Winter's Refuge
Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Seven
JED 'KID' CURRY
Preacher was reviewin' the candidates to invite to spend time at the cabin next. The first one was an easy choice. As Preacher had described him, he was a local orphan boy from Arizona who, in Preacher's opinion, didn't deserve to be in prison. His description reminded me of Gil, the boy at the railroad camp who taught us to eat cactus. And ended up bein' one of the three men hired to kill me. I thought of the US Marshal showin' me his dead body and tellin' me that there was one more man Warden Fitzjohn hired to kill me before he died. That man is still out there somewhere. When I told that to Preacher, he firmly told me this boy was not Gil. He deserved somethin' he never had in his life…help.
I wasn't sure that Heyes was listenin', but I need him to help me decide on the second man we offer a job for two months and the cabin as a home. He is a good judge of people. "Heyes, what do you think?" I asked him.
HEYES
I was aware of the Kid and Preacher talking, but I wasn't listening. I was still staring at the crucifix and the opened Bible on the podium. And remembering Preacher's life story. Even after losing his wife and daughter, he still believed in God. Even after being sentenced to twelve years in this, the hottest, driest of prison, he still believes in the Lord. I ignored the Kid's question and turned to Preacher. "Why do you believe in God?"
The Kid and Preacher stared at me. Preacher answered my question with a question. Grandpa Curry did that same thing. "Don't you? He's seen you through so many dark valleys to a life of blessings and family."
I just stared at him, but it started me thinking.
"Heyes, don't think too much about it. Sometime just sit alone and try to open that guarded heart of yours to him. You might be surprised."
ASJ*****ASJ
That night I wanted to talk with Kid about anything except what Preacher said to me. I was relieved he didn't bring it up either. I'm encouraged by the two men we finally decided on to live in our cabin until we return. I think Preacher chose well. When we got back to the cabin, the Kid went down to where the hole to the dark cell comes out and I followed.
"Hello down there. This is Jed Curry. You're gonna hear some shots. Just takin' care of a nest of snakes up here," the Kid yelled loud enough so his voice would carry down to the man imprisoned below. There was no answer.
I edged closer to the edge of the hole. There is now a ring of rocks and boards around it to make it harder for any remaining snakes. Still, I could look down. The man was huddled in the small beam of sunlight from the hole, curled up on himself.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Three shots came from the Kid's gun and I knew three snakes were no more.
I continued to watch the convict below. I was afraid he was dead, but he raised his head and looked up into the sun streaming into the hole.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
I had to listen carefully to the man's one word, "Thanks" that seemed to take all the effort he had left. He lowered his head again and huddled down.
I turned around to see the Kid reloading.
"Only two left that I can see. Feel like snake for dinner?"
I made a face.
"Me neither," the Kid answered.
Bang. Bang.
"He said thanks," I told the Kid.
"He did? I looked into his eyes when we were in the dark cell. They looked dead." From his tone, I knew the Kid didn't want to think about that man again. I walked back to the cabin with him and tried to think of something to break his awkward silence.
"I talked to Mr. Palmer, and we set up a regular transfer of funds to a bank kinda near the village where Luke works. Much safer than sending the cash in the mail. Seems to have worked, but I wondered if Chrissy has had a letter from Luke lately?" I asked.
The Kid gave me that look that meant he knew I had changed the subject. "Yeah, I should have let you know. The bank's about thirty miles away but it's the closest one and he goes there for supplies anyway. He's the only priest for a growin' number of villages and small towns. He has a seminarian that's been with him for years, though, and he's gonna take his holy vows soon. Father Luke fights poverty and hunger there every day. With our last money, he bought seeds and farm implements and was able to start a community farm in the largest of the small towns. You think maybe we could afford to send him a little more each month?" he asked.
The Kid doesn't pay attention to the books. He knows I'll take care of it. Still, he needs to know we have plenty of money. "Kid, we can send him double, if you want. We still have all the reward money from Brown River and then Mark and his Devils Hole Gang. And I got the rewards in North Dakota. The horse ranch is very, very profitable, as is your blacksmith shop, and your special projects alone could support Phoenix. We can afford to send Luke whatever you want," I told him.
