Georgetown.
I went over to the sheriff’s office this morning and knocked on the door. “Sheriff? It’s Trin. You busy?” I asked, seeing the door was open and I walked in. I noticed a man paying her money, or trying to, since Snow gave him the money back. Another man walked in, named John by Snow’s greeting, and Snow told the first man she named Carlos to stay out of trouble and get a doctor. I met John, who was the new deputy that just started the night before.
“I left Duke sleeping in my guest bed downstairs. He was shot in the leg last night and could barely move it. Think he’ll be walkin’ with a cane for a while,” I told Snow when Carlos had left the office. “I told him he was going to stay at my place, no question. I didn’t like the idea of him sleepin alone here at the office.”
“Rick and I got healed out in the village and Standing Bear all huffed up over attacking the town,” she said.
“Oh?”
“He is meeting with the Apache.”
“The Apache? We have Apache in the area?” I blinked.
“They were in the Village and gave Standing Bear a horse as a gift.”
“Oh you mean the Cherokee? Chief’s tribe over in Bear River.”
“Ahawi was healing Rick.”
“I hear she’s helping you out a lot. I must go over and thank her…”
“The Chief was not happy but she continued, I need to keep her open to us.”
“I’ll bet he wasn’t,” I muttered.
“There are a few in the tribe I have good relations with. They realize a war they will only loose in the
end.”
“Me as well, though that number is slimming. The chief I will not talk with again. Not until he realizes what he did to me to break my trust.”
“I have told them if Jesse, Billy, Jaidy are on their land to deal with it.”
“They will. In their own way,” I sighed.
“Which is fine with me. As long as it is not within city limits I don’t care.”
John and I talked about how we had both been from Texas and then Carlos turned over to me. “You know old Chief?”
“Standing Bear? Yeah.”
“Carlos know him,” he spoke in third person. “I have not seen Chief for one year or more. But on trail I hear he marry young pretty maiden. Is this true?”
“That he did,” I nodded.
“Maybe he not as old as we think,” he laughed. I started to get uncomfortable with the topic of discussion and he said, “”Maybe I go visit him. What direction much I travel to find his camp?” I looked from him back to Snow.
“Go through the mine,” she said.
“I will go now… um… Carlos has things to attend to.”
Carlos walked out of the office and I looked back at Snow as John continued to check his guns. “So what’s his story?”
“Going to the stables,” Snow said and walked out of the office, leaving me confused.
“And then there were two,” I said to John.
“Oh…,” was all he said as he continued to work on his guns.
I tried to get to know John but he didn’t seem as intent on conversing as much as examining his guns so I went outside. I watched Carlos ride off on a horse and blinked. “John... he didn’t have a horse when he came into town did he?” I asked, walking back into the office.
“He was here when I walked over,” John shrugged.
“I’ll go find Snow,” I said and went off to find Snow, but she rode off. I sighed and John swore after Snow. “Don’t know why she won’t let me help. That’s what we’re here for.”
“Well she will get what she gets, I guess.”
I sat down beside him on the bench in front of the office and said, “Nice day out at least, horse theivery aside.”
We talked about how bored we were and John was amused that he had a badge now since he had been in and out of jail his whole life. I told him that maybe this was a time for him to turn a new leaf.
My mind went to the paper and I wondered if there was any point in even bothering to go over and talk to them. John continued to play with his gun and Snow came back into town.
“Lost him in the Indian lands.”
“Figures. Didn’t ask for help. I could have shot him over one hundred yards,” John boasted.
“He stole a horse,” I told her.
“Well why didn’t you?” Snow looked at John.
“Didn’t tell me what was going on. Or ask for help.”
“I just heard Trin yell Carlos had stolen a horse,” she said. I folded my arms across my chest, knowing I hadn’t actually shouted anything, and leaned back against the wall to let them argue. “I was finishing saddling Max and chased after him,” Snow pet her horse.
“I just cleaned my guns. They won’t miss.”
“Well I am itching to shoot somebody… So if you need me to shoot, tell me who.”
