Friday, March 20, 2015

October 2, 1869

Amiville. 

As I walked over to the saloon I greeted Brendan and talked to him for a bit. Gramps was serving coffee already so I got a drink from him and sat down at the bar, talking with him. Jake came in for some coffee and he complained about how bad the coffee tasted in the marshal’s office, but I didn’t talk to him much as we were still suspicious about what was going on there. Rayce came in and sat down to read the next edition of the paper that I’d just put out. Jake asked what I was working on these days but I told him I couldn’t divulge the information. 

Adder came in and Rayce complimented me on the paper yet again. We talked about the gossip column and how we still had no idea who wrote it, I just received the articles from my editor. Logan joined us then and shortly after, James walked into the saloon. 

“Hey handsome!” I jumped up and went to hug James as he got some coffee. “How are you, dear?” 

“As you can see, I’m pretty well. How about you, Trin? Hope your new job isn’t stressing you out too much.” 

“Nope so far so good. The boys have been taking care of me. Care to dance for a bit, James? Ain’t nothin investigating going on so we’ve got some time. And it’s... been a while...” I felt guilty for not spending more time with him lately. 

“Sure has been a bit since our last dance,” James nodded and we started to dance. 

“I got more sleep than usual... but that jail bench isn’t all too comfortable,” I heard Logan say to Rayce. 

I looked over at him and said, “You know you should start getting a room in the hotel. Or buy yourself a place.”

“You need a real bed, I would think that the town would put you up somewhere, as Law,” Rayce shook her head. 

“I’m a bit out of practice,” I said to James as we danced. 

“Don’t worry, dear. I’ll tell you if you step on my feet,” he said and I chuckled. “Come on, dear. You know my sense of humor. Has someone already told Avery’s boys what happened to their dad?” 

I nodded and said, “Tyler went missing yesterday but he was found again. There’s a funeral today at 12 for Avery I think. Right Gramps?” I looked over. 

“Yep, yesterday the boys found out.” 

Pablo came into the room playing his trombone and announced that he was going to be forming a mariachi band. He played the trombone for us while James and I continued to dance and Logan asked Rayce to dance. I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at that. 

“You play out side my home, you’ll need help getting that thing out of somewhere painful,” Adder promised as he stayed seated. 

“I hear the rumor that Marshal Nate didn’t get locked up and throw away the key,” Pablo said then when he was finished playing. “I theenk he should of been hanged.” I looked from Pablo and to the others, surprised, as Pablo continued, “In fact, I can think of a few marshals that need that.” 

“Hanged for what?” Adder asked and I couldn’t help but catch Jake’s glare in Pablo’s direction. 

“Why should the Marshal Nate be hanged, Pablo?” Rayce asked. 

I felt like we needed to talk to Pablo alone again and looked over at Logan. 

“Well in my opinion,” Pablo coughed. “All the marshals that take the law into their own hands should be held accountable.” 

“In that case, we’d have no law,” Rayce said. 

“Well Pablo, I can assure you that no one will be taking the law into their own hands in this town,” Adder promised. 

“Not at all, although that’s not a bad idea,” Pablo said. 

“Now that is not entirely accurate,” Logan frowned. 

“But what I’m saying is that... the marshals seem to do as they like, and not care about if it is legal,” 
Pablo continued. 

I danced slower with James and leaned my head on his shoulder, trying to stay calm as Rayce said, “Not local law. Just the marshals.” 

“Reckon them Mexicans miss the point of a lot of things,” Jake laughed. 

“Only yesterday I was minding my own business in the town as usual,” Pablo went on. “And the marshal Nate he try and cause trouble for me. All I do is try and help a senorita. The sheriffs don’t do this, and besides it was right outside the sheriff’s office.” 

“Mister, you were trying to extort protection money,” Rayce said and I looked at her, wondering how she knew about that. “You did the same from my sister-in-law.” 

“I think extort is a very strong word,” Pablo said and I looked around the room, feeling the tension mount. 

“Yea, should just call it stealing,” Gramps said and Jake chuckled. 

“No. It’s the accurate word,” Rayce smiled sweetly. 

“I offer my services is all.” 

“You did it to my sister, and you did it to Miss Velvet.”

“I’ve been thinking, Trin...” James said then. 

“And you got caught,” Rayce said. 

“I do not believe in sugar-coating the truth,” Gramps put in. 

“What services, Pablo?” Adder asked. 

“All I say is if they no pay, something bad may happen,” Pablo said. “I no say I do anything.” 

“You have, have you James?” I looked to him. “Whatcha thinkin?”
Adder stood then and said, “Sounds a lot like extortion to me.” 

“Only if you get money for it,” Pablo argued. “I no get one dollar.” 

“I’ve been wondering if we should start to live together,” James said then, making me stop in my tracks and raise an eyebrow at him. 

