Amiville.
This morning I went to the saloon and greeted Avery and Roman who were already there drinking coffee. We talked about the bear and a boar that was coming around town and then greeted Tristan as he came into the saloon.
I smiled at Tristan and then sighed. He looked at me and asked, “Ta hell’s wrong wit’cha Ms. Trin? You and Bravo is alright aint’cha?”
I shook my head, looking at Tristan, then looked down. I stared into my coffee and tried to figure out where things went wrong between me and Bravo. It seemed like he wanted to do his own thing and I wished I could say that things had ended well but I was still left utterly confused. After a while I decided to go dance on the stage and went behind the curtain to change. I started to dance, hoping that the movement would help me get over the feelings of regret and frustration with myself.
“So Avery, you takin’ over the bar today?” I asked him, trying to distract myself.
“Yes, for a little bit miss,” he nodded.
I greeted Michael and talked to Rosaline about some dresses that she was making at her store. I continued to serve drinks to people between dancing on the stage as Avery helped at the bar as well.
After a while I changed and went out to the tables again. “Need to find some stories for the paper,” I chuckled and started to head out.
“Sure,” Lali said. “Just be careful. Some outlaws are in the area.”
I heard the word ‘outlaws’ and hesitated. “Outlaws? Bill?” I shuddered.
“No, not Bill. You don’t like him much I gather, Trin?” Lali asked.
“We... No, not so much,” I shook my head, thinking of Bravo and realizing that we weren’t a ‘we’ anymore.
“No it was Madame Dubarry and her gang,” Lali explained. “He doesn’t bother me much. They wanted to steal our jewels and then asked the Captain for his boots, hat and gun.”
I nodded and then greeted Will as he walked into the saloon. “William, what’s happenin’?”
“Just keeping an eye on Main Street,” Will replied. “Heard some shots earlier.”
I walked out to the street and met a man who was brothers with a deputy over in Georgetown who was dead now. I saw Crows walking over and waved at him. “Crows, you ever find that man who shot at you?” He seemed distracted and then I reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. “Crows, can we talk somewhere?”
“Depends on what it’s about.”
“I just wanted to talk to you about this morning and see how you were doing,” I smiled. “It’s been a while since we caught up.”
“I’m doin’ good... has been a while but you been busy, and I’m not one to pry.”
“Too busy, I’m afraid,” I nodded.
“It happens.”
“Crows... this morning... You said you’d been shot...”
“Uh huh, in the shoulder and upper chest. Miss Fritha dug out the bullets.”
“Can we talk about that? For the paper? People should know if there’s a threat to...” I looked away, ashamed of myself for prying, but then looked back at him.
“A threat...” I nodded and he laughed. “Only threat around here seems to be me lately.”
“Oh?”
“I will kill the man that shot me. That’s a promise.”
“Who was it, Crows? What happened?”
“Doesn’t really matter now, does it? Dead is dead any way it’s written.”
“I guess...” I sighed.
“I don’t like outlaws and I’m sick of them ruling the streets.”
“Don’t I know it,” I nodded.
“All the law wants to do is take them in a ton of questions... spank them on the butt and turn them loose. Well, I have a different idea.”
“I know... Makes no sense. They just come back and keep terrorizing us.”
“We’ll see.”
“I guess we will,” I kicked the dirt in anger at the people who were coming to town just to scare me.
“You wear a gun... use it,” Crows said.
“I’ve been tempted a few times, Crows,” I looked around to make sure we were alone. “I just...”
“Tempted doesn’t help the matter. It’s easy. Point and squeeze.”
“I should let you go on your way,” I looked at him and blushed, embarrassed at a passing thought.
“I’m sure you have lots to do.”
“Why are you blushing?”
“Guess I should get back to writing,” I shook my head.
“Ok well... enjoy yaself.” I nodded and sighed and he said, “You always look depressed lately.”
“I guess I...” I leaned back on the railing, looking over at him.
“Ain’t no guessin’ about it. Anyone can see it.”
