Colorado.
This morning I walked into the saloon and greeted everyone that was there. Jake commented that I used to dance and I told him it was in another life, but he told me I was good at it. We talked about the shootout between TJ and the Mexicans. Adder joined us and we continued to chat casually. We joked about how Twist gave lawmen free drinks at the saloon. Johnny started to play guitar and I decided to talk to pull out my notebook and looked at Adder.
“Hey Sheriff... Can I get your perspective on what happened last night for the paper? Or would you rather do that in an office?”
“Sure. We can do it here, hell it happened here.”
“Lay it on me, Sheriff. What’d you see?” I smiled and started to write.
“We were all outside having that little get together, Jake was playing guitar. Miss Twist came into the bar for something and then we heard her telling a man to get out from behind the bar. We came in and saw four Mexicans, outlaw looking types, three men and a woman, that Stella girl. One was beside the cash register, had it open.”
“So they were stealing the saloon. Funny they never mentioned that part,” I winked at him.
“They claimed to be paying for the drinks they’d helped themselves to, so I asked Miss Twist to check it was all there. She did and it was, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t about to steal,” Adder said. “They got aggressive when we tried to make them pay 300 coins for drinks and damages, and told them they’d have to pay in advance for future drinks. Things got heated, but it was defused somewhat by a native looking woman, who paid the 300 for them”
“A native woman?” I asked, curious. “Why would a native woman pay the three hundred for them?”
“Only seen her once, couple days ago when some Cherokee and Cheyenne were poking round the outpost. Then that hotheaded moron TJ showed up, and started running his damn mouth. Eventually he took a swing at one of the Mex’s and all hell broke loose. Dumb bastard was the first to get put down too, I think.”
I nodded, thinking this was the part where people started telling me things. “Figures.”
“When the dust settled and the bullets stopped, all the Mex’s and TJ were down in the dirt. I arrested TJ and took him to the cells.”
“Despres and Sam were among the hit from town, were you?”
“Grazed slightly, got a bit banged up charging through the tables and chairs outside too,” he shrugged.
“Flesh wounds, right?” I winked.
“Barely even that. Anyway, Mr Toocool was bailed and will be summoned at a later date to face a judge and jury.”
“So will TJ be on trial or are ya gonna bother?”
“Think that mans pride was wounded more than anything by getting shot down by them,” said the doctor from last night.
“That should be a fun trial to watch,” I thought to myself that I was glad I wasn’t an attorney anymore.
“Oh, he’ll go to trial. He’s guilty as sin, and it was witnessed by many, including a soldier, two United States Marshals, and a Sheriff,” he smiled. “The date has not yet been set. He’ll be summoned when the judge says so.”
“Thanks, Sheriff. I appreciate getting the full story from someone finally.”
“You were the newspaper lady from last night in the clinic,” said the woman.
“Wish I knew that native woman’s name…” I said and nodded to the doctor. “Trin Paige.”
“Osiyo Trin Paige,” she greeted me. “I should be on my way.”
I heard the Cherokee greeting and turned to the doctor, then looked to Adder. He nodded and I asked her, “Were you there last night in the saloon miss?”
“Yes I was.”
“Did you pay the 300 coins for them?”
“Yes I did.”
“Why?”
“Could not see being sent to jail over a few drinks.”
“Thanks for your information,” I smiled and she walked out of the saloon. I looked over at Adder, still suspicious that that was the full story, and said, “I’m missing something here.”
“Nah, what she said is correct. Strange, but correct.”
“Ms. Trin, if I may say so, why would the woman that just came in have any profit from knowing when the Toocool guy will be in front of a judge?” Johnny asked.
“Okay then,” I nodded to Adder and shrugged, “Don’t know, Sir . That’s a good question.” I thought to myself I should talk to the Native woman alone and get more out of her and said, “Well gentlemen I should get to the office. Ya’ll stay safe out there.”
“Let’s hope there won’t be anymore Mexicans causing trouble,” Johnny said as I headed out of the saloon.
***
When I’d stopped in front of the saloon outpost a few hours later, I talked with Johnny about how quiet it was and then headed up to the Apache village. “Hello, anyone here?” I called out.
“Yes... what do you need?” Nah shouted back.
“Is the chief here? I am unarmed, it’s Trin Paige, “I shouted and then smiled seeing the chief coming over. “Hello Sir.”
“Dago Te... what need?” he asked.
“I was wondering if you’d received a copy of the paper that came out this weekend?”
“You mean paper with words on them?”
“I promised that I would show both sides of the story and have included a piece quoting one of your healers without using their name. I wanted to make sure you saw that I was true to my word,” I said and handed him the paper.
“You say you want to get apache side? You want to put our words too?” he asked, taking the paper.
“My goal is to show the truth of what happened, from everyone’s perspective,” I smiled.
“I got copy. I can read some. Teacher in small school teach me from book once.”
“Sometimes those perspectives vary but I think it’s important to show all of them. The more we share about our perspectives, the more we’ll understand each other.”
