Amiville.
“Hey there Callaghan,” I greeted Logan as I walked into town this morning.
“Miss Paige..” he tipped his hat.
“New marshal over there? He’s wearing a badge but I don’t recognize him.”
“Well let’s go introduce ourselves then.”
We walked over and I greeted the man first. “Hey there, Marshal.”
The man grabbed the brim of his hat with two fingers and pulled it down in greeting. “Howdy.”
“Detective Trin Paige. This here’s Sheriff Logan Callaghan. “We just thought we’d introduce ourselves. Saw you were wearin’ a badge.”
“Hello! Pleased to meet you...” Logan held out his hand to the man.
“Name’s Clayton. I have an office up in Idaho. Just come down here a lot is all,” Clayton nodded and shook Logan’s hand.
“Good to have another lawman around. Though the streets have been pretty quiet today eh Logan?”
“Aye that they have,” Logan nodded.
“It’s a little too quiet if ya ask me.”
“Always good to hear that, though that means there ain’t work,” Clayton shrugged.
We could hear Pablo talking with his customers in the cantina and Logan tipped his hat then. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to head back to the office. Nice meeting you.”
“So Clayton, Idaho you say?” I asked the man, staying behind to start a conversation.
“Yeah, the outlaw territory I’ve been warned already. So what do you normal detect, ma’am?”
“I help the sheriffs save cases, actually. While they’re busy arresting people and filing reports... I help put the pieces together. See, I publish the newspaper as well so I’m also a writer. Just gives them another perspective on things. Care to join me?” I nodded towards the campfire nearby.
“Must be exciting for you,” he said and raised an eyebrow. “Sure.”
“So yeah, Idaho... Had a few experiences out there myself... I tend to avoid going there alone now,” I said as I sat on a log across from him.
“Oh? Care to share? After all, we’re at a campfire,” he chuckled.
“Nothin worth repeating, I assure you. But if ya see Buckshott Bill or any of his friends wanderin’ around... Just watch my back? I’m sure you know who they are...?”
“I reckon he’s a bad man so I keep hearin,” he raised an eyebrow.
“How long ya been a marshal, Clay?”
“Buckshot Bill’s one of the best men I know, not our fault law dogs can’t shoot,” Nell put in then from where she stood nearby and I rolled my eyes, giving Clayton an ‘I told you so’ look.
“Not long actually. I just moved to these parts not long ago---” he cleared his throat and looked back at Nell, smirking. “Well well, Nice to see ya again Red. I didn’t know you were Buck’s squeeze,” he winked at her.
“Ah hell nah mister, I ain’t his squeeze he just watches over me due to a promise he made my sister,” Nell smirked back.
“Ah..see. So you’re kinda like the kid-sister, huh. Oh, fergot to tells ya, you left me dancin alone there missy. Tsk Tsk.. shouldn’t be doin that.” He looked at me with expectation and I shook my head, not wanting to talk about it in front of Nell.
“I came back,” Nell scolded. “You were no where to be found.” She looked at me with a grin and asked, “Howdy miss Trin, how’s the freedom feel today?” I shrugged in response and didn’t answer her.
“So I reckon I don’t get a good story tellin from a writer detective, hmm?” Clay shrugged and chuckled at Nell. “Apologies, miss Red but a man’s gotta sleep too.”
“Well ya do, Clay, if we were alone... So ya like dancin, do ya Clay?” I winked at him.
“God, yer a....” Nell smirked at me and wandered off.
“What was that about?” Clay asked me, watching Nell walk away.
“Let’s just say she’s not the nicest person,” I said softly.
“Yup, she damn near kicked me out of my seat once claiming it was hers.”
“Oh really? Which seat was that?”
“The one with the barrel in front of it. I kinda like that’un, but she says it’s hers so.”
“It don’t have her name on it and this is a free country last I checked,” I chuckled.
