June 1, 1899

Tombstone. 

This morning I woke up in the back room of the sheriff’s office and walked into the front area, checking out all the warrants on the wall. I walked outside and closed the door behind me, making sure it was locked. 

“How’s it goin today, gentlemen?” I smiled at Nhil and Pastor Bryan, who were standing in the street. I could see Skyla off in the distance. 

“It is going great deputy,” Bryan laughed. “How are you?” 

“Glad to hear it," I smiled.

“Ma’am...see you left the pinkies?” Nhil tipped his hat to me.

“Joined the deputies is more accurate. Pinky job is there if I want it still. Figured bein’ a deputy will be more fun,” I winked. “Gives me more to do.” 

“You are a detective ma’am? That is a hard job with long hours.” 

“They need deputies...the pinkies are less...worth anything, unless there is some railroad coming through new lands and give them the corrupt power money can buy,” Nhil nodded slowly. 

“I live for this kind of work. Finding the truth of what really happened, making sure justice is done…” I smiled. 

“Usually the truth is that one ape-man shot another ape-man over somethin’ stupid,” Peta put in and I chuckled. 

“Amen Sister, the Truth will set you free. And put the criminal in jail,” Bryan smiled. 

“And even though true justice will be of the Lord’s, it don’t mean we can’t help him out down here, ya know?" I winked at the pastor. 

“General on site!” Skyla shouted out then. 

“You are correct deputy,” Bryan nodded. 

“What’s that suppose to mean Ma’am? We expected to get into parade formation?” Nhil shouted back to Skyla. 

“We can all be forgiven, but we must still pay for our crimes on this earth,” Bryan said and then looked puzzled. “General?” 

“Just means if somethin goes down here on earth, we gotta take care of it. Kinda like God’s agents,” I winked at Bryan again. 

“Nhil,  ya shush or ima make ya work twice as hard today…” Sky shouted back with a laugh. 

“The payroll?” Bryan raised an eyebrow. 

“General of the US Calvary, Preacher,” Nhil thumbed towards the east. 

“Arm still stings a bit from yesterday but thanks for helpin’ me out after the shooting, Nhil,” I told him as I waved to Richie walking over. 

“Don’t think you can handle me working twice as hard Ma’am, no offense!" Nhil smirked and yelled back at Skyla. He looked back at me and nodded. "My pleasure, ma’am.” 

“Think I will move on friends. Go with God and keep Him in your hearts,” Bryan moved closer to the bank. 

“Ok, let’s get to Goldfield!” Suzy shouted then. 

“You’d be surprised, Mister!” Skyla shouted back to Nhil and I looked at him, shaking my head with amusement. 

I headed over to the hotel and talked with Vic, Peta and Tye. Skyla joined us as the cavalry continued their payroll to the next town.

“How about you after yesterday, did you get a chance to see that Tom?” Vic asked me. 

“No I haven’t seen him around yet... Barely got to talk to Chet last night. Kinda worried about him too. Hoping he’ll be around town today. I’m mighty anxious to see him again. 

We continued to talk and then I looked over at Tye and said, “Tye... I forgot to tell you the news.” 

“What news? You’re getting married to someone you just met yesterday too?” Tye asked and I chuckled. 

“Tom’s alive. Chet was talkin’ to him the other night, only thing is he don’t remember anything.” 

“Wow! That’s great news! Who’s Tom?" Peta asked. 

“Sounds like you mocking her, because she with me...but you go on lying, to sound good for the town folk..we know how important being the big dog in town is to you,” Nhil shrugged at Tye. 

“I’d rather that be brought up anymore Tye I moved on and I am very happy Nhil treats me as a lady, and I am not sure what you are trying to do Tye, but please can you be the friend I know you are?” Vic said. “I am very happy and I love him very much.” 

“Tom was that guy that we thought had died in the fire back in Colorado…” I told Peta. “The man I loved…” 

“Oh yeah, that fella. Valentine’s Day, huh?” 

“Mmhmmm. We started courting when he took me to the Valentine’s dance, years ago, and then I never heard from him again.” 

“That’s in February, right?” Peta asked. 

“Victoria, friends are honest with each other. You’re making a mistake. But I hope I’m wrong for your sake,” Tye told her. 

