February 28, 1970

Colorado. 

This morning I woke up early and with a heavy heart. I hadn’t got much sleep after the meeting yesterday and the conversation with Hawk. I wasn’t really sure how the town would receive me now and I found Jake Stone standing in front of the saloon. I went over to him and he greeted me. I asked if we could talk and we went over to the church where we sat down. I leaned forward, not even sure where to start. 

“So what’s on your mind, Trin?” Jake looked at me with concern. 

“I think I’ve messed up everything and I’m not sure how to fix it,” I looked at him. 

“Well what makes you think you’ve messed things up?” he nodded. 

“That trial? For the native man? I was supposed to be the prosecuting attorney but I backed out. I couldn’t send one of their people to jail. They’re like family, the Natives. I’m alive because of them. I was also almost killed because of some of them. But I just couldn’t be apart of it. I backed out and didn’t take the case, quit being an attorney and am now solely focused on the newspaper. I want to present the truth of both sides to people, giving the Natives a voice as well as the paleface, and maybe we’ll understand each other better…” 

“I wouldn’t worry too much on that. It seemed to me that trial was pretty rigged anyways,” he chuckled a bit. 

“The point is that I saw a Cheyenne child outside while I was in the courthouse, and I guess she went back to tell Hawk that I was in there.” 

“Well even as a prosecutor, you can still do that. It’s up to you to listen to the one who you will be defending, to see if you believe them or not. And it’s your choice to take or not take a case.” 

“He said that because the Native man doesn’t trust me, since I was in the building at all, that Hawk has to stand by his side. But he also said that if we give it enough time that trust will be built up again. I’m alive because of that man, Jake,” I looked at him. “I ran to him when the gang was bullying me in Amiville. I ran to him when things went down with the Cherokee... I let them down and I thought that by backing out of the case they would see that I was on their side. But they can’t get past the fact that I was in the courthouse at all. Thing is…” I sighed. “Yesterday the town held this meeting to decide if we were gonna stay and fight or leave and give them the land. They decided to stay and prepare for war, but also take steps to maybe understand them better so we can be more prepared for their attacks. I told them that I needed more time... that I could still talk with the tribes and understand them and show them that I don’t want to solve things with violence but with truth... They said it was on my head if the Natives killed me in the process. Jake…” I sighed. “I left Georgetown to escape a war with the Cherokee. But I move here and I find myself in the middle of a war with so many other tribes.” 

“Well that’s what being in the West is all about. As white folks we are trying to take the land from the Natives, and of course they want to fight to keep what is theirs. They don’t want to change nor become civilized people. Ya know, Miss Trin, this is the same battle that’s gone on since the dawn of time between people.” 

“I know you’re right Jake I just... What do I do now?” I sighed. “I can’t stop. The fact that I backed out of this trial will hopefully show them that I don’t want to be involved in justice by violence…” 

“Well you pick the battle you want to make your stand for. and you stand 100% behind it. You trying to live with us as a civilized women and then trying to be friendly with the natives is not a way to earn the trust of either side. Both sides will have a hard time trusting you because neither know for sure which you are on.” 

“I guess that’s true... But the fact that I’m willing to give them a voice in the paper so that they aren’t completely misunderstood should say something to the natives, shouldn’t it?” 

“Now as far as being a voice for the natives… ain’t that like steppin’ on their chief’s toes? I kinda thought he was the voice of their people.” 

“Are you sure they fully understand our paper?” 

“They don’t read or write. I’m not stepping on the chief’s toes, I’m helping them have an opportunity to speak their side and defend their actions before it gets to the point of a trial.” 

“I and you fully understand what it is you are doing. But they do not think like us. They are pretty simple-minded and very set in their ways of tradition gettin' them to even let a white women in and out of camp much less giving her safety means you have already come along ways.” 

“That’s true… That gives me hope... the fact that they haven’t killed me yet. The Cherokee tried, but they didn’t succeed. If they really wanted to, they would have.” 

“What you are doing miss Trin is not going to happen over night. To get the natives and the whites to ever get along means a lot of pride will be hurt and broken on both sides.” 

“I understand... But I can’t just give up and I won’t quit. It means too much to me. I owe my life to them, Jake.” 

“I would never tell you to give up on something you believe in. You are trying to make it a better place for all to live in peace. That is wonderful. I do think though you may need to step back and look at the whole situation and decide a good plan on it and go for it. And when you start be very preapred. There be folks on both side getting very upset but if you just keep pushing you may get somewhere.” 

“Thank you Jake... This has helped... I know I’m doing the right thing; I can feel that. I just have to keep at it and be patient.” 

“Patience is a hard thing to keep. Especially when you have this many lives on the line.” 

