Winter's Refuge

Chapter One hundred Fifty-Three

HEYES

We didn't have to wait long. Nine men on horseback passed the new saloon and headed down the center of Main Street. Nine, not ten. I hoped that Mike told the Kid how many were coming so he'll be looking for that last man. Lom and I stood up at the same time and moved to the center of the street to block their path. Palmer Robinson and his head clerk, George Pages, were now standing by the front door of the bank, each with a rifle in their arms…and eyes focused on the approaching outlaws. The other men stayed hidden although I can see Charles Kolmand watching the men from behind a bush near the livery. And Father Patrick has stepped out on the church front steps. He's unarmed, but Brian and Scott Birde, Hortencia's younger brothers, are on either side of him with rifles. Although Father may look unarmed, under his cassock his hand is holding a Colt, much like the Kid's.

I drew my gun, stood tall, and growled at nothing to get in the right frame of mind. These are violent men, and it will take violence, or the threat of it, to stop them. I'm backed by good men who are determined to protect their town. But our presence didn't bother them at all.

They rode within five feet of me and Lom before they stopped. Dusty Dave and Rafferty were front and center, and Wilton Kerr was to Rafferty's left and a bit behind. Hairy Eyes Wolcott, I knew. He'd ridden with the Devil's Hole Gang for a week or so until Jim Santana decided he was too violent. Now he rode in the middle between Dusty Dave and Rafferty but stopped five feet behind them. Lowry was nowhere to be seen.

"You got business in Three Birds, Dusty Dave? Rafferty?" I was glad I had my outlaw leader voice. It made me sound a lot more confident than I really was. "And where's your pal, Lowry?"

I got the answer to my last question that I wanted as Rafferty looked up toward the roof of the old saloon for a quick instant. If I hadn't been looking for it, I would never have seen it.

Smilin' through yellow teeth, Dusty Dave tried to snarl, "Get out of our way, Heyes. Shaw made this our town, and we plan to reclaim it…and the money from that bank that was taken from us." His voice has always been too high for his looks, and it was worse when he tried to snarl. He sounded like a wounded small animal.

Neither me or Lom moved. He had pulled his gun, also. And I saw Sheriff Birde and Mike Loveland pick up a rope we had prepared in the dirt and fasten it about three feet high behind the outlaws' horses. It was one of my jobs to keep their attention focused on me.

"Not your town, it's ours. We have your wanted posters. You're all under arrest and we're adding the murder of Sheriff Damon Holahan to your charges. That money is back where it belongs, in the bank of Three Birds," I told him, nodding my head toward the guarded bank by Robinson and his spectacled clerk. They were standing firm but did not look intimidating.

"Shaw told me the bank president GAVE him all that money to leave them alone. He didn't steal it; it was a gift," laughed Dusty Dave. The men behind him joined in the laughter...all except for Wilton Kerr.

Kerr looked around at our men he could see. "Where's your partner, Kid Curry? Wanted to meet him. He used to be a famous gunman. He scared to face me again?" Kerr snickered. Lom took a step toward Kerr.

I thought of the Kid. He could draw and fire faster than a man holding a gun could fire. Could Kerr do that? I won't take the chance that he can.

"The Kid's not here," I answered in a voice that I hope told him that was the end of the conversation. His eyes fell on Frank.

"Ahh…Sheriff Birde, me and you have a score to settle, don't we," Kerr said with a smile that made me shiver.

JED 'KID' CURRY

Wilton Kerr?! Okay, I won't shoot until, and if, shootin' starts below me, but I'm got my rifle focused on Wilton Kerr. I'm thinkin' that he is the fastest gun and the biggest threat down there. And there is no one fast enough to take him.

I faced him once about ten years ago. The Devil's Hole Gang rode through a town his gang considered theirs. We were just cocky enough not to care. We didn't want a fight, just a drink and to rest around a poker table for a couple of hours. We didn't think they'd care. They did. Wilton Kerr was their gunnie and he'd earned his reputation as a fast gun with little patience. And I knew that.