“Live... together...?” I looked at him. 

“I think we should continue this discussion at the Sheriffs office,” Adder suggested then and I sighed, thinking that they had impeccably bad timing. 

“Wait, I no steal nothing. I no say I steal, that was Gramps,” Pablo argued. 

“Pablo, I just call them as I see them,” Gramps shrugged. 

“You said you asked for money or something bad ‘might’ happen,” Adder said. 

“Sheriff if you no wear your gun something bad may happen if gramps no open the saloon something bad may happen... is true no?” Pablo asked. 

“I believe I’ll have to depart,” Logan said to Rayce and I continued to look at James, wondering if his suggestion of living together was serious or not. 

“That is an attempt to extort money with menaces,” Adder said. 

“You guys don’t need me for this, do you?” I looked over at Logan. 

“I no say what, or by who. So is not extortion,” Pablo argued. 

“Pablo, come with me please. You aren’t under arrest. Yet,” Adder said, walking over to him. 

“So why I need to go with you?” Pablo asked. “I drink my tequila.” 

“Because I think we need to discuss this privately,” Adder told him. 

“Logan?” I looked over at him. 

“Yes, Miss Paige?” Logan turned to me finally. 

“Do you need me for this or can I...?” 

“No, carry on,” he waved his hand at me. 

“Thank you,” I said and looked back at James. “Maybe we should go to my place and talk?”

“If you want.” 

“We should go talk.” 

We said goodbye to the others and headed down the street towards home. When we’d arrived at my apartment we sat down on the couch and I started, “Now... Live together?” 

“Yeah, something I thought about lately.” 

“It’s just too much, James. I’m so focused on detective and newspaper work lately... I barely see you as it is. And when I do... it’s for brief moments of time before I have to go help the boys solve a case... I wouldn’t feel right about it. I already feel guilty for not giving you the time you deserve if we really were a couple...” I hesitated. “Maybe we should just...” I sighed, knowing that even as we sat there, my mind was more on how the interview was going with Pablo. 

“I know what is going through your mind, Trin.” 

“I’m sorry James, I just... It’s not fair to you. My mind’s divided.”

“Nothing to be sorry about, Trin. All I’d like is to have you be honest with me. And yourself.” 

“You’re a close friend, James... and I don’t want to lose that. There’s just nothing more... I really should get to the office.” 

“I know, Trin, and I’m not angry.” I smiled sadly at him and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him. “Guess wrong time and wrong place for both of us. I’m glad you were honest.” 

“I’m nothing if not honest, you know me.”

“Yes, I do. And I sure know that you did think well about things also.” 

“Haven’t really slept well,” I nodded. 

“Don’t worry, just be yourself. Go get the evil ones, Trin,” James told me. 

“We’ll have a drink soon and I’ll tell you what’s been goin’ on with this fire, if we ever figure it out.”

“And whoop their arses for me also.” 

“Mmhmm,” I squeezed him before heading out of the office. 

I walked down the street and went to the sheriff’s office where Logan, Adder and Pablo were talking. 

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about them,” Logan was saying with a laugh. 

“They probably don’t like you because of your ext... er, insurance business,” Adder said. 

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Pablo sighed. 

I nodded to the men and stayed quiet. Rayce walked over to the group and said, “Sheriff Logan, I have more information about Miss Mai’s beating...”

“Who is the dangerous man, Pablo?” Adder asked. 

“Please, come in,” Logan invited Rayce into the office. 

“I cannot talk about that sheriff... you have to ask logan here,” Pablo said. 

“Can’t you give me a name? I cant help you if I don’t know who I’m looking for.” 

“He’s the one we’ve been after... the one involved in the big case Adder,” Logan said as he walked into the office. 

“Ah,” Adder nodded. “Well, rest assured Pablo, we’ll get him.” 

I walked in behind Logan and Rayce and sat at my desk, taking in the conversation as it began.

“I’m sorry, I know you wanted a break, but I didn’t think this could wait,” Rayce said as she took a seat. 

“Oh not at all, work comes first at the moment.”

“Miss Mai lied. There is a witness saying Miss Mai said she was in Mister Buu’s gang. And another witness that says she shot at MIster Bill, unprovoked, starting the feud between them.”

“Really... Two separate witnesses?” Logan looked at her and she nodded. “Can you give me names?” 

“Miss Des, and Mister Ethan,” she said, referring to the man we’d just met on the way into the office, and I nodded to him as she continued. “I had to pay for the information, but, sometimes you do.”

“Oh did you? Well I do thank you for going out of your way. I can reimburse you for it,” Logan said. 

“Don’t worry about it. I wanted to hear it, I don’t like lies,” Rayce said. 

“You and I both,” Logan smiled. “So let me get this straight... Mai is with Buu, and Ethan and Des fall into this how? Were they just bystanders?”