“I just hope he... remembers something... It’s going to be hard when I see him again if he doesn’t…” I sighed. 

“I’ve got paperwork to do anyhow. So good luck. I won’t be offended if I ain’t invited,” Tye said and walked towards his office. 

“Oh he lost his memory?” Peta asked. 

“I am not making a Mistake Tye and please as a friend please be happy that I was able to move on and continue my life,” Vic said. 

“When you done talking to your friends, I’ll be getting a drink at the saloon,” Nhil smiled at Vic and then smirked at Tye. “You won't be… And if you were doing it as a friend, you would not do it publicly to make her look bad.” 

“Yeah he doesn’t remember anything apparently,” I sighed. 

“But he does talk private things publicly, because he just trying to mock people...his usual thing, did it first day because I said Hi to his wife when she welcomed me to town...man is insecure,” Tye smirked. 

“I won’t go in the saloon Nhil, you go have fun,” Vic moved into his arms.

“Let it go, Nhil," I looked at him. 

“Would… usually ignore them rats...but, when they try to mock Victoria publicly… just gets under my skin and I’ll say something… I’ll put a bullet in that fool too, and gladly take the jail time,” Nhil frowned and puffed his cigarette. 

“I’ll remember you said that,” I looked at him seriously. 

"Please do..I wont run after I shoot him down, I stand over him and press his face in the dirt until the law come for me,” Nhil smirked. 

Tazz came over then and complimented Vic on her dress and Vic got upset about getting mocked for her fashion. I insisted that no one was trying to mock her and that they were just observing that she looked nice. I thanked Vic for helping me out yesterday and she said that she was excited about working in the courtroom with me. Nhil continued to talk down about Tye, and I tried to calm him down but there was no point and he told me not to tell him what to do. 

All of a sudden there was a shout from someone saying they would shoot. Nhil told me to check it out instead of defending a grown man like Tye and I walked down the street towards Tye, who was holding a stack of papers. 

“Tye, you hear that shout?” 

“Nobody in this place knows how to file anything,” Tye muttered at the papers. “What shout?" 

“Someone just called out from a distance, ‘Or I’ll shoot.’ Didn’t recognize the voice.” 

“You hear what direction it came from?” 

“No I didn’t. Was far away I think but we should be alert.” 

“Well, you head that way and see if you see someone. Don’t get outta shoutin’ range,” Tye pointed towards the clock tower and I nodded. 

“Tye!” Skyla shouted and came over. When I called back she called my name and came over to me. “Nhil said shots?” 

“I heard some shouting from the west... Think Tye might be goin out there to investigate. The shout was far away though. Gotta be outside our jurisdiction.” 

Sky sighed loudly and grumbled, shouting, “Damn Tye!” 

“Someone shouted, ‘Or I'll shoot’.” 

“Damn, damn, damn!” Sky kept shouting. 

“You wanna go after him I’ll keep an eye on things here?” I asked her. 

“Damn Tye,” Sky sighed. “I guess I better. Hey Nhil!” SKy shouted to him. “I’ll get Nhil ta help ya, just in case. If he answers me.” When Nhil didn’t answer she said, “If you need help, just shout for him. I'll go check Tye.” 

“Right. Stay safe,” I nodded. 

“Yeah?” Nhil called back and walked over.

“Nhil, I need your help around here. Sky is goin after Tye and we gotta keep post around here. She didn’t want to leave me all alone. Let’s get something cleared up,” I looked at him. “I don’t want there to be bad blood between us, but Tye’s my partner now so you gotta understand where I’m comin from.” 

“What’s that?” he raised a brow, puffing his cigarette. 

“Now that we work together, I’ve got his back. When Skyla ain’t running after him,” I sighed softly. 

“You can defend him all you want, I’m not going to put you down for it like he does for others...but he a snake in the grass, and that wont change just because you his partner.” 

“Have your own opinions, just don’t want there to be tension between us over it. You helped me out big time yesterday and I appreciate that.” 

“He puts people down for being my friend, he even insults Sky over it...I’m not like him, I got more class and let people be friends whom they want.” 

“Nhil! Trin! Head to Goldfield!” Sky shouted then and I saw Sky and Ansar walk into the clinic as Ansar was helped up on a table. “Get the wounded here! I'm going to telegram a doc!” Sky shouted. 

