June 29, 1869

Amiville. 

The next day I walked into town feeling unsure about every step. I had gone to the town dance last night but people weren’t as friendly and welcoming as they usually were. It was a weekly dance so I thought it would be a good chance to meet some people and get more information, but people seemed to keep to themselves. In the morning I had been given a short story to transcribe into script for the children’s theatre, so that was progress, at least. 

As the town went about their routines, I saw Sheriff Zakk near the saloon and went over to talk with him. I hadn’t made the best first impression and I wanted to apologize for it. 

“Ah, no need to,” Zakk assured me when he saw how regretful I was. 

“I never meant to get that involved. I was just talkin’ to him casually as a friend... Or so I thought, anyway,” I sighed and when Zakk said nothing I added, “Guess ya never know who ya can trust around here.” 

“Well you should just chalk it down to experience.” 

“We haven’t talked since the other night. I’m mighty upset with him still, in fact.” 

“Tristan probably thought he was doing the right thing.” 

“I was just hypothesizin’ theories.. I had no facts or proof. Just needed him to be a sounding board and he...” I looked away with a sigh. 

“Well that wasn’t the worst thing that could’ve happened,” Zakk chuckled. 

“S’pose not... ‘cept he made me look like a fool. Guess what’s done is done though.” 

“It’s okay Trin, really.” 

“It’s not, but I’m glad you’n I are okay.” We said goodbye and then I walked into the saloon. 

I spent the day in the saloon drinking coffee and getting to know people. Later that afternoon I was sitting with Chels when Tristan walked in. “How ya’ll doin’ in here?” he looked between us. 

“Enjoyin’ the quiet,” Chels answered, but I just looked at her knowingly, then back to Tristan. 

Tristan caught our shared expression and asked, “Is there anything I should know?” 

“Well, ya still livin,” Chels replied and I stifled a laugh. 

“Was I meant to be dead, Ms. Chels?” 

“Just lettin’ ya know,” Chels shrugged. 

Tristan shook his head and asked, “Know as in...?” 

I stayed quiet and looked past Tristan as Chels said, “You’re breathin’, walkin’, so ya ain’t dead.” 

“I reckon so,” Tristan rolled his eyes. 

Chels put a hand in her pocket, clutching something, then sighed and removed her hand from her pocket. I noticed Tristan pacing and I looked over at Chels, trying to read her expression. There was clearly tension between these two, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. 

Eventually, Chels took out a small piece of ore from her pocket and I was confused, wondering what the big deal was. Chels threw it to Tristan but he threw it back, not wanting anything to do with it, and Chels let it fall to the ground. 

“Whatcha be holdin’ in your hand?” Tristan asked when he noticed she was still fiddling with something. I looked over and saw that she was holding a badge. 

I swallowed, knowing that Chels wasn’t law and had no legal way of acquiring such a badge. “How did you...?” 

Chels looked down and said, “Just something that was given to me.” 

“By?” I looked up. 

“Ta hell is it?” Tristan asked and I looked over at him, nervously exhaling slowly. “Ta hell you have a badge for?” 

“I reached over for the badge and Chels handed it to me. “US Marshal Du...” I started to read. “It’s a 

bit smudged now.” 

“Ta hell gave you a badge?” Tristan pressed. 

“Is that from who I think it is?” I asked as I held the badge in reverence. 

“By his brother,” Chels bit her lip. 

“Josh?” I asked and she shook her head. “Gaide?” 

“Gave you his badge, why?” Tristan was getting irritated now. 

“It was given to me by Gaide,” Chels looked at the bit of blood still in the grooves. 

Tristan looked slightly set back as he asked, “Now can you tell me as to why he has given you Dutch’s badge?” 

“Why didn’t he give it to Peep?” I asked, thinking that if anyone should have Dutch’s badge it should be the woman who loved him. 

“We were friends,” Chels shrugged. 

“There’s something more you’re not telling me here...” Tristan looked between us. “C’mon, out with it.” 

“We can’t just tell you things, Tristan,” I said, even though I didn’t know much more than he did. “It doesn’t work like that.” 

“Why not?” 

“You don’t get to have control this time,” I said as Chels put the badge back in her pocket. 

“Now whatcha mean by that?” 

“You know damn well what I mean by that,” I glared at him. 

“I don’t know. Please enlighten me,” he shrugged his shoulders. Then he took a moment and turned to Chels. “Ya don’t got hitched or whatnot didn’t ya’ll?” 

Chels shook her head no and I stood, looking at Tristan. “We’re not telling you this time, Tristan. You’ll just have to accept that you can’t control everything.” With that, I walked out of the saloon and avoided eye contact with him as I headed home.