January 1, 1870

Cripple Creek. 

I yawned as I woke up this morning and tried to remember where I was. I looked around the room and noticed that Pax was gone and I then it came back to me. I smiled and put on my clothes before heading downstairs. I took some coffee for myself and met Cosette, a young girl. She said that she was going to be the mayor’s daughter when the adoption papers went through. We talked about how fun the night was last night as people came into the saloon. I met a man named Eden and then headed home. 

Wyoming.

I received a wire that the Chief had been attacked by two palefaces and went running to find him. I looked all over but couldn’t see him, then finally saw him on a mountain near the trading post. I heard shouts nearby and called out for the Chief as more shots went off. 

I found Thunder and called to him but then started to get shut at. I kept trying to run towards the chief until I fell down, trying to call out to him but I was in too much pain. The chief lay close to me, shot in his leg. 

“Chief… I…” I gasped. 

“Trin stay awake. Our people will find us and help,“ he looked at me. 

“I heard… the wire… I came… as fast… as I… could…” I held my arm in pain. There was shouting and said, “I don’t… recognize.. that voice..“ 

“It is outlaw woman… we call her Firehair… Do not trust her.” 

“The red-haired…“ I nodded. “She…. Adahy said…“ I remembered. “Chief… keep… talking..” I rubbed my arm, trying to clean it in the snow. Thunder came over to us and I weakly cried out to him. 

“Careful… They’re out…”

“We can wait all day, ya know! We was just having a nice conversation with the chief!” the one woman shouted. 

I rolled my eyes and said, “A nice... conversation... that... ends... in a shootout…” 

“She lies… They attacked when I was alone in village,“ Chief shouted. 

“Where is the person?” Thunder asked. 

“It is the woman called Annie,” Chief said. “She and man called Iccabod attack.”

“Icca… No…” I shuddered.

“Stealing from the garden,” Chief said and I shuddered, swearing under my breath. 

“The trading post is being ambushed!: Julia shouted. 

“He was.. in the.. leg…” I said. 

“Thunder, if you capture Annie… Do not kill her. Take her prisoner and tie her to pole in village,” Chief said and I sighed, sitting back down beside him.

“Thunder… careful… they’re using… higher ground,” I said to him as he took aim. 

“Ya know, this could of all been avoided if you had just let me have my talk with good ol’ teddy bear,” Annie shouted and I rolled my eyes, taking off my vest to bandage my wound. 

“Keep down sister...the white dogs prowl near us,” Julia shouted. 

“Chief are you... okay…?” I asked. 

“I am hurting but bleeding has stopped. Leg throbbing.”

More gunshots went off as Dark Rain came over and said she’d shot the one called Ann. Chief told her he’d been shot in the leg and I told her I’d been shot in the arm while trying to rescue him. I was still shocked that Icca was involved and Dark Rain came to look at my wound since Chief said I was feeling worse. 

“Gr… What started this?” Dark Rain asked. 

“Sister paleface man must be shot,” Chief insisted.

“How is Chief?” Thunder asked. “And Trin…?”

“They come and steal from garden.“”

“Paleface man… Icca…?” I looked at him. 

“I ask why the steal and they start shooting.“ 

I lay in the snow, feeling the pain and shock wash over me as I regretted not doing more. Chief talked with the others about shooting the paleface dog and I looked down, ashamed.“I should have… done better… I couldn’t… see… who was shooting… I was trying... to get to... the chief…”

“Is fine Trin is hard see in mountains. This woman sure you did well,” Rain said. 

“Rain, Trin tried to help even though she paleface too,” Chief told her. 

“Yes brother. I sure she not be hurt if she did not try.”

I smiled at the chief’s words and said, “I came as quickly... as I heard the wire... that he’d been shot down…”

Chief stood slowly and Rain watched over to me until someone shouted for her. I wondered where Adahy was and thought how we needed to know where Icca and Anna were. Rain put some ointment on my wound and then bandaged my arm. 

“Chief, Sister,” Adahy said then, coming over. He looked at me and a scowl came across his face. 

