Colorado.
This morning I went shopping for breakfast and then walked around town. I talked with Ida and Alva briefly and asked, “Were you two around last night for the attack?”
“I was,” Ida said.
“No, I missed it,” Alva told me.
“Mind if I ask you some questions for the article I’m writing, Ida?” I asked her.
“I didn’t see much of the attack. I was in the clinic.”
“I know... but I wanted to ask you how busy ya were, that sort of thing,” I nodded.
“I got one patient after first attack and four after second attack.”
“Wow…”
“So who attacked?” Alva asked.
“Something of a difference then,” I nodded to Ida and said, “Was a bunch of tribes. And some renegade outlaws.”
Adder walked over then and Alva exclaimed, “Ya’ll got attacked yesterday!?”
“Aye, but we saw them of," Adder nodded .
“But they was many,” Ida said.
“Just talkin with Ida about the attack, for the paper article I’m doin. Maybe you could chime in?” I looked at Adder hopefully.
“Aye,” he nodded. “Ute and Apache and possibly others attacked the town. They came in two waves, attacking from the mountain as snipers and also some running into town. A mixture of law folks and townsfolks fought back and chased them off.”
“Another source mentioned at least three other tribes, possibly some outlaws. Any idea on the motive behind it?”
“Indians want our land. The outlaws want our possessions. I’d wager the Indians struck a deal, letting the outlaws loot the place if they helped them claim the land. The bandits who helped them were the usual sort from the south. Show them some gold and they’ll do anything.”
“True point,” I nodded. “So this is all about the land then…”
“Probably. They usually shout something about ‘Paleface took our land’ and so on.”
“Well we’ll give ’em something to shout about,” Alva shook her fist.
“This one of your new deputies, Sheriff?”
“You not met Alva? She’s been a deputy for a few weeks now.”
“"Not officially. Nice to meet you, Miss,” I shook my head.
“Alva, Trin. Trin, Alva,” Adder introduced and we shook hands.
“I run the paper but am also an attorney. You’ll notice I’m no longer armed,” I looked at Adder.
“Your choice. Not sure how wise it is,” he raised an eyebrow.
“Really? I thought it’d keep me safer if they didn’t see me as a physical threat.”
“Perhaps, on this side of the border. Go south and it might be a different story.”
“Then I’ll have Tom with me.”
“Then they might find ya as a very good kidnapping subject.”
“I used to be a notorious outlaw. I know how they think,” Alva coughed.
“Maybe I should put the gun on again..” I sighed, thinking to myself this couldn’t be as simple as land. “For my own interest... Which outlaws were involved, Adder?”
“Pat Kraai and Stella,” he said as Ida headed back into the clinic. I shook my head without recognition and he said, “They were the only bandits I saw. Both from New Mexico.”
“Won’t go tracking them again. I remember New Mexico all too well.”
Adder headed to the office and Alva and I went over to the saloon where we talked about how I lived above the post office. When she walked off to read a report, I headed out to find Sam Spaid.
“As you know, I’m publishing the Colorado Springs Sentinel and am working on the first issue already… What I want to do is a profile article of different business owners around town, so people are aware of their businesses and the people that run them. I was wondering,” I smiled at him, "if you’d be willing to be my first article.
“Me?” he laughed.
“Your job is a very important one. People should know what you do, where your business is… Beside… You intrigue me.”
“Come let’s sit down.”
“Sure,” I said and joined him in the office with him. “Thank you for giving me some time for this, Sam. I know you’re a busy man. So... How long have you been a blacksmith?”
“About three weeks now.”
“So you weren’t a blacksmith before coming to Colorado?”
“Ma’am I’ve done everything.”
“Such as?”
“Was a Smitty back east. Buffalo hunter. Was in the cavalry in the civil war.”
“So you have a lot of experience with horses then,” I smiled.
“Grew up them...shoot I’m nothing but an old horse myself. Still kicking too.”
“Oh Sam, you’re a young spring chicken... er... rooster? What’s the male equivalent?” I chuckled.
“Yes they have other names for them too… I won’t say them though…”
“So what got you into blacksmithing then?”
“Well....I just had to stop roaming around and do something I knew I could do.”
“I know that feeling,” I nodded.
“Growing up and living with horses it came natural.”
“What services does your business entail?”
“Well....Fixing all wagons...grooming and taking care of horses.”
“Are there many horses in the livery?”
