March 26, 1870

Colorado. 

I walked to the outpost this morning and talked with Luke Short about why the Apache village seemed to be so empty. “You hear ‘bout the bank robbery too?” he asked me. 

“Bank robbery? What bank robbery?” 

“Ya the banker was just down here yellin bout how the bank got robbed,” Luke said as Danny himself rode back over to the fort. “You find the Sheriff yet Mr. bank man?” 

“Howdy there, soldier. No. And the marshall is asleep.” 

“Danny, good I was gonna come find you,” I turned to him. 

“Howdy Trin. It’s good to see you.” 

“Someone wanna tell me what’s goin on?” I looked between Luke and Danny. 

“Typical law,” Luke chuckled. “Never around when ya need them.” 

“The bank has been robbed. Again,” Danny muttered. 

“By whom? Or is it not clear yet?” I asked. 

“But this time we know who done it. A gang down in Texas.” 

“Oh really?” I raised an eyebrow. 

“I’m rid’en out now to get’em. You rid’en with me Luke?” 

“Thought you were gonna hire some guns mister,” Luke said to him. 

“Your gun for hire, Luke? Let’s ride before the trail goes cold,” Danny said to him. 

“Guys, hold on…” I stopped them. “Fill in some blanks here for me…" 

“Yup, it sure is, Mister,” Luke said after looking around the outpost. 

I looked from Danny to Luke, knowing I had to stay alive to write the story. “You guys go ahead. Fill me in when you get back, please?” 

“You ride with me, Luke, and I’ll pay ya what I pay o’l Mill for his gun. Fifty dollars gold coins a week,” Danny said to him. 

“Sounds good, I reckon,” Luke nodded. 

“You’ll fill me in?” I asked, looking between them. 

“Yes Trin,” Danny nodded. 

“Ride safe then, boys,” I smiled, satisfied. 

“When the sheriff or marshals wake up tell them where we went,” Danny said. 

“Uh huh, will do,” I nodded. 

Luke looked around and said, “Could just light her house on fire. reckon she’d get out of bed then.” 

“Kingsley, Texas,” Danny said and kicked his horse, riding off. 

As Luke rode off after him, I rolled my eyes and muttered, “Typical.” I headed to sit in front of the sheriff’s office, waiting for them to get back. 

A while later I saw Sam riding out of Devil’s Ditch and waved to him. “Hey Sam! Everything alright?” I followed him back into town. 

“Hi Trin!” 

“What’s goin on? I heard about the bank robbery this morning,” I told him and waved to a woman walking out of her house. 

“Head to Kingsley… Going to get some bank robbers,” he announced. 

“Oh are ya? Goin to help the boys down there? Danny and Luke headed down there a while ago and I haven’t heard anything from them.” 

“Yes.” 

“Well ride safe, Sam.” 

“I will and I think Miss Gentle is coming too.” 

“I’d go but I didn’t want to get involved and get shot. Need to be alive to write about it, ya know?” 

“I’m going to get going.” 

“Safe paths you two,” I said to them and headed back to town. 

I went to Adder’s house and found him sitting on his front porch. “Adder, good you’re home.” 

“Howdy Trin.” 

“There’s a posse gone down to Kingsley to take care of the guys who robbed the bank.” 

“Oh? Who went?” 

“You may want to head down there... Danny, Luke, Sam, Gentle.. Thought you would want to know.” 

“"Out of my jurisdiction. If they want to get lynched by a bunch of psychotic, but somewhat backwards, Mexicans, then that’s their call,” he chuckled. 

“Just thought I’d let you know in the interest of full disclosure,” I shrugged. 

“Thanks,” he nodded. 

“Mmhmm. You know anything about the robbery? I’m gonna go see if the guys are back. Gentle being here means they must be around somewhere.” 

“Aye, just be careful not to cross the border. Those folks are playing with some sick people.” 

“I coulda gone with them this morning but I chose to stay alive and healthy enough to write about it,” I winked at him. 

