Colorado Springs.
This morning Logan and I rode through Colorado Springs looking for places to rent and settle down. There were a lot of buildings available and I thought about setting up a private investigator’s office.
Logan rode off to explore and I walked down the street. I met a man who was contemplating something and he said his name was Roy. We talked about how I wanted to settle down and he we wandered around town to find a place for me to live. We met a woman named Amelia and we talked about where I could live.
“Is there a newspaper, Amelia?” I asked.
“Haven’t seen one just yet so don’t thank so.”
“Hmm... What about a law office? Sheriffs and the like?”
“Well, I start school in a few hours and miss Coral say she was gonna be there. Would you like to see the business road of the town? haven’t see no law.”
“Yes, business road would be good.”
“I can take you, if you like.”
“If you’re not too busy, ma’am. We don’t want to keep you.”
“Naw I was just about to go for my monin walk.”
We walked down the street and she showed us the saloon but there was no one there. She showed us the sheriff’s office and the post office and I noticed there were a lot of buildings available. She led the way to the church and showed me inside. Roy suggested that as a writer I should be closer to the saloon and I agreed with him. She showed us the doctor’s office and then the courthouse. Amelia seemed to know Amiville well and every time she mentioned it I looked down nervously.
Roy and I headed for the saloon to have a drink until the mayor could direct me to a place to rent for a home and an office. Roy asked what happened in Amiville so I told him the story.
A couple of hours later I had bought the old post office building across from the saloon and furnished the room. I heard someone at the door downstairs and headed down to find James. I ran over and hugged him tightly.
“Heard yo opened an office here so I thought I’d visit you.”
“Mmhmm. Want to see upstairs? I’m just getting started on it.”
“Sure, but I got to admit it seems more comfortable than in Amiville.”
“Isn’t it though? I still have to find a table for there... and then I’ll be able to post up old clippings and stuff on the walls...”
“I have some connections here and there maybe one would have something suitable.”
“Oh do you?”
“Yup theres someone living in walnut grove who might be able to help.”
“That would be great.”
“No problem. You’d help me out also.”
“Absolutely,” I said and we looked around town.
This afternoon I walked down the street and met a couple named Toll and Kataya. I told them I had just opened an office for my investigation business.
I heard White Arrow and a woman shouting to see if they could enter into the village and then Toll looked at me. “Maybe we have a small job for you.”
“Oh?”
“Are you a proven private investigator?”
“I was a detective over in Amiville with Sheriff Callaghan and Undersheriff Taurus. I have just now decided to internalize the business and become more self-employed.”
“Any specific reason to settle here?”
“It’s a very nice area.. And it’s far enough away from Amiville that I feel safe but close enough that if friends need to find me they still can. Sir, perhaps you’d be more comfortable if we all went to my office?” I looked between them and they looked at each other. “It’s obvious you are anxious about something.”
“What do you think, hun?” Toll asked.
“Whichever is best,” she nodded.
“I’d love to help if I could.”
We walked up to my office and took a seat. Toll seemed concern that someone had followed us and I invited them to have a seat.
“So maybe you should start from the beginning, Sir...”
“Well... Kataya, you tell her?” Toll asked.
“You can love, I don’t know the whole part.”
I reached over and pulled out a piece of paper and a pencil to make notes. “Well I’m listening, Mr. Toll.”
“So...let us be honest...we will tell you something we told nobody before. My wife and me... We are not married... As a matter of fact...I worked at the farm of her dad..... and I worked hard for several years at that farm....”
“Okay...” I prompted.
“It’s an alligator farm in the Louisiana swamps.”
“Nasty place,” Kataya commented.
“So.....as you can see.....Kataya is the beauty herself.... and I fell in love with her... but her Dad was very much displeased. So he let me clean the alligator poo and more of that kind of works. Then.....we decided to run... : Run from the farm.....without saying goodbye....”
“That we did,” Kataya nodded.
“I can’t blame you there,” I nodded.
“It was a hard decision...” Toll said.
“I know how that is...” I said knowingly.
“So we finally came to this village....and could settle...assuming that we were man and wife.”
