June 30, 1869

Amiville

The next day I stood in front of the saloon with Peep, trying to convince her how much Tristan had played me. I hadn’t really intended to blame her in a court of law with no evidence whatsoever. 

“You haven’t been in town long,” Peep scratched her head. “This far west, proof seems to pop up against people out of thin air.” 

“Well it seems that’s what Zakk wanted,” I looked at her. “They let you walk out of the courthouse, didn’t they?” When she said nothing I continued quietly so no one else could hear. “Peep I want you to know I’m sure it wasn’t you. Tristan was the one who made me give Zakk all the information I know. I read the reports.. I didn’t tell anyone I had them...” 

“Do you have any other suspects, since you’re the one that’s been investigating?” 

“Damn straight I do.” I nodded, and as if on cue Chels walked over. Since discovering her ownership of Dutch’s badge and how Tristan reacted to it, I felt like there was something else going on that they weren’t sharing with me. 

“I’m not sure I should say, Peep. Ya know what happened to me last time I spoke up about this. I’m afraid to say too much now.” 

“He had a lot of women,” Karan put in as she walked over. “Maybe one of them did it.” 

“Look, I’ll tell you this,” Peep looked at me. “Tristan came after me acting in the capacity of a bounty hunter. He locked me in a room and refused to let me out ‘till I signed a confession.” I gasped, noticing Karan roll her eyes at the mention of Tristan, but stayed quiet. “If it weren’t for Chels, I would have been forced to sign that damn piece of paper.” 

“Like I said Peep,” I replied. “I have a feelin’ who did it. Only question remains is... Who did they do it with?” 

“I aim to prove that Tristan plays a stronger hand in this than we know.” 

“I’ll help ya there if ya need it,” I nodded in agreement.

“No,” Peep shook her head. “I’m playing my cards close to my vest.” 

“He’ll find out what happens when someone else is in control for once,” I told her and then added, 

“I’m gonna press him.” 

“You do what you do,” Miss Trin.” 

“H knows something that he’s not telling me, and he’s doing it on purpose.” 

Peep greeted Chels as she come over to us and I wondered what her reaction would be to finding out that Chels had Dutch’s badge. I told Chels she should reveal the object and she explained that Gaide had come to see her the morning after Dutch’s death. 

“How did he get Dutch’s badge?” Peep blinked. 

“I would think the law would’ve given him his brother’s badge along with his affects, no?” I guessed. 

“So what’s so so important about getting the badge?” Peep was confused. 

“There’s just one question remains in all this...” I started. “Gaide knew that you and Dutch were involved, didn’t he Peep?” 

“It was one night,” Peep shook her head. “He probably knew...” 

“Ya made it sound like it was quite the affair,” I told Peep. 

“Well we had been friends since, well I can’t really remember. Since I came to town.” 

“So then why would Gaide give his badge to Chels and not to you? Wouldn’t it mean more to you?” 

“Because everyone thought Chels and Dutch were married,” Peep answered. “Gaide would’ve thought that too.” 

I smiled, knowing Peep had just confirmed Chels’ greater involvement in this whole case. I looked over at her and said, “Chels, ya never mentioned this...” 

“I was never married,” Chels clarified. 

“Ya said ye and Dutch were just close friends; ya didn’t get hitched,” I remembered. 

“No, they were never married. People just thought it,” Peep explained. 

“Chels, were you two together when Peep and Dutch...” I started wondering if there would be cause for jealousy between the two women.

“That I couldn’t tell you,” Chels answered ambiguously. 

Peep scratched the back of her head and looked down sheepishly. “Well, you really didn’t know 

Dutch,” she told me. “He could charm the pants off a nun.” 

“Mmhmm, he could,” Chels agreed. 

“Well that would be the question, wouldn’t it?” I asked. “If someone knew...” I looked between them and shook my head. “I’ve gotta say ladies, this makes me just even more confused. 

“Ma’am, I’ll tell you what Dutch was,” Peep started. “I wasn’t aiming to change him; a zebra can’t change his spots. I know I’m no more special than the next girl in line and with Dutch... he had a lot 

of girls in line. Don’t change my feelings for him though,” she added wistfully. 

“Neither of you have motive, it seems...” I sighed, ruling out the motive of jealousy. “I ain’t sure about Tristan... and I haven’t been able to find Gaide. I really need to find Tristan, don’t I?” I asked, looking between them. 

“Might help, but be careful,” Peep warned. 

“He might have you signing a confession next,” Chels half-joked. 

“Mmhmm,” Peep agreed knowingly. 

I said goodbye to them and went to the livery to mount my horse and headed on my search. I rode around and found Tristan’s house up in the mountains. Knocking on the door, I received no answer and carried on my way. I did notice from the names on the mailbox next door   that Peep and Tristan were neighbours. 

