April 16, 1870

Oregon.

This morning I found Snowy limping towards me, so I took her to Kilyko and Adder’s house to get her help. “She was limping over to me, I don’t know what happened,” I told Kilyko as we were led inside. 

“Which leg?” Kilyko knelt down, checking Snowy over. 

“Was the right one…” I tried to remember. 

“Thanks, Kilyko. I don’t know what trouble she’s got into this time.” 

Kilyko took a cloth and her waterskin and wet the cloth. She added some bay leave’s yellow powder and pressed it gently against Snowy’s wound. “It is no problem, Trin…” 

“This better not be a regular occurrence, Snowy,” I leaned down beside my dog as she barked. “So what do you think of the house, Kilyko?” I asked about the new home Tom and I had bought. 

“Looks good,” she looked over while she was healing the wound on Snowy’s leg. 

“One of the rooms is mine and Tom’s, the other is my brother’s and the office,” I told her. 

“I not see the need for a room..of my own...I have all I need…” she smiled. 

“Well... it’s mine and Tom’s room,” I smiled. “He hopefully will be back tonight. He said he was going on some business again out of town.” 

“You are married?” 

“We’ve been together for two months now. It is a very good relationship,” I smiled. “He stays with me more for protection than anything else. I wouldn’t want to live on my own again.” 

“I think marriage bad,” she nodded slowly. “I am happy you are happy I will never have another man that close to me again…” 

“Tom is a good man,” I nodded. 

“Yes...and Sun Stone is too,” she smiled. 

“But you and Sun Stone will never be that way?” I looked at her. 

She went quiet and just shrugged. “Not sure he will think that way and I am content how thing’s are….” 

“Adder is a good man. I just wish that he is happy after all he has been through. So what is he up to today? I haven’t seen him yet.” 

“I am a bit worried..I think he went on one of his runs…” Kilyko frowned. 

“I’m sure he’ll be fine. I’ve gotten used to it. He always comes back.” 

“Yes he does...he is the only person I have close to me these days..I do not want to loose him.. And you as well.” 

“Thank you, Kilyko. I feel the same,” I smiled. “I love that we live so close to each other now. It’s nice having an actual house again. I’ve lived above an office for so long it’s been a while since I’ve had this much space.” 

“I consider you my family...and I will do what I must to protect it….” she smiled. 

“And now we are neighbours.” 

“We are family, good to have you close by!” Kilyko grinned. 

“Indeed,” I looked down and pet Snowy who had a sad look on her face. “Oh Snowy, what’s wrong? I don’t think she likes living so close to Saiya.” 

“Maybe they can become friend’s after a while and learn their boundaries…” 

“Maybe. Perhaps we should go over there and try?” 

“What do you say, Snowy?” I leaned down and pet the dog before her ears. 

“I think Saiya is asleep…” 

“I saw her laying on the deck there when I came to get you.” 

“Best let her wake first...I have something I need to attend too…” 

“Okay. I should get some writing done as well. Thanks for coming by.” 

“I will come back soon,” she said and walked off, seeming a bit disturbed. Snowy and I sat outside on the deck and we watched as another dog came over. The dogs seemed to know each other and I reached for a rope from my pocket and played fetch with them. It was fun to watch the dogs playing together. 

Later this afternoon I was riding through Idaho to get my bearings. I saw three people running around in the field and suddenly felt a bullet graze my head. I cried out in pain and rode back towards home. 

In Utah, I heard Kilyko shouting, “Use the dirt to douse the fire it will smother it!!” 

I rode into Nevada, looking for the others, and finally found Kilyko and Black Moon. I took a few deep breaths to calm down from being shot at and getting lost. 

“What’s going on? I was trying to ride around and got shot at in Idaho…” I said, looking around when they’d greeted me. 

“Themselves very lucky!” said one that I didn’t recognize. 

“Was it the three bandits?” Zerena asked. 

“The building’s were on fire here….” Kilyko said. 

“Maybe some are in commemoration!” said the other person. 

“Yeah there were three of them,” I nodded to Zerena. “I didn’t know any of them though.”

“What group are they from?” Kilyko asked. 

“The bullet just grazed my head.” 

“I did see them in Idaho too,” Zerena said. 

“Buildings here in Nevada were on fire?” I looked at Kilyko. 

“They need to be stopped before innocent people get hurt...Yes Trin me and these ladies here just put them out…” Kilyko grumbled some. 

“Bank, hotel, and barber was on fire,” Zerena said. 

“Wow…” I nodded to the Native woman I didn’t know. 

“That is Black Moon. She is friendly,” Kilyko told me. 

“Hello Black Moon, I am Trin,” I introduced myself. 

“I think it was the three bandits set fire here,” Zerena said. 

“Zerena did you know any of the bandits?” I asked. 

“No.” 

“I don’t think we’re safe here. Kilyko, maybe we should go somewhere safer…” 

“We better be careful,” she agreed. “I need some cactus… Let’s go I will get it fast… I am developing a mixture to make scar’s less visible…" 

I wished that were true about metaphorical scars, but I stayed quiet. I knew I had to trust the Native woman, if Kilyko did too. Kilyko gathered some cactus branches for herself and looked over at Zerena. “Moonbeam, do not wander. Why were you lost Trin?” 

“I was trying to get my bearings and see where we were located in respects to everything... I got lost in Utah I think,” I told her and we headed home.