August 28, 1869

Amiville.

This morning I walked into town and saw the crowd in front of the saloon. Karan asked me how the ribs were doing and Michael asked what had happened. She warned me to take it easy for a few days and Buu asked if I was still mad at him. I told him it was water under the bridge and he promised that he hadn’t meant any harm. We talked about the wedding and how I couldn’t be there because I knew Bill would be there. 

Michael and I went into the saloon then and had some whiskey while we talked about our pasts and where we grew up. Karan brought up the auction and how I should get someone to cover the event. I started asking questions and then Buu asked if I wanted to write his biography. 

“You should talk to Kalli about doing a ‘do you know’ column about you. That could be fun... After doing all the law she could do all the outlaws...” 

“Who says I’m an outlaw? I’m as straight as they come, Miss Trin.” 

“Well I guess I just assumed as you hung out with Raven and them... I guess I find it hard to trust people who hang out with them. Look at Raven. I thought she was going to be my friend and then she pulls a gun on me.” 

“Why did Raven pull a gun on you?” 

“You were there, Buu... Remember in the saloon with Bravo... She pulled on my hair when he wasn’t looking, he pulled a gun on her to protect me, she then put a gun on me saying he didn’t want to do that, and you pulled a gun on him.” 

“I pulled a gun?” he tried not to smile. “Doesn’t sound like something I would do.” 

“I wouldn’t make that up, Buu,” I rolled my eyes. “Turned into a big gunfight in the street. ‘Course Bravo was egging you on, but that’s ‘cause he was steamed about Raven pulling a gun on me.” 

“Well he wasn’t much of a shot to be honest,” Buu chuckled. “It was only ever going to go one way and he knew that.” 

“At any rate... My point still stands about Raven.” 

“So why you break up with him anyhow?” he shrugged. 

I looked down at the table and said, “I realized I didn’t want to be in that serious of a relationship right now. He’s a good man... I jut need my independence for the paper and dancing.” 

“Fair enough, I guess.” 

“It was getting too serious too fast, Buu. I’m not the settle down type. I should be with someone like... Dutch.” 

“You should be with someone who ain’t gonna get you into trouble,” Buu countered. “You don’t seem to handle it all that well.” 

“Or just not be with anyone at all. Enjoy the moments as they come and not expect anything else.” I turned to him and said, “I handled myself just fine in that cave, Buu. Got myself out, didn’t I?” 

“I don’t know, I wasn’t even there.” 

“I promised Bill I would blame the fire on Bravo, even though I knew I wasn’t even going to write about it. And he let me out with just a scratch from a knife on my arm.” 

“Fire?” he asked, confused. 

“Valk’s store a couple of weeks ago.” 

“What’s that got to do with Bill and Bravo?” 

I shook my head and said, “Never mind. So tell me a bit about yourself that no one else knows, Buu.” 

“Erm well there ain’t much too tell, I lived in london once when I was young. Worked for a street thug robbing and knifing for money. He got real sore about summin’ one day though and chased me down the street with a knife. After that decided to make ma fortune’s elsewhere.” 

“Where’d you meet Aurora?” 

“I met Aurora in Wyoming when all them Injuns was stirred up. We all joined forces to fight them.” 

“She was part of the posse then?” 

“Not exactly. I wouldn’t call it a posse. We was just all in the area when them Injuns decided to shoot everything. That was back when I was with someone else, although I definitely had an eye for Aurora the first time we met.” 

I rubbed my ribs as I listened, still feeling the pain from last night. I asked Fritha when I should get the bandages replaced and she said it should be every two days and then I could put some iodine on the wounds. I told Buu what happened last night and then decided to head home for some rest. 

Idaho. 

An hour later I went out to Idaho and found Jake Stone at his cabin. We decided to go ride around to find stories about other areas around Amiville for the newspaper and I felt safer bringing him along then going by myself. 

Oregon. 

In Oregon we met a man who was named Wolfgang Kyong. “Do you know where I could find the mayor, perhaps?” I asked him. 

“You are talking to him.” 

“Oh am I?” I smiled widely. “My name’s Trin Paige. This here’s Jake.” 

“Nice to meet ya,” Jake said to him. 

“Pleasure,” Wolfgang nodded. 

“So have you heard of anything exciting happening around Oregon that we could write about?” I asked him. 

