Tombstone.
I walked into town this afternoon and found Serenity at the undertaker’s office, sitting in a chair on the street. She offered for me to join her and I sat down beside her, asking how things were going.
“Been real quiet, except….” She paused and pointed up to the second floor of the brothel. “There’s a man up there who used a rope grapple to get onto the second floor and went inside.”
“Oh really? That’s awfully odd.”
“AND.....Kris just let him do it.”
“Of course he did.” I laughed.
“I mean, I understand the need for having your fancy tickled and all, but doesn’t that come off as a little desperate?”
“Time changes some things, but not everything.” I winked at her. “Yes, a tad desperate indeed.”
“Any interesting cases you’re working on that you can share details on?”
“Oh, I’ve got three going on right now. Can’t get a bloody clue on any of them.”
Millard came over and we welcomed him as they complimented each other on their wardrobe choices. Jy joined us and Serenity asked him, “Did you get what you needed usin that rope up to the 2nd floor Mister?”
“HE was the one who..?” I chuckled, looking between them.
“Oh I’d seen that sash far away. I thought it was the mayor at first, but I figured he don’t wear a hat that often,” Serenity said with a nod.
“I did what I set out to do,” Jy replied.
“And what was that?” I asked.
“Well, Annie’s does have a front door and I’m sure the girls would see you anytime you want without roping into their upstairs area,” Serenity said.
“Surprise the doves,” he stated simply.
“I do believe you surprised them...and me.” Serenity blinked.
“Did you throw a bucket of water on them?” Millard asked him.
“I wish I would have thought of that, Millard,” Jy said to the boy.
“So what exactly did you do?” I blinked at him.
“I climbed to the balcony and said hi,” Jy said with a shrug.
“Oh,” Millard said simply.
“Since ya both here...I have to ask, any of ya heard from Angi lately? I know she ain’t here no more.” Serenity asked.
“No ma’am, I ain’t,” Millard said.
“She ain’t here and I haven’t heard from her much since.” I shook my head. “The odd telegram but... her and my daughter didn’t exactly get along.”
“Shame, would be good to see her again sometime.” Serenity nodded.
Suzy came over and I told her, “Suzy I’m still looking into that horse theft in Diamond. No one’s seen a dang thing though.” I looked over at Serenity as Suzy was quiet and sighed. “See? Even the mayor couldn’t care less that I’m lookin into a horse theft in her town.” Serenity just shrugged in knowing agreement.
“Uh oh, horse theft?” Jy asked.
“Yup. Clues lead to the Apache but I ain’t got more than that,” I said.
“Horse theft?” Suzy asked.
“Yes indeed. Over at the blacksmith shop. Case might go cold though if no witnesses come forward. As usual.”
“Whose horse got stolen?”
“Wulf, the blacksmith..”
“Not good,” Jy said.
“Oh well maybe the cavalry can go to the apache camp.”
“I’ll take care of it, I’d rather not have too many law in this or it will get confused. Tom, the deputy in Diamond, and I are all over it. I just wanted to inform you of it. And see if anyone had come to you about it, which they obviously haven’t.”
“Oh okay. Yup.”
“As soon as I can get with Tom, we’ll head out to the Apache camp, but really we have no solid evidence leading towards them.”
“Well we gotta watch them dang apaches.”
“There were a couple fires here last week I haven’t solved either. Also leading towards the Apache. But again... No one witnessed a thing. So there ain’t much I can do.”
“Well be careful going there.”
“Well talk to the cavalry they can help ya.”
“I haven’t seen all that many folks around to ask for help... And the ones I’ve seen haven’t seen anything.”
“Well hopefully you will find out something. I gotta go check the canyon people ben seeing mountain lions, coyotes and snakes there.”
“Yeah?” Millard blinked.
“Yep. Lots of dangerous wildlife there it seems,” Suzy told him..
“I better be careful when patrolling then,” Millard said.
“Yup hate for someone to get bit by a mountain lion or ate by a snake. Well see ya all later,” Suzy said and headed to the fort.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Yep, the cavalry could help me... With the two cases I mentioned that she didn’t ask a thing about. “
“Cases?” Millard asked.
“Two fires and a horse theft.” I nodded.
“Well, you realize that my saloon is the highest point in Ghenna,” Serenity said. “So you can overlook the apaches.”
