Winter's Refuge

Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Eight

LOM

I took Preacher's words to heart and his pact seriously. For the first few days, I washed in the cold river multiple times a day. I had begged the Kid for a drink. Even accused him of not being my friend. Took a swing at him too, but he caught my hand easily before it reached him. I'd forgotten how strong he's now. I need his strength and steadfast friendship now. And he was there for me and didn't hurry me.

I paced. I shook. I cried. And somewhere in all that, I realized I wanted control of my life back. And Preacher had given me the way to do that. So, I kept busy every minute. I whittled a rattle with small rocks inside for Wayne…and searched the woods around us for plants to dye the wood. Then I made whistles for the Kid's twins and Joy. I replaced the broken bricks of the fireplace. I made shelves for the main room and fixed the wobble on the table legs. And spent time cooking as my appetite came back.

I tried to read…at first a few pages, sitting in the chair with my foot tapping nervously. But the next day I read for half an hour and the third day the book caught my full attention and I finished it and started looking for another. I kept thinking about and talking about Wayne and I knew it was time to go back to Porterville. We went straight to Susan's house. I can't think of any other way. And I hugged my son and cried at his beautiful innocence.

"We're taking him back to the cabin, Phyllis. He'll live with me, but I need you to watch him while I work."

She smiled. "Been waiting to hear you say that."

The Kid carried the baby while I checked in at the sheriff's office. "Hi, Junior," I said to my surprised deputy.

"Sheriff Trevors." He stood up quickly. "I didn't expect you today."

"Relax, Junior. Just want you to know I'll be taking the weekday shifts from now on. Thanks for filling in for me." I said it forcefully, but not demanding.

Deputy Junior Bickson smiled. "Sounds mighty good to hear you say that, sir."

I didn't know what to say. "Thanks."

JED 'KID' CURRY

I missed my family and I felt guilty for lyin' to Heyes and Chrissy. One of the first things I did when we got to Porterville was to send them a telegram that all was goin' well and I would be home soon.

I had an answer less than fifteen minutes later.

Jed Curry

Porterville, Wy

All's fine at home. STOP We're needed in Cheyenne by the eleventh.

HH

Three Birds NE

I didn't even know what the date was today. I know we were at the cabin for less than a week. Once Lom took our pact to heart, it was just a matter of getting' the alcohol out of his system. But still, he needed support to succeed…and I arranged it for him. Porterville had been supportive of his drinkin', now they needed to help his recovery. I talked to Phyllis and his deputies, the Bickson brothers. All were eager to help Lom. Then I checked in with the bartender. Lom wouldn't be able to get alcohol anywhere in Porterville.

At his cabin, first he sat and cuddled Wayne, talkin' softly to him. As babies do, Wayne watched his pa's smilin' face, wavin' his arms, and kickin' his legs while cooin' in return.

While he did that, I searched for hidden bottles of whiskey. I found two in the pantry and stood them on the kitchen table.

"There's two more hidden back there, look again," Lom told me, with a grin. They were well hidden, but I found them. I added them to the two on the table.

"Two in the kitchen, three in the bedroom and one in the fireplace," Lom said in a singsong voice, lookin' at his son.

The drinkin' Lom must have thought someone would try to stop his drinkin'. He hid the bottles real good. I added them to the table.

"Anymore?"

He looked up from his son. "Believe that's all but I'll look around." He smiled at me. "Think Wayne knows what I'm saying to him. He looks me right in the eyes and don't tell me that smile was gas."

"He's getting' to know his pa," I answered and felt that Lom and Wayne were gonna be alright.

HEYES

Ten minutes after the Kid walked into the living room at Phoenix, he was yelling…really yelling at me.

"Heyes, how could you let Chrissy travel to Cheyenne. She's with child. She was ordered to rest!" He punched his forefinger into my shoulder once for each word. "What were you thinkin'?"

I can't stand it when the Kid is mad at me. I took a step back and searched in my mind for a place to hide in there. He keeps me grounded in reality; if he's not on my side, I…I…I couldn't think. I looked down. "Yes, sir," was all that I could get out.

Chrissy pushed between us. "Jed, quiet!" she demanded, with a hand on each of our chests. "Chrissy decide to go. Heyes come to protect me."

The Kid took a deep breath. All he had really heard was that me and Chrissy traveled to Cheyenne. He looked at his wife bravely standing between us. And he smiled. "You decided to go?"