“Well as a deputy I figure you will have the discretion to work that one out. Carlos is now wanted for horse theft and that will get him hung.”
“He didn’t have a horse before he came to Georgetown, did he Sheriff?“ I asked.
“No he didn’t. He walked in as I met him at the edge of town.”
“Well then there’s your evidence.”
“Whose horse was it?”
“I don’t know,” I shook my head. “Was a brown horse, not even sure which one. There’ve been a lot of new animals in the stables. I don’t even think I’ve seen your horse before.”
“I have two. Mex and Deja,” Snow said and Max whinnied happily. “Yes… I said your name.”
“I just felt something fishy and saw him ride off so fast, then realized he didn’t have a horse when I met him,” I said and chuckled as Snow fed the horse.
“I hit him, a few times, as I chased him. Found blood spots on his trail.”
“Next time ask for backup,” I said, standing.
“Did anyone have a horse?”
“We could’ve got one.”
“There was not a lot of time to form a posse.”
“Gonna go to the stables and see if there’s anything available,” I shrugged and walked off.
Cripple Creek.
I walked into the busy saloon and smiled, greeting everyone including Dutch and Monte. “Ya down to get a little frilly outfit on and dance?” Dutch winked at me.
“Oh really?” I looked at him. “Honey you may recall that when we met, I was a saloon dancer,” I said as I sat down on the stool beside Monte.
“Mmhmm, I do recall. I mighta let that slip to the brother accidentally.”
“You just want me to become a dove,” I winked at him.
“Me?” he chuckled. “Now why would ya say that?”
“Some things never change, Dutch.”
“Just so I can see your legs is what you’re thinkin’, ain’t it?”
I chuckled and looked over at Monte. “Sorry I ran out on you yesterday. Had to take care of some things last night in town.”
“You look nice today,” Monte looked closely at me.
“Thanks, Monte,” I blushed.
“When work call, got to run. I know how that is,” he laughed.
“Was a busy night that’s for sure,” I sighed, remembering Duke laying in the hospital bed without the ability to move his leg.
“Oh was it? It was nice and quiet here.”
“I found Duke, a deputy, tied up in a cell in the sheriff’s office. He’d been hurt bad by some dynamite.”
“Oh boy. Boom candles,” Dutch mused as he listened.
“Had to take him to the hospital.. He couldn’t even lift his leg.”
“That is not good,” Monte shook his head as Alexa gave me a cup of coffee.
“So we got him to the hospital but then I convinced him to stay at my place downstairs. Felt safer than him staying at the sheriff’s office by himself,” I looked at Dutch, knowing he did the same thing.
“That is good.”
“We’ll see how long he takes me up on it.”
“Oh, that is good.”
“You said it’s been quiet around here?” I looked around.
“Yea. Nothing happened last night.”
“Sometimes that’s a good thing.”
“Monte is it true we had a bounty hunter in here the other night?” Dutch asked.
“That is true. What was his name?” Monte answered.
“I don’t much like bounty hunters.”
“Oh really?”
“They are in it for the cash and nothing else,” he said and I chuckled softly, remembering the brief period when Dutch was a bounty hunter. “They could care less who gets hurt as long as they make there money.”
“Will just have to make sure they not make any here,” Monte said. “Let the ones I can’t get go to the south to the new places.”
“Indeed. And Trin how about that book you was workin on?” Dutch looked at me.
“Oh, editing the first draft of our book about you? I’m into chapter ten I think by now,” I looked at him.
“Lord girl your workin hard ain’t ya?”
“Still a little foggy on some of the details though I thought I had a clear suspect.”
“Hell, if I had a clear suspect, they’d be six feet under by now.”
“I was so sure Tristan did it.”
“Tristan now that was a right good suspect. I thought sure it was him as well.”
“Did ya?”
“What with what had happened and all… With his lady and all that.”
“It was so obvious. Or so it seemed.”
“What ware we talking about?” Alexa asked.
“I thought he was jealous of you and Chels,” I told Dutch.
“Long story,” Dutch said to Alexa. “Very long story. Let’s say I was, what do they call it in official terms, attempted murdered?”
