March 3, 1870

Colorado. 

I walked into town this afternoon and saw a crowd in front of the soldier’s outpost. Jake saw me and quickly pointed in that direction. “Howdy Trin, I think ya might have a story soon,” he nodded where he was pointing. 

“Oh?” I looked at Jake as Chels greeted me.

“Yup, might wanna check it out,” he nodded and I headed over to the outpost. 

I waved to Matt, the guy who had said he would write for me, along the way. I saw Rayce talking with Harley and blinked, not expecting to see her. “You, a soldier?! Whyever for and how did you change from criminal to soldier? Not that the two are mutually exclusive…” Rayce was saying to Harley. 

“Judge’s orders, I’m afraid,” Harley chuckled. “It was either that or jail.” 

Rayce laughed harder and then waved at me, and I waved back. “Now that, that makes sense. That or jail. But still getting in trouble, I see.” 

“Well they decided my talents for violence could be used elsewhere,” Harley grinned. 

“So you are in the army, here, in East.” 

“It would seem that way.” 

I stood across the road and listened to them, not involving myself in the conversation yet. “Not sure Yellow is your colour,” Rayce commented. 

“I’m not sure red is yours but we’re both stuck with it,” Harley grinned. 

Rayce fluffed her hair and said, “Hey, it’s my color since me birth. Yellow on you...nah, you’re no yellow belly.” 

“Well maybe if you write a letter to the us army they’ll be willing to change all their uniform colours.” 

“I think it’s funnier to see you in blue and yellow.” 

“Do I really look that bad?” 

“Perhaps if you braided some ribbon into these to make it match....." She grinned cheekily at him. "When are you coming over for dinner? Logan and I would love to have you,” Rayce said. 

I thought to myself I wasn’t going to get a story there and kept walking. I went over to the saloon and told Jake that nothing was going on over at the outpost. I joined him, Jo, Adder, Twist and Chels at the bar and got myself a whiskey as the conversation continued and more people came into the saloon. 

Josh joined after a while and came to stand on the porch with us. I got him to take pictures of the saloon since it was so busy and he took a few pictures for the paper. Harley continued to tell stories about how he’d become a soldier. Jake took out his harmonica and played it while leaning back against the railing. Jo gave a shout-out to Sam who’d been featured in the newspaper that week. We continued to drink and talk and Adder picked up his guitar and started to play as Josh continued to take pictures for the paper. Allegra asked about me and Josh and how much I loved having my brother around. After a while we headed across the road. 

Josh sent out a telegram and talked while he was typing, “Dear Mom, I made it to Colorado, and better yet, I found Trin. I just wanted to send you this to let you know that I was doing ok and so is your little girl. We love you mom. Please send back soon on when Dad’s Funeral is. Your Son, Josh.” I started to tear up a bit and then Josh continued to work on a telegram to Philadelphia. “Hey Franklin, I wanted to send you this so you could send me my things, I was able to find my baby sister in Colorado and I have decided to move out here to keep an eye on her, Let everyone know that I wont be there for awhile but will try my hardest to get back to see the city. Sincerely, Joshua Paige.” 

He stood up and put a hand on mine as he looked at me. “Everything will be ok kiddo.” 

“I hope so,” I nodded. 

“They will be,” he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly. 

We went out for a ride and I introduced Josh to Dione, who had helped set me up for my first paper. 

Nebraska. 

We rode out to Nebraska and I looked over at him. “So Josh... This... is Nebraska. I lived here for about a month or so... Cherkoee tribe is to our left, Cheyenne tribe is to the right.” 

“Nice,” he nodded, looking around. 

“Actually the reason I lived out here wasn’t really all that nice. There’s somethin’ you need to know about me, bro.” 

“Oh?” he frowned. 

“I was kind of bullied out of my first town in the west... By a vicious gang. I ran out to Colorado East to escape but they found me. I kept running. I’m alive because of them,” I looked at him seriously. 

“You should of contacted Mom and Dad, they knew where I was and could of gotten a hold of me.” 

“I moved to Georgetown to become a Pinkerton agent. The natives taught me that I needed to take control of my life and fight for what was mine, and that was my pride. My safety. My dignity to not be known as a coward,” I said, ignoring his comment partially. 

