January 21, 1870

Georgetown. 

I walked into the saloon this morning and talked with Sugar about how there was going to be a trial near Amiville against Valik Clifton. We talked about how much fun last night was and how Chet and I were getting to know each other slowly, with nothing serious yet between us. I asked Sugar if Icca shot Chet down in the funeral parlour or Jesse and she said that Jesse was the one drawing his guns. 

Colorado. 

I went to the saloon in Colorado Springs and talked with Vinnie while we had some coffee. I told him that I needed to stop running and stay in one spot in Georgetown for once, but that I would be visiting Colorado more than I had been. More people joined us in the saloon and we talked about what we did for a living. Vinnie seemed to be trying to convince me to stay as there was some banter between him and Roy and another man who’d come in the saloon. Vinni invited me to join him near the fire and we continued to talk about how most people who wanted to talk to me back home wanted me dead. Vinnie told me he was surprised that Jake had become a lawmwan. We talked about Tombstone and how that was where he’d come from. We talked about how it took a while to trust people lately. 

Suddenly we heard gunshots outside and saw Adder running past. I walked outside the saloon and asked, “Taurus, you okay?” 

“I’m fine. Anyone seen Doc Ida?” Adder asked. 

“S-Sir...My f-family must..They can’t…Hmph. Much money...They offered...Could have fed…” the man on the ground, who I’d seen earlier in the saloon, was muttering and spitting out blood. 

“Clinic still in the same place?” I asked Adder. 

“Aye, would you mind fetching her? I’ll take this one to my office.” 

“I’ll go look for her and tell her to meet you there.” 

I went to the clinic and found Ida and asked her to join me at the sheriff’s office. She followed me and Adder let us in. Ida went to the cells and Vinnie walked over to the office. Ida insisted she needed to get the prisoner to the clinic and Adder let her take him. He muttered at one point that Roy raped a prisoner named Kitty and didn’t take no for an answer. I was surprised at that and looked between them, confused. The man kept talking about Kitty and I sat down in the sheriff’s office to wait while they took the man to the clinic. 

“You troubled there, Trin?” Vinni asked me. 

“Maybe you can provide some intel for me.” 

“Go on then, let’s hear it,” he said as he took a seat. 

“The prisoner kept sayin somethin about Roy raping this woman named Kitty… There was this woman I knew... long time ago... Went by the name Kitty. When I was still in Amiville she got drugged and completely changed her identity when she woke up. Didn’t remember who she was. Her name became Cathy. She became an outlaw and ran with an awful gang there.. Last time I was in Amiville... I heard Cathy was killed. I don’t think the person who told me she was dead would lie to me but…” 

“Well I ain’t too good with folks round here, Trin. Don’t know how mcuh help I can be.” 

“Vin, if she ain’t dead…” I looked at him. 

“Well, I guess the right thing to say is I’ll do what I can…” 

I sighed and rubbed my eyes as the tension headache started to build. “Maybe I need another coffee.” 

“Well, it’s a bit much in here anyway. I only come to be nosey on who caused trouble in town.” 

I leaned back, trying not to let the ghosts of my past haunt me. Vinni headed out and I got the spare key out of the desk to let him out. When Adder came back to the office he held out his hand. “Key.” 

I chuckled and played with it, considering sticking it in my pocket, and winked at him, giving it back. “Never a dull moment with you, huh?” 

“Why buy guns if you’re not gonna use them?” he grinned. 

“Shall we join Vin back at the saloon?” I asked. 

“I have paperwork to write up. Though I guess I’ll have to leave the name blank til I can get some sense out of him.” 

“He kept mentioning something with Roy and Kitty… That can’t be the same Kitty that…” 

“I heard,” Adder nodded. “And I don’t understand either. All I know is its a damn mess, whatever it is.” 

“Rayce told me Cathy was killed,” I hesitated. 

“Well, its gospel truth then…” he chuckled. 

“That ain’t what I meant. I’m just sayin…” 

“Not the most reliable source though, if you want my opinion.” 

