February 5, 1870

Georgetown. 

This morning I woke up in Slade’s hotel room and headed downstairs to get some writing done. I saw Freya downstairs in the bar and talked to her while I worked. Twist came in and joined us as we talked about her new baby boy, Tommy. We talked about how it was getting more violent around there and Twist told us that she and TJ had separated. I told them about being done with the Cherokee and how no matter what I tried, it never went anywhere. I told them that Chet and I had decided to be friends and how I wanted to take things slow, enjoying things without expectations. After a while I decided to head home. 

*** 

I was working in my office when Kam, my dog, wandered in. She ate at her food bowl and then we went for a walk around town. I went to see if Slade was home but he wasn’t at the hotel. I found stairs to the cellar and basement underneath the saloon and looked around with a smile, thinking to myself I should remember this spot. 

We headed over to the mines and looked around. I wondered when Rocksman would ever show up and walked out of the mines. 

I saw a house on fire as we walked through Bear River and went to see if Leu and his wife were okay. I found Mrs. Leu at her house and said, “Mrs. Leu! Are you okay? Who... Who lives there?” 

“No one... I am fine…” 

Kam sniffed the grass around the flames and smelled. “Mrs. Leu... Maybe you should come over and stay with me for a bit. I don’t think you’re safe out here.” I knew I needed to find Slade... fast. 

“Yes…" she said nervously. 

“Where is Leu right now?” 

“He is shouting." 

“Come with us back to Georgetown, please? I don’t want you here alone and I certainly don’t want to be out here any longer than I have to. We only came through the mines ’cause I’m working a case here... I smelled the flames and saw the fire and came running, thinking it was your house.” 

“I cannot leave my home.” 

“I understand,” I nodded. “Please... get in contact with me when Leu gets home?” 

“Yes, he been gone a long time.” 

I turned and looked at the burning house with a sigh. “Okay. We need to get home. You be careful, Mrs. Leu.” 

“Thank you for your concern,” she said and ran up to her house. 

Georgetown. 

I walked into the clinic, coughing from the smoke I’d inhaled around the fire. “Mimi… Mimi... I was wondering…” I coughed. “What would you recommend for smoke inhalation?” 

“Hi Trin, sorry I was reading something, smoke you say?” she asked with concern. 

“There was a fire.. in Bear River… No one was inside but... My dog and I found it… On the other side of the mines. It’s probably out by now but..” I coughed as I talked. 

“Oh wow, Trin are ya feelin dizzy or short of breath. Come sit on the table quickly an let me check you.” 

I went to sit on the bed and Just... can’t get this dang cough to... go away. Thank God no one was... inside.” She moved closer and listened to my breathing. “Things are getting... worse, Mimi.. I don’t know who... set the fire but…”

“Yes… your breathing is laboured.” 

“I ran back.. so fast... to get help... but no one was here. I tried to lay down but I woke up and.. couldn’t stop coughing. So I thought... I should come here.”

“Right now I want you to relax. Turn to the side. I need to rinse your eyes for the smoke. Keep breathin the fresh air.” 

I nodded and turned to the side, trying to breathe deep. “It hurts.. to breathe deep…” 

She put a large bowl to catch the water dripping and held my eyelids open to rinse one eye thoroughly with cold water. "Your lungs are getting plenty of fresh air now. If you don’t panic you will see they will clear.” 

“It was good... that I came then..?” I nodded and tried to relax. 

“You did the right thing,” Mimi finished rinsing my other eye. 

“I’m worried... For Mrs. Leu and her baby... and her husband.. Even though we don’t see eye to eye. Their house was right down the street. It could have been theirs…”

“The main thing is not to panic, are there any others out there putting out the fire?” she dried my face and said, “Please lie down.” 

I shook my head and lay down. “No one else was around. I wasn’t gonna stay long.. in Bear River... to find out..”

“Isn’t there a fire bell at the station or is the station gone?” 

“I have no idea…” 

“Stay here, I will run to ring the fire alarm, I declare I hope no one was in the house!” she said. 

“It’s probably out by now.. And it looked... empty when I looked in..” 

“I hope so,” Mimi continued to watch me carefully. “That was very brave of you. Did you say there was a dog in there?”

I felt my breathing go back to normal and started to relax. “I was out with my dog looking at the mines for a case I am working. We just looked in the windows and Mrs. Leu was there outside, she said no one lived there. But I worry that her house might be next.”

“I understand. I think we might of heard Mrs Leu screaming by now if the fire moved on.” 

“Is there some drink mix I could take?” I asked her, sitting up. 

“There isn’t a lot to do for smoke. The lungs clean themselves. I just hope no dirt particles got in there.” 

“Between the ambush at the fort last week and now this.. I’ve seen enough fire to last me a while.” 

“I can only give you a little something for your nerves. It’s important to relax so you can heal, that is with all injury. Well Miss Trin you are out here taking care of most things men have ta worry about...but there aren’t enough of them around.” 

I nodded and thanked her and headed home to rest. 

*** 

This afternoon I played at the saloon and dedicated a song to Slade. A lot of people were there to support me and it felt great to play and sing. Everyone told me how great it sounded and I went to get some coffee and whiskey from Sugar at the bar. 

“So boss... Got some news for you,” I told Sam. 

“News? What kind of news?” Sugar leaned forward. 

“There was a fire over in Bear River. One of the cabins was set on fire.”

“A fire in Bear River? Who you think done it?” 

“Don’t know but I intend to find out.” 

"Well you’re quite the bloodhound Trin.” 

“I’m worried about Mr. and Mrs. Leu.. She is expecting a child. I’m worried that they could be next.” 

“Oh well, that would be dreadful if something happened to them. Sure have been lots of goings on up north.”

“Must be those darn injun,” Twist muttered. “I say shoot them all then talk.” 

“Things are getting violent,” I shook my head. 

“Yes things are.. but all the more for the law to look into you.” 

“As long as I stay clear of the Cherokee I’ll be fine.”

“Yep, you haven’t had good luck with them.” 

“That’s for sure. I’m just done, Sugar. I’m only looking into this fire because I’m worried about Mr and Mrs Leu.”

“Well, it’s right that you should be worried, and glad you’re looking into it,” Sugar said. 

People continued to walk in and out of the saloon and we talked while we played Poker and taught Sugar how to play Texas Hold ‘Em. After a fun evening I headed upstairs and snuck into Slade’s room, crawling in beside him and falling asleep happily.