“Been away from Amiville to long,” Alexa said. “I did not know Tristan had a lady friend.”
“Someone thought the body that was killed, your brother, was you,” I looked at Dutch.
“I don’t know if he does now. He did then, though,” Dutch said to Alexa.
“Somebody wanted you dead. Probably still does. Mercy said she saw the guy with the star on his chest when he shot you.”
“Probably right there,” Dutch nodded to me.
“It had to have been a lawman of some sort. When she saw Tristan in a crowd later, she panicked. Though it could’ve been because they were all wearing those stars.”
“Why wouldn’t they just come out and say it was them? If they was law, they could make up something and say I broke laws.”
“I don’t know, Dutch. Why haven’t they come after you since?” I shook my head.
“Maybe they are close just waitin for the chance. Hard to say.”
“You think so? They’d bide this much time?”
“Well if ya want something bad enough… I know if it was me I’d go that length. I thought sure it was because I slept with what’s her name… Damn it… what was that woman’s name now?”
“Peep?”
“Yeah! That’s the one!”
She was my first suspect. She was the last to see you alive.”
“Mmhmm. And she was engaged to Tristan at the time.”
“She lived beside him too,” I nodded.
“I knew Bo Peep… She isn’t the sort to hurt people,” Alexa said and I chuckled at that.
“Peep is a kind soul. No mean in her.”
“She wanted to kill you, Dutch. She said so herself. Once I started to suggest you could still be alive… Which I knew from the beginning, by the way,” I winked.
“Well I did kinda.. Ya know… Just not go back.”
“Yes and Rosa wanted to kill Dutch as well for faking his death but she wouldn’t… just strangle him a bit,” Alexa put in.
“Really?” I looked at the girl in surprise at her knowledge.
“I didn’t fake shit!” Dutch exclaimed.
“That one was a peace of work,” I said about Rosa. “She wanted to sell me to Bill’s gang for two thousand coins. And she was a dang judge.”
“Well not fake but everyone thought you were dead then you not,” Alexa told Dutch.
“Ole Rosa… I miss her from time to time,” Dutch said and then looked at us. “Well I didn’t want to be, I can tell ya that for sure.”
“Her brother, TJ, couldn’t have cared less and did nothing about it. Then when Bill shot me down he finally got serious about a trial but I didn’t want to face him in court,” I said. “I was stuck in a town that wouldn’t defend me and all my lawmen friends were leaving. I had no choice but to leave too.”
“Was that the cave they had in Idaho?” Alexa asked and I shuddered at the cave, reaching over to hold Monte’s hand and he held mine.
“Yeah, yeah… the good old days huh,” Dutch mused.
“And Dutch is right in the middle,” Alexa laughed.
“Not so good, now that I think about it.”
“I was be in the east when all this went down,” Monte said.
“Well, now we’re all reunited again Dutch, months later. Time is a funny, funny thing eh?” I smiled.
“It is indeed,” Dutch nodded as Alexa served more drinks.
“I still have that necklace you gave me somewhere…” I mused as Monte took and patted my hand.
“I’m glad ya hung onto it.”
“It looks like it going to be cold day,” Monte said then, changing the subject as the memories flooded through me.
“So miss Trin, do you have a place here now?” Alexa asked.
“No, still living over in Georgetown. I just come to visit the boys and make sure they’re behaving,” I winked at her. As you can tell I’ve known Dutch a long time.”
“I remember when you first came to Amiville,” Alexa said.
“Wow you remember that long ago?”
“Do you still do the newspaper?”
“I run a newspaper out of Georgetown, yes. And am a Pinkerton agent there.”
“I have not been back in a bit. Is there still a lot of gangs around?”
“Things are much better in Georgetown… There are a few outlaws to contend with at the moment, yeah. Seems pretty clear cut lately though so not much investigation needs to happen. I should head home I suppose.”
I said goodbye to the boys and then headed home.
Georgetown.
I walked into the saloon a couple hours later and stopped short when I saw Jim talking with the group there. Jim introduced Hanna, a new lawyer, “Jim, long time no see,” I said to him as I greeted the others.
