Tuesday, March 24, 2015

October 7, 1869

Amiville. 

This morning I walked out of the news office and saw a crowd by the restaurant nearby. Stacie, Chels and Jake were talking with Pablo and I walked into the street, greeting them. When they asked me how I was I said, “Had a rough night last night but hopefully the situation won’t come up again.”

“You mean with them Horsemen?” Jake looked at me. 

“Bill and the horsemen yeah...”

“Yeah we had a shootin’ with them last night after you local guys left”

“I was in the church talking with the sheriff last night.. They kinda came and surrounded the place. I ended up just sleeping there last night, in the church. Left early this morning to come back here when 
I saw they were gone. Rosa was telling them she’ll give me to them if they give her two thousand coins but they didn’t do it thank God. I couldn’t believe her last night.. She was all upset we walked off on our own, but I had to tell Logan about my history with Bill and Cathy. Now that Cathy was awake and talking again.”

Chels shook her head and said, “Well she seemed rather chummy with them last night.” 

“Though I’m still new to that whole situation...” I sighed. 

Jake looked at me and sighed. “Well that Judge you really can’t trust,” he said and just shook his head. “I would advice you Local Law to be careful around her since she would fill your heads with all sorts of bull shit.” 

“We just heard about the Cathy thing the other night,” I nodded to him. “I told her I didn’t want to bore her with the details again, since she was here for the whole thing. I think she just wanted to get with Logan, she got upset that I interrupted them in the streets. When you guys walked me over to her.”

“I remember...” Jake nodded. 

“I guess she isn’t concerned about my safety as much as her love life. Then the way she was talking with them outside the church... I just couldn’t believe it. Callaghan and Taurus had my back, I trust them both. And I trust Judge Clifton...”

“Yeah...” Jake crossed his arms on his chest. 

“I just... Chels, you remember how Bill used to threaten me, and hover over me just to know he was there,” I sighed. 

“Well we all worry about our safety Trin,” Chels said. 

“And when I saw Cathy alone in that hospital I just bolted. Then I saw Bill in the streets and...” I went on. 

“I remember... like that day, he wanted to fight but I did my best keeping him calm,” Chels nodded. 

“I panicked. And then they all surrounded the door at the church.. They were just being bullies last night. But I’m sick of it.”

“Yes, and they got what they deserved...” Jake spit to the side.

“I thought we were done with them.”

“Trin, you can’t show them your afraid...you remember me telling you that before,” Chels looked at me. 

“I know, you did tell me that...” I sighed. “That’s why I tried to act calm on the street and just walked past them with you guys. I didn’t respond when the lady made fun of me for talking to children. But you saw... Tiggy came to me. What was I supposed to do? Not listen to her? I just don’t like what I’m hearing about Nate...”

Jake and Chels looked at each other and I said, “I need to know what you guys think about this.”

“What might that be, Trin?” Stacie asked. 

“Tiggy said she saw Nate blinding her mother. I don’t know what to think anymore. It doesn’t sound like the Nate I know.”

“Well the girl sees her mother arrested al the time... what ya expect?” Stacie laughed. 

“That’s true...” I nodded. 

“If you have any concerns about my marshals Trin ya come to me... or judge Clifton,” Stacie said. 

“I’m trying to be objective here but you know we have to check all angles... That’s why we’re talking now, Stacie. I briefly mentioned it to Logan last night that Tiggy said it, before Bill and them surrounded the church. “

“Well I don’t see a concern with Nate arresting anyone... It’s his job,” she nodded. 

“We haven’t talked about it since. Now I’m talking to you. Like I said, Stacie. I trust you guys. You’ve had my back more than once. But I needed to talk to you about what Tiggy had told me last night.”

“Did ya’all see a man in blue pass here?” A man asked as he walked over. 

“Howdy Mister Arvid, have you got me any pheasants?” Jake smiled at Arvid. “I haven’t...” he shook his head to answer. 

“No I haven’t! Someone is stealing my traps!” 

“Dang... Another Trapper, eh?” Jake frowned. 

