Amiville.
This morning I went into the saloon and greeted Gramps. “Got a coffee made yet?” I asked as I sat at the counter.
“Just did put it on. It will be a few minutes before it is ready.”
“Ok no worries. I can wait,” I winked.
“So how is the new edition of the paper shaping up?”
“Got two articles handed in already yesterday... Kalli told me her two are coming in this morning...”
“Then proofing begins,” he smiled.
“Actually the only thing left to do otherwise are my columns... I just haven’t been... It’s been hard to write this week. Every time I start I just stare at a blank page.”
He took the coffee pot from the hook over the fire and brought it to the bar, setting it in place. He poured the first cup and handed it to me. “Maybe I should just marry you, Gramps,” I took the coffee from him and sighed.
His eyes widened and he became a bit flustered and I chuckled. “Sorry... Just you’d keep me in coffee... Keep me safe... we already know we get along”
“Uh... uh... well, gosh, I don’t know what to say. Where did that come from?”
“Sorry Gramps. I have no idea where that came from,” I chuckled. “Didn’t mean to make you embarrassed.”
“Oh be still my beating heart,” he grinned.
“Relax, Gramps. I ain’t settlin’ down any time soon.”
“It is okay it was just unexpected this morning.”
I reached over and grabbed his hand. “Gramps, I’m sorry,” I chuckled. I looked over and smiled. “Tex! Good to see you!”
“Morning Tex. The coffee is fresh and hot,” Gramps greeted.
“Best coffee in the west, Tex,” I winked at Gramps.
“A cup of coffee would be just the thing. Thank you.”
“Have a seat, honey,” I patted the stool beside me. “Gramps, you hear about Nate last night?” I asked as he poured a mug of coffee and set it on the bar for Tex.
“No, I did not, I guess.”
“He chased Kitty from the saloon out into the streets... Had her tied up and everything... Told Jack to arrest her but somehow she escaped and let her go.”
“I think she enjoys that being tied up business,” Gramps shook his head.
“No idea what happened after that. Haven’t seen Nate since. But... there was this other woman there... she looked involved in their gang somehow and I wanna find out how. It was Buu and Aurora, not Bill and Nell thank God.”
“Humm... Well cannot say much for any of them.”
“Something felt wrong, Gramps. The way Jack just let her go... Can we trust him? He’s a sheriff but... He didn’t really help Nate all that much.”
“I was not there, I cannot say what went on.”
“I’m just worried about Nate...” I nodded.
“Well I think Ms. Stacie and some of the others are worried about some of the folks around here too.”
“They don’t seem too helpful when I try to ask them for information though... I’ll need to find Jake or Mel...”
“Heck, ya cannot figure folks it seems.”
“I intend to, Gramps. If it kills me.”
Tex sipped his coffee quietly and tried to wipe the sleep from his eyes. I looked over and asked, “Little tired there, Tex?”
“Tex, I think today is hard to get started all around,” Gramps said and I nodded.
“Yeah but that’s cause we were up late last night, right Gramps?” I winked at him.
“Just a little. Had trouble keeping last night. A lot on my mind.”
“You and me both, Tex... I’m here if you need to talk, hon.”
We continued to talk as we drank our coffee and I brought up the idea of becoming law. Baron walked in and I told him that something had happened last night that I wasn’t comfortable with. He hadn’t heard anything, though. Chels and Mel walked into the saloon and asked if everything was alright. He said it was and I asked Mel if we could talk outside.
We walked to my office and sat down, talking about the apartment and the new couches I had put in. I started to lean forward then and said, “Mel... I watched something happen last night that I don’t feel right about.”
“Yes Miss Trin.. what happened?”
“I don’t even know. I’m still trying to figure that out.”
“What did you see?”
“Nate was trying to arrest Kitty... But he had no backup... But the thing is... Jack was there... a sheriff...”
“Jack? Hmm, not sure if I know him.”
“Blood Hawk. I guess is how he’s also known.”
“Alright.”
“Anyway... Nate told him to arrest her as he was keeping things safe around them. But he just let her go. There was another woman there who untied her and they ran off. I guess Nate ran off after them but I haven’t heard or seen from him since. I’m getting worried as we...” I looked down then.
“And what happened?” Mel was listening attentively.
“I don’t know!! That’s the thing! I ain’t seen him since I saw him running after Kitty all alone. I’ve been so worried... You haven’t seen him have you?”
She shook her head and said, “No, but I was out of town yesterday, also this morning.”
“I’m so worried about him, Mel. And I’m so unsettled about this whole Jack thing.”
“But .. do you think he’s in danger?”
“He has to be, Mel. He ran after them all on his own. You know how that ends up.”
“You spoke to anybody else about it?” she nods, worried. “Sheriff Nathan maybe?”
“Just you,” I shook my head.
“Maybe we should talk to the sheriff.”
“Is he in his office?” I asked.
“No, not yet.”
“Mel I... I’m going away for the weekend. I really want to figure this out before I leave or it’ll eat me up all weekend.”
“Sure I’ll let you know if something happened.”
“Thank you Mel...”
“I think he’s fine.. you know.. bad notices come flying. Bad notices come too fast. If something bad happened we already know.”
“That’s true... But you said you haven’t been around... Sorry to have wasted your time, Mel.”
