Amiville.
Two days later, I walked into town in a daze. News had come just the day before that Sayler had died while in Bill’s cave. I spent most of my time at home, grieving the loss of my best friend and trying to wrap my head around the fact that he was really gone. Wandering into the saloon I sat with Mel and Gramps, trying to gain comfort from the company of friends.
“So ms mell has it been quiet in town the past few days?” Gramps asked after some time.
“Looks like Sayler was killed,” Mel said and I just shook my head, telling myself not to cry again.
“Oh?”
“Yes.. We all saw what happened. Me and miss Trin.”
“I’m sorry you couldn't stop them, Mel. You had no help,” I sighed. “You know I don’t blame you directly, right?”
“Yes I do.”
“I will have to read the reports,” Gramps shook his head.
“Just mad that there’s never enough law around to do anything productive together,” I said. “Surely you can't keep facing them on your own. Somehow I just knew something bad was happening to him but I never imagined... He was alive when they dragged him out, Mel. Something happened to him in that cave to do him in for good.”
“We are all working now to find who’s guilty,” Mel assured me.
“Oh we all know who's guilty, Mel,” I sighed. “Can’t you just form a posse and... Though... the last time that happened five went out, two came back.”
“Yes and I already said to Sheriff who was,” Mel said.
“So did I.”
“But this going to court.”
“I gave Nathan my statement last night,” I told her, recalling the conversation with Nathan and Lali the night before. “Mel do you know when the funeral is?”
“I don’t know... I would like to see the body myself.. I still don’t believe what happened.”
“Mel... I believe it. He hasn’t come back, and I know how upset Nell was. And I know how powerful Bill is. And I saw the look on Tiggy’s face when she explained them taking Sayler down from being hanged,” I recalled yesterday when the girl who had watched from the bakery with us told me that Sayler had been hanged from the sign in town and shuddered. “Part of me wants to see his body too, but I’m not going into Icca’s office again. Not after...”
“Well now they have to pay for the crime.”
“I’ll drink to that,” I held up my mug and we clinked glasses in a toast. After some time I set my mug down and said, “So Mel I had a question...”
“Yes Trin?”
“Would we be able to arrange some sort of way for me to be a consultant...? Would be able to give you a fresh writer's perspective on the cases...”
“Sure,” she smiled.
“Just be an extra eye or ear for you all... Work with you instead of against you... Who would I have to talk to?”
“Consultant of what?” Mel asked for clarification.
“Like with the law... Hang around with you and help you get a clearer perspective on the cases that come up.”
“You must think if you really wants to do that,” Mel warned. “You can get shot too.”
“Mel, I could get shot doing what I’m doing now. It wouldn't necessarily mean going out in the field with you... Just be there to discuss stuff in the office maybe... This way I’d be helping ya’ll solve cases instead of accusing for things not getting done.”
“Seems like getting shot is a concern for all folks now again,” Gramps put in.
“Though I reckon Stacie's not gonna be happy with this idea... Don't think she likes me so much....”
“Talk to miss Stacie, or Nathan,” Mel suggested.
“Think I’ll have more success with Nathan...”
“Yea it would depend on what you want to cover local or more regional,” Gramps suggested.
I decided that I would find someone to ask about my idea, needing to do something productive instead of watching so much violence unfold. I talked with people as they came in and out of the saloon and considered to wonder if this would be a good idea to work with lawmen who really didn’t give me much time of day.
Later that morning I was sitting on the bench in front of the saloon. A man came over looking a lot like Sayler, and I had to blink twice to avoid thinking that I was seeing a ghost. “Hello there,” I greeted him.
“Sittin’ out here alone?”
“Law’s just inside the saloon if anything happens. Can’t run in fear anymore.”
“I didn’t mean you needed to be safe... Just wondered why no one was out here keeping you company.”
“Just writing an article for the paper,” I shrugged.
“Oh? Writer huh? Reporter?”
“I publish the Amiville newspaper.”
“Well, I hope you have lots of good news to publish then,” he smiled.
“Sadly not this time,” I shook my head. James came out of the saloon then and I greeted him.
“See, I figured someone would be along shortly to check on you.”
“It don't take long, Sir. They all know there are people out there who want me dead.”
“Well, since you brought it up... that’s why I’m here.”
“Oh is it?” I asked, looking at James nervously.
“I been hired to shoot you down.” I rolled my eyes and started to walk back into the saloon and he said, “I must not be very convincing.”
“Mate ya know that ain’t a good idea,” James advised.
“Sir, that’s not a good thing to joke about. If you’re serious...”
“I’m only fooling.”