“That’s all fair an good, Trin,” Stacie looked at me. “Though I wouldn’t put much in store with what comes from the mouth of a three year old outlaw brat.” 

“Of course, Stacie. Just ... in the interest of full disclosure I thought you should know,” I said. “Like you said... I had to come to you. So here I am.”

“And it’s appreciated, Trin. Thank ya,” Stacie nodded. 

“He will get what’s coming to him,” Arvid was saying to Jake. 

“Well you let me know if you find him... I don’t want you to do somethin’ without havin’ thought it through...” Jake nodded to him. 

“I am going to continue my search. Have a nice day,” Arvid nodded and walked on. 

“I’m always careful what I say when others are close by.. I even change the subject.. say something totally different then what the topic was,” Chels chuckled. “One day I asked Stone if he saw your horse Stacie.. he asked if you got a new one,” she grinned. “I said no.” 

“That man has offered to help protect town... He’s a master marksman and has offered to help us if outlaws would come and start trouble,” Jake said to me and Stacie about Arvid. 

“Well Jake... Ya gettin’ the Mexicans to play yer grand opening?” Stacie asked. 

“Good to know, Jake,” I nodded to him. 

“Yup, but our band will be the main attraction I hope,” he winked at her. 

“Pleased to hear it... Pity the rest the folks round here didn’t think the same,” Stacie said. 

“Yeah, well yesterday when we shot at the Horsemen some citizen’s came to help... Miss Brandy and her friend Willy came, oh and Mister Trax too,” Jake chuckled and I laughed at that. 

“Ohh ya mean they gettin’ brave!” Stacie’s eyes went wide. 

“You! Stop!” Arvid shouted from down the street. 

“I’m gonna take a look what he’s up to if I can find him...” Jake said then and stood. 

“Some of them are,” Chels nodded. 

“Holler if ya need us!” Stacie said to Jake. 

“Guess I should head to the office. I’ll keep you posted if I hear anything more about this Nate thing, Stacie. And Chels... thanks again for keeping me safe yesterday.”

“Just remember Trin, try not to let them see your afraid...your welcome,” Chels nodded. 

“I’ll be mighty grateful, Trin, thank ya,” Stacie said and I walked off. 

I saw Rayce in front of the candy store and smiled at her. “Hey there, Rayce.”

“Hello Detective Trin,” she smiled. 

“How are you doing? Been a few days since we talked.”

“I am doing much better. I am more wary of who I am around....”

“Same here,” I nodded. “Or rather, who’s around me.”

“Same thing, in my world. I was around the Marshals, when there were...unsavories....but I was afraid my help was needed after a gunfight. Luckily it wasn’t.” 

“Speaking of which I was just on my way to the office, but I think I need to speak to the judge about some things. I’ll see you around?”

“Oh, well good luck!”

“Thanks,” I said, knowing I’d need it. 

“And if you need help with the repairs to the office, let me know.”

“Thanks, Rayce,” I waved and headed down the street. 

I knocked on the door to Clif’s office and he invited me inside. “Clif, thank God,” I said with relief. 

“Hey Miss Trin, you look concerned. What’s happening?” he looked at me. 

“We need to talk...”

“What can I do for you Trin?” 

“Last night... I slept in the church. The outlaws had us surrounded.” 

“Who all was here?” 

“I was out in the restaurant by the blacksmith office talking to Jakob and Chels... And then Tiggy came over and told me that she knew that Nate blinded her mom the other night when she escaped. So she told me all about that and then I saw Bill and some people down the street. The one woman called out that I was getting sources from kids and made fun of me but I didn’t say anything to her.”

“Do you know who that was?” Clif asked, looking for his spectacles. 

“So then I asked Jakob and Chels to come with me and find Logan... I don’t know her name. So we went to talk to Logan who was talking to Rosa. She seemed pretty upset that I was interrupting their ‘moment’.”

“Ah.” 

“I told Logan we needed to talk and we headed to the courthouse. Oh, I’m just getting started... But then I thought maybe we should go to the church, ‘cause Bill wouldn’t be caught dead in a church.” 

“This is true...” 