Vic was playing the record player and we talked about how it was going to be good to have a lawyer in town. Judge and Hanna argued about law things and Hanna seemed shock ed that she would have no servants.
“You hear about the horse theft this morning?” I asked Sam.
“I didn’t, but I reckon you will fill me in.”
“Was in front of the sheriff’s office with the sheriff and a new deputy. Met this guy named Carlos. Mexican guy.“ Didn’t see any horse or nothin around him. Suddenly he went over to the stables, I continued to talk with John and Snow. All of a sudden he rides off with a horse. Snow said she’d put out a warrant for horse theft.She said when she met him at the edge of town he didn’t have a horse.Just thought you should know in case it came up.”
“I see.”
Snow joined us and announced she was posting wanted posters about the horse theft. I told her I was just telling Sam about that and she said there was a one hundred gold coin reward and then they could hang him.
“Hanna Justice, defence attorney,” Hanna held out her hand right away then. I couldn’t wait to see how this interaction would go so I stayed quiet, standing beside my boss.
“Howdy ma’am. They don’t need no defence. We’ll have a trial and then hang him.”
“I expect to be alerted immediately when you take someone into custody.”
“Now now sheriff even that bad guys deserve proper defence,” Sam told Snow.
“Well I guess you will have to hang around my office but you might get blown up,” Snow said and I stifled a laugh.
“Everyone deserves defence and I am here to make sure that this happens,” Hanna insisted.
“Come hang around my office when we have the scum in jail and their buddies blow up my office and shoot my deputies and tell me they need a defence.”
“Jim here, has forgotten how the law works it seems, but I am here to remind him,” Hanna nodded over to Jim.
“It’s supposed to guarantee a fair trial to all who are accused of crime,” Jim nodded.
“Well as he just arrived and I have not seen him work I couldn’t tell you,” Snow said.
“Yes Jim, and proper defence,” Hannah said.
“But it’s not supposed to be manipulated by bleeding heart defence attorneys that worry more about the perp than they do the victim,” Jim put in.
“Not just head for the nearest tree with a rope,” Hannah argued.
“We give them a fair trial and then hang them, couldn’t ask for more,” Snow told them.
“And that’s why I speak for the People. Did I hear something about Carlos?” Jim asked.
“You know him?” I finally asked.
“Well I hope the Judge in this town at least listens to my defence,” Hannah said.
“Yes I let him out of jail this morning and he ran and stole a horse. I chased him on my horse but lost him in the Indian country,” Snow told Jim.
“Allegedly stole a horse,” Hannah interjected and I tried to stifle a laugh thinking about the judge we were talking about.
“No. Stole a horse. Trin saw him and so did I,” Snow said.
“Carlos ain’t the biggest fish in the pond, considerin who you got running loose around her,” Jim said. “How much that horse worth?”
“All heresay, I wish to speak with this Carlos myself,” Hannah requested.
“We’ll start and make an example of him,” Snow said and I rolled my eyes.
“Sheriff, hear me out,” Jim protested. “That horse ain’t worth near the trouble Carlos can cause you.”
“There may be a simple explanation, perhaps someone gave him the horse,” Hannah suggested.
“He ain’t a big time criminal,” Jim said.
“We hang him. He’s no trouble,” Snow shrugged.
“There was no one else around the stables,” I put in.
“And… if you leave him alone he will lead you to the ones you really want,” Jim said. “Tell me what that horse is worth.”
“Well, I am sure it will all come out in court,” Hannah shrugged.
“And if we let him get away with it every no good with think they can come to Georgetown and steal horses,” Snow said.
I suddenly wondered then if the trial against Icca had ever happened but didn’t think now was the time to bring it up.
Jim looked at Snow and said, “Miss, I reckon now is a good time as any for you and I to have an
understanding.”
“Jim, if you have forgotten the Law, I have brought my library with me,” Snow looked at him.
“We gonna have to work together.”
“It seems people get charged here and they just disappear before a trial.”