A woman walked over to us and I greeted her, introducing ourselves to her. She said she was new in town and then an Apache walked over, named Jlin. We talked about Hawk’s camp in Kansas and I decided I should visit the village soon.
We talked about the flood and then a woman walked over to Clay. “Hey sexy,” she said to him.
“Sorry it took me so long to get here.”
Pablo walked over then and cleared his throat. “Excuse me senor..and senoritas... I ave a problem.”
“What’s up, Pablo?” I asked.
“Is them,” he looked at the marshals down the street. “I am trying to make a business here and all people see when they come here is marshals..two new ones too I see... as if we don’t have enough. Is bad for business.”
“We’re just talkin’. Ain’t a crime to sit by the fire,” I looked at him. “No one’s stopping anyone from eating in your restaurant.”
“Perhaps you can go and loiter somewhere else?” Pablo asked.
“We ain’t from here, we come visitin from Idaho,” Clay said to Pablo.
“Who said we’re loitering?” I asked.
“Is not good for business when is two marshals outside,” Pablo said again.
“You know what else is bad for business, Pablo?” I looked at him.
“I am sorry what seems to be wrong with us coming here from twin falls?” the woman asked.
“Oh, then apologies, we can go elsewhere,” Clay said.
“Si newspaper ladies,” Pablo looked at me.
“Shooting at three lawmen and then blowing up the newspaper office and admitting to it,” I glared at him.
“We come here to see if there are any warrants out on scum,” the woman said.
“I like this marshal,,he knows where he belongs,” Pablo said and I looked at Clay, hinting at him to stay seated. “Si well I’m sure there is.....you may go now..” he waved for us to go.
Clay stood and said to the woman, “Oh yeah.. I gots a name for you, a couple actually Caroline.”
“You can’t just tell us to leave, Pablo. It’s a public spot,” I told him.
“Eet seems I did senorita.”
“We’re sitting here talking.”
“Si but outside my cantina.”
“Well we didn’t put the campfire here.” I looked down the street then and saw Logan by the marshal’s office. “Hey Sheriff!” I called.
“Oh now look I no need heem over here too,” Pablo complained.
“Well I don’t take orders from no one but my Clay here,” Carol said.
“Is enough having marshals without a steenking sheriff.”
“You keep telling me what to do, Pablo, and I’ll get Callaghan to tell you what to do. You’re walking on thin ice with me, Pablo.” I called over again and yelled, “Callaghan, you want to help me out over here by the campfire?”
“I ave been for some time..smiles...you need it after all hot seats you been aving,” Pablo laughed.
“No need to make a fit about this. Hah. This here mexican wants us to move along,” Clay looked at me and moved Carol onward. “It’s alright, we can go to the saloon.”
“Miss how many lawmen you want here for one man..” Carol looked at me.
“I ain’t gonna let Pablo tell me what to do, Clay. Not after he deliberately set fire to my newspaper office.”
“And I am surprised you are even out side I hear there is a man after you..to shut you up for good,” Carol said.
“Is ok you can stay senorita is just the feelthy law I need gone for now..nobody takes you seriously anyway,” Pablo said.
“A man out after me?” I raised an eyebrow at Carol and saw a woman walking over, resting her hands on her guns.
“We didn’t call for no gunfight. We can move along. Trin, it’s best you don’t try an’ start no fights,” Clay said to me.
“Fine, we don’t need to give ‘em the attention they crave. To the saloon?” I asked.
“This is the mexcian part of amvile you no like eet you buy a sombrero and kiss my mexican butt,” Pablo laughed.
We walked into the saloon and I folded my arms across my chest, noticing that Clay ran off. I went up to the counter and greeted Aurora as she sat there as well. I took the flask out and drank whiskey and then Clay walked back into the saloon. He came and sat next to me and talked about the fact that we didn’t need gunfights with any Mexicans.
All of a sudden I heard Logan shouting, “You! Stop right there! FIRE NEAR THE RIVER!”