“True…” I nodded to Serenity.
“Well I reckon maybe that’s for the sheriff, not the cavalry, or the marshal,” Millard pointed out.
“And that’s why I told her that we would look into it, Millard. But Rikki and the Wild Bunch don’t really enjoy me being a visitor,” I told him.
“Well I wouldn’t be concerned with the Wild Bunch all too much. Not many of them left anymore,” Serenity stated.
“She doesn’t seem to understand those jurisdictions, Millard. And she’s the sergeant. She wants to solve it all but then when something needs to be solved, she doesn’t stay around to get information.”
“Well there’s a reason for it you know,” Serenity said. “If you’re in charge, why do all the work when you can have the grunts do it for you. I think that goes for any grouping of people here. I don’t see doves ever anymore, law is pretty scant, outlaws, who knows anymore. Then you got Jy here, surprising the one or two Doves in their room using a grapple rope. It is a full moon tomorrow evening.”
I chuckled at Serenity and she said, “Perhaps I need to find a gypsy to do some tarot readings, or dig up my own cards.”
“Still wanna know exactly how he surprised em.” I laughed and greeted Jan as she came over.
“I do have a wagon stored up. Maybe I’ll tell spooky stories and give people the fright with the moon,” Serenity said and nodded quickly.
“That sounds like an interesting story,” Jan said.
“Would it surprise you if I was on the balcony and you didn’t see me come through the front door,” Jy told us.
“Sure would, Jy. Tom would shoot your head off I’m sure,” I said with a laugh.
“It’d be a quick way to die,” Jan said.
“I’d shoot someone in the head if they came into the 2nd floor of auggies’ like that,” Serenity said.
“See?” I chuckled.
“I suppose Doves don’t sleep with a firearm under their pillow though,” Serenity pointed out.
“They might have a Derringer,” Jy suggested.
“I don’t consider a Derringer a proper gun, especially held by the doves of today. Perhaps five years ago when you’d have a dove army come after ya… but now? Most of them pulled rifles out their…” She coughed, “And shot at the outlaws.”
“I missed you, Serenity.” I chuckled and she smirked to me.
“Yeah, I remember those dove armies,” Jan said. “When Chrissie was in charge they’d come after us if someone looked at em wrong.”
“I remember Chrissie,” I stated.
Some others came over to join us then and Serenity headed off to take care of some things as I met a woman named Asdzaa. She told us that a couple of ragamuffins came running down the street and said they were pilfering whiskey from the saloon.
“You know who it was? Write a statement?” I asked her.
“Which saloon, may I ask?” Jy looked at her.
“Well, the thing is, they said the Mayor knows all about it. I don’t want to stir up trouble. Just got here,” Asdzaa said with a blush.
“He does, does he?” I raised an eyebrow.
“I hope it wasn’t my saloon,” Jy said.
“Well, this town does have a certain kind of….reputation,” Asd said.
“Still don’t mean it’s right, Asd,” I told her.
“Those kids looked well off for being on their own. Like someone’s buying what they’re selling.”
“Well if the mayor knows ’bout it, then there ain’t much we can do bout it is there?” I pointed out.
“I hope I am not losing money,” Jy said.
“That’s a likely cover story to keep us from reporting it to him,” Asd said.
“Which saloon, ma’am?” I asked.
“Let me see...we were talking at the other end of the street. I think they were headed into the...was it the Oriental? No, no...this end. The girl ran over to the Crystal Palace.”
“Oh, well then,” I said and winked at Jy.
“Lot owns that place,” Jy commented. “I might mention something to him passing by him.”
“If he wants my help with it he knows where to find me, I reckon.” I shrugged.
“Let’s see...hmm. The girl’s name was Aspen.”
“ASPEN was stealing from Lot’s saloon!?” I blinked and jumped up.
“I remember now...she pointed to Big Nose Kate’s, said she was gonna steal some whiskey. Sorry...I had just gotten off the stage and was quite overheated,” Asd said.
“I’m going to have to head over to the orphanage then. Thank you for your information, Asd.” I nodded to her.
“She told you her name?” Jan asked.
“She better not take any from oriental,” Jy said.
“The little boy’s name was Jeffrey,” Asd said.
