Amiville.
This morning I walked over to the saloon and talked with Tabitha and Rosa. Logan walked over and said, “Look like someone beat us there.”
“Ah, there’s my partner in... law,” I chuckled. “Guess I should go see what’s happening. Tabitha, you want to join me?”
“Thanks Trin, but I think I’ll leave the Detective work to you, good seeing you dear,” Tab said.
Logan greeted us and I asked if Tab had heard from Karan yet, but she said she hadn’t. Logan went into the saloon to get a coffee and we continued to talk and got coffee while we still had enough peace and quiet to enjoy it. Adder joined us and we continued to talk with people that came in and out of the saloon. We talked about the trial yesterday that seemed to go on forever and about the hanging. James joined us and we continued to enjoy the peaceful morning with good friends.
“We got much to do today?” Adder looked at Logan eventually.
“Well we still have to have a meeting with the judge,” Logan said.
“Wait. I am still drinking coffee,” Rosa said and I chuckled.
“I wouldn’t dare try to tear you away from your coffee Miss Rosa. But soon...” Logan smiled.
“Logan, not many can tear me away from my coffee,” Rosa looked over at her.
“I think you’d be found in contempt of court if you tried,” Adder joked.
“Nothing I fear more than the violent wrath of a woman who is insufficiently caffeinated,” Logan laughed.
“Remind me what we need to speak to the Judge about. Is it the big thing? Or the Really big thing?” Adder asked and I wondered which thing was which.
“You also need to be updated I believe,” Logan looked at him.
“OK Logan, let’s have that chat. I know ya jes want me alone darlin, but I jes cant handle more than one at a time,” Rosa laughed hard.
“I hoped that you wouldn’t catch on to my tricks so quickly Judge,” Logan laughed.
“Oh, I got ya pegged already so well, Logan,” Rosa joked.
“Miss Paige, if you’d rather stay behind, it’s alright,” Logan looked at me. “Nothing that you haven’t heard I mean.”
“Alright then. If I don’t need to hear it again I’ll let you two chat,” I smiled, looking back at Logan.
“Deputy, I’d like you to come also. so you can hear the evidence,” Logan said.
“Oh hell yer inviting her? Hell I wanted jes to be the three of us, give something fer brendan to suspect, and the town to gossip about. Can see it now, judge goes madame,” Rosa huffed playfully.
“You three go off. No need to hear things three times,” I smiled and watched the three of them leave the saloon. “I already know all they’re gonna talk about anyway,” I said to James. “Besides we haven’t had much time to ourselves lately. You wanna dance, darlin’?”
“Sure Trin. It’s been quite a while since we did.”
“Exactly,” I nodded, taking James to the dance floor. As I held him and moved with him to the music, I smiled and said, “It feels right to be in your arms again.”
“It sure is,” James agreed. “Hope you haven’t had too much stress in the last days.”
“Nope it’s been pretty good lately... I don’t have to do anything but just observe and listen... And solve cases which are for the most part solved. The trial last night helped clear a few things up. So James... What’s new?”
“Not much. I’ll be going home for a few.”
“Home?”
“Yea, been too long without contact from home.”
“You going to tell them about me?”
“Maybe. My mom should be pleased about it.”
“I hope so,” I smiled.
“She ain’t hard to convince.”
“Guess at some point I should meet her, eh?”
“But I don’t want her to have too much news for one visit,” he nodded. “Okay dear, I need to go. The train is leaving soon.”
I pulled him close and kissed him deeply, “Safe trip, darling. When are you back?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Okay then. Have a good time, darling.” I watched him walk out of the saloon and then said, “Well Gramps reckon I should go find Callaghan and Taurus at the courthouse.”
Walking into the courthouse, I noticed Frank and Rayce. “Hello folks. Just headed upstairs.”
“I didn’t get arrested, Frank,” Rayce grinned at him. “Oh hey Miss Trin,” she smiled at me.
“I believe they are talking, so I decided to wait my turn,” Frank smiled at me.
“I’ll head up,” I nodded. I walked upstairs and knocked on Rosa’s office door. “It’s Trin Paige.”
“Come in,” Rosa called and I walked inside. “It alright if I join for the end of this?”
“Sure, please do,” Rosa nodded. “Go right ahead. I’m sure one of their laps is comfy to sit on.”
Logan patted his knee and I chuckled, going over to sit in Logan’s lap. “So where were we?” I asked.
“Well, I’ve just told the judge the story of the photograph,” Logan said.
“You can update her,” Rosa nodded.
“She already knows. She was there,” Logan laughed.
“I know all about thee photograph,” I smiled.
“I wouldn’t know how to use one of those machines if I tried.”
“That’s why ya got me, Callaghan.”
“Precisely,” Logan nodded. “Oh something else... Our sharp eyed deputy here noticed something yesterday in the courtroom. Mikk managed to get into the courthouse with his gun on. Now it’s likely irrelevant. But worth noting.”
“Did you tell her about Sara’s letter?” I asked Logan.
“No,” he shook his head. “So where can we find this ‘Icca’ anyway?”
“You’ve not met Icca yet?” I asked and he shook his head.
“He’s the undertaker. Has an office out in Georgetown,” I told him.
“Ah I see. Is he in town often? We need to question him.”
“Sara said she was gonna lay low for a couple of days.”
“Though you know...”
“Yeah we do... I have no idea if he’s in town. I can tell you he runs with Bill’s gang sometimes too though. They’re usually in town together causing trouble.”
“I wonder if this might not be a ploy to distract us from the case of Tristan.”
“Sara is straight and true,” I looked at him. “I trust her. She looked rightly panicked.”
“Not on Sara’s part...” Logan laughed. “I mean the robbers.”
“You think Icca has something to do with what happened with Tristan? I hadn’t thought of that yet...”
