Colorado Springs.
I went to Colorado and knocked on Adder’s door, muttering, “Come on Adder… be home.”
“Howdy Trin, come in,” Adder greeted me as he opened the door.
I walked in and sat down on the couch, exhausted. “Hi…” I said, not even sure where to start. “You got a stiff drink?“”Adder poured me some whiskey and handed it to me. “Thanks… I don’t even know where to start.”
“Start at the beginning?”
“Well you remember that talk I had with the chief after he got attacked a couple weeks back…”
“Aye, I do,” he nodded.
“He acted like it was no big deal and basically said ’stay out of it, we’ll deal with it’. Well yesterday I get a wire from him saying that he’s been shot down and needs help. So I ran out there but I couldn’t find him at first. He was laying up on top a mountain... Shot down in the leg,” I said and Adder raised an eyebrow as he listened. “I tried to get to him and from out of nowhere there was shooting. It wasn’t long before I was on the ground with him, my arm busted up to heck. I have no idea where the bullets were coming from but we were up on a mountain so we weren’t all that protected.”
“Have you seen a Doc?” Adder looked at me with concern.
“So then some tribe members came to our aid and the healer looked after us... And I found out that Icca and Anna and Julia were the ones doing the shooting.”
“Anna and Julia? Who are they?”
“Some outlaws out there I guess. Apparently they just wanted to talk to the chief but the chief said they were trying to steal from the garden. Well obviously I wasn’t too thrilled about Icca being involved... I always knew he was still shady. So then... they land up capturing this Anna girl...I went back to the village with them thinking we were just gonna sit by the fire and relax… They…” I looked down.
“They what?”
“They scalped her, Taurus. And Chief cut a bear claw symbol on her hand to remind her not to come back.”
“Bloody hell... savages.”
“I watched the whole thing... Then they asked if I wanted a part of it… I couldn’t take it any more so I walked out. Adahy followed me though and tried to understand why I was so upset. He helped me get to Georgetown safely… And then Icca…” I shook my head and rubbed my arm, feeling the sting even remembering the night.
“And then Icca what?” he asked, sounding impatient.
“He waltzes into the saloon like nothing happened. Complained about being shot down by the Natives. Karan was there healing him when I got there. TJ was there dancing with Twist… I looked over and asked if he’d arrest me for punching Icca and he said he wasn’t a sheriff. So I punched Icca twice, once for shooting the chief, once for shooting me,” I said and Adder chuckled.
“So then... We get into this whole verbal fight thing. And TJ finally said that we weren’t allowed to talk to each other until the trial.”
“What trial?”
So Karan asked if anyone else was hurt and I was like ‘I got it so Icca can’t talk to me. I’m fine.’” I looked at him and said, “TJ’s a federal judge now. I wrote him a statement about it. Who knows if anything will actually happen. But Icca and I aren’t allowed to talk to each other or we’ll both be arrested.”
“He makes a mockery of the legal process every time.”
“So then Sam walks in… And I’m like Sam we need to talk and he was all insistent that we talked there but I didn’t want to talk there in front of Icca. But he stayed put so I told him the summary and he blinked in surprise… But Icca was going on about how I wasn’t supposed to be there and I had no right to be there… And Sam was like well we can’t do anything because it happened in Wyoming and there’s no law out there. Even if the guy who shot you is feet away. So I said ‘oh, one of your agents isn’t a big deal then?’ and he was like ‘No, just that there’s nothing we can do.’ I doubt TJ will even do the trial but I’ll probably have to be a witness,” I shook my head, frustrated at the whole thing.
“I wouldn’t do too much preparation for any trial TJ presides over. Theres no point,” Adder nodded.
“I don’t plan on it. I want to talk to Clif,” I shook my head.
There was a knock on the door and Adder went to greet Clif who came in to join us. “Thank ya Adder,” Clif said to him and took a seat on the couch. “Ah Miss Trin, it’s good to see ya.”