“I’m gonna go get a drink,” I said. 

“Ok, might catch up with you in a while. Once I work out what the hell happened,” he nodded.

“Try not to get shot again,” I winked at him and headed back to the saloon. Chels was sitting at the bar with Vin and another lady and I said, “You might be able to give me some intel on this.... Is Kitty/Cathy still alive?” 

Chels was busy with some paperwork so Vinni, and I talked with the woman that was there about getting a room at the hotel. I drank some coffee and Vin joined me by the fireplace again. I told him about what I knew about Kitty and how I’d been on the run ever since all of that had happened and how it was time to stop running. 

Vin looked at me and asked, “What is it you’re really wanting with me? Honestly, speak up. What is it?” 

I blinked, never having been asked the question so bluntly. My mind went blank and I said, “I... I just met you, Vin. You’re easy to talk to. Just enjoying the company to be perfectly honest.” 

“Hmm.. fair enough. Well it’s nice for the company also.” 

I nodded, my spirit troubled now though by his direct question, and I grew speechless. 

“You will have to take an apology for my blunt questions,” he said after a while. “I don’t like to go around things and sugar coat them. I’m an honest type of guy and I thought you might be asking somethin’ of me and a plain answer would have done and I got it, so much obliged.” 

“That’s fair. Besides even if there was... an attraction... you’re Jake’s uncle. If I even thought about asking you to dance he’d hate me even more than he probably already does,” I decided to be honest with him and stared at my coffee. He lifted his left hand and revealed his wedding ring and I swallowed hard, swearing softly to myself. He smiled a bit and I looked over at him. “Do you think... that you could keep this between us?” 

“Ah, no… I couldn’t. It wouldn’t be right,” he looked me up and down and smiled. He looked upstairs towards the bedroom and back down at me. I swallowed hard and looked over at him, wondering what was going through his mind. “Are you okay, Miss Trin? Hmm… maybe it ain’t too good of an idea that we socialize with whiskey.” 

“Where’s your wife?” I brought up the nerve to ask. 

“She is building towns and building great things for the future of the west.” 

“Maybe I should…” I looked down. 

Vin walked past me and paused close to my chair and gripped a gold Colt on his waist.”Ma’am,” he said and walked out of the saloon and I took a deep breath, trying to relax myself. I wondered what the hell just happened and went to the door, pacing a couple steps to relax. 

I walked over to Adder’s and knocked on the door lightly, muttering, “Come on adder, be home, be home…” 

Adder opened the door and said, “Howdy, Trin.” 

I looked at him with tired, scared, and confused eyes. “I... we... need to talk.” 

“What’s wrong? Come in,” he said and I followed him in, sitting down on the couch when he motioned to it. I pulled my knees up under my chin and rested my forehead against them, taking a few deep breaths. 

“I was just in the saloon with Vinni… We were having coffee, just talking… Then he right out asks me what my intentions are with him. What I want from him. I didn’t think I was coming on strong but I guess he thought… I told him that I was just enjoying the company and that even if... Even if I was attracted to him, nothing could happen cos he’s Jake’s uncle… So then he shows me his left hand... where there’s a ring on his finger ’cause he’s... married.. So I asked him if we could keep this between us… And he…” I swallowed hard.

“Go on…” Adder nodded. 

“He looked upstairs to the bedroom there and said he didn’t think that would be possible. Then there was this guy that came in looking for help... and when he left I asked Vin where his wife was...  He told me she was off somewhere buildin’ great things for the future of the west or something… Then he…” I rested my chin on my knees and stared down at the floor. 

“Then he what?” 

“He walked over, gripping something on his waist and stood real close to me. He just stood there for a few seconds, then said ’ma’am’ and walked out of the saloon.” I shuddered at the intensity of the moment. 

“What was he gripping?” 

“A gold colt,” I looked at Adder with scared eyes. 

“That’ll be the same gold colt he thought was funny to point at me at the cookout last night,” Adder said. 

“What do I do?” I swallowed hard.

