September 9, 1869

Amiville.

A few days later I was sitting in the saloon when Sayler came in and joined me. I was talking with Lali and Mel about how she and Chels had been kidnapped again. Karan joined us too and we all sat there drinking and enjoying one another’s company. Before long, a shout came from outside. 

“Sayler Sweetwater, Get out here. Now!” It was Nell’s voice and I swallowed nervously, seeing that Bill had entered the saloon too. I knew that this wasn’t going to end well. 

“What if I don’t?” Sayler asked and Bill just looked at him, laughing. 

“I sees ya brought ur guns ta town...” Bill said to Sayler. 

“Then you's a yellow bellied coward you son of a bitch,” Nell walked into the saloon with a scowl then. 

“I ain’t giving out kisses Buckshot, so you can step back,” Sayler told him. 

“Now did this here feller just insults me ya thinks?” 

I put my hand on Sayler’s arm and said, “Sayler...” 

“I do believe he did Bill,” Nell grinned. 

“Take your fighting outside the saloon,” Karan rolled her eyes. “I’m not putting up with it in here. The business is going to hell.” 

“What can I do for you?” Sayler asked. 

“Why don’t you warn them women bout you?” Nell scowled. 

“Them women know me and know I don’t mean no harm.” 

“Oh... now there’s an idea Nell...” Bill stated. 

“No harm?” Nell looked at Sayler with eyes wide. “No HARM!?” 

Sayler sipped his whiskey and another woman came into the saloon. “Huh? What’s going on?” 

“These folks think I try to bed every woman in town,” Sayler complained as he followed them outside. 

“You may or you may not, but thats not the point. You think that what you do doesn’t affect other people Sayler,” Nell said angrily. “I was PREGNANT with YOUR child, I lost it, and not even a day later you left me. How isn’t that harmful?”

I heard Nell shout through the open saloon doors and gulped when Sayler called into the saloon, “You ladies catch that warning?” 

“You don’t give a damn, do you?” Nell asked and I walked over to watch from the window, seeing that Nell was fighting tears. 

“Tell you what. Next time I get ya pregnant I'll marry you,” Sayler shot back. 

“How romantic,” Bridget rolled her eyes then. 

“Nell is angry with Sayler,” Mel explained for those in the saloon who seemed to be unsure what was going on. 

“She lost the baby? He was the father?” I asked, shocked. 

“Sayler, you know that won’t happen now...” Nell said angrily. “Why can’t you be serious for once?”

“Well, then. Problem solved. Good day, folks.” Sayler said then. 

All of a sudden Nell slapped Sayler in the face and I watched, shocked, as Nell and Bill pulled out their guns. I sighed, watching, and turned to Mel then. “She thinks Sayler and I... Every bone in my body wants to run out there and save him. He’s always just been a good friend. Nothing more... Granted there were feelings there but... I knew they could never go anywhere. So I accepted it for what it was. But I guess Nell saw us dancing one night and she got upset with me.” 

I watched in shock as Nell pulled out her gun, cocking it back. In a flash, Sayler was on the ground with a bullet in his chest. I put my hand to my mouth and gasped as I called, “Sayler!!” As I watched Bill and Bridgett tie Sayler up and drag him through the street, I felt the tears start to fall and wondered what I had just witnessed. I followed from a distance and then ducked into the nearest building. They went in front of the sheriff’s office and Mel tried to calm them down but Bill and Nell just dragged Sayler out of town. 

A woman came in with a child and we watched in horror and then I knelt down, letting the tears fall. I told them how Sayler was my best friend and a soulmate. They comforted me but when everything was quiet outside I went to my apartment above the newspaper office and cried myself to sleep.