“Just the man I was hoping to go out and find,” I looked at him. Just been telling Adder about my day yesterday.”
“Oh? Do tell,” Clif said, getting comfortable beside me on the couch.
“Got shot, watched a scalping, have a restraining order against someone, and there’s gonna be a trial,” I said.
“And where is this all taking place?” Cliff raised an eyebrow.
“Wyoming, of course.”
“Ah, the land with no recognized law.”
“It couldn’t happen where there’s local law, that would be just too easy.”
“Of course. So who’s slated to hear the case?”
“Two guesses,” I looked at him.
“Me and me?” Clif chuckled.
“I wish. Then it would actually happen,” I sighed.
“Nope, the idiot boy,” Adder shook his head.
“TJ?”
“Mr no follow-through himself. Here’s what happened…” I looked at Clif.
“That ‘man’ would probably forget to wipe his arse,” Clif muttered.
I told Clif all about what happened in Wyoming as I had told Adder the story. I got emotional again as I explained and I took a pillow, throwing it across the room in anger.
“You break something, you pay for it. Or I put you in jail,” Adder grinned and put his badge on.
I continued to tell them what happened at the saloon and Clif said that knowing TJ, he won’t even let me tell my side of the story. “Then I need to find and talk to the governor of that territory, and find out what I can do,” Clif said when I was done.
“I gave TJ a statement for a warrant on them… He’s a federal judge now and was insistent that he can do something about it,” I said.
“And lemme guess, not a peep, since.”
“It all just seems so…” I sighed.
“He’s a Federal Judge? And just what idiot appointed him?”
“He’s not fit to judge a damn pie eating contest,” Adder muttered.
“Well I know it’s not here in the tenth district. I’m the only senior Justice here. and he’s been disbarred in this district,” Clif said and I went over to pick up the pillow and took it back to the couch. “Maybe he’s wrangled an appointment from the governor someplace.” I hugged the pillow, not sure who I could trust other than the two men in the room. “I don’t know what we can do, first off, I gotta meet with the Governors anyway.” I hid my face in the pillow, not sure if anything would be ever solved since it seemed justice was futile. “Well sometimes the system can’t handle all things,” Clif said. “There’s supposed to be a meeting of the Governors here in a bit, hoping I can straighten some of this out, with ’em.”
“I don’t know how I’m ever going to show up in that village again,” I sighed.
“Good luck Clif. A lot of egos to handle there,” Adder said.
“I don’t know, maybe I just need to go back to Washington,” Clif said.
The mention of Washington made me remember something and I said, “I have a friend named Leu... he’s with the Native Affairs from Washington. Ya’ll should meet.”
“These folks don’t want justice, they want anarchy,” Clif said and we nodded.
“All those months of trying to build a relationship with them.. Building a trust… What has it amounted to?”
“And with TJ as a ‘federal’ judge, they’ll have it,” Clif sighed.
“It’s as if the chief’s completely forgotten the past two months.”
“Aye, but perhaps they’ve taken action you might not know, Trin,” Clif said.
“He’s so focused on his damn wedding he can’t see who he’s hurting. To cut her hand like that... After I told him what Bill did to me…”
“I know the Cherokee people, and they can react in strange ways. And he is steeped in the traditions of his people,” Clif said as I wiped my tears against the pillow. “But it will take time.”
“What does a girl have to go through to get a damn hug around here?” I muttered, looking between them.
“All I know is that TJ will have to do his job,” Clif grinned and hugged me tightly, whispering, “It’ll be alright.”
“How can you say that... You two are the only ones I can trust now, and Sam… I’ve reconnected with Logan but I don’t want to trouble him with all these fires at his place and everything with Andy.”
Adder stifled a laugh and I glared at him.
“Well that whole case is slim at best,” Clif shrugged.
“I don’t want to have to face Icca in court,” I muttered. “He’ll rip me apart if TJ even lets me speak.”