“Keeping this old cow fed so the villagers have milk.”
“What’s the cow’s name?” I smiled.
“Just the ones tied out front and my bay, Topper… the cow’s name is Elsie.”
I smiled, thinking of my grandmother that had passed away recently and looked down, reflecting on her before asking my next question. “What is the cost for your services?”
“I’m real cheap...I’m kind to everyone...it depends..I give more than I take.”
“So it’s on a case by case basis.”
“Sometimes.”
“You have no fixed prices on anything then?”
“I work for the people here...I love them all...They pay me what they can...I have no real needs anymore...Just love making people smile and helping them.”
“That’s great, Sam. I saw you playing piano at the saloon the other night. How long have you been doing that?” I asked and he looked down, blushing. “Don’t be shy, Sam. You were very good.”
“My mother made me take lessons back in Wisconsin.”
“Made you?” I chuckled.
“Yep...Hated every minute of it but got pretty good.....I can play the squeeze box too.”
“Is there anything else that you want people to know about you or your business?”
“Not much except Sam is always here or can be found next door… sometimes in one mine or another… Going to hit pay dirt one day I hope.”
“Thank you so much, Sam. It was great to sit down and chat with you. Do you mind if I take a picture of you for the column too? Of you hard at work?” I smiled.
“Not at all...You want me as the Smitty or this way.”
“Of you while you’re bein’ a blacksmith would be perfect,” I stood and took a picture of him for the newspaper. “That’s great, Sam. I’ll send you these pictures when they’re developed and let you read over the article before I publish it! I’ll let ya get back to work here. Thank you so much for your time, Sam. I’m sure it’ll be a great piece.”
“Thank you miss Trin.”
I shook his hand and headed across the street to work on writing up and developing the prints for the article.
***
A couple of hours later I went out onto the street and saw Adder and Chelsea arguing with a girl who then walked away. I went back to sit in front of my office and Adder asked Chels what that incident was all about, but she had no idea. I heard gunshots after a while and wandered over to the saloon entrance.
“GIVE IT OVER Yoko!” Jake was shouting at the woman on the ground.
“Never!” Yoko held onto the axe in her hand.
“Dang it!” Jake grumbled and looked to Adder, shrugging his shoulders. “Mighty strong girl, don’t ya think?”
“She didn’t though,” a Native man shrugged. “Think not jail for her, but talk to someone what is in her heart to carry axe. Nah never understand this culture.”
“Everybody wait, just calm down,” London insisted from the doorway. “Adder, don’t shoot her.”
A man growled then and tried to put his horse between Adder and Yoko. “You no shoot!” he exclaimed.
“Should see whats keeping her uncle so long from getting her.. if he isn’t coming then find her a home,” Chels advised.
“You after some more lead, Apache?" Adder stepped back a bit and looked at the Native.
Jake looked from the Native to Yoko. “I’ll take her with me out of town Sheriff... Maybe a couple of days down in Texas would teach her some manners,” he said and started to tie the girl up as Adder nodded.
“You no shoot girl child,” the man stared coldly at Adder.
“I never said I would. I just wanted to scare her into dropping the axe,” Adder said and I just watched the incident unfolding while I pet Adder’s dog who was now in front of me.
“The Sheriff had to do that earlier with her,” Chels nodded.
Jake sighed and put a leash on the girl as she asked, “Hmm... Sheriff? Should I lock her up inside the barn at Doc Ida’s Ranch or take her to Texas?”
“Jakob try and calm down, she’s only a girl. And she’s nice, I met her when I first came here. Something has to be wrong,” London insisted.
“Texas I think Jake,” Adder said.
The Native pulled on the rains of his horse and gave it a nudge and spoke something in Apache.
“Well ya wanna deal with her then Miss??” Jake looked at London as the other Apache talked to the first one in their own language.
London walked over to lean down to the girl and wiped her face. “Honey, are you okay? What’s wrong?” I watched her, wondering what had started this whole mess.
“We go…” The older Apache man said and rode back with the other one to their village.
“Ya wanna deal with this girl London?” Jake asked and then waved to the Natives. “See ya chief!”
“You will never get my axe. Kill me first!” Yoko, the girl on the ground, spit blood out of my mouth.
“Tell London what’s wrong,” London spoke in third person as Adder shook his head and walked off. “Sweetheart why are you carrying an axe? Don’t you remember me?”
Jake attempted again to get Yoko’s axe and then handed London the leash. “She’s your responsibility, Miss.”