“Ya think you can do that? Hanna, I’ve forgotten more about the law thank you’ll likely ever know. But thanks for the offer. Sheriff…” he looked back at Snow, “Lay off Carlos for a while… The term ‘informant’ mean anything to you?”
“Yes, Jim, you studied at my father’s knee....just as I did,” Hanna nodded. “You remember my father don’t you Jim?”
“Another bleeding heart for the scum that make honest people afeared to go out of their homes,” Snow said.
“He kinda became like a second father to me after my Dad died,” Jim nodded to Hannah.
“Well I expect you to make him proud Jim, just as I hope that I do,” Hannah said.
“Sheriff, ain’t nothing bleeding hear about me,” Jim looked at Snow. “But I need Carlos for a while, ‘cause he can get information I badly need. When I’m finished with him, do as you want but for now forget about that horse.”
“Jim what information do you want so badly?” I asked Jim finally.
“Trin, I keep my business a little closer to the belt than that.”
“So lemme get this right, this fella Carlos stole whores? And now yer gonna arrest him?” Downy clarified.
“Thanks for the drink Jim, see you in court!” Hannah said then and left the saloon.
“No ma’am, she didn’t say he stole no whore. Said he stole a horse,” Jim chuckled.”Hannah, you stay put in your room till I get back!” Jim called after her.
“Oh! That makes more sense, I couldn’t work out for the life of me why anyone’d care if he’d stolen whores so much,” Downy said.
“Reckon stealin’ a whore be a lot more serious than stealin’ a horse,” Jim smiled.
“Well kidnappin’ is still a crime, love, even if they are whores,” Sam pointed out.
“Well a whore got the same rights as anybody else,” Jim said.
“Yeah, but perhaps not a hanging offence like horse theft?” Downy gave Sam’s backside a slap.
“Dealing with horse thieves,” Snow shook her head.
“Sheriff if ya recover any stolen whores I’ll be holding them in my office as states evidence,” Jim smiled. “I’ll hold ‘em overnight for you, Sheriff.”
“Get my butt shot off, blown up my men, shot and blown up,” Snow muttered and walked out of the saloon. Jim wasn’t too far behind her as he headed out of the saloon.
I looked over at the others who’d stayed and said, “That was… interesting.”
“Indeed,” Sam agreed.
“Hope they don’t land up killin each other. Just glad I don’t have to work with ’em. I’ve known Jim a long time. So Sam I have a question.”
“Yes?” Sam looked at me.
“TJ said that I and Icca couldn’t talk until his trial… What if that trial never happens?” I asked and Sam chuckled. “Well with TJ’s record you have to understand my suspicions,” I winked at him.
“Well when we get a trial date set for Icc, if he doesn’t come we will put out a warrant federal warrant and he will be brought to jail.”
“If…” I nodded.
“When.”
“If you say so, Sam. I’m still skeptical.”
“I understand some people seem to get away with whatever they want, but we will be changing that,” Sam said.
“Gonna be hard with him as your judge, Sam. I’m just sayin. Think I’m gonna head home and get some writin’ done. I’ll see ya’ll later,” I said and headed home.
Cripple Creek.
I walked into the saloon and smiled at the crowd at first but then saw a man holding his gun drawn. Monte was trying to tell him to put his gun away and I got a coffee while looking over to Dutch. The man spit at Dutch and slowly holstered his guns. Dutch insisted that there was a rule against drawing guns in the saloon. Monte told me that this guy had come there for a few days and the man kept taunting Monte to arrest him. Laurel walked close to the window and the man called Monte gutless. Monte insisted that he was just trying to keep the peace. Ascot joined in the saloon and the man threatened Dutch to stay out of the situation. Monte told him to take it outside and Dutch suggested that he might enjoy a night in jail. Ascot insisted that they take their issues out of the saloon and the boys walked outside.
“Miss Ascot, get inside. I don’t feel like explainin’ why you caught a stray bullet to my brother,” Dutch ordered.
“Dutch? Did you forget who you were talking to?” Ascot asked.
“Go ahead. I’m not going to hit first,” Monte said to the man.