“I mean, we’ve pretty much confirmed that the marshals are dealing in on shady business. What if they hired the outlaws to be a distraction? If they can distract us with petty crimes, that gives us less time to focus on the marshals. And... If you will notice... Mai seems to be causing the most disruptions.... being that she is Jake’s lover...”
“Hence her involvement in this whole thing with Sara,” I said.
“Exactly.”
“Mai’s name does keep on coming up, don’t it?”
“And another valid point... though I’m not certain that Mai is smart enough to come up with this... In an attempt to get evidence from her, I told her that I would drop the accusations on her regarding the robbery that we know that she was responsible for... So why is she still threatening Sara after knowing that she won’t be accused?”
“‘Cause she knows Sara would talk to me about it?”
“Is it because she wants us to direct our attention more to Sara?”
“She should know Sara and I are good friends, and that I wouldn’t accuse her of anything. Maybe she’s just trying to get the attention on herself instead of the marshals.”
“That’s exactly what it is. She’s desperate to keep Jake out of it.”
“We need to get Mai behind bars before she can cause any more trouble,” I said.
“But we can’t hold her there, that’s the issue.”
“But Logan...” I sighed.
“Which brings me to my next point... The sheriff...”
Here we go, I thought to myself.
“Ah the not quite as big problem,” Adder put in, after letting Logan and I think out loud.
“No, but I feel that I have to at least try to squeeze him in somehow,” Logan laughed. “Yesterday, we tried to introduce our evidence and he kept insisting that we show it to Stacie. When we gave valid proof that the marshals are possibly in on this... Why would he tell us that... is he also trying to cover their tracks?”
“I’m torn as to whether he’s incompetent or corrupt,” Adder admitted.
“He didn’t seem too interested in finding out information about this John guy either. Was a little disappointed that I had to be the one who had to ask for the man’s description. But no one else was doing it and we needed to know. He seemed so intent on chatting up Stacie about false impressions with keeping prisoners in for lewd reasons. Seemed like it was more of a joke for him.”
“So I’m wondering if maybe the Sheriff is trying to hinder our investigation to protect his girlfriend Stacie,” Logan smirked. “So, your thoughts Judge?”
“I’m thinkin’ about a stiff drink,” Rosa smiled. “Oh, with a half-naked man in front of me.”
“Shall I summon Brandon?” I winked as Logan started to unbutton his shirt.
“Oh you evil tease,” Rosa grinned and he buttoned the shirt back up.
“I just want to ensure that we aren’t wasting hours of our time digging in the wrong direction,” Logan said.
“Well I think we jes need to keep doing what we do best?” Rosa suggested. “Well, I can assure you, there will be time wasted somewhere.”
“Keep dodging the sheriff and try to solve this problem with Mai on our own?” I sighed.
“Well, dodging won’t work. I guess jes keep it at a minimum.”
“Honestly, I’m going off in so many directions, I’m not even sure as to what we are supposed to be investigating,” Logan admitted.
“We dun wanna get arrested,” Rosa sighed. “Yeah, I’m not sure anymore either to be honest.”
“I’ve been saying the same thing about my newspaper business for months,” I admitted. “Always seems one story leads to another and I don’t know who to trust anymore other than the three of you.”
“Hell at this point... I dunno either,” Rosa sighed.
“So I guess we should just focus on the Blacks and forget the marshals for now,” Logan guessed.
“There are three warrants open right now. I received them from Clif the other day,” I looked at them. “Levi Black, John, and Cathy Jones. Unless Cathy’s been arrested since yesterday.”
“I didn’t get any. I think I saw that she was, but I’m not sure. I’m not going to pretend that I’m good at paperwork,” Logan sighed.
“She has,” Rosa said.
“That’s why you’ve got me, Logan,” I winked at him.
“And Adder, who misses nothing.”
“Oh, she has? So I can take that warrant out of the paper then?” I looked at Rosa.
“Oh, Trin you will have to learn to share,” Rosa winked and I chuckled.
“There is enough of me to go around ladies... don’t worry,” Logan grinned and I patted his arm, still sitting in his lap.
“The man wanted me to sit in his lap. What’s a girl to do?” I winked at Rosa.
“Judge...” Logan started. “If Adder and I were to go out and find these two, outside of our range...”
“Umm... You can’t arrest, but you can investigate?” Rosa sighed.
“What if we were to... just sort of, pick up their bodies?” Logan suggested.
“I didn’t hear that,” Rosa smiled and Logan nodded with satisfaction.
“Um, I might be able to,” Adder said. “How long does a temporary deputization by the marshals last for?” Adder asked. “Cos, well.... they forgot to ‘un-deputise’ me.”
“You were with the marshals?” Logan asked.
“I rode out with them when we looked for the Mayors sister, Miss Jane. If it wasn’t revoked.... We fought Levi Black and his gang. they deputized us before the fight.”
“Well, do what ya gotta. I hate to say this, but Trin... These guys are in yer care. Take care of ‘em,” Rosa laughed and looked at me, and I nodded.
“So I’m thinking that because your marshal status was not revoked....” Logan startted. “Why shouldn’t we?”
“You could technically be working for both sides, Taurus. Meaning you could arrest them.”
“I’m thinking so,” Adder nodded. “I reckon I was paying more attention than them”
“Excuse me Miss Paige,” Logan motioned that he wanted to stand so I rose, leaning against the desk.
“They probably clean forgot they deputized us all,” Adder said.
“Well nothing gets past you Deputy... they weren’t aware of that I’m sure,” Logan said and stood.
“I feel lucky to work with such intelligent men, I must say,” I smiled.
“Drink, anyone?” Adder suggested.
“Drink sounds lovely,” I nodded.
“To the bar!” Adder exclaimed and we headed to the saloon.