“Legally, he’s not made any actual threat that would hold up in court. So I suggest you stay away from him. He’s bad news, Jakes uncle or not,” he shrugged. 

“Maybe I should go home…” I nodded in agreement. I still felt myself shaking and told myself to get a grip. 

“That might be best, you’ve had a rough time and need to rest,” Adder said. 

“Thanks for listening... Are you feeling okay since that shootout?” I stood and looked at him. 

“It was a scratch. Felt good to put the little worm down.” 

I swallowed, remembering what I’d told Vinnie about him being like my brother who I ran to for protection and advice and sighed. “Maybe I should be a little less... friendly with strangers, even if they’re related to people I know.” 

“Aye,” he nodded. “You know how dangerous it can be out here. You need to be on your guard.” 

“Hell, I’ve got a brother, well.... half brother, that you wouldn’t want to meet,” he chuckled and I felt 

myself getting emotional, angry at myself for being so naive.

“I should…” I wiped a tear and looked down. 

“Aye, get home before the sun goes down. Too cold to be out long after dark.” 

“I’ll see you soon, hopefully,” I said and hugged him tightly, crying on his shoulder. 

“It’ll all be fine, don’t worry,” he hugged me back. 

“Take care of yourself, Taurus,” I said and walked outside, not sure I believed him. 

Georgetown. 

I walked to the Pinkerton office and did some writing when the door opened and Chet walked in. “Howdy darling,” he smiled and I walked over to him, wrapping my arms around him. 

“It’s good to see you!” I said to him. 

“Good to see you,” he kissed me quickly. “Any of them low down varmets be around?” 

“Nope, ain’t seen no one all day,” I kissed him back, smiling. “Well not here anyway... Was over in Colorado Springs for a while. Had some excitement over there.” 

“That’s a nice ride out there, I hear,” Chet said. 

“Interested in a drink? Maybe talk while we dance a little?” I slid my hands around his lower back. 

“It’s after five. I reckon we can.” 

I chuckled and we walked out of the office to the saloon, my arm still around his waist. We got a drink at the bar and noticed a bear outside. He told me to stay behind the bar and he tossed a sandwich out at the bar. We talked about how he’d been out looking around for Icca and Jesse. I told him about Adder getting in a gunfight in Colorado and how I helped get the doctor over to the jail. I told him that the man claimed Roy had done somethin’ awful too and he was a bounty hunter or something. I told him about Kitty being mentioned and how Icca’s brother might still be in the gang that Kitty was involved with. 

“Chet I dunno... First Dutch, then Sayler, now Kitty…” I sighed and looked at him. “All these people that we thought were dead and then Dutch was actually alive the whole time, Tex thinks that Sayler wasn’t actually dead, and now Kitty might not have actually been killed… I don’t know what to make of it all, Chet,” I set down my drink with a sigh. 

“Seems like a bit of a mystery or else ya got walking dead over there,” he grinned. 

The bear showed up again and then suddenly the bear started to swipe at both of us and left deep claw marks on me. Chet and I both drew our guns and tried to shoot the bear down. He managed to hit the bear and the bear ran off to its home. I fell down to Chet and cried out in pain. Little Rock came in asking if we were okay and we said we’d both gotten hit. I looked around for Chet and could barely move from the pain in my legs and arms from the attack. Little Rock and Asha came over to help me and began to bandage my wounds. I squeezed Chet’s hand tightly and then all of a sudden I saw Chief Standing Bear walk over to us.

“What happen here?” he asked. 

“Bear attack, Chief,” said Wohali, one of the Natives. 

“I’m… Trin…” I said to Asha. 

“We heard sound of fighting and came to aid, but bear is gone.” 

“I saw fresh track of large Brother grizzly,” Chief said. “Also saw small drops of blood along his trail.” 

“Chet... are you... okay?” I asked, still feeling a bit dizzy as Asha treated me. “You are lucky, Trin. Bear missed your face, but did get you on your forehead.” 

