August 18, 1869

Amiville.

The next morning I stretched and stepped out of the bed, smiling at the site of Bravo laying in the bed. “Good morning,” I smiled at him as I tied my hair in a braid. “I have to go talk to Judge Clifton this morning, hon. It okay if I just head out? It’s just across the street, I should be okay...” 

“Sure,” he stretched out for a kiss and I leaned down, kissing him softly. 

“I’ll see you soon,” I waved as I left the cabin. I knew that I needed to talk to Clif about what had happened yesterday and I would need his advice, as well as his protection. I opened the door to the courthouse and went upstairs to the offices where I knocked on Clif’s door. He invited me in and I entered the office, nodding to him sitting at his desk. 

“Please have a seat. How can I help you?” He asked with concern as I held my right arm where it was cut from the night before. “Are you alright, Miss?” 

“No... No I’m not. I barely slept last night and my arm is still sore from where it was cut...” 

“This is the result of the kidnapping?” Clif nodded as if he’d already heard. 

“So you heard...” 

“Aye, I have sources all over,” he nodded and I wondered how much else he knew. “So tell me what happened.” 

I described how I went out to Oregon for a ride and found the cave with a wooden door all boarded up and everything. I described how I heard Chels and Kitty screaming inside and how Rat had told me he’d help me if I gave him the coins he wanted. I told Clif how Bill wanted me to blame the fire on Bravo, even though I knew who had really set the fire. Then I told him about how Bill cut me in the arm to remind me that he was serious and how if I didn’t do what he’d made me promise, that he would kill me. I finished by telling him about how they wanted all the warrants agains them burned and he would free the girls from the cell and how I sent out a telegraph for help but eventually just headed home and saw Bravo injured on the side of the road. 

“So they’re in Oregon? Or where?” Clif clarified when I was finished. 

“They were in Idaho... Twin Falls.” 

Clif handed me his flask and I took a sip of the drink as he explained, “Here’s what you can do in your article. Simply say that the fire is under investigation and there are suspects.” 

“It won’t be good enough for Bill,” I argued. “He wants me to turn the blame on the law. I asked him if I could just do that, and say they're just investigating, but he said it wasn't what he wanted. “Maybe I just shouldn’t write anything,” I sighed. 

“Trin, then you can say that some suspect Bravo. However, we need to let him know first.” 

“He knows,” I assured. “Well... I told him while he was drugged in the clinic so I don't know how much he'll remember. “But I told him... I’ll tell him again.” 

“And maybe it’s time to give these fools a larger fish,” Clif said then, making me tilt my head to the side. “Just taking law isn’t good enough for him,” Clif continued. “So maybe I give ‘em a much more tempting target.” 

“You’re not seriously suggesting...” I looked at him, shocked. 

“I am.” 

“Clif! He’ll kill you! And your wife!” 

“My life means nothing, and my wife, she's got plenty of protection.” 

“What he doesn't realize is the amount of support I have built around here.” 

“How many of them went up there last night?” I asked. 

“I was told about five or six.” 

“How many came back?” I asked pointedly. 

“Not many.” 

“You’re crazy,” I shook my head. “I'm sorry Judge, all due respect and everything, but you're crazy.” 

“Yep, never denied it, Miss Trin. But clearly they’ll keep taking folks, and threatening folks, until something is done.” 

“I guess but... Why can’t we just overtake them? Kill them all or at least capture them. Don't we have enough law for that?” 

“Well, I’d love that, but our fellow townsfolk seem to think only the law should take that risk. So if those outlaws keeping me keeps the peace, then so be it.”

“So I didn’t take a risk?” 

“Oh you certainly did.” 

“I just rode around and thought hey... let's go see this cave and try to find out what's inside? Once I knew they were in there I did everything I could to.” 

“That part wasn't the risk, it's the dealing with those criminals that was a risk.” 

“Clif, I can’t let you do this.” 

“If them having me makes them feel like they have a bargaining chip, they'll be very wrong. Miss Trin, I don't see where we have much of a choice.” 

“I forgot to tell you...” I remembered then. “Just before I left... I heard michelle talking behind me. I don't know what she was talking about but I heard her as I was leaving. Figure I left at the right time. I've heard enough about her to stay away. And she's already threatened my life this week too.” 