“We are a peaceful lot. Mostly never have troubles with outlaws and natives are friendly. This is a place if like to bring family this is place to be.” I chuckled, knowing the last time I was in Oregon was after running form the cave to find help. He looked at me and asked, “Something funny ma’am?” 

“Sorry.. Just the last time I was in Oregon wasn’t for very peaceful reasons... I sat on that seat in front of the sheriff’s office waiting for them to bring me news that things were done in Idaho... Nobody came though. I sat there for hours waiting for news.” 

“Not saying there isn’t troubles from people coming from other territories. Citizens here are all friendly.” 

“Trouble follows us all I s’pose. So what about that fortified military base up there on the hill? What’s the story behind that?” 

“They are here to protect us from the gangs up North where they like to harass good folks of Oregon.” 

“Are there many gangs up north? Do you know any of the names of those gangs?” 

“From what the sheriff tells me there is. But, no ma’am I just worry about the town.” 

“Eddie is the sheriff around here, right? He was here when I ran through town looking for help after that incident in Idaho West out by Twin Falls. I met him and then he brought me to Mimi who put a bandage on my arm.” 

“Yes he is.” 

“He’s a friendly one,” I smiled. “I’ll have to find him and talk to him.” 

“We have very good doctors here,” Wolfgang agreed. 

“Indeed, Mimi’s a good doctor.” 

“How long have you been the mayor?” 

“For the last six months.” 

“Who was the mayor before you?” 

“No one ma’am been first mayor of this town.” 

“Jake, would you mind going and getting a picture of that gorgeous garden we found?” 

“Yes ma’am, I will,” Jake said and wandered off. 

I thanked him and turned to Wolfgang. “Sir... I was wondering if you could tell me more about these gangs from up north...” 

“They come riding hard and fast through town trying shoot and burn up the town. Sheriff does a good job of keeping them away. A few weeks ago they ran through the village and threw a stick of dynamite.” 

“Do you know who? Or would Eddie know more?” 

“No one was hurt bad,” Wolfgang replied. “Eddie might. I was only told of the event.” 

Jake came back with the picture and I asked him, “We got dynamite thrown down at us at random a while ago around here, didn’t we Jake?” 

“Yea up in Idaho, we sure did,” Jake chuckled. 

“I have requested to have a US Marshal help us out but have yet to hear anything.” 

“How many law members do you have, Mayor?” I asked, looking at Jake knowing he’d be interested now. 

“Oh really, I will inform the head Marshal to be sure the request came in,” Jake promised. 

“We only have our sheriff it is a small town,” Wolfgang replied. 

“What happens when Eddie isn’t in town? Though I guess it’s not too busy around here... How many people live here?” 

“Well ma’am we do the best we can to protect ourselves. A few hundred ma’am. Most work up in the mines.” 

“And where are the mines located?” 

“North West from here,” he said and I started to think that everything happened up north. “You have gold you usually have greed which problems arise.” 

“Indeed...” 

“Why we need of US Marshal. Sheriff does his best but he was hired to protect the town.” 

“Mind if I have a seat, mayor?” Jake looked over at the rocking chair and Wolfgang nodded to him. 

“Sure Jake, help yourself.” 

“So anything else you can tell me about the town? Anything we should know over in Amiville?” 

“Like I say a friendly town where we welcome food folks to live here.” 

“Any jobs available other than law?” 

“We have shop owners. A lady moved into town and takes care of the saloon. We are in need of blacksmith.” 

“I work over at the saloon in Amiville,” I smiled. “Can’t dance much at the moment because of the danged bison that attacked me....” 

“Also looking for someone that can run a cafe shop.” 

“Cafe shop? for biscuits and treats and such?” 

“Yes ma’am.” 

A native man walked over and we greeted him as he passed us. I looked back to the mayor and asked, “Are there many Native camps in the area?” 

“Only the one just West of here.” 

“Do you know the name of the tribe?” 

“We also have a lady setting up an orphanage and school for the little ones.” 

“Oh? Are there a lot of children?” 

“It was a strange name. Trying to remember it.” 

“Cheyenne? Um... Not Cherokee probably... Apache...?” 

“Umpqua is there name.” 

“Umpqua? I haven’t heard that name before.” 

“Do you know who their chief is? Perhaps I should go find him and talk to him too.” 

“They are a quiet group usually keep to themselves.” 

“Ah I see.” 

“I try to talk to them but there english is not good and I don’t understand their language. I hope to meet the chief but I understand the Cavalry talks to them.” 