“I told Danny to leave it to the marshals. Guess he didn’t want to listen.” 

“We were tryin to get Chels but she wasn’t answering the door so I guess she’s busy.” 

“Posses that have no law present NEVER end well. Mark my words, those Mexicans will come back because of this.” 

I nodded and headed off towards the outpost to see if anyone had returned. When I found it empty, I saw Gentle in front of the clinic and walked over to her. “Gentle… What happened?” 

“I have no idea,” she shrugged. 

“Are the guys inside?” 

“There are men inside, yes.” 

“Yes they need pale face medicine man,” Little Skunk said then. 

I walked inside and saw Danny in Luke both laying down on the beds, wounded. 

“Trin!” Danny reached for me. 

I looked to Sam, who was standing between the men. “What the hell happened?” 

“Reckon it may have ben easier to have just paid them huh Mr.. banker?” Luke asked Danny. 

“I will never pay bandits,” Danny muttered. “Ya got to help us Trin. Don’t let me an’ o’l Luke die here.” 

“Sam, find them a doctor. I’ll stay here,” I requested to him. 

Danny continued to reach for me and said, “Them bandits shot us, Trin.” 

“You’ll be fine, Danny,” I went over to put a hand on his leg. “How many were there?” 

“Tried to rob me of fifty gold coins they did. Two. A woman and a man. Her name is Natascha.” 

“Nat. Her name was Nat,” Luke added. 

“And she had a Mexican friend,” Danny said. 

“How’d you know her name?” I asked. 

“Sam there knows her,” Danny pointed. 

“Oh?” I looked at Sam. 

“She said he was her friend,” Luke agreed. 

“I’m friends with most everyone, Luke,” Sam said. “I had no idea she was that way.” 

“Well that’s good, least now we can give the sheriff a good description of her,” Luke nodded. 

“The sheriff in Kingsley. This will be outside of Adder’s jurisdiction,” I told them. 

“Naw, never made it to Kingsley,” Luke said. 

“Where did this happen then? Just before the border?” I asked. 

“Yea. Reckon it be a Texas law or the marshals to handle it,” Luke said. 

“In Texas East. That where them damn bandits shot us,” Danny said. 

“Well that’s outside of Adder’s jurisdiction too,” I nodded. 

“She claimed to be a Texas ranger though,” Luke said. 

“Of course she did,” I sighed. “And she tried to rob you…” 

“That’s alright. When I get well, I will shoot them both dead,” Danny promised. 

“Danny….” I sighed. 

“She told me that today too,” Sam said. “She she just got the job...her alias is the rainmaker.” 

“That’s her,” Danny nodded. 

“Ya better catch them one at a a time. They did a number on us together,” Luke said. 

“I know I knew her,” Danny said. 

“Going against that kind of a group was stupid,” I nodded. 

“I was too damn late!” Sam exclaimed. 

“It has to be done, Trin,” Danny said. “The sheriff can’t do nothing. The marshals are out of town. Who else is there to go after those bandits? We need more gun hands.” 

“Got no law..got no doctors and we have men on there death beds here,” Sam muttered. 

“One hundred gold coins to any hired gun in town,” Danny said. 

“Sure we do. But you shoulda waited until you had more people,” I told them. 

“We dying?” Luke coughed and looked over at Sam. 

“Oh you’ll be fine. Sam, they’ll be fine, right?” I looked at Sam. 

“Well no one but us here to help you. It don’t look to good,” Sam shrugged. 

“Please don’t let us die,” Danny looked at us. 

“Yea they will be fine,” sam assured. 

“Well hell if I’m fixing on ding least find mesome whiskey,” Luke muttered. 

“Danny, I’m gonna take your coat off and put it around the wound,” I said and did so on his side once he told me where the wound was. 

We continued to try and assure them they’d be fine and heard Roxanne come into the clinic. I told her where the men’s wounds were and she got to work on healing both men.