“He also said that while the man was beating her for shooting him, that she was sorry she didn’t know that Buu’s gang was hurting Mister Bill’s gang, but he kept kicking her. It sounds like an outlaw against outlaw war that Miss Mai was on the wrong side.”

I raised my eyebrow at that and looked at Logan as he said, “I see, well we have seen Mai in the company of Buu many times...” When Rayce nodded, he said, “I suppose we’ll have to visit with these two witnesses then. I thank you for coming to me with this information Miss Rayce.” 

“You are welcome Sheriff Logan. I don’t like the idea of Miss Mai being beaten, but if she did start it.....”

“On the record,” Rayce shrugged a little and I chuckled at that. 

“Thanks Rayce,” I smiled. 

“Shore wish the outlaws would take their little war outside of town though,” she said. 

“Oh of course, we can’t have her running around starting messes like these... it makes every citizen in the town a possible victim if they are dashing about slinging their guns at one another... which is how this will end,” Logan said. 

“And with doctors refusing to help....people will be die.”

I nodded to Rayce, though I knew she didn’t go in and help Christian when she called for a doctor from in the cell the other day.

Logan nodded and looked at her seriously. “Have you been reinstated yet?”

“I have not. So I help people outside of the clinic,” she said and I raised an eyebrow, wondering what that meant. “They can’t stop me from helping those who are injured, and brought to me. I may not work for the hospital, but I work for the people.” 

“Oh a private practice then? That may be a better position besides. No boss to have to answer to,” Logan smiled. I wondered what she meant by “the people” and simply looked at Logan. 

“So for my own benefit, as I really wouldn’t trust anyone else to tie my stitches,” Logan laughed. “Where should I go to find you now?”

“Usually next door at the candy shop. Without a job, I help out my sister-in-law,” Rayce smiled. 

“Oh you have a sister in law? Who is she?” 

“Miss Tabby. She was married to my brother.”

“Oh yes yes I remember now...” 

“Trax is her cousin. She plans on taking in Miss Mai until she is better, but I may need to talk to her about the outlaw war...” she frowned. 

“Of course, I’ll get on that as soon as possible,” Logan nodded and then folded his hands, looking at her. “Miss Rayce...”

“Yes?” 

“I can’t help but be curious.... What is your relation to Buckshot Bill?” 

I looked over and perked at that as Rayce raised her eyebrow. “I don’t know the man other than he is very rude.”

“Well, I ask, because yesterday you seemed to be fairly intent on preserving his innocence in the gunfight that occurred,” Logan said and I looked at him, curious. 

“Oh, not at all. I know that Trax has a big mouth, and often gets in trouble. I figured it was one of those...and with hired doctors near, I knew I didn’t need to help him.” her lips pursed and she looked down and said softer, “I wanted to try to defuse the situation, and I figured, if I spoke up...he wouldn’t take Trax away and the doctors could do their work.... Trax is a good man, just doesn’t know when to stop...”

“Ok lets get this straight bean breath... I don’t like Mexicans and never will!” we heard Ethan shouting outside. 

“Are you worried about his reputation though? I mean, there were quite a few people there listening... and he related...” Logan said suspiciously. 

“Good! Keep out of my way, Gringo!” Pablo shouted back to Ethan and I swallowed hard. 

“Trax makes his own reputation. I often say things to him in front of others,” Rayce said. 

“Best you don’t come back!” Ethan shouted. 

I looked at Logan and he said, “If you’ll excuse me for a moment.” 

He walked out of the office and Rayce headed out as well, and I continued to work on paperwork. 

***

This afternoon I went back to the office and greeted Adder who was sitting at his desk catching up on old papers from the past. Logan came in then and I asked, “So Logan, anything else happen with Rayce after I left?”

“Nothing of significance. She likes handcuffs though,” he grinned. 

“She admitted to helping out people who couldn’t get into the clinic though, right?” I asked and then gave him a disapproving look. “We didn’t need to know that.”

“Only kidding Miss Paige,” Logan laughed. 

“Uh huh...” I shook my head at him. 

“I can’t condemn her for the work that she did on the day we were injured. As she did have her hands full. But... she is lying quite a bit and hiding information I believe.” 

“I didn’t think that’s what this was about... Have you ever seen or heard from Mikk since he came in complaining about us by the way?”

“Can’t say that I have.”

“Nope, he’s not mentioned it,” Adder put in. “Not sure I’ve seen him at all.” 

“Hmm... Maybe he’s laid it to rest,” I smiled. 

“Maybe threatening to snap his finger off scared him?” Adder asked and I chuckled at that. “Rayce told me I’m too blunt today. Said, ‘you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar’. So I told her, ‘You get even more with Dynamite’.” 

“Possibly,” Logan grinned. 

