Colorado.
This morning I stepped out of the office and looked around to see who was out and about. I watched a Native ride through town and thought about how it was weird that they didn’t just stay up in their village. I headed up towards the Native camp, taking a deep breath. I wondered if this was going to work or if I was going to get myself killed. When I heard no response to my call, I walked back down towards the mines. I saw a Native man working there so I stopped to greet him.
“Hello Sir, I didn’t want to startle you.”
The man suddenly dropped the axe and sup around to face me. “Hau white man.”
“Hau. I come in peace, I am not arme,” I walked a bit closer.
The man looked me over and leaned on his axe handle. “Igmu’s ore… spirits give it to him,” he said in third person. “I Igmu.”
“Hau, Igmu. My name is Trin. I run the newspaper over in Colorado and I wanted to come and meet someone from your tribe…” I smiled. “I want to give you a voice, to show your side of the story, so to speak.”
“Why white man need Igmu’s voice… white man should talk to chief,” he nodded.
“I just thought it might help if people could understand both perspectives.... Perhaps understand your culture a bit better…”
“White man talk to chief.. He speaks of legends and things,” he nodded.
“Perhaps you could speak to your chief for me and tell him or her that I would love to meet with them? I will never be armed around your people and will always come in peace. I believe in solving conflicts with words, not weapons.”
“Igmu let chief know… spirits tell chief to,” he nodded, picking out copper ore and shoving it in his pocket.
“Thank you Igmu. I appreciate that. I’ll let you get back to your work.”
“Be well white man,” he nodded slowly and I headed out of the mine with a smile.
***
I was working in the saloon across from my office when I saw a man and a woman with what looked to be a disguise on their faces. One was clearly a man faking a female voice, but I couldn’t figure out who they were.
“I heard tales back home that here in the west, they all drink, sleep….” the disguised woman said. “All I want is my cup of tea and some tea biscuits.”
“Howdy, Ma’am. You know where I can get my wife some tea?” the disguised man said.
“Hello there. Um... The saloon where you’re sittin’ is a good place as any.”
“So that preacher man said. ’Cept there ain’t no one in there to make the tea,” the man said.
“How can a lady get a cup of hot tea in his town?” the woman asked.
“Sorry I can’t help ya,” I looked between them. “I do run a saloon over in Devil’s Ditch though.. It’s a bit of a walk.”
“Oh, I suppose we can just go to our room and rest some,” the woman pouted.
“Real helpful bunch in this town. I don’t think my Anna can make it on a long walk right now,” the man said.
“Sorry then. I wouldn’t want to mess around with the stuff in this saloon cause I don’t work here,” I nodded and then looked at them closer, realizing their skin was darker. “I was wondering… Perhaps you could help me a bit. I was going to head over and look for the chief of the Apache…”
“That is alright We just arrived today and I am as tired as a June bug,” the woman said.
“Don’t wander too far, ma’am. Ya might git lost,” the man mumbled to me and started to grab the woman by the arm, tugging her away.
“We know nothing about Injun’s,” she said.
“Sorry your skin just…” I looked between them and watched as they walked away. I had a weird feeling that something was going on and I wandered over to Adder’s office. I heard voices inside and hesitated as Jake Despres came out of the office.
“Howdy Miss Trin, did ya see a large woman and her rather tiny husband?” Jake asked me.
“I did,” I nodded.
“Where are they at?”
“Looked to be darker skin. Saw them heading towards the church then just down the road to the left.”
“Alright, I’ll be right back, thanks,” he nodded and walked off.
“Sure,” I said, watching him wander off. The sheriff’s office door opened and Ida walked out. I blinked and asked, “What’s going on?”
“Some Indian was shot,” Ida told me.
“Oh?”
“I don’t know what happened.”
“Hmm... Guess I’ll find out what’s going on. Is the sheriff in there?”
“No, not right now. Try to ask marshal Jake, he came with him.”
“I just saw him come out. Hmm… Somethin’s goin on around here, Ida. I aim to figure out what it is.”
“See you around, take care Trin.”