“So we went in and I told Logan all about how I was afraid around Bill... and what happened a couple months ago with the cave incident... So I caught him all up... And then Rosa came over and wanted to talk to us about running off and investigating without her. I told her I didn’t want to bore her with all the details again... And then Bill and Sniper and a bunch of them came out.”

“So it seems she’s ‘investigating’ something, or someone...” 

“They surrounded the door of the church and started talking... Bill made fun of me for hiding in holy places... Said it was typical of me.”

“Well, Bill is one to talk of hiding.” 

“I know.. But that’s not the problem. They started tormenting me for it and Rosa’s like ‘I’ll give her to you if you give me two thousand coins.” 

“This was Rosa?” 

“Yes, Rosa. Logan stood up for me though, said she was crazy and tried to talk her down from it.”

“So she’s working with the outlaws it seems,” he shook his head. 

“So then I just got upset about it... told them I was done with them and went to sleep on the front pew. It was crazy, Clif. She was totally chummy and complimenting them and... And I couldn’t believe that she would do that to me.. Sell me off like that...”

“I reckon I’ll have to confront her about that,” Clif sighed. 

---

This afternoon I walked out of my office and talked with a Spanish woman named Yanetita. I saw a group of people in front of the candy store and talked with Logan, Adder and Rayce. 
Rosa said that she needed to talk alone with Logan and said to me, “Dun worry trin the boggy man aint going to get you!” huffs and walks off with Logan. 

“What IS her problem?” Rayce watched her go. 

“Don’t ask, Rayce... It ain’t worth our time.”

We decided to go for a walk and headed towards Georgetown. 

Georgetown. 

We walked down the street and I showed Logan Icca’s office and the Pinkerton’s office. 

Amiville. 

When we got back to town, we heard Richie saying that Kansas was still flooded and that supplies were needed. I thought about Hawk and ran out to ask Richie if he was okay and he said that Hawk was fine. I met someone named Mort and talked to him about removing myself from the current case before it got me killed. We talked about how if everyone went to Kansas to take care of the flood, no one would be home to protect people here. Mort asked me to have dinner with him and I told him I didn’t make promises but that it was good to have friends. 

“If you’re not running off to help with Kansas we could have a drink in the saloon now..?” I suggested. 

“You know, I think I’ll catch the next boat. A drink sounds fine,” he smiled and followed me to the saloon. 

We took a seat and he ordered himself a whiskey. “Not sure I know what ya like ma’am you a drinker?”

“Hm.... Coffee and whiskey?”

“You know I think I’ll have the same,” he said and ordered the drinks for us. “Coffee and Whiskey.. bit of the Irish in Ya Miss Trin?”

“Nah... Dutch actually. But don’t speak any of it.”

“Wouldn’t say a word of it,” he shook his head and sipped his coffee. “Sure is quiet round here today, suppose thats a good and bad thing for you being that your a detective and the News paper writer.” 

“Yeah... I started out just being a publisher of the newspaper... but I wasn’t really getting anywhere with the law in town and they didn’t tell me much about cases for the paper.”

“I can understand that.. bout the law not talking, with all the Outlaw running round here you never know where they are putting their ears anymore.. how is it you find time for you? Such a busy woman seems like.” 

“Yeah... I don’t really have much time for a relationship, like I was saying. I just dig into the job and try not to think about anything else. I’ve been hurt too many times already.”

“I can respect that Miss Trin. Relationships can be a bit too much to handle anyhow from my experience.. I get women who like to run out on me a lot so I know your feelings there. Guess the nice guys do finish last sometimes... and in your case the nice women I suppose,” he smiled and sipped his coffee. “But nothing wrong with having some food here and there in your free time. So whats it you do for fun Miss Trin? Can’t work all the time.” 

“I write novels... It helps me refocus and have a better perspective on things.”

“You don’t say? Anything I heard of maybe? My momma was always making me read a lot as a boy, says knowing my letters was gonna be important for me.. though she didn’t teach my sister none.” 

“Nah, probably not,” I chuckled. 

“Well all that matters is ya like doing it, I suppose,” he sipped his coffee. 