“She wasn’t impressed,” Adder said. 

“Well I’d guess not, no,” I chuckled. 

“Well, you have to doubt a woman that defends a man like Harley Buu...” Logan said. “Which brings me to my next point... Why... if there is a battle between Harley and Bill.. is she sticking up for the both of them?” 

“Good question. Unless she’s on their side,” I said. 

“Simple. It gets in our way,” Adder said. 

Logan smacked his forehead and said, “Adder... you never cease to amaze me.”

“These little boys and their fights hamper our main investigations. And the fire investigation. If dumb and dumber are shooting up the town, we can’t be interviewing potential witnesses.” 

I chuckled and we agreed that that was a good solution. “Nope. I just have too much time on my hands and generally don’t trust people,” Adder grinned. 

“How do we turn this into an arrest warrant?” I asked. 

“So let’s see... we have to come up with a plan to shove the idiots aside so that we can work. On who?” Logan asked me. 

“How about we put the fire to one side?” Adder asked. 

“Personally, I’d rather keep them out of the jail,” Logan said. 

“Rayce... If she’s working with both of them to distract us from the main event... Directing our attention on Mai...” I started. 

“Keep it alive technically, but not let it get in our way, as that was possibly the whole point,” Adder suggested. 

Logan ran his fingers through his hair and looked exasperated. “But then we have the issue of the town folk telling us that we aren’t doing our job.”

“Mmhmm...” I nodded. “Which makes us look bad. See Logan, it’s all part of their plan.”

“Nope. We still make enquiries here and there,” Adder said. 

“Rayce mentioned Mai this morning, right Logan?” I asked. “When you talked to her. She just couldn’t wait to talk about it.”

“Rayce? Well, she is trying to help out I guess... I’m not too sure,” Logan sighed. 

“I don’t know, Logan... She seems awfully....” I started. 

“Quick to point the finger,” Adder nodded. 

“Exactly, Adder. She’s too quick. It’s the perfect way to get the attention off her as fast as she can.”

“By putting it on someone she knows we’ve had problems with,” Adder finished. 

“And would suspect immediately because that’s just what she does,” I went on. 

Logan scratched behind his ear and said, “Yes... yes you are both right and I know it. But I just can’t figure out why she would turn that way.”

“She’s mad at Karan for firing her after she pointed the fire at her...” I started. 

“Money, fear, love. who knows. All good motivators,” Adder suggested. 

“Maybe as a way to get back? See, I can heal whoever I want to now?” I asked. And they’ll pay me better money than you ever did?”

“Aye, but she dresses rather nicely. she doesn’t look like she is in want of money,” Logan said. 

“Greed then,” Adder continued suggesting and I nodded, remembering Logan and Rayce’s interaction in the saloon. 

“Maybe she’s trying to get attention, Logan,” I looked at him. “She seemed mighty enthralled by you in the saloon this morning...”

“There are better ways to get attention though Miss Paige,” Logan smirked. 

“Sure... Just a thought,” I half glared at him. 

Adder started to sing loudly and I looked over at him, curious. “I wouldn’t exactly call it enthralled... besides, I asked her for the dance. She hadn’t asked...” Logan looked over at Adder. 

“I still saw something in her eyes,” I said and looked at Adder with confusion but he put a finger to his lips. 

Adder wrote down a note saying, “Those windows don’t keep all the sounds in, and I just saw her go past.” 

“Ah... well we were only talking about dancing,” Logan laughed. 

“Sing another one, Adder!” I chuckled. 

“And yours is criminal,” Adder grinned and Logan grumbled. 

“I got moves Adder... don’t you start in with your jealousy,” he grinned at Adder. 

Logan started dancing then and before I knew it all of us were dancing in the office. It was fun to just relax and pass the time while we waited for something else to do. 

“I just remembered...” I said eventually. “We should really head over and see how Tristan’s doing. I haven’t been over there in days. Maybe his status has changed since then? If he’s able to talk maybe he’ll remember something... Shall we?” 

“Of course,” Logan nodded. 

“Wagons roll!” Adder exclaimed. 

“Gives us something to do at least.”

We walked outside and Adder excused himself to take care of something. Logan and I walked down the street and I saw Bill with the marshals. I cringed and looked at Logan, indicating for us to keep walking to the hospital. We walked upstairs and went to the room where Tristan and Stacie were still laying down. 

“How are you guys doing today?” I asked. 

Tristan looked up and sighed. “Fine,” he said as his head dropped back down on the pillow. 

I jumped back and looked at Logan, surprised Tristan was speaking. “He’s conscious...? You’re... conscious...?” I looked back at Tristan. 

“Well hello... I’m Logan Callaghan. Undersheriff...” Logan smiled at Tristan and then glanced over at Stacie. “What happened?” 