I looked at the door, knowing I would just get in Chels’ way if I went inside, and went back to the courthouse. I saw a Native man that looked familiar and he asked me where I could find some gold. He was speaking with a fake voice and I showed him where the bank was. He thanked me and then rode away.
I walked back down the street and saw Jake Despres and Jake Stone and asked, “What’s up, gentlemen?”
“Oh good Miss Trin, do ya have a moment?” Despres asked me.
“You bet.”
“Good, that fella we’ve got in our Cell... That Hiawata guy, do ya think ya can help us sentence him to hang?”
“Hang?” I coughed. “What’d he do?”
“Just what all them damn Injuns do... Cause trouble and attacked one of our fine Soldiers in town…”
I folded my arms across my chest and looked at him. “I’m gonna need more.”
“Damn inuns… Who be the one in cells?” asked the man who I’d talked to just before.
“Jake could we maybe go somewhere and talk where we can focus? The courthouse perhaps?” I suggested.
“Don’t know his name Sir, but if we can get him hanged then it wont matter... Just one more dead Injun”,” Jake looked at the man and then back to me. “The Indian shot a soldier who was just walkin down the street trying to mind his own business.”
“Any witnesses?”
“Well I be looking to be on jury then… get those damn Injuns out of our land,” the man spit on the ground.
“Sure, we’ll bring him to the Courthouse and ya can question him there,” Jake nodded and looked to the man. “That’s mighty nice of ya to offer Mister, we’ll gladly accept ya offer.”
“Did anyone else see it happen, Jake?” I asked again.
“Of course, it happened right in town.” Jake Stone replied.
Despres nodded and guided me down the road. “Yes…” He looked back to Stone and said, “See ya guys in an hour.”
We walked down to the sheriff’s office and Jake went inside while I waited on the street. We walked to the courthouse as Jake and Chels dragged the Native man along with them and put him in one of the cells. I sat down at the table and waited for someone to tell me more details about what was going on.
Jake walked back out of the cell and sat across from me. “He’s all yours, Miss.”
“Talk to me. All I know is he shot a soldier,” I looked at him.
Adder walked in then and we greeted him. He pointed at the Native and laughed. “What did he do?”
I looked between the three of them and then back to the Native. “He shot a soldier. Did the soldier die? Was he injured only?”
“Well that guy was shot down and arrested for shootin’ in town... He attacked a Soldier from the Outpost and we helped him bringin’ him down…” Despres explained. He shook his head at my question and said, “No, he might have if we hadn’t stepped in.”
The native shouted something in Apache as Mayor Free Feather came into the courtroom. “Shot a soldier? Cant say I blame him," Adder shrugged.
“Mind gettin’ that Injun to shut up?” Jake looked at Chels.
Chels turned to the Native and yelled, “Shut up!!”
We greeted the mayor and she asked, “I was hunting came back and here was indian in jail why?”
“He shot at a Soldier in Town Miss Mayor,” Jake replied.
“Oh, why he did that? Did he attack him? That soldier?” she asked.
“Haven’t been able to figure that part out yet,” I shook my head.
“I guess it’s because some Blue Jackets burned his village and killed his family,” Jake sighed.
“Soldiers are all the same in my book,” Adder shrugged.
“Well ask him yaself, he does speak English,” Jake looked at us.
Outside the window, I recognized Young Doe from the Cheyenne village. I saw her look between the criminal and me and I swore under my breath. I knew this wasn’t going to end well and looked around the room, feeling dazed and worried. I looked over at Adder and said, “Adder... We need to talk, alone.”
“Sure,” Adder shrugged.
“Sorry ladies. We’ll be right back,” I said to Chels and Free and walked over to another office in the courthouse. When we were alone I looked at him and said, “Adder... I can’t... I can’t prosecute a native.”
“If he’s shot a soldier, you have to. Or you have to resign.”
“I have to resign then. I can’t do this Adder. I’ve worked too hard to show them that I want to work with words, not with violence.”
“And look how that Cheyenne in there has responded. With violence.”
