Oregon.
This morning I knocked on Adder and Kilyko’s door and called, “You guys home? It’s Trin!”
“Howdy Trin,” Adder called and I went inside. I saw the look on Kilyko’s face and saw Adder’s serious expression and knew something was wrong. “What’s going on?” I asked.
“Black suit..said his name was Tulkas and he was the marshall there…” Kilyko was saying and I remembered the name from Colorado and gave Adder a look.
“After he asked if you were an indian, what happened?” Adder asked her.
“I told him I was Chinese and he walked into the saloon then came back out to stare at me then went down the road...and watched me leave!” Kilyko said, and I knew I was hearing the end of the story.
“Where is Flower now?” Adder asked.
“Wait, what does Flower have to do with this?” I asked with confusion, looking between them.
“Outside…” Kilyko said.
“Sumbitch was going to steal her, probably,” Adder said and I gasped, putting a hand on Kilyko’s shoulder as Adder said, “If he bothers you or Flower again, tell him to back of or he’ll think he’s dealing with the devil himself.”
“He told me he shoot’s wolves!!!” Kilyko exclaimed.
“Big deal. Wolves don’t shoot back,” Adder shrugged.
“Speaking of shooting animals... Kilyko confirmed that the arrow in Rex yesterday was probably Apache,” I looked at him, telling him about the male dog that had joined Snowy yesterday.
“Aye, I know. Most likely Mexican Apache. Not to be trifled with, crazy bastards,” Adder nodded.
“Saiya and Snowy wander around here Sun Stone they could be shot at…” Kilyko said.
“Aye, and if that Tulkas wanders over here, he’ll leave in a wooden box,” Adder nodded.
“I still want to know who that idiot that shot at me the other day was…” I said.
“His sort need rooting out of the US Marshal service,” Adder said.
“Wise plan, Kilyko. They don’t need to know that kind of information,” I nodded.
“Should have said you were called Free Feather,” Adder chuckled and I sighed, taking a seat on the couch. I took out my whiskey flask and offered it to him but he declined and I offered it to Kilyko, but she refused too, so I drank some for myself.
“Did you go to the Apache village to talk to them about what happened to Rex?” I asked Kilyko.
“No...I followed Sun Stone’s advice.....and Naca was injured last night….” she said.
“He was? Is he ok?” Adder asked.
“Yes....I patched him up but he was hit with a lot of bullet’s….”
“Who did it?”
“He went to go help and Mexican Apache woman who was stuck in Kingsley…”
“He went alone?” Adder winced.
“Black Moon. Him alone yes…”
“With people like the Kingsley gangs, you’re more at risk the smaller your group is. They’re less likely to fight a big group,” Adder shook his head. “But they’ll think nothing of attacking one man with ten of their own.”
“Or woman… or animal…” I sighed.
“I do not know how many he fought as I was not there!! I only woke because he banged on the door bleeding everywhere…” Kilyko said.
“Who is Naca?” I looked between them.
“A man who found me as a child wandering..to me he is Neho father…” Kilyko said.
“Oh… Where does he live?”
“In the camp here on the hill…”
“That camp where we first were when I found you in Oregon?”
“Yes,” she said and I shifted uncomfortably. “Naca is a good person…. He has met him,” she nodded to Adder.
“Aye, I trust him. Showed me a secret cave to use as a hideout if I need it,” Adder said.
“That’s good to know,” I exhaled with a bit of relief.
“He and Tul and Moonbeam live up there on the hill thought I believe Tul is on a journey….” Kilyko said.
“Also good to know. If you two are out traipsing around Colorado or Apache lands getting revenge and I’m stuck here alone, I’ll want to know who I can trust,” I said and Adder chuckled, making me shoot him a glance. “Maybe I should start wearing that gun again.”
“Maybe you two could practice shooting together,” Adder nodded towards Kilyko.
“It’s been a while since I’ve held a weapon,” I nodded. “See the thing is... I have one of two choices here. Do I stay here and hide and write and try to heal from my ruined reputation… Or do I pick up my gun and join you in the fight against justice... In ways that I haven’t done since I was a Pinkerton agent in Georgetown? Or… Do I get better at navigation, see where people are and just gather information which I bring it back to you two?” I suggested, liking the last option better.
