Amiville.
The next morning I worked in the saloon and served drinks for people as they came for their first caffeine fix of the day. Grace and I talked about how there were some good men around but how most of the good ones don’t last more than a few days before they’re gone again. I told her I’d learned not to get attached to them because there was too much heartbreak the other way. James walked over and we told him we were talkin’ about men. When Will joined us, we convinced the two men to dance with us. I danced with ill as Grace danced with James. It was good to just have fun and start the morning off on the right foot.
I spent most of the day in my house, getting some writing done. When I went back to the saloon, there was a crowd of people there including the notorious Buckshot Bill and Josey Rebel Wasp. Will and Nell were there too, and as I wrote another article for the paper I decided to ask Will for some advice since he was a former military man.
“I know something... about the fire,” I started. “I ain’t supposed to know... but I know who did it.”
“What do ya need?” Will asked, looking over at my notes that I was writing.
“I can’t just go to the law to them... ‘cause I’ve got no proof,” I explained. “And I don’t want to go through that again...”
“You saw ‘em but they didn’t see you, you mean?”
“No...” I shook my head.
“How do ya know then?”
“Someone who was caught in the fire told me it was him who set it.”
“Oh?”
“It's just heresy right now but Will I have no doubt in my mind. But...” I hesitated. “I can't write it in the paper, can I? I have to just write that they're still investigating, right? Even though I know who did it?”
“Yep,” Will nodded and I sighed. “‘Cause can’t accuse ‘em in the paper without proof.”
“Why not go to the law and put the idea in their heads as to who done it?” Nell put in from where she sat by the door.
“How do you know this person did it?” Will asked and then nodded to Nell’s suggestion. “I like your thinking, Nell.” When I started to get panicked he insisted, “Come on, Trin.”
“I... And he was just...” I swallowed hard, thinking how Rebel had just been in the saloon and could come back at any time.
Will put a hand on my shoulder and said, “It’s okay, Trin. We’re safe here.” I felt my heart beat quicken and he advised, “Write the name on your paper pad.”
I wrote down the name ‘Josey Rebel Wasp’ on the paper and showed it to him, making him nod in response. Nell walked over and sat on the other side of me and said, “You can’t let someone scare you, Miss. That means they win.”
“Nell, ya might as well come over and see too, since you're here... I could use all the help I can get.”
“Thank you, Trin,” Will smiled at me. “You have any other information you can provide?”
I nodded and said, “Michelle was there, watching the fire. Tyler saw her. But just that morning I’d met her in New Mexico... and then when they broke into the saloon she saw me standing outside... She told me I better not try to say anything negative or else...” I felt myself shaking again and looked from Will to Nell.
“I see,” Will nodded. “You should certainly report this to the sheriff.”
“Don’t you worry about her,” Nell said about Michelle. “She’s an awful person.”
“Talking to the law around here ain’t gonna help me any,” I said, shaking my head. “Like I said... I don’t want to go through...”
“Isn’t Bravo what’s-his-name the sheriff here then?” Will asked. “I thought I saw him a few times.”
“He is, yes... But I...” I hesitated.
“Don’t worry Trin,” Will replied. “You what? Are you too afraid?”
“The last time I talked to law about something I knew... I was laughed out of the courthouse and made to look like a complete fool. I ain’t goin’ through that again. Not until I have absolute proof that... he started the fire,” I said, not wanting to say Rebel’s name again. I looked to them and said, “If I go there and tell them that it was this man who started the fire... and I only know that 'cause the girl who was stuck in the fire heard him whistle a song right before setting it..”
Claire came into the saloon then and I was shocked to see her, asking how she’d escaped from being kidnapped. I asked her if Kitty was alright but she saw a women sitting at the table that she seemed to recognize and started yelling at her. The woman tried to insist that she didn’t do anything but Claire grew more furious with her. The woman even announced that she’d tried to free her.
“Try and free me... You and Tessa said I couldn’t leave because of Bill. Same with Icca,” Claire stated and I perked at the mention of those names, not knowing that Icca had been associated with Bill’s gang.
I went outside to get some fresh air and I saw Jaycee so I went over to him. We started talking about the fire and I saw Rosa coming over to us, clearly upset about something. I kept talking to JC though, not caring what Rosa thought and then JC suggested that we talk in private. Claire came out then and asked Rosa what she missed, and I led JC over to my cabin where we talked outside.
“JC, I know who started the fire,” I started. “I don’t have proof... and last time I went to the law without proof they laughed me out of the courthouse. I ain’t goin through it again.”
“Which fire were it?” he asked me in a southern drawl.
I told him about the fire at Valk’s store and how Kitty and Peep were inside and Bravo rescued them, but then Kitty heard a man whistling a song outside the building and how the next day she heard the man whistling the same tune again.
“Kitty is law; why don’t she set up a warrant fer him to gits questioned on it?” he asked.
“She’s been kidnapped, JC. See... the morning of the fire I went out for a ride and met Michelle. She made sure to tell me that the area of New Mexico was run by her gang...” I explained.
“Yup, Michelle. Ah knows her,” he growled at the name.
