July 5, 1869

Amiville. 

People came in and out of the saloon as I drank my whiskey, thinking about the past few days. I felt like I was getting nowhere and the more I talked to people about Dutch, the further behind I felt. The visit to the undertaker’s office had not only confused me, but brought back several memories I’d hoped to leave in the past. 

Mel and Peep sat at the bar with me and they were both as quiet as I was. Finally Peep said, “Lord, it seems so depressing in here tonight. What can I do to cheer you gals up?” 

“Bring us some single men to distract us from the bitterness?” I suggested and Mel laughed. 

“A muscle man contest maybe,” Mel suggested. 

“She asked,” I shrugged and Mel giggled. 

We sat for a while in silence and I watched people coming and going. Outside, I saw Tristan pacing back and forth and suddenly I gasped, realizing something. “Oh my... Peep... It all makes sense! Why it must have been the man we think it was who killed Dutch!” 

“Who is that?” Peep asked. 

“He has motive and everything! And... he’s since somewhat disappeared, and if he’s in town it’s only for a short time. Now granted again, before I get dragged to the courthouse again...” I stopped myself and looked around. “This is all just theory and hypothesizin’.” 

“I’m not going to drag you to the courthouse,” Peep promised and I chuckled with relief. 

“I’ve often been curious about the relationship with Tristan and Chels... And when Chels revealed she had Dutch’s badge, well he seemed to be quite baffled at the fact that she had it. Then I got to thinking about Chels and why she has Dutch’s badge. Peep, what if...” I hesitated, looking at her. 

“Her and Dutch were rather close, but hell Dutch was close to all women.” 

“Weren’t her and Tristan rather close at some point too?” I wondered. 

“Couldn’t say.” 

“What if he was jealous, Peep?” 

“Of Chelsey and Dutch? It does make sense...” 

“Mercy Solo was here last week one night... When she went outside and saw Tristan, she ran, ‘cause she recognized the star he wore, which looked like the star she saw on the man who killed her uncle. She witnessed the whole thing. If she actually recognized Tristan...” 

“Well, Tristan was rather adamant on me signing that confession.” 

“See? And he was also rather adamant on pointin’ the whole thing at you.” She nodded and I added, 

“‘course, we’ve no proof...” 

“Just speculation. I’m meaning to go through his house,” she informed me. 

“Which is what I was tryin’ to tell him before he sold me out at the courthouse. Of course I’m gonna suspect you... You were the last to see Dutch alive. That’s just an obvious guess.” 

“I’m a sucker for soulful brown eyes and charm, and Dutch had that in spades,” Peep sighed a bit. I nodded, understanding and wanting her to go on. “I knew what Dutch was. He wasn’t the settling type. Longest he settled for is one night.” 

“Peep... does the name Hav Taraug mean anythin’ to you?” I asked, thinking of how Bravo was only in town for a short time and had that charm like Dutch. I still wasn’t sure if I could trust his words completely. 

“Wait, where did Hav come into this? I haven’t seen him around in ages.” 

I told her about my conversation with Bravo and when I mentioned Dutch possibly being a father, Mel suggested that Dutch probably had several kids running around due to all the women he’d been with. Peep told me that she was going to Tristan’s to find some evidence. I wanted to go with her, but we decided it wouldn’t be smart riding around with someone who was still suspected for murder. We said goodbye and headed on our separate ways.