Georgetown.
I had decided to stay in Cripple Creek for a while since it seemed like the war wasn’t happening, but as I came into town and saw the sheriff’s office on fire, I gasped and raced to get a bucket of water to put out the fire. I looked around for Nile, Duke, or Snow, but no one responded as I called for help.
Suzy, Snow and Duke finally came running over and started to go up to the roof, beating the fire down.
“I saw the smoke from home and came to check on the horse barn. I’m glad everyones okay though,” Suzy said.
“Don’t go up there. It’s still burning!” I called and Duke staggered over to me.
“Where are you hurt? Did you see a doctor?” I looked at Duke with worry, seeing him limping.
“I sewed it up myself. One of the Cherokee healers tended me,” Duke insisted. “Went right through.”
“Snow, are you okay?” I asked, seeing her come out of the building again. I turned to Duke and asked, “Who was it?”
“Jesse James and Bloody Bill.”
“Bloody Bill.... Bill who…?” I blinked.
“She pulled a number of Jesse’s shotgun pellets out of me,” Snow told me. “We need more fire power one of us against two. We can’t win.”
“You weren’t inside, were you?” I looked between them.
“Bill Anderson,” Duke said and I nodded with obvious relief that it wasn’t Buckshot. I beckoned Suzy to come closer
“So you know for sure it was them... They weren’t disguised or nothin’,” I said more as a statement than a question.
“Someone saw them as they left. They knew the men,” Duke insisted.
“Good... That’s good at least…” I nodded. “Suzy, does your dad know that Jesse is back in town? This is the first time I’m hearing his name since... Well... since that time we hid in the saloon from him.”
“Probably not..”
“They found a way to break down the Office door too,” Duke said.
“I’m just glad you both are okay now…” I sighed. “Walk me through this, Duke... What happened?”
“We have the woman and now to of them,” Snow said.
“The woman?” I looked at her, confused.
“Heard a ruckus outside,” Duke said. It was Jesse, and this time he was with a friend Bloody bill. I went into the office to ignore em.”
“You recognized them right away probably,” I nodded.
“But they light the office on fire… So so… Took a bit to recognize Jesse,” he said.
“Enough you’re convinced it’s them though. Where were you, Snow?”
“So I ran to the roof and get out my rifle,” Duke went on.
“We don’t have the numbers, I know I injured Jesse in the shoot out,” Snow said.
“And I took aim and shoot that piece or shit and his buddy but they got to the roofs and chased me down into the burnin buildin.”
“Wow…” I shook my head as I listened.
“They ran to the windows and took me down. Didn’t stand much of a chance. They had me in a cross fire. One on our roof and one on the ground firein' up.”
“Numbers were against you, like Snow says. They had the higher ground and the lower ground.”
“Well I’ve takin’ out more before on my own… but ya wrong location for a fire fight.”
“You think you could find your dad? I need to talk to him asap about this…” I looked at Suzy.
“I can try,” Suzy nodded to me.
“Thanks, Suzy. It’s important.”
“They dragged me out the door and up the hill,” Duke said.
“Which direction?” I asked.
“To the Indian camp.”
“You get in a cross fire and you get taken down,” Snow muttered.
“Hard to defend yourself in a small building like this too,” I nodded.
“Aye, it was tough,” he said and I could sense he was looking a little pale.
“Go sit down,” I put a hand on his arm. I led him over to the bench and looked over at Snow. “You never said where you were?”
“I wasn’t in town.”
“She came lookin’ for me. She came into town from wha she said,” Duke said. “Saw the office and my blood.”
“I came back and saw the blood and damage to the office and tracked them,” Snow explained.
“Thank God I was bleedin’ all the way, huh?” Duke coughed from the smoke.
“They didn’t hide their trail very well. They get us when there is only one around.”
“We need to stick in groups maybe. Even if I can’t help with the gun maybe my presence around you might…” I started.
