April 25, 1870

Oregon. 

I went to Adder’s place and knocked on the door but there was no answer. I sat down on the deck, hoping he was teaching Tulkas a lesson. He came home and I waved to him and Teru who joined him. He welcomed me inside and as we sat down I asked, “You hear about yesterday?” 

“No?” 

“Kilyko didn’t tell you?” I asked, somewhat surprised, and he shook his head. “She must be pretty upset then... Okay I’ll give you the jist of it. Let’s see... a bunch of bandits rode around the area and we saw some Cherokee in Idaho West... I met this soldier and we started to look for the cherokee but they never approached… Then we saw Billy and them just sitting on their horse at the border from Nevada to Oregon…” 

“Yeah, I know that.” 

“Didn’t even come over to us… Then Tulkas comes over and doesn’t seem to give a care… He said it was outlaws fighting outlaws so less work for him.” 

“Aye I was told all this last night,” he nodded. 

“So then you do know,” I nodded. “Will thinks that Tulkas is in a gang.” 

“Aye. I thought you meant stuff had happened while I was asleep,” Adder said and went to fill the dog food bowls. “Aye, Tulkas is trouble. Probably involved with one or both of those Kingsley gangs.” 

“I had the same thought. We couldn’t believe he was so nonchalant about it all.” 

“Any more names for the Black Hill Bandits?” 

“Aye, well Tulkas isn’t worth worrying about. I’ll deal with him.” 

“I figured you would. Was hoping that’s what you were off doing this morning.” 

“Just picking up supplies,” he shook his head. “Had a run out even earlier for a new pane of glass. This one decided to bust out through a window yesterday,” he pointed at Teru. 

“Oh really?” 

“Aye.” 

“She shoulda busted herself out of that jail in Nevada then,” I said and we both laughed. Teru kept begging for more whiskey which I couldn’t resist in giving her. 

“I might have a ride out to Nebraska later on,” Adder said. 

“I want to have a talk with their sheriff. Do you know him?” I nodded in agreement. 

“Nebraska’s sheriff? No idea. I think Dom is still Marshal out there though.” 

“Oh sorry, meant Nevada. Get those two confused all the time. Where’s Kilyko?” 

“Out gathering medical supplies.” 

“She was pretty upset yesterday... Tried to ask Tulkas why Teru was in jail there and he said we should just ask her. As if the dog could tell us…” 

“So he’s crooked and stupid? Great.” 

“So it would seem. He was convinced the outlaws were from Oregon and were our problem. But as a marshal he’d still have jurisdiction over here right?” 

“Aye. Especially as there’s no ‘resident’ lawmen here.” 

“Even as a Pinkerton I wouldn’t have much power out here.” 

“I don’t wear my Marshal badge here, theres no jail, so I’d have nowhere to put anyone.” 

“It was pretty ridiculous yesterday. I’ll just wait for you to take him out then we won’t have to worry about it. He showed me a note actually,” I reached in my pocket and showed him the note. 

“You make it sound easier than it is. ‘Take him out’. Bloody hell Trin, crooked or not, he’s still a Marshal,” Adder laughed. 

“I know Adder but I’m also giving you the credit you deserve,” I nodded. 

“I can’t ‘take him out. Not without a whole heap of trouble landing on me. I said I’d deal with him. It’s different.” 

“I just... I want him to be revealed for who he really is. I don’t like crooked people being in law positions.” 

“It’s quite possibly a corrupt town. That Sheriff didn’t exactly seem too friendly either.” 

“Yeah he was nicer than the marshal but still... I don’t like the idea of being unprotected out here when you’re not around. Is why I’m glad I met William…” I nodded and drifted off and looked down. Teru ran out under the door and I said, “Wonder what’s goin on out there.” 

“I reckon we oughta look,” Adder stood. We walked out and Saiya and Teru wandered over. Teru pointed towards the blacksmith shop and we walked over to the blacksmith’s office. “Looks like the girls found a native,” he pointed to the blacksmith office. “Wonder why she’s hanging around?” 

Saiya peed on my leg and I jumped. “Hey!” I shook my leg and asked, “What was that for huh? Geez, I save her puppy from jail and she’s done nothing but growl at me and now this.” Adder chuckled softly and I nudged him. “YOu think that’s funny, huh?” 

“Aye, I do,” he chuckled. 

