February 6, 1870

Georgetown. 

This morning I went for a walk with Wahya through the mountains and around towards the mines. I looked around, seeing two people inside. “Was wonderin if you folks could help me out,” I said after greeting them. 

“How so?” the one said. 

“Perhaps,” said the other. 

“I was goin through here yesterday and saw a fire on one of the cabins. You know anything about that?”

“I was not in town yesterday.” 

“Not yet do tell. I don’t recall being in town yesterday either.” 

“That's the thing. Not much to tell yet. I'm worried. I have friends who live in the house across the way from the cabin that was burned. She is with child and I'm concerned for their safety.” 

“Yeah, I didn’t think it’s right to burn personal homes,” said the man as he shrugged. 

“Sorry Miss I don’t have any information.” 

“If ya’ll hear of anything relating this... Could you give me the information? I’ll pay you,” I said. “I’ve got an office over in Georgetown.” 

“Sure. How much you paying?” the man asked. 

I looked at him and said, “100 coins.” 

“And if we see them doing the crime?” 

“200.”

“If we shoot them and drag them to you, how much for that?” 

I chuckled at the bargain he was trying to pull and said, “Let’s talk about it if it gets to that, shall we?” 

“Well I like to know my options.” 

“400,” I looked at him. 

“Deal.” 

“Alive though,” I told him. 

“Each.” 

“Each? You happen to know there’s more than one?” 

“Well, no but over here there usually is.” 

“True enough,” I nodded. 

“They seem to travel in packs.” 

“That they do. I want to know who did this.” 

“We ran into four the other night. I don’t recall their names but they shot us up pretty good.” 

“Did they…” 

“Yea…” 

“Four of ’em you say?” 

“Tied us up and robed us for 25 coins. I was not going to mention it.” 

“One was a girl that works in the saloon Vanilla I think her name was. And her man,” said the woman. 

“Seems like a lot of work for that small amount.” 

“They live just behind the entrance,” the man said. “I would start there.” 

“Vanilla who works at the Georgetown saloon?” I asked the woman. 

“Yes ma’am.” 

“But fire sounds like Cherokee,” the man said. 

I looked back at him and asked, “How much is it worth to you if I catch these folks?” 

"Yes she was one of them what was the other girl. Um… Well you do your thing.” 

“A description, perhaps?” I asked him. 

“I want blood. Who was the other girl Just?” he looked at the girl. 

“He’s ruthless,” the woman sighed and looked at the man. 

“He’s serious, miss. I like that,” I said. 

“Shoot I don’t remember I was too busy running for my life,” she told me. 

“I nearly drowned,” he added. “The doc had to bring me back.” 

“If anythin’ else happens… Come find me in Georgetown at the Pinkerton office. We’ll discuss it there.” 

“I told you to lean how to swim,” the woman muttered. 

“Yes ma’am. I can show you the place,” the man said and led the way out of the mine. He led the way to a place with a big door and knocked loudly at it.

“Guess they ain’t home,” I said when no one answered. 

“Or afraid to answer,” the woman said. 

The man took out his gun and I put a hand on his shoulder. “Easy… Let’s not go there yet.” 

“I don’t think no one is there,” he said as he continued to knock. 

“You find names, I’ll deal with this,” I told him. 

“Sheena. Is that it? Do you know a Sheena?” he looked at me. 

“I know that name,” I nodded. “Have spoken with her before.” 

“Well ma’am, I was busy getting shot.” 

“I understand.” 

“And don’t forget drowning,” the woman added. 

“I didn’t get properly introduced.” 

“What are your names, folks? I don’t even think we did that…” I looked between them. “My name’s Trin.” 

“I’m Egan,” the man said. 

“Detective Trin Paige,” I smiled at him. “Egan, a pleasure.” 

“Hell you were never properly introduced to me,” the woman said to Egan. “Well you know it was love at first sight. I’m Justice.” 

“We’ll sort this out, folks. Justice, pleasure to meet you too.” 

“Well if you can get my 25 coins from them, I would like that,” Egan said. 

“I’ll certainly do my best.” 

“But I plan to take that out of their hide,” he muttered. 