“Well next time I don’t plan on losin’,” Duke muttered. “They don’t fight very well. Easy to anticipate. I now know how they fight.”
“I’ve been away all week in Cripple Creek... I came back to talk to you that day, Snow, but then it seemed like we were worrying about a war that wasn’t gonna happen, so I went back to Cripple Creek for a bit of a vacation to clear my head,” I explained.
“I was doing well against Jess and the other guy started shooting,” Snow said.
“I was gagged or I would have warned ya. Plus bein’ tied to a tree was hell. I found my extra knife in the pocket and cut myself free and joined in the fight again.”
I sat down beside Duke and put a hand on his arm. “Are you really alright, Duke? Is there anything I can do?”
“Not much can be done. Just need rest."
Sam and Downy walked over then and I looked over at my boss. “Sam... I have some bad news…”
Downy’s eyes widened at the scorched office and Sam nodded. “I say so.”
“Jesse is back in town.”
“Oh SHIT him again,” Downy muttered.
“I haven’t seen him since that day in the saloon when Suzy and I were hiding behind the curtain,” I said.
“He needs to be hanged from the gonads,” Downy insisted.
“They come in two’s now, Sam,” Duke told him.
“Goes up on the roof and starts batting the fire down with her poncho,” Snow explained.
“We need to have power in numbers. They attack when someone’s alone. I plan to be around more often,” I said.
“Long time no see, kiddo,” Sam turned to his daughter.
“I’ve spent the last few days in Cripple Creek to clear my head,” I told him as Snow came down coughing, her shirt covered in soot and blood.
Suzy was panting as she ran over to us and nodded. “Hehe, yah. Been busy.”
“With Jesse back in town... And this... Bill... Anderson..” I explained further.
“There’s two of them?” Downy clarified.
“And Snow said something about a woman…?” I looked at the sheriff.
“I would imagine that between the three of you, the two of them can be brought to justice,” Sam smiled. “So we know Jesse. Do we have an ID on the other one?”
“Bill Anderson, though I don’t know that one,” I said.
“Bill seems to not wanna take damage,” Duke said.
“How did you get his name?” Sam asked.
“Sam... I should tell you... I just work for you now. I’m not going to split my focus between Pinkerton and Deputy. I’m focusing on working for you alone, and the paper of course,” I told Sam.
“He hides well,” Duke said and dropped his head a bit.
“We know Jesse hides in the mountains,” I looked at Duke.
“Maybe ya’ll need a big posse round up to go after them,” Downy suggested.
“Well that paper better be real good,” Duke said to me and I nodded.
“Well if ya need to hire on some deputies maybe you will get them in to justice,” Sam said.
“Well Leu said no,” Duke said.
“I got a picture of the flames. Once it develops... It’ll be perfect for the article about this,” I told them. Not sure when the next issue’s comin’ out. Need a bit more material. What was that you said about a woman coming to town too, Sheriff?”
“We have a warrant out on Jaidy Jones also,” Snow said.
“She’s a nasty piece of work,” Downy muttered.
“What’s with all these alliteration names?” I rolled my eyes.
“Her and I have had a few set to’s in times gone by,” Downy said.
“I haven’t fought her personally, but I’ve seen her fight. She’s pretty good,” Sam told us.
“I’ve never heard the name before,” I said.
“I was stupid enough to be talking to her as she approached me a she drew a knife,” Snow mentioned.
“Wow…” I shook my head.
“Sounds painful,” Downy agreed.
“It was,” Snow nodded. “Getting very tired of waking up with rope around me.”
“Hopefully if we have numbers against them, even just in presence, we’ll take care of this,” I said.
“Well as I said if ya need to hire more deputies, and of course the Pinkerton’s are always available for a price,” Sam told her.
“Sam, we may wanna get a few marshal’s as well,” Duke said. “Even as law we have to follow the rules. Marshals can go to any area and bring the Law here anywhere we need to go. Where a sheriff is limited and so are deputies.”