“We goin’ over to say ‘hi’ or we just gonna stand here and watch her?” I asked with some bite in my voice. 

“Seen her around, not sure I want to try being friendly,” Adder shook his head. We headed back to the house and he said, “Guess I’ll have to keep an eye out for Indian activity out here.” 

“The cherokee in the area yesterday, now this girl... They’re making a statement I just don’t know what it is,” I nodded. 

“Aye,” he agreed. “I’ll leave them to it.” 

“Might as well,” I nodded. 

The dogs wandered off and then came back. I went off to find Rex and brought him back to the house to feed him some water and food. I played with Rex as we sat on the couch for a while. 

*** 

A few hours later I walked out of the house and saw Will talking with the natives from the other day. “Holy. Y hola mi amigo,” I said to Will and the natives. 

“How are you, this morning so beautiful?” Asked one of them. 

“It is a gorgeous morning,” I nodded and looked at Will. “Everything okay here?” 

“I think that the white woman is beautiful,” the other one said. 

“Yes, friend!” the first one agreed. “Today we are in Oregon! Yes, bandits.” 

Will smiled when he saw me and asked, “How have you been Trin?” 

“Here there are many bandits!” 

“I am better now that you’re here,” I smiled at him. “I was wondering if you’d like to meet my other friend.” He walked over to touch my arm softly and I smiled, wrapping my arm around his waist as I hug him. “What say we take a walk, hmm?” 

“I would like that,” he nodded. 

I took his hand and since we were alone, I kissed him softly. Adder walked over and I blushed, pulling back. 

“Howdy Trin, mister,” he greeted us. 

“Adder, I’d like you to meet someone,” I smiled at him. “This is William, the man I was telling you about this morning.” 

“You know I don’t like soldiers,” Adder looked the man over. 

“I know but he’s the one who proposed that Tulkas may be in a gang,” I nodded. “And he’s already protected me once and we just met the other day,” I winked at him. 

“Good for him. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have business in town,” he shrugged. 

“It is good to meet you sir,” Will said. 

“Bunch of Apaches over there, Adder,” I told him but he walked away and I sighed. I looked over at Will and put a hand on his arm. “Come on… Let’s go to my place?” 

We went to my house and sat down on the couch in the living room. “How was your evening, William? It’s good to see you again.” 

“It was good thanks. Nice quiet ride to see the Colorado. How was your evening? Hope you didn’t run into those outlaws.” 

“No outlaws since when you were here with me, nope,” I said, not commenting about the ride. “I’m sorry about Adder. He’s had some bad experiences with soldiers and has good reason to distrust them…” I heard the gunshots and swallowed hard. 

“Sad thing is I getting used to people treating me that way.” 

“I hope to change his perspective of you,” I put my hand on his knee and heard more gunshots. Will put his arm around my shoulder and drew me close. “I hope he’s okay out there,” I said, leaning my head on Will’s chest. 

“I would check but learn from the past that he wouldn’t want my help.” 

“He wouldn’t want mine either so don’t take it personally. He can handle himself well enough,” I nodded. 

“I did warn you all!” Adder shouted then. 

“He’s like a brother to me in many ways... We even fight like siblings sometimes,” I sighed, hearing the shout. 

He took my chin and turned my head towards him as I heard Adder call to me. “If you’re in there, theres three Apaches lying in their own blood in the town.” 

“Good to know!” I called to him and then leaned in as Will turned my head towards me and kissed me. I thought to myself that they really did have it coming after what happened back in Colorado, and I tried to ignore it. “Did you find a place to stay yet?” I asked after a while. 

“Not yet but I will still look around lots of nice places.” 

“You know…” I Shifted on the couch. “I do have a nice guest room there…” 

“I wouldn’t want to be a burden on you.” 

We continued to kiss and there was more shouting about a dog and wondered what they were talking about. “We should go out there and see what’s going on. If they’re shouting about dogs, it could be one of Adder’s and Kilyko’s,” I told him. 

“We should,” he nodded and followed me out. We found the Natives by Adder’s house and I held Will’s hand as we crossed the river. I went over to the Native woman and asked, “Care to tell us what you’re doing?” 

“Do not do anything yet,” she shrugged. 

“What are you planning to do?” I asked seriously. 

“Burn the house.” 

“I’m going to have to ask you not to do that.” 

“But not the dog. We will not. To find who belongs.” 