“Sounds good to me,” Adder nodded. “And maybe spread a little favourable information while you’re at it.”
“That way I don’t have to do the shooting but I’m not sitting here bored out of my skull waiting to get shot,” I said.
“I practiced a bit this morning....and yes that would be a good idea Trin,” Kilyko said to me.
“I can be charming with the men... Let them think they can trust me so they tell me things they wouldn’t normally tell people…” I thought out loud. “Hell if I can dance with a man like Buckshot Bill in the saloon in Amiville…” I winked at Adder and he chuckled. “Play the ‘I’m lost and wounded’ card and get them to care for me and then talk to them and let them vent.”
“Perhaps get you into a skirt,” Kilyko laughed and I grimaced at the thought.
“I’ve got some old saloon outfits from Amiville still in my possession... I could combine some of them into something more ... presentable for wandering about…”
“You mean like the feather dancers?” Kilyko asked and I nodded, the wheels in my mind spinning.
Idaho South.
A few hours later I found Rex and we took a walk around the areas near Oregon. I found Star, Kilyko’s other horse, and fed her an apple and greeted another horse who came over. I rode one of them towards Colorado and took a deep breath as we entered the town, but things seemed quiet.
Kingsley.
We rode into Kingsley and I saw Angelo in front of the saloon. I shifted nervously on my feet as I headed over to him and greeted him. “Angelo, hey,” I said nervously.
“We don’t like people from your area in our town,” he said.
“I left Colorado. Probably as welcome there as you are now.”
“Well you’re still a friend of those law dogs. Same thing.”
“Adder’s not law anymore. He resigned,” I shook my head. “I haven’t talked to Chels or Jake since I left.”
“Well it doesn’t take away the way you treated me last time. I don’t forget so easy.”
“Look, I’m sorry about that. I was just trying not to get my butt handed to me like when I spoke with the Natives all friendly. Seems like I don’t have to worry about that so much. I’m pretty much ruined.”
“I don’t need to hear your reasons or explanations. You said what you said.”
“Angelo, come on… We’re in the same boat now... Let’s just... start over. Is there really no way I can show you how sorry I am? How much I just wanna make things right?” I asked and he shook his head. “I guess I wasted my time then... I’m sorry Angelo, I really am.” I tried to go over and put a hand on his shoulder, looking in his eyes desperately.
He pushed my hand away and I sighed, backing up. “Sorry always come too late, doesn’t it?”
“I guess so,” I nodded and looked around, then back to Angelo. “If you ever change your mind…”
“Anyway… If I find out you are spying for colorado you can arrange your funeral already.”
“You think I’d be spying for the people who said that I was full of lies and that my newspaper is better as toilet paper? For the ones who practically forced my best friend out of office so he had to leave the town?”
“Well I can’t say that they are wrong.”
“For those who... When I tried to show them that their mayor had alligned with the Apache in a war against her OWN town... They still didn’t accept it as truth and didn’t even react?”
“Well I really don’t care about what’s happening over there.”
“Forget it... You never understood me either. even when I tried to get to know you…” I shook my head with a sigh.
“To get to know you? I spent time with you plenty enough, but I had a girlfriend.”
“I didn’t mean for that.”
“I can’t be with everyone at the same time.”
“You just seemed like you needed a friend. That’s all I ever wanted, Angelo.”
“I don’t need anyone, and certainly not you.”
I winced and turned, defeated, and rode back home without looking back.
Oregon.
I pulled up in front of the house and Kilyko told me that Rex bit Flower and Saiya. I scolded the dog and Kilyko threatened to shoot Rex if he bit someone again, and I blinked back tears, apologizing for the dog.
Adder rode over and took off his mask and he said, “Got the snivelling little sod. And his wife and some stranger as bonuses.”
We continued to scold the dogs and I looked between Adder and Kilyko, shaking my head. “I need to go inside… I…” I looked down.
“Trin, what is wrong?” Kilyko asked.