“We tend to fix it later,” Kataya smiled.
“Yes....but we are afraid....” Toll said and I made a note to remember to get the name of the woman’s father. “Afraid that someone will recognize us.”
“Of your father ever finding out?” I looked at him.
“Yes... exactly.”
“Then he might find us. My father a powerfully bastard... Pardon my language,” Kataya looked down.
I looked at Toll and asked, “Was he ever physically violent with either of you?”
“Never with I,” Kataya shook her head.
“He was at me...” Toll admitted. “More then at other servants at the farm. Especially after he found out that I was in love with his daughter.”
“I know it’s difficult sir, but... what kind of violence exactly? Did he ever use a weapon on you?” I asked.
“He was so angry...” Kataya said.
“Well...” Toll looked around and then stood.
“We’re safe here, Sir.... Sir?” I looked at him.
“Look Missus... This is what he did to me...”
“Ms... Yes?” I looked at him.
“And it’s not whip. It’s branded,” He showed me the scars.
“Sir, I really don’t need a demonstration...”
“Sorry....if I embarrassed you...”
“It is not a whip. It was a branding. And yes...he also beat me with his feet... but actually....we don’t want to harm him..... We just want to have a quiet life... without people finding out.”
“Sir... and I’m sorry if this is hard for you Kataya, but if you had a name for me that’d really be helpful...” I looked between them.
“Joseph is his name,” Kataya told m.e
“Last name?” I looked at him.
“Firerose. Is our family name. I was angry at him so I took on Rose family.”
“I’m sorry, you’ve lost me there,” I looked at her with confusion. “You took on the family name Rose, not your father’s last name, because you were angry at him? Firerose is his family name...”
“Yes my mother is a Rose.”
“I’m with you now. And as far as you know this... Joseph Firerose is still in Louisiana?”
“He has his farm there in the bush,” Toll said.
“Yes he won’t leave there,” Kataya said.
“You’re sure?”
“So Ms, what would be your advice, how can we prevent discovery of our secret?” Toll asked me.
“Well... as far as I understand it your secret is your business. If you tell folks you’re married, then you’re married in their eyes. Until you actually get married, which I’d advise you do in private...”
“Could you find us an official document...? If we sell some herbs....we can pay you for it.”
“I may know of a judge who could help you... He’s retired but I’m sure he’d be willing to do this for you...” I thought of Clif. “If you wanted to do this, and make the wedding official... We could get it done sooner rather than later.”
“Sounds good...”
“And as far as your father is concerned... I have connections down in Louisiana, Kingsley area. I’ll alert them about it and make sure they keep an eye out on this man.”
“I would have a bottle of good Jack Daniels to make him do that...would that fit?”
“I’m sure he’d love that,” I chuckled, thinking of Adder and Logan. “They both would.”
“Sounds like a deal.”
“Does that sound okay?”
Toll looked happily at Kataya. “What you think sweetheart?
“I think it swell,” Kataya nods.
“Excellent. I’m glad that I ran into the two of you... I’m even more glad I can help you.”
“We’re glad too.”
“Let me just send a wire for my two friends and I’ll see if they can meet us at the saloon.”
“And please........keep this very very secret,” Toll said.
“We’ll meet them at the saloon and then go to the church and talk. How does that sound?”
“Deal,” Toll nodded.
“We’ll get you two good and married before the sun goes down this evening,” I promised, smiling at them.
“And without wedding...all in silence!” Toll insisted.
“Of course, Sir. I promise. Just you , me, Kataya, the judge and the sheriff. Let’s head to the saloon,”
I stood, putting the paperwork in my drawer and standing.
We walked outside and we found Clif and Adder in the street. I asked if Logan was on his way and Adder said he didn’t know for sure. I introduced Adder to the couple and we talked about the wedding that would be happening soon. Toll didn’t have a ring but Clif took one off and handed it to Toll as a gift.
Logan rode into town soon and jumped over the fence on his horse towards us. He got off the horse and greeted us with a smile.
“There’s Callaghan. Bout damn time, Callaghan,” I winked at him. “Shall we head to the church, folks?”
