Amiville.
This morning I was sitting in my news office when James came in. I hugged him tightly and asked him how his trip home had been. He said that his brother had been killed by outlaws and had left behind a wife and a child. I told him about getting shot and what happened with the Black brothers escaping.
“It ain’t your fault, Trin,” he insisted.
“It feels like it is, James. I should have looked over them better but Stacie was there and I figured she...”
“Though on the positive side, my family took the news about us rather pleased,” James smiled.
“Oh did they?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you tell them?”
“Well, I told them our story; how things went and how they are now. Left out the part about Bill. It
well, woulda given my mother a heart attack for sure.”
“I can only imagine. “
“Also, she’d been pressing on info and asked if there was a marriage on the horizon yet.”
“Figures,” I chuckled. “What’d you tell her bout that?”
“Well, told her we hadn’t decided anything in that direction yet .”
“We’ve only been courtin for ... how many weeks now?”
“Musta been a month now.”
“A month? Wow, time sure does fly when yer havin fun, eh darlin’?”
“Never expected time to fly so fast.”
“Well... What say we take a stroll through town? Get a drink, maybe have some lunch?”
I told him that I had just received a note from Logan saying that I need to take notes from a conversation with Tessa yesterday and leave it on his desk, though I knew she hadn’t given me much to go on. I also wanted to go to the hospital and check on Stacie and Tristan. James hadn’t heard what happened yet so I filled him in on the details of James.
We walked down the street and saw the group walking over to the hospital with Buu over Jacob’s shoulder. I wondered what was going on and we talked with Rayce for a bit who greeted us. She said that he was threatening and pissed off about something but she wasn’t sure exactly what was going on.
Going towards the saloon, we said hi to Gia and Rayce headed off to take care of something. Gia said something about showing Uncle Tristan a big bullfrog that she was going to catch and James and I wondered if he was awake now. I wanted to go over to the hospital, but not with all of the marshals around.
Rosa came in and handed me her article about Liberty’s hanging for the newspaper and I thanked her for it. We talked with people who came in and out of the saloon and enjoyed the peaceful morning. Karan told me that Levi may be a bad man but at least he was attractive. I warned her not to fall for it and to be careful around him.
I finished my note for Logan from my conversation with Tessa and then kissed James softly before heading to the office. I saw Adder outside and he looked upset about something. “Taurus, what’s going on?”
“Just had my fill of big mouth there.”
“Richie, he’s not a marshal though,” Rosa was saying to the mayor’s wife and I sighed.
“Them escaped in the sheriff jail too,” Richie pointed out.
“That’s cause we shouldn’t have had to put the two brothers in one cell, Richie,” I told him. “We only have so much room.”
“Adder, please,” Rosa looked at him.
“If we had a bigger sheriff’s office maybe we could actually move around in there without running each other over and getting confused,” I observed.
“Trin’s right,” Adder said, staring at Richie.
“Ya let me blow their heads off next time?” Richie asked.
“Not inside the city limits, Richie. Outside... ain’t my job. Outside I couldn’t stop you.”
“Richie look we get that you’re upset...” I hesitated. “I didn’t sleep a wink last night after what’d happened.”
“In this town, we put criminals on trial. No lynchings, no murders,” Adder said.
“Let’s say them will have an accident before reaching town,” Richie suggested.
“Richie...” I sighed.
“Like I said, ain’t my jurisdiction.”
“What can we do about a bigger office?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
“So ya ain’t taking a side?” Adder asked Rosa.
“Never said that, Just said I cant do anything,” Adder said.
“Ya could close eyes sometimes and help a hand,” Richie suggested.
“Help?” Adder asked.
“And not let them marshals get their hands on them,” Richie added.
“I was there with you the other day,” Adder pointed out. “Hell, it was me who found Jane. I rode out ALONE looking for em yesterday.”
“You know the real reason they escaped yesterday right, Richie?” I asked him.
“I know that’s why I ain’t called ya corrupt.”
“Still called me a damn dog,” Adder grumbled.
“We were putting them in the cell, Brendan and I... Stacie was there too but she didn’t check them for weapons or anything... I was so concerned with helping Brendan get them in the cells I thought Stacie could handle searching them since she’s law,” I explained. “But she was all ‘I’m a marshal, it ain’t my job. This is your problem.’ Brendan and I hadn’t even been trained to do any of this yet... We had no idea what we were doin’. Stacie should have stepped up since our two lawmen were down.”
