Georgetown.
This morning I had coffee at home and then walked into town to see Nile and Aurora standing out front of the saloon. They were talking about Christmas decorations in town and then I greeted Buu as he walked over before I headed to the Pinkerton office to get to work.
Nile came into the office and said, “I got a hold of Zarco. He’s coming now. Should be meeting you and I here.”
“Sure, sounds good,” I looked up from my notes and then over at the door when Icca walked in. “Long time no see.”
“Do ya know Miss Trin here?” Nile asked then heard me. “I guess so.”
“Trin? Sure do,” he smiled.
“Trin is helping me with the investigation I told you a little bit bout in that telegram,” Nile said. “I’m happy you could make it on such short notice.”
“Sure thing.”
“So let me recount the beginning of the story and then Trin can take over from receiving the button onwards,” Nile suggested.
“Sure,” Icca nodded.
“So two days ago a young girl looked to be between the ages of 10-13 came to my door at the Sheriffs office, while I was decorating for Christmas. She just kept staring at me and by the looks of her it looked like she needed to warm up. So I invited her in and gave her a cup of tea. I noticed how filthy she was so I also offered here a wash cloth to clean her face with. Her clothes were old and warn and she looked like she may of been of a mixed race. So after giving her tea and the washcloth, I offered here a tomato from my personal supply of food. After eating the tomato Trin here showed up at my door. She left a button on my table and ran off. I just want to make sure she isn’t freezing to death out there, and I also wonder where this button came from and whats the story behind it. Trin here can describe the button in more detail.”
I took out the button and played with it in my hands, nervous around Icca still.
“Well I can’t say much about her ya know. She’s mute,” Icca busted up laughing.
“Oh whats so funny?” Nile asked.
“Get it? Can’t say much about her. She’s mute!” Icca laughed and slapped his hand on my leg.
“I do. Nice one,” Nile chuckled. “Well through Downy we learned her name was Emily and she used to work for the Madam.”
I looked over at Icca, wanting to get this over with. “The button’s dyed blue, which is rare because most buttons aren’t that color... But the other odd part is that it’s plastic. Which was only invented recently..”
“Makes me wonder what Gigi had her doing?” Icca nudged me. “Kinda makes you wonder.”
“Well I was told the madam left and was never to return,” Nile said.
“I still see Gigi. In Colorado and Hitching Post.”
“Well what else can ya tell us bout here that’ll help us find her or about the button?”
“She’s great on piano. I always call her ‘Maguilicutty.’”
“Well that’s good to know. When’s the last ya saw her?” Nile asked.
“Been a while.”
“Ah alright well if ya think of anything else or know something bout this blue button let me know. Feel free to send me a telegram.”
“I think before I saw Trin here last,” he said and I nodded. He started to stare at me and I looked away, feeling uncomfortable.
“So why ya wanna know about the kid?” Icca asked. “‘Cause I think Aurora keeps her bound up under her cabin,” he joked.
I stood, gathering my reports as I looked at Icca uncomfortably. “Sorry guys, I need to take care of something. I’ll come back for the report of the rest of this later, Sheriff.”
“Ah okay. Good luck to ya,” Nile said to me.
“Yeah, I’d ask Aurora,” Icca suggested.
“You sure bout that? Bout Aurora?” Nile asked and I looked at Icca once more before leaving the office.
This afternoon I went to the office again and wrote a report about what happened last night, then set it on Sam’s desk. I went to the saloon and did some writing and then rode out to Kansas and Iowa to check on the situation there.
Iowa.
I rode over to the Oglala village and called out into the camp before entering. “Hello? I am Trin, a friend of Chief Hawk’s and Chief Standing Bear’s!”
“Hello!” a woman called back and I went over to meet her.
“Hello, ma’am.”
“Chief here but I think he fell asleep,” she told me.
“I was just wondering how things were out here since all of the chaos last night,” I nodded.
“Come ask. See, I not know what happen.”
“Okay.”
“Lady come see ya,” the woman said to the man who was rising and looked over at me with his hand on his bow.
“Chief, she shouted. I went to see what she wanted,” the woman said. “She came to ask about last night.”
“Chief Little Bear. We met a few evenings ago...” I told him, nodding and understanding his anxiousness.
“Ah.... Little Bear remember the woman,” he nodded.
“I helped you and Chief Hawk find Gracie...”
“Yes. Please, come join by fire. My eyes gets older,” he chuckled. “What happened last night? I was on a journey. Followed a track.”
“I was here last evening when Hawk dragged that man into their village... The one responsible for kidnapping Gracie and burning down their house,” I told him.
“Oh... Did Hawk capture him?”
“He was tied up to a tree in the village last I checked,” I nodded and smiled.
“Great, what did Hawk do to him?”
“Last I heard they tied him to a tree out there.”
“Sorry miss, but I hopes Hawk don’t lets him over to white man’s justice.”
“Were going to wait until the marshals got back. I understand. I’m not really in any authority to do anything about it myself,” I nodded. “I can only help solve crimes and assist local law. I can’t actually make arrests.”
He pulled an arrow from his pack and said, “No need to wait for marshal.”
“Hau, husband,” Little Paw greeted the chief as she entered the village.
“I know that and you know that, but Hawk wants to do it properly,” I nodded and shrugged.
“Anyway... Whatever happens to him... I just wanted to make sure that all was safe since then. I was merely concerned for your safety and that of Hawk’s tribe.”
“Hawk wouldn’t stop my arrow finding its target.”
“I understand, Chief. Things have been quiet today though?”
“Did Hawk do something?” Little Paw asked, looking around.
“How you doing, Mitawin?” the chief asked her.
“Much better now I could be here,” she nodded.