Tristan looked from Logan to Stacie and whispered something, then looked at me. I smiled and said, “Tristan, this is Logan Callaghan. He’s an undersheriff. I’m working with him as a detective.”

Tristan let out a soft chuckle and said, “Ta hell ya doin’ that for?” 

“Well, wasn’t really feeling productive enough as a newspaper office so figured I’d try helping them out as a detective. Was getting sick of being ignored by the... coughs... Anyway... How are you doin’? Glad to hear your voice again... been a couple of weeks.”

“By the what, Miss?” Stacie glared at me and then coughed. 

“No matter, Stacie. Things are fine now,” I looked at her. “Water under the bridge.”

Tristan looked around and then in a weak voice, “Fine, I reckon. I have no clue where I’m at... No one will tell me or to as how I even ended up here.” 

“At least you know your name... Ya responded when I said hello.”

He shrugged and asked, “Well, why wouldn’t I?” 

“Just glad that part’s okay.” I looked at Stacie and asked, “You didn’t tell him what happened?”

“Who is your doctor, Tristan?” Logan asked. 

“Ms. Fritha, I reckon,” he answered and then looked around. “Have you seen my wife?” 

“Peep? No, haven’t... not in weeks,” I answered. 

Logan whispered to me to stay put and that he’d be right back. Stacie looked at me and asked, “Tell him what, Trin? I don’t know myself. I wasn’t there and the local judge has been withholding some stuff from my marshals.” 

“I’ve been kinda worried about her myself...” I nodded to Stacie and looked at Logan. “The whole thing still seems kind of confusing so I have no idea really what the true story is either.”

“Have you seen Fritha today, Tristan?” Logan asked him. 

“Ta hell ya mean, weeks?” Tristan shrugged. “I was just with her the day before last.” 

“You were?” I looked at him. 

“Mmhmm,” he nodded. 

“Ain’t seen Fritha since yesterday,” Stacie shook her head. 

“Ah, alright...” Logan nodded and headed out of the room. 

“Well I’ve been so distracted with all this detective work I may have missed her coming and going,” I said. 

“I was just with my wife the day before yesterday,” Tristan nodded. 

“How is Peep, Tristan? Things are okay with her?” I asked. When he lay back over and went back to sleep I looked at Stacie. “Stacie, how long they plan on keeping you here?”

“Wish I knew,” Stacie coughed. “They keep saying a couple days but they say that every damn day.” 

Logan walked back into the room and turned to me. “We ought to let Tristan have a rest. Let’s come back after the doctor has seen him.”

“Take care guys, glad you’re up and awake, Tristan,” I nodded to Logan. “Ya look a lot better than the last time I saw ya.”

“Well at least the two of you can keep each other company,” Logan smiled at them. 

“Company... Damn it, he snores,” Stacie muttered. 

“What the hell happened to me?” Tristan asked again. 

“Well, you had a fracture to your skull I believe...” Logan started. 

Tristan looked over at Stacie and looked even more confused. “Why an the hell is my gun be out beside me.. and where is my holsters?”

“Logan, we should go,” I looked at him with worry. 

“I wasn’t here when you were admitted so I can’t very well say,” Logan said quickly. 

“I reckon that be the Wife that dun that... hell she sure was mad at me,” Tristan looked at him. 

Stacie shook her head, “Report said you cracked yer head durin’ a fist fight, Trist. I can’t say much more than that. The judge and local law been holdin’ out on us.” 

“Can’t say that I’ve learned much on the matter myself at the moment...” Logan looked at Stacie. 

“But iff’n it’s any consolation I swear I’ll have that judge in jail and anyone who helped her,” Logan glanced over at Stacie. 

“That ain’t so,” Tristan shook his head. “I ain’t been in no fist fight is all... Just me and the Mrs. got into it over what Jakob said. He did run up the mountains to our spead and threw my owings over the side of the cliff.” 

Logan looked at him and asked, “Jakob? He threw what over the mountain?”

“You forgot some stuff, Tristan,” Stacie shook her head. “But don’t worry none about that fer now. Get yer rest and we can get ya filled in when yer strong enough.” 

“See here,” Tristan shook his head, “I found out Peep was expecting and he dun told me he seen Mr. D. sniffing around her and it was his child. So I sure as hell got mad and went off... Come to find out Jakob made a mistake here. It was Ms. Trin and not her... So he stormed off.” 

“What?!” I looked at him with a raised eyebrow and Logan looked at me with surprise. “It was Miss Trin what, Tristan?”

“Now I run up up the mountain and she was throwing my ownings over the side... Last thing I remember on her, he...” Tristan lowered his head. 

“And Mr. D? As in Dutch?” I asked. 

“No ma’am, that fancy pants lawyer.” 

“Mikk? You sayin the fancy pants lawyer got me pregnant, is that what you’re sayin?” 