“Well that’s the problem, hun… he has a right to face his accuser,” Icca said.
“Felt good to punch him though,” I sighed and took off my badge to play with it.
“I’m a bit interested to see how TJ managed to wrangle a ‘federal’ appointment. Something doesn’t make sense.”
“No shit Sherlock,” I muttered as Adder went outside to tend to one of his dogs. “He was so smug, Clif. He knew I couldn’t do a thing about him shooting me.”
“That’s TJ for ya.”
“I meant Icca.”
“And he and Icca are mighty ’friendly’.”
“I hadn’t even thought of that part,” I sighed.
“So any place he’s a ‘judge’ is owned lock, stock and barrel by the outlaws,” Clif said. Maybe I do need to go home to Tennessee, at least folks there are smart… but I reckon ol TJ will do what he does, and destroy the law there soon enough.”
“He’ll be a father soon…” I nodded in frustration.
“And Icca, well, he’s Icca, he’ll face justice, but maybe not in this life.”
“I should have shot him right there,” I shook my head and put my badge back on with a sigh.
“Perhaps, but you know if Tj had anything to do with it, you’d be danged if ya did.”
“How’s he gonna know if Icca and I talk, even? He’s gonna send spies on us?”
“Well, yanno us judges, we got sources everywhere, maybe even in the outlaws.”
I nodded, knowing he’s right. “You know I’d never actually shoot Icca, right Clif?”
“Not unless you were attacked first.”
“This thing’s for decoration only. Except that time when Rebel ganged up on me and Nile. Last time I’d been unconscious like that, Clif, was when Bill shot me down.”
“Yep, I know, you work like I do with yer smarts first.”
“I just lay there helpless, in the snow, cold and scared. The chief’s leg bleeding beside me. I was so shocked he actually asked me for help.”
“I reckon the chief ain’t too happy with ol Icca.”
“I shouldn’t have gone alone,” I said and then heard a scratching sound outside.
“I reckon TJ’s so called friends are out and about too,” Clif said as Adder came back inside.
“Sounds like someone made a scratching noise outside,” I looked at Adder as I heard more scratching.
“Aye I heard it loud and clear too. Coulda heard it miles away,” Adder said and they checked their guns, just in case. I sighed, not wanting to get in another gunfight. “I’ll wait here,” I said reluctantly .
Adder went outside and we heard him talking through the open door before he closed it. “There a reason you’re hanging round my property?”
“Good all day sir,” the man outside tipped his hat. “Well I was erm, lookin’ for a lawman…”
“I suggest you make this the last time I see you round here,” Adder said and drew his pistol.
Clif opened the window so we could hear and the man looked over at Clif. “Missed me, Clay?” He looked at Adder’s gun and said, “Better lower your gun law man… lest you would like it rimmed in your crack hole.”
I raised my eyebrow and walked over to stand beside Clif, but not in view of the window.
“Last person who threatened me regretted it. And that was a damn soldier,” Adder said.
“Well there bout 10 paces from me to you....holster it back lets say we do it back like in the day hmm?” the man looked at Adder, letting his hands drop.
“I suggest you get out of my sight.”
“You know him?” I leaned over to whisper to Clif.
“It’s been a while, but he looks familiar.”
“Well if you gonna shoot, shoot. Don’t talk.”
“Who is he?” I whispered.
“A boy, trying to be a man. Nothing more,” Clif said back.
“He called you Clay,” I said as Adder took aim.
“Last chance, Pal,” Adder said.
“Never gone by that name,” Clif said. “Reckon he’s got me confused with some other feller. Might want to take cover hun, this don’t look good.”
Adder began to shoot outside and somehow I got grazed by the bullet inside while Clif ran outside. I crawled across the floor and found Adder’s bandage box and wrapped one around my leg. I looked outside and found both Adder and Clif on the ground. I wished Adder had a telegraph machine and then shouted outside, “Mack! Come to Adder’s quick!” I prayed he was within earshot.