When he accused me of cheatin', I knew he was just lookin' for a reason to call me out. I stood up slowly and deliberately, unhookin' my gun and standin' ready right there at the table. He gave a low chuckle and was on his feet quickly. All the other players scattered quickly. Except for Heyes. I knew he was standin' behind me to the right. He made that a habit and his silent support was appreciated.

"Draw, Curry," Kerr hissed, his eyes searchin' mine.

"Never draw first," I answered calmly as I held his gaze.

I knew he would draw then. From what I had heard, he was unable to wait once the match had started.

His hand moved to draw first. And I drew faster, shootin' the gun out of his hand. While he was lookin' at his empty hand, Heyes hurried me out of the saloon and the boys had our horses ready outside the saloon. And that was the last time I saw him. Until today.

I kept him in my sights. He's either targetin' Heyes or Frank. Can't tell which. He looks different now, older. There's gray in his beard but he looks as fit as ever. He won't start the shootin'. He's a follower…a dangerous follower.

I should be done there. These men would think twice before drawin' on Kid Curry. It's my fault I'm not there. My fault my friends are in danger. I've failed my town again and it may cost me some dear friends this time.

I recognized the depression wantin' to claim me. But bein' able to recognize it, lets me push it down, far down inside of me. I'll deal with it later.

I realized I had dropped Kerr out of my rifle sight. Just then, Brian Birde sneezed sharply from the steps of the church. Hairy Eyes Wolcott's horse jumped and felt the rope behind him and reared. Thinkin' he was under attack from the townsfolk, Hairy Eyes started firin' his gun and both sides started shootin'.

Hurriedly, I moved the rifle to line up Wilton Kerr, but I caught a movement on the roof across the street on the new schoolhouse/old saloon. I moved my rifle sight there and saw Lowry aimin' down the back of my partner's head.

I shot. Before my bullet reached him, he pulled his trigger, but the impact of my bullet on his body caused his rifle to shoot harmlessly above the heads of the combatants on the street. His rifle fell to the street, hittin' Kerr's horse and causin' it to panic, turn and run right into the rope.

I saw Lowry lyin', unmovin' on the roof, reloaded, and searched for Kerr.

HEYES

I heard the rifle shots and saw the gun fall from the roof and hit Kerr's horse. Kid was watchin' over me and all of us, I thought, and felt better. Pappy had joined Palmer Robinson on the front steps of the bank. I hurried in that direction, but Dusty Dave, now on foot with Rafferty by his side, got their first.

"No time to beg, mister bank president; get out of the way or you are dead." I heard Dusty Dave order as he pointed his gun at Robinson. "We consider the money in there ours. You have until the count of three to move aside. One, Two, BANG!"

The force of Palmer Robinson's rifle shot blew a hole in Dusty Dave's chest and put an astonished look on the outlaw's corpse. Robinson was sitting on his rear end after the unexpected recoil from the rifle. He couldn't have been more than two feet when he shot the outlaw.

I heard an "Ow!" from my left and turned to see Mr. Kolmand holding a bloody shoulder, his gun still holstered. I motioned to him to get inside a building.

"Heyes, you're mine," Rafferty announced, coming toward me, gun drawn. "I want to see your face when you realize you're dying and I'm the one who killed you."

Then bang, bang, bang, three shots. Lom, Mike, and Pappy each put a shot into Rafferty…and saved my life. They were all looking at me, but I was looking past them and saw Wilton Kerr about to ambush Frank from behind. I was too far away for an accurate pistol shot.

I yelled, "Frank!" He turned just as Kerr shot. Grabbing his stomach, Frank went down, and Kerr started walking away from the fighting and commotion.

"Don't let him get away!" I yelled and started to run after him.

He started running.

JED 'KID' CURRY

I'm used to bein' on the street in the middle of gang fights, not lookin' out a window from above. The men and horses kicked up so much dust it's hard to see what's happenin'. I watched Mr. Robinson kill Dusty Dave with a close-range rifle shot to protect the bank and others around him. There was absolutely no way even he could miss from that range. I'm not sure if he ever shot anything, gun or rifle before. But he made this shot count.