And I saw the ten-year-old optimistic Kid in front of me before life changed him as tears clouded his eyes. "Heyes, we did good, right? And maybe you can believe that God is blessin' us."
I gave him a sideways grin. "Thinking about what Preacher said. That's a start."
JED 'KID' CURRY
Me and Heyes' trip to Yuma seemed calm compared to the never-endin' party preparations at home. And as the day came closer, me and Heyes were too busy to get much work done. Each mornin' Arnie came with a stack of telegrams and letters while we were still eatin' breakfast.
"Sit down, Arnie, have some breakfast while we read these," Auntie said. She put the stack on the table. She, Chrissy, and Angie each took one off the top. "I'll take notes for Hortencia."
Me and Heyes had learned Hortencia was the keeper of THE list of people invited and people comin'. No one touched that list, even to read it, without her permission.
Openin' a letter, Chrissy spoke first. "Good. Lom and Wayne are coming and will arrive the day before. Lom says he has some big news for us. And, oh, they can only stay one extra day because his Deputy, Nat Bickson is getting married the following Saturday."
"Wonder what his big news is?" Heyes said quietly to me.
"Guess we have to wait and see," I answered.
Auntie smiled as she looked up from a letter. "Freddie and Flossie Pokora are bringing their whole family and want to know what they can bring. Can one of you ride by their farm and tell them they needn't bring anything?" she asked, lookin' at me and Heyes.
"We'll get it done," I answered. I'm glad the Pokoras came back to their farm after Skunk Shaw and his men killed his ma and took over their farmhouse. They burn the whole house down and we had three weekends of barnraisin' gatherin's to rebuild. I suggested the Town Council pay for it and it was a unanimous vote. They're good people, the kind that Three Birds needs.
"Today, please, Jed," Auntie replied, pickin' up the next telegram. "Oh, and it looks like everything is going to work out so that Stephanie and Steven can come, Rocky."
"Work out?" asked Heyes, while I couldn't miss the huge smile on Rocky's face. They had come here for three weeklong visits since his release from prison. All the visits went very well. I knew Rocky was lookin' forward to seein' them at the party.
"Yes, work out. Chrissy's been coordinating it all," said Auntie, she explained further. "Dr. Oliver and Nancy won't be coming because she's with child. But Chrissy arranged for the doctor to take the train with them as far as Bridgeport. They'll come here with Mike Loveland, Mikey, and Sam."
"They're going to stay for two weeks this time," added Rocky, joyfully.
By the end of breakfast, me and Heyes had a full day of stops to make, supplies to buy, and borrowed chairs to pick up. Chrissy and Angie ordered new clothes for all the kids and new shirts for me and Heyes that were waitin' at Jeff's mercantile for us to pick up.
HEYES
By the day before the party, me and the Kid were so exhausted we just wanted it to be over. Lom and Wayne arrived early that day. He'd rented a buggy in Bridgeport. Me and the Kid were sitting on the porch seeing what we have left to do on the ladies' list. The almost three year old jumped from the buggy and just ran up our porch steps to the waiting kids that were standing on the porch. I've never seen a boy with such energy, but the trip from Porterville was long for the toddler. He has Lom's hair and Susan's eyes and smile…and I can tell he's his pa's pride and joy.
Vince came over and took their traveling bags out and put them on the porch before taking their horse and buggy.
Lom started in the front door to be blocked by Chrissy with a tray of three lemonades. "Welcome, Lom," she said, holding out the tray.
He kissed her cheek saying, "Got to catch up with my son," as he tried to get by her.
"Wayne has a lot of mothers here. Don't worry about him. Sit on the porch with Jed and Heyes and have some lemonade and a cookie." She put the tray down on the small table near the chairs.