"Chrissy decide go. Heyes and Dr. Oliver come too."

I could see the smile start in his blue eyes before reaching his face, but his tone was still severe. "YOU made the decision to go. Did you remember you are with child?"

She leaned up and whispered something to the Kid that made his eyes big. "Really?" he asked, hugging her tightly and kissing her. Then a thought struck him. "You knew and still went to Cheyenne?"

"Chrissy and Heyes meet with governor for Jed."

He still held her close, and he looked over at me. I found the courage to look at him, but I couldn't meet his eyes. I knew his anger had lessened. But words escaped me.

The Kid studied his wife. "You're okay." It was a statement, not a question.

"Chrissy good. Heyes make rest. Visit Miss Tina."

When I wouldn't meet his eyes, the Kid stood right in front of me and used his hand to lift my chin. "Thanks, partner."

I knew that was all the thanks I would get, but it was enough.

"Sit. Listen," Chrissy told her husband.

And he listened as we told him about Stanley Oliver Rocke. His first reaction was the same as mine. "You didn't agree, did you? Did you forget about Vance and Issac?"

"Not the same," Chrissy insisted. "Rocky good. Chrissy know."

As we told his story, Chrissy kept saying, "Rocky good." And by the end of our discussion, the Kid was convinced. But he had some questions. "Did you say that they are allowin' his younger siblings to visit him in prison? How old are they? Far as I know, the Wyomin' prison don't allow no kid visitors."

"I asked that," I answered. "Turns out the siblings' foster parents arranged it with Colin. They're big donors to the governor's projects. The kids are young. Colin described the boy as a belligerent eleven and the girl as an introverted ten. Neither one has adjusted well to the loss of their ma. They feel everyone they love gets taken from them by death or prison…except each other."

I stopped there. We had felt that way for a long time. I'm still afraid it can happen again and I'm sure he is, too.

"When they visitin' him?" he asked and I knew that Rocky was coming to Phoenix.

"The eleventh…and he'll be indentured to us that same day," I explained.

"Why the rush?" he asked, and I looked to Chrissy before answering.

"Matt's a trustee. He got word to the warden who told Colin that the Red Sash Gang is actively trying to recruit the boy. Wanted to save him. His pa was part of that gang."

The Kid nodded. "Some things I don't like about this…don't like the word indentured, don't like the shackles at night."

"You okay that he can't carry a gun or leave the county?"

He thought for a moment. "Yes."

"We both argued against the others. Sanderson wouldn't budge on anything except no guard if the door at night is locked from the outside. Chrissy and Auntie already have the room prepared."

"You knew I'd agree?" the Kid asked.

Chrissy smiled. "Jed good man. Teach Rocky to be like you."

JED 'KID' CURRY

Even when we were on the train to Cheyenne, I still had my doubts about havin' an indentured servant and parolee. Heyes and Chrissy may think he's basically good but I'm the one who has to work closely with him…and whether they use the word or not, guard him durin' the day. I was a trustee at the railroad camp, but I refused to guard other men. I don't know what Heyes is thinkin' either. I know I scared him yellin' at him when I came home. Forgot he's still fragile in some ways. Anyone else could probably have yelled at him and he'd been alright.

We got to Bridgeport late and had to run from the livery, where we left the horses, to just catch the train to Cheyenne. Colin's telegram just said he'd meet our train so not sure the timin' of our meetin' with the parole board for Rocky, as my family already calls him.

"You got a good reason to be proud of your wife," Heyes said, when we were settled.

"Because she went to Cheyenne with child when the doctor told her to rest?" I pretended to growl at him.

"No. You know she accepted a reservation from the Circle E again this year?"

I shuddered. "The one where the foreman tried to kill her last year? Why would she do that?"

Heyes smiled. "She has a good heart and believes in second chances."

"Where would we be without second chances? So, what happened with Circle E?"

"They brought a beautiful young mare named Emmy, who was already pregnant. Juan spotted it and Chrissy knew what to do," Heyes said and then told me exactly what happened, even down to Chrissy pullin' her gun.

I leaned back. My wife never fails to amaze me…and I wonder what she's doin' with someone like me. "When Chrissy was growin' up, her pa taught her to shoot with her brothers. She was more accurate than any of them, except Bobby Bell."