I leaned my head in my hands against the railing. “I’m surprised anyone’s noticed, much less cared... It’s been a rough month, Crows. A rough month.”
“Oh they care. If they can use it they care. If they can’t use it they will twist it around good enough so they can use it.”
I nodded and then Crows greeted TJ who was riding into town. “Trin, how ya been?”
I blushed, remembering our last encounter in a certain Mexican jail. “How’ve I been? Crows, how
have I been?” I turned to him to answer the question for me.
Crows said goodbye then and walked away and I sighed, looking back at TJ with sad, tired eyes. “Ya behaving Miss Trin?” he asked me.
“Was just tellin’ Crows... It’s been a rough month.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“I guess I just... Sometimes I just want to get away from it all. Go somewhere where no one knows my name, where no one knows my past. I thought that was what Amiville would be for me but... My past followed me, it seems.” I looked at him with a forced smile and said, “It’s really good to see you again.”
“Good to see ya again too,” TJ nodded.
“Outside of that cave and away from those outlaws... Back on the good side where you belong.”
“Thanks.”
“I was thrilled when I heard the news, TJ. A little skeptical, but thrilled.”
“Aww, as are others, hun. But I’ll show ‘em. Someday I’ll be law here again.”
“Give them time,” I smiled at him. “People tend to judge us based on our past.”
“So true,” he nodded.
“They don’t think we could change...”
“I know exactly what ya mean,” he winked and I blushed. We had so much history and I couldn’t even find words to say to him. I felt the weight of so many things on my heart that I wanted to tell him but I couldn’t find the place to start. Eventually he asked, “So ya still dancing here?”
“Yes, I do,” I nodded.
“Well that will keep ya outta trouble.”
“You’d think, wouldn’t you?”
“Hell, I applied and got turned down,” he chuckled.
I laughed at that and said, “Thanks, darlin’. I needed that.”
“Plus the garter wouldn’t fit.”
I smiled at the image in my mind and asked, “TJ... Could we...” I looked away, then back at him again. “I... Could we go somewhere and talk? Outside of the streets?”
“Sure,” he nodded.
“My house okay? It’s just behind the church.”
“Am I safe?” he laughed and I stepped closer, confused.
“I don’t even know if I’m safe right now.”
“Oh. Well damn, let’s go talk about that.”
I led the way to my cabin and held the door open for him. I showed him around and he sat down beside me on the couch. “TJ... I don’t even know where to start,” I sighed.
“So tell me why ya think ya not safe.”
“Well ever since that incident in the cave... Bill’s been comin’ by the saloon scaring me. Raven and Buu came to me in the saloon and Raven said Bill wants my appearance there ASAP. I scoffed at her, saying she was ridiculous for thinking I’d go willingly. When Bravo wasn’t looking, she pulled on my hair and threatened me.”
“Appearance where?”
“At the cave. Bravo pulled his gun on her and she took hers out, pointing it at me, saying he didn’t
want to do that. Buu pulled his gun out on Bravo. Then they got into this huge shootout in the street...”
“Why they want ya to go there for?”
“I don’t know why.”
“Well don’t go.”
“But then Bill’s been coming by the saloon, telling me he’ll see me real soon, that he’s gunning for me... Making snide comments about my dancing...”
“Hmm...”
“Coming to my sets and just being there, to show me that he knows where to find me.”
“Guess I need to have a talk with him.”
“I even moved out of town for a few days. Went to stay at Kalli and Sean’s ranch over the weekend. Moved back in though ‘cause I heard there were lots more law coming so I felt safer being back here but... He was here again last night... standing really close to the stage, just watching me.”
“I saw him as well.”
“TJ... I...” I started to feel myself shaking.
“I need to see if he has a warrant.”
“Every time I see him walking into the room I get chills up my spine. My heart leaps... I remember that knife... that shiny knife...”
“The man has problems with women,” TJ said and I leaned my head on his shoulder in fear, hiding my face against his neck. He looked at me and said, “Don’t worry, Trin.”