“Ya sure you want to do this Miss?” Chels asked London.
I saw Conner walk over and he asked what happened. “I don’t know... Miss Yoko is Loco,” Jake told him.
“Jake I’m gonna shut my mouth and trust you on this one,” London said.
“If I hand her over to the Dalton’s down in Texas I’m not sure what they’ll do with her, but I can’t lock her up like an Outlaw... She’s just a kid.”
“Chels has a doctor been called?” Conner asked.
“We have been dealing with this Mister,” Chels looked at him as Jake untied Yoko’s feet.
“I do know one of the bar girls was with her earlier. I will question her to see if she knows where the girl got the axe and why when she gets back,” London said. “Or send her to you guys.”
“Well I guess we can lock her up in the rooms in the Saloon... Then ya guys can keep an eye on her?” Jake looked at her. “We’ll place her up in one of the rooms and lock the door.”
I went into the saloon then and sat down at the bar while Yoko screamed for them to let her go. I invited Conner to sit with me and he told me he had to meet with his wife in Amiville. London insisted that the girl couldn’t stay at the saloon and Chels gave Jake a cloth to gag Yoko. I thought to myself that the jail would be more humane than how they were treating her now, but I stayed quiet.
“Jakob Despres don’t you do this to me! You take her to a Motel! Or tie her to a rock I don’t care but not here!” London shouted.
“I don’t even know what the girl did in the first place. Haven’t seen ’em bring a doc for her,” I was telling Conner.
“Trin if things get dicey here you hightail it to my cabin and hunker down. I have to go,” he offered to me.
“I’ll be fine, but thanks,” I nodded to him as Orias joined me at the bar.
“Chelsey thats bull and you know it! This is a town matter! Not a bar matter! Now when I send some drunk to you guys with an axe THEN we can talk about him staying here. But you law dogs are dumping her because you don’t wanna be bothered!” London exclaimed and I sighed.
“Alright, we’ll take her somewhere else,” Jake nodded as he walked back downstairs with Yoko.
“Jake you and I will talk about this later,” London insisted and then walked back to the bar.
“What the hell was that?” I asked her. “Talk to us, London. Venting helps. What started all that? I saw Yoko and Roy in front of the saloon arguing beforehand…”
“I don’t know, I know one of the girls here was with her earlier too and now she’s gone and no where to be found.”
“What was this about an axe?” I sighed.
“She had an axe, and the Law men wanted it.”
“What for? Was she being violent with it?”
“I think so. But she wouldn’t give it up. Shit’s been crazy around here.”
“Maybe they should have taken her farther away, like to Texas,” I looked at her.
“I try to at least keep the tavern balanced for Ms Twist because she’s the only one who cares about me. I owe her everything. I couldn’t take that nut in here. It would be a mad house and Ms twist would ring my neck.”
“I completely understand. You had every right to be upset. They should’ve taken her either far away, or to the hotel even. I get that they wanted to contain her from causing more harm though. And sometimes that calls for a little more force than we would usually give,” I said.
“I have to protect the staff and patrons here.”
“I agree,” I nodded and asked her for a refill on my whiskey and she poured the drink into my glass.
“I’m gonna kill Jake when I see him again, he knows better then that.”
“He’s just trying to protect the citizens of the town,” I said, not sure why she was defending his behaviour. “He’s got a job to do like you do. He saw her as more of a threat than just a wounded child, like you did. He could have been more humane about it, I agree.”
“But to leave her here is not protecting the town. This place is the town. All the town people come here even the Mayor. Jake knows that. I’m gonna boot my boot to his neck when he comes in here. And he will be in here,” she sighed and shook her head.
“I know, London. I know.”
“Now I gotta wait for the Tavern girl to get here to see if she knows anything.”
“The hotel would have been more appropriate.”
“I don’t know what’s going on in this town. It’s gone wild.”
“Personally, at first I felt like I missed being in the loop and wearing the badge and all that... Used to be a detective not too long ago. But now... I’m just as glad to be on this side of things.”
“Looks like we need you again,” she laughed.
“Need me?” I looked at her. “I’m just runnin’ the paper and being a lawyer. No one said I wouldn’t be investigating for those jobs. I’ll find information whatever way I have to.”
“Well I like having you around. You’re like me. you like getting to the bottom of things.”
“Yes ma’am,” I smiled at her.