“We have a new marshal,” Sam said.
“And they have the ability to arrest, whereas Pinkerton’s can only investigate with the local law’s
approval,” I added.
“Very true.”
“We can arrest if we are paid to,” Sam grinned.
“Ah, right,” I winked at him.
“Now nice thing about a Marshal is ya can have as many as ya need,” Duke laughed.
“Who’s the new marshal?” I asked with curiosity.
“Duke, on those posters put a 75 gold coin reward for them,” Snow instructed.
“Where is are Marshals office?” Duke asked.
“We have a marshals office?” I looked around.
“I’ll have to pay a visit comin up.”
Sam pointed to the right of the jail and I asked, “Behind the gallows there?”
“Yes,” Sam nodded.
“I was talking to the Marshal the other day and told him he could share our office with us,” Snow said.
“We do the same thing, makes sense,” Duke nodded.
“Well this way he can have his own as well and if they grow you guys are close enough to taste each others breakfast if any trouble comes,” Sam said.
“Which marshal, Snow?” I looked around for a name.
“That way we have one on hand more often,” Duke said.
“Andrew is his name,” Snow said.
“Well I think you’re first priority would be to get more help. Get a posse after ‘em,” Sam instructed.
“They crossed over into the Indian territory,” Snow said.
“Hmm, I agree there. Well I am sure the Cherokee would help,” Duke commented.
“At least we know it’s pretty much clear cut who did this one. I just wanted to tell you Jesse was back in town, Sam,” I said, ignoring the comment about the Natives. “I know there’s some personal interest there for you.”
“Well one of them bought Duke and I freedom,” Snow said.
“Wasn’t for her, we’d be dead,” Duke said. “How they got through the window, I’ll never know.”
“Do you know her name?” I asked then.
“Think Leu said ‘Ahawi’,” Duke answered.
“She is a good woman. Her husband…” I looked down, the hurt visible.
“I was set till Bloody Bill got onto the office roof,” Duke said.
“You okay, Duke?” I looked at him with concern. “Or should you go lay down somewhere?”
“I’ll be fine,” he looked at me, but I knew he was trying to hide the pain he was in.
“I can see through that look, Duke. You’re in pain and you’re not hidin’ it well enough from me.”
“Well I need to make out a warrant,” he smiled.
“Make it. Then I’m getting you to bed,” I ordered.
“Haahaa,” Duke laughed sarcastically.
“Don’t argue with her Duke,” Snow advised as the Stillwater’s headed towards the saloon.
“I’ll be right here when you’re done writing that warrant,” I leaned against the post, waiting. He worked on the warrant and I looked over at Snow. “Men are stubborn sometimes, hmm?”
“Take him to the hospital Trin,” Snow ordered.
“Let’s go, Cowboy,” I reached out my hand to him.
“Hey, hey, still writin’,” he protested. Just one sec.”
“That’s what you said three seconds ago.”
Duke got up and ran to the office then, posting up the wanted poster on the board.
“If you think you’re gonna sleep in one of those cell beds… You’ve got another thing comin’, Mr,” I glared at him.
“Better do what she says,” Snow advised him.
“Warrant hung?” I asked as he walked out.
“Yes MA’AM. Hung like my horse.”
“Let’s go then,” I said and pointed to the clinic. “Forward march.”
Duke finally complied and walked towards the clinic with me and played on the bed. “Happy?” he looked over at me.
“Thrilled.” I went to put a kettle of water on the stove and waited for it to boil as I talked. “Now, I ain’t no doctor and it looks like Ahawi patched you up well. But this tea will help clear that smoke from the fire out of your lungs.”
“Ya, she did well.”
I went to get the kettle when it was done and made up a mug of tea, handing it to him as I softened on him, seeing how tired he was. “Where does it hurt, Duke?”
“It tastes good,” he said as he sipped the tea.