I walked outside of the clinic since the men were in good hands and sighed, relieved to be outside. I talked to Sam and asked him, “Let me make sure I’ve got the story straight. You guys went down there and were met by a girl and some others who claimed to be rangers.. They robbed you and shot ya’ll down? How’d you get out of there unscathed?” 

“I got there way too late.” 

“Right, ’cause you left a little while after they did.” 

“The Lady Natacha several hours ago to me she got a job and was a marshal now...Hours earlier.” 

“Really… That’s interesting.” 

“Yes she even had the badge.....shoot When I rode up I still thought she was aMarshal otherwise I would have blown her out of saddle.” 

“Of course,” I nodded. “Just hope they’ll be okay in there. You think the Mexicans will be back for revenge?” 

“I chased the other guy and we flew plunged the river then he jumps a hole building. We were on horse back.” 

“Yeah.” 

“I had Topper running as fast as he could…” 

I nodded to Gentle as she walked over to us and told her that the men were getting looked at in the clinic by a nurse. I went inside to check on the men and Rox said that she was fine as she continued to work. I went over to Luke and Danny asked if I would write a story about this. I promised him I would and then I helped hold Danny down as Rox requested for my assistance. I continued to assure him that he would be fine and then Rox moved over to work on Luke’s wound as I stepped back a bit. 

When Rox started working on Luke’s wounds, I went over and talked to him to distract him. We talked about how there wasn’t much of an army left since most had moved out of Colorado. 

*** 

A couple of hours later, I was at the saloon talking with the group. Baron asked me, “What’s the story on the Indians leaving, Trin?” 

“Still workin’ on getting that, Baron. No idea what happened yet. I don’t even know where they moved to,” I said. The whole thing felt very odd and I wanted more information. 

“Kansas. with Chief Hawk,” Baron said. 

“Oh?” I looked at him. “Any idea why Baron? How do you know?” 

“The Chief Hawk wife sent out a communique about it,” Baron said. 

“What made them move from Colorado? Guess I have to make a trip to Kansas,” I sighed as Baron walked out. 

Rox gave me a sheet of paper and said, “That about sums it up.” 

“Glad for that. Thanks for the information, Rox,” I said, reading it over. 

“You are welcome.” 

“I guess I should go to Kansas,” I said. “Need to figure some things out. I’ll be outside,” I waved and walked out. 

I saw my brother in front of the office and greeted him. “Hey bro.” 

“Hey kiddo, How have you been?” 

“Was wondering if you wanted to come with me for a ride.” 

“A ride? To where?” 

“To Kansas. I’ll explain why on the way.” 

“Okay, sounds like a plan.” 

We greeted Danny and we rode off towards Kansas. 

Kansas.

We rode into Kansas and I stopped, looking over at him. “The Apache village has moved. To be close to Hawk’s tribe, apparently. I wanna know why.” 

“Ok well we gotta be careful kiddo,” Josh nodded. 

“I’m well aware of that, which is why I made sure you have your gun.” 

“We have to approach peacefully though.” 

“Of course. I had a talk with Chief Nah last week, if you remember... It went well but I haven’t been back since.” 

“Okay, well let’s  just hope things haven’t changed since then.” 

“I need to talk to him... to introduce you to him, to show him that we want to learn the Apache culture and study our heritage.” 

“Of course.” 

“Okay. All I know is they’re near Hawk’s tribe. I don’t know exactly where.” 

“Okay,” he said as we rode around. 

“Okay we know Hawk’s tribe is there….” I pointed. “I wonder where the Apache moved to… They said Kansas so maybe we’ve gone too far.. When I was riding with Midnight I found another place off where I’d never been. What now?” I looked around. 

“We keep moving.”

I sighed as we rode past the entrance to Hawk’s village, thinking how I hadn’t heard from him yet. I followed Josh and put a hand on Josh’s arm, stopping him. 

“Hey, what is wrong?” he looked at me. 