I looked over to James, not sure if I believed him. Chels and Mel came outside and Chels said, “Ya know if your joking that’s not a funny one.”
“Told you the law was inside,” I smiled at the fact that they had come to my aide so quickly.
“I suppose my humor didn’t go over this time. Apologies all around. I ain’t here to start no trouble. I heard about a town where all the law was women all the way down in El Paso. I guess it was true.” I looked at him, not sure how to interact with him and he said, “Name’s Tex. Pleasure to meet you all.”
“Feeling better today, Trin?” James asked me with concern.
“Feeling better now that this smart ass here isn’t really here to shoot me.” I looked to Tex and said, “It’s been a very long week, Sir. And it’s only Tuesday.”
“Indeed,” James agreed.
“My sense of humour is very limited right now.”
“Shall we be properly introduced, miss?” Tex asked and I waved in thanks as Chels and Mel headed down the street.
“If you promise to stop being a smart ass.”
“You have my solemn vow. Reason I'm here is, I got a wire that the owner of our ranch down in Saltillo had been killed.”
“Who's the owner?” I asked curiously.
“Mister Sweetwater. I understand he was in these parts.” I swallowed and looked down and he asked,
“So. I’m in the right place?”
“I still cant believe it true same with miss Trin here,” James put in.
“He was my best friend,” I told Tex, looking at him with tired eyes. Then I looked to James and said, “I believe it, James. I know how angry Nell was, and I know the power that Bill has.”
“He was a likable feller. What I knew of him.”
“Has anyone put him in the ground yet, or do I need to make arrangements?”
“I haven’t heard details, Sir. I'm just writing an article about it now...”
“Oh. So you’re writing about the death of your friend and I’m here being an ass. I’m real sorry, ma’am.”
“Not exactly the front page headline I was looking for,” I explained. “It’s still a shock. I’ve been looking at the same words for the past ten minutes. Can’t seem to get very far with this.”
“You have any idea if he left a will?”
“I hadn’t even thought about that. Not really the first thing on my mind right now.”
“He owned a great deal of land and a considerable sum of money. That’s why I was sent. ‘for the lawyers get after it. If I know him, he has a lock box at a bank where he keeps some pistols. He likes to have em, just don’t like to wear em. Maybe he left some papers there.”
“Maybe,” I looked at him.
“Prob’ly didn’t have a proper home. Dandiest dresser I ever seen that couldn’t stand to sleep with a roof over his head for long. A real contradiction.”
“I’m sorry Sir, can we change the subject....? I just.. I can’t...”
He apologized and headed into the saloon for a drink. I couldn’t believe that the man had been so callous as to focus on the money and possessions of his friend, rather than seeming like he was grieving.
Georgetown.
That afternoon, James and I decided that since no one else seemed to be interested in planning a funeral for Sayler, we located Icca and asked him if we could discuss arrangements. We followed Icca to his office in Georgetown and I was relieved when a little girl followed us into the building. I knew that if the child was there then at least Icca wouldn’t try anything on James or myself.
As we talked about plans and details of the funeral, I couldn’t accept that my best friend who I’d known for just a few months was actually gone. If James hadn’t been there at that office with me, I didn’t think I would have been able to get through the meeting. When we were finished, we thanked Icca for his time and then headed back to town.
Amiville.
That evening, Tex stopped me in the streets and asked if we could speak alone. I invited him to my office and we sat on the couch. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry again for how we got off on the wrong foot,” Tex apologized when we were seated.
“You’re forgiven,” I sighed. I’m sorry too, I’ve just been a bit jumpy. Guess I don’t need to be anymore.”
“Had I realized the gravity of the situation, I would have used more tact.”
“Sayler’s loss has hit me hard,” I nodded. “I had to plan his funeral this afternoon. Going to do it in the church over the next few days... He deserves a proper goodbye.”
“If you need any financial compensation I can see if I can arrange something,” Tex offered.
“Thank you, Tex. That means a lot,” I smiled at him. “Do you know if he had any family? He never really talked about them.”
“None. Sounds like you were as close as he had.”
“I didn’t think so,” I looked in his eyes, feeling close to him with the connection we had.
“Tex, you really should consider becoming law.”
The shooting continued outside and Tex said, “Maybe you should get upstairs.”
“I should nap before my show tonight... Though I really don’t know if I should even...” I sighed and looked at him. “But life goes on, right? And I guess I'm safe now... So maybe I can sleep and not be afraid of them anymore. I’m gonna head upstairs. Thank you for being here, Tex.”
I went upstairs and crawled into bed, closing my eyes. Life indeed would go on, but the memory of Sayler Sweetwater would forever be in my heart.
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