Georgetown.
This morning I walked down the street and saw a dog that had been around last night during the gunfights. I pet the dog and then we went into the saloon where I set a bowl of water down for him and made myself some coffee with whiskey.
Frey came into the saloon and we talked about yesterday’s events as John joined us. John recognized Freya as the girl the marshal had been interested in before all hell broke loose. We talked about how Vivi and Anna had gone to bed right away since they were exhausted.
A man walked into the saloon and ordered a whiskey. “Why so far away? Come on join us over here,” I invited him over to join us.
“I don’t make friends all to well sugar... And those I make don’t live long enough to buy me a drink…”
I rolled my eyes at the man’s response and leaned over to whisper to John, “What is it with you this morning?” He had been looking around distantly and not really contributing in the conversation.
“I just don’t like some of the ‘characters’ causing ruckus’ in town,” John replied.
“You and me both, my friend. Had enough of it yesterday,” I nodded. I looked over at the man and said, “So Sir... You been in town long? Lookin’ for work?”
“I been around... I seen your troubles with them bandits in your outskirts... I aim on fixing it and moving on…”
“Oh really? And how do you plan on ‘fixing our troubles’ so easily?” I looked at him suspiciously. I thought to myself, Gunslinger. Definitely gunslinger.
“With my best friend mister lead miss…” the man picked up his rifle and confirmed my suspicion as Freya continued to serve us drinks.
“Ya’ll seem like a right bunch I guess... Maybe it would be a good thing to get ta know ya’ll a bit better…” the man said then and walked over to join me and John at our table.
“Come on over,” I looked at him.
“Pull up a chair, sir,” John nodded.
I held out my hand to him and introduced myself. “Detective Trin Paige. And you are?”
“Name’s Slade…” he shook my hand.
“Slade... Pleasure to meet you,” I smiled at his firm grasp and looked over at John. “So John I had a question to ask ya.. Did Vivianna say anythin else about Rocksman after ya’ll left my office?”
“Something about the scoundrel leaving her standing at the altar…” he knit his eyebrows together. “But then they talked too quiet for me to hear.”
“Oh really? I hadn’t known that part,” I told him.
“Now that ain’t right…” Spade spit on the ground then.
“Not that I’m all that surprised given what I know about the man,” I added. “I’m gonna have to talk to her some more today.”
“Seems once he’d knew about the deed...he took no further interest in the girl,” John said.
“Not surprised by that either,” I nodded. “I’m gonna take him down, I promise you that, John.” John looked over to the window and I followed his gaze. “You see something, John?” I asked quietly.
“Nah, just my eyes, love. So many flashes of gunpowder last night!” he said and I nodded.
“Thanks for the company... I am gonna go fer a walk round town take in the sights and such…" Slade said then as he stood and slid his rifle into its holster.
“Have you seen a dog round these here parts...dark brown and black?” John asked Slade.
“Naw ain’t seen a dog like that…” Slade shook his head.
“Careful out there, Sir,” I nodded to him.
“I saw him wondering around some last night,” Freya said then as Slade left.
“What can you tell me about him?” I looked at her.
“Hmm… I wonder,” John thought to himself out loud.
“Is something the matter?” Freya asked.
“Oh, it might not be anything.... but the scoundrel Rocksman has such a dog. Seems that mangy dog shows up just before Rocksman makes an showing,” John said.
“Oh does he now?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Isn’t the dog golden and brown with some black into it?” Freya asked.
“Yes I reckon that’s what he looks like.... Huge Head?” John nodded.
“I’ve gotta get to the office but let me know if you see this guy anywhere would you?” I looked at John and stood.
“Don’t mess with him doll... he’s nothing but trouble…. Well, of course, if you’re looking…” John said.
I said goodbye to them and headed out to the office.
***
This afternoon, Sam showed me a good sniper rifle to buy in his store and then I headed over to the sheriff’s office where Downy was sitting on the bench. I walked over to her and smiled, “What do ya think?”
“Looks great. Hope it shoots straight too,” Sam grinned as he walked over to me.
“Anywhere we could do target practice? Bottles or somethin’?” I looked between them.
“Bear River has a new range,” Sam said and I shuddered, looking at him, unsure. “It’s out of the way of any harm,” he chuckled.
“It’d better be. I’ve had enough of them. You know they called me a traitor and a coward the other day? They also said I was dead to Cherokee. Any idea why they’d call me a traitor, Sam?” I looked at my boss.
“Howdy all,” Adder said as he approached us.
I turned and smiled, “Well Adder Taurus. It’s good to see you!”
“And you Trin,” he smiled back at me.
“Sam, Downy, this is Adder, the sheriff over in Colorado Springs. We go way back,” I introduced.
“I know who he is,” Sam shook his head.
“Of course you do. You like the new gun?” I looked at Adder, showing off my new rifle.
“Aye, it looks good,” he grinned. “You know how to use it?”
“Bout to find out. We were gonna go check out the target practice range, right Boss?” I smiled at Sam.
“I’ve got a hotel to work on. I figured being a detective you could find it,” Sam chuckled.
“Yes, the hotel. Had a few people askin’ for rooms lately,” I smiled.
“Ah well it’s gettin’ there Miss Trin,” Downy chuckled.
“What do you think, bro? Want to go shoot stuff?” I looked at Adder. .
“Aye, sure,” Adder nodded.
“Have fun shootin’ that rifle,” Sam chuckled. “And remember. Snipin’ ain’t about speed, it’s about hitin’ the target.”
