February 16, 1870

Colorado Springs. 

This morning I went to Colorado again and talked with Bo and said I was thinking about moving back to the town. Bo told me he missed having me around and we headed back to where I used to live, in the old post office building. I decided to make the move official and put down money for the new house. I set up my office downstairs and an apartment upstairs, like before. It felt good to finally have made the decision to move. I wanted to be around more friends and hoped that Tom and Chet would join me in Colorado too. 

I sat in front of the office, reclined in my chair with my feet on the whiskey barrel, doing some writing for most of the morning. I walked around and met a girl named Reena who was a preacher until they got someone else. She was handing out Bibles and helping doctors with the wounded. I told her how I already had a Bible and how I liked to play hymns in the church sometimes. I told her how I was a lawyer as well as a Pinkerton detective. 

It wasn’t long before Adder found me in the saloon and greeted me. “Well hey there! Guess what!” I said to him. 

“I don’t know… you’re on the run from the law?” Adder guessed. 

“I just moved into the office above the saloon. Hoping to run the newspaper out of there and going to talk to Frank about becoming a DA again,” I chuckled. 

“That’s great news!” he exclaimed. 

“Mmhmm. What can I say, I missed ya’ll. How are you doin’, Taurus?” 

“Not bad. Been a quiet couple of days here. Pretty much. How about you?” 

“Went to the dance with Tom last night over in Georgetown but I just felt like I need to be here more and actually put down a business here again. He’s such a good man, Adder,” I smiled. 

“Good.” 

“You might be able to use him as a deputy if I can convince him,” I winked. “Maybe even Chet too.” 

“I got rid of one last night and I still could do with getting rid of a few more,” he shook his head and chuckled. 

“Any more word from that Black Hand group?” 

“Not since their leader was found dead in the street.” 

“Really?” I raised an eyebrow. 

“Aye. Don’t know what happened, don’t really care.” 

“They’re gone, that’s all you care about huh?” I chuckled. 

“Aye, pretty much.” 

“Gotta tell you, it’s good to be back. Gonna have to get some poker games goin’ sometime,” I smiled. 

“Aye,” he chuckled .

We walked across the street to the saloon and talked with a girl named Alissa and a boy named Millard. Despres was there as well as Twist and I told them I was hoping to become a lawyer again and that I’d moved back. Frank came into the saloon and I asked to talk to him while Twist, who ran the saloon there now, talked to a girl who was looking for work. 

Frank and I headed across the road to my office where I asked Frank if I could be a lawyer again. He said he’d love to have a worthy opponent again. We talked about a newspaper again and he loved the idea. 

I went back to the saloon and congratulated Twist on being at the saloon again. A couple hours later I talked with Suzi and Adder in the saloon looked between them as the girl said, “Howdy Trin. That a mighty fine gun.” 

“Hey Trin,” Adder looked at me. 

“Sheriff took mine,” Suzi said. 

“I’m sure he had good reason,” I chuckled. 

“Met her here once. I was a deputy. I needs a lawyer.” 

“Sure you did,” I said, not believing her. 

“Well Trin here is an Attorney,” Adder said and I looked between them. 

“I was beat up by this ol’ man,” Suzi said. 

“She withheld property of the town, namely one Deputy Sheriffs badge. She also tried to shoot me. Again,” Adder said and I leaned against the post. 

“I hurtin’. I neva did such a thing. Sot ya wid fake bullet.” 

“A fake bullet,” I said with disbelief. 

“Witnesses are Marshals Seetan and Despres, Mayor Free Feather, and er, Suzi’s own mother,” Adder said. 

“I did,” she said. “If’n I want ta he be dead.” 

“Well Adder, I’m a prosecuting attorney, not a defense attorney…” 

“Dang. Can’t win,” she muttered. 

“Oh well, if it does go to court, you now know who to call as witnesses,” Adder looked at me. 

“That I do,” I smiled. “You sayin’ you gonna be askin me to be yer lawyer, Taurus? That’d be a change of pace, hmm?” 

“He a liar and ma lover,” Suzi insisted. 

“Miss, I’ve known Sheriff Taurus for a very long time and he has not lied to me once.” 

“No, I think it’d be the town as the complainant, not me personally. I’m your what? And you call me a liar?” Adder looked at her. 

“Ya don’t know him like ah do. I was his deputy ma’am.” 

“And I was his detective. Your point?” 

“He likin me handcuffed. And den he beats me.” 

“I can’t believe that for a second either,” I shook my head. 

“Well ya betta.” 

“Why’s that, Miss? Are you threatening me?” 

“No ma’am.” 

“Glad to hear that.” 

“He beat me wid his fists. I loves him.” 

“Sure ya do,” I backed up. 

“I does. Ya a tall woman.” 