“You couldn’t kill me in Montana, and ya won’t here, boy,” Clif said to the man who’d shot them.
“Well hell runnin was never my best point ye see…” the man said. “I don’t wanna kill ye. But if I hear anyone talking bout my brother again along with shootin him that man wont live to see another day...hear that?”
“Sure,” Adder muttered.
“But ya tell yer buddy Tj, he’s still nothin, along with yer brother,” Clif said to him and heard the man’s threat, wondering if he was talking about TJ or Icca.
“Seems I’m a bit low on led, so I’ll have to borrow yours,” the boy said.
“Well ya got what ya wanted, boy, the notch in yer belt, so go and let me die in peace,” Clif said and I heard him talking, and started to cry softly. I heard Clif singing softly and I couldn’t help myself.
“Clif, no!” I cried out as Adder spit in the man’s face and Clif howled again.
“Well happy holiday,” the man said and took some more ammunition from Clif’s gun and said, “Well thank ye very much. I’ll see you again… When you can walk. G’day, friend,” the man tipped his hat and hit the side of Clif’s cheek. The man’s voice had a British accent, like Adder did.
“Well sometimes boy, it’s not good to be nice,” Clif growled at him. “Ask your friend TJ, he’s an expert.”
“We had a honorable showdown you lost you got to accept it not make a whole lotta fuss outta it,” the man said.
“‘Honorable’?” Clif chuckled.
“Aye.”
“You know nothing of it. But I’d expect nothing less from you.”
“Now yo boys play nice, alright?” the man patted Clif and Adder on the shoulders and greeted someone walking by as the ‘corset bandit’.
“We’ll meet again, and we’ll see about your ‘honour’.”
“That’s ‘cause I shot his ass. Told you Clif, I ain’t outlaw anymore, but um… hate you bein’ rude like that with my brother and TJ. Hate them gang wars, mmhmm.”
“Well seein’ as you made an assumption, that I was gonna shoot Icca, yer still an outlaw ta me,” Clif said.
“I didn’t open fire first. Was shot. I was standin’ right there.”
“Trespassed,” Adder muttered.
“Try putting that in court,” the man said.
“‘Sides, hears you went to New Mexico and joined them,” Clif said.
“Well, can you prove it? I was right there. By the gate.”
“Made threats towards a lawman,” Adder pointed out.
“Shot a lawman…” I muttered.
“I saw you walking out off my land,” Adder said.
“You fired first so… Outta luck,” the man shrugged.
“You fired first so…”
“Defending his property,” Clif said.
“Eh, whatever man, I suggest you head home. You’re beginning to bore me,” Adder said.
“I’ll see ya’ll folks later,” the man said.
“Move along, little one. You’ve worn out yer welcome,” Clif said.
“Ain’t nothin’ more borin’ than a bored lawman,” the man tipped his hat. “G’day now.”
The man walked away and Adder and Clif limped inside. I called for Amee to come and heal the men and then turned between the men. “What the hell was that?”
“Well, that ‘boy’ at one time was part of TJ’s gang. Tried to kill me many a time. This was many moons ago, he likes to stir up trouble.”
“I never trusted TJ becoming a judge… Why come back now?” I asked.
“Frankly neither did I. Maybe he got bored down in ol’ Mexico. Hell, might be a long lost ‘brother’ of Icca’s.”
“Icca... has a brother?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Reckon so. Hell half of Amiville is related to each other.”
“This is getting too dangerous, Clif... I’m sorry I came here and brought this all to you…”
“You didn’t bring it, hun… It’s always been here.”
“You both okay? Where’d he hit you? I’m sure Amee’s on her way,” I looked between them.
“I’ll live. Got me in the chest, but thankfully the coat slowed it down a lot.”
“And Adder?” I nodded to the man sleeping in the chair. “He grazed my leg somehow, I guess the bullet flew through the window.”
“I don’t know, he was down when I went to assist from the porch.”