Heyes continued, "She threw the cash at Perry's feet and gave him travel money for his time. When he looked up after picking it up, Chrissy had her gun aimed at him. And I had no doubt she would have shot him if he didn't leave. I could tell the foreman felt the same. He left quickly."

I laughed deeply. "You're right, I'm proud of Chrissy."

HEYES

It was good to hear the Kid laugh. After that, I tried to sleep until we got to Cheyenne. I thought about the ride out to the Wyoming Territorial Prison. It's always rough for the Kid and fear is already gripping my heart and we aren't even near Cheyenne. That place broke my spirit and stole my soul. The only reason I'm sitting here, a married man with a child on the way, is the Kid's belief in me. As the train slowed down, I steadied myself for the trip to get Rocky.

True to his word, Colin was waiting on the platform. As usual, he was dressed in a three-piece suit. Only difference was that today it wasn't black but dark gray. Me and the Kid wore our Sunday suits, as our wives call them. But they were nowhere as fashionable as Colin's. Still, the Kid turns all the ladies' eyes in his royal blue suit.

"Jed, Heyes, good to see you. Do you have other bags?" Colin shook our hands warmly. "Right this way, I have the governor's buggy."

Of course we'd take a buggy to the prison. We had to bring Rocky back with us. But we didn't head to the prison. We headed toward the governor's mansion instead.

"Governor Sanderson comin' with us to the prison?" The Kid asked what I was thinking.

"No, everything will be conducted at the mansion. We thought it would be easier for Rocky's siblings if they saw him there," Colin answered.

"You seem to care a lot about those kids…and this convict." The Kid's tone was even, calm, but I could hear an edge to it. I wondered the same thing.

"The foster parents are good people. Casual friends of mine and my Aunt Tina. If this visit doesn't get through to Stephanie and Steven, they're considering sending them to an orphanage. Think the people there would know how to help them. It would break their hearts."

"Orphanages don't help no one sent there," the Kid growled.

"There are some excellent…" Colin stopped talking when he saw the Kid's face. "Well, anyway, that's what we're trying to avoid here."

JED 'KID' CURRY

The governor and his wife have always tried to make me feel welcome here, but in the back of my mind I remember that he's one of the governors that lied to Lom about our amnesty, going along with his predecessors. But I remind myself, he's also the one that reconsidered and the reason me and Heyes are sittin' in this day room of his as free men. We stood as he came into the room and wondered that he held his finger to his lips and led us upstairs to a balcony overlookin' a small central rose garden. Sittin' down in chairs prepared for us, I realized we could see and hear the garden below us.

The two below must be Rocky's siblin's. I had heard the girl was ten. She had long blonde hair tied back at her neck and a really pretty, fancy blue dress. It had lace trim and a matchin' bag and hat. She looked very stylish. But I recognized her body language. She was inside her mind, somewhere, escapin' from somethin'. The boy, a year older, wore a worn suit just a little too short in the legs and arms for him. His pacin' reminded me of Heyes. When he finally sat down, his back was so straight that it didn't touch the back of the chair.

Convict Stanley Oliver Rocke entered from a side door I hadn't seen before. From our viewpoint, we could see the guards that stayed behind just inside the house. The kids couldn't see the guards but I'm sure the guards could see every move the convict made.

He marched in and then saw the kids…and a smile hit his face as he opened his arms. "Steph, Steve, I missed you so much."

Steve ran right into his brother's arms, but Stephanie just stared past him. Steve ran back to her and took her hand. "It's Rocky, Steph, Rocky!"

After starin' at him for a minute, she also fell into his hug and the three whispered quietly while holdin' each other tight. Then they sat in a circle, the younger two never lettin' go of Rocky's hands.

"You bein' good?" he asked them.

Steve looked at his shoes. "Don't like school and don't like Mr. Smith."

Stephanie nodded slowly and a thought that this girl had been abused hit me.

"She been abused?" I whispered to Colin.

"Don't think so, but she says she saw her mother killed," he whispered back, but I saw I had put an idea in his head.

Rocky messed up Steve's hair when he told him about hatin' readin'.

"You going to come and take us, Rocky? You're old enough to do that." Steve's question sounded like a plea. And Stephanie looked at him intently.

"Be another three years before I can do that, but I promise the moment I'm free, I'll come get you. And I'll have a trade then, too. Goin' to learn to be a blacksmith."