I swore under my breath and asked Clay for help in putting out the fire but he had told Carol he’d be there so I walked out of the saloon, but not before a glance from Carol who walked in then.
“Logan! I’m coming!” I called out to him and ran to the restaurant near the newspaper office, which was going up in flames. We worked together to put the fire and I saw Cathy standing nearby, not helping us until Logan insisted she help.
Jake and Chels ran over to help put out the fire and then Jake asked me, “Did you guys see what happened?”
“Logan... are you... alright?” I coughed from the smoke.
“It was that... Cantina chef...” Logan caught his breath.
“You saw her?!” I blinked.
“Pablito?” Adder asked, walking over.
“She looked right at me and ran...” Logan nodded. “No the other....” he coughed, “THE WOMAN..”
“Logan... What’s... her name?” I asked, coughing.
“Marriana?” Adder asked.
“Mari.... yes that’s it Adder,” Logan shook his head.
“That’s the one that cooks there alright,” Chels nodded.
“Well you get better and catch your breath and we’ll look into it Sheriff...” Jake frowned and glared up the street.
“This was a targeted attack...” I coughed. “They’d just complained about the marshals being... by the... cantina..”
“Pyromania must be a requirement for working there,” Adder muttered.
“And now... they ... burn up... the restaurant... Run by... you...” I looked at Jake and Chels.
“I’ll come, I can positively identify her,” Logan nodded.
“Well I’ll have a little ‘talk’ with her in the cells once we lock her up,” Jake gritted his teeth.
“Cathy helped us.. put it ... out,” I nodded and looked at her. “Thank you... Cathy...”
“Aye, she helped us...” Logan grinned.
“Oh I see, that’s good to know...” Jake nodded.
“Yea... you’re welcome, I guess,” Cathy looked at me.
“Are we ready?” Jake looked around.
“I am,” Logan took out a handkerchief to clean his face.
“Can we get back to the ... office? I need... some... water,” I said to Adder and he nodded. We walked to the sheriff’s office and I sat at my desk, still coughing. “I’m just... glad... Logan... saw her...”
“Sit down, have some water and get your breath back.”
“I’m gonna go see if they need help shooting pablito. I mean arresting his chef.”
I nodded and took some water. “It wasn’t... Pablo ...”
“I know,” he grinned.
“I’ll be... here...”
“Will you be ok?” he asked and I nodded. “Just rest up.”
I waited in the office while Adder left and it wasn’t long before Adder dragged Pablo into the cell. “Hey there Pablito,” I greeted him.
“Silly Pablito, always with the guns,” Adder shook his head, dragging Pablo into the cell. “See what happens when you try to tell us where we should sit?” I asked him.
“So this is your work senorita,” he glared at me. “I may of known.”
“You already knew, Pablo. Remember when we arrested you last week?”
Adder searched Pablo for any weapons and took his guns, then kicked him. “That’s for the last fire.”
“Can I come do that too?” I smiled at Adder. “Since it was my building?”
“You theenk I was going to come here without a fight..you are always trying to pin silly leetle things on pablo,” he complained.
“We weren’t t even after you Pablito. Just the crazy woman,” Adder said and nodded. “Sure, Trin.”
I walked into the back cells and said, “I’ve been waiting all week for this...’
“Si get the women to do your dirty work,” Pablo lay on the ground, wincing. “I no set fire to nothing.”
I kicked him in the side and said, “You damn well admitted to setting my office on fire.” I kicked him again and said, “And that’s for ruining my date with Clay.”
“I no say that I was there,” Pablo winced.
“You admitted to it. Right in front in front of me and Nathan and Adder.” I walked out of the cell and slammed it shut, locking it closed.
“Aoowww beetchh...” he spit at me. “Si well I understand now eet must be hard for you to get a man!”
Walking into the front, I noticed Jake and Chels dragging the chef into the cells. Clay was there too and I hoped he hadn’t heard my comment about the date as it had been more to rile up Pablo. “You can search her back there and take her guns, Jakob?” I asked him.