“Not the point, Adder,” I shook my head. “I need to show them that I stand to my principles. That I will not come at their people. I won’t be apart of it. I’ll share stories, I’ll show the truth from both perspectives, but I will not lock their people in jail.”
“If they break the law, then they go to jail. Simple.”
“I know that, but I won’t be apart of it. That’s for you guys to decide. I can’t…” I shook my head, starting to tremble as I looked at him desperately. “Can you... can you get Jake? I’ll wait here. But I can’t do this.”
“Very well then Trin. You stick to telling your stories. We’ll stick to the law.”
I kicked the jury bench in anger at the position I’d been put in. I hoped the Natives would see that I still was sticking by my principles, in spite of how the Cherokee had treated me in the past. I sat in the jury box, crying to myself in anger. I knew Despres wouldn’t trust me after this but I knew I had to do what I believed in. I gathered myself together and walked back out to the main room. I looked at Adder and asked, “Did he understand?”
“He didn’t say much about it,” Adder looked to me.
“I need to get out of here. I’m sorry I just... I’m sorry,” I said and walked outside. I walked over to Millard and stopped in front of him, wiping away my tears.
“What’s wrong, Trin?” he asked.
“I couldn’t do it, Mill. I couldn’t.... It’d be like prosecuting one of my own family members…”
“Couldn’t do what?” he looked around.
“The Cheyenne... They saved my life. The Cherokee did too, at first. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them. If I prosecuted that man... none of them would trust me ever again.”
“Calm down Trin…” Mill hugged me tight. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I understand that the law is the law and he shot someone, but it doesn’t mean I have to be involved in the sentencing.” I leaned on his shoulder, crying. “I let them down, Mill. Despres, Adder, Chels... I let them down but…”
“What’s happened with miss Paige?” Roy asked, walking over.
“I have no idea Roy...she is jabbering about letting people down,” Mill shrugged.
“I was supposed to prosecute this case,” I told them.
“Oh…. the trial…” Mill said, understanding.
“But it was a native man... and I… I know he broke the law and he needs to be punished but…”
“I think I will take you up on that offer,” said a woman walking over.
“Oh Trin, don’t cry like a baby,” Roy rolled his eyes.
“Well… Then why don’t ya go in there and mess it up… maybe he will get a light sentence then,” Millard whispered to me.
“No. I won’t be involved,” I shook my head.
“Well… hadta ask,” Mill shrugged. “When does the trial start?”
“I have some stuff to do. See you folks, and good luck miss Paige,” Roy said.
“Within the hour I think,” I answered.
“Well..Plenty of time ta go over ya notes...if ya want…” Mill smiled.
“What notes? They barely told me anything to begin with.”
“Good...then how can ya win?” He smiled.
“Get the idea out of your head. It’s not happening,” I shook my head and pet Saiya.
“Ya gonna at least watch it Trin?” Mill asked.
I saw Doe, the child who’d seen me in the courthouse and I said, “Hello little one, come over here.” The girl scowled at me and I told her, “I know, you don’t understand what’s going on but I need you to do me a favor. I didn’t take the case, young one. I’m not involving myself in something like that that would put one of your people behind bars.” The girl ignored me and fed the dog a fish and I sighed. “I didn’t take the case, young one. I’m not involving myself in something like that that would put one of your people behind bars.” I sighed and said, “I need to go to Kansas.”
“You say you friend to Cheyenne. Doe see you in there with him. You lady of many faces!” Doe glared at me.
“Little one, I am not involving myself in this case. I came out. In fact…” I took off my holster and gun and handed it to Mill. “Take that. I don’t need it anymore.”
“Er… why not Trin?” Mill asked.
“If you ever hungry, pretty baby, you come see Doe in Cheyenne tribe. I feed you.”
“Just put it in my office in the desk drawer,” I leaned over and whispered to Mill.
“Will do,” he smiled.
“See? No more gun,” I looked at her.
“You same unless you change color of skin!” she cried.
“I will be right back,” Mill walked down the street towards the office.
“I told your chief and others like you that I do not work with violence.”