“Yes, Judge Clifton ordered them marshals not to interfere with things in town,” Richie told me. “As I want to sue them marshals for trying to hang the mayor.”
“Don’t matter, Richie. When both sheriffs are down, we need help.”
“Never turn ya back to them marshals,” Richie said. “Not to trust.”
“I was just new on the job. Didn’t even know I had authority to put ‘em in the cells. Thought Stacie would do it. Richie you’re not listening.”
“Them marshals do illegal hangings,” Richie whispered.
“It was me and Brendan against the three Black brothers in those cells.”
“I know,” Adder nodded, understanding where I was coming from.
“Stacie was complaining more about a damn bison attack than helping the brothers get searched and whatnot.”
“Mmhmm and let them escape when we found Jane,” Richie said.
I sighed, looking to Adder for help. He nodded to me and said, “If we give ‘em the benefit of the doubt... Richie, trust me. Our office has been paying attention.”
“Ami goes to shoot Jacob. He attacked sister Jane. Marshals stick together. Them try illegal to hang Ami so she shuts up,” Richie said.
“We sure as hell payed attention yesterday when she did squat to keep them there,” I muttered then looked at Richie. “Ami said it wasn’t Jakob’s fault, Richie. She made a public apology.”
“Why she changed her mind?”
“You saw the telegram,” I shrugged.
“Find that and ya know the answer. Make them pieces fit,” Richie said. “They got Levi, though not guard him.”
“We need to talk to Jakob,” I said to Adder.
“It’s lie a free ticket to run. Why not guard him? It’s not that there were not enough around,” Richie said.
“No, we don’t,” Adder looked at me. “Trust me on that.”
“Why would Jane first accuse Jakob?” Richie asked.
“Taurus maybe we should go talk in the office,” I suggested, not wanting to talk to Richie anymore.
“I’m going with ya,” Rosa declared.
“Maybe there is some vendetta between Jakob and the Blacks,” Richie suggested, “And now them made a deal?”
“Okay Rosa,” I nodded to her.
“Vendetta, collusion, either way they’ve brought hell to this town, and I want it stopped,” Adder said.
“I noticed lots of marshals listen to Jacob. And would ya trust a marshal who beats up his own woman?”
“He what?” Adder raised an eyebrow at Richie.
“Lots points to Mister Jacob. Saw him beating up Chelsea once in the back of me wagon. But she says she fell. Two words against mine, and she does not report it. But I do know how Mister Jacob is.”
I watched as Mai walked out and Richie continued, “Mister Adder, don’t disappoint me or I call ya lawdog again.”
“Do that, and you’ll need a dentist,” Adder bristled.
“Richie please. We’re on your side here. We want answers,” I insisted and put a hand on Adder’s arm. “Let it go, Taurus.” He turned and walked down the street towards the sheriff’s office and Rosa followed him.
“Seek answers. By standing around ya not find them,” Richie told us.
I stopped when I heard Richie and looked back at him. “Richie... I wasn’t kidding about the bigger offices. There was no need to have two prisoners in one cell.”
“No room for that,” Richie shook his head.
“One of them should have gone with Stacie. But she brought him to us saying it was our problem. Just think about it Richie. I need to go talk to Taurus.”
I didn’t wait for him to respond and just walked down to the office. I sat at my desk and sighed, seeing Rosa walk in. “That man is impossible.”
“I reckon, he has reasons to be upset.”
“Well sure but he ain’t hearin’ us. He knows it wasn’t completely our fault they escaped. I didn’t sleep at all last night, Rosa. I felt awful. I should have done more. I should have shot at them but Rayce was standing right there. I should’ve...”
“It’s okay. I’m sure a lot happened last night,” Rosa sighed a bit.
“It’s not okay, cos now Richie thinks we’re just as corrupt as the marshals.”
“Yeah I know it sucks being accused of something you haven’t done.”
“Stacie should have done more than she did, Rosa. I didn’t know what I had to do and trusted that she could take care of searching them.”
“A lot of folks around here are slacking,” Rosa nodded.
Adder walked in and slammed the door as I told Rosa, “It was Brendan and I verses the three Black brothers. What were we supposed to do??” I watched Adder walk in and leaned back in my chair, frustrated.
“Ya okay, Adder?” Rosa asked.