“I just… Need to…” I shook my head, not even sure what I needed to do anymore. I called for the dogs and headed home. I sat down on the porch and pet the dog and talked to him a bit.
Kilyko came over and asked, “Where did you just come from…?”
“Kingsley…”
“Got it. I will be back,” she said and I went inside with the dogs.
***
I went over to Adder and Kilyko’s place and Adder invited me in. “I went down to Kingsley earlier as my first mission... Tried to get in with one of the locals there…” I looked over at Adder as the dogs got comfortable.
“Oh? How did it go?”
“I’m lucky I didn’t get shot,” I sighed.
“I could have told you that before you went. Kingsley is a bandit’s paradise.”
“Tried to find Angelo and get in good with him again. Apparently he wants nothing to do with me. Can’t say I really blame him,” I said, somewhat defeated.
Adder shook his head and said, “He’s one of the ones who tried to take me and Chels out the other day.”
“He said he didn’t trust me ’cause I hung around with lawmen and I was like, ‘well, I don’t anymore’.”
“He’s got a nerve, he used to BE a lawman,” Adder laughed.
“I met him when I was still living back in Nebraska. Tried to be friendly with him but he thought I was being too forward... Guess he had a girl at the time and didn’t want more friends.”
“Not the kind of guy you want to mix with. Dangerously unpredictable,” he shrugged.
“His loss, I guess,” I nodded to Adder.
“Dust…” Kilyko sneezed then as she woke up.
“And bones?” Adder asked.
“Trin, you alright now?” Kilyko looked over at me.
“Just frustrated I guess. Sometimes I wish I could erase the past.”
“You and me both…” Kilyko grabbed a blanket and covered herself.
“Crossing Kingsley off of my saloons to frequent. The Idaho one is awful nice though.”
“Aye, that’s a great saloon,” Adder nodded.
“No one there though…” I said.
“I used to live in the woods near there when I first moved out west.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Just a camp?” Kilyko asked.
“Aye. Town looked a little different, but aye, that was home, so to speak. Till I wandered into Wyoming and got gored by a boar. Then I met a couple people who took me to Colorado to get healed up,” Adder nodded. “Yeah, just me, my tent and a fire.”
“Sounds peaceful…” I said.
“It sure does but I will never sleep in a tent or Tipi…” Kilyko nodded slowly.
“Me neither. Never again,” I nodded, reaching over to hold Kilyko’s hand in understanding.
“Aye, was for the most part. Though the odd bandit rode through. I wasn’t too good with the guns, so I just kept my head down,” Adder said.
“But thing’s will be okay now…” Kilyko squeezed my hand and gave a reassuring smile.
“Sure feels like a lifetime since we met back in September, Adder... And even since we met, Kilyko. Remember when Josh and I came to the village looking to learn?” I looked at her. “I haven’t seen Josh in a while... Sometimes he falls off the radar and I don’t hear for him for a long time... But I know he’s out there somewhere…”
“We have seen many path’s since meeting all of us have....and I am glad we have met..” she smiled and then looked at Adder with shock. “You, not good with guns?” she laughed.
“Trin will tell you how often I ended up in the hospital back in Amiville when I was part of the Sheriffs office there,” Adder nodded.
“We were teasin’ him we’d have to start paying the hospital rent he was spending so much time there,” I chuckled and Kilyko laughed.
“I only really got any good with them when I moved to Colorado Springs,” Adder said.
“Well I am glad you got good with them!!! Otherwise I’d of been slung over Igmu’s back that day!!!” Kilyko said.
“I probably wouldn’t be here either if it weren’t for this guy,” I smiled, thinking about all the outlaws Adder protected me from.
“I’d shoot him for pleasure,” Adder laughed.
“I’d bake you some cookies for doing it…” Kilyko laughed hard.
“Soon, maybe tomorrow even, I go after the final name on my list. Free Feather,” Adder said seriously then. “The worst part of it is…” he paused and shook his head, looking to the fire. “The worst part of it all is..... I don’t have a snappy bandit name!”
“I feel like going on another ride,” I ighed and lay back against the couch.