“I’m glad,” I smiled. Sorry to be so harsh, just wanted you to be laying down and relaxing.”
“Well a bit…” he chuckled.
“You’ve been through a lot tonight.”
Duke told me to turn his head then and he worked on sterilizing his wound and then got the bullet out. I grabbed his other hand as he worked and he started to sew up the wound. He passed out on the bed and I thought of all the lawmen I’d seen in this position and wondered how much more of it I could really take before I couldn’t handle it on my own. I reached up to stroke his forehead and he woke up, looking over at me.
“Told ya to turn away…”
“I…” I found myself speechless and pulled my hand back nervously. I sighed, looking back at him.
“Sadly, Duke, I’m getting too used to this.”
“Well I am used to it.”
“I just…” I hesitated.
He opened his shirt then, showing his many wounds all over his chest and shoulder. I swallowed hard, wanting to reach out and touch him, but I just held his gaze as he talked. “I was an outlaw till one tried to take my life.”
“Really…”
“Long story there. I can into Colorado Springs lookin for a new life… became a Deputy for Buckshot Bill,” he said and I swallowed hard as I sat on the edge of the bed to listen. “Well months down the line he was fired and turned outlaw. He was the Sheriff there. I trusted him. Said the deputies were to blame… so in a rage he killed are Judge good man. I hunted him down only to find there were ten verse one. I took down there new members of there gang than Josey Wales took me down.” I nodded, knowing that name too, as he went on. “They took me to the gallows here in Georgetown. They hung me than shot me up more. I heard a snap, and I blacked out.”
“How on earth did you survive that?” I asked him.
“I woke up on the ground with an outlaw near by, they didn’t notice I was alive. There was a stitch that had been stuck in the jacket near my neck from bein dragged though the woods. It had snapped, not my neck.”
“You were lucky,” I smiled, looking back at him.
“So I crawled miles back to Colorado Springs, I made it to an indian camp and they brought me to the Doc.”
“That gang killed my best friend,” I told him. “He was more than a best friend.. He was... A soulmate.”
“Well after I survived the remaining Deputies made me Sheriff since I was voted on by them and the town. Was Sheriff for bout 7 months till I came here. I am sorry to hear about your loss. I lost my brother, mother and father to a gang. My brother… he is still alive. He doesn’t walk the same path as me.”
“Then he finally shot me down too. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back, though the camel was already pretty weak by then. This is after his gang surrounded me in the church with the sheriff and the judge came but she just tried to sell me off to them. I had to get out of there, Duke, and I’ve been running ever since, trying to find my home and place in life. I’m hoping I finally found a place where I can settle down for more than a month…” I sighed. “I lived in Amiville for four... Everywhere since then has been a month stay. I just didn’t feel at home or at peace in those places.”
All of a sudden, there were gunshots and I sighed, “Not more…”
“Damn!” Duke shouted and started to get up but I reached over to hold his hand.
“Stop right there. Duke…” I tried to stop him but he’d already drew his guns and walked out of the hospital.
I swore under my breath and walked outside, going to the sheriff’s office. “Where’s Duke?” I asked. I went to the Pinkerton office to get my gun and then saw Tex walking down the street. “Tex! Come on inside!” I pulled him into the Pinkerton office with me. I hugged him tightly and said, “Goodness it’s been forever!”
“Good to see you again!” Tex said, following me into the office.
“Streets are dangerous out there tonight. best we stay in here. How the heck are ya?” I stepped back to look at him.
“I am doin’ just fine, lady?”
“Glad to hear that. Please, take a seat!” I smiled. So where ya been hidin? Last I saw you was... Goodness... I don’t even know when.”
“Just out in the territory.”
“The farm goin okay?”
“You know me. I can’t resist an adventure.”
“Well we’ve got plenty of that here. Just had to go out of town for a few days to clear my head from it all.”