I swallowed, suddenly unsure about this whole plan. “Josh what if they…” 

“Hey, We need to do this, we have to try. Hell we are part Apache for all that. It would be beneficial to attempt to learn more about our heritage,” Josh wrapped his arms around me. 

“I guess you’re right it just... When I talked to Nah... it was like de ja vu of when I talked to Standing Bear... Heck, even when I talked to Hawk…” 

“I can tell kiddo, But you need to stay strong and keep your head up, They need to see that you are strong even when weak,” Josh rubbed my back. 

“And look how those turned out. Now I can’t even go into their villages. The fact that I came out here when I could be seen by people from town should say enough, shouldn’t it?” 

“It says a lot, but not enough for them to fully believe the words we speak. We need to prove ourselves,” he sighed. 

“Let’s go,” I nodded and followed Josh towards the village. We found the Apache chief and I called out to see if someone was there. 

“Chief Nah not here...I think he go hunt…” a woman walked over to us. 

“Dago Te. My name is Trin and this is my brother Josh,” we smiled at her. 

“Glad to meet you..I am Kilyko….” she nodded slowly. 

“I spoke with the chief a few... moons ago,” I said. “We spoke about how there is Apache in our heritage and we wish to learn more about the culture because it is in our family line.” 

Kilyko said something in Apache and I looked at her, shaking my head. “I do not understand the full language yet, but I wish to learn. We wish to learn,” I corrected myself and Josh chuckled. 

“I am still learning it myself…..” 

“Chief Nah told me to come back and tell him what I wanted to do since our talk last week... I wish to tell him we are here to learn,” I said and waved over to Sasha and Hawk’s daughter, DD. 

“I will let Chief Nah know you have come…” Kilyko nodded. 

“Haáahe,” the girl greeted us and stared. 

“Agoshe… That is ‘thank you’, right?” I asked. 

“When he return’s from hunt....I not know when he will return…" Kilyko tilted her head and shrugged a bit, then glanced at DD. "Haaahe little one..” 

“Haahee is Cheyenne for ‘hello’,” I told my brother. 

“Oh.” 

“Dago Te is Apache for ‘hello’.” 

“Ah okay.” 

“Well we won’t take up too much more of your time. We just wanted to come and say dago te,” I smiled. 

“Safe path’s brother and sister.. sorry I am not much more welcoming I had a rough night in the iron cage and bandit visits…” Kilyko scratched her arm a bit. 

“Iron cage and bandit visits? Are you alright?” I asked with concern. 

“I will be after a bit of rest…” Kilyko nodded slowly. 

“I am so sorry to hear that, Kilyko,” I said and noticed DD’s suspicious look. “I guess we should go home. I hope you have a safer night tonight.” 

“Trin need stay other side of native land sign. Wait for any want speak to not on native soil,” DD told me angrilly. 

“I know you don’t trust me, little one, but I am trying to make peace, not create more tension,” I looked at the girl. 

“Not on native land,” she made a sign with her fingers. 

“Safe paths, Kilyko,” I said to the woman and looked at Josh before turning around. I pet the Apache colt that had come over and then showed Kilyko my rock that Nah had given me. “Chief gave me a rock... a sign of Apache friendship.” 

“I will let Chief Nah know you were here looking to have word’s with him….” Kilyko nodded. 

I took the rock and put it back in my pocket as I said, “Thank you, Kilyko. Take care and safe paths,” I said with a glance at DD before leading Josh out of the area. 

Josh stopped and looked at me. “Well that went well until that little girl who has a grudge against you came over.” 

“The relocation is going to make this infinitely more complicated. And that little girl? That’s Hawk and Sasha’s little one.” 

“Oh, she is a pest,” Josh nodded. 

“She’s confused. And apparently her father hasn’t forgiven me.” 

Colorado. 

We went home and I headed upstairs to change before joining him in the office again. We went across the street to the saloon and had a drink, talking with some other people that were there. I introduced Josh to Rox and Free. 