“So Trin where is Roy now?” she asked after a while.
“Your guess is as good as mine..”
“And oddly Jo is missing too.”
“Probably not a coincidence,” I nodded.
“Where is the printing office? You know...for the town paper?”
“Just across the road, in the post office,” I smiled.
“Okay. I can check with a few friends to see what’s going on.”
“I’m going to ask around as well. I don’t like what I’m seeing, I can tell you that.”
“Tell you what. I will give you any info I learn, and you fill me in with what you find too.”
“Sounds like a deal."
“At least it will sell a lot of papers for you.”
“Always good to have someone helping me with information,” I smiled. “I can even pay you coins for your information if you need them.”
“Wow. We got us a deal.”
“I know what information is worth around here. It ain’t easy getting it,” I said, shaking her hand.
London talked about how she had seen a wound on Adder’s dog and we talked about if there was a vet in the area other than the Natives.
When Jo walked into the saloon, London asked her, “Do you know anything about the 16 year old girl you were talking with earlier?”
“Yoko? Just that she’s nuts.”
“She’s in a lot of trouble. You need to find Jake and talk to him,” London told her.
“Well I guess I will have to find him. I don’t know what’s going on.”
“I don’t know much of what’s goin’ on either,” I shrugged.
“You gotta be careful who you hang out with Jo. You need to focus on working here. Not out in Texas and Arizona.”
“Those places are dangerous, Jo," I looked at her. "Especially if you’re unarmed. They’ll shoot first and ask later.”
“Well where I go does not have anything to do with my job performance London and I don’t think you can tell me about my job performance anyway....you ain’t Twist,” Jo insisted.
“We’re not arguing about your job performance, Jo. We’re just concerned about your safety,” I told her.
London looked around at the unclean tables and floors. “Doesn’t reflect your job performance huh? I see a lot to be done around here. And as far as me telling you about your job, I am just trying to warn a foolish child who is playing an adult game… foolish ‘kids’ get themselves killed.”
“You know what Ms FOX don’t you worry about me! Not in Texas or Arizona or here. I’m a big girl I can protect myself…” she flashed her pistol. “I’ve been on my own since I was 5 so whatever choices I make will always be in MY best interest!” she jumped up, getting angry. “By the way… you missed a spot.”
“Whatever, Jo. Don’t end up dead,” London shot back as Jo walked out of the saloon.
Chels walked back into the bar then and London asked, “Chels....what happened with that girl?”
“Put her in the small drinking place at Devils Ditch...give her time to think.”
“I see.”
“Where has Twist been lately?” Chels looked around.
“She was here last night. Threatened to shoot my boyfriend,” I winked at Chels, not sure how serious the threat had been.
“All day yesterday actually,” London said.
“Why would she want to do that?” Chels grinned.
“Cause she said that she’d go out and talk to the natives and I was like don’t bother, it got me nowhere. And she was like well you won’t be able to go out there and I’m like I’ve got a bodyguard.”
“I don’t think she should go either. I’m worried about that. Even though she’s an awesome shooter I hear,” London said.
“I think its best for the law to handle such things,” Chels advised.
“You know my history with the natives. I’ve been tempted to go out there myself but it ain’t worth it,” I nodded.
We talked about our pasts and what had brought us to Colorado and then the conversation went back to Yoko.
“I don’t know whats up with that girl,” London said. “It’s strange. Has anyone seen Roy?”
“Devil’s Ditch seems an appropriate spot to put her. One of those cabins out there…” I put in.
“No..he did the right thing to walk off..nobody needs to be attacked like she was doing to him...and then to Jake.. I don’t care if she is sixteen or not,” Chels said.
“She attacked Roy? Why?” London blinked.
“Have no idea,” Chels shrugged.
“Nobody asked Roy?”
“He didn’t know.”
“I saw the scuffle in front of the saloon before hearing the gunshots,” I said. “Didn’t know what it was about. I think I’m gonna head back home and get some more writing done. I’ll see you ladies later!”
I headed across the street and worked in the office until I saw Millard standing outside. We talked for a while and then I led the way back into the saloon. We talked about Millard’s stagecoach business and London continued to order Jo in being a better bartender, but she seemed stubborn. Jo kept getting orders and prices wrong and London corrected her. I told Adder that London and I were becoming close friends and Adder continued to pet his dog Saiya, who hadn’t left his side. After a while I headed home to get some more writing done.
No comments:
Post a Comment