We walked into the saloon and stopped short when we noticed the three Black Brothers standing inside. “Last I heard theres a federal warrant out for you,” Adder announced.
“That has been served, I’m now a free man,” Levi insisted.
“Strange that we haven’t heard of the warrant being pulled....” Logan shook his head.
“I have a hard time believing that,” Adder agreed.
“We’re just lookin’ for honest work. Frank here just hired us,” Lebron laughed.
“Don’t you guys worry about that, we’ll be outta town tonight,” Levi said.
“Kidnapping the mayors sister. Not wise,” Adder said, putting his hands on his guns.
“Will you please get those monkeys off our back?” Levi asked Frank.
“Detective Trin, hello,” Rayce greeted me and I sighed, not having wanted to be made known.
“Would you come with me please?” Adder asked.
“You have to call in assistants to cover your back Mr. Levi?” Logan wondered.
“These friends of yours?” Liam asked his brothers.
“I don’t have that kind of pull, gentlemen,” Frank shrugged.
“Sure,” Levi nodded. “Where are we going?”
Logan stood in the doorway and Adder said, “Levi Black, you are under arrest. Hand over your guns and come with me.”
“You ain’t from these parts,” Lebron looked at Adder.
“No, I’m not,” Adder shook his head and drew his pistols.
Logan put his hands on his guns, ready to draw, and I stood beside Gramps waiting for their request for my assistance.
“Put your guns on the ground NOW Levi,” Adder said authoritatively.
Liam looked from one brother to the other and Levi took a step closer to Adder. “Sure, but didn’t you wanna go somewhere first?”
“It’s alright, don’t move, Deputy. I will take the back way out,” Frank backed away.
“Rayce, you might want to step outside,” I suggested.
“Ms. Trin if shooting starts, get under the bar,” Gramps advised and I nodded.
Logan drew his guns and held them steady and Adder said, “Put your guns down, then we’re going to the jail.”
“You heard the deputy,” Logan said.
“NOW, Levi!” Adder insisted.
Liam and Lebron touched their guns to their hands and Lebron laughed, “Now, Levi!”
Levi shrugged and looked at his brothers, “You hear that, guys? Theses two lawdogs think they can just walk in here while we have a nice quiet drink and harass us.”
“Shoot him now!” Logan yelled.
“Federal Warrant says I can, and you know it,” Adder said. “Guns on the floor, NOW!”
“Evening folks, have a good day,” Frank said from the balcony where he’d retreated to. “Nice meeting your brothers, John.”
I heard Frank and then shot Logan a look, knowing there was a warrant for him out too.
“Now you two lawmen best get out of this saloon or you WILL be gunned down, dragged down
south and sold to the Apaches!” Levi exclaimed.
“Not if I gun you down first,” Adder said.
“Drop your damned weapons or so help me god you will have my bullets lodged in that thick skull of yours,” Logan threatened.
“Are you gonna make us?” Levi glared at Logan.
Stacie walked up to the saloon and stopped short when she saw the commotion building.
“If necessary, yes,” Adder nodded.
“This is gonna get interesting,” Lebron looked from Stacie to Levi.
“I’d rather not have to spill your blood,” Adder said.
“I won’t hesitate,” Logan shook his head.
“Well, if it ain’t old Levi himself,” Stacie smiled.
“I won’t hesitate,” Logan shook his head.
“Okay okay, we give up. Please don’t shoot us,” Levi sighed. “We’ll go peacefully!” as he said it he cocked the hammers back of his guns.
“Put your guns down,” Adder cocked his guns and said, “Last chance, Levi.”
“Let’s take this outside, gentlemen,” Levi nodded to the door.
“You’re all under arrest,” Adder said again.
“No, you’re under arrest,” Levi pointed to his marshal badge.
“You ain’t law,” Adder shook his head.
“Yup, I am,” Levi nodded, pointing to the badge again.
“You stole that,” Adder shook his head.
“That badge was stolen, Mister,” Stacie laughed.
“Now can’t we just be friends?” Levi asked as he clenched his fists.
“You accusing my brothers of stealing, Miss?” Liam asked.
“Drop your damned weapons now... I don’t have time for the silly chit chat,” Logan said, getting impatient.
“Well boys I’m head marshal here abouts, and I know he ain’t no marshal,” Stacie said.
“Hit me and I’ll shoot you,” Adder said. “Come quietly, now.”
“Well, we’re not marshals from up here,” Levi chuckled. Adder moved to bind Levi and he yelled, “No way, you are going down!”
Shouting started and suddenly Logan fell to the ground. “Logan! Logan, are you alright?” I ran to him.
“Trin... Adder... Watch him,” Logan groaned and I backed up, hearing more shots. I walked out cautiously and looked around for Adder.
Brendan was outside and I exclaimed, “Brendan!! They shot Adder and Logan!”
He got out his guns and shot down Liam. “How many are they, Trin??”
“There were three. Liam, Lebron and Levi.”
“Ok, I see two down. Where’s the third?” Brendan asked, looking around.
“I don’t know...” I shook my head.
“Adder!” I saw him finally. “Adder, are you laright?”
“Let’s bind that guy,” Brandon suggested and I went over to tie up Liam.
“Well, two out of three ain’t too bad...”
There were more guns and I said, “Rayce let’s bind him and take him to the hospital.”
“Who else is hurt?” Rayce asked.
“Adder and Lebron. Someone else was shot down but I don’t know which brother it was. There’s still one who’s alluded us.”
“I’ll go get Adder, and bring him to the hospital,” Rayce smiled.
Suddenly a bullet ripped through my arm and I swore at the pain, looking around. I got shot again and called, “Frank! I need some help here! Rayce, I’ve been shot! I think it just... grazed me .... but... The bullet... It hit me in the arm and... the side of... my head...” I gasped.