“Aye, I’m fine thanks. Just some people today.”
I finished my note from Tessa’s conversation and went to put it on Logan’s desk. I went back to my seat and asked, “Anyone have any idea what we’re gonna do about this whole thing? We need some answers here. I think Richie’s right... Someone’s working on the inside.”
“When Logan gets back we’re gonna question Tessa about yesterday.”
“I said that in the beginning,” Rosa nodded.
“But as of now we have no proof of anything,” I sighed.
“There’s something about her. She’s not telling us something.”
“Yeah, Tessa’s been known to run with them,” I nodded to Adder. “Back when Bill and Cathy were on trial. She seemed very much on their side.”
“I dun think it’s Tessa,” Rosa shook her head.
“Who’s her baby’s father?” Adder wondered.
“But Tessa just had a baby...” I started and then chuckled. “Like one mind, Taurus. Every time.”
“She’s too concerned with Tristan and I know her well enough,” Rosa pointed out. “I dun think it’s her.”
“But she might know something, Rosa.”
“Her concern could be a guilty conscience,” Adder suggested.
“Though yesterday talking to me she seemed more concerned about Stacie’s wellbeing than telling me what really happened,” I said. “And, she seemed more concerned about Avery’s boys than finding out what happened to Avery...”
“Well, Tessa... Well, erm... it’s not her, okay?”
“How do you know, Rosa?” I looked over at her. “Unless you actually know who did it, you can’t know it wasn’t Tessa.”
“What makes you so sure?” Adder asked the same question.
“She’s not that smart,” Rosa said and I chuckled at the truth of that.
“Don’t need to be smart to follow orders,” Adder pointed out.
“She might’ve been scared,” I agreed. “Too scared to not follow orders.”
“I dunno some dumb asses follow mine,” Rosa said and we laughed.
“Exactl... hey!” Adder protested then.
“I mean not you, of course,” Rosa smiled at him. “But she’d confess by now. Trust me.”
“Depends what they have over her,” Adder said.
“What if she was too scared to confess, Rosa? Rosa... We knew Kitty too... Or we thought we did. And Bravo. People change.”
“If there’s a threat to her baby, for example,” Adder suggested.
“I’m telling ya, she would to me. I don’t believe it to be her. No way, she can’t be. She’s been with Tristan a lot. Day in, day out.”
“And where the hell is Peep?” I asked.
“She left town. Not coming back it seems,” Rosa sighed.
“Just seems awfully damn convenient that she leaves town right before her husband is shot.”
“I dunno,” Rosa shrugged. “I’m sure she didn’t have a choice. I mean she loved him dearly and when ya love someone that much it can never be easy.”
***
We continued to talk and then I headed home to the office to work on the paper. This evening, I went to get a picture of Tabby in front of her candy store for the paper. I got out my tripod and took a quick picture of Tabi standing in front of the store. When I had finished, I picked up my equipment and said goodbye, heading over to the saloon.
“Ya see all the outlaws out there?” I whispered to Logan. “It’s like a bloody reunion. Just hope it ain’t literally.”
“I only noticed Harley standing off a bit.”
“Cathy and a bunch of them are out there.”
“Cathy eh? I have yet to meet that one.”
“Cathy is good people,” Rayce smiled at me and then looked at Logan. “It should be not that bad... Drop off the clothing with holes, I’ll fix it.”
“Why thank you Rayce, what a nice gesture,” Logan smiled at her.
“Something wrong, Callaghan?” I looked at him.
“There ain’t no outlaws out here,” Icca shouted inside, overhearing me.
“Lines blur. Outlaw, law, sometimes they are interchangeable,” Rayce said.
Logan shook his head and answered, “Not at all Miss Paige. She is offering to patch up my torn shirt from the scuffle in the jail house.”
“Oh good.”
We talked for a bit and then Karan came in. “Mr. Logan!! Just the man I need to see!”
“Yes Miss Karan?”
“I saw that woman,” she pointed at Rayce, “At your Marshal’s office at the time of the fire.”
Logan looked from Rayce to Karan and I raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “Miss Rayce?”
“She was carrying hay... and matches with her. And she is now officially fired at a doctor here. We do not harbor criminals in our clinic.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about!” Rayce exclaimed.
“Surely... you must be thinking of someone else Miss Karan.”
“No. I most certainly am not thinking of anyone else. I saw her!!”