“You no touch me!!” Marriana screeched as she was dragged into the cell.
“He searched her already Trin,” Chels promised.
“Okay just making double sure this time,” I nodded to her.
Jake came out of the cell and showed me Marri’s weapons in his hands. “I’ve got it.”
“Thanks, Despres. They’ll keep each other company back here. Hey Taurus. Where’d Callaghan run off to?” I asked him as he walked into the office.
“Hey. I was just about to ask that.”
“No problem Miss Trin, how ever I think you might wanna go check on Sheriff Logan over at the Hospital,” Jake told us.
“At the hospital?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Is typical of mexican brutality!” Pablo shouted from the cells.
“Ahh. he got himself shot again,” Adder sighed.
“He is in the clinic,” Chels nodded.
“You okay if I head over there?” I rolled my eyes and looked at Adder.
“You better shut your mouth or I will gag you,” Jake glared at Pablo.
“Sure,” Adder nodded to me.
“Don’t you have a restaurant to rebuild marshal?” Pablo asked him.
“Yep it is typical of the brutality of mexicans Pablito,” Adder nodded.
“He going to strangel Pablo!!” Marri screamed.
“So... Have you found out what we’ll charge them with?” Jake asked Adder.
“Thanks again, Chels,” I said and walked out of the office.
I walked over to the clinic and walked over to Logan on the bed. “Callaghan, you keep getting shot we’re gonna have to start paying these nurses rent.”
“Is she the one that was kidnapped?” Logan looked over and saw the little girl in the bed beside him.
“Yes,” Ida nodded to him.
Logan coughed and looked at me, “Trin... the girl....”
I nodded and patted his arm. “Calm down... It’s fine, we’re okay.... We got the arsonist. And Pablo.”
“Is he... being watched?” Logan nodded and I rubbed his arm.
“Adder and Jakob and Chels are there. Clay is outside.”
“Rest, Logan... it’s fine... Just get yourself better.”
Jake walked in then and I asked him, “Who’s with Pablo and whats her face?” He waved me over and I walked towards him. “What’s up, Despres?”
“How’s he holdin’ up?” Jake pointed to Logan’s bed and spoke in a low voice.
“He’s fine. How are our prisoners? Taurus still there?”
“Alright... Good to know, well they are both wounded... Would ya mind sendin’ Doc Fritha over to the Cells once she’s done here?”
“Sure,” I nodded.
Jake patted my shoulder and gave me some coins. “Thank ya, give this to Miss Ida for her services.”
“Guess the day finally gave us somethin to do, huh Despres?” I took the coins. “I told Callaghan if he keeps getting shot we’re gonna have to start paying rent.”
“Yup... I fear we ain’t done yet,” Jake chuckled and walked out of the clinic.
I walked into the room and Brendan came in to check on Gia who was sleeping in the bed beside Logan. “Hey Ida... Got something for ya from Despres,” I said to her and handed her the coins from Jake.
“Thanks so much, Trin.”
“Thank you. The amount of work we give ya to do...” I chuckled and looked over at Logan. “He
gonna be fine?”
“Yes. Maybe a bit sore.”
“Just a flesh wound, right Callaghan?” I winked at him as Ida started to work on his wounds.
“Bison got me,” Logan muttered.
“That damn bison...” I shook my head.
“Aww thats bad Logan...but Ida will sew you up,” Brendan smiled.
I went to sit at the end of his bed and asked him, “How many times I tell you not to make that bison mad?”
“He got.... a little taste... of mexican too,” Logan grinned.
“Did he,” I chuckled.
“The mexicans are locked up Logan, if that makes you feel better,” Brendan put in.
“They sure are. And Taurus and I gave Pablito what for once he got I there,” I smiled.
Logan looked over at the girl on the bed and asked, “Is that... her? The wee one?”
“Yeah that’s her,” Brendan nodded.
“Poor little thing.. she’s such a..... young one too,” Logan sighed.