“But...”
“I’ll take care of him.”
“You promise?”
“He won’t bother ya anymore.” I looked at him skeptically and he said, “I’ll have a talk with him. May have to use force.”
I nuzzled closer against him and said, “I’m scared, TJ...”
***
After TJ left, I spent the afternoon writing and then went back to town. Tristan, Buu, Aurora and Rebecca Twist were in town. Buu asked if I was still mad at him because he shot my lover and I replied saying that Bravo wasn’t my lover anymore. Buu said I was better off without him as he was too mouthy for his liking and Tristan just laughed at the comment. I walked into the saloon, not wanting to hear any more about it.
Inside the saloon, the group there was talking about the bear running around town. I had a drink with a man named Tek and he said he was passing through.
“Really depends, I reckon,” he said.
“Depends on?” I asked, giving him a sweet smile.
“Well depends on what catches my eye,” he chuckled.
“Oh really?” I raised an eyebrow as I drank my whiskey. “Perhaps after this drik we should dance a bit, hmm?”
“Dancing would be nice, I assume. Course I ain’t much of a dancer, ma’am. I’m told I got two left feet,” he cracked another grin.
“Oh I find that hard to believe, darlin’,” I smiled and pulled my hair back into a half pony tale. “Let’s test that theory, shall we?”
We moved to the dance floor and danced as Rose came in and complained that the bear attacked her. I told her about my own experiences with the bear attacking me. Rose told us about a shotgun wedding and I clarified, “Buu and Aurora?”
“Really,” Rose exclaimed. “Who will be holding the shotgun?’
“If they like, I’ll hold it,” Tek offered.
“Yeah I don’t plan on attending that one. My money’s on Bill.”
“I’ll even pull the trigger,” Tek said and I chuckled.
“Oh I am going just to see what goes on. Should be a good one,” Rose said.
“You want to take a picture of it for me for the paper, Rose?” I winked.
“Will try to get one for you, Trin.”
“Thanks hon, I appreciate it. I don’t intend on goin’ anywhere Bill would be. I’ll live in the saloon if I have to.”
“Why not?”
“He’s out to get me, Rose. Might as well burry my grave outside the saloon right now.” “Maffe and Roby have it in for me over nothing,” Rose told me. “They threatened to shoot me because I asked them to get out of the middle of the street for the coach to go by. Maffe said he would stand where he wanted to.”
“Idiots,” I rolled my eyes.
“And if I didn’t stop he would shoot me. I asked even if I was unarmed and Roby said, ‘Try us.’”
“Have you told law, Rose?”
“No. What good would that do? Would just make them madder at me.”
“True,” I sighed.
“Nothing can be done with just threats.”
“That’s all Bill’s giving me,” I nodded. “But it’s enough to scare me.”
“Maffe and Roby always standing in the middle of the street talking, when they could very well stand to the side.”
“I’ve tried to talk to them about stuff but neither of them talk to me,” I said and shrugged. “I have other sources.”
“Maffe said if the coach ran over him he would shoot the driver. I didn’t know he was tat aggressive.”
“Maybe he just had a bad day.”
“He and Roby seemed to have the same way of thinking. They both agreed to shoot me if I persisted in arguing with them. At one point Maffe told me to just go in the store and stay there. But mostly I just consider the source and get on with it.”
“They ain’t worth your time,” I told her.
“No, they aren’t and I don’t intend to tell them to get out of the street again. If they get run over by a coach or a horse rider so be it.”
“There you go,” I chuckled.
“Just a waste of time and breat. They only hear what they want to hear.”
I nodded and she went outside to check on things. A puppy ran into the saloon and I stopped dancing with Tek to lean down and pick the dog up. I told Tek that he could be my attack dog. TJ came into the saloon and I introduced him to Tek but they already knew each other. Fritha came in and we tried to figure out whether the dog was a boy or a girl. I tried to get TJ to look but he wasn’t interested. Fritha insisted that it was a girl and she said that she would take the dog to the orphanage to be with the children.
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