“Aim for the target, got it,” I nodded and led the way to the target range, thinking about how Sam hadn’t answered my question about the Natives calling me a traiter.
***
An hour later I headed into the saloon for a drink. I saw someone walking down the street who I recognized from the gunfight last night and saw him stopping in front of the bank. “Hello there, Sir. Can I help you?” I asked him.
He looked over at me and smirked, then tipped his hat. “Ma’am, I am beyond help. But, thank you for the gracious offer.”
“Just out for a walk?” I chuckled.
He glanced around and then looked back at me. “You could say that.”
“Quiet out here today.”
“That it is…”
I stepped closer, noticing weapons on him, and asked, “Would you be interested in a drink, Sir?”
“Nah, I just ate lunch, and had a drink...but, thank you for the offer.”
“Fair enough,” I nodded. “Guess I’ll just let you be on your way then.”
“Why, thank you very much Officer. I do hope you keep the peace in this town, for I know it all the help it can get,” he said, glancing at my badge.
“I’m a detective, but yeah I try to help out where I can,” I smiled. “I also run the newspaper. Actually on the beat of a story I’m trying to understand a bit more about.”
“Well, good luck in detecting crime...and...oh? What story is that?”
“Was ambushed at the fort in Mesa Verde by the natives and would really like to know why,” I nodded.
“And what does the law plan to do about the Cherokees?”
“Whatever we can,” I looked at him. “They want war, we won’t deny them of it.”
“Well, if you need help in fighting such, please don’t hesitate to call upon me.”
“And your name is?”
“The name is Doc Marston.”
“Doc Marston, a pleasure,” I smiled but he refused to shake hands. “Let me know if you hear of anything valuable. I’ll pay you for your information.”
“That I will…” he smiled.
I smiled back and watched him walk down the road. I went up to my balcony, proud of myself that I’d never given the man my name. I saw a crowd of people over by the saloon and noticed Doc in the saloon, even though he’d just said he wasn’t hungry or thirsty. I had a coffee/whiskey and smirked over at Doc.
“Suddenly got thirsty?”
Doc looked over at me and nodded. “I like the...community policing you provide for this community ma’am. It’s very becoming of you.”
“You flatter me, Doc,” I smiled sweetly.
Freya walked in then and we talked about how busy the saloon was as the two saloon girls served us drinks. A dog came in and then Slade walked into the bar, looking around. I decided to head home and went to sit on the balcony of my apartment to watch people walking down the street.
***
I watched a man and woman walking down the street and recognized Cannalilly, who I hadn’t seen for a while. The man had wandered off and she said that the man was Jim Redyard. I then wondered if she could help me with something and she met me downstairs in my news office.
“I should really put some couches in here instead of these old tables,” I looked around the office and then back at her.
“What can I do for you?”
“There’s been some activity over with the Natives... Was wondering if you could give me some insight since you live in that area.”
“Yes, they got their homes burned yesterday and the chief was shot by Iccabod and Buu.”
Wasn’t quite what I was refrering to but really…?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Ahawi is very pregnant and they kidnapped her.”
“Ah... that sounds more like what I need to know… Where did they take her, Canna?”
“They tried to take her and Standing bear ambushed them and got her back. BlackFeather was hurt in the fracass too.”
I nodded, thinking that sounded about right. “But when they kidnapped her... They must have took her somewhere... Where?”
“I believe Ahawi mentioned the fort.”
“Ah ha!” I exclaimed. “That explains everything!” I realized that must have been why the Cherokee had went to attack the fort and said, “Maybe there’s one more thing you could help me with then…”
“It has become unbearable in Sunny Bay. I have put out a contract on Iccabod’s head,” she told me.
“They ambushed me and John in the fort and a few of them came into the office where I was hiding and said that I was a traitor. Any idea why they would do that?”
“Iccabod is insane. Plain and simple.”
“I understand that point. You don’t have to convince me of that,” I nodded. “I just wanna know what happened to make them say that I was dead to them. Unless Sam did something and they know I work for him…”
“I think it is the same reason he likes to shoot me for fun. You and I are honest and that makes them nervous.”
“There had to be some sort of trigger though, Canna… I never interacted with the ones who called me a traitor much.”
“I asked him why he didn’t like you. he said, ‘I just enjoy winding her up’.”
“I don’t mean Icca... I want to know why the natives don’t like me suddenly. Something shifted and I wanna know what.”
“They are closing ranks around anything that looks like a paleface.”
“But Canna…” I sighed, desperate for an explanation.
“Who knows what lies people might be spreading to cause more harm. Time will be the proof of who is loyal and who isn’t to be trusted.”
“I just thought they trusted me,” I sighed.
“I trusted Iccabod and he shot me…”
“I know how that feels.”
“Trin it is getting late and I ned to skedaddle before it gets dark.”
“I understand. Thank you for your information, Canna. Here, let me give you something for your trouble…” I said and gave her one hundred coins.
“We have the telegraph up so you can wire me anytime now.”
“Great. I will do that certainly. And if you hear of anything... Please let me know?”
“I know once Standing Bear can walk he will be gathering the Braves for some payback.”
“Wait... once he can walk? He was injured?”
“He got shot while rescuing his bride,” she pocketed the money.
I remembered Robert and John shooting at the chief outside of the fort and was proud of them for getting him injured. “Thanks again,” I said to Canna with a smile. “Safe paths.”
That evening I went to the new hotel and saloon building and played Poker with friends, relaxing after the busy day of work.
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