Wyoming.
I walked over to the Cherokee village and greeted the tribe there. We talked for a while about hunting buffalo and then I continued on my wanderings. I hesitated and then crossed into Amiville, knowing it was the only way to cross from Georgetown to Colorado and Kansas.
Amiville.
I walked into the horse and walked into the saloon, figuring I should catch up with Gramps while I was there. “Hey there, Gramps!” I greeted him.
“Hi there stranger!” he laughed. “How are you doing, Ms. Trin?”
“I’m just fine, Gramps. Good to see you again,” I chuckled. “How are things?”
“I do not know. I was away for a few days and I am trying to find out.”
“Oh were you? Good to be back at it I bet.”
“Well if I can ever get the information I need, yes,” he laughed.
“I know how that feels,” I chuckled and got some whiskey from him, “Business is quiet these days?”
“Where ya headed?”
“I was just goin through the towns doing the rounds... Seeing if anything’s happening that I need to make my writers aware of. Realized going through Amiville was the only way to get from Georgetown to Colorado East and Kansas...”
“Oh, well like you say things have been quiet here.”
“Sheriff Callaghan ain’t around?”
“Yes he was here just a bit ago, but left on some business.”
“You’ll never guess who I ran into the other day.”
“Nope would not venture a guess.”
“The one and only Dutch Solo. Ran into him in Georgetown. We sat in the saloon and caught up.”
“Really, well that must have been a surprise.”
“It sure was. Hadn’t seen him in months.”
“Yea, well he does not come around here much.”
“Avery is back.”
“He spoke of possibly putting roots down in... Avery? Didn’t we bury him?” I blinked. “I wrote the article... I saw the pictures of his funeral...”
“Yes, but I guess things have changed some,” Gramps shrugged and I just stared at him blankly, wondering.
Customers came into the saloon and we talked for a while and then I headed for the door. “Good to see you again, Gramps,” I smiled at him.
“See ya Ms. Trin. Be fun and safe. Glad you stopped in.”
“Hope to see you again soon!” I waved and rode home.
Wyoming.
This evening I wandered back into the village and joined the tribe at the fire. “How is Trin?” Sounds of Thunder asked me.
“We had an interesting evening last night...”
“Yes, interesting.”
“That woman who came to the village and didn’t know who she was? We found the cave where she was staying.”
“Did you find anything on the woman?” Dark Rain asked.
“We found her medicine bag and a blanket,” I reached into my bag and handed them the items.
“Could you give these to the chief? Manipi recognized her scent on them. You’ll be able to give the chief these things?”
“Yes, we make sure he gets them. Wado,” Dark Rain took the items from me and studied the bead work on the bag. “Looks to be be Cherokee bead work.. as her dress is Cherokee.”
“It was a big help to have Manipi there with us,” I smiled. “He was very good at tracing the scent.”
“Chief Hawk is the leader of the Cherokee Tribe in Kansas East... Do you think she would feel more at home there or will she just stay here?” I saw Manipi wander over and threw him some meat, “Hey there boy! Come here, I’ve got something for you!”
“We will see Trin. She seems to be doing better this sun... but sister still does no remember where she from,” Dark Rain said.
“Did she sleep alright? Calmly enough?” I nodded as Manipi wagged his tail and I scratched him behind the ear.
“Yes, she even help this one with chore’s this sun.”
“I am glad to hear that. I was worried about her. The cave where she was staying did not look like a suitable home... Not that I went in...”
“Her head is still sore. We gave her name ‘Ulena’. Means lost.”
“Ulena... I’ll remember that,” I nodded. Betty and Manipi went into the cave while Eagle and I... kept watch outside. We found those things easily enough but it was getting late by the time we finished so we didn’t want to come all the way back here in the dark... So we thought it would be best to wait until today to bring these to you.”
“Yes that was wise of you.”
“I tried to come earlier today but no one was here.” I reached down and pet Manipi again. “Well boy, I’ve made my delivery... What do you say about joining me on my rounds?”
“I must have been mining.”
“I assumed I would be able to find someone here this evening. Glad I was able to catch you. Have a good evening, both of you,” I smiled to her and Thunder.
“It’s always nice to see you friend,” Dark Rain smiled.
“Safe paths, Trin,” Thunder said and Manipi followed me out of the village.
Georgetown.
I headed into Georgetown and went to the Spread Eagle. TJ and Sugar were there and I congratulated him on getting married. I told him I was looking for Karan to give me a writeup about the business for the paper. We talked abotu the grand opening and how Vic Hollow would be DJ’ing. We talked about my trip to Amiville and how Avery was back as was Dutch. We talked about how there was still a mystery over what really happened with Dutch while he was held in the cave, and who was after him. Karan came in and said she was excited to give me a writeup for the paper.
“Did you hear Ami fired me yesterday from the Tipsy?” Karan asked with a laugh.
“Not surprised, Karan. You’re better off without them,” I rolled my eyes.
“Aren’t we all,” TJ agreed.
“I just went through Amiville for the first time in a while today... Is the only way to get to Colorado East from Georgetown,” I said.
“Oh yes ... it was just classless how she sent out a notice first without telling me. I was replaced by Jade,,” Karan said.
“Wow,” I shook my head. “Is like when I left the paper. No ‘what happened,’ or ‘What can we do to convince you to stay’.”
“Yes I saw that,” Sugar nodded.
“Nope. The new manager blew her way there,” TJ chuckled.
“I don’t know what gets in the water over there to make them act so crazy,” Karan shook her head.
“It’s not the water, it’s the tea,” TJ said. “They all fancy.”
“Chane was over there earlier and WhiteRose reprimanded him several times about his language because children were present.”