“Goldfield. Let’s go!” Nhil shouted. “I don’t know where it is, so lead the way.”

“Okay, Sky!” I called back to her and sighed. “That makes two of us. Reckon it’s out west way though." 

Pearce.

Unsure where Goldfield was, I made my way towards Pearce and lost Nhil somewhere along the way. I heard talking in the clinic and found Tye and Gabe in the clinic. Skyla had made it there too and Angeles was working on healing the wounded. 

“What the hell’d you get yourself into now, Tye?” I asked, walking inside. 

“Tye can ya disarm it?” Sky asked him. 

“Me? Hell. I don’t know. I came up on a bad…” Tye replied. 

“What am I missing?” I looked from Tye to Skyla. 

“The bridge is rigged to blow. Three clicks.” 

“I… might… but…” Tye flinched as he was worked on by Angeles and looked over at Gabe, his face paling. 

“Other injured?" Angeles asked. 

“What can I do?” I asked the sheriff for orders. 

“I got an idea,” Skyla said then. “Trin. Back in town, Sommer is there. Tye, you got these two? And she’s at the doc’s with Nhil. I”ll go handle the charges.” 

“For now, but they’re cavalry prisoners,” Tye shrugged about Gabe and Rikki. 

“Oh... You want me to get her to come here?” I asked as Ali walked into the clinic worriedly. 

“Indeed, Tye,” Sky nodded to him. 

“Sky! You get blowed to hell, I ain’t going to clean up your mess!” Wedge called. 

“You will too Wedge!” Sky shouted back to him. 

“Pinky, just keep an eye on Rikki as she recovers. She’s cuffed to the table,” Tye kept pressure on Gabe’s wound and looked over at me. 

“Too gruesome!” Wedge shouted back. 

“You know you’re gonna have to come up with a new nickname,” I winked at Tye. 

“Rookie,” Tye grunted and I went to stand by Rikki’s bed, chuckling. 

“Miss whatever being your name, are you injured?” Angeles asked me. 

“Nope, I’m good. Just a little wet,” I chuckled. 

“Okay, out with Tye. There is enough lawmen,” she said. 

“I’ve got my orders from Tye to stay by Rikki’s bed,” I told her and held my post. 

“Tye, please. I am lawman too,” Angeles started to work on Gabe’s wound. 

“We’re still getting it figured out, Angeles, Trin is a deputy, she needs to watch Rikki for now,” Tye nodded. “You’re a bit busy, Captain…” 

“She can’t be moved. Have enough morphine for sleep one horse,” Angeles said. 

“How ya doin Rikki?” I looked down at the woman on the bed. 

“Captain...let the young lady do her job, right now...we Need their help...you tend to the wounded,” Wedge instructed to Angeles. 

“Hi, is that you ma?” Rikki grinned. 

“Looks like you’ll be just fine,” I chuckled as Angeles continued to work on Gabe’s wound, removing the bullet. Tye washed his hands and went over to talk with Wedge. 

“Colonel, there were two others I seen, were they involved? The man in black and Alicia,” Tye told Wedge.

“Ok all charges have been taken care of!” Sky announced then. “They are now in the creek! Apparently one died. Not sure yet.” 

“All were Sir...all wounded are involved,” Wedge said. 

“Haven’t gotten official word,” Sky said. 

“Umm...good work Sheriff...jack of all trades…master…of….none?” Wedge grinned. 

“I try,” Sky laughed. 

“Any idea if Gabe’s wife was wounded? She’s no where to be found, she bolted when she saw we had the others down,” Tye said. 

“Gabe?” Wedge smiled. 

“Ali,” Sky looked at Tye. 

“Was she the one at the tree? Across the creek…spring?” Wedge asked. 

“That’s him,” Tye nodded. “His wife was the one amongst the trees. Thought that’s what ya said, anyhow. I couldn’t see her real well from the distance.” 

“Yeah...I saw her...but I never took aim at her…” Wedge said. 

“Yeh, I don’t know that she ever fired on us, I didn’t hear any.” 

“She never took aim at me when wedge shouted at me. I was more worried about the one I stepped on,” Sky laughed. 

“I was busy dodging the bullets Rikki, miss Star and ...Gabe were throwing at me,” Wedge blinked. “You stepped on one?” 