“Trin, you know many people around, right?” Free asked. 

“Yeah, sure,” I nodded to Free. 

“I am looking for a hired gun,” she whispered. 

“Hired gun eh?” I whispered back. “Who you tryin’ to get shot?” 

“Well that I will tell the person. It more somebody who own me money.” 

“Oh really?” I asked and she nodded. “I may have a couple ideas.” 

“Well please keep it to yourself but if you know somebody let me know please,” she said. I nodded to her and she said, “Have to be good shooter, miss Trin.” 

“Trust me, he is. Where can I get him to meet you?” I asked, thinking of Jake Stone. 

“Good question…” 

“How about Devil’s Ditch? In about ten minutes?” I asked, knowing the man would probably say yes. 

“He can contact me at my flower plant store miss Trin,” she nodded. 

“Okay Free. You alright here for a bit, bro?” I asked him.

“I will be fine,” he smiled and nodded. 

“He’ll meet you there if he says yes,” I said to Free and stepped out of the saloon. I walked into Devil’s Ditch and went to Jake’s house, knocking on the door. “It’s Trin Paige!” 

He opened the door and said, “Hi Trin.” 

“Was wonderin’ if we could talk?” 

“Sure, have a seat on the porch there.” 

“Inside?” I shook my head. 

“Ah inside.. Well I s’pose but there ain’t anywhere to sit.” 

“Don’t need to sit. I have the feeling we won’t be here long,” I told him. 

He let me in and asked if I want coffee but I shook my head. “Listen, Jake... This is a touchy subject but remember back when we knew each other in Amiville... Even when I ran into ya in Georgetown… You were a bounty hunter?” 

“Yea…” he raised an eyebrow. 

“Thing is... I was just told of a bounty someone’s hopin’ to collect on. I imagine the price would be pretty steep. But I didn’t know if you did that kinda work anymore. I don’t know about the moral justifications in all this but... If someone’s done a wrong they should be punished for it, yeah?” 

“Well I ain’t really ran after a bounty in a long time, Miss Trin. And as a preacher now well I’m not sure I should really be considering the idea. But yes, if someone’s done wrong, they should be brought to justice for it. What is it this person has done so wrong?” 

“Stole money from the mayor?” I looked at him and folded my arms across my chest. 

“Then isn’t this a matter for the sheriff, if it’s just typical theft?” 

“I guess you and the mayor would have to discuss that. I’m just the messenger. I didn’t know who else to come to and I know you miss it.” 

“Well I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to at least speak to the mayor about it. I mean that’s what preachers are s’pose to do anyways. Talk to folks ‘bout their problems, right?” 

“She said to meet her in her flower shop there in town,” I nodded. “If you’re interested.” 

“There’s a flower shop in town,” he raised an eyebrow.

“Apparently,” I nodded. 

“Learn something new every day. Why are you askin’ me?” he looked at me. 

“I know this ain’t you, Jake. For as long as I’ve known you... You always were happiest when you were hot on a trail,” I said after some hesitation. I looked at the pictures and the cross on the wall and said, “This is my life, not yours. I’m the one who’s religious and singin in the church. You were always out in the wilderness chasin’ someone that had done wrong.” 

“But now I got a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in… Apparently a book I’m s’posed to read…” he looked around. 

“See? You hate reading. You had shorter hair then too.. Was more... attractive,” I winked at him. 

“This is much better then sleepin out on some old dirty ground chasin some…” he paused and shrugged. “That’s why I ain’t read it yet.” 

“Who says ya can’t have both?” 

“Seems no one likes my hair these days,” he ran a hand through his long hair. 

“Go talk to the mayor, would you? At least find out about it? I promise you’ll feel that urge to get out there again.” I said it as more a desire to get the story than to get him out of preaching, but I also knew he hadn’t been the same than when we met back in August. 

“Ya can’t have both. If ya bounty huntin ya always on the move never in a place to long.” 

