April 12, 1870

Oregon. 

I rode around this afternoon looking for Adder and Kilyko. I hadn’t seen them in town at all and finally found them near the Native village in Oregon. “Couldn’t find ya around town so I came on the hunt. Everything okay, Adder?” I looked at Kilyko with concern, wondering why we were in a Native camp. 

“Cole the horse basher shot me. So did his two friends,” Adder shrugged and winced. 

“Adder…” I sighed and sat down. “We’re in Oregon, right? I remember the area from when Jake Stone and I came out here a while back…” 

“Aye,” he nodded. 

“Do not worry....this is not a village and it house’s half breed’s and other runaway’s…” Kilyko said to me. 

“Good,” I nodded, grateful she understood. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you since the trial… I should have told you sooner... I just didn’t think you’d believe me if you knew what I’d known…” 

“What’s done is done. The Mayor will get her just desserts,” he shrugged. 

“So we’re... okay?” I asked hopefully. 

“Aye,” Adder nodded. 

“Adder if I knew you were gonna be the target... I wouldn’t have even…” 

“I know,” he nodded and I sighed with relief, looking in his eyes. 

“Do either of you know....someone called Naca…?” Kilyko asked and we both shook our heads. “He is a native...that live’s here it is his camp...he is my sort of my father...found me in the wood’s when I was little living with animals…” 

“Good to know it’s a good person’s camp,” Adder nodded. 

“Naca is a good person as is miss soua and moonbeam...their half breeds,” Kilyko shrugged. “Sun Stone shall we show Trin the town….?” 

“Aye, show her around. I’m gonna pitch my tent and get some sleep,” Adder nodded and I raised an eyebrow at the new name. 

“Good, you need a rest,” Kilko nodded. 

“Adder…” I went over to him and gave him a gentle hug. “Get some rest. We’ll talk tomorrow.” 

“Drink more…” Kilyko looked at me. 

I sighed as I watched Adder go into his tent and then followed Kilyko around town. She said that her and Adder wanted to build a house and that they would be living in separate sleeping areas. 

“He’s my best friend, Kilyko. I’ve known him since September... I just want him to be happy again,” I smiled. “He’s been through so much... I’m worried about him.” 

“Sun Stone is all I have...to count on...my father….” she motioned to the hill, “Is hardly around and he can not get in the middle of the tribe’s and me…” 

“Why do you call him Sun Stone?” I asked curiously. “How did you two meet and become close?” 

“I broke into his house after I ran from the village…. Sun Stone was the only fair person I knew of when I ran from the village.....I had no one….” 

“Because he understands justice,” I nodded. 

“I was alway’s told lies about him...but I learned different in two event’s about him that made me see truth…. I also had much to tell him...about the lies of the Apache….” 

“Don’t get me started. Is there a town around here still?” 

“Yes....I will show you let’s go this way…” 

We walked around town and talked about how nice and quiet things were here. “Might be a good escape... A good place to finally get some writing done.” 

“It would be nice to have you around here....Sun Stone is not much of a talker!!” she laughed. 

“Sure he is, you just gotta get to know him better. He’s the only one who ever talks to me around there about anything productive, other than Jake and Chels,” I chuckled. “Without him in town I doubt I’ll have a very interesting newspaper.” 

“It is not my choice for him to come here or not...I only know I am coming here myself and he has mentioned he is as well.....I will miss a few in town myself.....but....I am needed here..” 

We continued to look around at the saloon and the offices in town. She promised that with Adder around, there would be people there soon enough to keep the place busy. We found a couple of horses and decided to go for a ride.

“I trust horse’s more then people...and even then there are only two people I can think of that I can trust….” Kilyko said. “Did you know Apache chief layed blame of the village burning on Sun Stone…?” 

“I knew…” I sighed and nodded. 

“But I know he lied I was face to face with who actually did it...at gun point….” 

We started to ride around and found Zerena, who was now being called Moonbeam. We talked for a while about how things had been lately and continued to ride. I hesitated as we neared Wyoming and told her there were a lot of bad memories as we continued to ride on. 

“We have to forget the past and move on...I have...except for a few painful one’s…” Kilyko looked over at me. 

“I’m trying to but.. It’s the painful ones that are hard to forget, especially when they have left physical scars.” 

“What did they do to you?” 

“Let’s head back to Colorado and we’ll talk there” I said as I didn’t want to talk there, and we continued to ride. 

Colorado. 

We rode back to Colorado and found Tom in front of my office. “Perhap’s we continue our chat tomorrow....I have much work yet…” Kilyko said to me then. 

“Kilyko, it was so good to chat with you and go for a ride,” I jumped off my horse and ran over to Tom. 

“We will do it again many times...I better get back….” Kilyko grinned and we said goodbye. 

I hugged Tom who was sleeping in the chair and I kissed his lips firmly, waking him up. He looked up and yawned, “Hey. What a nice way to wake up... How is your day going so far?” 

“It just got a whole lot better. Join me inside?” 

“Sure. Just let me get up.” 

I reached for his hand and helped him up. We went inside and walked up to the couch where I cuddled next to him. “It’s good to be in your arms again.” 

“So about your day? What’s up? What went on??” 

“Well I couldn’t find Adder around town at all and I really needed to talk to him... So I went out for a walk to see if I could find him... Had to go all the way to Oregon.” 

“That is quite a trip. is all ok?” 

“No... I’m not sure if he’s gonna come back... But he and I are okay. We talked about the revelation at the trial and we’ll be okay…” 

“I still think there should be something done about the mayor. That’s just absolutely Absurd of what she did. As a mayor, she cannot declare a mistrial, or, well, do much of anything like that. She is in clear violation of what she can and cannot do as a mayor.” 

“I fully agree with you and I plan to talk with Marshals Despres and Seetan about it as soon as I see them. Something has to be done and I’ll fight it, for Adder’s sake.” 

“As will I. I will not let stuff like that go on. “ 

I leaned over and kissed him firmly and said, “It’s statements like that, honey, that are why I’m glad I found you.” 

“I stand up for what’s right. I hate things like this to go on.” 

I nodded and leaned my head on his shoulder, glad we were on the same page.