April 6, 1870

Colorado. 

I walked into the saloon this morning and he poured me an Irish coffee. I took the cup and drank from it, letting the caffeine wake me up. I set the cup down on the counter and looked at him, announcing, “Me and the Natives are done.” 

“What is wrong?” 

“Eight months I tried, Bo... I tried to learn their culture, show them that some paleface can be trusted. Even showed them that I had Apache in my genes, though granted four gens back but still. They still want me to choose. I have to choose between them and here. I can’t go back and forth. I can’t choose, Bo. I’ve worked too damn hard to get where I am here. Why would I sacrifice it all for a group of people who would never ever trust me based on the colour of my skin alone.” 

“They are leery of what keeps going on. Do ya remember Free Feather?” 

“Well so am I now. I’m done with it, Bo. They keep wandering in here like it’s nobody’s business and they get all mad when I go back and forth.” I nodded. “The mayor.” 

“Sorry… Free Eagle…” he corrected himself and I shook my head. “I know it’s troublesome but can’t give up.” 

“Can’t give up what? Eight months I’ve been banging my head against the wall. I’m done.” 

“What ya worked for to get?” 

“What’s the story with Free Eagle?” I asked, nodding to Kallie as she walked in. 

“Free Eagle was very well know thru out all nations he has returned to these parts a dear friend off mine,” Bo said. 

“A native who lives in paleface land?” 

“He lives no place and I do believe you can find him in Iowa.” 

“Either this coffee ain’t workin’ to wake me up or I’m just plain missing the story.” 

“If ya meet him tell him you’re a friend of mine, I’m sure he would try to help.” 

I shook my head and said, “Help what? The damage is done. I’m done.” 

“Ya get in better with the natives,” Bo said. 

“No,” I shook my head. “There’s no point. All they want is for me to live completely in their lands and not live and work here. I won’t sacrifice that much for people who will never trust me.” 

“But ya work to hard on this and ya don’t ever give up. Most natives is proud. Got to give it all time.” 

“Eight months, Bo. Look where it got me. Threatened, almost kidnapped, ambushed in a fort, shot down by the man who had shot their chief, called a traitor and a liar, and now told to leave everything and live among them and forever explain why I’m a white man living on native lands.” 

“And that’s what is keeping problems going. And as far as their land, it would be free.” 

“They’ve got their own land now. And yet they keep coming here like they want to be free on both, when they won’t allow us to go there. It’s a double standard and I’m tired of it.” 

“But who’s land was it?” 

I set the empty coffee cup on the counter and looked over at Kallie, wanting to change the subject. “Kallie, what’s new with you? You said you were planning stuff for your house?” 

“No I am listening and planning my garden and house is all,” she said. “I rented a house, miss Trin, and I have been putting in a garden.” 

“Oh that’s great! Where bouts?” I asked, nodding to Bo for more coffee as he served some. 

She said she needed a job as a cook and we talked about opening a restaurant in the area. We decided to go look for where we could set up a small restaurant by the hotel and started to brainstorm ideas for where we could set up. I told her to take care of the furniture shopping and I would take care of the food. I went to go gather supplies at the grocery store and then talked with Ida about opening the bistro near the saloon. 

*** 

This afternoon I heard a lot of shouting in sheriff’s office and grew curious as I talked with Bo outside. We talked about how I was bored and I went to my place to get to work. I walked downstairs when I heard someone clicking on the telegram machine and recognized Adder sitting at the desk. When he sent the telegram, he looked up at me. “Hey Trin.” 

“Hey Sheriff. Somethin’ goin on?” 

“Usual. Bandits from down south.” 

“Oh? They came back?” 

“Two turned up and fought Jake and Chels. They locked em up. Minutes later two more turned up and attacked me and Jake and Chels. We locked them up too.” 

“Really... Wow... Sounds like quite the story.” 

“Then a load of strangers started hanging round, plus a few more known southern bandits.” 

“Any reason why they came or just to fight?” 

“Not sure. Usual probably But they did their time and were just bailed.” 

“Well that’s good then,” I nodded. 

“Then a handful of other wounded fellas showed up, Ida needs help in the clinic with them.” 

“How many of ’em would you say there were?” 

“Five or six, maybe more,” he shrugged. 

“Jake and Chels were fine?” 

“Aye  they were.” 

“So you think this has anything to do with the fires, the attacks on you..?” I asked and saw someone walk over and he said he was running from the bandits. “Was that guy who tried to kill you here tonight?” 

“All part of the stupidity,” he shrugged. 

“Hmm.... not the one who was paid to, no. But two who have made separate attempts were there. Including that Cole fella you warned me about. He tried to take me out yesterday.” 

“Cole was there huh?” 

“Aye. one of the ones Jake and Chels took down. Along with that Icey girl.” 

“So he didn’t want a job he just tried to take you out instead.” 

