Georgetown.
This afternoon, Nile and I walked around and town doing the rounds. We walked up to Silver Plume and talked about how Rebel lived down in the mountains. Suddenly I saw Rebel in the distance and called back, “Nile. Rebel... I just saw him go in that dark tunnel.”
“Ah well. He ain’t causing no problems.”
“I’m just tellin ya... That’s where he must live.”
“Maybe.”
We continued to walk until we heard gunshots from near Nile. I put a hand on my holster and Nile asked, “Did ya see where they came from?”
We loaded our guns and cocked them and I said, “I think it came from behind the house but I’m not sure.”
“Me either. Well someone doesn’t like us. Keep an eye out.”
I saw movement as we walked and then pointed. “Nile,” I whispered, pointing straight ahead. More gunshots went off and I said, “Behind the mountains.”
“Hmm okay. Must be using them for cover.”
I nodded and pushed Nile out of the way of the bullets flying. “Are you okay?” I whispered.
“Yeah, that wasn’t too bad. Just grazed me.”
“He really doesn’t like us out here,” I nodded as more shots rang out.
“Doesn’t seem like it.”
“Should we just go or can we arrestt him for shooting at a sheriff?”
“Not sure if he’s aiming for us or just trying to scare us off. Or is hiding somethin’.”
“Don’t know either,” I nodded and looked around, following Nile.
“Just stay behind the house,” he instructed and I followed him. “He may not be able to see us.”
“Well if he’s in that opening where I saw him...”
We continued to edge our way back but then a bullet ripped through my arm. I held it firmly, knowing the bullet had grazed my arm but it was enough to make it bleed.
“Your arm okay?” he asked with worry.
“It will be... Nile is this worth it? Should we just leave him be?”
“Not sure he knows the mountains better than you and I,” Nile said. “Maybe we should look round next time he is in town.”
I nodded, rubbing my arm where it was starting to be tender. “I should get a bandage for this. You’re right... He’s not doin anything wrong just don’t want visitors.”
More gunshots went off and I drew my gun again. “Nile!” I called, seeing shots going off more. “Nile, come on.”
“Okay. Yeah, before I bleed anymore,” he nodded and we made our way down the mountain and went to the clinic.
“Not sure who it was,” Nile said.
“Not sure who who was? I saw Rebel running past us.”
“Well then Rebel gots some explaing to do.”
I followed him into the clinic and winced at the pain in my arm. “Seems pretty self-explanatory. We were on his property, he didn’t want guests.”
Since there were no doctors available, we bandaged each other’s wounds and left a note for Middy. We walked outside and then all of a sudden I heard something sizzling. I called to Nile and then all of a sudden dynamite blew up down the street in front of the clinic. I drew my gun again seeing Rebel and told Nile, “I’m determined, Nile. He’s not getting away with this crap. He shots us out of Silver Plume then comes and blows up tonnes of dynamite. He shoots us out of Silver Plume then comes and blows up tonnes of dynamite. Right near the clinic. He’s sending a message and we’re gonna send one right back.”
I looked around, hiding behind the clinic, and muttered, “Come on, Reb.”
“Where’s he at?” Nile asked, looking around.
“He’s somewhere close, I can hear his boots in the snow.”
More guns went off and then Rebel ran off as I looked around for Nile. I went into the clinic after the coast seemed to be clear, worried about Nile’s disappearance, and tried to rest. I was exhausted after my first gunfight in months.
***
This afternoon, Icca called for me on the street. I found him and Cannalilly and talked with them as we went to the saloon. Sugar served us drinks and I told them about what happened in Silver Plume. Sugar said that Rebel lived right behind her house and I committed that fact to my memory.
After a while I went to the sheriff’s office and met Sam and Downy to get a key, then walked back to the saloon. We continued to talk and then I looked at Icca. “I think I figured out what might have happened with Emily but I need your help. I mean why she ran to Georgetown...”
“And what’s in it fer me?” Icca smiled.
“And why she runs when she sees you.”
“Is there trouble?” Canna smiled at me.
“No, no trouble I don’t think... yet...”
“She runs ‘cause I scare her,” Icca stated.
“You scare everyone,” Canna mumbled.
“She runs cos you remind her of someone from her past.. Something from the war...”
“Might have been me,” Icca said.
“I’m just curious why she keeps running from people with Confed uniforms.”
“I was a colonel in the war.”