Amee called from the porch and came into the house. I told her what’d happened and she began to heal their wounds. Mack came over then and we filled him in on what happened. Mack asked if there was a warrant out for the man who shot them both and Adder insisted there would be. Cliff said that the man was from his past. Adder thanked Clif for his help and Clif started to write a warrant against the man. Amee checked on my wounds while I avoided eye contact with Mack until he finally asked what was wrong.
“Then Icca’s brother followed me here somehow and found out we were talking about Icca and got all upset and now my two best friends are shot to hell and it’s all my fault,” I muttered. “TJ said Icca’s gonna be going to trial for shooting the chief. He’s a federal judge now.”
“Why do you think I don’t arrest them any more? I just drag their arses out to Texas and leave em for the wolves,” Adder said.
“Federal judge, be better if a cow was judgin ’em, at least it’d be fair,” Clif muttered.
“For some consarned reason, I cannot remember the name of our federal district judge who presides over us US Marshals and the territory in general,” Mack scratched his head in thought.
“There was a Judge John Bull passed through once, but I don’t think we’ll see him again,” Adder said. “Cos I don’t think I’d get away with that twice.”
“Well, I’m gonna help the governors reconstitute the courts, then I’m gonna go home, clearly the governors have no bloody clue,” Clif said.
“When do they ever?” Mack asked.
“True, they don’t live here. I’ll handle that issue.”
“Good to see you all again…” Amee said.
“I’ll get ya that warrant ASAP Mack,” Clif promised.
“Thanks guys, hopefully we don’t need your services any time soon and we can all just relax over a game of Poker,” I said then.
“Works for me,” Amee smiled.
“Guess I should make my way back to Georgetown,” I stood.
“Safe travels.”
“Here’s hoping,” I said.
“And try to stay out of trouble, woman,” Mack looked at me and I smiled, nodding.
“Just doin’ my job. I learned from the best,” I winked at Adder. I went over to hug him and said,
“You take care of yourself, Sheriff. I don’t like seeing you get shot.”
“Should be used to it by now!” he grinned.
“You’d think,” I chuckled and hugged him tightly before heading to the door.
“Take care, Trin,” he said and I walked outside.
Georgetown.
I realized I should tell Sam about this morning and walked over, seeing Sam and Downy in the cemetery. I figured a cemetery was a good place as any to have this out and walked over. “Hey Downy,” I greeted her since Sam seemed to be deep in thought. “Had an interesting morning,” I hesitated, thinking it’d be easier to talk to Downy about it than Sam.
“Oh really?” she raised an eyebrow.
“You ever hear of Icca having a brother?”
“Not that I recall,” Downy shook her head.
“I hadn’t either. Met him this morning. Well... indirectly I suppose. Trying to get a name on him.”
“Why’s that Miss Trin? Has he done somethin’?” Downy scratched her head.
“Yes he did something. He shot down a judge and a sheriff,” I folded my arms across my chest.
“Actually now that I think of it he went by the name Midnight Hannu. I believe there’s an arrest warrant gone out for him.”
“For…?”
“For shooting the judge and a sheriff,” I said again.
“Oh. Where did that happen?”
“Colorado Springs but I believe the warrant is for all territories.”
“I see.”
“Just wanted to give Sam my side of the story before he heard it from someone else. So anything happen after I left the saloon last night?”
“Yes Ma’am we had some natives visit and some bullets fly.”
“Oh really? Reminds me, I also have to talk to Sam about TJ.”
“I see.”
“So what happened last night?”
“Icca caught a bullet. The visitin’ chief did too but they lived. And argued and argued… bled a bit… argued some more…”
“Who shot the chief?” I asked.
“I nearly shot ’em both just for the arguin’,” Downy said.
“Think I’m gonna go to the saloon and get a drink. Tell Sam we need to talk?” I asked.
“I’ll let him know you were lookin’ for him,” Downy promised.
