Colorado.
This morning I talked with Chels about the Native attacks yesterday and she said it went well. I saw a couple natives walk by and decided to walk over to say hi to them. They told me they were looking for their colt that had run away. I told them I hadn’t seen any colts that morning and I went back to talk with Chels about the paper. She told me that Jake Stone had a place over in Devil’s Ditch and I told her I’d talked about the robbery with him yesterday. I asked if the Cherokee were involved in the attack yesterday but Chels said they all looked the same to her.
We saw a colt and Chels asked if that was the colt the Natives were looking for. All of a sudden we heard Marcus shout, “Fire!”
“Where’s Marcus? I heard him shout fire,” I looked around.
“I guess they’re just chasing one indian,” Alva said as she had joined us.
“There were three here, weren’t there, Chels?” I asked her. “They were looking for a colt. Probably this one.”
“One indian ran off as I approached,” Alva said.
I pet the horse but then we looked down and saw blood on the ground. “That’s a lot of blood… but I ain’t seen a body,” Alva pointed out.
I saw the feathers in the horse’s tail as I pet the colt and looked at Chels. “Native feathers.”
“Maybe it belongs to those natives that were here,” Chels said.
“I’d guess so. Come on buddy, let’s get you home,” I said and started to lead the colt back to the village, with Alva following close by. Along the way I saw Marcus talking with Jake Stone.
“Thank you, and please be careful if you are heading to Texas. She escaped with weapons,” Marcus was telling Jake. I walked over and saw the body on the ground and looked over at him. “Greetings. He is just fainted so no worries for now.”
“Marcus, I’m just taking this colt back to its camp on the hill.”
“Naw, I headin’ to Devil’s Ditch, but thanks for the warning,” Jake shook his head at Marcus.
I gave Marcus a look saying we needed to talk later and kept leading the colt up to the village. I looked over at Alva and said, “Let me do the talking for now? They don’t really like lawmen.”
“Ya belong here?” Alva stroked the colt.
“Hau? Anyone here?” I called out.
“Dago Te!” a woman walked over to us and greeted us.
“Missin’ somethin’?” Alva pointed at the colt.
“We found this colt in our town and recognized the feathers as Apache. Is it yours?” I asked the Native.
“It’s not mine, no. But it follows one of the men around. Did it cause a problem?”
“No problem,” I nodded. “We just didn’t want him to be lost and far from home.”
“Well, apart from poopin’ in town..not much,” Alva shrugged and pet the colt.
“There were some of your people looking for it in town so we wanted to return it here. We didn’t want anything to happen to it,” I smiled.
“Thank you for bringing it. I am not sure where Igmu is, and he does not keep it tied,” she smiled.
“You’re very welcome.”
“So long,” Alva turned and started to walk back to town.
I stayed behind and said, “Miss, my name is Trin. I run the newspaper in Colorado and I was wondering if we could talk?”
“Sure. I remember you from barbeque,” she nodded.
“That’s right. That feels like so long ago,” I smiled. “I wanted to let you know that my goal is to give the truth of what happens, showing both sides of the story.”
“So far no one cares what we say. Believe all that soldiers say,” the woman shrugged skeptically as she fed the colt.
“I care. And I believe that if we promote a message of truth and understanding on both sides, people in town will start to care too. You may remember I used to be an attorney..”
“I tell you this, then. 2 moons ago we come through town. We stop to talk to Soldier. Tala heal him from battle with....who knows? Then, later, up here another soldier comes. Has hurt arm. Tala heals him, too. Then he make accusation that we start trouble in town, and started shooting. Wounded 4 of us, gravely. Now I see he wears new stripe on clothes. Like what he did was good,” the woman stepped closer to me, speaking in third person.
“Two moons ago.... the day of the trial?”
“Dago Te Thunder,” Tala greeted the man walking over to us then and I nodded to him.
“Maybe. Night before last night. Now, Nah say I can’t heal pale faces anymore.”
“I understand where he’s coming from but I would like to talk to him if I could.”
“He hunts. Or something. Tala will tell him.”
“Not right now but sometime soon perhaps. Thank you, Tala.”
“You tell Tala’s story in paper? You think it was right, what the soldier did after asking for Tala’s help?”
“I will be including a column called ‘From the Other Side.’ It will show your perspective.”
“When this paper come? Nah read your language.”
“Hopefully it will be in the next day or two. I am still waiting on a couple of pieces. What more can you tell me about this incident with the soldier?”