“Ok never mind. Let’s watch ‘em waller one another,” Dutch chuckled as Monte and the man started to fight. It wasn’t long before Monte punched the man down unconscious and I stepped over to them, proud of Monte for taking down the guy.
I walked inside where Corri pulled Dutch in close and and kissed him hard. “If Josh asks, I ain’t sayin’ I did that,” Dutch insisted. “Teach me to mess with you, ya viper,” he muttered to his sister-in-law. I suddenly wished I’d stayed with Monte and went over to order a whiskey at the counter as they bantered.
Jared walked in then and we told him about Monte fighting a guy to show who’s boss. They were all proud of him and I was too, since I’d grown to like the guy. Suddenly then I noticed Dutch recognizing a man at the door, who kept holding his gaze on Dutch. Dutch suddenly had a look of worry and I swallowed hard, not sure what was going on. The man left but then Josh asked whispered with him about the man.
Suddenly the man watching Dutch said, “I was hoping for more of the old gang to be here. Since you took me for all that money at Red Rock bank all those years ago, I been dyin for a shot at any one of
you Solo Maggots. Guess I’ll have to settle for the two of ya. Don’t worry, I’ll find the third.”
I looked over, shocked, and looked at Corri with nervousness.
The man ran out then and Corri swore. “Dutch? Josh?”
Dutch walked towards the door then and a gunshot went off as Dutch was shot down right in front of us all. I ran over to him, realizing what just happened, as if it was all a dream. “Oh God, Dutch... no…” I leaned down and tried to feel his pulse. “Come on, Dutch…”
Monte walked back in and asked, “What the…? What happen?”
Corri ran behind the bar and grabbed the medic kit. “Move, Trin,” she ordered. I backed up, giving her room. “Damn it woman, I’m a doctor,” she promised me.
Dutch started to cough up blood all over my jeans and I was relieved he was breathing again. I wiped the tears and looked at Alexa, feeling shaky at the shock. I watched as Corri healed Dutch and said that the man who shot him had a hat and a jacket but I didn’t know who he was. Corri ordered me to get some towels and water and I brought them to her shakily. She requested some whiskey and I got that for her too. I leaned against the counter as I watched with concern.
I stepped outside then, needing air. I couldn’t deal with this much and I was scared for the man I’d loved since I’d started investigating his murder. Or attempted murder, as it were. I leaned back against the pole and then sat in the chair, leaning forward and rocking as the emotion was too overwhelming. I reached into my vest and got out the necklace I’d found and had kept in my pocket since reuniting with him here before the holidays. I grasped it tightly, still crying.
Josh walked into the saloon without even noticing me and they talked about how the man that shot Dutch was a long story. I suddenly wondered if it was the same person who had wanted to shoot Dutch back in June, but hadn’t succeeded. “Oh my…” I started.
“Help me grab him, and I don’t mean in private parts, Trin. I need help carrying him out,” Josh called out to me then.
I got up and helped them as we carried Dutch to the bed. Monte asked me if I was okay but I chose not to answer. I went over to the chair and said I needed to hear if he said anything. Monte told me to get him if anything changed since he had to go back to the jail where the man who’d shot Dutch was. He took me in his arms and hugged me tightly.
“I loved him…” I said weakly. “Maybe I still do…” I reached for the necklace tightly, looking down.
“He is going to be okay,” Monte insisted. “I be right back. Alexa, can you sit with Trin?”
“Yes I can,” she nodded.
“Ya talking like he’s dead, woman. Monte, take her with you. She’s upsetting the patient,” Josh insisted.
“She don’t want to go…” Monte started but then said, “Come on, Trin.”
“Take her Monte,” Corri insisted.
I felt like I wasn’t welcome anymore there and sighed, going with Monte. Alexa offered me a hug but I walked out. “I should just…” I said as we walked out of the clinic. Monte held me close and I cried on his shoulder. I looked at him, thinking he was probably the only one who cared about me. “Let’s go.”
We walked to the sheriff’s office and I looked around, “Where is he, that son of a…” I looked around.
“Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same,” the man was saying to Jared. “Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.”