“JEFF AND ASPEN!?” I blinked and looked over at Jy with worry. “I don’t like the sound of this. If kids are stealing whiskey…”
“I never saw anyone stealing whiskey or breaking into cash registers,” Pony said.
“That wouldn’t be good,” Jy agreed with me.
“These kids need to learn to not give out their names,” Jan commented.
“I was worried they were taking whiskey to the Apaches. She didn’t exactly. The boy called her by name,” Asd said.
“I need to go investigate this. Take care folks.” I hook my head and walked down the street but then saw Jeff. “JEFFERY ALLEN!!!”
“Hi Miss Trin. How are ya?” He asked innocently, looking up at me.
“Young man, you have some explaining to do.”
“What do ya mean?”
“What’s this I hear about you and Aspen stealing whiskey from the Oriental?”
“Huh?”
“A woman just told me she saw you and Aspen stealing.”
“Wow she must have a good memory” He giggled.
“What’s going on now?” Kris asked then as he walked over.
“And what exactly does THAT mean?” I asked him.
“They say I stole whiskey, which I did,” Jeff said.
“Young man, if you were any older…” I looked at him firmly.
“We sneaked it from Kate’s to the Crystal. Was fun.”
“And illegal,” I told him..
“Hi again Jeffery! Was that a good thing or a bad thing you did?” Pony asked him.
“Yeah but we didn’t get catched,” Jeff said.
“Really now?” Kris looked at him seriously and I folded my arms across my chest.
“That’s right, we was told to do it,” Jeff said.
“I’ll be having a word with the matron then, Jeffery,” Kris promised.
“By whom? Jeffery?” I looked at him. “Who told you to do this?”
“Oh, I can’t tell ya that. That be tellin’. I ain’t gonna do no such thing.”
“You dang well better. Or I’ll figure it out. Do you want me to start an investigation? Spread this around town? Or do you just want to tell me now?”
“I ain’t tellin’ ya.”
“Then you leave me no choice,” I said as Amara came over.
“And why did Aspen tell she even helped me,” Jeff said.
“The woman heard Aspen yelling at you. I want to know who did this. Tell me now and it’ll save me lots of time and energy,” I said and looked at him.
“Well I can’t tell ya. Maybe Aspen will if ya tickle her,” Jeff suggested.
“Jeffrey, if someone put you up to this, they should get what’s coming to them,” Asd told him.
“I can’t tell you who it was this person was. No way.”
“Jeffery,” I said simply. “I’m not kidding around here.”
“It’s not fair for you to take all the blame,” Asd told him.
“What’d you do bad Jeffery?” Millard asked.
“Well for me to turn this lady in, I sure would take the blame,” Jeff said.
“A lady huh?” I looked at him.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Well now we’re getting somewhere. I want a name. Now.”
“And that’s all ya getting,” Jeff told me and looked at Millard. “They tryin to make me tell a secret.”
“Jeffery Allen.”
“Yes miss Trin? Ya gonna handcuff me? Woo, do I get to go to jail? Yay!”
“Do you know it’s a serious thing to withhold information from the law?” I asked him.
“So’s not eatin all ya veggies is too but i sneak mine under the rug,” Jeff said.
“You can rest assured we will be talking with Miss Abigail. And you won’t like how she punishes you for this. Trust me.”
“Well I ain’t tellin’. Why not ask Aspen?”
“I will not stand by while some woman is teaching kids how to be outlaws. Oh I plan to,” I said and looked at Kris seriously.
“Sides, we got money for helping,” Jeff said.
“I’ll bet you did,” I muttered.
“Sides you would turn in a friend of yours would you miss Trin?”
“A friend of mine?”
“Yeah if they told ya to do something not good.”
“If it were illegal? You really don’t know me all that well, do you Jeff?”
“And all we did was sneak whiskey from one saloon to another.”
“You stole. That’s a crime.”
“Did not we sneaked it.”
“Jeffery, you don’t have to listen to a friend who tells you to do something you know is wrong,” Pony told him.
“You took something from one saloon without the owner knowing or without paying. And brought it to the other one,” I said.
“Oh yeah.”
“That’s a crime.”
“I got two dollars for that. It didn’t kilt no one.”
“That doesn’t matter. Stealing is wrong.”