"That's a long time," Stephanie said and from her voice I imagined that tears were in her eyes. She reached out and hugged Rocky's waist, hidin' her face under his arm. "I don't like Mr. Smith," she repeated.

And the way she said it made me look at Colin, who was watchin' her closely.

"How well you know the Smiths?" I whispered to him.

"Really not all that well. They are huge contributors to the governor's campaign fund and his favorite charities. They care for six to eight foster children at any one time," Colin answered without takin' his eyes off the scene below. "If the children are removed from their care, they will be split up."

The governor had been watchin' and listenin'. "Colin, find out if any of their foster children are pretty young girls about Stephanie's age."

"Yes, sir."

Heyes leaned across me to whisper to Colin, "How does someone become a foster parent? Do they have to live in Wyoming?"

"They do."

We watched as the three kids below us enjoyed their visit. Neither of the younger ones commented on Rocky's prison stripes. When it was time for them to part, the guard knocked on the window in the garden. Rocky stood up very straight, very quickly. "I've got to go, but I need both of you to be very good for the Smiths until I can take care of you. Can you do that?"

Two reluctant nods followed.

"Remember I love you and I'll try and send a letter if I can get someone to write it down for me." He looked at Steven. "I hated school, too. Never really learned to read or write real good. Promise me that you'll to learn that."

He hugged them both together and left quickly with a straight back lookin' straight forward.

I looked at Colin. "You got my final consent. I'll take Rocky as an apprentice, although I don't agree with some of the restrictions."

Standin, Heyes asked Colin, "You got someone that could deliver a message for me?"

"Of course we do. This is the governor's mansion," Colin answered.

Heyes winked at me, and I knew he had a Hannibal Heyes plan.

ASJ*****ASJ

Heyes and Colin disappeared for a moment, but me and Sanderson sat at the round table and he opened a file of paperwork.

"Stanley Rock joinin' us?" I asked.

"Waiting for Colin and Heyes. Heyes' the one that's been working with the parole board. Convict Rocke will join us when he becomes Parolee Rocke."

I was nervous sittin' there with Charles as he asked me to call him again. The man had been our guest at Phoenix, and I enjoyed his company. But in this formal settin' talkin' about someone's future, I was nervous. And Colin and Heyes were takin' their time comin' back. When they did, I could tell by the twinkle in his eyes that Heyes had set a plan in motion.

Lookin' past us, the governor stood suddenly. "Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith, thank you for bringing the children here today."

Mr. Smith walked over to the table with a confident swagger. "Charles always a pleasure."

"You and Mrs. Smith and the children will join us for tea later today, won't you? My wife would enjoy seeing all of you."

"Of course, Governor. It will be pleasant if Steven can mind his manners."

"And the girl?" the governor asked.

"Stephanie is the perfect child, very quiet, spends a lot of time dreaming. She will enjoy the tea. And I'd like to talk about a state subsidy for a road that I would like built near my ranch. And of course, another substantial donation for your reelection campaign." Mr. Smith had a charismatic arrogance about him. He was used to smilin', passin' out money, and gettin' his way.

"Well, state subsidies go through our state legislature, but glad to hear about the road." The governor reached out and shook Mr. Smith's hand to end their talk.

The Smiths left as Colin and Heyes returned.

"Okay gentlemen, let's get down to the details." Colin opened the file on the table and gave us each a copy. Then we went over it line by line. The further we got into it, the more depressed I got. I imagined the governor, Colin, and Lom doin' this for me and Heyes…and Lom objectin' to the extra codicils added for Heyes.

And I objected again to the night shackles and the term indentured.

"Can't he just be paroled in our custody? Why does it have to be indentured?" I asked at least twice. "I chose to indenture myself to the railroad. It was as close to hell as I hope to ever get. My Irish grandparents came to Pennsylvania from their homeland as indentured servants. Claimed it stole seven years of their lives. It's not a word I take lightly."

"We don't take it lightly; they were my grandparents, too," added Heyes.

In a firm voice, Governor Sanderson laid down the law. "These are both terms that the parole board decided because of his age and crime. Either you accept them and leave with him today, or you don't and leave alone."

I grabbed a blank piece of paper and started writin'. I handed it to Colin. "Can you make the language official and add this codicil to the agreement?"

Colin smiled as he read it. "Don't think it will be a problem." He handed it to the governor, who nodded. "Get a copy written for each agreement," he told Colin.