“25? I thought it was 50,” Justice looked at him. 

“Well it’s got interest now. Cause I’m interested.” 

“Let’s see if we can deal with this peacefully first,” I told them. 

“Egan and peacefully just don’t go together Miss,” Justice told me and I laughed. 

We talked about the town and the new saloon and then I headed back home to write notes. 

Oklahoma. 

Kam and I were walking around when we found Sounds of Thunder standing in front of us. “Osiyo Trin,” he greeted me. 

“Osiyo, my friend. Long time no see.” 

“Yes it has been awhile.” 

“Osiyo, Trin,” said another woman beside Thunder. I felt unsure being around any natives after what had happened, but I tried not to paint them all with the same brush. 

“Howdy Trin. How have you been?” Snow, the old sheriff of Georgetown, walked over. 

“Snow. Long time no see as well. Things have been..” I sighed, looking down at my dog. 

“Going by my birth name now, Hina,” she told me. 

“Things have been dangerous, let’s put it at that. The Cherokee have made it clear that I am dead to them.” 

“Well I have a small Ranch here if you are interested in looking or a new place,” Hina said. 

“Trin, we are Cherokee and you are not dead to us,” Thunder assured me. 

“My brothers and sisters here would have no such feelings towards you,” Hina told me. 

“I’m trying to trust that my dog has led me to good people. I remember that you specifically were good to me, Thunder. And Snow. I have just been through a lot of hurt lately.” 

“It is quiet here and a good place to heal if you need that,” Hina offered. 

“I think that’s what I need, Hina. I’m not looking for a relocation from Georgetown, but I do need a place to escape to sometimes. When things get too violent. Thunder knows that the Natives had always been that for me.  "I suppose I just needed to find the right tribe for me again, and the Cherokee were not it.” I looked over at Thunder and said, “Thunder... It is truly good to see you again.” 

“Well, my ranch house is usually empty and you are welcome to use it,” Hina told me. 

“No Trin, Bear River Cherokee were not it,” Thunder agreed with me. 

“I appreciate that as well. Greatly,” I smiled at her. “Maybe you could show me around?” 

“I’m new here Trin, and they are really nice here. My wife and I just joined,” the man nearby told me. “We like it here so far.” 

“I would love to see more.” 

We walked around the ranch and Hina told me that Dark Rain was helping as one of the healers. I asked her why she’d moved from Amiville and she said it was nothing but shooting and killing. She said they lost five marshals and two sheriffs. She still went there occasionally but Thunder and Rain, her distant aunt and uncle, got worried about her. She said Sky and Grey Owel were her aunt and uncle. She continued to show me around and told me where we were in relationship to everything else. We walked into the house and she gave me an extra key for when I wanted to escape there. 

Georgetown. 

I saw Suzy outside the stables and went to talk with her. She told me about her brother coming to find her and how he was going to stay with her. We went to gather supplies and herbs in Mesa Verda and we talked about her brother. It was great to see her happy again. We talked about the new saloon and then I headed there to get some writing done. 

I went back to my office and smiled when Slade walked in. “Well hey there!” I looked up at him. 

He walked over and stroked my cheek before kissing it. “Hard at work writing, I see.” 

“I can take a break,” I smiled, leaning into his touch. 

“I would not wish to interrupt you... But a break is always a good thing... What would you like to do my dear?” he smiled. 

“Shall we go get a drink and dance a little?” 

“I would say more dance then drink my dear.” 

“It’s a deal,” I chuckled and led the way to the saloon.

When we got there, Slade pulled me in to dance close with him. I felt happy in his arms again. “Where have you been since last night, darling? I’ve missed you.” 

“I have been out in the wilderness thinking. Pondering my next course of actions... Other than that sleeping in my room…” 

“Any thoughts on what those courses of action might be?” 

“It’s a complicated issue…” he smiled at me. 

“Tell me about it,” I sighed. “Did you hear me coming into your room last night after my gig?” I asked and he smirked, nodding. “I didn’t want to wake you... But then, I didn’t hear you leave this morning… So now what, Slade?” 

“You looked…” Slade started but then we heard someone walking into the saloon. 