“Not a problem ill let you know if I hear something.”
“Guess I’ll go back to the saloon... Thanks for talking, Mel. I had to tell a law what I saw, wanted it to be you.”
“We keep talking Trin,” she nodded.
I walked back into town and greeted people in the saloon. I talked with Ed and Serxjo about what I had seen and Serxjo said it sounded like Blood Hawk had his own agenda. I told them that I was going up north to visit my parents and that I wanted to figure this all out before I left.
I went to the marshal’s office with Mel and Chels was sitting there. I asked her about the open warrants list and if I could see it. Chels said I should ask Stacie first and I said, “Okay look Chels, I wouldn’t have come here without permission from Lali and Nathan. It was her idea.”
“I know Trin... but best to ask Marshal Rage, I just don’t want to give you things I shouldn’t be.”
“Okay... I’ll wait for her then.”
“Best you wait at the saloon.”
“Guess I’ll head back to the saloon and try to get some writing done. Not that I have much to work with. You didn’t hear what happened to Nate, did ya?”
“What happened to him?” she asked and I told her what happened.
“Them deputies need training,” Chels nodded. “I saw him last night.”
“You did? Is he okay?!”
“Well he was walking.”
“Walking is good... But was he... Chels... We’ve kinda been getting... to know each other a bit better, Nate and I. I’ve been worried sick.”
“He seemed okay. I am sure he is resting.”
I breathed a little easier and said, “Chels... Thank you. I’m sorry to just barge in here but... I figured since it was the Sheriff’s idea and...”
“You’re welcome. I always run things by Marshal Rage.”
“I’ll find her,” I nodded.
“She should be around some place.”
“Okay. I’ll be on my way then,” I said and walked out of the office.
I walked into the saloon and talked to people there as I drank some whiskey and wrote notes in my notebook. Serxjo joined me and we talked about the newspaper. More people came in and then Nell came into the saloon.
“Writin’ some stories I see.” she said with a wink. “You got Sayler’s funeral arranged?”
“Richie and Icca are working on the details for the funeral.”
“Probably a good idea not to write about it, probably shouldn’t open your mouth more bout whatcha don’t know.”
“It ain’t that I don’t know, just ain’t worth it.”
“Nell, be nice, while you are here,” Gramps warned.
“Oh I’m bein’ nice. The whole reason I’m gonna be on trial is because of this woman right here, sayin’ she saw somethin’ she didn’t see.”
Mikk coughed and padded his guns. “They do work.”
“Don’t tell me what I saw or didn’t saw, Nell. I’m not gonna let you brainwash me like he did,” I looked at Nell.
Stacie walked in and then and I greeted her as Nell asked, “So that means you saw everything?”
“I saw enough.”
“Then you don’t know everything. You’re pullin’ it out of your arse,” she chuckled.
“Stacie... Could we talk over here for a bit?” I asked and walked to the other side of the saloon and told Nell, “Nell, would be a whole lot easier if you just told me your side of the story. Then I wouldn’t have to be guessing.”
To Stacie I said, “Stacie, Lali and Nathan and I had an idea for the paper... We were thinking of putting a list of open warrants in the paper. So everyone knew what was going on. I know they’re posted in the marshal’s office but not everyone will go there.”
“Oh, don’t see what the paper has to do with me, Miss,” Stacie shook her head.
“Well, now that you admitted that you don’t know, I feel better knowing I went to jail for that time for absolutely no reason,” Nell smiled.
“I know enough to keep you there. I don’t know the whole story, though, you’re right about that,” I shot her a look.
“Well you talk with the judges on that one,” Stacie suggested to me.
“Okay, I’ll talk with Clifton or Rosa then,” I nodded.
“Dumb wench don’t know shit,” she laughed as she left the saloon.
James walked into the saloon and I asked him to join me. I told him that I was going to visit family in Canada for the weekend and asked if we could postpone the Louisiana trip. I told him that Nate was okay and back last night and he was relieved to hear it.
“So goin’ to your parents, Trin. Do I need to worry?” James asked.
“No, James. Just thinking that the weekend before the paper comes out is always a good time to get away. Might be scheduling more trips like this. Will come back Sunday night or Monday and get it printed.”
“Well no doubt about it,” James smiled.
Conversation floated around the room and we enjoyed one another’s company as we talked about how long we’d lived in the area. Lady Gigi came in and danced as we continued to talk about my going up north to visit my folks.
Eventually I decided to head home and James said he wanted to give me something so I headed over to the hotel and waited for him to go up to his room to retrieve whatever it was. He came back holding something long packed in silk.
“What’s this?” I asked with a curious look.
“My old officer’s sword,” he handed it to me. “I’d like you to have it.”
“James...” I unwrapped the sword and swallowed. “James it’s... Are you sure?”
“I am.” He said I wrapped the sword back up and stepped close to hug him tightly. “I know you’ll take care of it.”
“I’ll miss you James.”
“Now, now. The weekend will be over just before you notice.”
“I’ll see you soon, James,” I nodded.
“I hope so Trin. Now don’t let me hold you up much longer else you’ll be late for your train.”
“Will do. See you James,” I waved and, holding the sword tightly, I headed home to pack before going to the train station.
No comments:
Post a Comment