“Trin, you hurt bad?” Chief looked down at me. 

“He came at me full on... clawed at my chest and stomach… The headache is brutal…” I swallowed hard. 

“Sister can you treat her?” Chief asked. 

“I have no medicines, Chief. They were used during our journey. But I will do my best to stop the bleeding and clean it. I will need warm, clean water. Is there any nearby?” Asha shook her head. 

“There is a stream close wife...I will fetch water,” Wohali said as I leaned back against the counter in the bar where we’d been attacked. 

“Sister I have medicines,” Cheif said. 

“I am okay, how about you?” Chet asked. “I’ll be ok mostly just banged my head and thanks to you all for help,” he looked around. 

“You must sit, Trin. We try to help you,” Asha guided me to the chair and I nodded to Chet. 

“Do you have bandages?” Chief asked. 

“Lay down, darling... I’ll be fine with them,” I told Chet and he nodded, reluctantly going with another one of the Natives to get looked at. 

“Thank you, Chief. We will need those medicines. We have bandages,” Asha said. 

“Chief… It’s been a while,” I looked over at the Chief while Asha continued to work on my wounds. 

“She will be fine, Wohali. She is scratched pretty bad, but not severely,” Asha said as she cleaned the blood away. The chief handed two leather pouches to Asha, containing healing roots and pine tar to clean the wounds and keep the infections out.

“Sister sprinkle snakeroot over wound, then coat with pinetar before you bandage,” Chief instructed and I smiled my thanks towards him.

“Will stop bleeding and keep infection away.” 

“We must get her to someplace safe, before the bear comes back again. I know of place she can stay and rest,” Little Rock said. 

“I am worried that Brother Bear may attack our people… he is wounded,” Chief said. “f he did not get his fill of revenge here he will attack other.” 

“My house is not far…” I looked at Little Rock. “It’s just down the road and up the mountain…” 

“I will help you support her Brother,” Wohali said. 

“Wado, brother,” he nodded. 

“Say when is safe to help her stand and move,” Wohali looked at Asha as she continued to do as Chief instructed. 

“Are you able to walk?” Little Rock asked me. 

“She can stand after the medicine is applied,” Asha said and I felt the contact to my wounds and winced. 

Chief looked at me and said, “I know you neither like nor trust me, but Cherokee do not leave wounded to die of bleeding and infection unless they are enemy.” 

I nodded to him and said, “We need to talk soon, Chief.” 

“Sister do you need more bandages?” Chief asked. “No talk now, you must heal.” 

“Not now... but soon,” I nodded.

“Maybe, I see what spirits say.” 

“No, Chief. I have plenty, Wado,” Asha said to the chief and continued to heal my wounds and I winced at the contacts, knowing the pain would heal soon. 

“We must return to village, at once!” Wohali insisted then. 

“Ahawi...she was going to rest in Asi waiting for you returning from hunt...if she is alone there….” Wohali said as Chief talked to him in Cherokee. 

“You head back to village. I take care of Trin,” Little Rock told Wohali. “In getting her home, that is.” 

“Brother, she is alone, maybe asleep...if bear comes…” Wohali said. 

“Brother, who do you speak of? Of Trin?” Chief asked. 

“Your bride...Ahawi! She went to your Asi to sleep She is alone at village… If bear comes...we must go back now!” 

“Thank you, for healing me…” I looked at Asha as she finished her work .

“I will go now,” Chief looked up. “She cannot be left alone with wounded bear on prowl,” he said and left, returning to his village. I sighed at how complicated things between us had become and watched him run out. 

“I am finished. Let these men help you to your feet,” Asha said then. “You must remember to clean the wounds and apply fresh, clean, bandages each sun so they do not get infection.” 

“I will. Thank you,” I said and let the men help me up. “Er… Wado.”

“Of course, Trin. We are happy to help. We were making sure my mother made it back out of this area safely, and it seems as though she has. The Spirits sent us in tie right direction, at the right time,” Asha promised. 