“What do you want to know? Apache treat him well, with kindness. He fine till he get what he want, then lie and say we start trouble in town.”
“And the native man was brought to trial but set free.”
“Tala heard of that, yes. But what one have to do with other?”
“I want you to know something…” I hesitated. “I was supposed to be the prosecuting attorney for that case, but I stepped back and gave it over to someone else. I am no longer an attorney. I couldn’t prosecute one of your people, the Native peoples are like family to me. I wouldn’t be standing here before you if it weren’t for people like you. That’s why I have so much of a passion for sharing your side of the story as well.”
“Why you step back? That man.....Cheyenne man.... he young and stupid.” As she talked, I suddenly realized the Native man on trial was Cheyenne, and we were talking about two different cases. “Tala smart enough to know not all whites are bad, and not all Natives are good. But, we do not hold anger to your people for the color of your skin, but because you take land that is not yours to take. And want the people to live in little plots of land no good to you. I wish to see your paper. See if you speak true. Then we talk more.”
“You will,” I nodded. “I’ll let you get back to your day. Thank you for taking the time to talk,” I smiled and when she said goodbye I headed back down the mountain.
I walked over to the mine and looked around for Marcus. I saw Hawk ride over and he greeted me. “Haaahe Trin.”
I stood, surprised to see him. “Haahee, Chief. How are you doing?”
“I am well, going to visit Ute brothers and sisters.”
“I just had a productive talk with the Apache up on the mountain. I was just contemplating everything we spoke about. Has Harley and the other man attacked your tribe again?”
“That is good to hear,” Hawk nodded. “He returned later the same night and attacked horses and animals again.”
“I am sorry to hear that,” I sighed.
“Has not returned again though.”
“That is good then. I hope your talks with the Ute goes well.”
“Hahoo.. Hmm bluecoat,” Hawk observed the wagon riding past and I saw the soldiers riding back into town. “This is not good. Big gun in wagon. Must go, Trin.”
“Safe paths,” I nodded and watched him ride off. I felt my allegiance torn but tried to stay neutral as I waited for Marcus to return to the mine.
***
This afternoon I was working at my desk when Tom walked upstairs. “Hey darling!”
“Hello! How are you today?”
“I’m doing alright, how are you? Keeping busy out there? Oh! I finished the paper today!” I said and handed him a copy of the paper.
“Thank you!” he took the paper and started to read it.
“Felt so good to get that first issue done! I should go over to the mines and see if Marcus is available to talk. I had some information I had to give him. We meet in the mines because we don’t want people to know we’re sharing information.”
“Ok, Lead the way.”
We walked over to the mines together and I greeted Marcus when we saw him working by the entrance of the mine.
“Oh hello again, you come here to mine again?” Marcus greeted us.
“Nope. We need to talk. This here’s my man Tom and he understands the confidentiality of these meetings. Tom, this is Marcus. Shall we head on in and talk?”
“Well then let’s go, my troops just had conflicts with them recently again.” Marcus then looked at Tom, “Nice to meet you Tom.”
“Nice to meet you If need be I’ll stand out here. and let you two talk,” Tom said.
“Either way. I feel safer having another gun around,” I winked at Tom. “It’s up to Marcus though.”
“That indeed sound better to me. Since he knew the thing, I do not mind if Tom join,” Marcus chuckled. We walked into the mine and he asked, “So what’s the news this time?”
“I’ve made contact with the Apache. They gave me some information for the newspaper and I’ve included a column about their side of the story.. without sharing names. I don’t know if you saw the paper yet?”
“Did they mention anything about us? Recently our sharpshooter took down 4 of their men,” Marcus said and then shook his head. “Not at all, I was in Texas yesterday, chasing after the Indian women.”
“They did, in fact,” I said and handed him the paper. “Their part is near the end... page seven or eight I believe.”
“Give me some time,” he said and started to read the paper. “I wanted you to read it as it’s in their words. It’s the piece called ‘From the Other Side’.”
He found the right page and said, “So here it is…” and started to read.
“I promised them I would include it, to show them that I’m giving them a voice.”
“So they knew I promoted the sharpshooter, but well, I did not declare that land, Uncle Sam did. And I am just doing my job.”
“I understand that, but they probably don’t see it that way. We also had a lengthy discussion with Chief Hawk in Kansas. It is going to take some time to build up trust again because they saw me in the courthouse when one of their own was on trial, but I backed out of the case, Marcus. I couldn’t prosecute one of them. I knew if I did that, my hopes of getting information from them for the paper and giving them a voice would be gone.”