“Observant,” I rolled my eyes. 

“You a nasty thing, I’m a thinkin’.” 

“Only when I have to be. Just don’t like the way you’re talkin’ bout my friend.” 

“Seems like you already gave up on behaving,” Adder put in from his seat and I stood beside him. 

“He ma lover. Ya betta stand real close ma’am. Smell me on him. Give him a kiss an taste.” 

I rolled my eye and watched Adder stand then. Suzi ran and I laughed with him. “You couldn’t have stood a bit sooner?” 

“No no no, wheres the dramatic value in that?” 

“You always were one for the dramatic.” 

I chuckled and went to write at my office. I waved to Chels and showed her my new place. I looked over and asked her, “Oh I wanted to ask you about something. In case it goes to court... What happened between Adder and Suzi that made him take her guns away?” 

“She was always pushing his buttons..then drew her guns on him last night..he had about enough by that time.” 

“Then what happened?” 

“So when she drew on him..he just hit her. He had to do something,” he shrugged. 

“Of course. It’s better than shooting her himself. Anything happen after that?” 

She shook her head and said, “Other then he fired her.” 

“She mentioned that. Said he took her guns away too. So how far away are the natives from here? I’m sure lots has changed since I lived here last.”

“Up over the hill,” she motioned. 

“And the mines?” I nodded. 

“Same place as before...kind of hard to move a mine,” she chuckled. 

“True,” I chuckled. “Just never used ’em much when I lived here either. Think I always used the ones in Kansas. Reminds me, I’m gonna have to go find Hawk sometime soon and tell him I’m back in the area. I’m sure he won’t be surprised. I told him what had happened with the Cherokee.” 

“We haven’t had any problem with the apaches that moved in..yet anyways...other then the chief calls me spring bear,” Chels nodded. 

“I’m sure it’s a term of endearment,” I winked at her. 

“He says I am skinny..like a bear that comes out of its cave in the spring,” Chels rolled her eyes. 

“Men,” I shook my head. “Do you think they’ll put this Suzi/Adder thing to trial?” 

“I have no idea,” she shrugged. 

Suzi walked upstairs and into the apartment and I looked at her, “You know this is a private residence up here, right?” I looked at her. 

“Sorry.” 

“Downstairs is a public area but upstairs ain’t.” 

“Ah said ah was sorry,” she said and went downstairs again. 

I looked over at Chels and asked, “How much can I charge for trespassing if she does it again?” I winked. 

“Aren’t you an attorney?” Chels chuckled. “News travels fast.” 

“True,” I chuckled. “Been out of the game for a while though, and only did that one case when I was here... Gonna need to read up on this again.” 

“I am sure it will all come back to ya.” 

“Hey do you have a sheet with the bail times and fees for the jail? I don’t think I ever did get one.” I asked as Adder wired one over to me right then as if he knew. “Ah I just got one wired from Adder. Fantastic.” 

“Nice. I will see you after...now don’t fall asleep doing all that reading.” 

“I’ll try not to,” I chuckled and sat down to read. 

*** 

This afternoon I went over to Adder’s and saw him sitting on his front porch. He invited me in and I took a seat as we talked for a while. Adder took me out to see the mines and as we walked out I asked him, “Where are the Cherokee?” 

“Wyoming.” 

“Yes, I knew that much,” I chuckled. “Where in relation to here?” 

“North, and slightly west.” 

“Just wanna know which way not to go. Wonder if I could find my way back to Kansas… I remember it being East…” 

“It’s just north of here. You could follow the river, but at the state border it gets dangerous.” 

“Got a better idea?” 

“Better to follow the road. Take the Amiville road, but turn off to the right before my house. Follow that road all the way to Kansas.” 

“I can do that. Alright I’m gonna go find a horse to take me out there. Wonder if there’s any that ain’t taken yet.” 

“Have a safe journey,” he nodded and I waved to Chels as she came over and I rode off towards Kansas. I went to see if anyone was at the village, but it was empty so I headed back home. 

I talked with Adder and Chels in the saloon and Chels joked about using me for target practice. I kicked Adder in the shin and he said, “Ow! I can arrest you for that.” 

“I didn’t kick ya that hard,” I patted him on the shoulder. “You’re the ones who wanted to shoot at me.” 

“We might of missed,” Chels grinned. 

“Didn’t think you’d fight back,” Adder said. 

“I’ve changed,” I grinned at him. 

TJ walked over and then I met a man named Marcus. TJ introduced himself as a judge and Marcus said he was with the cavalry. Adder was reluctant to call TJ a judge though he talked about his new courthouse. Adder and TJ continued to banter and Adder told him not to impersonate a judge. Marcus headed back to his post and I headed back to my apartment to call it a night.