Amiville.
This morning a man approached me and asked, “I’m looking for Tristan Juanos gun shop. do you know where it is?”
“Ah yes, it’s just around the corner there. You’re almost at it.”
“Okay thanks,” he tipped his hat.
“Just keep walking and I believe it’s still beside the newspaper. My pleasure.”
I walked down the street and greeted Adder. “How are things, Taurus? Town keeping busy huh?”
“Seems that crazy Marriana decided to pick a fight with Buu.”
“Oh really? Is she suicidal?” I winked.
“Actually it looked like she gave him a good fight. Still lost.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Callaghan get them locked up yet or we still working on that?”
“Well she’s down somewhere. dunno where Buu is, but he claimed self defence.”
“Of course she did,” I nodded.
“And we’ve got no eyewitnesses yet. So its one outlaws word against another’s,” he shrugged.
“Great. That should be a fun trial huh?” I nodded.
“Doubt it’ll get there,” he laughed.
“Yeah, they probably wouldn’t even show up.”
“Or just weasel out somehow.”
“Hey, Adder,” Daisy walked over to us. “Somebody just shot Marianna. Ida and Pablo are taking her to the hospital.”
“Guess we should head over to the clinic, huh Taurus?” I said.
“You might oughta take a report,” Daisy suggested.
“I spose I should go ask her a few questions,” Adder laughed.
“I’ll come with you. I need something to do.”
We walked down the street and headed to the clinic where we found Logan and Pablo. “Ah Logan, hey there sheriff,” I greeted him.
“Get out peegs we no neeed you in here,” Pablo snarled at us.
“I was in that bed yesterday,” Adder chuckled.
“Si well you can be back in eet soon if you no leave us alone,” Pablo threatened. “Now get out and leave her alone.”
“Shut your mouth Pablo,” Adder told him.
“He doesn’t want our help Adder,” Logan shrugged.
“I never said anything about helping,” Adder grinned. “I just came to gloat.”
“Can you please wait in the office?” Ida requested.
“Ah well in that case, gloat on,” Logan laughed.
“Sure Doc,” Adder nodded and we stepped out of the office.
“More boar shooting?” Sean asked and we laughed at that.
“Well, if the mexicans aren’t pressing charges, then we can go occupy our time with something else,” Logan said.
“Guess we can, Callaghan,” I chuckled.
“How about a bonfire?” Adder suggested.
“Sounds great,” I nodded.
“We no need you and your steenking badges. We can find who deed this weethoout you,” Pablo said.
“We no need you and your steenking cook,” Adder said back to him.
“Well get used to eet my whole family is coming.”
“Well we already know who did it... but that’s alright,” Logan laughed and we headed out of the clinic.
“I’ve got a few articles to write for the paper... Could do those by the fire,” I said as we walked outside.
“I’d rather wait ‘till he’s in it,” Adder said.
We walked to the sheriff’s office and sat down at our desks. Logan held his throat and asked,
“Damn... what is good for reducing heartburn?”
“Milk,” Adder suggested.
“Thought we were gonna have a bonfire?”
“I drank too much coffee,” Logan complained.
“Like I said. I’d rather wait till Pablitos in the cantina,” Adder said.
“Yep, it’ll bug him more,” I chuckled.
“Bug him?” Adder asked.
“He’ll be dead,” Logan added.
“He doesn’t like it when we ‘loiter’ near the cantina.”
“I’m gonna burn him,” Adder said.
There was a knock on the door and Rayce walked into the office. “I want to report two crimes by the same person.”
“Are you ok? What happened to you? Have a seat Rayce,” Adder led her to a seat.
“That crazy mexican woman gunned me down because I refused to pay her ‘Protection’ money.”
“She’s currently in the hospital,” Adder assured.
“She also gunned down another man, for unknown reasons. I found him in the middle of the street...”
“Who was it?”
“Philo.”
“Ah I’ve seen him,” Adder nodded to her and I just listened to them talk. “He was there when she knifed me yesterday.”
“After she gunned me down, she stole 200 coin from me. And my bow and arrows.”
“So we’ve got attempted Extortion, robbery, shooting, and unholstered weapons.”
“Yes. I only pulled mine out when she pulled hers.”
“Where is Philo now, do you know?”
“I do not, I fixed him and he left.”
“That woman is getting to be a real problem...”
“Her name keeps coming up,” I nodded to Adder then.
Logan turned and grinned at Rayce wearing his hat. “You know how weird I look without my hat?”
“Did this happen today, or yesterday?” Adder asked.
“Late last night.”
“Thanks.”