“My Gatling and Cannon are ready for them anytime,” he then asked, “Do you think they may attack us too?”
“The Cheyenne? No,” I shook my head. “They have enough problems of their own. Harley Buu and someone else keep attacking them. Even when their own women and children are there, and unarmed. It’s senseless and it’s all about land.”
“But I do hope you to understand if anyone make any kind of offensive act towards here, my cavalry have to, and will strike back to them,” Marcus said.
“I understand that. I am not objecting to justice being done either way. You’ll notice that they admitted that there are some palefaces are good, but also some Natives who are bad in that article. My only objective is to spread the truth from both sides of the story. Maybe if we understand each others’ motives behind the attacks on either side, those attacks will be less.”
“Okay, can you put my words on the paper too?”
“For the next issue? Sure. What would you like me to say?”
“I just wish all the fighting would just stop. It’s all senseless fighting,” Tom sighed.
“At this point sweetie, I’m concerned with diminishing the fighting. I know it won’t completely go away,” I nodded to Tom, but I knew it wasn’t that simple.
“Officially warning from the Cavalry. any kind of offence act toward American soil, would be considered war declared to US Government and its fellow citizens,” Marcus stated. “US Cavalry would use any kind of forces to protect the land, and the people. That is the warning for them.”
“Do you just want me to put that as a page on its own... just with that short paragraph, or do you want to include some context? I don’t want to reveal these meetings, Marcus. They’re too important. I’ll just put it as from the calvary, and not name you specifically.”
“It is from the US 7th Cavalry Regiment Headquarter. Signed by Major General George Armstrong Custer. I will have to leave now, please inform me when there’s news.”
“I will,” I nodded. “Thank you, Marcus.”
Tom and I headed home and relaxed for the afternoon.
***
This evening I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and watched as a man walked into the office. When I saw who it was, I blinked. “Josh…?” I stood, shocked to see the brother I hadn’t seen in years.
He smiled with relief and said, “There you are little sis!”
“What are you… What’s…” I was speechless, knowing it must be something serious for my brother to come all this way, completely out of the blue.
“Sis.. There.. So much to tell you,” he hanged his head, sighing.
I swallowed hard and went to him, hugging him tightly. “It’s so good to see you…"
Josh wrapped his arms around me tightly and said, “I have been looking all over the west trying to find you. Although I bring unfortunate news.”
I leaned into him, regretting the fact that I’d made myself untraceable after Jason had died, and I wondered if he even knew about that or not. “Let’s go upstairs,” I said after a while and led him up to the couch. “Talk to me Josh... What’s wrong?” I tried to brace myself for whatever was coming.
“Dad passed…” Josh hung his head.
“He…” I stared at him blankly.
Josh put his arm around me and said, “Dad was shot.”
“Shot…?” I swallowed hard and leaned my head on his shoulder. “Why... when...? How’s Mom…?”
“He was out in the fields tending the cattle and a gang came through and shot him, Mom hasn’t been the same,” he said and I started to cry. Josh wiped the tears away and pulled out a coin pouch, pulling out a medal from dad’s from his army days. “Dad wanted you to have this Sis.”
I took the medal and I shook my head in awe, not having seen this piece in years. “When was the last time you saw him?”
“It has been a month now, I had gone home to visit since I left so abruptly, I couldn’t just stay away from home seeing that i was already away for 6 years on my own, Mom told me you had moved out west but didn’t know why. Then after dad’s death I had to come find you.”
“So much has happened…” I nodded. “I just can’t believe Dad’s... gone…” I wiped the tears away, not wanting my brother to see me cry.
“Now now sis, we have to stay strong, That is what Dad would want,” he said, wrapping his arms around me as I nuzzled against him. “So enough of this sadness, What has been up with you. It has been forever since I have seen my little sister, I was kinda upset when you weren’t still with mom and dad.”
“I’m sorry... We lost track when you got that job and then Jason…” I nodded.
“What happened to Jason?” he looked into my eyes.
I looked down, squeezing dad’s medal. “He was killed, Josh... In a stagecoach accident. The summer before we were supposed to... to get married.”
“ am so sorry kiddo, I never knew you two were going to get married. It must have been tragic,” Josh pulled me closer.
“It was awful... I stayed with his sister Jenny for a year but I just... I couldn’t stay there forever. And I couldn’t go back home to mom and dad, so I just started heading West.” I wondered how much I should tell him, knowing that if he knew some things, he wouldn’t believe it.