“I heard Chief was in trouble… I came as quickly as I could…” I told him. “I got shot…”

“I chased off one white man with many arrows,” Adahy said. “If he comes back I will kill him.” 

“White man flee for his life,” Chief said. 

“How is she Sister?” Adahy looked at me with concern. 

“Cherokee must find the one called Annie. She is wounded and hiding,” Chief instructed. “We take her as our prisoner. Find her.”

“Osiyo, she will be good,” Rain insisted. “Should heal.”

“It will be as you say Chief,” Adahy nodded. 

“It was Icca…” I looked at Adahy with frustration. 

“Ohh thanks for the boots by the way, should by me some whiskey!!” Annie shouted. 

A woman ran over and said that Julia needed a healer. 

“Firehair, our people looking for you and will find you!” Chief shouted to Annie. “Then you will be tied in village for women and children to throw sticks at!”

I reached over to hold Chief’s hand and said, “Chief… Be careful…”

“I will go slowly, Trin,” Chief nodded. 

I tried to get down the mountain slowly, but was shaky in my steps. “I should go back to the village, I guess…”

The other woman who’d come to call for a healer looked at me and asked, “What of her? Is she to go with Chief to village?”

“Trin, please rest,” Rain told me. 

“In village?” I nodded to her. 

“Yes,” she said. “She needs fire to warm her.” 

I looked around, feeling disoriented. “Which way…”

“This is the woman Chief allows in village, yes?” the woman pointed at me. 

“Sister can you take Trin? I will find sister. Yes, Trin may go our fire.”

“Sister is in trading post.... many wounds..” the woman said and looked at me. “Come.” 

“Thank you for... healing me,” I said to Rain and carefully walked down the mountain with the other girl. Adahy came over and I leaned against him as he wrapped his arm around me. I stood by Adahy while Chief brought Annie into the village and reached down to yank her boots off one by one, handing one to Adahy and one to Thunder. I looked around, not sure I wanted to watch this as the woman gasped with her bare feet against the snow. 

The woman, Annie, was tied to the tree and I swallowed hard as my wolf came over to me. Chief approached the woman and removed his knife from the holster and Adahy grabbed the woman’s hair, lifting it. “Yer all gonna be sorry!!”

“Chief decides who takes your gold,” Adahy said. 

“Oh no you don’t! Chief, don’t you dare”  she hissed. 

I looked from the chief to Adahy as the chief took a long lock of the woman’s hair and brought the knife down with his other hand, cleanly severing the lock, holding it high for all to see. He grinned and looked at the hair and I hid my face down against my wolf’s fur, thinking this was at least better than the hangings I’d witnessed. 

“Chief? I claim the right to count coup as well, as my captive,” Adahy said as the woman growled, keeping her dark eyes fixed on the chief. 

“As you should, Brother, and Thunder alike. Take what you wish,” Chief nodded. I thought to myself that Adahy and I were going to have a long talk after this as Adahy yanked the other side of Annie’s hair, holding it to the bark of the tree, and cut a long length of the hair. 

“You may punish her when Thunder and Adahy have taken coup,” Chief said to a Cherokee woman nearby and looked at Adahy. “Fine trophy, brother.” 

“Yer all gonna pay fer this! You’ll be sorry!” Annie gasped. 

“Yes Brother I too will take her hair for my,” Thunder said. 

“She will take many moons to grow hair back,” Chief nodded. 

Adahy looked at my arm, frowning at he wound, and I looked away as Thunder cut off a lock of the hair for himself. “Did you find Icca?” I asked him. 

“I shot him many times. He fled like a cowardly dog.”

“Good,” I nodded. 

“Your village will burned to the ground!” Annie shouted.

“Trin. You have said you want to be involved in tribe, feel closer to family, yes?” Adahy asked me. I felt the wound in my arm but was more angry at their from of ‘justice’. 

“I am not touching that woman,” I stared at Adahy. 