“Shh... Breathe, breathe...” Rayce checked my wounds.
“Oh, well you know folks are shooting out there?” Frank asked.
“I think I can carry Logan to the clinic if needed,” Gramps offered.
“I need help,” Brendan called.
“You were grazed, you will be okay,” Rayce told me. “Just breathe.”
“It just... it hurts... a bit...”
Frank offered me some water and I thanked him for it. “Not exactly... how I intended... Our first drink to be.”
“Oh, I don’t know, it’s like the fourth of July, isn’t it?” Frank smiled.
I moved over to Logan, putting a hand on his arm. “Callaghan, come on, wake up dang it. Rayce... I can put them in the cells.”
“No, Ms. Trin, the clinic is always close enough to just get some there. Now it is a hospital and is further away,” Gramps said.
“Anyone here who can out these guys in jail?” Brendan asked.
“I’ll do it, Brendan. I’ve got a key now,” I said.
“Take the three outlaws to the sheriff’s office,” Stacie said.
“Yeah, we got three. Not sure how many they were though,” Brandon said.
“I just need help getting the other two over there,” I said. “There were just three, Brendan.”
“Please do? I will get Sheriff Logan. Miss Marshal? You need to see the hospital too....” Rayce asked.
“I’ll be fine.. Just a flesh wound, Rayce,” I said.
I cuffed Liam and dragged him to the clinic. Brendan and I threw the two of them into the jail, and Stacie helped throw Levi in the jail. We unbound them and closed the cell doors, and Stacie removed the weapons from her prisoner as I started to unbind Liam. Brendan unbound Levi and I asked Stacie to search Liam for weapons. She did so and we got Liam and Lebron in the same cell, and Levi got his own cell.
“I suggest you put an army here to guard them, Stacie,” Brendan suggested. Stacie searched for weapons on Liam and then let him go in the cell.
“Okay I think I’m outta here. Going to see a doc,” Brendan said once everyone was locked away.
“I should too,” I nodded.
“Alright, Stacie I need to go get a bandage for these wounds,” I said to her. “I’ll walk out with you, Brendan.”
“What wounds, Trin?” Stacie asked.
“They grazed my head and my arm with a couple of shots... Just flesh wounds but still bleeding a bit.”
“Okay, I’ll just sit and bleed,” Stacie said.
“I’ll send a doctor here, Stacie,” Brendan said.
“Is there a doc in this town? We sure are in need of one,” I heard Lebron say as we walked out.
When we arrived into the clinic I looked between Logan and Adder. “You boys okay? We got the three Black brothers in the cells.”
“Miss Trin, are you alright?” Rayce asked.
“We’re breathing. How about you?” Adder asked.
“I just need some bandages. The bullets just grazed me. My head and my arm.”
Rayce took out some bandages and wrapped my wounds carefully and asked, “What about the Marshal and Mr Brendan.”
“Stacie was attacked by a bison and needs you at the sheriff’s office. Brendan was fine, I think. I was more worried about you guys.”
“We’ll live,” Logan nodded.
“I got one in the chest and one in my left leg. So I’m not going to be running anywhere soon...” Adder said and I nodded to him.
“Well hopefully with them in the cells we’ll be good for a while,” I said.
“C’mon, men, hobble to the Sheriff office.”
“Afraid I’m going to need a new shirt,” Logan pointed to his left shoulder.
“Guess there’s no more open warrants,” I chuckled.
“As long as no one comes to get them,” Adder said.
We headed to the sheriff’s office then, and I helped Adder limp there. Rayce tended to Stacie’s injuries and I sat at my desk as the men talked with the Black Brothers in the cells. The brothers continued to use fake names and said that they weren’t related, but I knew who they were because of the pictures on the warrant pictures.
Suddenly Logan said, “Who took that one’s binds off? Hand your gun over now. You in the cell.”
“You left them in a cell together, they can untie each other...” Rayce looked at me. “They forgot to take their guns?”
“We had no choice, Rayce. We only have two cells,” I sighed.
“But not taking the guns? Who forgot to disarm them?” Rayce asked.
“Thought Brendan and Stacie were doin that,” I admitted, remembering Stacie checking the men. “Stacie was in there with the two of them, I was goin out to get the doctor for her.”
“The marshal, again...” Rayce shook her head.
“Where’s that blasted Doc?” Levi asked.
“You’re not going to be treated... because somehow you have gotten yourselves unbound,” Logan said to Levi.
“Your people untied me,” Liam shrugged.
“Who untied you?” Logan asked.
There was a knock on the door and I went to see who it was. “Who is it?”
“My name is Mrs. Rebecca Black. I do believe you have my husband in your, um... jail.”
“You’ll have to wait a moment, Miss. I’ll get one of the sheriff’s to come out and talk to you,” I said.
“No one comes in!” Stacie called out.
“Okay, Stacie,” I nodded. “Logan, some woman claming to be Rebekka Black, who’s one of the man’s wives in there. You know of any of ‘em being married?”
“Not that I know of,” Logan shook his head.
“That’s what I thought,” I nodded.
“Stand back, lady!” Logan called and then went to open the door, walking outside. I sat back down behind my desk and then Logan returned into the office.
“Who was she?” I asked.
“She claims to be Rebbekah Black,” Logan told me.
“Which one was her husband?”
Logan walked back to the cells and said, “Alright Mister Levi Black... since we know that these are your brothers, you might want to encourage them to give us their real names.”
“Brothers?” Lebron asked.
“That’s what you said in the saloon,” Adder nodded.
“Aye,” Logan nodded.
“From Kentucky,” Liam said.
“I really recall,” Lebron said. “I’m sure that’s something you fellers wanted to hear I guess.”
“So one from Kentucky, one Texas... Where are you from, Levi?” Stacie asked.
