November 15, 1869

Wyoming. 

While I was on my way to the Cherokee village, I met a couple named Brigs and Jess Pinkerton as they looked around at cabins near the village. We talked about how I lived in Nebraska but visited the Native tribes in both Kansas and Wyoming. Chief Standing Bear came over and helped them find a cabin to stay in. 

I then saw a man walking over and felt something familiar about him but I couldn’t place it. “Hello Sir,” I greeted him. 

“Hello there,” he raised a hand and I felt like I recognized his voice. 

“I’m sorry... You look so familiar... Have we met before?”

“It depends...” he looked at me. 

“Depends on...?” 

He reached into his duster coat and took out an old newspaper. “Well I’m looking for a friend of mine. She’s a writer.” 

I took the newspaper and looked it over, seeing the article I wrote about Kale standing up to the outlaws and gasped, “Kale! You took a bullet from Bill so they wouldn’t shoot up the whole town!”

He smiled as he got off his horse and said, “That’s right.” 

The chief frowned at me and said, “You bring more paleface here.” 

“How the heck are ya? I haven’t seen you since that day!” I exclaimed and looked over to the chief. “Chief, he’s a friend from a long time ago. A true hero, this one.”

“I’ve been better,” he nodded and looked over at the chief. 

I wondered what was wrong and looked at him, “Maybe we should go to my place and catch up. There’s a saloon across the road from my cabin.”

“Sounds great,” Kale greeted the chief with an ‘Osiyo’ before looking back at me. 

I said goodbye to the Pinkerton’s and went with Kale back to my place in Nebraska. 

Nebraska. 

Kale removed his hat as we went inside and I looked over at him, thinking it had been so long since we’d talked. I went to the kitchen and made us some coffee before coming back out to  sit down on the couch with him as he put his duster and hat on the table. 

“So Kale... What’s going on?” I asked when we got comfortable. 

“Well, I left the bounty hunting business and found a new career in Private investigating,” he smiled. “So how about you? Ya still writing newspapers and pluggin’ gunshot holes?” he chuckled. 

“Well...” I smiled. “I’ve actually been asked to write a newspaper focused on the surrounding area around Nebraska here. They heard about my paper in Amiville and want me to do the same thing here, covering more territory.”

“Great so your really moving up in the world huh?” 

“You could say that,” I smiled. “I moved out here for a fresh start... to heal from the wounds of the past and get my head back on straight.”

“You can say that again,” he chuckled. 

I looked over at him curiously and said, “You mentioned when I asked how you were that you’d been better... Somethin goin on, Kale?”

“Well like I said I got out of the bounty hunting business and moved on the greener pastures,” he shrugged, taking another sip of coffee. “Well I’ve taken up private investigating, and on my first job a law woman comes to me saying she needs a body guard.” I nodded, knowing I could use one too but didn’t mention it. “Well it wasn’t later ‘till I discovered that who she needed guarding against was the whole Red Raiders gang.” 

“Wow... Don’t think I’ve run into them yet,” I set my empty cup on the table and listened to him. 

He finished his own and said, “Yeah, it’s Buckshot Bill’s new gang,” he said and leaned back as I swallowed hard, hearing that name, and looked down. “Well I followed her around town keeping to myself, watching from a distance and such and before you know it here they come riding into town. “Thinkin’ it was time to get my client out of there she then struts over to them and challenges the whole gang to a gunfight,” he said with a sigh, “and next thing you know the bullets start flying... I run in guns blazing....even shot down three of em,” he said with a chuckle, “then she got hit...” he said with a soft voice. “There were still three bandits I had to drag her out of there and still fight them off. The law eventually showed up and drove the Raiders off...  but not in time,” he looked down at the floor. “She bled out before the doc could get to her,” he closed his eyes. 

“Oh Kale...” I stood and went to sit beside him. 

“Hell of a first case, huh?” he asked, looking into my eyes. 

“How recent was this...?” 

“About two months ago,” Kale said as he looked down to the floor and I reached over to put a hand on his back and he reached over to touch my hand. “After that I buried myself in work trying to make enough cash to try and find you...” he looked deep in my eyes. 

“You came to find... me...?” I looked at him, shocked. 

“Yeah, I remember when we met I said I would come find you after I got my strength back.” 

“You did...” I nodded. 

“Did I portray you in the article okay...? I wanted to tell the story properly...”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “You were a good friend when I needed one.” 

“Well... I’m here for you now... and could use a friend like you again myself. Have you been living anywhere in particular or just wandering?”

“Yeah?” he asked. “Interesting how things just work out,” he smiled. 