Lom did as she asked with a smile. "Hi, boys," he said, as he sat down and took a lemonade. He looked tired and his hair was peppered with a liberal amount of gray. "Haven't traveled with the boy in a year. He's hard to keep amused."
"Plenty of kids here to tire him out," I answered.
He looked out over Phoenix and smiled. "Looks like things are growing around here and I don't mean just kids. I saw the shops along Curry Road now. How are Ken and Mary Josephs?"
The Kid answered, "I'll use Ken's word - they're thrivin'. He said they want to live here forever. Heyes had the small dirt path between our homes widened and smoothed out so it's a quick trip in between. We planted corn on one side of the road. Almost two years ago the Josephs were gone for almost four months. They went to visit his ma and then his brother, Karl, also a US Marshal, was shot and seriously injured. He recovered there. They helped take care of him. Well, mostly Mary took care of him."
Lom nodded. "I remember when Karl was injured. How's he doing now?"
"Recovered completely, just needed time. While he was there, he met a girl he'd gone to school with and fell in love," the Kid answered.
"Happens to the best of us," I added with a grin.
"He works in Cheyenne now with US Marshal Deputy Director Aaron Brothers; you remember him, Lom?" the Kid asked.
"I do. What happened with the girl?" Lom answered.
"Married her with a little one on the way soon," I told him. "Ken and Mary just have the one boy. They'll be here tomorrow."
"New stables and corrals and a bigger barn, too?" asked Lom.
The Kid grinned at me. "Yeah, since Heyes became the Operations Manager of Phoenix a lot of things goin' on. More horses, more horse breedin'…we're as big as Winter's Refuge now."
Then we were quiet, and I felt uncomfortable in that silence. I could tell Lom wanted to tell us something. I remembered his letter. "So, Deputy Nic Bockson is getting married? He's grown into a good man," I said.
"Yes, he's doing very well. Marrying a bank teller from Porterville. Been courting her for awhile. And that leads me into my news. I'm retiring. Nat will make an excellent sheriff. His brother, Junior, will be his deputy" Lom spoke quickly and I couldn't tell if he was happy with retiring or not. But then he continued, "I'm getting too old to wrestle with drunks and vagrants. Don't have the patience to do that anymore. And, with Wayne, I can't up and lead a posse at a minute's notice."
"What are you plannin' on doin'?" asked the Kid.
Lom smiled. "Got plenty of money and land and investments, thanks to Susan, so don't really need to work, but I was hoping you'd need some help with the breeding operation here in the spring and summer. I'd like for me and Wayne to spend a lot of time here. Be good for him to be around a lot of other kids. I know I'm spoiling him."
"Always welcome, Lom, hope you know that. We can always use a hand with the horses," the Kid answered. That's how the Kid is now…welcoming.
Angie came out of the house and Lom stood up. 'Hi Lom, your son is sleeping on the couch in the living room. Your trip must have tired him out." She was carrying a box full of paper and flower garlands. "Need the three of you to start putting these up on the corral all the way down to the gate. And Jed, Auntie wants to know if you remembered to invite the barber, Ernest Fuller?"
"Asked him a week or so again. He said thanks for the invitation, and he might stop by. He was very interested in how many people were coming from Three when I joked and said the whole county, he seemed to get mighty interested," the Kid answered.
Lom looked at me with a question in his eyes.
"Maybe he'll try and get more customers. Good barber. Strange man," I answered.
JED 'KID' CURRY
The commotion in our house started just after sunup as the final arrangements for the party were started. Chrissy gave me a kiss on the cheek and moved my arm off her as she started to get out of bed. Then she laid down next to me and looked into my sleepy eyes with excited green eyes. "Thanks for letting me have this party, Jed. I love you." And then she was off and runnin'. She popped back in a few minutes later. "Would you get the little twins and Katie up, fed, and dressed?" she asked.
At my grimace, she gave a laugh. "Their diapers are already changed. Just dress them in old clothes and bring them down to breakfast. Let them eat like that. Afterwards, put on the outfits laying on their dresser." She left quickly. Then she came back immediately. "If they have food in their hair, give them a bath. That's your job this morning. Same as Heyes' job with Nettie and Lom's with Wayne."