Rayce gave Logan his hat back and he laughed, putting it on. “Ah, now I can think straight...”
“She said I had not paid the Bloody Espinosas. Not her specifically,” Rayce said and I chuckled.
“And yet another day when the mexicans will inhabit our jail cell... They’re becoming frequent visitors.”
Adder started to write a warrant request with his bad arm but then Logan shooed him. “Move, I’ll do it.”
Adder leapt out of his seat and Rayce suggested, “Maybe they need a punch card.”
“Like I was telling the boys. They keep getting shot at we’re gonna have to pay the hospital rent,” I chuckled.
“Speaking of...I need to go see if there is a doctor there that will fix me, not refuse,” Rayce laughed.
“I didn’t get shot this time...” Adder said.
“They had better heal you... otherwise I’m going to go in there. And they won’t like it...” Logan frowned.
“With, or without your hat...” Rayce smirked.
“And how’s your head...” I giggled.
“It’s... it’s still there...” Logan smiled and Rayce clapped suddenly and loudly. Logan groaned and covered his ears, backing up. “Ah come on now!”
“Drama queen,” Adder muttered.
“Is that all you need from me?” Rayce asked.
“Come, I’ll help you to the clinic,” Logan stood and held his hand out to her.
“I can walk,” Rayce laughed.
“If you need us, yell,” Adder said. “They’ll still be there.”
“Well I’ll be your body guard then!” Logan opened the door and I rolled my eyes.
“Those mexicans are getting out of hand,” Adder sighed when we were alone.
“They are... And I know Pablo has a personal vendetta against me..”
“And me.”
I worked on the information I’d gained about the town council meeting and looked up. “There weren’t a lot of people at this town council meeting, Taurus.”
“Cos half the town was out on the ride protecting the gold.”
“What with that and the farce that was Buu’s trial, I reckon this town couldn’t organize a piss up in a brewery.”
After I worked on some paperwork I walked out of the office and smiled at Logan who was outside. “Hey boss. You seen Richie around? I’ve gotta interview him for the paper.”
“No.. I haven’t,” he said with a bit of edge in his voice.
“You alright?” I walked over to him.
“That damned mexican harlot threw a rock at me... I’ll be fine. But she won’t.”
“The one Rayce just came in and reported? We need to lock her up, Logan.”
“The one we arrested.”
“For more than just a day.”
“I did... she paid bail.”
“I need to go find Richie and meet him about the paper,” I sighed.
“Go... go...” he waved his hand.
“I’ll be back in a bit.”
I walked towards the saloon and found Richie Roi there. “Was wondering if I could interview you for the DYK column of the paper?”
“Sure,” he nodded.
“How about we sit by the fire? It’s pretty packed in the saloon.”
“Alright,” he said and followed me over to the campfire.
“So... How long have you been the deputy mayor?”
“Don’t know exactly but I’m that since I retired as sheriff.”
“You were a sheriff before being deputy mayor?
“Yep, I been sheriff in town.”
“What made you decide to be deputy mayor?” I smiled.
“Well me wife made me choose, I was like a practice target for some folks around.”
“Yes, your wife Ami... When did you two meet?” I smiled, though I heard the shouting from inside the cantina but tried to ignore it.
“Long time ago in Boston.”
“Can you tell me about how you met?”
“Well I sure can. I walked around and was new in town and saw a lady standing at the orphanage of that town. So I walked up and well she thought I was some bad man and got her a frying pan and called her friend. That friend that lady called was Ami. Both weaponed with a frying pan swinging, I had a nice warm welcome.”
“Bet they told that at your wedding huh?” I smiled and he laughed.
“So then how did you become friends after that kind of welcome?”
“Just by being in town, talk here and there. We became closer and closer.”
“You were still sherif then?” I nodded.
“Hey you over by the fire,,can you keep eeet down you scaring away my customers!” Pablo shouted and I rolled my eyes.
“I was sheriff when I dated and married Ami yes.”
“Did she become the mayor before you became deputy mayor?”
“Well yes, we married in Boston, she was just a woman like any other, I was sheriff there. At some point I found out some bad corrupt stuff bout her dad. So I confronted Ami’s dad with that... well next thing I knew I woke up on some boat far away. They told her I left.”
“Wow...” I raised an eyebrow, though I remembered Ami mentioning some of this when I’d bought the cabin behind the church.
“So Ami left Boston looking for something new.”
“And found her way here?”
“I found that out when I found me way back to Boston. So I started me travels. And yes I found her here, and hell being mayor of this town.”
“Go figure, huh?” I smiled.