“Ya mean the one from Boston I was gonna shoot?” Stacie asked. 

Logan looked at me and said, “I had no idea that you were expecting Miss Paige.”

“I’m not,” I looked around. “I’m not pregnant at all. Damn it Tristan, spreading lies, just like old times huh?”

“Not you, damn it. My wife,” Tristan shook his head. “Ta hell you been drinkin’?” 

“You said ‘Come to find out Jakob made a mistake here is was Ms Trin and not her.’ What’d you mean by that?”

“Now, now Trin, let the man talk,” Logan said and I swallowed hard, folding my arms across my chest. 

“That he seen talkin’ to Mr. D... I reckon you best clear your ears some,” Tristan laughed. “If’n you were listening, he got Peep mixed up with you.” 

“I’m sorry, Tristan. I’m listening.”

“Yeah, now...” Tristan nodded. 

Adder walked into the clinic then and I smiled at him, “Guess who’s awake and talking. Best news we’ve heard all day.”

“Ah Deputy Taurus, meet Marshal Tristan,” Logan introduced them. 

“Howdy Deputy,” Tristan nodded to him. “Ain’t seen Dr. Fritha today, have ya’s?” 

“No, Tristan. Sorry,” I shook my head. “Haven’t seen Karan either.”

Tristan cast his eyes down to the floor and said to Stacie, “I gotta get the hell outta here.” 

“Well boys we best let these guys rest. We’ll be around to see how you’re doin’ later,” I said then. 

“Well it sure was nice seeing ya’ll,” Tristan nodded. 

On the way out of the hospital I told the guys I was going to go home for some dinner. An hour or so later I walked out and saw a big crowd and decided it was best to keep walking to the saloon. I talked with Gramps and Sara’s and he said that Buu already got his shooting out of his system today at Adder’s expense. I asked if he was okay and looked between them. 

“Why’s he gotta be like this, Gramps? Can’t he just leave well enough alone?” I sighed. 

“He needs a new hobby,” TJ said. “Like hanging from a tree.” 

“Or a new town of residence.”

“Adder came in and tried to take him in, then they took it outside,” Sara explained. “No idea what happened. I thought he just went, apparently not. He was here with some woman. They seemed real close.” 

“Some woman?” I looked at her. 

“Aurora maybe?” 

“Oh, you mean Buu...” 

“Yes, Buu.” 

“Yeah, Aurora is over there with him. And Cathy.” 

“She wasn’t here, Cathy.” 

“I saw Cathy over by the group in front of the sherif’s office on my way over here. Guess I should go check on Adder.”

Sara and I went over to the clinic and Adder was laying on the bed downstairs. “Oh thank God, Adder... Are you alright?” I looked at him. “What the hell happened?? “

“Well... not after Logan finds out he’s on his own for two days. I tried to arrest Buu for the fight with Bill earlier.” 

“Logan’s just gonna be relieved you’re alive,” I nodded. 

“He didn’t like it too much.” 

“I guess not.” I put my hand on his shoulder and said, “I’m sorry, just was so worried about you... Taurus... tell me what happened... from the beginning...” 

“Cathy told me Buu was in the saloon. She knew I still needed to arrest him. So I went to get him, asked him to come quietly. He gave his usual big man talk and turned his back on me. So I stepped in front of him. Didn’t like that much either.” 

“And Callaghan was where...?” I sighed. 

“Think Logan’s out of town on some business.” 

“We went back and forth a bit, his woman tried to run her mouth. Buu and I went outside, we fought, I went down, he walked off.” 

“Aurora...” 

“Fought as in how.... Guns? Fists? What am I thinking , obviously guns.”

“A fist doesn’t put a hole in my thigh, Trin,” he said. 

“It’s been a long day, Adder, I’m sorry...” I sighed. “I know, nothing compared to getting shot in the leg... though I was too just a couple days ago.”

“It’s okay. I’m just teasing.” 

“James and I are done...” 

“Ah, I’m sorry...” 

“And Tristan doesn’t seem to know anything about what happened to him, like I was hoping he would... And this whole fire thing is just...”

“Damn mess the lot of it,” Adder shook his head. 

“And now the outlaws are fighting inwardly...”

“Good. I hope they all kill each other.” 

“As my grandmother would say... This town’s going to hell in a hand basket.”

“Yep, it is.” 

“So you planning on staying the night here or you want me to help you get somewhere..? Can use my shoulder as a crutch... Unless you just wanna sleep here tonight...”

“Was thinking of getting a branch off one of those trees.” 

“Sara, you mind going to get a branch for him to use as a crutch?” I looked over at Sara. 

“No, not at all.” 

“Thanks, Sara,” I smiled at her. 

TJ walked into the clinic then with a man I didn’t know and I asked, “TJ? Who’s this?” 