“South Carolina,” Levi said.
“Hell, it’s what you said,” Adder said and I rolled my ears hearing them.
“And I’m sure we can find a couple more witnesses,” Adder said.
“Your mom a soiled dove or something? Traveling from state to state?” Logan asked.
“Well damn, looks like I got a lot of different places to telegraph to confirm all you boys before we can let ya go,” Stacie said.
“I’ve answered all of your questions,” Levi said.
“You’re not a friendly trio,” Logan shook his head.
“We ain’t started yet, Levi. Like why kidnap the mayor’s sister?” Stacie asked.
“You haven’t told me your real name... Mr. Black. I know that you are brothers. It’s plain to any man with ears and sight... now.... are you ready to tell us?” Logan asked.
“I did no such thing, she followed me across the south wanting something I don’t know why,” Levi answered Stacie.
“Hmmm. I wonder how she ended up so badly beaten and tied up in that barn,” Adder thought out loud.
“Ohh she followed you,” Stacie said. “Damn, musta had sun stroke to wanna follow you, though she mighta been lost and followed the smell.”
“I don’t know, lady marshal,” Levi said. “She was just dying to get a piece of good ol’ Levi.”
“I was the one who found her. I saw what you did to her Levi,” Adder said.
“So why ya demand money for her?” Stacie shook her head.
“What does the mayor’s sister look like?” Logan asked.
“She’s a nice little red head, kinda like her,” Levi said.
“Similar size, hair, she was messed up kinda bad when we found her,” Stacie said.
“Red hair?” Logan asked.
“No, she ain’t got red hair, Mister. It’s auburn.”
“And nothing happened... Now I’m growing mighty tired of you folks!” Levi got angry.
“Okay sheriff, I’ll leave you boys to do the niceities,” Stacie said. “I’m gonna get a coffee.”
“Thank you marshal,” Logan said.
Stacie walked out of the office and Logan unlocked the cell to let Rayce in to look at them finally. Logan asked if I would get them some food so I went to the store next door and got a loaf of bread and water and went back to the office. Suddenly shots rang out and I wondered what the heck was going on now. I ran into the sheriff’s office.
“Who’s back there?” Ami asked me.
“The black brothers!” I exclaimed.
“Help! One is loose!” Rayce shouted.
I drew my gun and saw Levi standing over Logan. “Don’t add killing law to your list of offenses!” I shouted.
“Trin, go for help!” Logan called.
I ran outside and looked around, seeing no one around. Avery and Richie were nearby and I asked, “You guys see anything?”
“They disappeared in air?” Richie asked.
“It would seem. Damn them. Not again, Richie.”
“Why law keeps holding them, they should just blow them heads off!” Richie exclaimed.
“I know! We know they’re guilty for kidnapping the mayor’s sister!”
“Ami, what ya doing here?” Richie asked when we got into the office and he saw his wife.
“Avery what do we do?!” I cried and shouted, “Law needed at the sheriff’s office! Marshals come quick!” Stacie came running and I told her, “Stacie! They escaped!”
“Unfortunately, someone left one of them unbound,” Logan said as I rain in. “I wasn’t here when they were jailed. I was in the hospital.”
“Are they alright?” I called in.
“They beat them and escaped this back door,” Ami said.
“Like last time, forgot to guard him, “Richie said.
“Correct me if I’m wrong Mister, this is local law office with local law,” Stacie looked at Richie.
“Stacie, are you sure that you didn’t see who threw them in there?” Logan asked.
“US Marshals are all corrupt, remember?” Stacie asked. “Ya told us to keep out of yer town affairs.”
“Stacie, you and Brendan were putting them in the cells and taking their guns,” I looked around. “I went to get a doctor cause you were hit by the damn bison and Brendan and I needed help. I figured you could handle getting their weapons.”
“Trin and another put them in. I told them to keep them tied,” Stacie explained.
“When I showed up, Stacie was with the prisoners. One was unbound and untied the others. Stacie said tat she didn’t know who untied the one,” Logan said.
“C’mon boys. You need to be fixed up again,” Rayce said.
“I didn’t untie them,” I said. “Just unleashed, but he was still bound. I thought...” I shook my head, confused.
“Well it musta been Brendan that untied them,” Stacie said.
“Would help if we’d had some damn training when we were taken into local law...” I looked around.
“Brendan? Well where is he?” Logan asked. “I want to find out who untied that prisoner.”
“No matter, just put your reports in,” Stacie said.
“It does matter,” Logan said, “because whoever untied them is responsible for their escape.”
“Stacie. Is there anyone in the cell in your office?” Adder asked.
“Can we continue this at the hospital? So I can fix these guys up again?” Rayce asked.
“Mister, it don’t matter who untied them. They was in your cells,” Stacie shook her head. “Under your case, so don’t go trying to pass no buck.”
“I didn’t bring them in...” Logan said. “If I had, I assure you, they all would have been restrained.”
“They was in your care locked in the damn cells, who opened the door?” Stacie asked.
“Only reason Levi black was walking free today is cos no one from the marshals office can tie their own damn laces,” Adder said. “So don’t you start with me.”
“I went in to fix the two, then he opened it to let me out,” Rayce said.
“As I am told, it is required to give the prisoners treatment,” Logan said.
“Miss, you were told not to enter the cell until they was tied up again,” Stacie said to Rayce.
“If one of them had been locked in the cell at the marshals office when they were brought in, this wouldn’t have happened,” Adder said.
“Sheriff Logan told me I could and let me in,” Rayce said.
“They never should have been put in the cell together,” Logan nodded.
“I was here myself, Mister,” Stacie said. “I was in need of treatment. So ya want me to run between the two?”
“Get Brendan and see if he can meet us at the hospital,” Logan whispered to me.