“Ummm yea. Ansar,” Sky smirked and I chuckled softly hearing Skyla. 

“Oh dang,” Wedge shook his head. 

“I was running so fast, I didn’t see him,” Sky sighed. 

“Can I go home now?” Rikki looked at me. 

“Not yet, Rikki,” I shook my head.

“Rikki told Star to shoot at me......then...I see tha man back there take aim at you...it was a mess,” Wedge explained. 

“Remember Rikki have a trial today…” Angeles smiled over at the woman. 

“You wanna tell me what happened?” I asked, not sure if Rikki was cohesive enough to talk about it. 

“Damn… Alright well I gotta get back to town,” Sky said. said then. “Tye, send Trin and you get back when ya can.” 

“I finish with you Mister, don’t moved,” Angeles ordered and cuffed Gabe’s leg fast to the table. 

“All I heard was Steve telling Rikki to drop her weapons...Rikkis telling him to drop his...next thing you know...blam...hell broke loose,” Wedge said. 

“Tye will help ya Wedge, till ya don’t need him. He’s good,” Sky said. 

“Thank you Sky,” Wedge said. 

“No problem at all,” Sky said. 

“Both finish now,” Angeles said and turned to wash her hands. 

“I’ll stay with the cavalry until all is well. Colonel, where’s payroll?” Tye asked. 

“I was by the tracks,” Rikki coughed. “And I think train ran me over.” I listened to her talk and wondered how true the words were. 

“Tye, get Trin to town!” Sky shouted as she headed out of the clinic. 

“Why I gotta babysit?” Tye shouted back. 

“Erm....we need to ask the Captain back there…” Wedge said then. 

“Is my horse okay?” Rikki asked. 

“Oh yes, the horse is fine,” Angeles said. “Stay close to the sheriff office wait for you Rikki.” 

“I’m stayin’ put till I hear orders from Tye or Skyla to do otherwise,” I looked at Angeles and smiled. 

“Colonel, these are your prisoners, so I’ll help escort them if need be. I got a wagon too,” Tye said. 

“Captain? Is payroll secure?” Wedge asked. 

“Yes,” Angeles nodded. 

“Yes Sir...a wagon we will need. Thank you,” Wedge nodded to Tye. 

“This man stay cuff a the table ready for being arrested,” Angeles informed them. 

“Alright then. Hold Gabe and RIkki here with Deputy Trin. I’ll return shortly,” Tye said. 

“Captain?” Wedge asked. 

“Aye aye, Tye,” I nodded. 

“Pinky, stay with Colonel Zeluco here,” Tye ordered. 

“Yes Colonel?” Angeles asked. 

“Will do,” I nodded. 

“Is payroll secure?” Wedge asked. 

“Yes Colonel,” Angeles nodded. 

“Very good, good works, thank you. And now...we have prisoners.” 

“Yes,” Ang nodded. “And both have my sign... the big A.” 

Rikki tried to sit up and I put a hand on her leg. “Easy, Rikki. You’re not goin’ anywhere yet.” 

“Very good,” Wedge said. 

“I told the lieutenant I back to Fort. The private Kane follow me and later we back here,” Ang said. 

“Captain...go to Tombstone, I saw Sky take a prisoner there...see if she ok..” Wedge said. 

“Yes,” Ang nodded. 

“Thank you.” 

“We can stop in Tombstone for the other prisoner, too,” Wedge said. 

“See you all in fort,” Ang said. 

“Great,” Wedge nodded to her. 

“Stay safe,” I said. 

“Let’s get Gabe and Rikki inside. Then Colonel, if you’re not wounded, take the roof and Pinky the back,” Tye instructed and we did as we were told as Gabe and Rikki were led to the wagon outside. We rode back to town and I kept a lookout from the top of the wagon as we rode back to Tombstone. 

Tombstone. 

We headed back to the office when the prisoners were delivered and I sat down in front of the sheriff office, working on journals from the day. Sky yelled at me for leaving the front door open, though I could have sworn I’d closed it. 

“So what was all that about in Goldfield?” I asked Sky. 

“Nhil, fill this the hell out!” Sky ordered as he walked over to the office. “And I don’t want to hear no ands ifs or buts!” 