I headed into the saloon and then went to talk with Sugar in the bakery. I talked to her about what happened last night at the saloon and she said she went to bed before the Natives came to town.
“There were a few people still in the saloon when I left,” she said.
“Can you tell me who?”
“Sam, Downy, Twist, maybe Karan... and… Miss Allegra was a dancin’.”
I thanked her for the information and then headed down the street.
Cripple Creek.
I walked to the saloon in Cripple Creek and sighed with relief seeing Pax there. “Howdy Trin, how goes the Pinkerton life?” Pax asked.
“I…” I started but then choked up.
“Oh now honey what’s wrong?” Pax gazed at me with concern.
“I got shot yesterday and shot at today. My life’s probably in danger, I’ve got a restraining order against the person who shot me… Watched a scalping.. Let’s see what else…”
“Oof, sounds like you could use a drink.”
“Oh, my two best friends got shot down this morning, a sheriff and a judge. And the judge in the town where I live is officially connected with an outlaw affiliation. Oh and watched the chief do the same thing to the girl getting scalped as I’d had done to me months ago. And just found out that the chief and the guy that shot me got gunned down again last night after I went to bed. And all of this in the past twenty-four hours.”
“Sounds like you need to retire sugar.”
“I just got started,” I chuckled. “It’s officially been a month since I started. I can’t quit now,” I said
and drank the whiskey. “How’s everything going here?”
“Well, I suppose you wouldn’t have taken the job if you couldn’t handle it. Seems like a lot of action for you though in the past day. Vacation time?” He asked and then said, “Oh nothin as interestin’ as yer life has been that’s for sure.”
“Be grateful for that. Dutch been by?” I asked Christy.
“He was here yesterday but you were here at that time being snippy remember?” Christy asked.
“Think he was hungover,” I nodded with a sigh.
“He was… Everyone had a lot to drink New Year’s Eve here,” Christy said.
“I try to stay away from drinkin most the time. I like to be in control of my actions,” Pax said.
“I didn’t drink New Years eve darlin... and after last night and our talk wont be doing it again,” Christy said.
“That’s real good Miss Christy. Nope, had this un fer some time. I just wasn’t wearin it on New Years,” Pax said.
We continued to talk about the businesses in town and we ate cobbler while we talked. Jayden Lukas came in and we talked with the boy about playing cards. We continued to talk and Pax gave me some cobbler for the ride. I said goodbye to them and headed home.
Georgetown.
I walked into the saloon this afternoon, exhausted and hoping to find some answers. I greeted everyone and got some whiskey while we talked. Snow came in and I talked with her about the Natives in town last night.
“Last night? I was there when the Chief decided to cause a problem.. there was no law about to deal with it.”
“Any more details you can give me?” I asked, but she didn’t know anything more.
We listened to the music and danced while we talked about how it was good that it was the new year. I went outside and found TJ standing by the church. “TJ, you busy?”
“Well going to the dance but I have a few minutes. What’s up?”
“Something happened this morning. I wanted to talk to you about it.”
“Oh?” he asked and I looked at him, not sure how to approach the subject. I took a deep breath and told him about Icca’s brother who seemed to know him. He remembered the name was Red and I continued to tell him about what happened. He asked where it took place and I said it was in Colorado Springs. I showed him the warrant for all counties.
“The natives came to town and got into it with Icca. I was just goin over to see if Adahy knew what had gone down.”
“Um the natives shot the town and my wife last night. That’s a different matter,” Tj said.
“Excuse me?” I raised an eyebrow.
“I’ll take care of them myself.”
“TJ…” I shook my head.
“The savages shot my wife no excuse for shooting a pregnant woman.”
“I know that but…” I wondered if Twist could have stayed out of the way and not gotten shot at, but I bit my tongue and stayed quiet.
“I’ll take care of the Chief. However, he won’t be called as a witness after I get through with him.”
“About that…” I looked at him.
“Besides Twist is the new DA. May trial that chief and hang his ass.”