“Yeah and I will find out who kidnaps little kids here in town,” Brendan promised.
“That ain’t right, Brendan. We need to figure this one out,” I said.
“I sent... word to the marshals,” Logan nodded.
“Good, Logan,” I nodded, still feeling lost as no one’s talked to her in detail about this yet.
“Yeah, you better should Trin,” Brendan said angrily.
“Don’t worry, Brendan. We’ll figure this out,” I promised him. “Callaghan, the good news is Cathy helped us today. Maybe that’s a sign of things to come.”
“Perhaps... but... I still trust.. no one,” he nodded.
“I know. I’m just saying, it’s encouraging. She stood there and watched till I told her to help us. Then she did.” I looked at Ida while she bandaged Logan’s wounds and asked, “He doesn’t have to stay long, does he?”
“Thank you doctor,” Logan reached out to take Ida’s hand.
“No, but I would suggest he relax a bit, to let the wound heal. You’re welcome, Logan.”
“Alright, we’ll make him do desk duty for a bit then,” I winked at Logan as he payed the doctor.
“Shall we?” I reached for Logan’s hand.
“Will Gia be okay soon, Miss?” Brendan looked at Ida.
“Yes, but she got a cold.”
“Yeah it was cold over there in that cave,” Brendan nodded and I shuddered.
“Who would kidnap a little girl?” Woodrow asked as he came into the clinic.
“That’s what we’re gonna figure out. Don’t take no bloody genius though,” I muttered to Logan.
“I would like to know that too, Mister. It was a woman, so far I know,” Brendan said to the man.
“We’ll figure it out, I promise you that,” I looked at him and then looked at Logan. “Logan, shall we get you out of here?”
“Yeah if not I will figure it out,” Brendan nodded.
“I think I ought to rest a bit... besides, I know that Adder is holding up the prisoner well,” Logan said.
“Alright... I’ll let you rest here and head back to help him?”
“Make sure he doesn’t kill him,” Logan grinned.
“No sense of adventure, Callaghan,” I chuckled. “See ya in a bit.”
“Be careful,” he nodded and I walked out of the clinic.
I walked over to the sheriff’s office and looked at Adder sitting at his desk. “Hey Taurus, how we doin back there?”
“Doing good thanks, Trin. Tho she keeps showing me far more than I want to see.”
“They havin fun? How long they in for?”
“Two hours. Or they can pay 150.”
“Getting to know these charges rather well, ain’t we Pablo?” I chuckled and went to my desk, getting back to my paperwork.
“Hey any chance of seeing a doc back here I’m still bleeding!” Pablo shouted.
“Oh yeah, I was supposed to get a doctor for him, wasn’t I?” I winked at Adder. “Was so concerned with Logan I didn’t even think about it.”
“Aye may as well,” Adder nodded. ‘They might give him something to shut him up.”
“Just be glad he didn’t bring his trombone or harmonica this time,” I chuckled and walked out to look for a doctor for Pablo. Chels called that she had the doctor and I saw that they were walking over with Ida. “That was easy. Was so concerned about Logan I didn’t think about getting the doc for Pablo.”
Ida was led into the back room and looked over Pablo’s wounds, attending to them while Pablo and Marri chatted back and forth. Pablo told the doctor about being kicked and Adder laughed, saying that he fell on his boot. I argued that he had it coming and he complained as he got healed by Ida. Marri continued to try to seduce Adder into letting her out of jail but he wouldn’t let her out.
A couple of hours later I was sitting at my desk in the newspaper office when a woman knocked on my door. I walked over to let her in and asked, “How can I help you?”
“Are you the one they call Trin?”
“Detective Trin Paige,” I nodded.
“Okay. I am here to say this once.. Watch your mouth about what you say about my man. You saying you had a date with him when it was only a discussion.”
“I was trying to get a rise out of Pablo. I didn’t really see it that way, was just making Pablo upset. Honest.”