“I didn’t see anything. I just carried bodies,” Nhil shook his head.

“Think you just heard a ‘but’, Sky,” I chuckled. 

Sky shoved the paper in his hand anyway and said, “Look at it before ya speak. Nope, I didn’t hear that. I refuse to hear it!” 

Nhil looked down at the paper and grunted, throwing it over his shoulder. “Yeah… be the day. If you want to make me sheriff for a day, I will take that job so I can fire Tye..then you can have it back,” he smirked. 

I glared at him and Sky laughed. “Nhil and Tye don’t get along. Hell, he don’t get along with Kris either!” 

“Well aware of that fact,” I looked at Sky. 

“It’s  a medical condition ma’am..my stomach can’t handle low lives...gets me wanting to heave,” Nhil shrugged. 

“Well ya handle me just fine, so I reckon I ain’t a low life,” Sky smirked. 

“I’d take it as a compliment,” I nodded. 

“The way we talk ta each other me and Nhil ya think there was something more…” Sky shook her head and laughed. 

“I don’t onder if you good or bad ma’am...you give me a job, and a good view,” Nhil leaned against the post, puffing his cig as he looked around. 

“Yea, you in views,” Sky shook her head and laughed. 

“When you on a cattle drive..you got cows and the view...cowboys learn whats worth looking at, and enjoy them,” Nhil shrugged. 

“I still don’t get why we were in Goldfield in the first place,” I said then. 

“Did he just say I’m worth looking at?” Sky blinked and looked from Nhil to me. 

“Sky think she the Arizona sheriff,” Nhil nodded to me and laughed. “She didn’t have any jurisdiction there.” 

“We were asked fer help, Trin,” Sky said. 

“By whom? Tye ran out there ’cause we heard the shouting,” I said. 

“We can only help when asked, Nhil, which we were,” Sky said. 

“Was not, Tye ran off to be bravado hero,” Nhil said. 

“The calvary asked.” 

“Once he got there.” 

Dee walked over and looked at me. “Deputy Trin, just who I was lookin’ for.”

“I didn’t do it,” I looked up at her and smiled and she laughed. “What can I help you with, Dee?” 

“The question is… Will ya?” Dee giggled. “I got a trial at one o’clock.. gonna need as much law around even though I think it will be quiet.. ya up to bein bailiff for us?” 

“Actually I ain’t sure if I’m gonna be around, but any other day I’ll be able to give it a try,” I told her. 

Dee asked Sky if she’d be there and she promised she would be. The trial was for Rikki and Keiki and Sky said she would need to testify for it too because it was about the accused having kidnapped marshal Steve. Sky had gone in and got him out and Dee said that she could still testify if she was bailiff too. Nhil continued to mutter about Kris being crooked and Dee said he’d called Ed in from out of town to judge.After a while I went into the sheriff’s office and rested on the lower bunkbed, feeling the pain in my arm still. 

A couple hours later, I walked over to the courthouse and felt the pain in my arm, but I didn’t have time to get food. I talked with Dancing Cloud outside of the courthouse as I guarded the front door while the court continued. Dancing Cloud complained about the children going into the court and I told her they were allowed to go in. I talked with Jamie and asked her to get me something to eat and some water and she went off to get it for me so I could take a painkiller. I thanked her and bit the muffin before swallowing the pill with the water. 

“Justice is blind in Tombstone!” Punk yelled dramatically and I cringed, hearing him. 

When I saw Tye, I looked over at him and asked, “And?” 

“Guilty,” he said with a deadpanned look. 

“And you don’t look thrilled,” I tilted my head to the side. 

“It’s a trial. Ain’t a party,” Tye shrugged. 

“Hey Sherifff. Was out here guardin the door in case they tried to do somethin during the trial,” I told Sky as she walked out.

I talked with people for a bit after the trial as they filed out and Gabe smirked at the badge I wore. I headed to the office then and went to lay down. 

*** 

This evening, I watched a woman checking her guns in the street and walked around casually, making sure everything was okay in town. I talked with the crowd in front of the hotel and met a woman named Doll. We talked for a while and then I continued on my rounds. I talked with Red Hawk, the jailer, and we talked bout my becoming a deputy. 

As I lay in the bed, I heard a knock and went to the door. “Who is it?” 

“It’s Chet! Open up, he’s alive!” 