“For the last damn time. We were unconscious in the hospital when they were brought in. The person who brought them in shouldn’t have put two in one cell when theres a free cell down the street,” Adder said.
***
An hour later, after everything had been somewhat cleared up, I headed down the street and walked past the saloon. I walked over to the marshal’s office to see if Stacie had returned but there was no one there, so I went back to the sheriff’s office to write some more notes.
After some time there was a knock on the door and I called, “Who’s there?”
“Miss... Rayce.”
“One moment, Rayce!” I said and went to let her into the office. “What’s going on, doctor? Did they find Stacie?”
“They beat me, shot me, and tied me up leaving me for dead. They took Marshal Stacie....I finally managed to come back to town,” Rayce said.
I held her tightly, feeling awful for all she had witnessed. “They still have the marshal?”
“Doctor Fritha is busy with Avery....”
“Avery too?! Damn it, Levi,” I sighed. “Rayce I should take you to the hospital too.”
“No one’s there,” she shook her head. “I wanted to tell someone what happened though....”
“I was just updating the story for the front page so you have good timing,” I nodded. “You said Fritha was with Avery? What happened to him?”
“I dont’ know. Shot in the neck....”
“Did you see where they took Stacie?” I asked.
“No.”
“Where did they take you?”
“I found them in a barn in East Colorado.”
“You mean the Black brothers, of course, right? Wait... a barn in Colorado East? I thought you said they took you, not you found them?”
“No, I found them, they had me heal Marshal Stacie, and then shot and beat me, tied me up, and gagged me.”
“Oh my Rayce... How did you escape? By the way, can this be on the record for the paper? The public needs to know about this too.”
“Yes. Miss Tessa was tied up too, she broke free of the bench, and untied me from the post. I hobbled back”
“Tessa too?” I raised an eyebrow. “And Avery? Is that where he fits in?”
“I don’t know where he does. I just saw him in the office of Fritha.”
“Okay.”
“Miss Tessa was there before I was.”
“So they still have Tessa and Stacie.” I wondered where Logan and Adder were when I needed them.
“No, Tessa got free and ran to find them, injured. Stupid girl,” Rayce said. “I had to stitch up the Sheriffs again, they may still be resting. I am going to go bleed on Tabitha’s bed now.....”
“Go rest, Rayce. Thank you for telling me what you know. I’ll send a wire for Callaghan and Taurus and hope they come soon.”
“Thank you. I’m afraid they are too crafty and strong for the law....”
Rayce left and I sent a warrant for Adder and Logan to come quick. Adder responded first and when he opened the door I exclaimed, “Taurus! Rayce just came and told me... Stacie’s been kidnapped! And they have Tessa too!”
“What?! Who by?”
“The Black brothers of course. She said that Avery was in Fritha’s care and I was just goin’ to check on him.”
“Damn useless Marshals.”
“Come with me?”
“I’ll come with you. I’m still wounded from earlier.”
“Callaghan’s not around.”
We walked to the new clinic but no one was around. “Hmm... She’s not here,” I said. “Maybe they’re at the old clinic?”
“Maybe. Does she have an office of her own?”
“Oh that’s right she does. Let’s check there.”
We found it and a woman stood inside with Fritha. “I suppose we must call for the undertaker,” she said and I looked at Adder, unsure. “You are too late. He has gone.”
“Gone?” I blinked. “Avery...”
“What happened?” Adder asked.
Fritha came out and said, “I could not save him. I could not repair the artery.”
“How did he end up here in the first place? Who...” I shook my head. “Oh Avery... Oh... Tyler and
Taylor... What of them??”
“He went into physiological shock due to hemorrhage and died,” Fritha told us.
“What caused it in the first place? Was he attacked?” Adder asked.
“A bullet pierced the external Carotid.”
“A bullet from... whose weapon? Did he tell you? Do you still have the bullet?”
Adder removed his hat out of respect and I reached over to hold Adder’s hand, still in shock. “How long ago was this?”
“Yes I do, I was able to extract that, but the artery was beyond repair. I attempted to suture it but it merely split again.”
“He has a great big hole in his neck. Who could possibly have saved him?” the other doctor asked.
“Nothing you could have done Ma’am,” Adder said and I squeezed his hand and he nodded to me.
“It was my fault. I was with a dental patient, doing surgery on an infected abscess; I delayed in getting to him not understanding how serious it was.”
“Fritha, don’t blame yourself... You did what you could,” I looked at her, thinking we can now add murder to the list of charges against Levi.
“But you told me to put wound dressings on it, you did something, doctor,” the nurse said.
“The damage was too severe Doc,” Adder said.
“Not that I have saved every patient of course, but Avery!” Fritha shook her head.
“I need to step outside a minute. Find out all you can Taurus,” I started getting emotional and walked outside.
“Okay Trin,” Adder nodded and I closed the door behind me.
I sat down and let myself cry into my arms, wrapping my knees close under my chin as I waited for Adder to finish. Eventually the door opened and Adder and Fritha walked out. I wiped away my tears and Fritha said, “I feel badly about it, Trin. If only I’d not been with that other patient! But I could not leave her.”
“I know you do, Fritha, but no one blames you so don’t blame yourself, okay?” I went over and hugged Fritha and then looked to Adder, “Find out who did this.”
“He must have been shot in Main Street - he could not have got far with such a wound,” Fritha said.
“Trin, can you round up a posse please?” Adder asked me. “Men only. I’m not letting any more women near this animal.”
“I’ll see what I can do, Taurus,” I nodded, appreciating the concern for my safety. “I’ll spread the news about Avery too, so you don’t have to.”
“I need to get my rifle from the office,” Adder said.
“When should I tell them to meet you at the office, immediately?” I asked Adder.