“That I do..” I nodded. 

“Miss Trin, I think I oughta be on my way before I make myself a bother. But I look forward to meeting you again, if ever you want to have some lunch with me or some dinner maybe I know a good place over in Georgetown that I could take ya if ya like.” 

“Not a huge fan of Georgetown, to be honest...” I remembered Icca and looked down. 

“Ma’am I’m sorry to hear that, but if not there we got here I’m sure one of these places has some good eatin’ too.. or we could go adventurin’ for something.” 

“Like I said, Mort... I don’t make promises...”

“Yes ma’am. Guess I’ll just have to make it a habit of askin’ ya when you’re hungry.” 

“Or thirsty,” I winked. 

“Always did like a drink myself,” he grinned and stood. “It really was a pleasure, Miss Trin.” 

“Thanks for the drink, Mort. I’m sure I’ll see you again.”

“Like I said... Anytime, Miss Trin,” he smiled. “You have a pleasant day now, Ma’am.” 

I walked down the street and found a woman who looked pale and was clutching some wounds. She fainted and I went to look for Karan but by the time she arrived, the woman had wandered off somewhere. 

I found Adder and asked him if he knew a guy named Mort because he seemed to come on a bit strong and really wanted to spend time with me.

Rayce came over and said, “I just got threatened by the Head Doctor, with the Buu’s standing up with her, and threatening me as well. She has outlaws backing her up, keeps lying about me, and tells ME to keep my mouth shut against calling her a floozie? Please... she smirked. You can have THAT on record too.....” she looked at me and I nodded. 

“We’ll make careful note of it Rayce. Seems half the town hangs out with outlaws,” Adder promised. 

“I fix them if they are hurt. SHE wanted me fired because of that and refused to help those outlaws. Guess she sided with the other side....” Rayce said. 

“I’m going to the office,” I looked at Adder. 

“I’m going to hang a judge,” Adder announced. 

“Why?” Rayce asked. “You’re undersheriff? Not a criminal? Buu gets out of a lot of stuff...” 

I headed to the office and worked on paperwork. 

Later this evening I walked around town and met a man named Willy. We talked about my job and how he was going to be a rancher. We got a drink at the counter and continued to talk about where he’d been before Amiville. I met a woman named Brandy who was surprised that they allowed female detectives and I told her we had women doctors and deputies too. She started talking about what she and Tristan had done in the past and I just listened to them talk. Will left to take care of his cattle and I continued to talk to people at the saloon. We talked about the newspaper and then Rosa walked into the saloon. I decided to head to the office. 

I went into my room and fell asleep. A knock on the door woke me and I wandered downstairs when I heard TJ call my name. 

“TJ?” I asked, opening the door. 

“I need ya help on something.” 

“What’s up?” I asked, stretching and yawning from my nap. 

“Well ya detective still?” 

“Yeah...” 

“Well tonight we had court for Buu.” 

“Uh huh...” I sighed. “Which they didn’t talk to me or Logan about attending and saying we had to be there. Didn’t see what times would work for us so we could testify against him.”

“Someone poisoned my lemonade at my desk in the courtroom. Must have done it before anyone came in. I almost died.” 

“Any idea who did it?”

“Nope. But the glass and the jug is still on my desk.” 

“Hmm...” I reached out and touched his shoulder sympathetically. “Think we can figure out who did it from the glass?”

“Maybe. But like to see if ya can find out who did it.” 

“Anyone I should talk to about it?” I asked as Jake and Chels walked by. 

“I’ll send ya a note card with everyone that was in the courtroom.” 

“That would be appreciated.”

“Thanks.” 

“I’m sorry this happened, TJ.”

“And let me know what ya find.” 

“I wanted to be there...”

“Oh it was good.” 

“I would have been there but I was out of town in Texas and... No one consulted with us, TJ. No one asked when we would be available to testify against Buu, though we were there in the cell when he came in.”

“No worries.” 

“Did he say anything about me?”


“Nope. Just he shot everyone in self defence. Night hon,” he said and walked off. 

No comments:

Post a Comment