“Please leave the premises. You’re trespassing,” I requested. 

“Is far more vulnerable to attacks.” 

“Apache you do know we have a truce and you jeopardize this by being here?” Will asked. “Go seek your healers if you are hurt.” 

“What the hell?” Kilyko asked, walking over then. “What is going on?” 

“Your fight is not here,” William said. 

“They want to burn the house down, but not with the dogs here,” I told her. 

“This is my house!!! Ain’t no one touching my house!” Kilyko exclaimed. 

“Adder shouted to us earlier that a bunch of Apaches had been shot. Right after he said he’d had business in town. Don’t take a genius to figure out what’s going on now,” I told her. 

“Is your house?” the native asked. 

“What the hell?” Kilyko asked again. 

“I would seriously suggest that you leave, now,” I told the girl. 

“Yes, this is my house…” Kilyko said. 

I pulled my gun out and looked over at Will. 

“We would do something terrible,” one native said. 

“You did not know was,” the other said. 

“I see and why do you want to burn my house?” Kilyko asked. 

“I owe my life to this woman,” one of the natives said. 

“Will you need help?” I asked Will, seeing the native man draw his weapon. 

“Whatever soldier?” the man asked. 

“Did something happen?” Kilyko asked. 

“Not point that gun at me,” The man told Will. 

“Seek a person,” the woman said. 

“Who do you seek?” I asked, knowing the answer already. 

“Hide in this house,” she said and I drew my gun on the man, keeping it there. 

“Not point that gun at me,” the man said. 

“"Put the gun’s away ya all scare my dog’s…..” Kilyko said as the dogs continued barking. 

“Do not forget that I know where you live now,” the man said and I slid my gun into its holster for now. “Good girl,” he said to me. “Will be better for you.” 

“Careful what you say, Apache,” Will said to him. 

“What do you want with him?” Kilyko looked at the man. “I’d watch your mouth....there are ladies here..” 

“You’re all trespassing,” I said. 

“We are not concerned with you,” the man said to me. 

“It does not seem polite,” the woman said. 

“Maybe not but you’ll notice the badge I’m wearing. I’d suggest you’d leave,” I nodded to them.

“You’re not making this easy, mister…” Kilyko said to the man. 

“He hide in this house,” the man said. 

“Then you’ll have to come back later if what you say is true,” I said. 

“This is my house! And those are my dog’s they get hurt there will be hell to pay….” Kilyko threatened. 

“And if my friends get hurt there will be even more hell to pay,” I looked at him seriously and drew my gun again. 

Akame growled and barked and Kilyko said, “You all are scaring my dogs… Please be on your way...and I ask nicely….” 

“I’m sorry, Kilyko, but he needs to know I’m serious,” I said and looked at Will, then to the others, losing my patience. “If you all don’t leave soon…” 

“No problem Trin I am just protecting my dog’s...as they are my children to me..” Kilyko said and looked at the others. “Please take your leave…” 

“I understand that. But you two are like family to me and if these Natives burn down this house I will take it personally. And then you WILL be concerned with me,” I looked at the man seriously. 

“Not going to do anything with their dogs,” the man said. 

“This is my dogs’ home!” Kilyko said again. 

“Well then you’re wasting your time because these dogs are here all the time,” I said. 

“Then ready? This nervous?” the man asked. 

“We are not nervous mister…” Kilyko pet Akame as the dog growled.

“Do I sound nervous, Sir?” I asked him. 

“Yeah,” he looked at me and smiled. 

“My gun is drawn and I’m telling you that if you burn this house down you’ll have an issue with me,” I said. 

“Swear?” he asked. 

“Seems the words of someone pretty confident, don’t it?” I asked him. 

“Please last time I ask.....be on your way......I am not looking for trouble…” Kilyko said. 

“This is a threat?” the man asked. 

“You’re the ones who gave the threat first,” I pointed out. “This is self defence.” 

“Your home is that there senorita,” the man pointed. 

“That is my home, yes…” Kilyko said. 

“Let’s go brother,” the girl said. 

“I have no home,” I looked from Will to the man. 

“Hmmm not have home, what?” he asked. 

“I live in the nature, like you do,” I said, looking to the others. “You want to burn down my home you’ll be burning down yours too.” 

“I do not understand the problem here.......you are brother because I too am an indian…” Kilyko looked at the man. 