“If I’m not back in an hour, send the posse to look for me. But I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
I put a hand on his arm and nodded, “Be safe, Taurus.”
“I will, thank you,” he said and I sighed as I watched him walk away.
“Okay Fritha I’ll get to work. Get some rest, and remember we all admire you,” I looked at her. “Your job is not an easy one.”
I walked down the street and banged on the marshal’s office door. There was no answer but then I saw Adder running back into town. “Adder! What happened?!”
“I’m okay, exhausted,” he gasped. “I’ve run from Kingsley.”
“What about your horse?”
“There’s a fort there. The same place we fought them the other day. I left her in a field in Colorado East. She’ll be fine,” he said about his horse. “I needed to go ahead on foot.”
“There’s no one around. The town’s empty! And Fritha just sent out the telegram about Avery’s death.”
“Dammit. it’d be suicide to go without a small army.”
He ran off to find more people to join him and I waited in the sheriff’s office for his return. Two hours later, he came back and I walked out of the sheriff’s office asking, “How did it go?”
“Hey Trin,” Adder greeted me.
“Well you guys are alive so that’s a good sign...” I started, looking between Adder and Jeb. “What happened?”
“Well, we found Tessa but that was it. No sight of anyone else,” Jeb said.
“No sign of Stacie?” I asked. “Maybe we should go over to the marshal’s office and see who’s there?”
“Think they said she is in the clinic,” Jeb said about Stacie.
“Tessa told us Stacie was back here. Clif’s still missing,” Adder said.
“Oh at least they have Stacie back... So you didn’t see Clif when you went over there?”
“Nope,” Adder shook his head.
“Tessa was the only one we saw, never any bandits,” Jeb nodded.
“So what happened when you guys all got out there?” I asked. “Come on , tell me the story.”
“That’s the whole thing,” Adder said, “Bar a lot of ‘then we rode to this spot, then that spot.’”
“Well, ‘bout all that happened was some saddle-sore butts,” Jeb laughed.
“We still need to find Clif,” I said then. “Well I want to go talk to Stacie and see if she knows exactly what happened to Avery. Come with me, Taurus?”
“Sure. She was out cold when I was there earlier,” Adder nodded.
“I want to be there when she wakes up,” I said and he nodded.
We said goodbye to Adder and headed over to the hospital. Adder held the door open and I said, “I need to know what happened so I can talk to Fritha and tell her the truth for her article. “She’s writing about it in her medical column and I really want the paper to be out in a couple of days.”
“Is that shoulder feeling any better, Brendan?” Karan smiled at him and I looked over, surprised.
“Brendan’s here too?”
“Aye, he is. From the battle we had with the Blacks.”
“Oh I see.”
“Where’s my brother? What have they done to him?” A woman walked into the clinic then.
“Hello Miss? Who are you?” I looked over at her as Karan continued to work on Brendan.
“Where is Judge Islay?” she asked and I looked from her to Adder.
“No one seems to know,” he shook his head.
“These bastards, they damn near killed him, and now he’s missing,” she cried.
“All I know is the Black brothers took him,” Adder told her.
“Who are you, ma’am?” I asked.
“I’m Amy Islay Moonkill, his sister. First that damn Richie, and now these bastards!” she sighed.
“Richie?” Adder and I both said at the same time.
“Accusin’ my brother of bein’ corrupt. I oughta put a bullet in his head.”
“Seems he does a lot of accusing,” Adder said. “I wouldn’t do that, Miss.”
“By God, I’ll have him. Ya don’t insult my family. And because of that, he goes and faces a bunch of outlaws?”
“He went out himself?” Adder asked.
“That’s what I heard,” Amy said and I looked at Adder.
“When y’all go after Levi, count me in. I want to shoot him for what he did to Tristan,” Karan told us when Brendan was taken care of.
“Got no idea what he hell he was thinkin’,” Amy shook her head. “Heard tell there was some lady marshal trapped.”
“Yes,” Adder nodded. “He had a couple of female captives.”
“I was so happy I got him really good today. He’s not unbeatable,” Brendan said.
“It’s just a matter of time,” Karan nodded.
“That’s like him. Going to help folks, even if’n it’s darn near suicide,” Amy shook her head. “Did he get ‘em loose?”
“I don’t know the way it happened Miss,” Adder told her. “All I do know is the two women are now back in Amiville. Though one is badly hurt, I believe.”
I started to pace and Amy said, “I reckon he got to ‘em then.”
“Trin, stand still,” Adder told me and I stood still, glaring at him. I folded my arms across my chest and leaned back against the wall impatiently.
“I shoulda been there, damn hardheaded fool,” Amy said.
“Hey Brendan, you doin okay?” I asked him as he stood from the bed and walked over.
“When we go for them, we go in large numbers. We’ll overwhelm ‘em and ruin ‘em,” Adder decided. “No more going alone.”
“At least you got the girls back home, Taurus,” I said.
“Yeah, I’m good, thanks Trin,” Brendan nodded.
“We squash this,” Adder promised.
“I know Judge Islay said there was a tunnel out there at one time,” Amy said.
“Glad to hear it,” I nodded to Brendan. “How’s Stacie?”
“Not so good I guess,” Brendan lowered his voice.
“I didn’t do anything, really,” Adder said to me. “One was here already somehow, and the other was just wandering.”
“She able to talk yet Brendan?” I asked about Stacie but he shook his head.
“Adder I’m really made these guys could escape,” Brendan looked at him. “We had them all.”
“I know, Brendan,” Adder nodded.
“You had them?!” Amy exclaimed.
“One of them shoulda been put in the Marshals cells. they should never have been locked up together,” Adder said. “But its pointless going over the what ifs now. We need to end this ‘war’ they’re waging on this town.”
“True,” Brendan nodded. “And they need to guard them all the time.”
