Amiville.
This morning I walked into the saloon and talked with Avery and Gramps and met a man named Clay. I told Avery the latest edition of the paper was available and got some coffee from Gramps. “So I guess it’s official, Gramps. James is my new bodyguard,” I chuckled.
“Well that is something. That should make ya feel a little more at ease,” Gramps agreed.
“I think it already has, yeah. Knowing that either him or Nathan will be watching my back constantly...”
“Well if they are real men they will be watching more than your back,” Gramps grinned.
“Guess neither of them have been in yet though,” I chuckled.
“Nope have not seen either of them yet.”
“Was so proud to be there for their swearing in. Got a good picture of the two of them in front of one of the Presidents.”
“Yea I did not get to go,” Gramps smiled. “We got busy for some reason.” After some other people came in and then he said, “Ms. Trin just so ya know, I am feeling a bit better...”
“I am mighty glad to hear that, Gramps. I assumed ya were. Ya seem back to your normal self.”
“In here you do not have to worry,” he said. “I do not believe in normal, but things are getting to a regular state.”
“True enough,” I chuckled.
We continued to talk and then heard Avery scolding Taylor outside the saloon. Taylor came in and apologized for putting a poop bag on the door and Gramps forgave him. Nathan walked in and I asked him how things ended up with the mayor last night.
“Well she was arrested and placed into jail, then her fever started acting up.”
“You arrested a sick woman?” I shook my head.
“For her own good really.”
“Ya mean for Richie’s own good,” I winked at him.
“Well she was in here breaking all the bottles.”
“I was here for that part,” I nodded.
“Dang I was wondering what happened to some of the stock,” Gramps put in.
“Then saw ya’ll running out of the saloon,” I said. “Thought it best to stay here out of the way.”
“Gramps, all the rum and whiskey is gone. All that was on that shelf, gone,” Nathan said.
We talked for a while and Fritha came in, talking about the school she hoped would start up soon. Gramps talked about getting the supplies and we talked with Avery and Taylor. Mel walked I and sat beside me at the bar. Nathan asked her to watch out for me as he went to take care of something.
“I’m probably overreacting but I thought it would be safer this way,” I told her. “I don’t know if you saw the headline yesterday...” I referred to the article about Kitty’s kidnapping and Mel nodded. A woman walked in with guns on her belt, who we didn’t recognize as we continued to talk. “I’m just guessing the firestorm will be forthcoming. Bill probably wouldn’t want me to have printed the picture of Kitty in Georgetown. He didn’t even want me showing it to James in the hotel.”
“Well as photos are easier to make, more will be available,” Gramps pointed out.
“Miss Cathy... you know where you from? I mean, you remember?” Mel asked the woman and I watched in confusion.
“Excuse me?” she replied.
“Let me join you,” Mel sat down beside her.
“I guess I have no choice seeing ya is already sitting.”
“You remember where you from? Or used to do in Amiville?”
“Miss, I don’t know you. Why should I answer you?”
“Because we do know you, and I think you lost your mind for some reason. And maybe you should have a medical treatment for that,” Mel said compassionately.
Nathan walked back into the saloon then. Behind him, a little girl came wandering in and asked,
“Have you seen my mommy?”
“Your mummy?” Nathan asked and knelt down.
“Me wookin’ for Miss Kitty,” she said.
“Well...” Mel started.
“Miss Kitty eh?” Nathan clarified. “Well, looks like we are both looking for the same person, little one.”
“Why you lookin’ for my mama?”
“I’ll talk to Miss Fritha about it,” Mel said. “Maybe we should call for an alienist doctor. I heard they have good treatments... new treatments...” she stood.
“Why don’t you have a seat next to the deputy and that nice lady over there,” Nathan suggested.
“Me lost without my mama.”
“What’s your name, little girl?” Mel asked.
“Don’t worry, little one. I’m sure we will find her,” Nathan stood up.
“You promise ‘cause me wanna grow up just like her.”
“I promise,” Nathan nodded. “Now go have a seat and we’ll see if Gramps can get you a drink of milk. How about that, eh?” The girl went over and kicked Mel in the shin and Mel looked back at her without saying anything. Nathan looked over and said, “We don’t kick people, little one.”
“Oh you must be scared, little one,” Mel said.
“But mama told me to kick all da people with those on their shirt,” the girl pointed to Mel’s badge.
“Did she now?” Nathan asked. “Well that’s not very nice.”
I suddenly recognized something in the woman with the disguise and said, “Wasn’t she supposed to be in a clinic locked up somewhere?”
“What? Who?” Nathan asked.
“Kitty,” I replied.
“She’s here?”
“The court yesterday... They...” I looked around, panicked.
“Just calm down, Miss Trin. You’re being paranoid.”
“Something’s not right. I can feel it, Nathan,” I said, looking around anxiously.
“Go have a seat, and a drink or two.”
“Why mama supposed to be locked up?” the girl asked, looking over then.
Nathan looked over at the woman sitting with Mel and said, “Something seems... familiar about her.”
Mikk and Fritha walked into the saloon then and the woman greeted Mikk. “No, no, I’m sure I recognize you from somewhere,” Nathan said, looking at her. “The voice is familiar too.”
The woman stood then and Nathan suddenly had a flash of recognition. “I know who you are!”
“No sir, I think you’re mistaken.”
“No no, I’m very much not. It’s Kitty!” The woman got up and ran out of the saloon and he shouted, “Get back here, Kitty!” as he ran out after her.
James walked into the saloon and I greeted him. “Heard there was a trial against Buck?” he asked me as he sat down beside me.
