September 12, 1869

Amiville.

This morning I walked over to the saloon and saw Mel and Fritha talking outside. They were talking about Sayler’s death and Fritha was anxious to examine the body to confirm what was indeed the cause of his death. She wanted to know if it was the gunshot that killed him or something that happened afterwards. She said that Clifton was dead set on hanging Nell for murder, but if that wasn’t the actual cause of death then it would be a wrongful conclusion. I figured she should be charged for something anyway, considering she shot him down, and Bill should be charged of kidnapping. 

Unable to talk about it anymore, I walked into the saloon after getting Fritha to promise to keep me posted. We talked about the day with Gramps and what our plans were, and I told them how I was working on getting articles together for the paper, as the deadline was for that Friday. I met a lady named Martha, who didn’t really talk much about where she was from or what she did but I told her that I worked for the paper.  After some time I decided to head home.

A few hours later I went to the saloon to get some dancing in as it had been a while. Tiggy came in, but she was very quiet this morning. Much more than usual. Chels came in soon too, just as Tiggy was putting a candy in my tip jar. I laughed, thinking it was the first time I’d ever had a candy as a tip before.

Kitty came in and was looking for me but I went behind the curtain to take a break from dancing. After a while I came back out and she was still there, but she and another woman I didn’t know walked out of the saloon. 

A man that I hadn’t been introduced to walked in looking for Ms. Rose and Gramps directed him down the street but he said he’d not seen her there. He then asked Gramps for a beer as his throat was dry. He said he hoped it was better than the stuff around and I told him that Gramps was the best bartender in all of the western frontier. I asked the man what his name was and he introduced himself as BillyBob. Gramps and Stacie introduced themselves and BillyBob asked if I’d called him ‘darlin’, with a frown. I told him that I greeted all the men around here that way. I asked Gramps if that was right, calling him ‘darlin’ with a wink. Bob looked me up and down announcing, “Boy, times sure change.” Gramps replied back, “Yep, Sure is Trin dear,” with a smile and I couldn’t help but blush. He said we weren’t lying about the beer and said it was mighty good. 

“So darlin, where you from?” I  asked him. “Haven’t seen you around these parts.” 

He asked Gramps how much he owed for the drink and Gramps told him that he would pay for it, making me smile at his generosity. 

Bob asked if anybody had been playing poker and I told him that they hadn’t been since they took the table down on account of fightin’. He said that it looked like most people around here had moved or died, and I looked to see Tex walking in, thinking he had good timing. 

Gramps said, “Yep well each day is a good day to die now... I am in no rush mind you but I am ready.” I looked over at him then and shook my head. 

James and Fritha walked into the saloon then and I greeted them both. James asked how I was doing and I avoided the question, saying that it was good to see him. I asked Tex if he’d considered becoming law any more and he said that there seemed to be plenty of law around. Stacie told him that there was times that it was needed and I told him that there had indeed been a lot more law around as of late. 

Meanwhile, Bob and Gramps started up a discussion about where they were from and what they were doing in Amiville. I continued to deliver my focus to Tex and James. 

James asked if I had found Richie yesterday and I told him that I had, and that he would take care of it. I told him that Nathan had announced I didn’t need protection anymore, as Bill had other things to worry about rather than chasing me around. I told him I still didn’t quite believe it and watched as Bob ordered another drink, paying Gramps for it this time. Gramps told Bob that his family was not too friendly after the war, and that he only had one child who spoke to him regularly and one once in a blue moon. He said that wasn’t bad for having four kids. 

Tex greeted Fritha, trying to clear his throat to get her attention, though she seemed distracted. James told me not to worry as he followed me not because I needed protection from the outlaws and I said, “I know, darlin.” 

He said, “Also I did make a promise to ya and I do intend to keep it.” I smiled to him and said, “I know that too.” 

Fritha greeted everyone in the room finally and Brat, a young child, walked into the room with Chels close behind. 

I let the conversation swirl around me as I told James, “It sure does feel good to be dancing again.” 

“And it’s also good to see you doing it without worries,” James observed. 

“Well James, I can’t let them control my life. I have enough friends around town that will protect me if trouble comes,” I replied to him. “I’ve just gotta trust that and move on with my life.” 

“That’s the Trin I do like,” James said and I winked at him. 

“Gosh I reckon heaven’s opens up and drops Miss Trin right der on the stage,” Brat commented as he watched me. 

I looked over at Chels and Stacie, hoping that they caught my appreciation for their protection. Stacie announced that she needed to head back to the office and headed outside. 

“Yer welcome ma’am,” Brat laughed. “You the pretiest sight I ever laid my eyes on.” 

“Well ain’t you a charmer, Brat. How old did ya say you were?” I chuckled.