“Care that mother nature can not accept you,” the man said and I looked at Kilyko and wondered if I should reveal my identity too but I stayed quiet for now. 

“I am from the Cheyanne tribe.....in Kansas….” she told them and motioned to the man. “Brother go calm down and we will solve this when you are not so angry…..” 

“I’d suggest you leave now,” I said again, more firmly. 

“I still can back here and lever your neck,” the man said. “I’m talking to the girl’s gun.” 

“That girl is also a sister,” Kilyko said and I swallowed hard at her revelation. “Come I will patch you up but control your brother….” she said to the women. I practically stumbled against the wall but struggled to keep myself upright and looked over at Will, knowing he didn’t know that truth either. “Akame go on the porch… Black moon go to the clinic…” 

“You guys okay?” I sighed with relief as the natives left and I walked over to her and Will and the dogs. 

“Yup, apparently Adder had some fun…” Kilyko laughed and pet Akame. “Good dog!” 

I looked over at Will nervously and asked, “You okay hon?” 

“Probably won’t see them around again. I think they were little lost,” he scratched his head. 

I wasn’t as sure with the threats about my house but I leaned against the wall, trying to relax. 

“Apache I would have known,” Will said. “I am fine.” 

“Would have known what?” I looked at him. 

“Akame, you’re a good boy,” Kilyko said to the dog and I noticed Will looked nervous. 

“That I should known you where Apache,” he said to me. 

“Well... it’s four generations back but... I discovered it only recently,” I told him. 

“Will you ain’t got nothing against civilized indian’s do ya?” Kilyko pet Akame. 

“Trin I am ok with you being Apache,” Will said and I sighed with relief. “I know more about Apache than I have ever told you.” 

“Well considering we just met the other day... There’s a lot we haven’t told each other I guess,” I said. 

“That is very true. I kinda lived with the Apache for awhile.” 

“I guess we were right... They wanted revenge from Adder shooting them earlier today,” I looked at Kilyko. 

“Something you might want to ask him why he shot them,” Will said. 

“I know exactly why he shot them,” I looked at him and back to Kilyko. 

“They can go back home for all I care….” Kilyko said. 

“Howdy all,” Adder said coming over. 

“Hello Sun Stone….” Kilyko greeted him. 

“What happened to you two?” Adder pet the dog and looked at me and William. 

“So we just had some visitors… Wanted to burn down your place.” 

“Seems some indians are mad at ya…” Kilyko told him. 

“They said they wouldn’t do it while the dogs were here and I said well you’ll have a long wait,” I said. 

Adder shrugged and said, “I’d be more surprised if you told me a group of Indians WEREN’T mad at me.” 

I chuckled and knew how true that was. I looked over at Will, wondering how lost he was. He leaned against the post and stayed quiet. 

“I guess we’ll all have to be more careful when we’re out and about,” Adder said. 

“Come Akame, pardon me for a moment…” Kilyko said and went inside. 

I looked over at Will and said, “We should go talk at my place…” 

I lead the way to the cabin and he followed me to the house and leaned over to kiss me on the cheek. “Are you okay Trin?” 

“We just... need to talk.” 

“We do,” he nodded and held me close. 

“Do you want to go first or should I?” I sighed.

“You know I been in the army a long time right?” he cleared his throat. “I was station in Arizona for five of those years at Fort Lowell. Well for almost a year I kinda lived in the Apache village. Was shortly after I was station in Arizona. Still green when it came to Natives. At the time I was in the village well lets say that I was not treated well. But they kept me alive barely.” 

“I’m surprised they even let you stay in the village,” I said and he looked down with hatred in his eyes, and I understood the feeling, letting him continue. “I was their sport. I don’t want to go into detail about it much as I try to forget. The short of it is they did things to me that I wouldn’t imagine being done before I was capture.” I held onto his hand, trying to show him I’d been there too. Then one day I hear a familiar sound of horn and next thing I woke up in Fort Lowell barely alive.” He gave a shiver and I wrapped my arm around his waist. “Took me over six months to recover from what was done to me. Then I asked to be put back on duty. Although the Col. was hesitant to do so” 

“How come?” 

“They where worried about my state of mind at the time.” 

“Undoubtedly,” I nodded with understanding. 