“Miss Trin,” Twist said and we saw her dragging a man who was tied up. 

“What the…” I stopped dancing and turned to look. 

“This shit head tried to capture me,” Twist muttered. 

“Let me go dammit. I just wanted some milk,” the man grumbled from the ground. 

“Where, Twist?” 

“I was milking the cow.” 

“In Mesa Verde?” 

“In Bear River.” 

I sighed, knowing there was nothing I could do. Slade reached down and started to remove the man’s weapons from him. He unsheathed the sword and looked over the blade with a chuckle. “Compensating for something here, bub…?” 

“Sorry Twist, you’ll have to take it up with the marshals. There’s no local law out there so it’s out of my hands,” I told her. 

“For weapons that don’t suit me well. Otherwise, ain’t no need to compensate for anything,” the man on the ground chuckled. 

“No one messes with me and tries to get me,” Twist muttered. 

I saw Sheena walking in and said, “Sheena... Heard you were caught up with some people over in Georgetown West.” 

“Look what happens when I go for milk,” the man continued to grumble. 

“I know you didn’t bring a captive in here where I can shoot the crap out of you,” Shenna smiled and walked over to smack Twist upside the head. 

“Ya better get this b…. away from me. She touches me again, she dies,” Twist glared. 

Slade pulled a knife from his belt and looked at Sheena slowly. He twirled it in his hand as he removed the last of the man’s weapons and carried it over to the table near the piano. 

“Let me have her please. This is personal,” Twist said. “Keep an eye on this one.” 

“I already want to talk to her about something that I heard about at the mines,” I looked from Twist to Slade. 

“So miss you say he attacked you over the milk?” Slade asked, not hearing her correctly, and Twist pulled her guns as she walked out after Sheena. “Well bub, what’s yer name?” 

“She ran,” Twist walked back in with a laugh. 

“So you gonna give me a name or am I gonna let you sleep like this tonight?” Slade looked at the man. 

“You should have gone after her,” the man giggled. “She would have certainly made you pay for this. Ask Twist she is getting used to it.” 

“I shot her once and you too. Ya think I am scared of her now?” Twist laughed. 

Slade looked over at Twist and asked, “Ma’am you know this guys name?” 

“Well your standing here and not going after her so that says it all,” the man shrugged. 

“Shut it, you two,” I looked between the man and Twist. I was getting tired of their banter and said, “And Twist, holster those guns.” 

“Nah just mean I am smart ya fool,” Twist kicked the man. “I don’t chase my pray. I am a smart hunter.” 

“Now miss... Whats his name? And please don’t kick him…” Slade looked at her. 

“His name is get it your self,” Twist said. “He tried to kill me and ya tell me to be nice.” 

“You mean you no hunter at all,” the man laughed. “You think preys will walk up to you and say shoot me shoot me please,” he laughed. 

“She will be back for your ass,” Twist threatened. 

Slade sighed as he twirled his knife slowly in his hand. “Alright bub... give me yer name and I will let you walk outta here with your guns…” 

“I wanted some milk,” he said. 

“Let him walk,” Twist yelled as she walked out. 

“I tell you what I’ll spell it one letter at the time each letter wants to see the binds being cut off,” the man said. 

Slade stopped twirling the knife and put the blade just under his eye. “Or I could give you a cut for going fer such a pretty lady… I heard eye patches get all the girls these days… So partner... got a name? I get a name and this thing cuts rope not flesh…” 

“My name is Rogue and I’ll remember this,” he finally answered. 

“So will we,” I nodded to him. 

“Now thats better... No harm done now ya see…” Slade smiled and took his knife away, cutting the binds carefully. 

“You wanna tell me why you were goin after Twist?” I eyed Rogue. 

“I suggest you just mosey right on out of town with them weapons alright... I dun wanna have to hurt nobody…” Slade rose as he finished cutting him free. 

Duke walked in and I smiled, “Good timing, Sheriff.” 

“I’ll do just that,” he said and walked over to pick up his weapons as he left. 

“Now mister Rogue was it… You play nice now, ya hear…” Slade muttered as he left. 

“To the office, boys?” I looked between Duke and Slade when we were alone. 