“By the way where is Aspen anyways?” Jeff asked and looked around.
“Will find her,” Jy said.
“I’m going to find the matron. This is not over, young man,” I said and walked down towards the orphanage with Kris. We found Abi there and Kris asked her if she had a minute.
“Hey guys, what’s going on?” Abi asked.
“Miss Abi, were you aware that two of your children have been stealing whiskey from one saloon and bringing it to the other?” I asked her.
“No.”
“Jeff and Aspen. were seen doing it.”
“Well Aspen has left Tombstone. She’s moved away.”
“Jeff said a woman told them to take whiskey from Kate’s to the Crystal Palace. Aspen has moved? For good?” I blinked.
“Yes. And as far as jeffery saying a woman told him to do it… you need to talk to Jeffery.”
“I tried that approach. He won’t tell me who it was.”
“I have told him how I feel about him and alcohol.”
“So you being his legal guardian... I brought the matter to you. Or we did, rather,” I said, nodding towards Kris.
“I don’t approve and he knows I feel he’s too young to be around it,” Abi said.
“Think you could get it out of him who set him up to this?”
“I’ll try but I won’t guarantee anything.”
“Well, Kris, do you want me to open this as a Pinkerton case?” I asked him.
“If he was seen doing it then you should punish him,” Abi said.
“Kris is the local law who punishes people. I just tell him who to punish.”
“Not me because this is the first I have heard of it.”
“I’d just like your help in finding out who put him up to it.”
“I will try.”
“Thank you. I’m very not thrilled that he’s lying to us. Kris, I’m considering this a case. Adults teaching children to steal is not okay in my book.”
“Sure, I’ll keep an ear out,” Kris said.
“I appreciate that. Please keep me informed, both of you? At first I thought maybe Lot put them up to it. But when I talked to Jeff, he said it was a woman.”
“Well I know for a fact it was not Aspen. Don’t know what little girl it was, but not Aspen.”
“Well she heard both names. Whether or not Aspen was involved is a non-issue now that she’s moved, but Jeff deserves to be punished. As does this woman who put him up to it.”
“Who heard both names?”
“Asdzaa Oh.”
“Who is that? Nver heard that name before.”
“A woman I just met over by the hotel.” I shrugged.
“Well let’s go see if she is still there,” Abi said and we walked back towards the hotel. We found the group still there and Abi looked straight at Jeff.
“Will someone tell me what is goin’ on?” Abi asked firmly.
“Yeah we gonna go see a train ma’am,” Jeff said.
“Stay right here, young man,” I told him.
“Miss Abi, this little boy and his little friend were talking about stealing whiskey,” Asd stated. “From Big Nose Kate’s.”
“But I didn’t do it,” Jeff said.
“You did so. You told me you did,” I looked at him.
“Not a parent in sight. They’re so little,” Asd said.
“Leave the kid alone,” Amara stepped in then. “Damn it.”
“The KID stole whiskey, Amara,” I told her. “As a ranger I’d think you were concerned about that sort of thing”
“What little friend?” Aspen asked.
“Ya told on him let Abi deal with it,” Amara told me and I blinked. “How long ya gonna rag on him? Sides you get more with kindness than you do with threats.”
“I ain’t said a word and that was long time a go we sneaked whiskey,” Jeff said.
“Did anyone actually see him do it?” Abi asked.
“See miss Abi, we sneaked whiskey from the Kate’s saloon to the crystal for money but we didn’t drink any,” Jeff said. “Oh, I did do it but I sure ain’t guilty.”
“Yes, and someone in town has been paying them to do it. An adult,” Asd said.
“See? He just admitted to sneaking it. The adult is who I’m concerned about,” I said.
“You and who, Jeffery?” Abi asked him.
“Let Abi deal with it,” Amara told me.
“I don’t like an adult telling kids it’s ok to take whiskey from a saloon. Don’t tell me how to do my job, Amara,” I shot back at her.
“Ya gonna have to ask her,” Jeff said. “I ain’t tellin’.”
“Who paid you to do it?” Abi asked.
“I can’t say. She will skin me,” Jeff said.
“I said leave him alone,” Amara said firmly. “You already been through this.”
“This is on the adult, not Jeffery,” Abi said.