“So she made me sheriff here. And I been that for a while.”
“Then you became deputy mayor?”
“Yes, not that it is something important.”
“Well, it’s a significant job, Richie. What all does it entail exactly?”
“I just don’t feel that practice target on me back no more.”
“Always a good thing.”
“Well it means I’m mayor when Ami is not around. When she is around well I assist. Most important task is to keep the citizens safe and happy. Like when we had with the flood. Or the mudslide.”
“Wow the mudslide feels like forever ago....”
“In critic situations the mayor office jumps to action. We make sure the clinic is supplied up with the stuff they need.”
“A very important role indeed.”
“Also the enormous amounts of bullets the law needs.”
“Well I needed to talk to the mayor fer anything may I ask were their office is?” A boy who was sitting nearby asked then.
“Good question, Froggy. Where exactly is the mayor’s office?”
“Sorry but they call me Froggy when they ain’t mad at me,” the boy said.
“Sorry,” I chuckled.
“That’s me and Ami. And it just her office in the courthouse,” Richie said.
“Do you have a favorite memory of something that happened in town Richie? Perhaps an event that happened?”
“If the mayor office hires ya to work... ya can be sure ya work for the town. Like our local law... our court clerk... and we still looking for folks. We got that posted on the board there at courthouse.”
“Right, the jobs that are needed are there.”
“So as deputy mayor when all is quiet it’s not much to do. That’s why I started some private businesses.”
“Well Richie I heard the five horsemen let these parts, is that true?” Froggy asked.
“Like the Roi’s harbor,” Richie went on.
“Ah yes...” I nodded.
“The restaurant ‘The Pincher’. I love fish so made from fishing me work.”
“So it’s your favorite hobby you’d say?”
“Sure can say so. Most folks think I’m a jerk.”
“They don’t know you well enough. That’s why we’re writing this feature.”
“Everybody can be one I guess at times,” Froggy chuckled.
“True or the meet me in bad circumstances,” Richie said.
“Hmm... Anything else you want folks to know about you, Richie?”
“Oh, you writin’ a book, Trin?” Froggy asked.
“I’m interviewing him for an article in the newspaper. Your questions are helping too though.”
“Sure, I would like to explain to folks why I am a jerk towards mostly law in town,” Richie nodded and Froggy went to go but I assured his name wouldn’t be in the paper. “Well to start,” Richie went on. “It’s me in town reacting to all that happened in the past with law. Few examples... The women suffer-ladies. I was arrested for throwing water on them, thought they could freely hit me almost into coma with their boards.”
“Was that not with the women’s suffragette movement?” I looked at him.
“Mmhmm.”
“I remember that day well.”
“Then one day someone tried to rob me restuarant. Law came looked around, told the criminal to sit down on chair in me resto and started to question me, the hurt one instead of arresting the criminal.”
“Wow...”
“Some other examples...”
“I still waitin’ on my answer from the deputy mayor about the five horsemen,” Froggy laughed.
“The day they tried to hang Ami without a trial.”
“Remember that day too,” I nodded.
“I stood up against them, tried to sue them but the case has been dismissed.”
“Of course. They were going against your wife.”
“And recently... The Black Brothers... They after me family, we caught that Levi but he could escape cause they forgot to guard him in Kingsley.”
I sighed, hearing him mention the Black Brothers. “They’re still out and about aren’t they? I believe that case is still open...?”
“So as ya see.... I got all reason to act like I do.”
“Well Richie, anything else the town should know?”
“When I not answer when I walk in town means I’m concentrating on checkin’ up rents.”
“You keep busy then.”
“I try to help where I can.”
“Well I know we all appreciate all of your hard work, Richie.”
“And then I’m a a shop owner of me own; I build things and sell things.”
“Quite a busy man.”
“Amiville is me home. Me heart belongs to Amiville.”
“Well if thre’s nothing else, I can let you get back to work. We’ve got lots here to use for the article,” I smiled, thinking that was a good line to remember.
“As I always say... Ya mess with me family ya mess with me.”
“Richie, if we could off the record...”
“Sure.”
“The Black brothers...”
“Yes.”
“What do we know about them now? Speaking as a detective now, not a reporter. Though maybe if you have more on that we should go to an office somewhere?”
“Well guess ya best ask the marshals.”
“Are they a gang around here ma’am?” Froggy asked.
“They got their nose on it,” Richie said about the marshals.
“Just thought maybe if you had something else you could tell me personally... From your personal perspective.”
“Yes I can. I see that Levi person again, I blow his head off. I had the chance, marshals stopped me... but this time they won’t stop me.”
