April 11, 1870

Colorado. 

This morning I worked at the bistro and offered some food to Black Hawk but he declined nervously. “I live looking over my back and listening...you people I trust but still have to be careful,” he said. 

Snowy came over limping and I leaned down to my dog, concerned. I asked Bo if he knew of a vet but then Black Hawk asked if he could look at the dog. “Think she’s gotten into some trouble lately,” I said and looked at the chief, still uncomfortable around him. “Her name is Snowy.” 

Dmitriy came over and I watched as the chief took the dog’s paw and bit down on it with his teeth and pulled the thorn out of its foot. “Your dog should be fine now,” Black Hawk insisted. 

“Thank you Chief,” I smiled and looked over at the boy. “Hey there, Dmitriy. How are you today?” 

“Oh I am doin just fine Miss Trin. How about yourself?” 

“I’m okay, I guess. Yesterday was a bit of a hard day.” 

“I saw your brother run out of the courthouse... I was hoping I could talk to you both about what you saw in there.” 

“Well, I am a juror now so I ain’t able to speak about it until the verdict, Miss Trin. But I know Timmie was rather upset and confused,” Dmitriy said. 

Black Hawk said goodbye and I nodded to Dmitriy. “Of course, I’m sorry, Dmitriy. I don’t want to put you in a bad position. I’ll wait until after the trial. I do want to talk to your brother though.” 

Dmitriy asked about Snowy and pet her. Kilyyko walked over then and said, “Hello Trin.....I was wondering if you have a few moment’s…” 

“Kilkyo, I’m sorry I had to run out and get those meals for you. Would you like them now?” I asked her and nodded, walking over to her. “Sure we can talk a bit.” 

“That day you came to the village I wanted to speak with you anyway...the tribe’s lie….” she started and I nodded, not saying anything yet as Dmitriy headed off to the courthouse. “I am no longer a part of any village nor will I be!! I bet I am labeled as a deserter now but I not care.....I ran from there with all the lies….” 

I smiled, proud of the woman. “But... you were married to one of the men there? What about Igmu?” 

“He does not exist to me….” 

I felt like I wanted to hug the woman, but I stayed back. “I... I don’t know what to say... I’m speechless.” 

“He who agree’s with the lies of the chief is not a husband....is black like crow….” 

“So you live here in town now... I can’t tell you how proud I am... It was so hard leaving that village knowing I wouldn’t be going back. But they wanted me to choose between two worlds and I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am in this town.” 

“Not go there ever...waste of time....people here more honest,” Kilyko nodded. 

“Well Kilyko, we have something in common after all,” I smiled at her. 

“Keep what you have you are lucky....I ran from village and have nothing......and yes we do…..” 

“I think we will become good friends, Kilyko,” I smiled. 

“I would like that....Sun Stone not talk much.” she grinned. 

“I don’t think they ever settled on a time for court to resume, did they?” I asked. 

“I not even know what is court all I understand people talk angry word’s!!!” Kilyko said. 

“I probably shouldn’t talk to you about it since you’re on the jury and I’m a key witness against the mayor…” I said. 

“Yes maybe I should go to there......we will talk later about tribes…” 

“Thank you for telling me about your move here, Kilyko. It is good to have you in town.” 

“Glad I came...after court I will look your dog she look hurt...or may I now?” 

“You may look at her now if you like. I’m worried about her.” 

“Do you know what happened?” Kilyko asked, leaning down to look at Snowy. 

“I have no idea,” I shook my head. 

Kilyko leaned down to look at the dog and she pulled out her pouch to work on the dog’s wound. “Trin how old were you when you find out your native..?” 

“It was only within the past month that I discovered that fact,” I chuckled. 

“You are lucky you grow with no lies….” 

“My brother came to find me after not having contact with him for six years…” I explained. “He told me that our father had been killed. Then when he was looking through his estate papers, Josh found out that we actually have Apache in our blood, four generations back. Now I’m wishing I had never found out. Look where it got me. Absolutely nowhere.” 

Kilyko continued to heal Snowy’s wound as the dog barked as she said, “I am born of Cheyenne tribe but I know the Apache you know my history....I am glad you grew with the way you are…” 

“Is Snowy gonna be okay?” I asked with worry. 

“Yes just a bite.....I clean and put herb’s on it…” she said and packed up her things. 

“Thank you Kilyko. I appreciate that.,” I smiled. 

“Anytime...I not like to see animal’s or human’s hurt…” 

I scratched Snowy behind her ear and said, “See that girl, you’ll be just fine.” 

“I better go.....we talk later sister..” 

“Okay, we will indeed,” I said and didn’t hesitate to hug her this time. I embraced the woman tightly and then she said goodbye and I headed back to the counter to wait for customers. 

*** 

A few hours later I noticed the crowd coming over to the bistro and started to serve food to them. It felt good to be productive again. “How’d the trial go today?” I asked Bo after a while. 

“Mistrial,” he replied as he ate. 