“The Black Hand,” Kilyko muttered with a suggestion.
“Where have I heard that name before?” I looked at Adder.
“I’ve done enough riding for today,” Adder paused a minute. “I think I need to change my route tomorrow. Go into town from Texas, by the Alamo.”
“I know the route…” Kilyko said.
“Black hand? That was the one man gang that threatened to burn the town down. The guy Free stole the horses from that she was going to sell to the Army. He ended up murdered, with a knife in his back. No, I don’t want that name,” Adder said.
“Right... That’s why I know that name,” I remembered.
“It was Think I’m gonna head out,” I stood. “See you guys soon…”
I said goodbye and headed over to my cabin to get my gun and went out for a ride. No one was in Colorado though, so I headed home.
“Come on out lady…” a man said, and I tried to recognize him. He was standing in front of Kilyko’s house and there was smoke coming out of the house.
“What’s going on?” I asked the two men on horses, looking between them.
“You should leave and mind ya business,” he said to me.
“But…” I looked between them.
“Come out and talk or we will burn it again!” he yelled into the house.
“Why are you doing this? You don’t need to…” I started .
“Listen rubber necker.. stay out of this or I will get my wife to take care of you,” he said to me. “We have information about who lives here.. COME OUT NOW!!”
I raised an eyebrow, swallowing hard. I knew Kilyko was smart and would know what to do. I looked between them and walked away. I found Zerena and told her I needed help.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“Kilyko is surrounded and there’s a couple there who say they know who lives there! I don’t know what to do…”
“I go look.”
“Wait no. We need more backup. We can’t take them on alone.”
“I’m not afraid,” Zerena said and shouted as she headed over to the house. I sighed and followed after her and was relieved to see that the couple was gone.
“Kilyko it’s Zerena and Trin What the heck is going on?!” I asked, seeing Kilyko come outside.
“Them fool’s are saying Sun Stone beat an indian girl and left her in the street!! And said to deliver him a message,” Kilyko laughed.
“What message? Did you get their names?” I sighed.
“The Black Hill Bandit’s! Ooooo I’m scared!” Kilyko pretended to tremble.
“It’s the same from a day ago,” Zerena said.
“What was the message, Kilyko?” I asked.
“And justice will be served!!!” Kilyko shouted. “A bunch of youngin’s trying to be outlaws,” she shrugged, looking at me. “I’ve a date with whiskey.”
I sighed at the fact that I tried to get help and it didn’t seem to matter much. “Guess you don’t really need me then,” I said and reached for the door handle.
“You stay put!” Kilyko stopped me, “Where I can keep an eye on you!”
“I’ll be fine. Apparently.”
“And I do need you…”
“Really... Cos you seem to have things under control.”
“To them I seem unfazed but I am scared.... And I wish Sun Stone was here…” she whispered to me. Trin.....they are prosecuting Sun Stone that he is a child beater…”
“If he was here when they came by, we’d be in more danger. They’re liars. Adder would never do that sort of thing,” I said.
“He save my life once,” Zerena said. “He never would do things like that.”
“He saved my life more than once,” I nodded.
“I know he wouldn’t…” Kilyko said.
They know he’s here now.... He’s not safe here,” I told her.
“Thank you!” Kilyko gabbed hold of my arm and squeezed it.
“It’s okay. We’re together now,” I pulled her close for a hug and smiled.
“They said to tell my boyfriend...the black hill bandit’s are looking for justice… Now I do not know what to do…..”
“We wait for Adder to tell us what to do. He’ll know. I don’t want you to stay here tonight. You should stay with me. They don’t know me.”
“No I will stay in my own home….”
“But Kilyko... They know you live here now.. What if they come back to send a stronger message?”
“Then let them come.......I do not mind taking a bullet or two for someone I care about…”
I sighed and we said goodnight to Zerena who headed home. She suggested that we talk to Naca if he’s around later.
“We need some information….” Kilyko told me.
“Where are our horses?” I asked. We rode to Mexico on Kilyko’s horse but we didn’t find anyone to talk to so we headed home.
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