The chief and Annie continued to argue and then Chief took a knife and put the sharp needle point to 

the girl’s skin on her palm of her hand. I looked away, remembering when a similar weapon touched my own skin then. Chief sketched a bear claw cut in her hand and I swore under my breath. 

“Now Firehair when you open your hand the sign of the Bear will greet you… remember this day and learn from it!” Chief told her as the woman screamed and blood fell into the snow.

I backed up quickly, feeling out of place here as Chief instructed Adahy to take her to the border of white man’s home. I turned away when the chief came closer to me and Adahy tied up Annie’s wrists and guided her out of the village. Adahy paused to look at me, seeing the pain in my eyes. “Firehair do not return to our lands!!” Chief shouted. 

“I should go,” I sighed and looked around the village. 

“Sachiko Sister why do you weep?” Chief asked the Native woman who was crying near me and then looked at me. “Trin, wado for help. You were brave.”

“Chief, I do not like this... why must they attack us... why must we attack them…” Sachiko said. 

I tried to speak but I couldn’t even form the words from the anger and hurt I was feeling at what I’d just witnessed. 

“Sister, I do not know what makes the white man think he can enter our lands and help himself to what is ours, but they do,” Chief looked at Sachiko. “And then they try to kill us when we defend what is ours.”

I walked out of the village quietly, unable to listen to any more. I got to the end of the village and sat down against the banks of the river, pulled my knees up towards me, and cried. I tried to gather myself and stood shakily. I saw Adahy walking over towards me and I wiped my tears away, feeling lost. 

“Are you still hurt, Trin? I have bandages, can find roots to take the pain,” he said. 

“No roots will heal the pain caused today,” I looked at him and pet Spirit behind her ear, trying to calm myself. 

“Why are you so hurt Trin?”

“There are better ways to handle these attacks.. More humane... Violence should not be met with more violence.”

“What… ways?”

“I wouldn’t expect you to understand.”

“Then teach me.”

“I should… go home…” I looked down sadly. “I don’t belong here.”

“Will you be safe through the pass? There is still the man with the gun somewhere,” Adahy said. 

“Probably not.” 

“Then let me take you to the edge of town,” he said and I looked at him, unsure if I could trust him after what I just witnessed. “I will see you back safe Trin. Is promise I have given you many times. Come...I will see you are not harmed.” He led me to the edge of the City of Mines and said, “You should be safe now. I do not see tracks of man-boots.”

I nodded, still too stunned to say anything. He handed me some bandages and I took them. “Thanks.. Come on, Spirit. Let’s go home.”

“I should return to village. I will come to the passes again if I have more things to tell you,” he promised. 

“Thank you for taking me this far,” I said shakily. 

“You are friend, Trin. I will always see you home safe,“ he looked at me with concern. 

“Let’s go home, Spirit,” I sighed and walked home with Spirit. I lay on the couch, exhausted, and 

cuddled against the wolf, trying to calm down. 

I walked over to the office and started to take some notes, trying to distract myself. 

***

This evening I saw a woman walking down the street and came into the Pinkerton office. I invited her in and asked, “How can I help you?” I asked, not recognizing her. 

“Was looking to refresh my funds but I don't see any wanted posters anywhere.”

“Things have been pretty quiet lately. I suppose it’s a good thing. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help for you... Your a bounty hunter?”

The woman sighed with a nod. “I have made my living off bringing in those you and the law have trouble getting your hands on. How they come in is up to them.”

“Well if we need your services I’ll be in touch with my boss later this evening and let him know of you. What’s your name, Miss?”

“Call me Snow.”

“Snow it is. I’ll let him know that a ‘Snow’ came by to offer her services.” 

“Seems my hair color earned me that nickname,” she said about her white hair. 

“How long have you been doing this work?”

“I have come down from the north.. those Mounties are getting fussy about bringing back their wanted alive.”

I chuckled, “Hey are stubborn creatures.”

“My horse dies a few days back, we got hit in a blizzard in the mountains and I had to shoot her.”

“That’s a shame.”