“Okay, what’s goin’ on now?” Duke asked. 

“Shoulda taking both his damn eyes out…” Slade spit on the ground and I put a hand on his shoulder to calm down. 

“Why was that Outlaw not in Chains?” Duke asked. 

“He didn’t do nothing by us or the town, it was in bear river.. I got what I needed out of him... And I couldn’t give myself away as a law man sir…” Slade looked at Duke. “Not yet, at least.” 

“Hmm, understood. He has a warrant,” Duke said. 

“Understood sir... Shoulda cut him up then... Give him reason to come back with more to take em all at once…” Slade nodded. 

“I spoke with a couple over in Georgetown West earlier today. They said they were tied up and robbed by about four people over there. Said one of ’em was Sheena,” I told them. 

“Hmm sounds like her. She doesn’t do anything without a group,” Duke observed. 

“So here I am, taking it to local law, as is my only ability as Pinkerton,” I winked at Duke. 

“Did ya’ll hear gunshots?” Slade looked between us.

“I must have grown so accustomed to them that I’ve tuned ’em out.” 

“I mean earlier,” Slade looked at me. “I meant outside town, past the clinic, I think.” 

I shook my head and looked at Duke. “So now what, Sheriff?” 

“Well, with the situation we have a few options. Find a Marshal to go get Shenna. Or… go check my warrants to make sure I have the current warrant for that fast-movin’ man that just left. But I do need to get to the office quick to look.” 

“We need another marshal around here dang it… Though the thing with Sheena and the others happened over in Georgetown West… That’s still under your jurisdiction. Egan and Justice said they were tied up and they stole 25 coins from ’em.” 

“Well for the most part yes, but if they move past that spot well…” 

“I promised them I’d get their coins back.” 

“And we will try,” he nodded. “Ok, to the office quick.” 

“See you in a few Duke..” Slade nodded. 

“But we need to make sure there is good proof that Sheena was the one who robbed them,” Duke said and headed out of the saloon. 

“Feel like takin’ a walk out to GT West, darlin’?” I looked over at Slade when we were alone. 

“Maybe sugar... Just maybe….” he said with a smirk. 

“Unless you had another idea…?” I looked at him. 

“I was thinking of taking you to my room…” he kissed me on the lips, “Locking the door and showing you how I feel about you.” 

I kissed him deeper, extremely tempted. He took my hand and led me towards the room, but someone had entered the saloon. “Duke…” I turned and saw him. 

“Rogue had a warrant. An outstanding warrant,” Duke announced. 

“Well it’s been a while since we’ve been able to arrest someone,” I looked between them. 

“I scouted a bit,” Duke said. 

“Lemme deal with this warrant personally Duke... Make a copy of it…” 

“And?” 

“Looks like four of them.” 

“Sounds about right,” I nodded. “Four against three… What are our chances?” 

“I don’t like them odds….” Slade shook his head. 

“Me neither,” I shook my head. 

“Well Rogue is a good shot,” Duke said. 

“I believe that,” I nodded. 

“Sheena isn’t too bad… Twist well… let’s not get into that.” 

“I’d rather fight them on our own turf. Then I can get higher ground. I don’t like those odds either.” 

“And Chastidee…” 

“Last I heard she was being trained as a doctor? So if she’s on their side then that’s five. Not to mention they have the ability to be healed right away. I want all of them too but I want some sort of proof that it was Sheena that robbed those two. I ain’t gonna take them in based on hearsay. That would be suicidal if it ever went to court... To the judge we don’t have yet…” 

“I have some things to deal with… I will see you two later,” Slade nodded to both of them and headed upstairs. 

“Personally I think we should wait, Duke,” I said, wanting to head upstairs with Slade. “We don’t have enough manpower or proof that it was in fact them. I quite frankly don’t want to deal with them with less numbers than they’ve got.” 

“We will wait. I’ll head back to the office in a few minutes and see what I can find out,” he said and headed into the saloon for a drink. 

“I’ll head on upstairs with Slade then,” I winked at him and headed upstairs, knocking on Slade’s door. 

“You have a key miss Trin…” he said and I could hear the smirk from the other side of the door as I used my key to walk into his room.