“I am sure we will have a lot of time to catch up, I kinda picked up all my stuff out East in Philadelphia, I left behind all my Political contacts to come find you. So Generally I moved, and now I gotta find a place to stay.”
“Well... I’d offer for you to stay here but... I’m kind of living with someone now…” I looked at him.
“Oh? Care to share?” Josh sat back a bit.
“His name’s Tom... we met when I was living in Georgetown last month. He invited me to the Valentine’s Dance and we’ve been together ever since. He was a marshal there... I was a detective,” I chuckled.
“You know I am going to want to meet him, And you know How I am with the men you date,” he chuckled.
“I know... But he’s such a wonderful man, Josh. I mean he’s stuck around this long…” I smiled. “I’d offer for you to stay on the couch here but… Would you like to see the town?”
“Well it would make it easier for me to keep an eye on you and protect you if he ever did something wrong to you,” Josh smiled.
“He’s not like that. I trust him enough to live with him... he keeps me safe,” I shook my head, not explaining why I needed protection yet.
“I would love a Tour, But I am quite tired from my travels and was hoping to find the inn to get a room for the night, Maybe tomorrow?”
“I can show you the hotel…” I nodded.
“Thanks Sis,” he smiled and followed me downstairs.
“I run the newspaper here, by the way,” I looked over at him. “Want to see the first issue? It just came out today.”
“So finally running a Newspaper, And I would love to see the first issue, I am gonna need to find some work around here, Guess this would be the place to put my Photography Skills in use, since that is the dream I chased and became successful at,” Josh said.
“I could definitely use the help. Put the first issue out on my own, other than help from those I interviewed obviously,” I nodded. “I’ll pay you.”
“Well I would hope you would pay your own Brother,” he chuckled.
I handed him the first issue of the paper and hugged him tightly. “It’s so good to see you again, even in spite of the news you brought with you.”
“Yes it is great to see you to sis, And I see your camera skills haven’t improved one bit,” he chuckled as he read.
“Haven’t improved?!” I chuckled and nudged him playfully.
“That is what I said isn’t it,” he nudged me back. “I am only messing with you kiddo.”
“Let’s find you a hotel,” I winked at him and led the way outside.
I showed him around town and sighed, seeing Young Doe, the Cheyenne child. I knew she’d sold me out to Hawk and I sighed, shaking my head. I didn’t know what to say to her so I just continued to lead Josh to the hotel.
“I would of thought the relationship between us settlers and the Natives was better then what I just witnessed,” Josh looked at me when we were inside.
“Don’t get me started. We’ll have plenty of time for that tomorrow,” I sighed. I took a key from the wall and saw Harley Buu outside on a horse. I hadn’t seen him in ages and shook her head. “Guess we can just take one if it’s on the wall.”
“Sis, that isn’t right put the key back up there, I’ll just sit here and wait for the inn keeper to return.”
“Fine,” I winked at him. “I want to make sure you get settled though.”
Josh walked over to sit on the couch and looked up at me as I sat down beside him. “Sis I am a grown man, I will be fine, You should get back to your place, I will stop in, in the morning for that tour.”
I sighed and looked into his eyes. I didn’t want to leave him and he just smiled at me. “Oh…. I was hoping to use your telegraph in the morning to send to for my things to be sent here. Since seeing that you have some lesser quality Photography equipment i need to get my good equipment.”
“That’ll be no problem,” I insisted.
“Thanks,” he said and I hugged him before heading home to let him get settled in at the hotel.
***
I couldn’t believe my brother had arrived, or that my father had been killed. I saw Tom walking into the apartment and I looked up at him, knowing my eyes showed the tears that had been falling.
“Everything ok? You look terrible. Someone hurt you?” he walked over to me.
“I need a drink,” I said simply. “Can we go to the saloon in Devil’s Ditch?”
“I suppose so. I just don’t want you being so upset, If there’s anything I can do, just tell me.”
“I’ll tell you when we get there,” I said and we walked over to Devil’s Ditch. When we saw Chet sitting in front of his cabin, we figured he was sleeping and headed over to the saloon. I poured us two glasses of whiskey and we took a seat at the bar.
“My... brother came to see me tonight,” I looked in his eyes.
“Everything ok hon?” he took my hand.
“I... I haven’t seen my brother in almost six years. For him to come find me now... I knew it had to be something serious…”
“What happened?” he asked with concern.