“The Cavalry ... Do you know any of their names?” 

“The Commander is Major William Fetterman.” 

“He runs that fortified military base up there?” 

“He does, yes ma’am. Good man and usually gets along well with the Natives.” 

“That’s good to hear... Maybe he can give me some information on them too.” 

“When he is around you can ask. I understand he gets sent out to patrol the trails for renegade indians.” 

“We’ll have to find him then, won’t we Jake?” I winked at him. 

Jake shook his head, as if trying to stay awake. “I’d rather go look for the renegade Indians myself.” 

“‘Course you would,” I chuckled. “Guess we should carry on your way. Thank you so much for your help, Sir. I’ll let you know when the article is done and maybe let you look over it? Just to make sure we’ve got all the facts straight?” 

“Good to meet you Jake,” Wolfgang said as Jake stood and stretched. Then he turned to me and said, “Nice meting you, ma’am, and your welcome. I hope I have helped some.” 

“Indeed, you have helped greatly! We’ll be in touch.” 

“Like I said, I’ll let head marshal know you’re lookin’ for help out here,” Jake said as we both shook the mayor’s hand. 

“I do appreciate it.” 

“Have a good day, mayor. safe paths,” I said and looked over at Jake. “Back to your place for now?” 

“Reckon we could... or the saloon for some lunch.” 

“Oh lunch sounds good...” 

We went to the saloon but then decided to head back to his place for lunch. After a while I went back to Oregon to see if anyone was around but the town was empty. I heard Bill and Raven yelling off in the distance and kept riding, not wanting to run into either of them. 

Louisiana. 

I stopped in Louisiana when I saw their newspaper office. I took a picture of it, since the building looked exactly what I wanted our office to look like back home. 

As I was standing there, Rat Boy, Bill’s compatriot from the cave incident, came riding over to me and I swallowed nervously. 

“I’m unarmed, sir. I come peacefully,” I told him. 

“No fear lady,” he chuckled. “I ain’t no danger to ya.” 

“I just saw this newspaper office and...” I raised my eyebrow, remembering our last meeting. 

“I just came to check your paperwork.” 

“Oh?” 

“See if ya don’t write some rubbish.” 

“Ah... You want the last issue of the paper?” He nodded and I looked at him suspiciously. “I don’t have any on me, Sir. But you can come to my office in Amiville and pick up a copy...” 

“I ain’t planning on moving today lady.” 

“Rat, it was... right?” I asked. 

“Ya didn’t forget huh?” he nodded. 

I shook my head, unfolding my sleeve to reveal the scar from where Bill cut me. “I never forget.”

He looked down and said, “That should not have happened though.” 

“You’re right,” I shook my head. “It shouldn’t have, but it did. He’s been coming to town threatening me ever since.” 

“Did he huh?” 

“Raven said he wanted my presence back at the cave and that made no sense to me.” 

“Ya did what you asked, so the hell with it.” 

“Well... I’d love to catch up but I should carry on. I’m still feeling a bit weak... Was attacked by a bison last night. Dang near killed me. Ribs are still sore and I was just taking a break for a bit.” 

“Hell they normally don’t attack.” 

“Think I’m going to go look around inside, get some ideas for my paper office. I’d show you the proof if you wanted to see...” I winked. “Maybe another time though.” 

“No need Miss, I believe ya,” he chuckled. 

“Take care, Rat. Safe travels.” 

“And you...” he said and I wandered inside the office to look around more. 

***

Amiville. 

This afternoon I walked into the saloon and talked with people there. I told them about the incident in Louisiana and how inspired I felt at the newspaper office there, in spite of meeting up with Rat Boy again. We talked about my gig tonight and how I was looking forward to playing some hymns in the church. We talked about the auction and Fritha handed me a picture that she’d taken at the auction the night before. 

Later I met a man named Mikk Graves who said he was a preacher. TJ came over then and we talked about the incident with Rat Boy in Louisiana. He promised he would take care of it and I went back to town. 

Bill was dancing alone in the saloon so I decided whether I should dance with him to bridge the space between us and find some common ground. We danced for a bit and I looked into his eyes and said, “Hey there.” 

“Now now, don’t be doin’ that, Trin,” he said then. 

“What’s that, Bill? I”m just dancin’ with ya.” 

We danced for a bit longer and he remained quiet, but I kept dancing anyway. Suddenly he left the saloon and I watched him walk out, wondering what had just happened as I headed home.