“Very interesting...” I smiled. “Almost as if someone was bringing us back together... to reunite our friendship and make it grow.”

“Inns and saloons have spare rooms,” he said with a smile. “Not to mention in and out of saddle bags.” 

“Maybe it’s time you settled down somewhere, Kale? Nebraska, perhaps...” I smiled. 

“Nebraska?” Kale looked at me. “Any work in these parts?” 

“Hmm.... Well It’s more of a residential town... but we could chat with the mayor about getting you as a marshal or bounty hunter up here again... And I could use help on the paper once we get there...” I winked. 

He thought for a bit before saying, “Me, a lawman huh?” 

“Just a thought,” I winked again. “I could use a bodyguard out here too... but I assure you it ain’t as dangerous. And if it is, I just run to the two Native tribes on either side of me. Outlaws don’t dare go there much. Of course the path to and from the villages aren’t always the safest... I’ve got a wolf that follows me around once in a while but he ain’t around today it seems... Set out that bed and the dog house for him. I feel safer with him around.”

“Hmm... I could see that,” he laughed. “Wonder if folks could use a private detective around these parts?” 

“Well... I was gonna do that... Have an office set up and everything here. But there isn’t really that much going on it seems that way so I just spend most of my time writing or visiting villages. Although...” I looked at him thoughtfully. “I have been somewhat following a possible story... It’s been growing in intensity... Not really sure there’s anything we can do about it though.”

“What’s the case?” he looked at me with a hint of excitement. 

“There are about four native villages in the area surrounding Nebraska. In the past two weeks there have been six attacks on three of those villages. Mostly by the same people though there’s a bit of variation.”

“Go on?” he looked at me. 

I stood and said, “Let me show you my office. The paperwork is all in there about it.” We walked into the office and I looked through the cabinet. “Alright here we go...” I read from the notes... “October thirty-first, four attacks in one day. Buu and Turner attacked Hawk’s village in Kansas East once in the morning and twice in the evening. That same day, Liam and Lebron Black attacked Betty’s village in Iowa,” I looked over at him. 

“I know of the Black brothers. I’ve seen them on bounty boards.” 

“I figured you would have heard about them. I met them in Colorado Springs... But that’s another story,” I said and he nodded. I went back to my notes and continued, “On November fifth, Brandy and Jules attacked Chief Bear’s village in Wyoming. On November eighth, the Alameda village was burned down... That one I have no clarification on as they weren’t able to give me an actual location of the village.”

“Hmm... six days apart.” 

“And finally on November 9, Buu attacked Betty’s village in Iowa again. Interesting succession of events, no?”

“Yes very,” he nodded. “Seems some folks around here don’t much like the natives living around them?”

“That would be the prevailing theory. But the thing is there isn’t really that much local law around... So they can’t really stop these attacks...” I nodded. “I’ve been talking to my friends who are marshals... They agree it’s a problem and suggested putting up check points and maybe they could put warrants out on these people... But there really isn’t that much to go on right now other than the testimony of the Natives.”

“Hmm... and that won’t go far with local lawmen,” he sighed. 

“See my problem?” I shook my head. “Kale... these people have protected me for months... I would always go to Hawk’s village when I lived in Amiville... For solace and peace, for protection. And now...” I started to get emotional. 

“Yes and I have a feeling you care a great deal for the Natives... and...” he trailed off and reached over to take my hand and I squeezed it tightly. 

“They have protected me and welcomed me into their village, even though I am paleface. They have shown me nothing but kindness... They don’t deserve...” I choked up. 

“It’s alright. I’m gonna put a stop to this,” he said with a reassuring smile. 

“How...? I’ve tried everything I can but it seems...”

He gripped my hand and smiled. “The only way I know how.” 

“Kale... I’m glad you’re here... It helps to have someone to bounce these things off of someone who understands... who cares... who could do something about it...”

“Funny how things just work out,” he said with a soft voice and I swallowed as I traced his hand with my thumb. “Well I’m just glad to help.” 

“I should make some dinner soon... Care to stay?”

“No, I’m sorry,” he shook his head. “I must be going. Have to get my horse set up in the livery and look for a place to stay, seeing how I’m going to be in town for a while.” 

“I’m glad to hear that, Kale... There is a hotel next door... Not sure if the rooms are ready yet but that’s the plan,” I smiled. 

“I’ll check it out,” Kale nodded and stood with a smile. 

“Kale...” I stopped him and reached out to embrace him, hugging him tightly. He was in the middle of picking up his duster and dropped it on the floor, facing me and hugging me until he headed out of the house with a soft goodbye.