“Jef. It’s wrong to steal and its wrong to do it for a adult,” Bella put in.
“Amara, what happened to you trusting me as a good detective?” I asked her. “I just care about the children.”
“Can I be a ‘tective also?” Jeff asked. “I will solve crimes.”
“No one is going to skin you Jeffery,” Abi promised.
“Since you relentlessly pick on kids,” Amara shot back at me.
“PICK ON!?” I blinked at her. “I’m not picking on him. I’m protecting him.”
“Miss, these children need a family to protect them,” Asd said.
“Well I ain’t a tellin’ on my friends. I’ll take the wrap,” Jeff said and held out his wrists together in front of him, making a funny face.
“I would gladly adopt them, but am single so I can’t,” Asd said.
“This isn’t about you, Amara. Or me,” I told her. “It’s about finding out who is telling kids to steal.”
“Amara, she’s a mother! she knows how to handle kids!” Bella said to her.
“Thank you Bella,” I said.
“LET HIM THINK ON IT!” Amara shouted.
“Best I can do is help the law punish the adult behind this,” Asd said.
“Yeah I’m thinking on it right now. See?” Jeff said.
“Let it rest,” Amara insisted.
“Exactly, Asd,” I stated. “I’m NOT going to let it rest. Not as long as people are telling our kids to steal.”
“Well Miss Asdzaa, did you see him do it?” Abi asked.
“But it was one time,” Jeff said.
“Then use your kid and find our who it is,” Amara said.
“I’m not going to put my child in that line of danger,” I objected.
“Miss, the child admitted to it. He was there,” Asd said.
“I did not ask that. Did you see him do it?” Abi asked.
“This person ain’t danger she not hurt no kid,” Jeff said. “Less she skin ‘em.”
“He also said it was once a long time ago and ya all goin on like he’s a career criminal,” Jan said.
“If you did not actually see him do it then you do not have a horse in this race,” Abi said.
“He’s not the one I’m getting on about. It’s whoever set him up to it,” I pointed out.
“Yeah it was long ago when I was even littler,” Jeff stated.
“She wants to know who paid him to do it,” Abi said.
“Nothing is stopping this woman from putting other children up to this task. And I don’t like the idea of my daughter getting sucked into it. So you’ll forgive me for being concerned for them,” I said angrilly.
“Jeff. You’re not in trouble,” Bella said. “You did nothing wrong and you didn’t know any better.”
“Jeffery this woman is getting you in trouble,” Abi said.
“Jeffery, if this happened so long ago, why is the marshal just reporting it now? That is not like the Marshal,” Pony said.
“You did not know not to do what she said,” Abi said.
“Bella’s right, Jeff. I’m not mad at you, alright? Other than that you lied,” I told him.
“When did I lie? I didn’t lie,” Jeff said.
“When you wouldn’t tell me who she was.”
“I didn’t tell you anyone.”
“Who helped you, Jeffery? Maybe they will tell me who paid you,” Abi said.
“But we do need you to tell us what happened and who told you to do it so that we can stop it from the other kids don’t get in trouble,” Bella said.
“I was told to do it and no I’m not gonna tell ya, but I didn’t lie,” Jeff said.
“See? Omission of the truth is still a lie,” I pointed out. “In law we call that withholding information.”
“I reckon I know who it was,” Millard said.
“Who, Millard?” Abi asked.
“Ya sure, Mildew?” Jeff looked at him.
“Nahh, I don’t know for SURE… But I reckon it mighta been Miss Tina.”
“Everyone back off,” Abi said then. “Jeffery come with me for a minute. Just you and me.”
I nodded looked to her. Abi, this is in your hands. I’ll tell Kris that it might have been Tina. We’ll leave it in his hands, alright?”
“Thank God!” Amara exclaimed, but I ignored her.
“Who knows if the person’s even in town still; people drift in and out of here all the time,” Jan said.
“Whats happening here?” Tom asked then, walking over to us as Jeff and Abi walked down the street.
“Somebody’s convincing the children to steal,” Bella replied to Tom.
I watched them walk down the street and talk and Tom asked, “Who is paying who to steal what?”
“Not sure who.. Millard said it might be Tina. Telling kids to steal whiskey from one salloon and bring it to another,” I told Tom. “And Amara is upset that I’m ragging on the child to find out who, when I don’t want our daughter and her friends running into this woman and getting sucked in as well.”