“She was a fine animal.. broke her ankle, slipped on ice and it was over that quick. Almost through me under her, i think I still have bruises all over my body from the fall... wouldn’t have a bit of pain killer sitting in a bottle would you?”

“I’d love one myself, actually,“ I said, looking at my arm and back at her. “Maybe we should wander to the clinic and see what’s there?”

“I think we’ll get along mighty fine,” Snow grinned and we walked out to the clinic but then she hesitated. “I thought you wanted medicine.”

“Yes, from a bottle.”

“My mistake,” I chuckled. “I think too literal sometimes.”

TJ walked over and joined us as I introduced the two of them. We went into the saloon and got some drinks and TJ helped to pour the drink for me. 

“I hope who ever injured you is in worse shape than you?” Snow asked me. 

“She was scalped. I’m pretty sure that applies as in worse shape?” I said with a tinge of bitterness. 

“Ouch you have some redskins on the warpath?”

I told them what had happened and then explained to TJ who Snow was and what she did for a living. I told TJ that Icca and Annie were involved in the shooting. TJ said he might need to pay Icca a visit. I told them about the girl getting scalped and the knife cut in her palm. 

“Chief cut the woman in the arm with a knife and scratched out a bear shape. Knowing full well what Bill had done to me in that cave and it would bring back memories. I don’t know how I’m gonna face any of them again,” I drank more whiskey. 

“You were abused, lady?” Snow asked. 

“Well write me a statement and I will issue a warrant,” TJ said. 

I shook my head at Snow and said, “A long time ago. It was out of your jurisdiction,” I told TJ. There’s nothing you can do. Just let it be. They’ll do what they do whether I stop them or not.”

“I’m a federal judge now, Trin. I have no jurisdiction.”

“Let it be,” I told him. 

“That’s he trouble you let it be and they do it again and again,” Snow said. 

“She’s right, Trin,” TJ nodded. 

“Then go after Icca and Anna. For shooting down the chief. And me.”

“I need a written statement and I’ll issue warrants.”

“Against Icca and Anna?” I asked. 

“Yup,” he said, making me smile with relief. 

“Things looking up already,” Snow smiled. “You let them skunks do it once, and it gets easier every time after that.”

I set my whiskey down and started to work on my statement. “Seems like a capable man who wants the law enforced,” Snow observed as TJ went out to check on something. 

“I hope so.”

“May I say you are a mighty forgiving person for a law officer?”

“Because I don’t want him to go after the Natives? They’ve protected me in the past... I owe my life to them.” I thought to myself as well, Not to mention the scalping I’d get if I got them all arrested for the scalping incident. 

“I don’t care about no skin color as I can speak some of their tongues some but they break the law, then I get some work.”

“Well you can go after Icca all you like. I can’t wait to have Icca behind bars,” I said, finishing my statement. 

I realized then that I hadn’t even introduced myself to her yet and I told her about my jobs as a Pinkerton and Deputy. We talked about doing some gun practice together and I insisted that sounded great. TJ came back and I handed him my statement. He promised to issue it tomorrow and we continued to talk until I decided to head to Cripple Creek to get out of town for a while. 

Cripple Creek. 

I walked into the saloon and saw Dutch, Christy, and Josh talking with one another. Christy offered to get me a drink and I asked for some whiskey, still speechless about what I’d witnessed today.

“Trin, how are ya this fine day?” Dutch asked. 

“How do I look, Dutch?”

“Trin, ya look like Trin. What’s on your mind, doll?”

“Just wonderin’ why I’ve been wastin’ my time with all this law crap.”

We Solos been wonderin’ that for years,” Dutch nodded. 

“Seems like it never amounts to any good and they'll just do what the hell they want anyway.”

“What’s the matter with yer arm?” Dutch asked as I rubbed it. 

“Got shot down. Damn, Icca. I knew it, Dutch. I knew it.” 

“Told ya… Settle down into a quiet life. Seems to be workin’ for Gaide and Azzie.” 