“That makes sense,” I nodded then.
“I hope it was me,” he grinned. “Should I go put mine on?”
“Nah. Just curious what happened that would make her afraid.”
“I’ll chase her around.”
“Don’t you dare, Icca. Any insight you could give me..?”
“Well, she was from the South I think, and she is scared of the soldiers in grey,” Sugar said.
“That button... I’m guessing it was from Kansas...” I nodded to her.
“Bein’ a little dark girl, guess she mighta had some bad dealings with em,” Sugar suggested.
“That’s what I was thinkin’, Sugar.”
“Where’s she at? I have nothin’ against the dark ones. I’ve always gotten along. I’m half Native.”
“Dunno if she was on a plantation or what, but she sure can play that classical music,” I said.
“She learnt it somewhere with some class.”
“But then why would you remind her of someone that didn’t like blacks.”
“I’m half native too,” Canna said.
“The uniform, I guess,” Icca shrugged.
“It’s probably that awful hat.”
“What hat? This hat?”
“Ain’t sayin’ nothin’ again dark folks, but I know they saw some atrocities,” Sugar said. “Old wounds run deep fer them. Maybe cause Icca represents death to her or somethin’.”
“Perhaps with what he does,” I nodded.
“That makes me an angel,” Icca said.
“Well the Undertaker to some folks, is like the black death,” Sugar said.
“Think I’m gonna head off. Thanks for the information... Sort of...” I chuckled.
“Hey Trin. Let me know if ya need help startin’ your fire. It’s cold out there,” Icca looked at me.
I glared at him and walked out of the saloon. I went home and changed into my Native clothing and found Spirit resting on my bed. She woke up when I entered the room and I invited her along as we headed outside.
Wyoming.
I went to the entrance of the village and called out for anyone there. Spirit and I walked across the log into the camp and greeted Thunder who said he wasn’t feeling well. He said that Dark Rain had been good to him and I said that I wished Eagle was around more, but that Spirit had been a good companion. Dances with Fire joined us and I told her that I was waiting for the chief to arrive. When the chief didn’t come after a while, I headed with Spirit back home.
Georgetown.
I walked into the saloon and talked with everyone there. I told Leu about going to see the chief who wasn’t there and he said I was taking my life into my hands. Bravo jokingly agreed that I was always one for danger.
“Well they’re Injuns. They don’t like us ‘pale faces’,” Bravo pointed out.
“Well can you really blame them?” Leu asked.
“No, being half Apache.”
“Well, they like me Bravo... The Cherokee,” Sugar said.
“They like me too... We’ve developed a trust, I thought. Just need to clear some things up with the Chief.”
“I took some candy canes up to the kids the other day,” Sugar said.
“They will never truly trust us, and it’s hard to blame them,” Karan said.
“Of course, that’s understandable,” Sugar nodded.
“I am trying to develop some trust but its not easy,” Leu said.
“I’m sure if they got to know me... they’d see that I’m a kind-hearted person deep down inside,” Bravo snickered.
“Yeah Bravo, ya just gotta go with good intentions,” Sugar said.
“I don’t think I’d be goin’ to kill them and burn their houses down. ‘Cause being raised in the Lipan Apache camps... I feel their pain.”
“Well they are going to need to come to treaty with the US government or it will be bad for them,” Leu said.
“I just hope we can all be good neighbors in the end,” Sugar said.
“Well I hope to negotiate a peace treaty with them but it will not be easy.”
“Well just ‘cause you sign a piece of paper don’t mean it’ll be as strong as iron,” Bravo nodded.
“Oh we know,” I nodded to him. They welcomed me into their village though... Allowed me to visit and discuss things with them. Of course I thought that went both ways but apparently not.”
“Trin, would you like ta dance?” Bravo smiled.
“I’d love to,” I smiled at him and we went to dance. “Careful with the arm, Bravo,” I winked at him. “Leu, you’ll be good to my wolf there?” I asked him as Spirit watched us protectively.
“You are asking a buffalo soldier if he can get along with a wolf..” Leu laughed. “I think so.”
I laughed and then moved smoothly into the dance with Bravo. “You seem to be in good hands, Trin,” Bravo chuckled.
“Feels like we’ve been here before, Bravo,” I grinned.
“I think we have... Not so long ago,” he smirked.
“Little de ja vu, eh Karan?” I winked at her.
“Indeed.”