“Oh? The mayor call it?” 

“No one showed up but the witnesses and her attorney. Mr. Adder did but was late.” 

“Well they never really did announce a time for the proceedings today, did they?”

“Same as yesterday, Miss.” 

“Didn’t think it was announced. Not sure how many people will talk to me after yesterday’s trial... I still have to find Adder…” 

“He was around miss ya done what ya thought was right,” Bo said. 

“I had to be honest, Bo... I didn’t know he was the target. If I knew…” 

“Well it’s your right. I like the truth, miss.” 

“The look on his face yesterday Bo…" I sighed. 

“As I would’ve told the truth. Hey… Did he want ya to lie?” 

“No,” I shook my head. 

“Okay, then ya done right, miss.” 

“But should I have told him before the trial?” 

“Well ya didn’t know. How could ya tell him?” 

“But when I found out about the assassination attempt... I should have told him…” 

“Miss Trin, don’t let it bother ya. If he doesn’t understand, then a friend he never was. Why, that would have implicated ya.” 

“I guess... It’s just that he’s been my best friend since September... I guess I just need to talk to him.” 

“Might be best,” he nodded. 

“So I guess life goes on, huh?” 

“Yes miss. And it won’t stop now.” 

I told him about the progress I’d done on my writing and then looked across the road, beaming when I saw the man standing at my office. “Tom!” I ran over and jumped in his arms. 

“How you been? I’m Finally home.” 

“I’ve missed you so much, darling! Where have you been?” I asked, looking deep in his eyes. 

“Out west. Bad case of yellow fever. Didn’t have any deaths, but it wasn’t any vacation.” 

I hugged him tightly and said, “That doesn’t sound like much fun at all. It’s so good to have you back. I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever see you again…” 

“I’m sorry I had to leave on short notice like that. They needed someone immediately. I’m just glad to see you again,” he hugged me tight. 

“Well, I opened up this bistro here with Kalie, though she ain’t around much.” 

“That’s nice. You get a lot of business?” 

“Starting to. Been a few days only but it’s starting to pick up. Gives me somethin’ to do when it’s quiet around town. Was a huge trial here yesterday though. Adder was up against the mayor for shooting her ’cause she stole his horse. Was a dang mistrial though,” I explained. “Convenient that the mayor could call a mistrial, when she’s the defendant,” I sighed. 

“Yes, that is oddly convenient. Doesn’t anyone stand up against her? it’s like we are all a bunch of rubber necked chickens.” 

“Well, Adder tried... He even had witnesses who doubted her character as a person and that she was untrustworthy…” I sighed and said, “We should sit for this part.” I sat at the table with him and looked at him. “Tom... a few weeks ago the mayor came to me with a request for a hitman. I didn’t know who the target was but I brought her someone who might be good... But she didn’t want him and got someone from out of town. Thing is Tom... then I found out that the sheriff had been attacked by some people from Kingsley. Apparently they had been hired by the mayor to kill the sheriff and told him as much. I’m so relieved that she didn’t pick my person cos I might have been responsible for the assassination attempt of my best friend,” I sighed. 

“Well, we’ll see. That is completely ridiculous. I won’t live in a town with a corrupt government.” 

I reached across the table and held his hand. “Tom.. I don’t know what to do. I doubt Adder will be around much after that trial... He was made to look like the enemy and she’s the one who’s causing all the problems... We need a new mayor, in my opinion. If that doesn’t happen soon…” 

“Maybe Someone will run against her. Besides, why doesn’t Adder just arrest her, say she tried to kill him, and well... Fix the problem?” 

“Maybe but I don’t know what’s gonna happen now... I should ask Adder about that possibility. I just... When I had to tell him on the stand that I knew who wanted to kill him... Tom you should have seen his face. He looked shocked… I just hope he understands why I couldn’t tell him... I knew it would come up in a trial sometime and I didn’t think he’d believe it unless I had to tell him under oath.” 

“I just don’t like people going around like that. They are a danger to society. Especially if there was witnesses to what she had said, or did.” 

“Absolutely. She should have known I would have told Adder eventually. The fact that she even came to me when she knew…” I shook my head. “Adder and I have been best friends since we met in September, Tom. It’s not a secret. Everyone knows it.” 

“She’s a nut. I never have really trusted her. “ 

“You know what I wish sometimes…” I interlaced my fingers with his. 

“What’s that?” 

“I wish sometimes that Georgetown never flooded over and that we still lived there... Even when it was quiet, at least it wasn’t being run by a corrupt mayor. Speaking of… Happy almost two months.” 

“Yes, it is, isn’t it?” 

“Mmhmm…” I sighed. 

“Sure doesn’t seem that long. “ 

“It don’t, huh? Feels like a lifetime to me… Maybe ’cause so much has happened to me since we started dating back in Georgetown... And ’cause waiting for you to come home was so hard..” 

We continued to talk and enjoyed our reunion for the rest of the night, happy to be in each other’s arms again.