“I remember hearing about that...” I nodded.
“Ya mess with me family, ya lose yar head.”
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard,” I shook my head.
“And I’ve done it before.”
“Well Richie, thank you so much for your time. I know you’re a busy man.”
“If ya want to kno bout the reaper story... well kinda a serial killer... Leaving notes on the bodies as he was looking for me. Every time left a message. So to get to me more, he kidnapped Ami.”
“Levi did...? Or are we talking about someone else?”
“Had to meet him face to face.”
“Yes, the reaper story.”
“Okay sorry, getting confused.”
“We had shoot out. Law caught him. Ami was freed. He went to court, was sentenced to fire squad with walking out court he escaped. So I blew his head off. Bam! And yes I got things to do like decorating the saloon for tonight.”
“Right, the dance and the costume party for the kids right?”
“Yep and got to make also a present unique for the kids.”
“Well I do appreciate you giving me this time, Richie. I really do.”
“Yar welcome. Some days I got more time than others,” he smiled.
“I’ll give you the article for you to look over before I hand it to Sean to edit?” I reached over to shake his hand.
“Alright,” he nodded.
I saw Adder walk over and asked him, “Taurus, anything happenin I need to be investigating?”
“I dunno, did Logan file the arrest report on her over there,” he nodded to the cantina.
“Not that I know of, Taurus.”
“I’ll get that done now then. Other than that I don’t think theres anything,” Adder said.
“Well I go decorate the saloon for the kids,” Richie said and I thanked him for the interview.
“I’ll be in my office if you need me, Taurus” I said and headed to the news office.
This afternoon, I walked down the street and talked with Rayce and a man named Azi. I walked over to the saloon and the crowd was talking about voting for some random thing and I ignored him, walking over to Clif.
“Clif... Are you busy?”
“Hmm?”
“I know you’re not a judge anymore but... I could use your advice.”
“Okies let’s walk to the Blacksmith’s.” We walked over to the blacksmith office and I leaned back against the wall. “What can I do for ya miss Trin?”
“I wanted to tell you how sorry I was to hear of your retirement..”
Clif took off his vest and shirt and got to work throwing a horseshoe on the fire. “Well, it was time.”
“TJ issued a warrant on Bill for stalking and threats charges the other night.. Because of what happened at the church.”
“I saw that.”
“But Clif... I really don’t want to go against Bill in court. It’s not worth it. He’s never gonna change.”
“It’s true, Trin.”
“Besides... I don’t think he was the real problem there. I think I want to press charges against Rosa for what she did to me. I haven’t been able to see TJ since the night we issued the warrant.. He hasn’t been receiving my wires..”
“Well that’s your right, just because she’s a judge, doesn’t mean she’s above the law.”
“Should I just let it go?”
“Well, it’s gonna be difficult to get TJ to issue that warrant.”
“That’s the problem.”
“It’s just gonna be hard.”
“She tried to sell me off, Clif,” I sighed.
“Yeah, and that’s a crime in itself.”
“It looks like I might have to come out of retirement then.”
“No, Clif.. just let it be,” I kicked the post of the building in frustration.
“Trin, I can tell ya it won’t be easy, but if a judge is not upholding the law, they they’re nothing more than a ‘legal’ outlaw.”
“Well the Blacks got away again,” we heard Tristan say from outside and I looked at Clif.
“There’s bigger things to worry bout than Rosa sellin me off,” I sighed. “I just won’t talk to her.”
“And that’s something I can’t stand, a corrupt judge.”
“Not till she apologizes for it,” I muttered.
“I’m afraid you’ll be waitin a long time.”
I saw the horseshoe Clif was pounding on and said, “Gimme that thing. I feel like throwing it at something.”
He doused the horseshoe in water and threw me the hammer. I took the hammer and threw it against the brick wall in anger, though it doesn’t do much damage. It still felt good to make the loud noise and I went over to pick up the hammer, handing it back to Clif. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure. Just wish there was more I could do.”
“I know you do...” I nodded.” Sadly there’s nothing anyone can do,” I said and kicked the bench.
“I fought the good fight for a long time. It just finally got to me.”
I leaned back against the post and cried, trying not to be too emotional in front of him.
“But I ain’t dead yet, if the town needs me, I can wire Washington to be reappointed.” He gave me a hug, letting me vent, and I hugged him tightly. “It’ll be all right Miss Trin. I dunno how, but it will.”
“Guess I should just head home... Thanks for being here, Clif.”
“Any time, Miss Trin,” he said and I headed home.
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