I watched the three shots that saved Heyes from Rafferty. First, I was guilty that I hadn't been there to save my partner. Takin' a deep breath, I did as Aiden had asked and tried to think positively. And I realized that was easier than I thought. I was thankful we had three good friends watchin' our backs.

I started searchin' for Kerr among the men and horses. I saw him just as he shot Frank. I saw Heyes runnin' after him.

I tried to aim my rifle at him but he was runnin' erracticly. As Wilton Kerr passed the alley by the mercantile, a rifle shot rang out and Kerr fell to the ground. Lookin' quickly at the alley, I think I saw the rear wheel of a rollin' chair disappearin' into the shadows. Jeff! Fittin' that a Birde should exact revenge for Frank's shootin'.

When Kerr fell, I could tell Heyes was given' orders again and rallyin' the men to go back. The rest of the outlaws were gettin' squeezed in between Pappy, Brothers, Juan, and Mike in the back and the rest of the townsmen led by Heyes and Lom in the front.

Lom took the lead arrestin' the outlaws well enough to walk. I saw Heyes point and send Juan up to the roof of the schoolroom to check on Lowry. I was pretty sure he was dead…and Juan confirmed that.

Mike Loveland picked up Frank and headed our way. I hoppled over to the door and went down the stairs on my rear end like Joy then Ruth Ann used to do before they could walk. My rollin' chair was right there at the bottom of the stairs where I had left it.

I watched Mike go by cradlin' Frank in his arms. At least Frank was alive, but belly wounds mean a slow death for most. I heard him moan. I felt sad. Why didn't I see what was happenin' and save him.

"How can I help?" I asked Aiden. "Or is my chair in your way?"

"Jed, don't have time for any self-pity right now. Denise isn't here. She's watching the boy at the Birdes' home. I need your help and your hands. Go see how many injured we have. We'll take the more serious injuries first, that's Frank right now. Make a list, then wash your hands with alcohol…twice and come back here."

Heyes came in helpin' Mr. Kolmand with a bleedin' shoulder. My partner looked at me. "It's a through and through," he said.

"Sir, sit right here in the waitin' room and we'll get to you when we can," I told him. "Doctor's workin' on Frank right now."

Miss Duhamel followed Mr. Kolmand in and sat down next to him. "Charles, you were so brave joining the men to fight for our town," she purred.

Besides Mr. Kolmand, Brian Birde and Father Patrick were shot from the town. Rafferty was carried into Aiden's office still alive but carryin' three bullets in his body. He died before he was even put into one of the exam rooms. Lowry and Dusty Dave were taken straight to Mr. Dwyer's undertaker's shop. Wilton Kerr was there also. So four outlaws were dead. I'll have to ask Heyes if the the other six are in custody.

Lom sent over word that four of the six men they had in prison had been shot or kicked by horses, but nothin' that couldn't wait.

"Jed, wash your hands again. I need you in here," yelled Aiden, urgently.

With clean hands, I rolled into the exam room holdin' my friend, Frank Birde and was surprised to see him sittin' up drinkin' water.

"Frank?" I asked softly. I saw him get a bullet in the belly. I saw pain in his eyes now but not fear.

"Jed! " Aiden said. "Sit with Frank for a minute. I'm going to see to Father Patrick. Frank's got something to show you. When you're done. Wash your hands again and come help me." He hurried out of the room.

"Frank, you look…well?" I asked.

"Owe you for saving my life, Jed."

"I didn't do nothin'," I answered, confused.

"Not today, but you remember that beautiful belt buckle you made me? I wear it all the time. Going to need a new one."

He handed me the belt bucket I made for him. It was the first one I ever made. It had a bullet lodged deep through the metal. "You mean?"

"Stopped the bullet, as you can see. Enough penetrated to give me a deep bruise but it didn't break the skin. So, your beautiful buckle saved my life today. Thank you."

I turned the belt buckle over in my hand. "Not workin' in the forge yet, but the first thing I'll make when I am is a new belt buckle for you, Frank."