“That’s the man that helped me,” Adder’s face dropped when he saw him and I sighed. 

“Buu and Aurora’s last victim,” TJ replied. 

“Damn it Buu...” I shook my head. 

“It’s alright. I’m a doctor. What have we got here?” A man walked in that I didn’t know and said. 

“Don’t know. TJ just brought him in,” I looked at him. 

“You sure about that Mister?” Adder asked. 

“He looks out cold,” I said. 

“I need bandages,” he said then. 

“Don’t believe we’ve met, Sir. Detective Trin Paige,” I held out my hand. 

“This man has suffered puncture wounds to the stomach,” he said and injected the man in the side. 

“Hey, what did you just do to him?” Adder asked.

“We’ll find out in a few seconds if he wakes up,” he said. 

“Whats your name?” Adder asked. 

The man groaned then and the ‘doctor’ said, “Yes. He’s awake now.” 

“What is your name?” Adder asked again. 

“Arvid...” the patient said weekly. 

“Not you,” Adder shook his head. 

“I’ll need to get the bullets out now,” the ‘doctor’ went to the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of peroxide. 

“Arvid... Just lay down...” I told him. 

“Trin, get a Doctor,” Adder told me and I nodded as he said to the man, “You, move away from him now.” He pulled his guns and pointed them at the strange man. 

“Who let this man bring guns into a clinic?” The ‘doctor’ asked. 

“I don’t know who you are, I don’t know what you gave him, but move away now,” Adder ordered. 

Rayce walked into the clinic and Adder and the ‘doctor’ continued to argue. I pulled my gun out in case I had to shoot him and the man handed over the patient to Rayce. Adder ordered me to follow him so I headed out of the clinic to follow the man outside. 

“Sir, stop!” I shouted after him. I saw Brendan and looked to him for help to cover me. 

“Yeah, I see that... Maybe you should take a drink and calm down a bit,” Brendan suggested. 

I walked up to the man sitting on the porch of the sheriff’s office and kept my hand on my gun. “Sir, who do you think you are?”

“Why do you ask?” he looked at me. 

“You can’t just come into a hospital and start treating someone. You’re not known around here, how can we trust you?”

“They asked for a doctor,” he said. 

“What’s your name.”

“You folks seem to really care about names in this town.” 

“Show me your credentials as a doctor and I’ll drop the matter.” 

“Hi Trin,” Tessa walked over. 

“Tessa, back up now. I mean it,” I looked at her. 

“Show me the brain inside your head and I’ll let you ask me,” he said. 

“Why Trin? Are you okay?” Tessa asked. 

“I’m not going to tell you again, Tessa. Back off,” I told her and then looked at the man. “I’m sorry sir, did you just insult me?”

“Nope. Just saying that some things can’t be shown.” 

“Tell me your name, Sir.”

“Just like you can’t show me your brain, but I do believe you have one. I don’t need a name to save a person in a clinic. Listen, you wanna play detective? Go find whoever shot him.” 

“Where are you from?”

“All over.” 

“How did you know I was a detective?” I asked, keeping my gun pointed at him. 

“I didn’t. ‘Play detective’ is a saying. You’re walking around asking me questions like you’re one.” 

“Well I am one, Sir, and I want to know who you think you are.”

“I think I am me.” 

“I want a name, Sir.” 

“Why? So you can prosecute me for nothing? Or so you can impersonate me somehow?” 

“So I can know who to call if I need you again,” I lied. 

“I’m the man in the black hat.” 

“Not good enough.”

“Do you need to keep pointing that thing at me?” 

I looked him over, checking to see if he had any weapons on him and didn’t see any so I holstered my gun. “It comes out just as easily as it went in, Sir.”

“Good to know.” 

“What did you inject him with?”

“He can tell you.” 

“I want you to tell me. He won’t know what the medical name is.”

“I think few know.” 

“Sir, tell me.”

“Why? He’ll be fine.” 

“Why are you avoiding my question?”

“Why do you persist in asking?” 

“Because I’m a detective, Sir. That’s what I do.”

Rayce walked over then and asked, “Why did you inject the man with something?”

“Tell me something...” the man started. “If he were dying now, you’d need to know what he was injected with to know how to cure it. But he’s not. And as he’s not, it seems you don’t have to know.” 

“I want to know because like I said if we need you again I know who to call.”

“I don’t answer when I’m called.” 

“What was in the needle?” Tessa asked. 

“Seems like you just did,” I looked at him. “We called for a doctor and you came running.”

“That doesn’t concern you,” he said to Tessa. 

“Tessa, please let me do my job,” I said and looked over at the man. “Rayce will need to know what to put in her medical records as to what healed the man. So you might as well...” I looked over at Rayce. 

“Medical records exist for his safe keeping. Maybe for the future when he decides to get shot again, but even then, you won’t need to know what he was injected with,” he said. 