“I need a drink,” I said and they laughed.
“Well, from what I hear, lots of folks are getting ugly remarks and that doesn’t make it conducive to stay... ya think?” Sugar asked.
“Got any whiskey back there Karan? I’ve got an idea for a toast.”
“Here you go. Chane will be sorry to have missed you. He went to bed early,” Karan said as she filled my flask.
“Well you’ll have to say hi to him for me,” I smiled.
“I will do so. He was up way too early doing business.”
I nodded and raised my flask. “To the past staying in the past, and to new lives for all of us.”
We continued to talk and catch up, talking about everything going on with the business and how I had become sequestered in Nebraska for safety.
“Proud of ya Trin,” TJ chuckled.
“With the new paper... I now go around most of the sims we cover once a day at least. If I see somethin goin on then I assign it to the writer of that area. Couldn’t let Bill run my life forever.”
“Chane and I went down to Kinglsey earlier. It’s a shame no one goes down there,” Karan said.
“I had originally gone with Jake and Chels down to Kingsley thinking we were going to settle there... But I got restless. As great as it looked like it was going to be... It was a ghost town and I needed to work.”
“I think folks get stuck in a rut,” Sugar said.
“They got sick of Amiville too,” TJ agreed.
“They’re in Colorado East now with Adder last I heard,” I nodded to him.
“Oh, not in Kingsley now?” Sugar asked.
“It is just so well done down there,” Karan said.
“We thought Logan was coming with us but he got roped into doing the mayor campaign and now he’s stayed to just beat Ami and teach her a lesson,” I said.
“I think Ami called off the election.”
“She did?! When?”
“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Sugar muttered.
“Doesn’t surprise me either but Logan found me in Nebraska and we were talking about it... That was just a few nights ago,” I said.
“She keeps finding one excuse after another to postpone things. Chane and I figured she was afraid of him winning,” Karan said.
“I guess it didn’t go the way they wanted it to,” Sugar said.
“Never does,” TJ nodded.
“He wouldn’t have been able to win even if she kept it going... They’re all so far in....” I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Wonder what Logan’ll do now...”
“I got hell last night for what everyone else said,” TJ told us.
“She told me she never planned on having a real election, it was just a joke with Buu, then others jumped in the fray,” Karan said.
“The only reason he was staying there was to do the election and beat Ami out of the position,” I said.
“Chane was all fired up about it until Lali told him he would have to do real work,” Karan said and I laughed.
“Ya’ll never change do ya?” I chuckled more.
“He doesn’t like anything to interfere with his drinking and gawking at pretty girls,” Karan laughed.
“Well, I try not to think I’ll of folks... but sometimes they just hang themselves,” Sugar said.
“Logan was hoodwinked. But then it became a vendetta,” I nodded with a chuckle.
“I love Chane just like he is ... wouldn’t change anything about the man,” Karan said.
“I may have met someone,” I blushed.
“That is good. Someone from around here?” Karan smiled.
“Sounds a little like Justyn, he loves to flirt and I just can’t put a noose around his neck... sides, as long as he comes home and keeps me a happy girl, I’m all good,” Sugar said.
“He’s a native who came into the Nebraska area a week or so ago...” I told them.
“Oh Trin, how nice,” Sugar smiled.
“We started to collect things for making traps together and then last night...” I smiled and sighed at the memory, since it was painful and exciting at the same time.
“The thunderbolt got you,” Karan smiled.
“We went to find this cave of a woman who had come to the village in Wyoming. I couldn’t go in the cave... not after....” I said, looking at TJ since he’d been in the cave with Bill’s gang too. “Anyway...” I snapped out of it, shaking my head. “He held my hand as we kept watch outside the cave and Betty went into the cave with Manipi, the dog, to find stuff that belonged to the woman. We went home and he just held me... He could feel my hurt, I think.”
“Is his name Jackson?” Karan asked.
“His name is Lonely Eagle... He said that whenever he passes by the house he sees the Eagle circle around above my office in Nebraska. As if it’s supposed to be a landing point for him...”
“What a lovely story, Trin!” Karan smiled.
“I have a good feeling, Karan... I haven’t had this feeling since... Well.. Dutch... the first time,” I winked at her.
“Sometimes thing happen when you least expect them,” Sugar said.
“When it’s meant to be, you just know it,” Karan agreed.
“The eagle is sign enough. I told him he may have to change that name of his from Lonely Eagle.. He said it was the name his spirit guide gave him.” I looked over at her and said, “I saw Dutch here in Georgetown just the other day. The same day I spoke with Logan actually. It was a very ‘Trin Paige this is your life’ kind of day.”
“You did?” she shook her head. “I thought he ran far away. Corri was in Amiville yesterday.”
“He said he was thinking of putting up roots here... I’ll believe that when I see it.”
We talked for a bit longer and then I headed home.
Amiville.
I rode through Amiville and saw Andy in front of the marshal’s office. “Sheriff Callaghan around?” I asked him.
“Boss man is sweepin. Town is on my watch wat you need pwetty wady?” he asked, acting tough as Jade waved through the window.
“Just ridin through. Thought I’d see if he was around,” I laughed.
“Ohs. He should be awounds soon. Law men need naps too.”
“Mmhmm,” I smiled and he leaned over to give me a big hug. I saw Tristan through the window and waved at him.
We talked for a while about the newspaper and how I didn’t run it anymore. Jade talked with us about how the mayor had been lying and there was a really bad reporter working at the newspaper. I said goodbye to them and headed on with my ride.
Colorado Springs.
I went to knock on Mack’s door and talked with him and Amee for a while before heading home.
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