“I understand town well. Apache go to town. Men pull guns. Apache take bow off back. Men shot apache.... then apache get in jail. What to understand? Is how it always is.”
“There are always two sides to every story, Chief. For example.. you see me as paleface so you think I am one of the ones shooting, right? I ask you... Do you see guns? Weapons on me at all?” I looked at him.
“This is truth. This is what your words on paper should be. No I not say you... I say what happen when apache go to town…”
“I’m just giving you a for instance… I owe my life to your peoples... Different tribes but, the native people in general. I wouldn’t be here before you if it weren’t for them.”
“You here now to know what happen? The truth? You want to hear or is past already?”
“It is my goal to show that peace can be achieved through understanding and words and truth as opposed to bullets and violence. Has anything happened since Saturday that I should know about from your perspective?”
“I tell you something happen. If you want to hear truth story.”
“I would love to,” I followed him over to the village and waved to the woman I’d talked to earlier.
“Sit,” he motioned to me and I did so, greeting the woman.
I thought about how long it’d been since I’d sat down in a native village, and it oddly felt peaceful. I pulled out my notebook to write the chief’s words as he talked.
“Few moons ago we go to see Cheyenne. See smoke signals need help. Apache ride... and is two Blue Coat saying words about land now belongs United of America.... Well Blue Coat see now apache there too. Was two of them….” Nah began.
“How many moons ago?” I nodded, listening.
“Blue Coat say they go now. So they start to ride off but when distance they pull guns... shot Cheyenne horse. On way off lands... horses try stomp Blue Coat, Blue Coat get hurt. After apache leave and is coming back to village we have to ride threw town some. See one Blue Coat hurt very bad. Now we not know yet they shot horses... I say apache healer , help man. Tala take herbs help this man…”
I looked over at Tala, wondering if this was the same story she’d told me.
“We leave come back to village... and when we all about to go to sleep, another Blue Coat come up here this time... he hurt ask to heal… Tala heals this one too and when she done healing him, putting herbs on his would.... he pull gun on apache, run and leave bullet in us. Me, Apache Healer Tala and War Chief. So you ask apache side. Then even after this Blue Coat come up here... say we cause problem they run us out…" he laughed. “When Blue Coat ask for help... apache help... they go from village with bullets flying. Apache wants peace. Wants to be left alone to live our ways. To raise our children. To protect our way of life.... you understand my words?”
“I do understand, yes,” I nodded, thinking to myself ‘more than they could know.’ “Has there been any attacks since then, Chief?”
“When Blue Coat shot horses, at Cheyenne... one child got hit with bullet. Shot horses, shot child... we can not stand for this,” he sighed and I pulled up my knees under my chin, pondering his words. “Horses should not be shot. What they do? Nothing... free.... roam... and child? What child do? She hear horses in pain... runs.... sees Blue Coats... she too gets shot. Apache not take this no more. Enough. I think white man not know what peace is. They want all land when... what they do to it? No respect for land.”
“Chief, has anyone attacked since that incident?” I rested my cheek on my knee.
“If apache was go to town, put arrows in town horses and children, apache would be hanging from white man rope by neck. You understand?”
“It’s a double standard,” I nodded. “And it shouldn’t be.”
“I say this and you put these words in your paper... No More! Enough. Apache will do what we are forced to do to protect our ways, our children and the animals.”
“I will Chief, I promise.”
Tala said something to Nah in Apache and I looked between them, not understanding the language yet. “One more thing to say,” Nah said.
“Sure.”
“Tag, apache warrior see big gun on wagon come into town. He go see what this is. Guns are pulled on him. He reach to draw boy to defend... moment he take bow in hand he is gunned down. Then he is put in your jails. Chief Hawk and me hear of this. We go and only after much talk we get them let him go,” Nah said.
“When was this?”
“Few moons ago. So you hear apache side. You hear the truth.”
“Can you tell me how many moons ago exactly?”
“Two maybe three... this happen all the time. Apache have always keep good supply of herbs to heal.”
“I will make sure this gets in the paper, Chief. I appreciate you giving me this time,” I nodded.
“One more thing I say to you.... listen good." he said. "Since white man and there soldiers do this.... hand of Indian is forced. I know that they will see many nations that will travel here, soon. We meet.... to talk. We will not have this to go on. Now you go. I say no more. You have safe passage out of here. This is Tag... one town gunned down for no reason,” Nah said as a man walked over.
“Tag, I will be sure that your side of the story is told,” I said to the man walking over. “Chief, how do you say ’thank you’ in your language?”
“Is Ashoge…”
“Ashoge then.”
I smiled as I walked back to town, happy to have had such a good first meeting with the Apache. I walked back into town and smiled when I saw Tom. “Hello darling!”
“Hey, how’s your day going?”
“Very well. I just ha a very successful conversation with the Apache chief.”
“That’s very good. What did you talk about?”
“Mostly the story that I wrote about last issue but I think I could include it again with more detail... and something else that’s happened since. Was more about establishing communication and peace between us.”
“That’s great!”