“Yes... Church,” Toll nodded.
We headed over to the church and I put a hand on Logan’s arm. “I’ll explain later.” We wlaked inside and I looked at Clif, “All yours, Judge.”
Clif took the couple upstairs and we walked to the front and sat in the front row to witness the ceremony. As the couple recited their vows, I smiled watching them and Logan looked around to me. “Oh my god it really is a wedding!” he exclaimed and I chuckled. We stood and applauded for the couple and Toll gave Clif the bottle of Jack Daniel’s for coming in.
“Is she pregnant?” Logan whispered loudly. I shook my had and smiled.
“She best not be,” Kataya laughed.
We headed to the saloon for the celebration and then I looked between Adder and Logan, knowing they were confused about what just happened. We walked upstairs and sat down at the table together and I couldn’t help but smile that they were both there.
“Welcome to my new humble abode. Alright, here’s the story. Kataya and Toll approached me on the street this afternoon with a problem. We came up here to talk about it... It seems that Kataya’s father, who’s a farmer down in Louisiana, didn’t like that Toll fell in love with his daughter. Her father didn’t like it so much that he was violent with Toll. Branding, kicking...”
“Aye, and the rushed secret wedding?” Adder asked.
“So um...” Logan started.
“When they came to town they were not married, obviously, and wanted to keep their relationship a secret because they were afraid of her father finding out.”
“What’s he going to do?” Logan asked.
“But they wanted to be together officially. I could see that and they both indicated that. They don’t want their marriage going back to the father. Which is why you guys are here...”
“Unless he’s INCREDIBLY dumb, he’ll work out theres a connection between him and her going missing at the same time,” Adder pointed out.
“I know. But I could tell they wanted to get married, soon, so I sent a wire for judge Clif. I explained everything to him in the wire so when he got here we could just get to it. I promised them a small ceremony in the church. And that’s what they got. So now... Her father’s name is Joseph Firerose. He has an alligator farm in Louisiana.”
“And?” Adder asked.
“And he’s already been violent with Toll in the past. I’ve no doubt he’ll do it again.”
“Well unless he does it in Arizona, I can’t do anything,” Adder said and I looked over at Logan for help.
“Or an authority of any kind. I’m not a marshal.”
“Yeah but you live near there... You’re still a sheriff ....”
“But no jurisdiction out there.”
“You could talk to Jake/Chels...”
“They aren’t marshals ether anymore.”
“You still have pull with some of the marshals in Amiville, no?” I sighed.
“Not me. They don’t listen.”
I thought about Jake Stone and wondered if he could help and then asked, “Well what do you suggest I do here, Logan?”
“Well... Hm... Shoot them?” he smiled stupidly and I glared at him.
“You can’t do a thing down there in Louisiana yet for me can you??”
“Nope... I’m a nothing,” Logan shook his head.
“So what? I’m screwed then?” I asked.
“Is she screwed Adder?” Logan looked at him.
“Just so we’re clear, you’re expecting us to go deal with this fella we’ve never met, taking the words of two folks we’ve only just met?” Adder asked.
“Two very young folks at that,” Logan added.
“And its in an area we have no jurisdiction, so we’d basically be a couple outlaws?” Adder went on.
“So what happens if her father comes up here and...” I sighed, knowing he was right.
“They go to local law.”
“I haven’t seen any... But then it’s only my first day here. I’ll talk to Clif, see what else he suggests... maybe try to find some local law around here... I do appreciate you guys coming all this way though. If anything went down during the ceremony you would’ve been there.”
“And we’d have been acting illegally.”
“He is right,” Logan laughed.
“If that fellas gonna go messing with the daughter of a violent man, he might wanna get good at shooting,” Adder said.
“You’re right,” I nodded. “Well boys, I should get some dinner together. Thank you boys, I mean it.”
“I was passing,” Adder shrugged.
“I need to go rsecue someone at the brothel,” Logan said and we laughed.
“See you guys” I chuckled and waved as they left the office.
Kansas.
I rode to Hawk’s village this evening and called out for Hawk. He called hello bck and I rode in.