“That is a out right lie about another person.”
“I’m sorry if it was taken wrong, but I didn’t mean any harm by it.”
“Well your actions cause a ripple in the water..”
“Was just stirring Pablo on to make him realize that I’m not interested in him. Just getting him to shut up. That’s all it was.”
“We will be talking to the local judge about this and if we can we will press charges.”
“Carol please...”
“And if that happens you will be wanted.”
“A date doesn’t mean anything. We were talking by the fire. End of story.”
“And if that happens I hope you run so I can shoot you.”
“Was that a threat?” I looked at her.
“Because right now I want to scratch your eyes out. No that was a comment about how I feel. I said I wanted to.”
“It was not intended to mean harm. I was just talking smoke. We do that all the time. I won’t ever say anything about it again Though I may have to warn my partners about this conversation.”
“A threat would be I am going to but thats not what I said so get your facts straight.”
“I’m sorry, Carol, I really am.”
“I heard about you and how you are with all the men hear in Amiville. So stay away from Clayton..”
I rolled my eyes and said, “I speak with men. Is that a crime?”
“He is pretty pissed at you now..and i am extremely pissed at you.”
“I’ll steer clear,” I sighed.
“When you spread crap it is.”
“We were inside the jail cell. No one could have heard us outside on the street.”
“Hey the nickname suits you. We were outside the door and you talk loud.”
“The walls aren’t that thin. I did not.”
“Well we heard it. Good day to you. See you on the chopping block.”
***
This evening Logan, Rayce and I sat in the sheriff’s office and someone knocked on the door. The man asked if Logan was the sheriff and said that he wanted to help out with the law. Logan asked if he was aware of the serious problem with outlaws in the area and he insisted he could handle it. I decided to go out to the saloon and saw Frank standing in the street.
“Ready for that boat ride?” Frank smiled at me.
“Sure, Frank. Sounds like a good distraction right now,” I nodded.
“This way ma’am,” he nodded and we headed towards the water. “Quite the sailboat ya got there,” I said when I saw his boat.
“I aim to please,” he smiled and helped me onto the boat.
“It’s a great night for a ride, eh?” I looked at him.
“Sure is, Miss Trin,” he said, pointing out to the wildlife on the shore.
“Didn’t know I was gonna get the grand tour of the animal kingdom,” I winked back at him.
He helped me from the boat and I took his hand, smiling. He lay out a picnic blanket and pointed to the wine, checking his guns. “Whatcha doin with those guns Frank?” I asked.
He shot a buffalo and headed over to cut some steaks for dinner, heating them over the fire. He opened the wine and poured me a glass. “So what do you think?”
“Pretty fancy. Didn’t know I was getting quite this good treatment... Nice to get away from town for a while. Been a rough few days.”
“Well you are the first to try my buffalo picnic so i want to make sure it is good.”
“I feel privileged,” I smiled as I ate.
“Good good,” he smiled.
“Let’s see... slept in a church to stay safe from Bill and his bullies, then had to put out a fire by the newspaper office today... Oh and there’s the whole trial with Buu that we weren’t really invited to. Or at least they didn’t consult a good time with us to make sure we could be there and represent our side, so we could testify... Though I will admit Cathy helped us put out the fire today so that was a nice surprise.”
“People can surprise you.”
“Quiet out here, isn’t it?” Frank asked as the sky started to darken.
“Indeed... Can hear yourself think.”
“I hope thats a good thing, some peoples thoughts are.....different.”
“Was very good dinner, Frank,” I said as he started to pack up the picnic. “Thank you for inviting me out here. Nice to see the royal treatment.”
“I’m glad you did, now at least someone can write a review if they wish.”
“I will definitely give you good reviews,” I said and he leaned in to give me a peck on the cheek. “Oh Frank...” I blushed.
“My pleasure, Miss Trin.”
“We’ll have to do this again sometime.”
“I do hope so,” he said and helped me back into the boat to head home.
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