“So there was,” Fritha nodded in answer to her question. “And against Miss Kitty too, who is now sought.”
“Yes, there was a court against Bill,” I said.
“It was agreed we’d keep her under observation and sedation for a week to see if it helped her,” Fritha explained, “but she legged it.”
“How did it end, if I may ask?” James was curious.
“Bill was sentenced to twenty-four hours....” I explained. “Rosa asked if anyone else had been hurt by Bill and I had to raise my hand. I got protection ‘cause after printing the article about you and me in the hotel with the picture of Kitty I was sure he’d be upset. He didn’t even want me showing that picture to you, much less the whole town.”
“If Kitty is captured, I’ll try to sedate her,” Fritha promised.
“Nathan just recognized a woman in here as Kitty and ran out after her... I haven’t heard about Bill since then.”
“Well I hope you can, Ms. Fritha,” Gramps said. “Some do not react well when ya do that to them.”
“So what was the reason Kitty was sentenced?” James asked.
“They said Kitty had shot someone, if I remember correctly. Right Fritha?” I asked her.
“I had not heard that she shot anyone, but she assuredly has been acting very eccentrically,” Fritha replied.
“It seemed like they arrested Bill for everything he’d done in the past, not for what he was actually on trial for,” I pointed out. “It was like a witch hunt on him.”
“Well I do not know about that,” Gramps put in, “but I would say she was acting all crazy like.”
“She has had a tough time though,” James said.
“That was Bill’s argument,” I nodded. “Rosa got upset with him for interrupting though.”
“He would have benefited from a defense attorney,” Fritha pointed out.
“Yes, he probably would have,” I agreed. “I was shocked he was representing himself. Honestly I was expecting guns to start flying in that courthouse. The whole thing was much more peaceful than I’d expected.”
“Had I not spoken up for Kitty, then things might have gone hard for her,” Fritha said.
“They did go hard for her though... They wanted her locked up in the clinic I thought, as she wasn’t mentally capable of being out without supervision.”
“It would be best if she stayed there, in my opinion, for examination and sedation to see if that helps her.”
“Ah well good thing it went without much troubles,” James commented.
“Still think she needs law near her though,” I nodded. “Who knows what’s going to happen next. I hope Nathan can catch her.”
“She shows so nearly what I often saw in the war. Injury and pain can change a person,” Fritha said.
“And to think... I could have gone to rescue her and none of this would’ve...” I looked down and shook my head.
“Now now, there’s nothing you have to regret, Trin,” James assured me.
“But James... Bill showed me that picture. I knew she was there. Tied up. She used to be my friend.” I started to get emotional and leaned my head in my hands, resting my elbows on the counter.
“But then you may have gotten in the same situation,” James told me.
“Yeah, we may not have almost been blown up by dynamite.”
“Whether or not the past can’t be changed.”
“Sometimes I wish it could, James..”
“Miss Fritha...” Mel said as she came into the saloon again. “Sheriff is calling you at his office. He and Stacie got Kitty. They need your help as a doctor there.”
“Oh all right,” she looked down and grinned before heading out of the saloon.
“Then again if we’d went to help her, we woulda ended up just like her, Trin,” James said then.
“That’s true, James,” I nodded, knowing he was right. “That’s why I knew I shouldn’t go. I know what Bill is like. I didn’t want to get caught in that same trap. I just hate that I knew things and saw this coming. But I guess that’s part of my job, I fear.”
“So don’t hang your head Trin, alright?”
“I know,” I sighed. “I just can’t seem to get past this. Not until she’s back to her old self.”
“Maybe when she’s stable we can go and visit her. Show her our support, ya know.”
“Only if there’s law there,” I nodded.
“I guess I am going to have to get some more whiskey and rum shortly,” Gramps observed.
“I was just going to ask if you’d done that, Gramps. I could use some whiskey right now.”
“Don’t think they’re going to leave her out of their eyes for a good while Trin,” James promised me, referring to the law.
“This whole thing just...” I shook my head and James promised to pay for my drink as Gramps poured us some whiskey.
“James, how has the business been going?” I asked him, changing the subject.
“Surely, surely. But it’s always good being back in Amiville.”
“You know I am glad you’re here, James.”
“Wouldn’t have met ya if I hadn’t gotten here by chance,” James said, “and maybe would still be risking my head for the military.”
“How so, James?”
“Who knows where the army woulda put me, Trin. Also you do know that I was shot over in the first days by Buck and his wannabe confed. friends.”
“Right, I believe you mentioned.”
“Got me enough time to rethink my life.”
“Well this is a good place to do it,” I smiled.
We talked for a while then about the army and Gramps shared stories with James about their time in the war. After a while James walked me home.
***
This evening I talked with Sara and we went to the saloon together. Icca was in the saloon and said that he had a story for me. I turned around, not wanting to get into conversation with him, I excused myself and went to the sheriff’s office where I found Nathan and Chels talking with Kitty still in the cell. I told Nathan that Icca was down the street and said he had a story for me and Nathan said that I could have a seat. Kitty was yelling for someone to let her go and she called out for me to help her out and Fritha came in to treat her and help her remember who she is and that she wasn’t Cathy.
While I sat there, Bill was released from jail since he’d done his time and then I went outside with Nathan over to the saloon. TJ, Sara and Icca were over by the saloon and I stayed quiet and stepped closer to TJ. As they talked, I just stayed quiet and went to dance on the stage. As I went up to dance, Icca took Sara’s hand to take a walk with her and I warned her to be careful. I continued to dance and talk with people as they came in and out of the saloon. After a while I asked which lawman would walk me back to the office and they argued about it for a while so I just changed and headed home alone.
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