Colin must have had some hidden assistants because everyone had a copy of the codicil in fifteen minutes. When they handed me my copy, I turned to the last page of the papers and signed it.

HEYES

Breathing a sigh of relief that the Kid signed the paper, I added my name as a witness as did Colin. Then we had to go through page by page and initial a lot of sections. I kept reading what I was signing to convince myself I wasn't somehow sending myself back to prison. I smiled at the codicil the Kid had added. If Rocky gets a pardon before the three years end, he will be released from the indenture. It's the same one the Kid added to his agreement with the railroad. All the while I kept watching the door for a response to my message and hoping I hadn't misjudged someone. Colin had helped me phrase my message and tipped the messenger well to deliver it quickly and wait for an answer.

Colin insisted we review each page again and I knew that he was stalling, watching the door for the messenger's return, as I was. The next time I looked, the man was back with an answer. Not a written answer, but Dr. Oliver Arden and his housekeeper standing behind him.

"And that's it for the paperwork. Now it's up to Convict Rocke to agree and sign," Colin said abruptly. He left the papers on the table and went to the door. I followed. It was a quick conversation. Colin returned to the table.

I made the introductions. "Governor, I'd like to introduce Dr. Oliver Arden. He lives in that beautiful big house on Maple Street where his brother, Dr Aiden Arden, used to live and this is his housekeeper, Miss Nancy Scott."

The governor and the Kid looked confused so I added, "The doctor would like to foster the Smith children. He has a big empty house and a live-in housekeeper."

"The house needs children," Dr. Oliver added.

And my plan worked. That afternoon the Rocke siblings got ready to move in with the doctor and Miss Nancy. The governor had objected that Dr. Oliver spent a lot of time at the prison, but Miss Nancy agreed to also be on the paperwork to foster the children.

Mr. Smith said, "Good riddance, that boy brings nothing but trouble," to Steven's leaving but insisted that Stephanie stay with them. "She's a quiet girl and no trouble," he told the governor. Sanderson disappointed him. Both children went to live with Dr. Oliver.

And Dr. Oliver insisted on meeting their older brother before he left for Phoenix with us. "You know I do visit Phoenix often. My brother and his family live close by. Of course, I'll bring your brother and sister with me when I come."

JED 'KID' CURRY

The latest Hannibal Heyes plan worked well on so many levels. I'm proud of him; he's worked hard to find himself again. Now Dr. Oliver will have a family around him. He'd told us many times that he felt sad when he left Phoenix and missed havin' a family. Stephanie and Steven were taken away from the Smiths. She'll be safe with the doctor. And Rocky knows that his brother and sister will be allowed to come and visit him.

Miss Nancy, Dr. Oliver's housekeeper, had gone to the mercantile and bought him three shirts, two pairs of pants, socks, and a nightshirt for him. She was embarrassed when she added, "I don't know what men wear under their pants, but I assume there might be someone there that can share with him."

The prison guard stood at the side door of the mansion. He'd handed me the leg shackles to use at night. I quickly hid them in my bag. I'd hoped to never see a pair again.

Rocky left the governor's mansion with us ridin' in the fancy buggy to the train station. He'd never ridden a train before so his gaze filled with excitement as it pulled into the station in front of us. "We really gonna ride in that? Always wanted to."

I took the time before we boarded to ask him, "You understand what you agreed to?"

He shook his head. "Can't read much and there were a lot of long words there. Just know I'm on parole, indentured to you, have to wear shackles at night, and sleep in a locked room. That right?"

"There's other provisions…"

"Oh yeah, I can't touch a gun or leave the county."

"Guess that covers most of it," Heyes said. "We'll go over it when we get there."

"To Arizona? I heard Dr. Arden say we were goin' to Phoenix," Rocky said earnestly. He really wanted to please us. "And I'm most grateful for what you're doin' for me, and I'll do what you say and learn to be a blacksmith."

Heyes held back a smile while I explained, "We're not goin' to Arizona. We're goin' to Nebraska. We've got a place near Three Birds. It's called Phoenix."

"Oh, sorry, sir."

I cringed at the word, but Heyes had told me I had to accept it for a couple of weeks. Then I could change it to Mr. Curry.

"ALL ABOARD!"

"Come on, Rocky, let's get home to Phoenix, NEBRASKA," I told him.