Christy gave me some whiskey and they talked about how Christy had kept Pax up late so he was sleeping a bit. Dutch told me that things got off the handle last night and they talked about what had happened. I met Laurel and they talked about the weather and continued to talk about last night. 

“I guess I should go home,” I said, feeling like I didn’t belong there either. 

“Headin’ out again? Ya might as well stick close so as not to get shot down again,” he said. 

“As if you care,” I muttered but then said out loud, “I’ll be fine.” I walked outside and recognized Monte from when I’d met him yesterday. We talked for a bit and greeted Corri as she walked into the saloon. I told Monte what happened last night since he’d asked, and then headed home. 

Georgetown. 

I received a telegram that Icca had been hurt in a ruckus with the Indians. I walked into the saloon and saw Icca. 

“Trin, Icc is turning himself in tomorrow,” TJ told me. 

Icca laughed and asked, “How are you, Trin?” 

“I hear you have a pain in the gut,” I told him. 

“Icca has been tangling with the natives,” Sugar said. 

“Trin was there,” Icca pointed out. 

“You’re not gonna arrest me if I punch him are ya?” I asked TJ. 

“I ain’t no sheriff.” 

“Thought you knew better than that Icca,” Karan observed. 

“That’s for shooting the chief.,” I said and punched him again. “That’s for shooting me.” 

Icca reflexed back and grit his teeth. “Okay, now that’s enough,” TJ told me. 

I sat down at the table and folded my arms, satisfied. CI coughed a bit as Karan went to clean Icca’s wound. CI drew up some moonshine to smoke and I sighed. 

“Miss Trin, what’d he do to ya?” Sugar asked. 

I pointed to my arm where I took the bandage off as the bleeding had stopped and said, “Shot me in the damn arm, that’s what he did. Then his partner shot the chief down and I had to watch a damn scalping.” 

“Who did this to him?” Karan asked. 

“Oh? Did he mean to? Or just bad shot?” Sugar asked. 

“I’m sure he meant to,” I said decidedly. 

“Do I look like I do anything good for myself, Karan?” I asked. 

“Sadly no,” she sighed. 

“He said the Indians,” Sugar said.

“You came where you shouldn’t have been,” Icca told me. “The chief can take care of himself.” 

“I could say the same about you.”

“Ok, that’s enough you two,” TJ said. “We will settle this in my office.” 

“I was there first,” Icca said. 

“I think I was there first.” 

“And he threatened me first.” 

“Who threatened you?” I raised an eyebrow. 

“Baby, you will be such a good dad,” Twist giggled. 

“The Chief threatened him, that’s what I get,” Sugar said. 

“I thought I was the writer, Icca,” I rolled my eyes. “Ya’ll went in there to steal from his garden. He asked what you were doin, ya’ll opened fire.” 

“You are yellow journalism,” he told me. 

“Excuse me?” I raised an eyebrow. 

“I’m not going to argue with you. You weren’t there.” 

“Doing a good job of not arguing with me. Since you’re arguing with me.” 

“You know the routine, Icca. Keep this clean and call me if you start running a fever,” Karan said to Icca as she healed his wound. 

“I’d shoot you, but I already did,” Icca glared at me. 

“Ok look you two ima shoot ya both if ya dont shut it,” TJ told us. 

“While we’re at it you can tell TJ that you’re the one who set the fire at my office,” I told Icca and glared at him. 

“What fire?” 

“‘What fire’ he says,” I repeated. 

“Karan, get her out of here before I shoot her again,” Icca pleaded. 

“Ok well Icc, will get his court date this week,” TJ promised. 

“Ya ain’t shooting no one, Icca ... be still for a few days and heal!!” Karan exclaimed. 

“I’ve got just as much a right to be in this saloon as you do, Icca. if not more.” 

“As well as Anna and Julia,” TJ said. 

“I always knew you were still shady, Icca,” I glared at him. “I don’t know why I ever trusted you.”

“You never did,” Icca said to me. 

“Oh dear is this a day care?” Twist asked. 

