January 3, 1870

Georgetown. 

I was out walking around town this morning when I saw a man walking up the mountain towards Silver Plume. I decided not to follow him but when he came down, he looked over at me so I greeted him. “Morning, sir. Out for a stroll?” 

“Good morning. Actually I am. I just arrived from New York today on the rail.” 

“Oh really? Well welcome to Georgetown.” I reached out my hand and said, “Agent Trin Paige. And you are, sir?” I asked, noticing the gun under his jacket when he moved. 

“My name is Vito, of the Marzetti family from Italy. Have you heard of them?” 

“No Sir. Nice to meet you, Vito. What brings you to our fine area? That’s quite a trek from New York.” 

“I’m looking to expand my family’s business out west. I’ve heard there is a great opportunity for profit out here.” 

I nodded, not really understanding what his family business was. “What business would that be?” I asked. 

“My family deals in various ventures, from olive oil, to wine, to banking, and mining. Basically whatever is profitable for the area. You must be flexible to the resources, whatever they be.” 

“What kind of ‘agent’ are you, if I may ask?” 

“Pinkerton actually. Care to join me in the saloon? I was just on my way there for my morning jolt.” 

“Pinkerton... Pinkerton.... yes, I think I’ve heard of them. A group of detectives, if I remember correctly. And I would love a trip to the saloon.” 

“Follow me,” I smiled and led the way to the saloon. “Well here we are. What’ll it be?” I asked as we walked in and I went behind the bar. 

“Any wines here or just hard liquor and beer?” 

“Whatever ya like, darlin’,” I said,  falling easily back into the bartending role I carried in Amiville. 

“I’d like a glass of your best wine.” 

I nodded and took the wine bottle off the shelf, taking a glass and pouring the wine into it, then handed him the glass with ease. “First drinks are on the house,” I smiled at him. 

“Thank you. That is most generous,” he said and took out a rolled up bill, handing it to me. “That’s for the service.” 

“Are you sure?” I asked, looking at the bill. 

“I’m sure. I always take care of my debts,” he nodded. 

I took the money and let my fingers brush against his hand as I slid the bill in my pocket. “Well thank you, that’s mighty kind.” 

“You do something for me, and I do something for you. That’s how my family works.” 

I nodded with understanding and asked, “So this family of yours... It a big one?” 

“I still have family back in the homeland running the business back there too. It’s quite expansive.” 

“Still seems a far way to go to be here,” I said and took a sip of my whiskey. 

“This is ‘the land of opportunity’, is it not?” 

“I s’pose it is,” I said as I watched him drink the wine. “How’s the wine?” 

“A bit earthy for my taste, but not too bad. I will have to have some imported from my family’s vineyard in Italy for you to taste.” 

“I would enjoy that.” 

“Any big news here in Georgetown lately?” he asked and I looked at him, not sure how much to tell him as I had just met him. “I do hope there are no foul ruffians causing trouble.” 

“Well you’ll probably hear about it in the paper soon enough,” I sighed and realized I should just tell him about the past two days. “There’s been some tension with the Natives.. Over in Wyoming.” 

“The Natives?” he raised an eyebrow. “I see…” 

“There was an attack on them the other day. By a few outlaws. One who lives in town here. He’s smart. He attacked out there because he knows we don’t have jurisdiction where there’s no local law. He shot me down after I went to help the chief who had been shot down already.” 

“One of the outlaws shot you?... Running around without being able the law being able to do anything?” 

“Pinkertons can only investigate crimes if the local law gives us permission to help them,” I explained. “Because it happened in Wyoming, where there’s no local law, we can’t arrest him because we have no power to. The only thing we can do, which we’ve done, is alert the federal judge and he is going to take it to trial.” 

“And what if someone were to go and ‘take care of’ this outlaw problem you seem to be having?” he asked. I looked at him and wondered what that meant but I guessed I had an idea. I set my whiskey down and he asked, “I’ll just ask then. Would you want your problem ’resolved’?” 

“What exactly are you suggesting?” I looked at him seriously, starting to get uncomfortable around him. 

“You will find that there are times when certain questions are better left unasked as you really aren’t prepared for the the truth,” he said and I swallowed hard at the intensity of his gaze and shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “So, want to let the federal judge try to take him to trial?” 

I sighed, knowing what facing Icca in court would be like and I really wanted to avoid that somehow, but wasn’t quite ready to put a hit on the man. 

“I can see this may not be the time. When you need something, just come find me.” 

“It’s been a couple of overwhelming days, I’ll be honest with you Vito. I’ve been shot... My two best friends have been shot down by that man’s brother… The native tribe that I thought trusted me and wanted me to help them is now taking justice in their own hands. The one friend that I thought I could count on more than anything has decided he couldn’t care less…” I sighed, thinking of Dutch. “The man that I thought was my friend and was staying in my home with me while he went on his spiritual journey has seemed to disappear,” I thought of Eagle. “I have a restraining order against the man that shot me down because we got into a fight about all this… The man that shot me I’ve known a long time,“ I told him. “He used to be affiliated with a gang that I’ve been running from and have finally gotten some distance from save this one man.” I saw him perk and shook my head. “Don’t go there. I’d rather leave them in the past. Facing Icca in court might be what I need to finally overcome my past,” I said his name without realizing it. 

“So this ‘Icca’ was the one who shot you then?” he asked and I swallowed hard, looking down. 

“Don’t worry, I have no issue with him. I’ve never met him. Right now he seems like a loose cannon that needs to be corralled.” I sighed, drinking my whiskey so the glass was empty. 

“I have no reason to be looking for him, do I?” he looked at me. 

“I’m sorry it’s just…” I choked. “It’s been a couple of hard days and I’m not really handling it that well.” 

