September 7, 1869

Amiville. 

As I walked up to the saloon this morning, I saw Icca inside and considered not going in. I knew I had to report yesterday’s incident and went over to the marshal’s office, hoping someone would be inside. I heard Chels and Jake talking inside and realized I needed to see the sheriff instead, but no one was there either. I went back to the saloon and got some coffee from Gramps. Suddenly James ran into the saloon and I sighed with relief seeing him. 

“I heard what happened Trin so I rushed here!” he exclaimed as he came in. “I’m glad to see you are okay.” 

“You and me both,” I nodded. “He was dead set on killing me yesterday.” 

“He who, Ms. Trin?” Gramps asked. 

“Bill... he came into the saloon and was all, ‘I want a drink... Trin’s blood...’ and then when we were just sitting there talking with Chels and Sara and I... He came over to the bar and bent down, then this huge thing of dynamite blew up! Chels ran outside but Sara and I ran back to the stairs, knowing if we ran out we’d get caught even more in it. But then there was a second explosion right beside us!” I exclaimed, taking a breath. “I was in the clinic all night... just got out this morning.” 

“Well that just goes to show the outlaws are a rotten bunch,” Gramps said. 

“I’m sorry you have to go through all of this, Trin,” James hugged me. 

“How is it your fault?” I held onto him tightly. “Bill’s the one who...” 

“I get the feeling this is all supposed to be a message to me.” 

“No James, it’s a message to me He didn’t want me showing pictures of Kitty tied up, and then he came in yesterday saying that I was telling everyone that he was in love with me, when I was just telling people how he was starting to scare me so much. It’s not you, James... Don’t blame yourself, please.” 

“Trin, back at the hotel he tried to blow us up also.” 

“Because I showed you the pictures of Kitty and because you stopped me from going with him.” 

“What would you start to think of it?” 

“What?” 

Sara came in then and I held her tight, glad to see she was okay. 

“I don’t think it’s only the pictures Trin,” James pointed out then.

We talked with Sara about the explosion and I drank my coffee, trying to relax with James sitting beside me. James said that the law should do something about it soon but I told him that the law was right there with me and it still happened. 

“You sure get nervous easily Trin,” Icca pointed out. 

“I was almost killed in a dynamite explosion yesterday by your ‘friend’. What’d you expect?” 

“I can’t speak for my friend’s actions.” 

“But they’re still your friends...” 

“Cut her some slack, Icc. And also I feel we shouldn’t hammer this topic further,” James advised. 

A new girl came into the saloon and I met her while the other s all introduced themselves to the newcomer as well. We continued to talk about the newspaper and ideas for articles and I told Csilla about the paper and its frequency. It felt better to talk about the newspaper and get my mind off of everything else. Tessa came in and we talked about her baby that would be here soon. After a while I went up on stage and danced while James watched and I smiled at him, loving his closeness. There was a fox that came in and lay by the fireplace and I told Csilla that he likes to sit there and was harmless. 

Kitty walked into the saloon after a while and came right up to the stage. I tried not to let the woman’s closeness affect my dancing as she whispered, “Bill says ‘hi’.” She turned and walked away with a smile at my reaction and I tried to show that I was calm, not showing her my fear. James nodded to me for support and I smiled back at him, grateful. 

I met a man named Logan Callaghan and he said that he was from Ireland originally. I introduced him to James and Gramps and Icca continued to tease Kitty, trying to get a rise out of her. 

Finally I decided to head home and James promised he would take me. We said goodbye to Logan and Sara and Gramps before heading back to the office.