“He captured the bad man who kidnapped Gracie,” Little Bear explained.
“The thing is, Chief...” I started. “There could be more of them out there, that work with that man Hawk shot down. We still need to stay on alert.”
“Hawk got the bad man,” Little Paw summarized.
“Yes, and if waits for marshal his friends got time rescue him. My arrow stops that quicker. His friends can have what’s left after the wolves have taking what they wants.”
“I understand,” I nodded in frustrated agreement.
“I will ride with Hawk later.”
“Well I don’t want to keep you. I just wanted to come check on things,” I looked around and stood, smiling. “I would still advise caution.”
“You’re welcome. Safe paths and welcome back anytime,” Little Bear said to me.
“Thank you, Chief,” I smiled. “Safe paths, folks.”
“If you see Hawk, tell him I’m coming,” he looked at me.
“Will do, Chief,” I nodded and headed home.
Georgetown.
This evening I noted the crowd in front of the saloon and recognized Sniper, one of the horsemen, and turned away from him.
“Miss Trin, horsemen don’t operate here. I’m just a visitor like most on my own,” Sniper assured me as if he could understand my thoughts.
I nodded and walked over to them, standing by Nile as they talked about the Mexican musician who would be at the saloon singing. We talked about the town’s decorations and then Sugar said, “We had a feller in the saloon earlier... name of Vlad.. he had a lot of nerve wanted to buy me for gold.”
“Ah really? How much gold you worth?” Nile chuckled.
“Yeah, ugly little hunchback feller,” Sugar said.
“Sugar, that guy shot me one night in Amiville,” Allegra told her and I nodded, knowing the name well. “Watch him, yes.”
“So how much ya sell yaself for then?” Sniper smirked.
“Oh I will, got me trusty bowie knife on me now,” Sugar said.
“He couldn’t have enough gold to buy Sugar,” Allegra laughed.
“Silver then,” Sniper laughed.
“I’m ready fer him next time, but Orias was there visitin... kept him distracted. Then along came Sam and Downy.. TJ too. Was too much for that guy, but he tried to fight em all,” Sugar said.
“Anything I need to know about from our meeting earlier this morning that I had to disappear during?” I looked at Nile.
“Well if he says anything stupid to me, it be a pleasure to put him out his misery,” Sniper smirked.
“Sure, I’ll talk to ya in a minute,” Nile nodded.
“Yeah, I’ll sic you on him Sniper,” Sugar said.
“Sniper I think you could only stand him about two seconds,” Allegra said.
“Sic him on me instead, easier that way,” Sniper told her.
“He looked a might pekid too, surprised he didn’t try to find a healer,” Sugar said. “Anyhow, that’s how my day went.”
“Well let me know if there is anything I can do to help Sugar,” Nile said.
“Vlad, I thought it might of been one of those Oregon or German town people,” Mimi said then.
“Never I never seen the runt before. I gave him a few kicks... but I am ready with my knife next time,” Sugar said.
“Alright Trin let me update ya on the news come to my office,” Nile said and I followed him to the sheriff’s office. When we were sitting at the desk he said, “So earlier I spoke to Icc as you know.” I nodded for him to continue and he said, “He didn’t have much to say but he said there are two people we should talk to.”
“I’m listening...”
“Aurora and Miss white rose. They would know more.”
“Ah White Rose... I know her from Amiville.”
“Yeah he said she runs the general store. Other than that he said Aurora used to play weird games with her but didn’t describe them. So I’m not sure what that means.”
I chuckled, not surprised at that news. “Aurora is an... interesting person, from what I remember.”
“Ah okay, I don’t know her to well.”
“Might want to keep it that way. Buu too.”
“I did hear through the grapevine that Emily out person in question was back in town. So we may have to ask around to see if anyone got anymore info.”
“She’d left town?” I looked at him. “We just met her two days ago.”
“I’m not sure if she left or just went into hiding... but some people ran into her today.”
“Hmm... Where was she seen today?”
“I’m not sure, but I think Downy or Sam ran into her.”
“Seen either of them around this evening yet?”
“Not yet. Think they might be a bit busy.”
“I haven’t seen Sam at the office today though I gave him another report... Last night was an interesting evening...”
“Ah okay. Sounds fun.”
“A case that’s not really related to Georgetown at all.”
“Ah alright.”
“Seemed to end peacefully at least... Or so I hope for the tribe’s sake. Went out there to see if anything else had happened today and all seemed fine. Gonna head out there again when Eagle gets back in town and go out there with him.”
“Ah okay. Well I got some work to do around here.”
“Nothin else goin on in town? How’s Sam’s daughter?”
“Go see if you can learn anything from Downy or Sam. As far as I know well. Haven’t heard any news of the bear.”
We said goodnight and I headed out into town, seeing Suzy in the streets. “Howdy Ms. Trin,” she greeted me. “I heard you wanted to talk to me.”
“Suzy, good to see you up and about. I was just wonderin how you were feeling. Was concerned about you.”
“I heard a few were worried about me. I feel bad for causing so many to worry.”
“Well it would seem people around here love you, Suzy. It ain’t a bad thing,” I smiled at her. “You gave us all a scare, little lady.”
“People around here are so nice. I’ll have to get use to all the love.”
“Indeed you will,” I smiled.
“I’m really glad I stumbled upon Georgetown when I did,” she smiled.
“Yes... I feel the same. It’s good to live in a small town like this again where there’s actually people around enough to care about you.”
“It’s also good to be working again.”
“Oh yes. And the Stillwaters are the best. When they found me, they took me in to their home, and treated me like their own.”
“Well I’m gonna head home, but I’m glad you’re feeling well again.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks for finding me!”
“No problem,” Suzy said and we turned to head home.
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