There was a knock on the door and Clif went to open it. Marshal Jake Stone stood there and the judge told him to come in. He invited Jake to sit and I nodded in greeting, letting Clif lead the conversation. I looked to him, wondering if I should leave, but he shook his head slightly. 

“I heard that a posse went up to Idaho last night.” 

“Yes Sir. I...” Jake said hesitantly.

“Lost the entire patrol?” Clif clarified, making me gasp in surprise. 

“All but one, Sir. She escaped and ran back to town. Three of us got held hostage.”

“She?” I looked to Jake for clarification. 

“Yes, Miss Trin,” Jake nodded. “We had women step up to go on the posse.” 

“Marshal, we and I mean this town, need to get a group together and take these fools.” 

“Bill wants the warrants burned, Judge,” Jake told him. 

“I can arrange that,” Clif grinned then. 

“And I agree we need to take the outlaws out.” 

“However, I have copies, so they won’t get any. But we won’t tell them that.” 

“Well as long as he don’t know that,” Jake smiled. 

“Don't you think he's smart enough to know you've got copies somewhere?” I looked between them. 

“Even if he does, he doesn't know if I have multiple copies.” 

“Either way...” Jake added. “As soon as the hostages are turned loose, we would issue new warrants again for the kidnappin’.” 

“Either way, they need to be killed, outright,” Clif stated and I nodded in agreement. “I'm done being a nice man. It's time to play it in outlaw style.” 

They continued to plot a course of action and I sat there, feeling helpless and skeptical that it would all work. After some more deliberating and Clif promising to keep me in the loop on how things progressed, I left the office and went out towards the saloon. I spent the rest of the day relaxing with Bravo and talking with people as they went about their day. 

It wasn’t long before we heard Kitty and Chels calling out from the streets. Bravo and I ran out to them and we wrapped them in blankets, making sure they were okay. Fritha and Sean came over and took the ladies to the clinic and I explained what had happened in the cave from what I knew and the doctors continued to heal Kitty and Chels. 

Going outside, Jake met me in the street and we saw Chief Hawk riding over on his horse. Jake asked if I wanted to take a ride with them and I nodded, jumping on a horse and riding after them towards Kansas. 

Kansas

“There’s talk now of fortifying Amiville like a military base,” Jake explained to Chief Hawk when we got to the village. 

“Will have to think on this,” Hawk nodded, listening. “Could bring more troubles upon my people, but is not good what I am hearing. Will talk to others and get thoughts on this. Will seek you out and tell you answer soon.” 

“Just talkin’ about the outlaws and your friend Bill,” Jake said for my benefit, since I was still confused as to why we’d ridden out to Kansas. 

“Did you tell Hawk what that 'friend' did to me last night, Jake?” 

Jake looked to me, then to the ground. “No.” 

“He cut my arm with a knife, Hawk. To show he meant business. Didn't want me writing an article where I blamed one of his people for setting the fire in the town.” 

“This not good,” Hawk frowned. “What troubles he have with you, Trin?” 

“I told you something would happen, didn’t I, Hawk?” I asked him, then looked to Jake. “Jake... you never heard how Kitty and Chels escaped, did you? ‘cause I would love to know how that happened.” 

“Sometimes paths we are on lead us through tough times,” Hawk said then, “but must stand strong on these paths and follow heart to lead on what is right.” 

“Chief... Do you speak with Cheyenne tribe in Wyoming too?” Jake asked. 

“Will speak with others,” Hawk nodded. “You speak of the Cherokee tribe, they have lands there in Wyoming.” 

“Ah yes, Cherokee... Are the two tribes allies?” Jake wanted to know. 

“I speak with Standing Bull their chief; know they have troubles with these outlaws. They not venture from their lands often.” Then he nodded. “We allie with them.” 

“Alright, I will want to hear what your tribe has decided... We’ll need all the help we can get.” 

I asked Hawk then if I could lay down in the teepee and he said I could rest there for a while. Laying down, I tried to relax and feel at peace but there was too much fear and worry over what was going to happen next that I didn’t sleep for very long.

That night I went to the saloon and spent time with people there. Bravo and I danced and then I went on stage to dance. Kitty came into the saloon and declared that she was going back to the cave to get her gun and badge back, and Chels ran out after her, not wanting her to go alone. I couldn’t believe that they would want to go back there after the violence that Bill had put them through. By the end of the day I was exhausted and went home with Bravo where I fell fast asleep in his arms the minute my head hit the pillow.