“Hawk!! Oh thank goodness..” I ran over to hug him.
“Something wrong?”
“We need to talk...” I nodded.
Hawk pointed to the lodge and said, “Okay, in there we can speak.
I nodded and followed him inside. “Hawk... he... And they... And I had to... And now...” I tried to calm down but my heart was pounding quickly.
“Slow. Do not understand,” Hawk instructed.
“Bill... Last monday night... I was in the church with Logan telling him my history with Bill... because I’d seen him in the streets again. Then Rosa comes over all upset that we were investigating alone without her...”
“Okay...”
“Then Bill and his group of thugs came and surrounded the church entrance, basically blocking us from leaving. And Bill made fun of me for always hiding in the holy places cause I know he’d not be caught dead there.. So then Rosa starts going on about how she’ll sell me to them if they give her 2000 coins. And Bill keeps saying how I can hide behind Logan but it’s just gonna give him another target to hide behind. So then I just fell asleep in the church and left in the morning.. But then all week long I had people coming to me saying I was spreading rumors about Bill’s gang or about other people and how I was just telling lies... Which I wasn’t doing.. So then Friday night I’m trying to get out to Kansas to see you and Bill stepped in front of me so many times I had to talk to him. And then he complained about me spreading lies about his gang and he shot me down!! Thank God the bullet just grazed my arm and left a scar... It could have been a lot worse... And then they found Levi Black and hanged him, and there was this whole outcry that they hadn’t had a trial for him... And then I found out that most of my friends from the law left town after that because everyone was calling the law corrupt for the hanging.”
“I am sorry for your wound, but this is suppose to be rough and tough outlaw and they run around crying to someone speaking of them?” Hawk laughed.
“So then I was left with a judge who tried to sell me to outlaws and another judge who’s that judge’s sister who wouldn’t even do anything about it. I had no choice but to leave town... Leave everything I’d worked for... all the people... Some of the law friends are down in Kingsley rebuilding the town there... But I can’t wait that long to work again so I set up a Private Investigator office in Colorado East.”
“Ahh...”
“I should ride back home... I just wanted to fill you in on what was happening. Thank you for being here.”
I hugged him again before walking out of the tent since it was late and headed back to Colorado.
Colorado Springs.
I knocked on Amelia’s door and she came to open it. “How do. Have a seat if you like.”
“This is a lovely place you have here. I love that piano...”
“Thank you a bit mix match for me. My bo made it.”
“Your bo?” I smiled.
“Say he gonna make the bench later.”
“Oh is he?”
“Oh I forgot my southern language. My boyfriend. Yes he don’t quiet nice work. I tell him he should sell it. He jus laugh at me.”
“Well men love their possessions.”
“I see,” she looked down, a bit sadly.
“How was your day?”
“It was fine, school was wonderful, both classes, cutest kids.”
“Aww that’s great. Glad that you love what you do.”
“It was funny as well, little girl tow me that her paw told her where babies come from.”
“Oh really?”
“I say well we can’t tawk that here. She say im proud what he tell me, he say babies come from farts. I just thought I was gon die when she say that, try my best not to laugh.”
“I’ll bet!” I chuckled.
She offered me a drink and came back with some whiskey for us both to drink. “I can’t handle that stuff myself. Call my self drinkin it one day and found me hangin off my horse. Head hurted fo two days.”
“Oh my...” I drank some whiskey, smiling.
“This other little girl say, her maw told her that babies come from cabbage so she don’t eat no veggies.”
“When you do what I do... ya learn to appreciate this drink,” I chuckled. “The things kids say, eh?”
“When I heard what I heard what I heard and seen today , think I’m gonna have one.”
“I’m not so sure I would be a good kids person...” I admitted.
“I love kids, raised my brothers and sisters.”
“I see,” I smiled and didn’t pry about where her parents were.
“I came from Georgia. Momma died from a heart break after all those kids and daddy left us so I care for them, and teach them.”
“Oh I see... I’m sorry to hear that about your parents...”
“Then daddy come for them on my 21 birthday, I didn’t go I left and travel and found here.”
“Wow...”