“I’ll have to face Icca in court…?”
“Yup, ya sure will. Twist will be in touch.”
I felt my heart racing and said, “I should... go see if I can find Adahy..”
“But I’d be afraid of Red.”
“Clif’s told me enough about him and I saw what he did today.”
“Best carry extra guns.”
“He ain’t afraid to shoot down a judge and a sheriff... He’s not a man to mess with.”
“Very true.”
“TJ... There’s something else… He said that you’d been involved in the gang he knew of.”
“Yes, that was a long time ago. I had a troubled past.”
“When was the last time you spoke with any of them?” I asked, remembering him in the cave with Bill.
“Before I became judge.”
I nodded, knowing that was a while ago. “I’ll let you go. We’ll keep in touch about this. I tried to talk to Sam about all this but he was busy settin up the garden there.”
“Yes we will talk soon this week will set trial,” he said and headed for the saloon.
Wyoming.
I walked into Wyoming and saw the village in the distance. I debated calling across but I knew I needed information from Adahy, who was the only one who could give it. I took my gun off and hid it in my pocket. I sat on the edge of the water, thinking back over my journey with the natives and sighed, looking out at the village in the distance. I heard a puppy come over and I pet him, talking softly to it. It felt good to have the puppy to vent to. The puppy licked my face and I wondered how I would ever face any of them again.
I walked over to the village and called out, asking if Adahy was there.
“Trin, Osiyo,” Adahy and a woman walked over. “You know Leotie?”
“Osiyo, Leotie,” I nodded to her but didn’t look directly at her.
“What news do you bring Trin?” Adahy asked.
“I’ve heard about an attack and I want verification. I heard that after I’d gone to bed last night, your tribe came into the town and there was a fight between Icca and the chief.”
“It is true we went to the white man town.”
“This is after Icca told that he’d been shot by Natives.”
“Yes, I know my arrows found him after his cowardly attack.”
“It was you?” I raised an eyebrow as Leotie pet the puppy. I felt a bit better knowing this information but wasn’t completely relaxed.
“Yes, he was standing on the ridge, shooting at unarmed women trying to heal. I put two arrows into him, and he fled like a cowardly dog.”
“What unarmed woman?” I asked, wondering if it was Twist.
“She was trying to heal Julia,” Adahy said, “And the cur stood from the edge of a cliff and shot at her. I came, and shot back, and hit him twice with my arrows. He fled.”
“Where was he shooting this unarmed woman?” I asked, hoping the answer was Georgetown.
“Then I made sure the others that were wounded were safe,” Adahy said.
“It is true. The paleface admitted to it last night when we went looking for him,” Leotie said.
“He was standing on ridge above general store,” Adahy said.
“Icca…” I clarified to her with a warmer tone, realizing they were still on my side, in spite of the scalping yesterday.
“Man in black. Yes, that was his name they called him in white man town,” Adahy nodded.
“Yes, him, Ic…ca,” Leotie stumbled out the pronunciation.
“He shot me too. After I came to help the chief,” I said.
“The one that Chief called out and spoke with serpent tongue of honor. There is no honor in shooting an unarmed woman.”
“Adahy…” I hesitated, knowing I should warn about TJ’s threat against the chief but wasn’t sure how.
“Yes Trin?”
“I spoke with Judge TJ before coming here... about last night.. He said that the chief shot his wife and others. His wife, who is pregnant. Is there honor in that?”
“Chief did not shoot first. Chief was already wounded when I came,” Adahy said and I felt myself believing Adahy more than TJ and wasn’t really surprised.
“That is not true. Chief shot Ic..ca. If white woman got shot it was stray bullet. The palefaces nearly killed chief,” Leotie shook her head.
“This man shot you, shot Chief. He admitted to it in white man town,” Adahy said.