"Joy and Ruth Ann?" I asked quickly.
"Martha's in charge of them."
ASJ*****ASJ
I was amazed when I carried the birthday girl and helped the little twins down the stairs and saw William Knight standing at the stove next to Auntie. "William?" I asked, stunned.
"Good morning, Jed. Excuse me for not responding, but I wasn't sure if I could come until the last minute. Mrs. Clark's invitation made me smile."
"Nice to see you." I held out my free hand.
"Is this the birthday girl?" he asked, holdin' a piece of bacon out to Katie. Grabbin' it, she smelled it before lickin' it. William laughed. "I was upset that I didn't get here last spring. I was cooking for the railroad at what they call a Harvey House. I got to work at different ones along the railroad line and see some of this glorious country. But I'm ready to go home…and when I think of home, I think of all of you here at Phoenix."
"And I never mind sharing MY kitchen with William," Auntie said as she grinned at him. She had the little twins settled on the long bench at the table in their high seats when Martha brought down Joy and Ruth Ann. Josiah and Diane don't understand what's goin' on, but Joy does. And her unrestrained excitement is mirrored by Ruth Ann. While Auntie fed the kids, William handed me a plate with an egg omelet that smelled delicious. I ate it standin' up, findin' steak and veggies hidin' in the eggs. I would have asked for more, but Ruth Ann chose that moment to throw her eggs at Wayne Trevors who had just crawled up on the bench between her and Joy.
"Heyes up?" I asked.
"Right here," said my partner, slowly walking behind his daughter, Nettie. "William Knight!" he exclaimed.
"Good morning, Heyes," he said, as he handed Heyes a plate with the same omelet as me. He took a bite and smiled.
"Now all of you, out of the kitchen. Mrs. Clark and I have a masterpiece to prepare!" announced William.
But at that moment Chrissy walked into the kitchen and took my breath away. "Darlin' you take my breath away. You look so beautiful." She wore a dress with green and yellow flowers that made her eyes so so green. And her hair was pulled back and rolled in at the base or her neck and daisies from her garden were tucked into it.
I put my arms around her waist and kissed her in front of everyone. She laughed, blushed and touched her hair. "You like?" she asked.
I stole a kiss on the bare neck under her ear before sayin', "Looks charmin, and sophisticated."
"Good. I saw it a long time ago in Cheyenne," she answered.
"Ma, can you do my hair like that?" asked Martha.
"No. You're too young," Chrissy told her before rushin' away to attend to the party preparations.
HEYES
There are people everywhere, outside and inside our house for the party. All are happy and talking. The adults are drinking the spiked punch Auntie and William Knight made. They told us it would only be out for a couple of hours then it would be replaced by a nonalcoholic version. Kids seem to be running everywhere underfoot. Where did they all come from? Martha and Michael and their school friends are doing a good job of playing games with them, but all the games seem to involve running.
Walking down to the gate to have a bit of quiet, I greeted Sheriff Frank Birde and his wife, Beverly. Their son Junior was demanding to get out of the buggy now and go play.
"Young man, you will stay in this buggy until I give you permission to get out. Do you understand," Frank told him.
A quick look of defiance turned into acceptance. "Yes, Pa."
Frank stopped the buggy next to me. "Heyes, who's that man locking up the barber shop?" he asked quietly.
"That's the new barber, Ernest Fuller," I answered.
Frank took a quick look at him. "How long he been here?"
"About two months. Don't know where he lives. Ain't too friendly. Good barber. Strange man."
"He always wear his gun tied down like that?" Frank asked.
"Except when he's cutting hair. Why all the questions?" I asked.
"Where's Jed?" he asked, not answering me.
"Last I saw, the Kid was in a group of men discussing the possibility of building an irrigation system around here like the Romans had. Some book he read in prison talked about them," I answered, but I don't think Frank heard.
"Heyes, get Jed and meet me in that front corral. Anyone else good with a gun here?" he asked.
