July 9, 1869

Amiville. 

This morning I went to the saloon and spoke with the few people who were there. Drake was tending bar and we talked about our jobs in  town and how he knew a man’s name and Drake said he knew everyone. Chels announced that she had become a marshal because she’d been around law a lot and saw that the town needed help. 

Sayler walked in and groaned as he sat down beside me. “Ugh, made it.” 

“You alright there, dear?” I asked him. 

“Yes, had a bit of trouble. Thanks for waiting.” 

“Of course. Just writin’ away here,” I smiled. “Enjoy the company though,” I added with a wink. 

“You overhear a lot in this place,” Sayler commented. 

“Mmhmm, rather inspiring, I must say.” After a few minutes of sitting in silence I asked, “So Sayler, yer not out workin’ somewhere’s today?” 

Sayler seemed distant and quiet, and he left to deal with a few things. I met a man named Preach. He explained that his wife had been murdered, and he took the guns. He said that he prays out loud before he shoots and people started to call him Preach. 

Foxie told him I was writing a book but instead I asked him about his story and he told me about his past and growing up. He said how he’d lost his best friend and as Sayler walked in I said, “I do know what it’s like to lose a good friend.” 

Rosa walked in and Sayler told her how they should get married because it would feel good to divorce her. Woody walked in and asked if they were getting married and Rosa slugged Sayler for what he’d started. I left the saloon and headed home but came back an hour later to find them still joking about Rosa being angry. They continued to banter back and forth until Rosa threw a bottle of whiskey at his head and then left, leaving me to take care of Sayler’s wound with a rag. 

“Appears we’re alone,” Sayler observed, looking around the room. 

“So it would seem...” 

“At last...” he said and I looked at him, wondering what he was thinking. He smiled at me and touched my hand, making me flinch and look in his eyes nervously. He removed his hand slowly then and said, “My apologies.” 

“I’m sorry Sayler, I just...” I was at a loss for words. This man had admitted to me days before that he wasn’t looking for anything serious. Why was he suddenly showing so much affection and interest now? 

“I was just thanking you for the care to my head.” 

“You’re welcome, Sweetie...” I hesitated. “I just think it’d be best if we remained friends, you know?” 

“Of course. As I said... just a touch of gratitude.” I nodded and he said, “You are always nice to me. I appreciate that.” 

“And there’s no better friend than you.” 

We sat in silence for a while until Rosa came in and apologized to Sayler for throwing the bottle at him. Eventually I headed home and saw Preach across the river. I invited him over and he came with me to sit up on my balcony. We talked about his wife and how he named his guns “Sermon” and 

“Prayer” because he prayed before he shot people. 

“Not really how I would have chosen to lead my life,” he finally said.” 

“Well sure... but sometimes God takes us down paths we wouldn’t choose for ourselves.” 

“Well perhaps. But I don’t think he was there during that.” 

“He was there,” I looked Preach in the eye, “just maybe not intervening and letting ya go yer own way for a while.” 

“Maybe... Well I gave up the book and the services... started wandering the territories. Did a lot of drinking, fighting...” 

“And came back to Amiville,” I summarized. 

“Yeah. Now I am back home.” I smiled and he said, “I wonder if Zakk is still a deputy?” 

“He is.” 

“Ah good,” he said and I looked away, frustrated at how Zakk hadn’t been exactly helpful with the investigation on Dutch’s case. “Someone to harass again,” Preach chuckled. 

“Feels more like he’s doin’ the...” I sighed. 

“He still letting the badge make him ten feet tall?” 

“Or somethin’...” 

“Hmm...” 

“Let’s just say I ain’t confidin’ in him anymore... Much less many of the other lawmen around...” 

“I see...” 

“I’ve learned in a short time that ya can’t trust anyone.” 

“Well I guess I’ll have to let Zakk know I’m back then,” he shook his head. 

“You do that and tell him I ain’t figured out the mystery yet. Probably never will.” I shook my head and looked out over the water in the backyard. 

“Mystery?” 

“I’ve been askin’ around about Dutch Solo’s murder. Tryin’ to write a piece about him.” 

“Dutchie was murdered?” he raised an eyebrow. 

“Ya didn’t know?” 

“No,” he shook his head. 

“Did you know him?” 

“Not great, but I knew him a little.” 

I told him how frustrated I was over the investigation, and how it seemed like no one wanted to talk about it anymore. He said that he wasn’t surprised about the suspects I had. I told him how I’d heard about Dutch becoming a father and he didn’t seem surprised about that either. 

“Well sounds like you need to find out for sure who is pregnant with his kid.” 

“And just how do ya expect me to do that? His kid could be runnin’ around already for all I know.” 

“I haven’t the foggiest,” he shrugged. “So that gives you a possible fifth subject. The mother of his child if she found out about the other two women.” 

I turned over into him and leaned my forehead against his shoulder, frustrated. It seemed like I was writing another book that wasn’t going to get an ending and I didn’t know what to do next. 

That night I went into town and greeted some women that were standing in front of the saloon. I asked if everything was alright and Ashlyn looked at me, shaking her head. “Trin, it’s been awful. Chels has been kidnapped!” 

“Whatever for?” I gasped, watching her eyes tear up. 

“A madman,” another woman said. .

“I’d never seen him ‘till today. Buckshot Bill? Was that it, ladies?” 

“Buckshot Bill I believe is the name,” another woman agreed. 

I cringed at the sound of that name and Ashlyn said, “He dragged her right through town. Trin, do you know him?” 

“I’ve seen him around town... I know he’s bad news.” 

We went to the saloon and talked with people there. I found out that TJ had a bounty on Lali’s head for one thousand dollars. I said I thought we were done with TJ and Lali said that bad weeds never go away. 

Lali’s husband came into the saloon and said, “Two of our marshals have gotten shot and kidnapped,” Lali told him. 

“Two?!” I exclaimed, surprised. 

“Yes,” Lali answered. “Chelsey and Avery.” Then suddenly she exclaimed, “Oh dear, the boys! The Viper boys! They can’t be left orphans! A posse was formed to go after them, Avery and Chels.” 

“But why?” I asked, still feeling lost. “What’d they want from them?” 

“Chels tried to execute an arrest warrant on Buckshot Bill. Avery was in the area and Tekoyas shot him down with his bow and arrow. Bound them up and took them.” 

“Just so hard to believe...” I shook my head. 

“But not only that. Chelsey’s first day as marshal too,” she said as she wiped a tear from her cheek. 

I let the conversation flow around me and listened as they continued to talk. Sayler came in behind me and twirled my braid around but I was too shocked about the news to join in on the conversation with him or the rest of the crowd. Eventually I told Sayler I was going to head home and called it a night.