“They say they never seen someone that taken what I took before. Once I was back on duty I tried to kill anyone that look Apache or was seen with Apache. I did this for two years until….. The Colonel finally took me off active duty for patrolling and keep me in the Fort to train the new troops.” 

“In those two years I did things I regret doing and not proud of. I beg the Col to let me go out on scouting missions again and well....That is why I am here.” 

“I guess it’s my turn,” I said at length. 

“I would like to hear your story,” he looked in my eyes. 

“For months I’d been trying to create peace between the whites and the Natives. When it started it was just because I’d been hanging out with a Cheyenne tribe.. I would go there to get away from the violence and gangs in the town. I started to have a passion for them and wanted to see peace through conversation, not through violence. Back in the fall I met the Cherokee, and everything changed. They were not as welcoming as the Cheyenne had been. They didn’t trust me to live among them for protection even as I was being attacked and followed by gang members. The same gang members that were attacking them. When I became a Pinkerton it was to try and solve the problem with more authority than I had as a private investigator. It gave me a badge, a title. I started to wear a gun and their trust diminished instantly. They felt as though I was bringing outlaws to them.” I shifted in my seat and looked at him nervously. “I began to withdraw from them, not really thinking they wanted me around. Then... I got a message saying their chief had been shot down. I ran out there to find him shot on a mountain near the village. I didn’t even think about my own safety, I just ran. It was so rare that they had asked for my help. Anyway I was out there on the hill trying to keep him alive and I got shot down. By this undertaker that I’d known since the beginning of being out west. The Cherokee healers came and took us to the village where they healed us, and then they had captured one of the shooters and tied her to a tree.” I fought back emotion. “They cut off a piece of her hair, then handed me the knife, expecting me to join in. They hadn’t been listening at all. It had all been a waste of time. I left then, not wanting anything to do with them. But the chief found me in town one day and said that he anted to know where the undertaker lived. He said if I didn’t tell him, he’d take me captive. After all that time of trying to get to know them, learn their culture…” 

“Hate goes deep…” he nodded. 

“Anyway…” I sighed. “I told him but everything changed from then on. They blew up the sheriff’s office with dynamite when they knew I was inside, they ambushed a fort where I was in conversation with a soldier... They called me a traitor and a liar. When I moved to Colorado... The Apache lived in the area. I got to know them because I was running the paper and wanted to show their side of the story. See, even though after all the Cherokee did... Somehow I still had a heart for the Native peoples. I couldn’t explain it and I didn’t get it. Every logical sense said I should have just let it be. But then... Apache declared war on the town. Adder was the sheriff at the time so that explains his hatred towards them. Then my brother came and told me about father getting killed up in Canada where we were from. Then... we were going through estate papers and discovered that we had Apache in our blood. Four generations back,” I looked at him directly.” 

I shook my head, remembering how much it hurt to hide the information from Adder that time. “I tried to get to know the Apache culture better. Even stayed in their village a bit at the evenings. But then... they wanted me to choose. They didn’t want me going back and forth from the town to the village. Even though their women and children were doing that very thing. So eventually... I chose. I stayed in town with Adder and Kilyko and the others. Then some other things happened that led us to move from Colorado and the three of us came here to get away from it all. But it looks as though our pasts have followed us here.” 

“Apache are a big tribe that wonder in a vast amount of area.” 

“That’s why I didn’t shoot them right away when they started coming at us back there. I really didn’t want to have to but I wasn’t gonna let them burn down that house. Adder and Kilyko are like family. I met Adder back in September when I became a detective with the law agency there.” 

“I had to holster my gun as I wanted to kill them so much but am trying to see the good in everyone.” 

“I assure you I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for him.” 

“Then I owe him a great deal as I wouldn’t have met you without him.” 

“The past made us who we are today, Will. I can’t hate you for that and I won’t. I know you were sent here for a purpose but I also know that I need the kind of protection you could offer,” I hesitated and added teasingly, “And the company ain’t bad either.” I sighed with relief, feeling better now that we knew each other’s stories. 

“I find the company for pleasing,” he smiled warmly at me. 

I reached over and squeezed his hand and he kissed me but then as he held me close I could tell he was thinking something. “Will, talk to me,” I put a hand on his leg. 

“I have never told anyone my story before. Hard for me to tell it.” 

“Mine isn’t one I like to relive either.” 

“Time for me to ride to our outpost and report in,” he said and kissed me before heading out.