“Made my way out to California. The weather’s always nice there and the ocean is something worth seeing.”
“I’ve heard that,” I nodded.
“I tried to walk out in it and the waves just knocked me over.”
“Don’t let that heavy undertow take ya,” I nodded.
“I’ll be damned if water is going to kill me.”
“I have missed you, Tex,” I smiled at him.
“Well, I hope I was never too far from your thoughts.”
“You nor Sayler,” I sighed. “I was just telling a friend about what happened to him with that gang shooting…”
“Did you ever see his body? They never let me see it. Are you sure he’s dead?”
“No, I never did see it. We went to Icca’s place to arrange the funeral and everything. Never had that either.” I looked at him, remembering how Dutch hadn’t really been Dead even though everybody said he was. “Tex, you don’t think…”
“Probably nothing to it, but I’ve heard rumours.”
“Why would he have been gone for so long then? Wouldn’t he have come to find me and tell me he was alright?”
“I don’t know. Something about the whole thing don’t add up.”
“I agree but…” I nodded. “I need a drink. Want to go to the saloon?”
We walked into the saloon and I introduced Tex to Sugar and Sam. We had some whiskey and talked about the last few days while Snow called out that a healer was needed. We continued to talk about outlaws. Sugar said the saloon had a new dancer.
I looked over at Tex then and asked, “You don’t really think Sayler could still be alive?”
“Sayler? Damn, I ain’t seen nor heard of him in ages,” Sugar shook her head.
“Well, I never saw the body, and I heard about a guy sounded a lot like him out in Indian Territory.”
“Indian territory? The man’s your... cousin, was it Tex?”
“No..no relation. I’m just a friend.”
“Indian Territory…” Sugar mused.
“Oh I thought he had been related... There was a farm or something that you knew him from wasn’t there?” I asked.
“Horse Ranch at Saltillo.”
“That was it.”
“Why there’s a widow woman up this way, wandering about. Believe she’s from Indian Territory. Husband was a preacher,” Sugar said.
“Oh really?” I looked over at her.
“Saltillo? Thought that was in Mexico.”
“Yep, widow woman. Has a big scar over her eye.”
Duke shouted for a doctor then and I looked around, still surprised if Sayler was really alive.
“I figured I’d ride out that way and see for myself once I got a few good meals in me,” Tex said.”
“Out to where, exactly? There’s lots of Indian Territory,” I nodded to Tex.
“Over near Fort Smith, I reckon.”
“How bout we make the trip together tomorrow? I’d love to come see for myself what’s goin on,” I nodded.
“I got to get some sleep. Thanks for the hospitality, everyone,” Tex said.
“I’ve been wondering about this mystery for a while... Especially in editing the first book,” I said and nodded to him. “Come find me tomorrow.”
“Yep.”
“Gonna check something at the news office then head home myself,” I stood and looked at Sam.
“TRIN!! I need ya at the docs!!” Duke shouted then.
“Guess I gotta go,” I sighed. “See ya’ll. I’m comin, Duke! Give me two seconds!” I called out and ran to the clinic. “You rang, Duke?”
“Trin, grab me a few rags,” Duke requested.
I saw the banker, Rodney, laying on the bed and I went to get some rags and Sugar boiled some water. “It was jesse and Billy, we chased them off,” Snow explained.
“Jesse and Billy? I ain’t had the pleasure,” Sugar said as Duke poured some whiskey on Rodney’s wounds. He was able to remove the bullets from Rodney and Sugar said, “Good thing Duke here knows the medical procedures.”
“Glad someone does,” I said to Sugar as Duke gave Rodney some willow bark to chew on and screamed at the pain. I sighed, not able to take so much blood in one night.
“So ya gonna be able to apprehend them fellas? Or did ya already?” Sugar asked.
“I need to get some sleep. G’night ya’ll,” I said, feeling my eyes fade as the night grew on. I knew I would get the information I needed in the morning.
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