"Your Deputy Preston and Lom's here and Mike Loveland, too. Of course, Ken Josephs is an excellent shot and…" He cut me off.
"Bring them, too. They can guard Phoenix. You, me, and Jed will handle the rest. Get three horses saddled quickly. Beverly, take the boy into the house and stay there."
"Frank, you're scaring me," said Miss Beverly.
JED 'KID' CURRY
I'd been talkin' with Mike, Lom, Mr. Crenshaw, and Jeff about irrigation when a children's rhythm I could just barely hear caught my attention. My Joy was talkin' to Mikey. "Sam and Stephanie sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First come love. Then comes marriage."
"Joy, where did you learn that?" I demanded strongly. My daughter looked at me innocently while the boys ran away. I hope I can scare away my daughters' future boyfriends as easily.
Joy gave me her most innocent look but an elvish grin. "I heard Martha and Michael saying it, Pa.
"Where is Sam? I asked.
She looked around and whispered, "Down by where you practice shooting."
"Stay here," I ordered.
I marched down to my shootin' area. I didn't even think about the words I would use. There I found Sam and Stephanie sittin' on the low wall, spoonin'. Unconsciously, I took my gunfighter's stance, crossin' my arms across my chest and cleared my throat. They both jumped, blushed, and stood up lookin' guilty.
"Mr. Curry, we were just…just..." Stephanie started. Sam was just starin' at my gun.
"I saw what you were doin' and it won't be happenin' again until you are both a lot older. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," Stephanie said.
"Yes sir," Sam echoed, but didn't look into my eyes.
"Stephanie, you can go, but I expect that you will stay in the main part of the party for the rest of the day."
"Yes, Mr. Curry," she said, as she ran to the house.
"Now, Sam…" I stepped closer so he had to look at me. "Your pa has had 'that talk' with you, hasn't he?"
"Yes."
"Stephanie is a couple of years younger than you. I do not want this behavior repeated. Do you understand? Ladies and girls need to be respected."
"Yes, sir. You going to tell my pa?" he asked.
"I don't keep secrets from my partner and I'm thinkin' of tellin' Mr. Loveland, too. You may be seventeen, but you're still young," I told him. "Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir, I do. And I won't repeat this until I'm older."
"Good, now go back to the party and I don't expect you to follow Stephanie around today."
"Yes, sir. Thank you." He started to turn and go, but stopped and looked nervous before askin', "Do you think Pa and you and me can have a talk about girls and stuff? They're confusing."
'They sure are!" I laughed out loud. "Yes, we'll make sure we talk. Now go."
HEYES
I couldn't remember if the Kid was wearing his gun. It's such a natural part of him after all this time that I don't think about it. But if he's not, I'll make sure he gets it. Frank was leaning on the fence between the small and big corral when we found him.
"Frank." The Kid held out his hand to shake. "You wanted to see us?"
The sheriff glanced down the road where the barber was riding in the opposite direction. "Lom, Mike, Ken, Preston, you guard Phoenix. Lom you're in charge. I'll explain later. Jed, Heyes, mount up. Let's go. I'll tell you on the way."
We waited before turning onto the Main Road until Fuller was around the first curve. "I recognized your new barber," Frank told us.
"Ain't our barber. He just asked if he could lease a buildin' here to cut hair and we obliged. Stays to himself. Pays his rent on time. Not sure where he lives. Me and Heyes been keepin' an eye on him, though."
We took the cutoff that would take us to the far end of Three Birds without taking the main road. It was rocky and hardly more than a rabbit trail, but we pushed our horses.
"His name's not Ernest Fuller. It's Ernesto Fumetti. He's wanted for murder in a couple of states, including Nebraska. Robbery, too. He doesn't like to leave witnesses. He sometimes introduces himself as 'the Barber'."
I heard the Kid take in a deep breath. "And you think he's headin' into town to rob our bank."
"I surely do. And I want to get there first," Frank said, as we pushed our horses to go faster.