August 23, 1869

Amiville.

This morning I woke up to find Bravo walking into the cabin. Asking him where he had been he said he’d been out playing Poker. We wandered into town together and went to the saloon where we got coffee and sat at a table. We were all alone so we decided to dance before more people came and interrupted the silence. It felt so good to just spend time together and forget about the stresses of the past couple of weeks. 

Chels came into the saloon and we talked about her new kitten that she’d recently acquired. I told Bravo I wanted a puppy and he said we could do that as long as it was house trained. Avery came into the saloon then and I decided to get to work on the stage. I went behind the curtain and changed into my saloon dress and then began to dance for people as they entered and left the saloon. 

A man named Roman came into the saloon and I remembered how the night before he’d muttered something about explosives so I kept a close eye on him, not trusting him. When I asked him about it he shrugged it off and said that he hadn’t said anything, though he did set off some dynamite in the river that he made. He said it was the “lazy man’s fishing”. 

Kitty called out that they needed a vet at the livery because a horse was giving birth and Chels continued to tell Roman that he shouldn’t be letting off dynamite in town. A woman came into the saloon then and said that there was a bear out in the street and I sighed, frustrated that the bear seemed to always follow me around and try to torment me. Chels and I continued to dance beside each other on stage as the boys continued to watch us. Gramps came into the saloon and we talked to him while he got started behind the bar. Eventually I decided to get off the stage and got some writing done. 

I started to write but then remembered last night how there had been a new gang in the saloon and Gramps had been so upset about it. I went over to see if he was okay and he said he wasn’t. He said that he wished one of those gang members would just kill him and then he could die a happy man. I’d never heard him talk like that before and I tried to ask what happened as we could hear the shooting all the way from behind the church. 

“They all walked out and shot up some of the deputies I think,” Gramps answered. 

“Deputies. Hmm.” I thought and reminded myself to talk to them later if I saw them. 

“Well Gramps I what I heard... Jake kicked their arse,” Bravo commented. 

I reached over and placed a hand on Gramps’ wrist and said, “You are a beacon to this town. Don't ever think that you're replaceable or that you don't matter. Gramps, I'm concerned about you. I don’t like seein’ you like this.” 

“Well thanks, Ms. Trin. That means a lot,” Gramps replied and I walked around the corner and gave him a hug. “Yea, well one can only take so much and I went past that point last night and just decided... Unless things change I will do what I can to make the folks in the saloon free from the threats and crap these outlaws shovel out.” 

“That’s why we love ya,” I smiled to him before heading back to sit beside Bravo. I looked over to Chels and asked, “Chels, you were there last night right?” She nodded so I asked, “What happened when you were there?” 

“The usual shooting. Us marshals handled it.” 

Realizing she wasn’t going to tell me anything, Bravo and I headed home. On our way to the cabin the bear attacked us again and Sean came over to help us. The boys decided they were going to go hunt that bear if it killed them and we headed back home. 

That afternoon I looked around town for Jakob Despres as he seemed to be the big hero of the story. I found him in the restaurant of the hotel and he invited me to join him at the table. He offered to serve me breakfast and coffee and when we had our meal, I thanked him for the meal. 

“Don’t mention it,” he waved his hand at me. “You can repay me later with a bath,” he said with a smirk. 

“A bath huh?” I chuckled. 

“Yeah, I haven’t been able to find any girls in the cat house who could give me a nice bath.” 

“Jake... I do have a couple of questions...” 

“Alright, shoot...” he invited, making me chuckle at he irony of his comment. 

“It’s about last night. I’m writing an article about it for the paper...” 

“Yeah? You mean the episode in the saloon?” 

“I’ve never seen Gramps that upset before, Jake. Ever. And I’ve been here for a few months now. I’m concerned about him...” 

“Oh?” he narrowed his eyes. 

“He was still pretty steamed when I mentioned it this morning. I don’t know if you remember what point we left... But it was just before things started I think. We heard the shooting all the way from my cabin behind the church.” 

“Well you can tell him we arrested them last night and that they will be put up in front of a judge... They might get hanged for attacking a lawman...” Jake sighed. 

“Really... Can you tell me the names of those on trial? On the record?” 

“Yeah, they drew and opened fire at Marshal Seetan and I drew and answered back... Marshal Seetan was trying to establish peace and therefor didn’t draw her irons at all...” he explained. “The man’s name was Conman, I know him from Arizona and the woman is called Vena or simply just ‘V’... She’s from down there as well...” 

“A new gang, right? I hadn’t seen them around before.” 

Jake shrugged his shoulders and said, “Time will tell if we can call them a gang, but yeah... They are a happy little bunch of three people so far.” 

“Happy,” I chuckled. “Was I correct in hearing one of them was Rosa’s sister?” 