“He will go to trial for it. Soon,” I nodded. “TJ is a federal judge, he has jurisdiction where we do not as Pinkertons. Well, we have jurisdiction,” I corrected myself, “But as there’s no local law here it’s left to TJ. He has assured me that he will be taking care of the chief.” I sighed and looked down. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you this after yesterday he…”
“There will be a problem, Trin,” Adahy promised.
“There already is a problem, Adahy. My life is in danger. Icca’s brother found me this morning. He followed me to Colorado Springs where I was speaking with two of my law friends there. He overheard us talking about Icca and how angry I was at him.”
“Who is this man and what threats has he made?”
“He shot down both the judge and the sheriff that I was talking with. I was hiding in the house and could do nothing but watch.”
“You should know this Trin.”
“It can’t be a coincidence that Icca’s brother found me the day after Icca shot me down. Icca and I are restrained from speaking with each other until the trial. We kind of... got into it last night in the saloon and TJ punished us like we were kids.”
“Chief has said he will not wait or trust white man justice for this Icca you speak of,” Adahy said.
“I punched him in the gut; once for shooting Chief, once for shooting me.”
“Good,” he nodded. “Will have hurt where my arrows had to be pulled out.”
“That was the intent,” I nodded.
“But as I say… Chief will not wait or trust white man justice.”
“I know,” I nodded.
“If we see Icca again outside of white man village… We will kill him.”
“I know that too,” I nodded.
“There was another woman. Long golden hair, you were there.”
“Anna,” I looked away. “I remember.”
“The snows will be stained red soon Trin… and there will be nothing to stop it.”
“I know that too. My hands are tied... There’s absolutely nothing I can do about any of it because there’s no local law out here.”
“White man law.”
“Because it happened here, Icca was sitting in the saloon last night while I was there and we couldn’t do a thing even though we knew he shot me.”
“He should stay in white man town or he will die.”
“He won’t. He’s too smart for that. He knows we can’t charge him out here other than through TJ. Who probably won’t do a damn thing anyway,” I muttered.
“Then I hope to catch him. Will be great honor for tribe to bring his scalp.”
Somebody should, I thought to myself.
“This Icca is not truthful man. You know Cherokee want to keep peace. We only fight when provoked, and this Icca has provoked,” Leotie said.
“I understand, Leotie. I’m not blaming you for that. You protect your own and I admire that. It’s just… the…” I couldn’t even say the word and looked away.
“The… what?” Adahy asked.
“Any communication between me and the chief will now officially go through you. I will not speak with him directly unless he apologizes to me for what he did yesterday.” I knew that wouldn’t happen and felt secure in my decision.
"That will never happen, Trin.”
“Then I suppose all communication will go through you, Adahy.”
“Chief has been white Chief. Chief of peace. But Chief will soon be Red Chief. Chief of war. Because of these attacks.”
“He didn’t have to do it in front of me,” I looked back at him after rolling my eyes. “He could have waited until I was out of the village. He knows my past. Every last bit of it.”
“And I do not.”
I traced my scar on my forearm, remembering the similar warning from another outlaw with a knife, and looked at Adahy. “Maybe that is a discussion we’ll have to have.”
“Yes we will,” he nodded. “But I hear your words and will be your voice to the Chief.”
I saw Ahawi entering the village then and sighed, knowing that she would soon be marrying the chief. “I should head back.”
“Do you need escort for safety?” he asked and I nodded. “Then we go to edge of town. Little Flower, you have your bow?” Adahy asked the girl.
I knew my gun was in the back pocket of my pants but didn’t reveal it. I knew I still had to respect his wishes.
“We will see you to white man town, but be alert… Come.” We walked to the edge of the town and he asked, “Do you have any words for Chief?”
“You and I need to have that discussion soon. I want you to be able to trust me.. You need to know my past to understand the frustration I feel over yesterday. And why it is so hard to face the chief. This is worse than that discussion we had last week.”
“Yes, blood has spilled.”
“Thank you for taking me home safely,” I said to both of them.
“Wado Trin.”
“Safe paths back,” I said and turned to walk home.
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