I opened the door and looked at him, “So it’s true?” 

“Tom’s alive! Alive! I saw him!” Chet told me. 

“Pet said something about you talking to him but I... I haven’t seen him around so I wasn’t sure… And then I saw you at the clinic and…” 

“But he has no memory was robbed n left fer dead clothes stolen n I was been trying to tell ya.” 

“Did he remember you?” I sighed. 

“No. I even slapped him around n has no medical knowledge.” 

“I just... I can’t believe he’s….” I sighed. 

“But Miss Trin… Ya would have his medical papers he said.” 

“He said that? He remembers my name?” 

“Yes. That no reason he would carry them. No he don’t remember nothing. Thinks his name John.” 

“Oh Chet…” I reached out to hold his arm. “What are we gonna do?” 

“Gonna find him n I gonna beat him around the head till he remembers.” 

“Chet... We’ve gotta ease him into this.. Maybe if he sees me he’ll…” 

“If that works or not… I got a idea but risky but will do it.” 

“Tell me.” 

“Well I think a shock would bring him out so ya gonna shoot me n he gonna fix me.” 

“Chet… No. I would never shoot you. Not even for that. Maybe if he sees me get shot... Heck it happens enough apparently,” I reached to rub my shoulder. 

“Well that not gonna happen either. I guess we shoot a stranger,” Chet said. 

“Or there is one other option…” 

“What’s that, Miss Trin?” 

“I take him back here... Make him feel comfortable around me again... Kiss him, touch him... Maybe he’ll remember the sensation.. the feelings…” 

“Well either way if not, this John guy gonna be happy man.” 

“You never know, Chet... It could work… The heart doesn’t forget that kind of thing.” 

“That’s true. Long as find him I put him up in hotel but he not there no more.”

“We have to look harder for him then,” I sighed. 

“Yeah before Apaches find find him or worse....a dove.” 

“Chet, bite your tongue,” I swallowed hard. 

“I was kidding, Miss Trin. He has no money.” 

“This ain’t funny. The man I love was thought to be dead and now he’s... still alive. And he don’t even remember…” I started to get emotional and looked at him. 

“I know, but don’t get all girly now. Gotta be strong. This happy news, Trin. He alive, just not fully sane,” he said and I held him tightly, leaning my head on his shoulder. “Now it be good in time. He will remember n then ya two can get married n ya can birth few babies.” 

“Woah... let’s not get ahead of ourselves…” I leaned back. 

“Now now we all know where it gonna end,” Chet said. 

“If he’ll even remember me,” I chuckled and punched him playfully. 

“So think bout it on bright side ya woman folk always wanna change yer man once married ya can turn him into what ya want n he be to dumb to know,” he laughed. 

“I think I should get some sleep,” I glared at him. 

“Ok n Trin, I happy he alive too. Don’tcha worry, I won’t tell him of anything.” 

“I’ll try to keep optimistic. Just... find me as soon as you find him again.” 

“I’ll do my best.”

“How you feelin from yesterday, Chet?” 

“Oh I feel good as just a shot in head not my vitals.” 

“My shoulder’s been causin lots of pain and these meds she gave only work for so long…” 

“Ah sorry hear about that ya need take it easy maybe quit law n start teaching kids.” 

“Not a chance. I finally feel like I’m doin something productive,” I chuckled. 

“I know n I proud of ya.” 

“Just a flesh wound,” I winked at him. 

“I thinking I might have to reel Punk in before…” 

“I don’t understand that one... There was a trial today for Keiki and Rikki. Both charged guilty... then paid bail. But then Punk calls out ‘justice is blind in tombstone’.” 

“Trin, I gotta tell ya something,” he said and lit a match, setting a small piece of paper on fire and putting it out. “Smell my arm.” 

“Tell me.” 

“I could smell smoke on him yesterday the kind get being close to fire n he wasn’t. But no be arresting him or tell him or anyone all entitled one mistake n ill be talking with him.” 

“Well I can’t do anything without more than one person saying it. Chet, I really should get some rest.” 

“Okay Trin. I should go see where can catch a bullet tonight,ya have a good sleep miss Trin.” 

“Stay safe,” I hugged him tightly. 

“Ya too, Deputy,” he said with a smile and he headed out.