“Pale face from this town kill my mommy and father.”
“I am not like the other paleface that attack. I have always come in peace, just to talk. I never enter the village with a gun and I will not change that ever. Sweetie…” I tried not to show emotion and said, “I wouldn’t be standing here before you if it weren’t for your chief.”
“Maybe you spy! Maybe you tell cheyenne secret to pale face and that why pale face come and shoot unarmed women! Doe see you in there. Those pale face your friend. You hand bloody too.”
“I will come out and talk to Hawk and Sasha... I’ll show them that I have disinvolved myself from this case,” I turned and walked towards Kansas.
Kansas.
I walked over to the village and saw a woman standing near the entrance. “Do you know if Hawk or Sasha are in the Cheyenne village right now?” I asked her.
“No they were not when I left.”
“Maybe you could give them a message for me?”
“I will do.”
“Can you tell them... that there was a native man brought to the courthouse this afternoon, and I was asked to prosecute against him. I had to walk out of there. I couldn’t be involved in the case.”
“I will let them know.”
“I knew that if I prosecuted that case... it would be all over for my friendship with the Cheyenne and any other native tribe I want to communicate with.”
“I shall be on my way and will let them both know as soon as I find them.”
“It would have been like putting one of my own family members in jail... Even though this native man broke the law... I couldn’t….” I let the tears fall and I shook my head. “I’m sorry Miss... I don’t even know you I just…”
“I am sorry you feel so sad , it was a pleasure meeting you but I must continue home to let them know.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“Thank you my friend.”
I watched her walk away and then headed towards Bear River. I found Canna and a man named Romeo standing in front of her cabin and I asked her, “The chief wouldn’t be in, would he?”
“I don’t know. We have been killing pest chickens all day here.”
“I was hoping to talk to the chief. I think I know what will bridge the gap between us.” Romeo headed off and I said, “Canna, I really need to talk to the chief. I’ll see you soon, hon.”
“Yes, please don’t let me keep you Trin and good luck!”
I went over to the Cherokee village and called out to see if anyone was there. When no one was there I headed back to town.
***
I walked over to London and Adder this evening and London told me, “Hi Trin, I was just coming to see if you were in your office.”
“I’m here,” I said and looked at Adder. “What happened with the trial?”
“Innocent I think,” Adder replied.
“Take a walk with me,” London said to me and then looked at Adder. “Adder can you wait here for a moment hun?”
“Hun?” I looked between the two.
“Sure,” he nodded.
London slapped my butt and said, “I call everyone hun. C’mon…HUN!” she chuckled and we laughed.
“If you say so. See ya bro,” I said to Adder.
We headed over to Devil’s Ditch and went into the saloon where London said, “Okay, I have to talk fast.”
“Sure, tell me.”
“So you know there was a trial today?”
“I was supposed to be the prosecutor... but I…” I looked down.
“Ok so the Indian went free but thats not the juice.”
“Went free?” I looked at her.
“Yeah. He’s set free.”
“What’s the juice?”
“The juice is....during the trial....someone planned a perfect bank robbery, and got away with all the towns Money! They planned it right at the time of the trial.”
“What?!”
“Took everything. Jake is pissed and so is Adder.”
“It wasn’t…” I started to remember the man I’d told where the bank was before the trial and shuddered.
“Who ever it was got away with everything.”
“There was this man who came to me before the trial, he wanted to know where the bank was.”
“No one saw a thing. Everyone was watching the trial.”
“I showed him, even though I recognized him sort of. I don’t know... he somewhat reminded me of this native man I met this morning but I wasn’t sure. He looked trustworthy enough.”
“You can print it in your paper. The front doors were blown off the building, but inside there was no damage done, and the law guys think it was an inside job....someone with a key. A native man?”
“I don’t know if it was him. I don’t know how he would have gotten a key.”
“Well I will give you more as I learn more, I gotta get back to Adder But for now, the bank money is gone.”
“Thank you for all your information, London. I appreciate it. I’ll talk to Adder and Despres about it.”
“Okay,” she said and headed outside while I processed the news.
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