“And then when I was talking to Kitty about the fire later in the day... She and some other guy from her gang came in and broke up the saloon. And when she saw me she said I beter not write anything about her or she'd slit my throat.”
“Yup, ah heard bout thet as wahl,” JC nodded.
“But Jaycee... Tyler said Michelle was watching the fire burn too. I can't write that people saw her there, but I can't leave it out either. And I can't write that Josey set the fire but I know for a fact...” I realized I’d said the name and backed up, looking around anxiously.
“Wahl, cover ya self, mention the names of all tha folks thet were a wathicin her burnn up.”
“But even then her name’s goin’ in the paper. She'll still be out to get me. And Josey will be pissed 'cause I accused him. But I can't do that can I? I have to say they're still investigating, even though I know it was him. But I can't go to the law cause all I have is a whistle. that ain't proof.” I sighed and said, “And the law don't seem to be investigating much... I went to talk to Stacie and she was no help. Before I knew it was Josey , that is.”
“Wahl, if'n ya aint gots proof, wahl, someone needs to knows bout het whisltin feller, and keeps a close eye on him.”
“So I shouldn't talk to the law?”
“Well, let me a chew on this a bit. Let me share this with a couple of tha law, see whut they thanks. Whuts the tune whut were bein whistled anyways?”
“But... don't mention that I was the one who...”
“Trin,” Claire said my name then and I turned, seeing her and Rosa walking over, very unhappy about something.
“Okay look, before ya’ll get mad at me,” I started. “The last time I came to ya'll without proof I was laughed out of the courthouse.”
“Howdy Ma'ams,” JC greeted them. “We were sort of havin’ a private talk ya knows...”
“So I wanted to get my facts straight before I...” I started and then saw Bill walking over towards us. I moved to hide behind JC and Claire screamed at the sight of Bill.
“Ain’t he ah wanted, Miss Claire?” JC asked her.
“Yeah but he did hold me captive for a day and night.”
“MMMhmm...” Rosa put her hands on her hips and looked between me and JC, keeping an eye on Bill as he passed. “Woman, get the hell away from him now!” she yelled at me.
“What...?” I looked at Rosa, confused.
“Trin, you got the least reasoning for being afraid of Bill.”
JC laughed and stood his ground, looking from Rosa to Claire. “So’s, is thy’s a warrant fer him? I mean ah ain’t law, but ah would halp ya.”
“I ain't afraid of Bill,” I told Claire. “This has nothing to do with Bill or your kidnapping, Claire. It has to do with the fire. Honestly... people just jump to the conclusion that it's all about them and...”
“Trin, why would you hide then?” Claire asked.
Rosa stormed over to JC and attempted to push JC in the water then, her anger getting the best of her, and JC stepped closer and stiffened up against Rosa and stood solid, holding his ground. “Hey now, easy thar woman,” he ordered.
“This ain't about you, Claire,” I said angrily. “Or JC, for that matter. It's about how my life's in danger if I put something in the paper without having proof to back it up.”
“Trin, I’m here to support Rosa. Stop yappin’. There are bigger things than jsut this paper,” Claire looked at me and I saw Bill standing in the distance, glaring at Claire.
“I be damned!” Rosa continued as she moved to pound a fist to his chest. “I can't have ya, ain’t no one gonna have ya! Ya hear me!" She rambled on about odd things and her rage ad her feelings she had for JC. “Shut it before I tell Bill to take ya hear and now,” Rosa told me angrily. “Bill, ya wanna take someone take her.”
“Damn it , Rosa. This ain't about romantic feelings,” I swore, angry now. “I don't have those kind of feelings for Jaycee.” I looked at him and said, “No offense.”
“How about I take ya both Judge?” Bill asked then.
“Just keep walking, Bill,” I looked at him.
“Hell, I might jes go willin’,” Rosa huffed with her hands on her hips, tapping her foot as if waiting for a logical explanation.
“I've got enough about you to write about.”
“Pardons me?” Bill looked at me.
“Trin, are you crazy?” Claire asked me.
“Your damn right I'm crazy, Claire. I'm sick of all these assumptions that every guy I talk to is someone I'm interested in. There's bigger things in the world than falling in love.”
“Trin, you're gonna need to put your issues on hold,” Claire told me.
“Claire, I'm sorry but my life is at danger here too. And it's not 'cause of Bill.” I sighed and walked off, feeling like no one ever listened to me or even cared what I was going through.
I went back into town and later that afternoon found JC again by the saloon. He suggested that we talk in a building somewhere where people wouldn’t be able to find us. We went to Lady Gigi’s photo studio and talked in the back while gunshots started to go off in the streets. I fell into his arms and cried, “I don’t know what to do! It’s too much, JC... I can’t take it.”
“Ya'll jes relax now. Its awlright. Betcha most folks ‘preciate what ya does,” he comforted me, wrapping his arms around me tightly.
“Jaycee... What am I gonna write? If I say Michelle was there, she'll kill me. If I say Josey set the fire, he'll get Bill to kill me. But I can't say nothing because then I'm withholding information. But I can't tell the law 'cause they'll think I...”