I rode through Colorado and when it became evident that I was just going in a circle, much like my writing, I headed back to Amiville. I found Sayler by the saloon and enlisted his assistance in navigation. He went to get his horse and joined me on my journey. 

Kansas

We rode towards Kansas and talked casually along the way. Sayler was quickly becoming a man I could see myself spending more time with, as I enjoyed his company. He had a good sense of humor and knew how to make me smile with simply a touch. We eventually pulled up in front of a big house on the outskirts of Kansas and dismounted our horses. 

“Howdy folks!” A man greeted us. He was standing in the front yard with a woman and a young boy.” 

“Hello there,” the woman greeted. 

“Lovely house ya got there,” I surveyed the building. It was the size of a mansion, with white siding and green shutters on the windows. A white picket fence surrounded the property and I could see an apple tree with a swing hanging from one of the branches. 

“Thank ya,” the man replied. “I’m Marsh. This is Helen, my wife, and nephew Romey.” 

“Pleasure,” I smiled in response. “My name’s Trin and this here’s my friend Sayler.” 

“Hi, pleasure to meet you both,” Helen smiled. 

“Pleasure’s all on this side of the fence,” Sayler nodded. 

I told them how I was out looking for anyone that might’ve known Dutch Solo or his family. There was recognition from Helen and I told her what had happened. She seemed quite upset at the news. 

Romey seemed to know more about Dutch’s end than his aunt or uncle. “Yah, him gotted shot,” the boy pointed out. “He saved my life once, ya know. I was tryin’ to catch a bird and I falled off cliffs onto a ledge,” Romey told us. “An’ him climbs and rescued me!” 

The story made me smile at the boy. “From what I’ve heard about Dutch, that sounds like him.” 

“Then him say, ‘Let’s go to the saloon and get drink,’” Romey continued. “And him buy’d me rootbeer.” 

“I know his family too,” Helen told me. “Brother Gaide and Sister-in-law. Not seen him for a couple of weeks. Didn’t even know Dutch had died, so not sure how I can help.” 

“I play with his daughter sometimes,” Romey put in. 

“Well I’ve been kind of confused with some things I’ve been hearin’... Would be good to understand his person better.” Then I turned to the boy and asked, “He had a daughter?” 

“I think was his daughter,” Romey said. “Or Mr. Gaide’s? Her name is Mercy Solo.” 

“First I’m hearin’ about a daughter,” I looked over at Sayler who was listening quietly. 

“Have you spoken to Ascot Solo?” Helen asked. “She runs the Solos. She is Gaide’s wife.” I shook my head and she said, “She’s the best one to ask.” 

I told her who I’d been talking with and then said, “Gaide’s wife... now that’s interesting.” 

“Why’s that?” Helen asked. 

“Well last I heard he was hangin’ with a woman named Corinne...” 

“Oh, Miss Cori!” Romey remembered. 

“Corinne Battery,” Helen confirmed. 

“That was Mr. Solo’s wife,” Romey said. “Josh.” 

I smiled at the boy as he ran off to explore near the river and Sayler went after him, while Marsh went back into the house. 

“Yes well, Dutch was a flirt,” Helen explained when we were alone. “A free spirit. Gaide... He and Ascot always seemed solid. Last I knew Corrie was still in love with Josh. So very tangled web.” 

I nodded, telling Helen of my investigation thus far and how Dutch’s ghost had warned that Gaide was next. Helen vowed to find Gaide as soon as possible. She also mentioned that a lot of people in the Kansas area didn’t go to Amiville because of Ami, the mayor there. 

“Well I hope you do crack the mystery,” Helen finally said. “Dutch was a rogue but a decent man.” 

“That’s what I’m hearin’...” I nodded. “‘Tis why I want to know the truth even more.” 

“Yes, I understand. I just want to see his family.” 

I asked Helen to keep me informed of any new developments and promised to return the favor. Sayler came back over with Romey and we said goodbye before heading home. 

Amiville.

When we arrived at my cabin, Sayler came in and we talked about how comfortable we were around one another and how we just wanted to take things slow and get to know each other as friends first. 

That night I went into the saloon and I met Mercy Solo, the daughter I had heard about from Romey. She told me that she’d been playing Hide and Seek with Dutch when she saw him get shot. She’d been sitting above the steeple on the church and saw a man coming at Dutch, wearing all black and a star on his shirt. I walked outside where Tristan and some other bounty hunters were getting ready to go find someone. Mercy saw the star on the men and was nervous. She told me they were wearing stars like the man who killed Dutch. I looked suspiciously from Tristan to Peep then back to Mercy. When the girl saw the star that Tristan wore on his shirt, she panicked and ran off screaming. I tried to find her and then came back for help, but Tristan seemed more focused on the bounty he was about to collect. I sighed with frustration and headed home.