“No, Trin,” Monte stopped me.
“Monte he…” I started.
“What ya need?” Jared asked Monte.
“Jared you may want to go to the hospital,” Monte told him.
“And as for you, Jesse, what you sow with me you will reap the whirlwind,” Jared told the man in the cell. “So shut that filthy pie hole.”
“I want to…” I started.
“I know you do,” Monte nodded.
“He shot the man I love, Monte,” I said.
“It’s not looking good. It’s Dutch,” Monte told Jared.
“You said he’d be fine,” I looked at him.
“Monte, leave that Jesse there overnight,” Jared instructed.
“Okay. He should be,” Monte looked at me.
“And watch Laurel with the prisoner. I will go to the hospital,” Jared said as Laurel worked on healing the other prisoner’s wound. “She is treating the newest arrival.”
“I will, but you got to make sure Miss Trin be okay, okay?” Monte asked.
“I should just go home,” I said.
“I will,” Jared said. “Ma’am, please come outside.”
“You go to my place,” Monte offered but I shook my head. “And when I can I will check on you, okay?”
“Home. I don’t belong here. I never did. I’m sorry I…” I followed Jared outside after looking back at Monte. I took one look around the city and shook my head, going home.
Georgetown.
I saw Vito as I walked back in town and wiped the tears from my eyes, not wanting to show my emotion. “Vito, hi..” I said weakly.
“Evening, Miss Paige. A bit flustered today?”
“Been a rough night, Vito,” I shook my head. “Been a few days since I saw you.”
“Anything that I can help with?” he asked and I shook my head. “I’ve had some other ’clients’ that I’ve had to meet with.”
“Busy man,” I nodded.
“That is indeed the truth”
“Too busy to get a drink from the saloon? I could use one.”
“I might be able to spare a moment or two.”
We walked to the saloon and I got him some whiskey. Snow walked in and we talked about the wine business. In spite of the intense scene in Cripple Creek, it felt good to unwind and try not to think about what had happened. Jim and Hannah joined us and Snow told him that Jesse was in the cell and Billy was dead.
“Anderson?” I perked then, clarifying with Snow.
“Jesse is alive because I demanded he be treated,” Hannah sighed loudly.
“He is alive because we wanted him tried,” Snow said. “If we wanted him dead lawyer you would never have seen him.”
“What’s Jesse charged with?” Jim asked.
“When I arrived he was bleeding in his cell!” Hannah exclaimed. “No plans to take him to surgery.”
“I want to watch him dance on the end of a rope,” Snow said. “When you arrived we had a Doc looking at him. Get your facts straight please.”
“Sheriff, again, what is he charged with?” Jim asked again.
“My facts are always straight,” Hannah insisted.
“You will have to talk to my deputy Duke, he is writing the charges up as we speak,” Snow said.
“Can I get a word in here?” Jim raised an eyebrow at Hannah. “You got arrest reports prepared?”
“My deputy is working on them as the Lady said we were escorting the prisoners to the hospital for treatment,” Snow said. “He was under double guard.”
I looked between them and set the empty whiskey battle on the counter as they continued to banter back and forth. “I need to head home... Vito, care to walk me there or do ya want to stay here?”
“I’ll be happy to escort you home,” he said and he followed me to my house on the hill. I opened the door for him and he said, “Why thank you.”
“Thanks Vito... I just... It’s been a hard day…” I got emotional, remembering Dutch bleeding on the floor. I wondered if he was okay.
“I’m sure things will work out.”
“Not this time, Vito. There is no happy ending,” I shook my head and he handed me his handkerchief as I wiped the tears. “I’m sorry, don’t mean to cry on you.”
“It’s quite alright. Tell me what troubles you.”
“Not tonight... It’s still too... fresh.”
“Then I shall let you retire for the evening. There will be other days.”
“Thanks for walking me home. I appreciate that,” I said and he handed me a bottle of wine. “You’re too kind.”
“Drink this, it’s better than that ’corn mash’,” he winked and I nodded, saying goodnight to him. I took the wine upstairs, knowing it would be gone by the time I hit the pillow.
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