“Yeah, Miss V is Rosa’s kid sister.” 

“Well that’s just great,” I sighed. “So I better not have any more run-ins with Rosa or she’ll have her sister after me, huh?” 

Jake rested his hands on the table and said, “I don’t know how those two are, but they are very much alike, even though V is way more violent... Rosa uses her mouth and V uses her boys to get what they want.” 

“So when is the court date, Jake? And will they be tried together?” 

“I’m not sure... I’ll talk to Rosa tryin’ to get her to set it up.” 

“Good luck with that,” I chuckled. “Anything else you can tell me, Jake?” 

I looked up and saw a man walking into the hotel and he said, “Yeah, meet Marshal Nightfire. He’s one of my old friends from Arizona.” 

“Marshal... Pleasure to meet you. My name’s Trin Paige... I run the newspaper for Amiville,” I introduced myself to the man. 

“Pleasure to meet you, lady,” he smiled, tipping his head to me. 

“I was just asking your friend some questions for an article I’m writing.”

“Please don’t let me get in the way then, do continue as you wish,” Nightfire smiled at me. 

“She owes us a bath,” Jake grinned, pointing to me. 

“Yeah, he wishes,” I chuckled, sipping my coffee slowly. 

“A bath?” Nightfire arched a brow to Jake.

“Aww I so hoped you would bathe the both of us later tonight...” Jake couldn’t stop laughing. 

“I bet you did.” 

“Well I guess she’s not willin’ to welcome us as I hoped, Anron,” Jake sighed. 

I looked between them, thinking how Bravo really wouldn’t like me bathing a couple of attractive men. After some moments of silence I said, “There was an incident your friend was involved in last night, Anron. A shooting in town. I heard he hit like three people. Also heard he’s one hell of a shot...” 

“Naah, that’s pretty much all,” Jake thought hard. “They will be arrested once Rosa has patched them up,” he chuckled. 

“Well... I have no idea what happened really but he’s a hell of shot that part sounds right,” Anron said with a shrug. 

Jake went to refill my coffee but I said, “Oh Jake, it’s alright. I should get back to writing.” I stood and looked between them, knowing that if I didn’t leave soon I’d be giving them both that bath. 

“Alright, but you still owe us that bath... If not I guess I would have to come and arrest you” 

“Right I do,” I chuckled. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you darlin’?” 

“Good,” Jake nodded. “You wouldn’t wanna ruin our friendship by bein’ a bad hostess, would you now?” 

I looked from Jake to Anron, seeing him just shake his head and not commenting. I realized I was blocked from the door and felt my heart start to race. 

Jake straightened his cuffs and glared at me. “So?” I looked at him, wondering what he was thinking and he repeated, “So?” 

I tried to walk towards the door and then swallowed, looking between the two men and remembered being in a certain cave, unable to escape. My heart started to race more and I reached for the nearest chair for support. 

Jake sent me a soft smile and said, “You have a nice day, Miss...” 

Anron looked over to me and asked, “You alright, Miss?” I shook my head, looking at him and swallowed, trying to control my breathing. Jake went to open the door and asked Anron to take care of things as he had to leave. Anron looked at him in shock and exclaimed, “The hell, Jake?!?” 

I fell down shaking and as Jake left, Anron leaned down and held me in his arms. “Miss, can you hear me?” 

“I... Yeah...” I nodded, “I’m sorry...” 

“Great, great,” he gave a deep breath seeing me nod back and helped me sit on the floor. “Let me get you a glass of water, Miss,” he said and went to the bar to get me some water. 

“Hell of a first impression, huh?” I asked, watching him. 

He got me a glass of water and handed it to me then said, “Well, I guess... You alright?” 

“I... I guess I just panicked for a moment. It’s been a couple of scary months, Sir,” I admitted, taking the water and drinking it slowly. 

“Well we are here, so no need to panic.. Jake was just joking you know...” 

“Even if he was,” I swallowed. “It just brought back some painful memories... And I guess I felt closed in and I panicked, ‘cause I had no way out. And I’ve been in that situation a couple of times... Where I really couldn't get out...” 

“Well miss, we are here to help and protect as we best can... I will be glad to help if i can.” 

“Thank you, Sir,” I stood then, taking his arm as I rose shakily. 

“Pleasure, Miss,” Anron nodded. “Alright... I could walk you where ever you are going? If you wish?” 

“I’ll be fine,” I shook my head. “I’m just going across the road to the saloon. Thank you for staying and helping me.” 

“You’re very welcome,” he nodded again.

“Oh and Anron?” I turned at the door. 

“Yes Miss?” 

“Tell Jake... Thanks for the interview,” I hoped he caught the sarcasm as I walked out of the hotel.