“Hmm... Seems like too long ago in my guess, Bravo.” I swayed comfortably with him, not having to think about the moves as it’s natural in his arms. “Not gonna ask why the bandage?” I winked. “Well it started with doin the rounds with Nile up in Silver Plume. We saw Rebel out there by the tracks... We were just pokin around, knew he lived out there so we thought we would get the lay of the land. Of course he didn’t like that so much and started shootin to scare us away.”
“Yes I know of the place,” Leu said.
“‘Cept one of the bullets grazed Nile. So we started shooting back. Well eventually we decided it wasn’t worth it and just walked home... But he followed us.”
“Well maybe your protector needs to come back on duty,” Bravo nodded to me.
“Will have to invite ya over to my place Trin... you can get a real good view on the land fro my watchtower,” Sugar suggested.
“I’ll have to take ya up on that,” I nodded to Sugar. “What you suggestin, darlin? Little trip down memory lane?”
“Maybe,” Bravo chuckled.
“Well anyway we got back to Georgetown...” I continued. “And Rebel followed us. We were in the clinic getting bandages and he started settin off dynamite just outside the building. We ran out of there as fast as we could and got into another firefight with him.. Till he got bored and walked off.”
“Rebel started dynamitin?” Sugar asked.
“Like fireworks,” I nodded.
“Here?” Leu asked.
“In Georgetown,” I nodded again.
“Guess he’s been a busy little beaver making dynamite sticks,” Sugar said.
“I thought that crap only went on in the other place,” Leu said.
“Apparently not,” I shook my head.
“With Rebel, anything is possible,” Sugar said. “He’s our loose cannon I guess.”
“Sounds like bored kids,” Leu said.
“Guess so,” I nodded.
“Sounds like your old body guard needs to come outta retirement,” Bravo chuckled and I nodded, liking that idea.
We continued to talk as more people came into the saloon. Spirit went over to sniff Bravo and I told Spirit he was a friend. We continued to dance and I leaned my head on his shoulders. “I missed you, Bravo.”
“I’ve missed you too Trin,” Bravo whispered.
“Sugar we need to talk about me playin here sometime soon,” I said after a while.
“Yes, we just haven’t gotten ‘round to it... but good idea,” she agreed.
“After the holidays calm down I suppose. Unless we find some time this weekend to do some Christmas Carols... Perhaps even Saturday afternoon. And Downy we’ve gotta start doin some hymns in the church on Sundays too.”
After a few more minutes, Bravo said, “Trin, you should come by sometime... See the house.”
“How ‘bout now?” I smiled.
“Well that sounds like a plan,” Bravo chuckled.
We said goodnight to everyone and I followed Bravo with Spirit close behind. He showed me his house and I suddenly remembered the first time I’d gone to Bravo’s house in Kansas and blushed as he showed me around.
“So now what?” I asked, looking at him.
“What would you like to do?” he chuckled.
“We can sit and chat... We have a lot to catch up on it seems. You got some whiskey?”
“Always.”
“Some things never change. So...” I said when we’d gotten our glasses of whiskey. “Last time we were in a house together...”
“Yes I do remember.”
I sipped some whiskey and looked over at him. “I do have a roommate... But he’s usually out wandering and hunting and whatnot so he’s hardly here.”
“Well if you ever need some company, I’m here,” he nodded.
“Always welcomed, darlin. Feels like no time has passed.”
“None at all,” he smiled.
Spirit sat up on the couch and sat between us and we laughed at how she was being protective. “So I released the first issue of the paper this week. Did ya get a copy?” I asked eventually.
“Oh that’s good. No, I didn’t... just got into town.”
I gave him a copy and he took it, putting it onto the corner table. “Well you still do what you do best.”
“And now I get to do it with two badges,” I chuckled. “I actually get to arrest people in town... Then when it moves out of our jurisdiction I put on the Pinkerton hat.”
“Sounds interesting,” he nodded.
“It’s fun. Keeps me busy. Nile’s a great sheriff. And just met Duke Cross as well. And Sam’s a good boss.”
“You are always were good at tracking people down.”
We talked about how good of a guard dog Spirit was and we went for a walk around town. We walked out to Nebraska and talked about everything that had happened there. I told him about the bodies that we had found and about finding Gracie in the train. We headed back towards home and on the bridge, he stole a kiss before we headed into Amiville. Spirit kept a close walk beside us and then we headed home.
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