I showed them the way to my house and Little Rock and Wohali helped me walk up the hill while Asha followed close. They were amazed at the big building and how different it was from their home. I asked if I could repay them but they insisted I didn’t need to. 

“I’m sure the chief has told you about my involvement with his tribe…” I told Asha as we sat down. 

“I need to tell you something… No matter what the chief might have told you,” I said, knowing I could only imagine. 

“Wado, Trin. You may tell us. But know that ew know nothing of you. We just arrived three moons ago,” Asha nodded. 

“My interest has always been to help the cherkoee in their fight against the outlaws. Chief and I have had our differences... and I have reason not to trust him. But that will hopefully be healed in time.” I got a bit emotional and said, “I... I miss coming to visit.” 

“Why you no can come?” Wohali asked. 

“Then why you don’t come visit? You seem friendly,” Asha said. 

I will come soon, as there are several things Chief and I need to discuss... Your way of dealing with crimes and outlaws is different than our ways,” I said. “Chief and I do not see eye to eye on this and for that reason I’ve backed away. It does not mean that I do not love his people, and your village. I am deeply concerned and long to make things right between the Natives and the palefaces. Chief appointed Adahy to be a scout, to help pass information between me and the tribe about outlaws that may be in your area.... But I have not seen him in days.” 

Wohali pondered what I said and then said, “Cherokee will always follow tradition, but if this is for evil men that will be put to death for crimes against your people...do not let the differences in our customs keep you from visiting tribe.” 

“The last time I was in your village Chief and the men cut off locks of a woman’s hair and carved a shape of a bear in the palm of her hand.” 

“And what crimes had this woman done to Cherokee?” 

“She was one of the three who were shooting at the chief…” 

“And that was not fair?” Asha asked and I sighed, knowing I could never explain it to them. 

“If she shot Chief...then blood calls for blood,” Wohali agreed. “But this is matters more for decision of council, and war chief.” 

“And that’s where we do not see eye to eye. And that is a cultural difference I doubt will change.” 

“Tonight we come as friends.” 

“I just... I wanted to tell you that... I…” I wiped a tear from my eyes. 

“Trin. I may call you Trin?” Wohali asked and I nodded. 

“Why do you cry, Trin?” Asha asked. 

“Wife speaks my thoughts. Why do you carry wounds inside of this?” he asked. 

I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to tell them the real reason and looked at them blankly. Wohali looked over at Asha and she said, “It is ok if you wish not to tell us now, Trin. We can see you harbor some pain. We have had many troubles with palefaces, but try to be kind to all we can.” 

“I know, and your helping me tonight has proved that,” I nodded. “Hopefully that will help bridge things together again.” 

“I hope so, too. I wish for peace. I believe we all wish for peace.” 

“And hopefully I can come visit once I am able to walk... Though my heart longs to go back with you now.” 

“It is not good for you to go now. You need to heal, and rest.” 

“You have all shown me such kindness and I’m just... I’m overwhelmed.” 

“Yes. Peace is best. We only want to live on our land, raise our children, follow our tradition and customs,” Wohali agreed. 

“I guess I should... rest…” I sighed. 

Asha gave her husband a warning glance and then said, “We wish to live with palefaces in peace. We are able of compromise, as we understand that all want to live on this land. We must go now, brother and husband. She needs rest.” 

“Ah-se-hi, wife. We return to village,” he nodded. 

“We stay too long and make her more tired, is not good for her. Let’s go back to our village.” 

I looked at them and said, “Thank you all... Wado... for... everything. I still have the bracelet, that chief gave, as a sign of friendship. Perhaps I should put it on again.” 

“We hope to see you come to village Trin. Come when healed,” Wohali told me. 

“I will. And ... tell Chief that... I will. And.. tell him wado as well,” I nodded. 

“I know we will see you soon, Trin. The Spirits have told me so. You and Chief will make forgiveness, and all will be friends again,” Asha said and I hoped that was true. 

I said goodnight to them as they headed out with Little Rock, who had been guarding at the door, followed close behind.