“Karan were you alone? Did anyone else see Rayce there?” I asked her.
Logan looked disappointedly at Rayce and then turned slowly to Karan. “You are certain?”
“I did no such thing!” Rayce promised.
“I have no idea who else might have seen her. I was here in the bar alone.”
“If you were here in the bar alone how did you see her outside?” I asked.
“I am certain, Sheriff,” Karan insisted and then turned to me. “I was looking out the window, Trin... not that this is your business.”
“Miss Paige is our detective Karan....” Logan explained.
“No, she did not do it. I did it!” Christian exclaimed.
“What?” Logan turned quickly.
“I did it,” he said again.
“Rayce, what is wrong?” Cathy asked.
“The masked girl, saw another man do it,” Lali explained.
“She is accusing me of starting the fire!” Rayce pointed at Karan.
“Yes but she accused the wrong one,” Christian said. “I did it.”
“I was looking out the window by the bar and watched her carrying hay down there,” Karan sighed.
Logan groaned and stood, holding up his hands. “All right everyone just calm down for a moment here...”
“Why would I set fire to the Marshal office!?” Rayce asked.
“Karen you must be wrong she was taking care of a old wound of mine,” Cathy said.
“Because there is files in there on me about stealing,” Christian said.
“And you mentioned matches?” Logan asked Karan.
“Miss Trin and JayCee came in as I was being called to the clinic. I just now got free and you were the first person I looked for Sheriff.”
“Everyone hush... one at a time,” Logan said.
“I have been stealing to get food,” Christian admitted.
“I am not a criminal!” Rayce looked like she was about to cry.
“Yeah I was here and saw you leave...” I said to Karan.
“Ok but I can’t condemn her for carrying a hay bale you see...” Logan said.
“The doc was treating Cathy,” Krazy said.
“And then we have this man standing here saying that he did it,” Logan said.
“It is true. I did it,” Christian insisted.
“Well think about it. You got a confession so it can’t be Rayce,” Cathy told him.
“Karan, honestly... if she is only carrying hay, I can’t arrest her for that.”
“And then I pretended to go in there to look if anyone was in there to make myself look good.”
“However... a confession, I can arrest for,” Logan looked at Christian.
I saw Trax come over to the saloon and asked him, “Hey Trax, how much of the marshal’s office can you see from that window?”
“Only the bottom of it, why?” Trax asked.
“Sir, you are under arrest for arson,” Logan said to Christian, who held out his hands. Logan reached to take his arm. “Come with me.”
I stood and walked out with Logan and Christian towards the sheriff’s office. “Callaghan, I need you out here when you’re done.”
Logan searched Christian for any weapons and then unlocked the cell door for him to go in. As I waited in the front room Logan asked, “What is your name?”
“My name is Christian Morgenstern. I am a gypsy.”
“Why did you set fire to the marshal’s office?”
“I did it because there is files in there on me. I steal. I slep under the stars.”
“Callaghan you want help in there?” I asked.
“Yes Miss Paige,” Logan said and I walked back to the cells.
“I believe that man there will need a doctor,” Logan said.
There was a knock on the door and I looked over at Logan. No one in or out, right Callaghan?”
“One moment,” Logan said.
“When do I get my meal?” Christian asked.
“Callaghan can I give him the bread? From earlier?”
“Sure, Miss Paige,” Logan nodded.
I reached for the bread on the shelf and handed it to Christian, setting it on the floor then stepping away. “There you go, Sir.”
“Bread?!”
“Yep.”
“No hot food?”
“It’s a day old. Enjoy.”
A man entered the sheriff’s office and then and I decided to stay in the back cells. The man jumped straight in as Logan held the door open for Mai and went straight for him, punching Logan.
“You should at least wear a wig. Your hair is obvious Buu,” Logan glared at him, leaned up against the wall.
“Callaghan I’ll go find that doctor.”
“Holy shit, man!” Logan cried at the punch. Logan ran at him quickly and tried to grab his neck. Logan fought with him to get him off but Buu kept trying to strangle him. “Get... off....” Logan struggled to breathe.
“Buu! Get off him!” I called from behind the cell door. “I’ll shoot!”
Buu jumped off Logan and pulled out his guns quickly. Logan leaned forward, gasping his air, and Buu pointed his guns at me. “Drop it now!”
“You first,” I held my gun at him.
“Trin, I ain’t negotiating.”