“You aren’t a coward kiddo,” he looked at me. 

“I was a coward, Josh. I ran from them when I should have just stayed in Colorado and fought. Anyway.. I moved to Georgetown and became a Pinkerton Agent, thinking that my becoming an official detective would help the natives trust me and show them that I wanted peace through investigating and words, rather than violence and bullets. My boss there once told me... I’m more worth to him for the information I seek than the battles I fight. Anyway... There were some issues with the Cherokee as they started not to trust me, seeing that I was working so closely with the law and started carrying a gun around. I’m still enemy number one with them but I have kept good relations with the Cheyenne until... Well, until last week. But I’m hoping that with time that wound will heal faster than the one with the Cherokee. I wanted to tell you all of this in case you start to hear things in town about my dealings with the natives... They are like family to me, Josh. I wouldn’t be alive without them and I owe my life to them. I aim to give them a voice in the paper, to show both sides of the story instead of creating a prejudice that the paleface viewpoint is the only one that matters.” I took a deep breath and looked over, seeing he was speechless. 

Colorado. 

We rode back home to Colorado and I looked over at him as we dismounted at the office. 

“It would have made things worse,” I finally told him. “At any rate... I still have to make amends with both tribes and I will, it will just take time. But I will do it because it means too much to me not to do it. I have some work I need to get to,” I looked at him. 

“I should probably get these started on developing. I will talk to you tomorrow,” Josh grabbed his camera from his desk. 

“Thanks, Josh. I appreciate it,” I nodded. 

He nodded and said, “I know kiddo,” and started for the door. 

“Hey…” I reached for his hand, stopping him. “I’m sorry…” I hugged him tightly and watched him walk out. 

I went to the saloon and saw some people talking and Baron was saying, “It should be a good story for Trin to put in the paper.” 

“What should be a good story for Trin?” I asked as I walked over. 

“The shoot up,” Baron said and Jake looked at me. 

“What’d I miss?” I looked between Baron and Jake. 

“You still write for the paper, don’t you Trin?” Baron asked. 

“I run it.” 

“Ya might wanna go…” Jake started. 

“Check the doc’s…” Chels finished. 

“But do you still write for it?” Baron asked. 

“Yeah I do,” I looked between them again. “Seriously, guys. What’s goin on?” 

“She sure does, didn’t ya read it?” Jake nodded to Baron. 

“Yep, I have,” Baron said. 

“Alright,” Jake smiled. 

“Despres?” I asked insistently. 

“Don’t tell me ya was having a little nap. And missed all of the action,” Baron said. 

“Definitely wasn’t having a nap. Getting a lecture is more like,” I sighed. 

“Trin, that not like you,” Baron laughed. 

“Alright, we had a bunch of Mexican’s in the Saloon just a moment ago... They didn’t pay for their Tequila but in the end some very dark skinned Injun did... Then Mr. TJ started to swing at them and hell broke lose,” Jake finally explained.

“And ya heard nothing?” Chels chuckled. 

“We were over in Nebraska and just got back,” I said. “Mexicans?” 

“Si…” Jake nodded. 

“I got here after it was all over my self,” Baron said. 

“So TJ started to swing at them and then what?” I asked. 

“They started shooting,” Chels shrugged. 

“Are ya hit Blacksmith?” Jake asked Sam. 

“How are you Jakob?..You Ok?” Sam asked. 

“How many were hit? Who was hit? Did you catch them?” I asked Jake a line of questions. 

“I’m alright thanks... Just took had a bullet gaze my shoulder…” Jake nodded. “Yes, some of them are at the Doc’s…” 

“Yea...But I’ve bit worse than that by a mad women before..” Sam grinned. 

“All of us from here are fine Trin..the Mexicans didn’t fare so lucky,” Chels told me. 

“That’s good to hear,” I nodded. 

“Some got shot in the back of the head I bet,” Baron told me. 

“How many Mexicans were there?” I asked, knowing TJ’s relation with the Mexicans. I wasn’t really surprised, so I didn’t really ask about the motive behind the attack.  

“I’m glad ya weren’t hurt Blacksmith,” Jake nodded to Sam. 