“Are you gonna do the job or not? I can always give it to someone else. I’m sure Chet would…” I said, trying to get him to decide. 

“I reckon talkin’ to her won’t hurt nothing. And I’m out of whiskey anyways. I need to go to town for some more.”

“I think it’s by her place actually. Never been to the store either.” 

“If it’s in town, it can’t be too hard to find, I s’pose.” 

We headed back to town and I got directions from Adder on where we were going. We walked into the flower shop and I couldn’t wait to see Free’s reaction on who I was bringing. “I know this probably ain’t who you were thinkin’ I’d bring.” I said to Free. 

“You mean you thinkof him, for the job?” 

“This man helped get me out of some major jams back in Amiville,” I smiled. “Was a long time ago but he was a damn good shot.” 

“Well but hmm this is special job that hmm… well hmm…” she thought about it. 

“You remember Buckshot Bill?” I asked her.

“I remember the name, yes…” 

“The Five Horsemen? Kitty/Cathy/Whatever the hell her name was/is? Red Quigly?” 

“Lord Trin, you know way too much about me,” Jake chuckled. 

“But, but this is special job and well its more for outlaw I think,” Free posted. 

“I know what I need to know,” I told Jake. 

“I don’t wanna bring Jake in troubles.” 

“Well how’m I supposed to get if you don’t tell me all the information up front? I brought you one of the best bounty hunters in the west,” I shrugged. 

“What is it you are looking to have done, mayor?” Jake asked. “If it’s an outlaw you want, I know a couple that maybe be willing to help for the right price.” 

“Yes, that sounds better,” she nodded. 

“See I knew Jake was your man. If it wasn’t him, he’d know someone,” I smiled. 

“But mayor… You may want to keep your hands clean of what ever it is you are getting into here.” 

Free smiled at me and said, “I think Jake is good enough with guns, Trin, but I don’t want him to get troubles.” She looked at Jake and said, “Yes I do, that’s why I wanna hire somebody.” 

“Well, I’ll speak to a few… uh friends and see if they are willing. Gonna need a price that you will pay and a name of who your after though,” Jake said to her. 

“Free they have to know what they’re gettin’ into,” I said. “You make it sound like they’re goin after the devil himself.” 

“Good outlaw don’t mind where the get into as long as the get paid,” Free said and I suddenly remembered Rick.

“Well mayor, I will see what I can do for ya… Hopefully you can get this taken care of,” Jake promised. 

“Thanks Jake for coming with Trin anyway,” Free said. 

“Anytime, mayor. You ever need anything, you just let me know.” 

“Thanks Jake,” she said and gave him some coins. 

“Keep it mayor. I get paid enough by the church. Alright, I am going to go find that whiskey bottle now, Trin. Take care mayor,” Jake said. 

“Have a good night,” I nodded to them both. 

“But please, don’t talk about this with nobody, specially not law okay?” Free begged. 

“Stays in this room,” I promised and we headed out of the flower shop. I stopped him and told Jake I knew who we needed to talk to. A man rode over to town and said that he was named Billy Orton and he was from Breckinridge. He said he was a bounty hunter and we showed him the way to the saloon. When he left, I told him I should talk to Chet and then Jake said that he would buy me a drink at the saloon. 

We walked in and my brother turned, “Finally!!” he exclaimed. 

“Sorry bout that, bro,” I sighed. “Josh you remember Jake. The uh… reverand.” 

“How ya doin’, Josh?” Jake asked him. 

“I’ve known him since back in Amiville... Jake, this is my brother Josh. Sorry, thought ya’ll had met.” 

“Nice to meet you Reverend,” Josh nodded. 

I sighed, knowing that I was so close to getting Jake back to the man I knew back then, instead of this one that I hardly recognized. We continued to talk and I offered Jake the drink he promised but Josh scowled at me and I sat on the stool before I got into more trouble. We continued to talk and then I said goodnight before heading home.