“I guess I need to go take some pictures for the paper. Thank you for listening and giving me some hope with this. Before I go though... I wanted to ask you about the shooting/robbery the other day. Despres said you were a witness?” 

“Aready to listen. Don’t forget there’s a couple very nice ladies that work under this church too. They both seem great at listening and speakin the word of the Lord. Yes, with the soldier and the native… I seen the whole thing.” 

“Can you tell me what happened? For the paper? I’ve been wanting to talk to you about it.” 

“The judge kinda tossed my testimony out. You sure you want it in the paper?” 

“I don’t care what the judge said. I want to know the truth, Jake.” 

“Well the truth is what I seen. I was sittin’ over at the hotel when it all happened in the street.” 

“I’m listening.” 

“Marshal Depress had just walked up with marshal Seetan and the ‘judge’ and his wife to introduced us. Was in the middle of shakin hand with the judge when the native started shouting at the Soldier. Now I seen the soldier walkin down the street he wasn’t doing any thing wrong just mind his own business.” 

“What was he shouting? Or was it in another language?” 

“That native was shouting bout how the soldiers came and killed his family. The soldier was tellin him he was sorry to hear bout what happened but that he wasn’t any part of it.” 

“What was the name of the soldier? Or did you know him?” 

“That I don’t know. The native started to threaten the soldier. The soldier did all he could do to attempt to calm the situation but the native seemed to be out for blood. The native then nocked an arrow in his bow and thats when the Marshals stepped up shouting at the native to put the weapon down. the native ignored all the warnings and let the arrow fly anyways. It hit the soldier. and the marshals then gave chase gunnin him down.” 

“Wow…” 

“When the smoke and dust settled the soldier was gone and the marshal had the native in cuffs.” 

“I really wish I had names….” I nodded. 

“Then I took the judge and his wife to the hotel and set them up with a room.” 

“Well that’s a huge help, Jake. I feel like I’ve learned more from you than in three days of conversation about this.” 

“Well that’s just how I seen it. I personally disagree that the judge or his wife were involved in the case, as they were both eye-witness to it.” 

“That does seem a little sketchy indeed.” 

“I don’t know if you seen that trial… but if you missed it… It all seemed sketchy. Four defence lawyer for one man. and only one prosecutor who never really got a chance to talk.” 

I sighed, grateful I hadn’t gone through with the case. “Four defence lawyers seems a bit excessive…” 

“I agree.” 

“So what happened with the trial then? Were you there for it?” 

“To me… They never gave marshal depress a chance to tell what happened. Nor did they want to listen to anything I had to say. They were to concerned that I was holdin a flask when it all happened. I explained to them it was a flask of holy water but of course they didn’t want to hear it. When the marshal questioned me on the stand the judge let objection stick and pretty much silenced everything I seen.” 

“Wow… So then what happened after you got off the stand, since they didn’t take your witness account?” 

“But that’s why I’m no longer involved with law. Seems the only true justice to be served happens in the prayer when there’s no courts involved. Then as soon as the trail was over redskins were all over town hootin and hollerin. Well, that’s really bout all I know to the whole thing.” 

“Well I know more now than I did walking into the church. Thanks so much for all of this, Jake,” I said and closed my notebook that I was writing in. 

“Like I said anytime Miss Trin,” Jake said. 

I stood and looked at him. “I should carry on and get those pictures taken. I’ll be in touch, Jake. Thanks again.” 

“Will do,” I smiled and headed out of the church, feeling more at peace than when I came into the building. 

*** 

I looked up from my desk later this afternoon when Danny walked into the office. “Danny, just the man I was hoping to find.” 

“Howdy ma’am.” 

“I was hoping you could help me out with one missing piece for the article I’m writing about the bank robbery.” 

“The bank robbery?” 

“The one that happened during the trial of the Native man. A couple of days ago.” 

“At my bank?” 

“Here, let me show you the piece I wrote for it. You should know what’s going on there before anyone else does,” I said and went to my desk to find the article I wrote that morning and handed it to Danny. As he read I said, “Guess you missed a lot being out of town, eh?” 

“Yes… I have been away and come back to find that all the towns folk money was gone. I recon they will be looking to me to get there money back or give them back there money from my own pocket.” 

“Something will have to be done I guess,” I nodded. 

“I will have to ride down to new Mexico and find a way to gather my money together.” 

“So long as you don’t do it illegally,” I winked at him. 

“A man has to do what a man has to do,” he winked. 

“Well just don’t get caught,” I laughed. 

“Or killed.” 

“That too.” 

“Well… Good day ma’am.” 

“You too, Danny. Stay safe.”