“I got hit...No big deal,” Sam shrugged. 

“Well there were at least ten, Trin,” Chels counted on her fingers. 

“A lot of missplaced shots too…” Jake said. 

“Geez…” I shook my head. 

“Ya will have ta put ya best Sunday suit into the laundry Sam. They do repairs as well,” Baron said. 

“Anything else you can tell me?” I looked around. 

“It was all stupid....I had to make couple take it pretty hard,” Sam said. 

“The one I saw running away was at least seven feet tall,” Baron said. 

“You know any of the Mexicans, Jake?” I asked him. 

“I’m not sure but one of them might have been Señor Tuco Ramirez…” 

“Am I right in assuming it was a brawl between TJ and them based on his history with Mexicans or is there something deeper I’m missing?” I asked. 

“No, those guys came here seekin’ Tequila and Trouble... They found both,” Jake said and I thought to myself that sounded like a good headline. 

“I gave them all my Blessings but that was not good enough,” Sam said. 

TJ walked in then and I looked over at him. “Anything you want to add to my story about the shootout, TJ?” 

“Oh yeah,” TJ said. “I stood up to the wet backs. No one else would. The end. So write ya damn story.” 

“What the hell are saying TJ?” Sam asked. 

“Did I stutter?” 

“I got my suit all bloody helping you!” 

“Well ya all were gonna talk all night.” 

“Mister TJ...we don’t always resort to fighting if no reason to,” Chels said. 

“Ya can’t talk to them shitwads.” 

“Did you know any of the mexicans, TJ? Was it a personal fight?” I asked. 

“Yea. Poncho, Lefty and Juanita.” 

“Go ahead and see this guy ever helps you again,” Sam muttered. “You are very ungrateful.” 

“You said ya stood up to them... What were they doing that needed that reaction in your perspective?” I asked. 

“Look, I was tired of them running their mouths so I punched them,” TJ told me. “And these folks joined in.” 

“What were they runnin their mouths about?” 

“What are ya writing, a book?”

“I just want to get the full picture, TJ. You should know me better by now, I tell all sides of the story.” 

“Go ask the Mexicans.” 

I sighed and headed over to the clinic. I saw Rat Boy and hesitated, but then asked them for information on what happened. They told me about a stupid man that died and TJ said that he didn’t see anyone die. I asked what the fight was about and Juan said that TJ had run from Rat. I asked what started the fight and they just said that TJ opened his big mouth so the fighting started. I realized I wasn’t getting anywhere and then Rat looked at me.

“Don’t I know you senorita?” Rat asked. 

“I think so,” I nodded. 

“Ooooh cousin Juan, thees woman is paperwoman. I seen her,” Rat remembered. 

“She write thee paper cousin?” Juan asked. 

“She can put in paper. Si.”

“Exactly. I’m trying to get the full story for the paper,” I nodded, since we were finally on the same page. 

“Warn all men of thees TJ ...that he like thee men si?” Juan asked. 

“I need to know what TJ said to start the fight though,” I said. 

“I look forward to your next edition of the paper miss..it has always been something I enjoy reading,” said a woman who was there and I thanked her. 

“He say ‘Juan ...i want to kees you’,” Juan said. 

“Well he came close to cousin and try kiss him,” Rat said. 

“I say no way senor!”

“Oh... I see now.” 

“Than he went all maaad,” Rat said. 

“Then he try to force on me ...that when fight start,” Juan said and laughed. 

“Si segnorita put it like that. Story is all true,” Rat said. 

“Eef you have eeny more questions senorita ..you ask Juan ..he always speek thee truth,” Juan said. 

“I will do that. Thank you gentlemen for the information,” I said and looked over at Adder who was guarding the clinic. I said goodnight to him and walked out of the clinic but they stopped me. 

“And me and cousin can have paper?” Rat asked. 

“I will let you both know when it’s out,” I promised. 

“What choo theenk cousin ..she very preety no?” Juan asked. 

“Si!” Rat exclaimed. 

“I’m taken. Very taken,” I looked between them. 

“Choo know thees words cousin ...very taken?” Juan asked. 

I shook my head and went back to my apartment after a long day.