“I have kept the old army habit of thinking of my patiens more by the name of what they present with, rather than their proper name,” Fritha was saying and I was intrigued with their conversation suddenly. 

“You served the army Miss Fritha?” Bob asked her. 

“I recons I a warrior an ready fer a lady to cooks my meals,” Brat smiled and Chels laughed. 

“I marries Sarah Rose wen I was 7,” Brat laughed. “The judge was a drinkin.” 

“With the Sanitary Commission. We could not officially serve as doctors, unless private ones, but we were permitted to do the work we were capable of,” Fritha explained. 

“Which side have ya been workin’ for?” Bob asked. 

“Well Mr BillyBob, as you know, there was only one medical flag for both sides, and that was the yellow hospital one, so that was the flag I served under,” Fritha answered.

“I haven’t had time in awhile to dance,” Chels said. 

“Wow Chels,” I looked at her. “I was just thinking you should be up here with me. Get out of my head, woman,” I laughed. 

“I thought there was only one holy cross too but heared of preachers thinking diff’rent,” Bob told Fritha with a nod. “And preachin’ diff’rent.”

“I think I’m gonna take a break for a while though,” I announced then. “Maybe get a drink with James over there?” I added, looking at him.

“I coulda cook us somethin too if ya had liked,” James said as I went behind the curtain to change. 

We went across the road to the Mexican restaurant, deciding to eat outside since we no longer had to fear the outlaws coming after me. We talked about how hard the past few weeks had been and I thanked him for being there for me, commenting on the fact that it felt nice to just sit and enjoy each other’s company. I observed that there was something between us and it felt like we were closer than just friends, and he said that he wouldn’t be here if he didn’t feel the same way. 

He talked about how he was grateful that I hadn’t been dragged off like Sayler, and I told him how I almost had been as Nell wanted to talk to me too. I told him about this morning and how Fritha wasn’t sure which was the actual cause of death, whether it was the gunshot or something else that happened in the cave. We said that either way Nell would be punished, but it was just a matter of by how much as Clifton had told Mel earlier that he’d wanted Nell hanged. 

James asked if I would tell him my story, so I explained my background to him as follows: 

“I was born in Canada... My parents were both very busy and my two siblings were a few years older than me. So I often had to entertain myself as a child... I began writing at a very early age. Started to take piano lessons from a woman who lived down the street from us. I’d spend most of my days when I wasn’t at school writing, reading, or playing the piano. I had a few friends but would more play with the neighbourhood kids than the ones from school. Anyway.. when it was time to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up... I went to school for music, but also took quite a few literature courses. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to be but I knew I wanted to do something in the arts... I ran the school paper when I was in college. Fell in love with the art of journalism and wanted to pursue it more, but nothing was really happening around home.

“My parents were intent on me finding someone to marry like my brother and sister had found someone, but I wasn’t sure that was the life I wanted. Marriage meant family, commitment, being tied down and not free to go do as you please when you wanted to. So I moved down here to Colorado. If I’m being honest, I met a man down here. He’d been in ontario for a short while and we became fast friends... When I wanted to change things for my life, I wrote him and asked if I could live with him down here. His name was Harlie... I was going to move down here that summer, everything was planned. But he... He died in a stagecoach accident. The horse trampled him and he went into a coma

“He died shortly thereafter... I moved down here anyway though... and lived with his sister until I found my way to Amiville. Ever since he died... I’ve been so skeptical of serious relationships... At any moment someone could just up and walk away or just disappear and you have no idea why. I couldn’t let myself become attached to another person like that again, so I started to just enjoy the moments as they came, you know?

“And then I met Dutch... After writing for three weeks about his murder only to find out he wasn’t dead at all. I began to write a book about my experiences, as it seemed the law didn’t really care about finding his killer. I took it upon myself to figure out the mystery. Only to find out that it was his triplet brother who they’d found, and he’d been alive the whole time. I finally met him in person and James, it was amazing. I had gotten to know him through writing about him...I found myself... falling in love with a man I’d never even met before, and wasn’t even sure was alive. Though I suspected that something was amiss from the beginning. So when I met him in person... all those feelings were confirmed. We started dating and things looked like they were getting exclusive until... He just up and disappeared again. Would be days, weeks before he came into town again

“So obviously I was a bit skeptical. Then things started to develop between me and Bravo... as he’d been involved in a chapter in the book, being Dutch’s half brother. But I remembered again why I don’t do exclusive relationships and broke it off before it got too serious. I needed my freedom back.

“And well... Then found out about Kitty and Chels being arrested and you know what happened after that.” 

When I was finished my story, James thanked me for sharing everything. He said he was glad that I felt comfortable telling him everything and we stood to embrace each other. I knew that this was the beginning of something special and I couldn’t wait to see where this relationship would take us.