“She done said she would pay me to bust windows or somethin’. So I reckon it was her,” Millard said.
“Tina did, Mill? Thank you. That helps,” I told Millard.
“Shut it, Trin… Let Abi handle it, is all I said,” Amara told me.
“Excuse me?” I blinked.
“No need to humiliate him in public.”
“I hope the other kids don’t get this idea. It would be terrifying if i saw Sarah, Nat, or Jimmy did this,” Bella commented.
“Amara! That is enough!” Tom exclaimed at her.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Amara yelled at me.
“Then YOU don’t tell ME what to do. Got it?”
“You never here anyways.”
“Excuse me?!” I blinked.
“Trin is just trying to do her job, since someone else around here doesn’t seem to know how to do hers,” Tom stated.
“YOU WERE NOT HERE!” Amara yelled at me.
“I damn well WAS here,” I swore at her.
“SHE RAGGED ON THE BOY FOR AN HOUR THEN LEFT AND CAME BACK.”
“To talk to Abi. As I said I would. Because SHE is his legal guardian.”
“Ladies! This is not the time or place to start a fight, now the point is that someone is telling the kid to steal!” Bella tried to step in.
“And began again,” Amara said.
“No I wasn’t, but at least she is trying. What have you done?” Tom asked.
“And then SHE started it again, not me. I will not stand here and be criticized on how to do my job.”
“All I said was leave the boy alone..for a bit.”
“I am going to tell Kris what I’ve discovered, from Millard’s statement,” I said and walked off as Amara told me to let Abi handle it again.
I walked down the street and found Kris at the sheriff’s office. When he looked up I said, “Millard informed me that Tina has been asking him to bust windows for her, and that she would pay him for it. Seems she might be behind this. While Amara continues to tell me how to do my damn job. I am not going to be disrespected by that woman.”
“Well I’ll look into it see what comes up.”
“It’s in your hands now.” I nodded.
“Oh that reminds me… report it to Suzy or a calvary officer what Millard has been doing.”
“Millard didn’t do what she wanted him to. He’s innocent, Kris.”
“Ah, alright.”
“He just told me Tina tried to get him to do it. But I’m wiping my hands on this one. I have enough evidence to bring it to you. I don’t know what the law would do in this situation. With Tina. Other than keep an eye on her.”
“I’ll gather some more evidence.”
“You might want to go over there and settle the situation. I’m stepping out of it. Should have stayed in Black Diamond.”
I walked back down the street back to the crowd and looked at my man. “Tom, dear? Can we go back to Diamond please? Where we’ll be appreciated?”
“Abi, take Jeff to the orphanage to talk,” Bella said.
“Jeffery, we are not done,” Abi told him.
“Everyone you need to head back to your homes of businesses and let Miss Abi take care of Jeffery,” Tom ordered.
“I’ll be in Diamond, Tom. See you back there,” I said and started to walk back to the office, fed up with the whole situation.
Black Diamond.
Looking over to Tom as we walked into Diamond I told him, “From now on, we stay here. Or in Bisbee.”
A woman walked up then and said her name was Lilly, Jy’s cousin. We introduced ourselves and she said that she was hoping to meet with his fiancee Isabella Danforth who was fairly new to town. Tom told her they were both in Tombstone and she headed there.
Tom and I walked into the saloon then and he reached for the bottle of whiskey, pouring two glasses for us. “That was unbelievable. I don’t even have words right now.”
“She was out of line for sure,” he agreed.
“I will not stand there and listen to someone yell at me for caring about children’s safety.”
“I don’t blame you dear.”
“And the only reason I left was to get Abi. Bella and Asd were asking Jeff just as many questions as I was. You didn’t see her yelling at them.”
“All I know is Amara should have kept her mouth shut. Especially since she wasn’t doing her job.”
We started to drink the whiskey and I sighed, leaning against him as he put his arms around me, kissing me deeply.
“Dear, can we go home to the kids? People that love us?”
“Sure.”
“Love, thank you for standing up for me,” I said and hugged him tightly.
“Anytime baby. I would have gone as far as to stomp on her foot for you…”
“I would have liked to see that,” I said with a chuckle and we headed home.