“Okay let’s try a different approach,” I sighed and sat on the fence casually, giving him a friendly smile. “My name’s Detective Trin Paige. We’re grateful for your services to us.”

“Doctor Karan,” Rayce sneered, “Is helping him. Maybe she’ll find out.”

“Nice weather we’re having today, isn’t it Sir?” I asked. 

“He’s not going to tell me, Detective Trin,” Rayce told me. 

“I’m not sure why this matters so much to you,” he said and I sighed as Rayce walked away. 

“Curiosity is killing you, isn’t it? Aside from curiosity, I can’t say you have any reason to know.” 

“It matters because we need to know the fine folks of our town, especially those who are so helpful to us... In case they might need our help with something later on.”

“Okay folks, I’m going to check on Tristan and Stacie. See ya all later,” Brendan said then and walked away. 

“Why’s that? Am I getting a plaque with my name on it?” the man asked. 

“No Sir, Just our gratitude..”

“A certificate for my good services?” 

“I’m sure my partner will want to thank you personally for rescuing the man that rescued him.”

“The man didn’t rescue him. I saw the whole thing.” 

“Oh really?”

“Yes he did,” Sara put in from where she was standing. “He found him and came to the saloon for help.” 

“You attach the word ‘hero’ to anyone, even someone like him who came looking for trouble and got shot for it.” 

“Did anyone ask that man to walk up to the assaulter and call him names?” the man asked. 

“The word ‘hero’ applies to anyone who tried to help someone else,” I said and I saw Adder limp 
over to the office and sighed with relief. 

“Should you be up?” Sara asked him. 

“Get off my seat,” Adder looked at the man sitting in front of the office. 

“I don’t see your name on it,” he looked around. 

“And tell me your name, and what you did to that man,” Adder said. 

“I saved his life. What’s it to you?” 

“Before I put you in that hospital,” he said and I swallowed hard. 

“I was just there.” 

“Not as a patient you weren’t. We have first class medical care here. I can make sure you try it,” Adder balled up his fists. 

“That’s nice of you, but I don’t need it.” 

“Tell me what you gave him or you’ll need it.” 

“Can’t do that, but rest assured he’ll be just fine.” 

“I don’t believe you. And you can tell me.” 

“Then that’s your problem.” 

Adder pulled his fist back and said, “Tell me or I’ll break your face.” 

“If you do that, you’ll never know,” he said and got up, heading down the street. 

I looked at Taurus, then at the empty chair, then back at Adder. “Taurus, come on. Let’s just go inside.”

“Policing like they do it back home,” he said and walked into the office. I walked in after him and sat across from him. “On an entirely different note... I saw warrants were issued for Bill and Cathy... finally.”

“Yeah, ‘bout time.” 

“Now what do we do?”

“Well, according to the Doc, I sit.” 

I chuckled and asked, “You sure you’ll be okay? Just a flesh wound, right?”

There was a knock on the door and Adder got up to answer it. “I would like to apply for a job here,” a man said at the door. 

“Come in. I’m not sure you’re what we’re looking for. Last time I saw you, you were under arrest. After having escaped. I think you should come back when the boss is in.” 

I raised an eyebrow and suddenly remembered seeing the man who claimed to be a doctor standing with Buu and the crowd when I walked into town. 

“I talked to... I forget his name... He said I could because there were no charges.” 

“Like I said, you’ll have to speak to the boss. I don’t have the authority to hire.” 

“Who is that?” 

“Logan Callaghan,” Adder said and I looked at him, wanting to talk to him. 

“Well I will come by later. Thanks for your help sir.” 

“Take care Sir,” Adder nodded and showed him out. 

When w were alone again I said, “Taurus... I just realized something while you were talking to that man.” 

“Oh?” 

“The man who came in with the needle and shot that guy.. He was with the crowd of outlaws when I walked into town. Buu was chuckling at something he said. Seemed they were acting friendly. They were all standing in front of the sheriff’s office.”

“He was in the bar when I tried to arrest harley.” 

“Oh?” 

“Aye. was at the bar, and kept making comments at me. I wasn’t fit to wear the badge, should be on a smarter man than me.” 

“Makes sense cause he was making comments that I didn’t have the brains to be a detective,” I 
nodded. 

“Be that as it may, that fella will remember me when he gets up tomorrow.” 

“Said I didn’t need to know what he put in the man because the man was better. I don’t like him, Taurus. He’s bad news.”

“Surely any medic would know the docs need to know what a patients had so they don’t give something else that reacts badly with it,” he laughed. 

“I tried to tell him you’d want to thank him personally for saving the man who saved his life. He said that the man didn’t rescue you. He saw the whole thing apparently. He said the man came looking for trouble and got shot for it.”

We talked a bit longer and then I headed home. 

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