“Shoot Miss Trin, he barely casts a shadow,” Sugar said. 

“I trusted you when I went to see Dutch’s body which wasn't his. I trusted you in that boat when we talked about the body that was stolen,” I looked at Icca. I trusted you when I went to plan Sayler’s funeral.”

“Cry me a river,” he rolled his eyes and I felt the desire to punch him again. 

“I should just arrest you now if I had the power to,” I muttered.

“ICC AND TRIN!” TJ shouted then and we both looked over. “Here’s my order. Till we hear Icc’s case in court you two are to have no contact including talking to each other.” 

“Fine by me,” I laughed. 

“Oh... I guess TJ just laid the law down,” Sugar said. 

Icca raised a finger at me and stared at me but I looked away. 

“Anyone else bleeding?” Karan asked, looking around. 

“Trin?” Sugar asked. “You bleedin’?” 

“Not anymore. And I just got it so he can’t talk to me anymore. I couldn’t be better,” I grinned as Icca put his coat on. 

Sam walked into the saloon then and I cringed a bit. “Sam we need to talk. Alone,” I told him. 

“Yeah, cry him a river too, Trin,” Icca said and I looked over at TJ, wondering if that counted as contact. 

“Icca. Enough,” TJ ordered. 

We greeted Sam and Downy and I looked at my boss seriously as Icca fingered his gun, staring at me. Sam looked at me and I asked, “Sam… Can we?” 

“Can we? What?” Sam asked. 

“Can we talk? Please? The office?” 

“I am right here. Talk away.” 

“Not here,” I said as I rubbed my arm. 

“Well, I just got here and I need a drink before I go anywhere, so I reckon you can talk about it here and now or it can wait,” Sam looked at me. 

“Okay, how’s this. Icca shot me in the arm ‘cause I went to rescue the Chief who’d been gunned down by his partner, then I got to watch a scalping. Can we go talk now please?” 

“May I say something?” Twist said, “TJ has old her to just keep it hush until Icca court day.” 

“Ya might as well, Sam. She’s scared to be in here with me,” Icca said. 

“He told me not to talk to Ica until the court case,” I told Twist. No one said I couldn’t talk about what happened today with my boss.” 

“‘Cause I shot her,” Icca said. 

“Well you just told me what happened. What is there to talk about now?” Sam asked. “You are a woman of law in this town and it falls under your jurisdiction as an officer the Pinkertons. Don’t take on regular law affairs unless hired by the local law you see?” 

“It was in Wyoming and she butted in where she shouldn’t have,” Icca said. 

“There is no local law where he shot me down,” I looked at Sam. “Fine, if you don’t think one of your agents getting shot is a big deal, I’ll just go back to the office on my own.” 

“One moment, I didn’t say that.” 

“Seems like you did.” 

“See, even accusing him of things he didn’t do,” Icca said. 

I shook my head, not wanting to hear Icca anymore, and walked out of the saloon but stopped in my tracks hearing Sam. 

“No, I did not say that at all. What I am saying is that we have jurisdictional issues to deal with here as Pinkerton’s… and you have two positions of law authority where I have only one.” 

“So we can’t do anything about this,” I summed up. 

“There is no law in Wyoming,” Icca pointed out. 

“You are law and involved with law here. Pinkerton’s have no boundaries. If we were hired to take on this case, it could be dealt with in a proper fashion, if you get what I mean,” Sam told me. 

“I do get what you mean. And I’m taking from it that we’re powerless right now. TJ’s the only one who can do something about it as a federal judge. If that trial ever happens,” I muttered. 

“That is correct, even if the man who shot you is less than ten feet away, we are bound at this time,” Sam told me. 

“I already wrote my statement for TJ, so that’s it. It’s in his hands.” 

“See you are the only one who writes stories around here Trin,” Icca said. 

“Guess I’ll just go home and sleep it off,” I said. 

“Yeah, you do that Trin,” Icca said and pointed his fingers like he was shooting at me. 

“See you later Sam,” I said and walked out without talking to anyone else.