“But I’m fine with it, he found me and send me a message to come home, but I say no, his turn. Tow him about my bo, and he was so maaaad.”
“Not a fan of him, hmm?”
“Not a fan of no man, didn’t want them looking at me. Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” I drank my whiskey slowly and listened.
“Well...” she looked down at her glass. “Feels quiet silly of what I’m gonna ask.”
“You can ask me anything, Amelia. I know we just met today but I have the feeling we’ll be quite good friends.”
“Well, my maw tow me about the woman’s day... and I know how you get babies and such...”
“How old are you, Amelia? If you don’t mind me asking?”
“Twenty-one.”
“But what that got to do with the woman’s day?”
“Oh... Well... I have never had relations with any man..”
“Never had no kinda doc to see, cuz they didn’t allow that where imm from,” Amelia said. “Well... Yes me and my bo, he ask me bout my woman’s day wen we first...you know, but I ain’t been feeling right. I her my maw voice sometime say that when a man loves you you get butterflies, but this don’t feel like butter files no mo and I don’t know what to tell him.”
“Maybe you should see a doctor about it?”
“Don’t know no doctors, the one here I think is mad cuz I wouldn’t give her my dawgs. Felt really bad to my stomach today after class when he came to the school.”
“You need to see a doctor,” I nodded.
“Well, it was what I felt when he saw his ex. I thank he still loves her... T the lady I asked you about
earlier, I just thought it was butterflies but I now what I feel. She got mad cuz he wit me now and he got sad. Must of been thanking it to my self.”
“What lady are we talking about?”
“Miss Cathy,” she said and I swallowed, looking down.
“He say he try to get her for a long time she didn’t want him, now he wit me and she mad and he felt bad cuz she mad.”
“Can I ask you Amelia... What’s your bo’s name?”
“Sure. He go by Frank Tupelo.”
“Okay.. I don’t know him,” I said with a bit of relief.
“Tall fellow black hair, nobody seems to know him. When we tawk about hit he say he ain’t wanting her no mo and loves me, but I feel funny about it, and he say he don’t want her to caws me no problem but I ain’t worried. Her little girl don’t wanna come back to school now.”
“She’s not the... nicest person...” I nodded.
“You thank she gonna cause me problems cuz of him?”
“I certainly hope not.”
“Me neither. Other than that I’m fine. Enjoyed my day. You hungry?”
“Oh I’m alright. Well I’m glad you enjoy your work.”
“Ok just let me know, I always cook big meals! Oh I just love it!”
“Is everything working out for you here?”
“Yes... I’ve had my first case today and that ended well, we were able to solve it pretty much right away.”
“Oh that’s wonderful! Now this town can come alive!”
“Yes! I’m sure it’ll still come back to haunt us but for now.. .Everyone’s happy and safe.”
“I just stay out the way of riff raff.”
“I’m sure that’s a good plan.”
“You know if a doc is in town now? Any town?”
“I have no idea... I don’t even know if there’s any law in this town.”
“So you don’t go back to Amiville?”
“Nope I won’t go back.”
“I’m not sure, haven’t seen any. Did you talk to the mayor? She a quiet nice person her and her husband.”
“I spoke to her via wire and was able to purchase the post office as my place of business. She’s very pleasant to deal with.”
“Oh that’s wonderful, I’m so happy for you. What about the man that was with you?”
“The man that was.... Oh, this afternoon? James? Or this evening?”
“This afternoon. When ya’ll was first looking.”
“Oh that was James... Yes, a good friend of mine.. We actually courted for a while...”
“Do I hear possible wedding bells?”
“Oh no, that ended on good terms though. I was much too busy for a relationship...”
“Look at me, I’m always tryin’ ta get somebody hitched.”
“Don’t think it’s going to happen for a while. Well I should head back home. Thank you for the whiskey, Amelia.”
“Okay, no problem.”
“And don’t worry about Cathy, I’m sure if you stay out of her way you’ll be fine.”
“I ain’t worried,” she walked me to her door. “But thanks anyway.”
“Thank you for the time.”
“Thanks for coming by stop by anytime. I’m always home.”
I smiled and headed outside.
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