“Aye. He took offence at something I said,” he grinned. “He said he wasn’t worried about work, he could make money his own way or something. I said I guessed as much.” 

“I pegged that guy from the second I met him,” I chuckled. 

“He didn’t like that much. So he shot at me. I shot back and put him face down in the dirt in my yard.” 

“Uh huh, ’course ya did. Think I’m gonna see if I can find Jake and see what he’s gotta say about all this. Thanks for the info, Sheriff. Always a helpful source,” I winked at him. 

“Take care Trin, never know if any of that lot are still around,” he nodded. 

“Will do. You take care too,” I nodded and headed out of the office. 

I waved to Jake and Chels down the street and said, “I hear there’s been some fun around here. You guys alright?” 

“Howdy Miss Trin... How are ya doin’?” Jake asked. 

“I’m alright Trin,” Chels nodded. 

“I’m alright…” Jake looked at his bruises. “What have ya been up to?” 

“Oh got the paper out on Wednesday, or was it Tuesday… Severed ties with the Natives... So ya’ll don’t have to worry about me with that anymore. Other than that... tryin’ to get information for the next stories that may come my way.” 

“Yeah, I read it... Good stuff, and nice to see the town a bit quiet…” Jake nodded.

“So what’s this about a bunch of Mexicans coming to fight ya’ll? Think this has to do with their threat to terrorize the town?” 

“Ya mean tonight?” Jake asked. 

“Yeah.” 

“Well some woman was in the Court House placin’ a bag of shit on the carpet... When we confronted her with it she started shootin’ at us... We returned fire and more people joined in to help her…” Jake sighed. “In the end we had four people locked up, Mexicans and just whites like us…” 

“In the courthouse? Geez… Sounds like a full house.” 

“That was our usual one that likes to start fires and cause trouble… now causing issues in the court house,” Chels added. 

“Then Saiman from Kingsley came to pay bail and he got them after an hour for 3500 coins for all four of them,” Jake went on. 

“Wow…” I shook my head. “Who’s this Saiman person? I’ve not heard that name before.” 

“Mmhmm, 3500 coins,” Chels said. 

“Mr. Saiman owns the mine down in Kingsley and a lot of those roughnecks from down South seem to work for him,” Jake smiled. 

“Ah I see... so he defends them kinda.” 

“To him it’s pure business... Lost hours in the mine is lost coins for him and his business…” Jake shrugged. 

“So do you think this all has to do with the assassination attempt on the sheriff or is it something else?” I asked between the. 

“It’s something else. This has been going on way before that with the Sheriff,” Chels said. 

“I’m not sure what that’s about... Heard somethin’ about it, but Adder is a fine shooter... I’m sure that person would fail such an attempt,” Jake frowned. 

“And they did, though the second time they got him all the way down to Kingsley,” I nodded. “He escaped though. Was one of the hardest articles I’ve had to write. Just glad it didn’t have a worse ending. If this goes way back before Adder... what do you think it has to do with? The strings of fires, the robberies... them putting their flag in the scene of the crime…” 

“Well Kingsley is a hard place now... I pity poor Sheriff Max and I’ll see if I can help him when I’ve got a break from here,” Jake chuckled. 

“Just some people liking to cause problems...like setting the out post on fire...robbing the bank...if its the ones that work for Genth...maybe he should pay them better,” Chels said. 

“Heard they got nothin’ out of the second bank robbery and went home upset,” I nodded. 

“He payed a shit load of coins tonight... Those poor guys will work HARD for it I’m sure,” Jake chuckled. 

“Guess nobody wants to put there money in the bank no more,” Chels said. 

“Can’t really say I blame ’em,” I nodded. 

Jake looked at me and shrugged. “I’m not sure we even have a bank no more. He might have left town along with the Calvary for all I care.” 

“It’s so good to talk to ya’ll again,” I looked between them and smiled. 

“I never did put any coin in the bank...never felt easy about someone else looking after my money,” Chels said. 

“Me neither, Chels…” 

“Nice seeing ya again, Trin,” she smiled at me. 

“Did Kalie find you about our idea for a food shop?” I asked. 

“Yes...she is gonna use the Bistro...she might as well since nobody else is using it...and it is a popular spot,” Jake said. 

“Well I guess I should get some writing done. Was good to catch up with ya’ll. Helps flesh out the story a bit” I said then. 

“Yeah, it’s gettin’ cold... How about a late dinner Marshal Seetan?” Jake asked Chels, nodding towards Devil’s Ditch. 

I headed to the office and got to work at the desk upstairs. 

*** 

This evening I heard someone calling for me downstairs. I went down to see a woman and she asked if I was hiring. I told her that we could use some writers and she said that she could definitely write some articles for me. Her name was Honey and I told her that she was welcome to give it a shot. Kallie came in and I introduced her to Honey. I talked to them for a bit before saying goodnight and heading back upstairs.