“Ya caint sez whut ya donrt knows fer shore. But likes ah sayed, you could write it up, saying tha names of alll thet were ah wathcing it burn.” I sighed and he suggested, “ere jes drops it, ya knows.”
“Not even write about the fire at all? Or the saloon break in?”
“Ya kin write up bout the fire. Write who were hurt, write bout the rescuin an all, but not sez anythang bout anyone else, less'n ya wants ta.”
“Right, and just say they're investigating leads, though I know they don't give a...” I sighed.
We decided to head back outside to see what all the fighting was about and thanked Gigi for letting us use her studio to talk. I went to the saloon to get a drink but I didn’t feel like talking to anyone so I went home for the rest of the afternoon.
That evening I danced in the saloon, trying to let the music and the movement of my body help me relax. People came in and out of the saloon but I didn’t interact with the conversation much other than to just say hello and ask how peoples’ days were going. I tried to let the stories of others distract me from the very complicated one of my own. Chels came in and danced beside me on the stage and we talked about my conflict with the paper but I went quiet when Rebel himself came into the saloon. Sayler came inside and while I tried to go down to get a drink I fell and he helped me up. I started to cry as I leaned against Sayler and let him comfort me as the others continued to talk around us.
I went behind the curtain to change back into my normal clothing and when I came out, Bravo was in the saloon. “Bravo, can we talk somewhere?” I asked him and he nodded, leading me to the sheriff’s office.
“Have a seat, Trin,” he invited and I sat down across from him at the desk.
I explained everything to him about how I knew about who set the fire and the witness accounts I’d heard about who had watched the fire from a distance. I told him about Rebel whistling the Dixie tune and how Kitty recognized him the next day. I told him about Michelle breaking into the saloon and her threat towards me. I told him how I wasn’t sure what to print in the paper because I would be screwed either way.
“Well don’t let a bunch of hoodlums dissuade you from writing the truth.”
“I'm scared, Bravo,” I admitted. “I don't even want to leave the buildings. I'm afraid to be in the streets. I... Every sound of a gunshot makes me jump. I can’t sleep. I can barely eat...”
“Well,” Bravo sighed. “Do you need a place to stay? ‘Cause the law will protect you from these hoodlums.”
“I... I can’t even think straight, Bravo,” I sighed.
“Well yer more than welcome to stay at my place ‘till we get them... in jail,” he smirked. “But I hope this time will not have the same result.”
I looked at him and remembered that day in Kansas that I spent at his house and I said, “Maybe now that I know you I should... I should be okay.”
“So Miss Paige, is that a yes?”
“I'll think about it, Bravo... I think I feel a bit better knowing that you know... And I know you'll do something about it...” I hesitated before asking, “Do you live in Amiville, Bravo?”
“Yes ma’am, just outside the town limits.”
“Mind if we go over there just to see it?”
“Oh sure.”
“I might just crash there tonight... Might be safer. I thought you still lived out in Kansas or wherever...”
“Nah... Needed to live near my work,” he said and opened the door for me, leading me outside.
Kansas.
He led me to his cabin and showed me around the place, reassuring me that it’s okay to be nervous since the outlaws are quite dangerous. I asked him if we were safe here and he said, “Yes, little darlin’, we are.”
The term of endearment made me swallow hard and I asked him what he was thinking about. “Just thinkin’ about the last time you were in my house,” he chuckled.
“Mmhmm.. If I recall, we both knew I was just tryin’ to get information out of ya. We made that clear from the beginning...”
“Yeah...” he smirked.
“So what are you thinking now?”
“What do you think I’m thinkin’?” he chuckled as he paced like a caged animal waiting to pounce on his prey. I realized, though, that maybe I needed a man like him to protect me and keep me safe, since it seemed pretty clear that his brother Dutch had disappeared and wouldn’t be coming around much.
“I don’t know, Bravo. Why don’t you tell me?” I asked, wanting to hear him say the words I was hoping he would say.
“Well, I’m thinkin’ how much fun I had last time...”
“Hmm, did you?” I asked, stepping closer. “What else, Bravo?”
“And that I recall you havin’ a good time too, I remember correctly.”
“I did,” I nodded, sliding my hand down his arm idly.
“Well we’ve been on this road before,” he said with a smirk and I nodded.
I felt myself being drawn to him, as if I couldn’t hold back any longer, and reached for his hand. “If you don’t want to go down it we can make a U-turn...”
“Oh, there’s no turnin’ back for me.”
“Oh really?” I blushed. “You’ve been thinking about it still then?”
“Yeah, for a while.”
“Seriously? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Didn’t think it proper.”
“And now?”
“I don’t feel the same.”
“So what do you feel then?” I looked in his eyes, confused now.
“Well, I feel like we’re closer now...”
I felt my heart beat against my chest but waited for him to make the first move. He took me in his arms and kissed me ever so gently, making me kiss him back harder as we embraced into that long-anticipated kiss. It felt so safe in his arms, so natural. I knew this was where I was meant to be.
No comments:
Post a Comment