moment when she had just gotten Alexander to sleep for his nap, I said I would enjoy meeting her in Denver for the last few days.

She studied me for a moment. "Yes, I would love to see the city with you. When you asked before you sounded as if it would be a burden for you to leave Phoenix. But, yes, come," she answered and sealed it with a sweet kiss.

ASJ*ASJ

When I got to Denver to meet them, we had a few hours just me and Angie. Strolling through the streets near the school, I bought Angie a daisy at the florist. And then we stopped in front of a gallery advertising works by Roberto Malone in the window. Of course, we went in. A gentleman came over.

"May I help you with something?" he asked.

My Angie smiled sweetly at the man. "Where are the paintings by Roberto Malone?"

"We have many excellent works by him. We feature them on these walls here," the man answered and left us alone.

Malone's works are beautiful and I recognized some of the places we walked by today, especially a park and a bridge.

"It's almost like they fall into two groups," Angie said. "The landscapes and places over here have no people. They're beautiful but seem dark."

I studied them. "The detail is great. I feel like I am standing on that bridge."

"The ones over here have people and you can feel the expressions on their faces," Angie said. "Oh my! Heyes, look!"

The last painting in the row was small and my heart jumped. It was the Kid from the back shooting at targets on a hill. I couldn't stop staring.

"Yes, that one is one of his latest ones and one that has generated a lot of interest. We have it on auction right now and it will go to the highest bidder on Saturday." The clerk appeared from somewhere. "Would you care to enter a bid?"

Angie leaned closer and squinted. "It says "2 of 2"; where is the other one to make the set?" she asked.

"We only have the one. Our gallery owner asked Mr. Malone. He was told that the other one wasn't available," the clerk explained.

Angie leaned over and whispered, "I wonder if the price would go up if people knew that was Kid Curry?" she wondered.

Answering with a nod and a smile, I stepped back. I think I know where the other painting is. The Kid and Chrissy brought back two wrapped paintings when they returned from Denver. One was the heartbreakingly beautiful picture of the triplets that Malone had painted for them. It hangs in their bedroom. They never opened the other one, just slipped it under their bed still in the brown paper.

We left soon after that and went to the school to pick up the girls. We were staying the extra day to take them to the zoo at Ruth Ann's request.

But later that night, I thought about the picture of the Kid in the gallery and resolved to ask him about the one under their bed.

ASJ*ASJ

Lom's not going to move to Phoenix for some months and he left me in charge of building his and Wayne's new house. We decided to name the trail that connected our house with the Joseph's house where the Trevors' house would be built. It was a lively discussion one Sunday at dinner.

"We really get to name it?" asked Michael. "How about Trail Road?"

"Trail Road? That's too plain," said Martha. "We need to find just the right name."

I looked around the table and felt their excitement. I never realized this would be that important.

"Well, we could call it Josephs Road," suggested Mary Josephs.

"Or Josephs Trail," added Chrissy.

"Don't think I want our name so prominent," Ken answered. "I am a retired marshal, and we do make enemies. Don't know if I have any, but still don't want our name on display."

"Any other suggestions?" I asked, and that's when everyone had a suggestion, and nobody listened to anybody else.

"Michael Drive," Michael suggested.

"Martha Lane," his twin added.

"Joy Street," Joy said with a little smile. She had been signing the conversation to Ruth Ann as we spoke. "Ruth Ann says, Ruth Ann's Way."

"Heyes Way," Angie said. "We already have a Curry Road. It seems fitting."

"Well maybe," Rocky started. He hesitated and looked around the table. "Maybe Rocke Route," he offered. He expected someone to laugh but no one did.

Auntie was diligently making a list of all the suggestions. "New Road? Or how about Trevors Trail?" she proposed.

"Same objection to that as I had to Josephs trail," Ken said. "Lom is a US Marshal now. Don't want his name so prominent.

"But knowin' there are marshal's close is not a bad thing," said the Kid. "Might discourage some. When me and Heyes were runnin', I think we would have avoided Sheriff's Drive."

And so, the conversation continued. Heyes Way got rejected for now but saved for a better location.

Ken had been quiet for a while. "I like what Jed said, but not Sheriff's Drive. How about Lawmen Row? Would that have deterred you, Jed?"

"Sure would," I answered for me and the Kid. "Any objections?" I looked around the table and no one spoke. "Anyone unhappy with the name?"

"I like," said Ruth Ann, slowly pronouncing each word and looking proud. I remember when I was trying to learn to speak again. How hard it was. This little girl was proving to be determined and amazing.

ASJ*ASJ

Lom had given me a broad idea what he wanted his house to look like - one story, three bedrooms, and a secluded office on one side where the telegraph equipment could be installed. The US Marshal's Office had sent specific dimensions about the warehouse for Lom's old newspapers. They even speculated the size of the front door and that it must face west.

The first contractor I went to was the one that had rebuilt our house after the tornado. He gave me plans but raised the price of the materials because the location of the house was so remote. And he wasn't too eager to build the plain warehouse. Even after me and the Kid said we'd pick up all the needed materials and deliver them, the price remained unchanged.

Mr. Russell surprised us and submitted a bid.

"Kid, what do you think of this?" I asked him one evening when we were sitting in my office talking finances. I showed him Russell's submission without his name included.

"Who sent this? It's a two story. Lom wants one story. It has four bedrooms and no place for an office with a telegraph…and no front porch. Looks like something that Russel would have sent us," the Kid told me.

Smiling, I nodded, and we both laughed. Then I got back to business. "What about this one?" I said, handing him another set of plans.

I could tell he was intrigued by the time he took to review them. He ran his finger over some of the lines, nodding. "I like these. Someone creative took a lot of time with these," he finally said.

"Glad you like them. I'm planning on hiring her to be the contractor for Lom's house and his warehouse," I told him.

"Her?"