I took out the medal from dad and showed it to Tom while still holding his hand. “My father... he was shot. By a gang while he was tending the cattle at our ranch back in Canada. He died, Tom.”
“Do they know who did it? Are they still out there?”
“We didn’t talk about those details yet. I saw my parents back when I was in Georgetown... I went to visit them for a weekend… I can’t remember if it was before I met you or after.”
“Well, either way, I’ll be looking for them. I’ll tear them to pieces. Justice will be done, If they are in Canada, or not. Doesn’t matter. I’ll get them,” Tom said certainly.
“Tom…” I squeezed his hand, knowing he always wanted to solve my problems, but right now I just needed to grieve the fact that the problem existed.
“I’ll be here for you,” he looked at me.
“Josh is going to stay in town and help me with the paper... He studied photography and he says I need his help.”
“At least he’s there for you. That’s more than what I got. I wish I had a family. The same thing happened to mine back in Pittsburg. They supposedly died in a house fire. All I know is there was someone out for my dad, and they killed him, along with my mother, and brothers. I’m still looking for those people responsible for that.”
“How long ago did your parents die..?” I asked, wishing we didn’t share that in common.
“I was 14. Old enough to know what happened. I was then send by the city to an orphanage. Got a foster family and the whole bit till I was 18. I was supposed to get at least my father’s inheritance, but someone, posing as the family’s lawyer went and withdrew all of it. I to this day think it was the people that killed him.”
“I’m sorry Sweetie…” I stroked my hand up and down his arm comfortingly. “It’s getting late... we should head back home.” I stood, somewhat shakily.
We walked out of the saloon and then saw Josh walking down the street. “Oh, hi kiddo,” he greeted us.
“Josh... I thought you were sleeping,” I looked at him.
“I couldn’t fall asleep. Too much on my mind tonight. Thought I would take a walk around to clear my head then decided to get a drink,” he chuckled.
“I had the same thought. Josh... This is Tom. Tom, my big brother, Josh.”
“Name’s Tom,” Tom extended his hand and shook Josh’s.
“So you are Tom, My name is Josh,” Josh said uneasily.
“Since neither of us are gonna get any sleep tonight, why don’t we head on in the saloon?” I looked between them.
“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Josh nodded.
“I could use a drink,” Tom nodded and I led them to the saloon, wondering how this conversation would go. As we got ourselves some drinks, I noticed Josh eyeing Tom cautiously.
I reached for my whiskey and raised the glass, saying, “To dad.”
“To dad,” Josh clinked his glass to mine.
“So Tom, How did you find your way out west,” Tom coughed.
“Hello Miss Trin and Tom. Hello sir,” Allegra greeted us as she walked in and I breathed easier, thinking it would alleviate some of the tension.
“Allegra... I’d like you to meet my brother... Josh. Josh, this is my long-time friend, Allegra,” I introduced.
“Oh Your brother Miss Trin? I am delighted to meet you Josh,” Allegra smiled.
“Well, I don’t have any family in the east anymore. Figure’d I’d move as far away as I could go,” Tom nodded to Josh’s question.
“He just came to town today... I haven’t seen him in... six years... at least.”
“The pleasure is all mine Miss Allegra,” Josh turned to her.
“What a wonderful reunion you must be having! I am so thrilled for you,” she smiled.
“I wish it were under those circumstances... Josh came with bad news,” I looked at her.
“Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that,” she frowned.
“Our father he... he was killed…” I sighed.
“Oh my heavens. I am so very sorry to hear that. My condolences to both of you,” Allegra said and hugged me. “Honey if you need anything, let me know.”
“I will... It’s good to know I have so many friends in this town.”
“Thank you miss,” Josh smiled. If only Dad could see how grown up you became Sis. He would be so proud,” Josh looked at me. “Favourite child,” he mumbled under his breath.
“What was that, bro?” I looked over.
“You heard me,” he stuck his tongue out at me and we chuckled. He looked at Tom and asked, So you moved out from the East. Born and raised out there?”
“Yeah, I was raised up in Pittsburg. It was some pretty tough going, so I left, and started moving west.”
“I just came out from Philadelphia,” Josh nodded. “Well I should probably go and try to sleep, I will see you bright and early tomorrow sis,” he stood and hugged me.
“I’ll come by for coffee,” I hugged him back.
“I will be waiting,” he smiled.
Josh headed back to the hotel and Tom and I said goodnight to Allegra and headed upstairs where Tom held me as I cried as soon as we got into bed.
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