Tom and I walked over to the clinic because he was looking at becoming a doctor there. Tom talked with Ida and I headed back to my office since I was still uneasy about being in the clinic. I talked with Alva and then smiled seeing Josh walk over.
“Hey sis,” he greeted me.
“Hey bro!”
“Remember this old thing?” Josh pulled dad’s old gun off his back.
“How are ya?”
“Wow I haven’t seen that thing in years… Dad used to scare off my old boyfriends with that thing.”
“I’m good, Just thought I would bring you a little gift,” he handed me the pictures. “Yeah he did,” he chuckled.
“I’ve had a pretty busy day as well. Got some information from the Apache this morning.”
“Oh?” Josh raised an eyebrow. “That is good news.”
“Had a very productive conversation with the chief. Hey Josh... are we... okay?” I looked over at him.
“To be honest Kiddo, I’m not sure, I feel like you couldn’t trust your family with what has been happening in your life,” Josh shrugged.
“I just... I was running for my life, Josh. I didn’t know where you were or how soon you could have gotten here. I knew that if I brought you here they would have tried to kill you too,” I sighed.
“Sis it wouldn’t of been my first time dealing with this type of situation. I know how to use a gun and I know how to protect myself. You have no idea how worried I have been about you when I left home to go to Philadelphia.”
I moved my foot and made room for him to sit on the barrel in front of the chair. “I’m sorry, Josh. You’re right, I should have called for you.”
“Lets just leave it in the past kiddo.What matters is that you are okay.”
I squeezed his hand and said, “Thanks Josh... For being here... I’m so grateful that you found me.”
“Yeah, I am as well,” Josh smiled.
“Tom’s in town. He’s over at the clinic getting hired as a doctor.”
“Oh? He didn’t seem like the type of person to be working in a clinic,” Josh raised an eyebrow.
“Speaking of... Hey there darlin’. Congrats on the new job!” I smiled and saw Tom walking over.
“Thank you! I just was over at the store, Got some new clothes.. I’ll be needing to change out of this stuff.” He held the parcel in his hand. “Hello Joshua.”
“Sure thing,” I nodded.
“Well I will let you two be, Just wanted to drop off the pictures and show you that I got dad’s Old Gun,” Josh said.
“You’re fine. We can all head across the road for a drink if you boys want? Unless you gotta get back to work I guess, hon?” I looked at Tom.
“Really kiddo, I don’t want to intrude,” Josh shook his head.
“Sounds like a good plan. I just gotta go try this stuff on here.. Won’t be but a minute,” Tom said.
“Of course. And don’t think anything of it, Josh. I want you two to get to know each other,” I looked between them as Tom headed into the house. I noticed Josh sigh and asked, “What? Tell me.”
“It’s nothing,” he said, taking the bullets out of his gun.
“It’s not nothing. I know that look.”
“You have a safe that I could put dad’s gun in?”
“Yeah, come on in,” I said and led the way into the office. “Guess we should get a copy of the key made for you?” I asked and we put the gun in the safe.
“It isn’t something that needs to be done right away,” he shrugged.
“Josh come on, talk to me. What’s bugging you?”
“Not here kiddo,” he leaned over and whispered.
I swallowed hard, knowing I was right and waited for Tom to come downstairs. H e walked downstairs and I looked between the men. “Shall we?”
We walked across to the saloon and got a drink but then Tom headed back to the clinic to get some work done. When we were alone I looked at him and said, “Alright, Josh. Start talkin’.”
“Just things… would rather talk in private about it.”
“Let’s go then,” I said and we went back to my place. When we sat down on the couch I looked him in the eyes and asked, “You don’t like him, do you?”
“I’m not sure about him yet kiddo, something seems off, but that is not what I am so down about…” he pulled out his engagement ring and said, “You remember Caron?”
“I remember. We got along well,” I nodded.
“Yeah, well when we moved from home, to the Colonies she started to stray away from our relationship. I thought maybe if I had proposed to her, since we were together for 3 years that maybe she would stop straying. Well….” he hesitated. “I had put out almost all of my coins to get her this ring,” He passed it to me, “But when I got home to propose she was no where to be found, and all her things were gone. All that was left was this note,” he grabbed the note and read, “‘I am sorry Josh, I have decided to move away from Philadelphia, I needed to get away from what was happening and was to scared to talk to you. I love you Josh and I am sorry, Caron.’”
“Oh Josh…”
“It has been really rough kiddo.”
I moved over to hug him tightly. “I’m so sorry, Josh.. I had no idea..”
“No one did, Not even Mom and Dad.”
“Wow… Guess I’m not the only one keeping secrets, hmm?”
“That is the only secret I have kept,” he looked at me.
“I’m so sorry Josh... I don’t even know what to say.”
“There is nothing to really say…” he said and I snuggled close to him. “Thanks Sis, you were always great at trying to comfort me.”
“I just wish…” I sighed.
“Wish what kiddo?”
“I wish we hadn’t lost all that time.”
“Me too, It has been way to long…” he said and we continued to reminisce.
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