“So you know, one of my mantras is to stay out of other people’s business. So, unless it affects me, don’t expect me to expend a lot of energy to it.” 

I nodded at his somewhat curt reply and said, “Guess we don’t really have anything else to discuss.” I already knew I didn’t like him. 

“I’m a businessman, Miss Paige. Businesses don’t become profitable by investing in every venture that’s out there. We must see what’s going to be good for business.” 

“Well Vito it would seem your business and mine are very different.” 

“Or if something is bad for business... taking care of it. We are more alike than you realize, Miss Paige. You just don’t have the ‘perspective’ I have grown up with.” 

“Enlighten me then,” I said sarcastically. 

“There’s a reason why I’m not the one with a bullet wound. You see Miss Paige, the head of a company has to learn how to delegate. Just like the general of an army. I can tell you’re not overly fond of me, and it doesn’t bother me. I’m used to not being liked. I didn’t come here to make friends. I came here to run a business and get things done,” he said and I nodded, still not liking his tone. “Like you, I like order. I don’t like these ruffians running around causing problems for the general public.” 

“Well there’s something we’re in agreement about,” I nodded. 

“You are bound by your oath to that badge and your ‘jurisdiction’, correct? Have you heard the term ‘sphere of influence’? That’s my ‘jurisdiction’, so to speak. You can be across the world and be in it, or next to me and not be. It’s dynamic. It’s not that I’m uncaring about other things, I just pick my battles carefully. Would you send out your entire agency after a little boy shoplifting an apple because he was starving?

I stared at him blankly and he winced a bit, rubbing his eyes. “It’s about resource management. “Food is a resource, gold is a resource, guns are a resource, people are a resource. When you learn everything’s resource value and how to best use it, THEN you will be successful.” 

I nodded, getting tired with his talk about resources and delegation. “I think it’s time I best go back to the office.” 

“Ahh, yes... the newspaper office…” 

“How did you know…” I looked at him. 

“Do not mistake me for being naive, Miss Paige. Another thing you’ll learn is that a good businessman ALWAYS does his research. With that I thank you and bid you ‘good day’,” he said and I watched him walk out. 

***

I walked over to the Washington house and knocked on the door. Leu opened the door and I asked if we could talk. He invited me in and I greeted him and his wife, saying, “There’s been some developments. We should sit.” 

“Ok, I only have about ten minutes,” Leu said. 

“I’ll make it quick. Okay, so here’s the story… Two days ago I received a wire that the chief had been shot down in Wyoming. I went out to help him and got shot down in the process, by Icca. There were a couple of other outlaws attacking as well... A Julia and an Anna.” 

“Julia? She was attacking?” Leu asked. 

“The tribe caught Anna and I had to watch them scalp her, then Chief cut a bear claw symbol in her hand to remind her of that day, as if the scalping wasn’t enough. Then as if that day wasn’t enough, I found Icca in the saloon that night and he was acting all smug because he knew we couldn’t do anything as there’s no local law in Wyoming.” 

“Hmm…” 

“So then… The next day I went to tell Clif and Adder about what had happen. Clif is a judge and Adder’s a sheriff, over in Colorado Springs. I’ve known them both a long time and trust them with my life.” 

“But they are not of here right?” 

“A man claiming to be Icca’s brother came over and he heard us talking inside. When Adder went out to shoo him off, Icca’s brother shot them both down. It can’t be a coincidence that Icca’s brother shows up the day after Icca shot me down in Wyoming.” 

“Yes, that is strange,” he agreed. 

“I wanted to come and tell you both about this because I’m sure you would hear about it from others.” 

“Thanks.” 

“There’s something else. The man who was Icca’s brother... He claimed to have known TJ well.” 

“From a troubled past that TJ has.” 

“Yes I bet." 

“I was told that the chief and the tribe came to Georgetown the night after the attack in Wyoming looking for Icca.” 

“Well that’s not good. Has the town been told of this?” Leu asked. 

“The town is all well aware. I expect it to be very dangerous around here very soon.” 

“Yes I guess it will. It’s going to be tough to defend the town too.” 

“There’s going to be a trial... For Icca… I am concerned though with this recent connection.” 

“I will be here all alone when my Husband will be hunting today,” Mrs. Leu said. 

“Oh really? Somehow I doubt that will happen, what is Icc going to be tried for?” Leu asked. 

“He’ll be on trial for shooting the chief and myself,” I said. 

“Is the chief aware of this?” Leu asked. 

“I would be very careful when going out alone,” I looked at Mrs. Leu then looked back at Leu. “I do not know. I have not spoken to him or my scout since the trial was decided.” 

“Yes! Will be careful,” she looked at her husband. 

“My scout is aware of the fact that I am not speaking directly to the chief until I have received an official apology, which will probably never happen. Then maybe it’s more because he shot me. I don’t know. I still doubt that anything will happen with this trial. I just wanted to come and inform you both.” 

“Well I guess we will see,” Leu said. 

“I was concerned for Mrs. Leu’s safety moreso,” I told them. 

“Yes!! Chief not like me much,” she exclaimed. 

“Well the chief, being the way he is toward women, will probably not bother her,” Leu said. 

“I’m not worried about the chief. I’m worried about her around Icca and others.” 

“They do not hardly know us,” Leu promised. 

“I will stay in the house if have to,” Mrs. Leu insisted. 

“They tend to ignore us negroes. Well I need to be on my way,” Leu said and kissed his wife goodbye. 

“I should as well,” I nodded. 

“Well thank you Trin for coming,” Mrs. Leu said. 

“Thank you both for your time... Stay safe…” I said. 

“Bye Trin, you be careful out there,” Leu warned. 

“If it’s in my power I’ll stay safe,” I said and headed out with Leu.