“Then maybe my Brother wouldn’t be missing!” Amy exclaimed.
“Either that or we need more cells for the sheriff’s office,” I suggested.
“They want War, I’ll give ‘em a war,” Amy threatened.
“No,” Adder shook his head. “No lynchings, no quiet murders. We don’t lower ourselves to their level.”
“I damn sure will, blood for blood,” Amy muttered.
“We do it right. God knows they’re all guilty as hell anyway,” Adder corrected her.
“Miss, these guys are very dangerous. Don’t do anything stupid,” Brendan looked at her.
“They don’t need no trial, except by a rope,” Amy shook her head.
“We need to find out exactly what happened to Avery,” I said, looking at Adder. “Brendan, had you heard? Avery was killed. Not sure if it was the same incident but I’d put money that bullet came from Levi’s gun.”
“They get a trial. Just like the law says they do,” Adder said.
“Avery was killed. Not sure if it was the same incident but I’d put money that bullet came from Levi’s gun,” I said.
“I got family out there someplace,” Amy said. “Maybe hurt, maybe dead, and I don’t need to do anything stupid? Mister, ya don’t know the Islay clan.”
“You’re no use to your family dead or wounded. Or captured,” Adder told her.
“We will get these guys and find your family. We got them once,” Brendan promised.
“They don’t want me anyway,” Amy shook her head. “And blood is blood.”
“Can we at least go in there? Please?” I asked Adder, looking to Stacie’s room. “I want to see Stacie.”
“You better go in,” he nodded. “I don’t think we should crowd her. I’ll wait out here.”
I nodded to him and walked into the room, seeing Stacie and Tristan laying down. Amy followed and I said, “Amy, you should stay out there.” Looking at Karan I asked, “How are they, Karan?”
“Tristan is holding his own... Miss Stacie... I just don’t know what is wrong with her other than severe bruising on her stomach,” Karan said.
“Miss, I think I gotta know who my brother might have died savin’,” Amy said.
“Fine,” I sighed.
“Brother?” Karan asked.
“You know she was taken by Levi and possibly beaten from him right?” I asked Karan. “I’m trying to find someone who was there who may have seen if Avery’s death had something to do with Levi.”
“Yes... I’ve been told that. I’m going to resign as a doctor and go and find him and kill him. It’s very simple.”
“Karan, no. No women should face that man. You’ll end up like Stacie on that bad there.”
“Brother?” Karan looked at Amy.
“I’m the sister of Judge Islay,” Amy told her.
“He shot Clifton?” Karan asked and Amy nodded. “Is he alright?”
“No idea, Karan,” I sighed. “But I hear Tessa’s back here too?”
“I’ve had an idea I’ll be back soon,” Adder said, poking his head in the room.
“Adder? Should I come?” I asked him.
“Trin, the first time Levi showed up in town, he tried to seduce me. I have offered to try to lure him out of hiding so he can be killed or captured,” Karan said. “I will have my bowie knife ... I will kill him myself.”
“No!” Adder exclaimed and ran off, and I sighed, standing in my place.
“I want the scalp,” Amy told us. “I’ll make him suffer as he’s never known.”
“Well I reckon I need to find out what happened to Avery somehow...” I said. “Ain’t gonna find it out here.”
“Miss Trin ... sometimes sticking your nose in thing can get you killed. Be careful,” Karan looked at me.
“I know, Karan.”
“And I’m gonna go calm down and plan my revenge against this feller,” Amy said. “He’s gonna pay.”
“You wanna go get a drink and chat?” I nodded to her. Tessa woke up then and I said, “I need to talk to Tessa now that she’s woken up. Tessa, are you alright?”
Tristan stirred in the bed next to her and I looked over at Karan, asking, “Can he hear us or is he still completely out of it?”
“His eyes open some... Noises seem to really bother him. Which is why I’ve tried to keep it quiet in here. But so many here care for him, it’s hard to keep them away.”
“I know, Karan. I know,” I nodded. “I just was hoping to talk to Stacie or Tessa about what they know, if anything...”
“It will be the same with Stacie ... People care about her.”
“Maybe if they know anything about Avery...?”
“We don’t know.”
“Fritha was able to retrieve the bullet, but we have no idea whose gun it came from. Though I’d put money on it if I had my guess.”
“Is Stacie going to be okay?” Tessa finally asked.
“Was avery there with you? In the barn?” I asked her.
“No, I didn’t see him. Has he gone missing?”
“You hadn’t heard,” I looked at her. “Avery was killed today.”
“No... Oh my gosh...”
“Gunshot initially. But we have no idea what happened,” I said.
‘His boys...” she looked concerned.
“I want to know whose gun that damn bullet came from.”
“There is not much I can tell you,” Tessa said.
“Gonna be hard to tell about bullets,” Karan said.
“What is to become of Tyler and Taylor?” Tessa asked.
“I don’t know, Tessa...” I sighed.
“Those poor boys,” Karan shook her head.
“Did Clif come back?” Tessa asked.
“We haven’t seen him or heard from him yet.”
“He brought Stacie here,” Karan told me and I looked over at her.
“Then how is he missing?”
“Maybe he just can’t be found right now,” Karan shrugged.
“I last saw him at the bridge in New Mexico heading to Amiville,” Tessa said.
“So he’s not still missing...” I looked between them.
“I don’t think he is,” Karan shook her head.
“Well that’s good to know,” I sighed.
I announced that I had to go and check on something. I walked out of the clinic and saw the group in front of the saloon. JC and Sugar stood close beside each other and I looked between them, wondering what I had missed.
Adder came back into town then and I asked him what happened. He said that bandits had jumped him and I got Tessa to help me get him to the hospital. We left him in Karan’s care and then I headed outside, seeing that he would be a while. I had been in the clinic enough today to not want to be there any longer.
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