“Buu, you attacked our sheriff,” I backed up.
Logan tried to jump on Buu’s back, wrapping his arm around Buu’s throat, calling, “I need back up in the sheriff’s office Now!”
“Okay Buu last time. Drop it!” I told him.
“Or what, Trin?” he asked and I swallowed, nervous.
“What is this about? What do you want?” Logan asked as Buu kept one gun on him and one at me.
I decided I couldn’t wait any longer and shot at Buu, now that he was a safe distance away from Logan. He shot back at me though and I tried to hide behind the cells but Buu shot me down in front of Christian’s cell.
“Let me out miss, I’ll help ya. Miss?” Christian asked.
“I.. I can’t...” I breathed.
“Please,” Christian said. It will give you a chance to get him.”
I tried to move around to shoot Buu again but then Buu shot at me more and I fell to the ground again. Someone pounded on the door to come in but then Buu came over to the cells and looked at Christian. “You wanna come out?”
“You gonna bust us out, mate?” Christian asked.
Buu bent over to search Logan for keys and then came back to open the doors, letting Christian out. “Now git out of here quickly,” Buu said but then as soon as he was out of the cell, Christian punched him in the face so Buu shot him down. “I let you out and that’s how you repay me?” Buu dragged the man back into the cell and then ran out of the office, shooting as he went.
“Please let me help!” Rayce called from outside and ran in, dropping on the floor next to Logan.
“Rayce, you got Logan?” Rosa asked and ran back to me. “Trin, you okay?”
“Bullet hit me... head... leg...”
“Christian...?” I called out weakly to the prisoner as Rosa went over to attend to Jake. “Me and... Christian... Both... down...” I told Rosa.
“I’m trying Trin! I hear ya hun!” she said.
“Okay... Rosa... Sorry.. I just...”
“Can ya stand yet? Or you too weak?”
“I’m... I’ll limp,” I said and limped out to the doctors, realizing that Rosa was actually asking Jake, not me. I walked into the clinic and lay on the bed, feeling helpless.
“Can I help, dear?” Tabby asked. “Do you need anything?”
“I tried to... save... Logan... and I...” I sighed. “He... shot... And then he... came...”
Rosa came over to me and said, “Hey sweetie.”
“And then he... came... And helped Christian get... But then... And they fought... and...”
“Easy, easy...” Rosa held my arm, trying to steady me.
“Tab... Jake... Christian’s still... Back there,” I told them.
“Trin, honey, what are you doing in the middle of this mess?” Tab asked, patting my arm to console me.
“I was in there with Logan... We were bringing Christian inside the cell ‘cause he admitted to the fire. But the... and he...” I cried on Rosa’s shoulder.
“It will be okay,” Rosa held me.
“Oh, he did? Where is he now? We need him to tell them Rayce didn’t do it,” Tab said.
I sat as the doctors worked to heal Logan, Jake and me and then we heard more shooting outside. Logan checked to make sure I was okay and I told him I was more worried about him. Buu came into the clinic and demanded to be healed first or the next time Logan would die, but Rayce was insistent on healing me.
“I don’t know what it is that put your panties in a wad boy... but you won’t get away with this.”
Buu walked out of the clinic and then when we were healed I reached over for Logan’s hand. “Logan...”
“What is it Miss Paige? Do you need anything?” Logan took my hand and I squeezed his.
“Just your... hand...”
“Anything that will put you at ease,” Logan grinned and patted my forehead. “You just rest yourself now.”
I leaned against Logan’s chest, shaking from the whole ordeal. “Logan... Are you... alright?”
“There there Miss Paige... you’ve entered a new realm. You’ve received your first job related serious injury,” he assured me. “I thank you for your efforts in trying to bring him down.”
“I tried to hide behind... the cells but... My gun wouldn’t reload when I went to stand at the front door of the cells...”
“You rest. I’ve got to go see about that man in the cell,” he settled me back down into the bed.
“I should’ve... I don’t want to be alone...” I looked at him insistently.
“Miss Paige, there is a duty to the public... Miss Rayce here will take good care of you, I’m certain
“But what if... What if Buu...”
“I’ll be back.. I just need to go for a moment.”
“Both of you should stay here. You are both hurt!” Rayce said and I looked at Logan, feeling vindicated.
As the chaos happened around me, I lay back in bed and tried to relax after having received my first gunshot as a deputy consultant.
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