May 16, 1899

Tombstone. 

This morning I talked with a little girl named Agnes Durden who said she was Tye’s daughter. I talked with her and some others as Tye and Peta came over to join us and I enjoyed my coffee and the conversation as I met more people. Jenna and I talked about the newspaper as Agnes continued to talk with her parents. I told her about my new office and how good it was to feel settled finally. There was nothing in the space below the office and we talked about what might be moved into the space. After a while I headed back to the office and got to work on files for the master list. 

*** 

A few hours later I sat down in front of the hotel and talked with Ali and Gabe about how quiet things were. We talked about my new office as Jenna joined us in the conversation and I saw Gabe noticing my guns. 

Tina started to call out that if we saw someone named Fallen One that we needed to contact her  because he tried to kill a deputy and robbed a bank. She continued to shout at all of us to get us to help and then headed out patrolling again. 

“So had a change of heart huh?” Gabe asked me, pointing at my gun. 

“Just gotta do what you gotta do, ya know?” I smiled and he nodded. 

“So what you been working on?” 

“Me? Just been tryin’ to learn everyone, get to know people and what they’ve done, that sorta thing.” 

“How’s that been working out for ya?” 

“So far so good,” I smiled. 

“Good.” 

Ansar came over and I greeted him and Angi as we continued to talk. As Ansar headed to his office, I wandered over to follow him and asked what was new. He told me that he was reading the news and I told, “So I’ve been tryin’ to learn people ’round town, been working on profiling in my notebook. When people ain’t so willing to talk about Clint or the other two, it’s somethin’ to do.” 

“Oh? Got a profile for me?” he laughed. “What’s it say? Bold, dashing… a hero to mankind?” 

“No known outlaw activity as yet... Weapon, in a relationship… US Marshal… That’s about all I know,” I winked. 

“That’s all you know?” 

“Yep.” 

We continued to talk about his file and how he liked taters. He said that before he was a marshal he was a pig farmer in Texas. Waterfall wandered into the office while we were talking and Ansar closed the office door when she came back out again. Waterfall took out her knife and checked to make sure it was sharp. 

“It’s a good thing ya wasn’t in there when the door closed,” Ansar told her. “Dang thing likes to lock closed.” 

“You’ll want to put that weapon away if you were smart,” I looked at her. 

“Can ya put ya weapon away miss?” Ansar requested. 

“Why?” she started to chop on the door. 

“This is how you act ’round the person that tried to help you yesterday?” I asked her. 

“You leave the door alone!” Ansar exclaimed and stood. “I am telling ya to stop!” 

“See if I get her out of a barrel again,” I said and looked at Ansar as I stood, putting my hands to my guns if I was needed. 

“Put the weapon away, miss. I ain’t asking again,” Ansar held his hand. He started to draw as Waterfall hit him and said, “I said put it away,” he cocked back the hammers on his gun. 

I drew my gun too, watching closely. “Waterfall, please. This isn’t necessary. Put the weapon away and we’ll let you just walk away now.” 

Ansar aimed his gun at her and said, “Drop it now and walk away from the weapon.” 

Waterfall fell into the chair and I put my gun away with a slight sigh as Ansar kept his gun on her, insisting she put the weapon away. Ansar shot at Waterfall’s feet and I made sure he was okay before heading back to the office. 

*** 

This afternoon I talked with Sirus and some others near the hotel. It was fun to get to know people in town and I greeted Mac as he came over to join us. 

“How badly was the hotel burnt Sirus then?” Victoria asked Sirus and I listened curiously. 

“Were you there when it was set on fire?” I asked curiously. 

“Pretty bad, but I got it all cleaned out,” he said. 

“Anyone around when it actually happened?” I asked. 

“Who could of set a fire like that?” Mac asked. 

“No,” Sirus shook his head in answer to my question. “Kris seems to think it’s those dang Injuns.” 

“Can’t blame everything on them,” I sighed. “Has Tye been told about it yet?” 

“I can…” Sirus mumbled. “Yeah, Kris told him.” 

“Good.” I looked over at Mac and asked, “Were you there at the fire? Those look like ashes.” 

“They be from my cigar,” Mac shrugged and I chuckled as I shook my head. “I did stop by to see it.” 

“You never change, do ya Mac?” 

“Me? Change? Nope,” he laughed. 

“If your brother were around…” I shook my head. 

“Hey be careful. Every time his names comes up he stops in,” Mac laughed. 

“oh yeah, how is your brother, Mac? Sure do miss him,” Sirus said. 

“Maybe that’s why I saaid it. I know how Duke is,” I smiled. 

“Last time he was here he tried to hang me with my own rope,” Mac muttered. ‘He ain’t doin’ well not bein’ a lawman… He just isn’t himself.” 

“I’m sure he thought you deserve it. Duke was always good at his job,” I put in. “You tell him I was livin’ here now?” 

“I sent him a line. Hasn’t gotten back to me. He went out to Texas.” 

“Good. I want to talk to him. I’m worried about him,” I nodded. 

We continued to drink lemonade and talk about people who had and hadn’t been around in town. I asked if Tye was around but he wasn’t and we just continued to talk about memories about Mac and his brother.

“So Trin… since were speaking of lawmen.. how long you been with the Pinkertons?” Sirus asked me. 

“I wish I could have been more help at that fire. It took a minute to register what I came up on,” Victoria commented. 

“Well actually since about the time I met Duke. Started back in November when I was in Georgetown,” I told Sirus. 

“You capture many outlaws?” 

“There were a few interesting cases. Had a cut off thumb handed to my boss… Remember that one, Mac?” 

“She got a few, from what Duke told me,” Mac nodded to me and said, “That I do.” 

“Wow sounds like a exciting job,” Sirus smiled. 

“From the notorious Jesse James... Got to look at him in our cells once or twice,” I smiled. 

“I liked the one were Duke came into a Burned office and I note on his board,” Mac grinned. 

“Right that... Then there was when the Cherokee chief burned it down when they knew I was inside…” I chuckled, relieved enough time had passed now that I could laugh about it. 

“Jesse James was here for a bit,” Mac said. 

“Not to mention that hunchback Vlad who came around buggin’ me quite a bit. Had him in cells too,” I said. 

“Ya but Duke shot his ass down.” 

“He did at that.” 

“Man, that feels like a lifetime ago,” I shook my head. 

“It was a while back. Back when we were a lot younger.” 

“Was only a few years ago darlin’. Don’t make me sound that old.” I remembered having a crush on Duke and looked away, avoiding eye contact with him. 

“It was fun… Watchin my brother chase men all over the place. And swoon over certain woman.” 

I smiled with a slight sigh and said, “You tell that brother of yours to get his butt out here, Mac.” 

“Well ya never know when he ganna show up. Could be today, tommarra…” 

“Nope that’s true... He shows up at the most random times…” 

“That he does,” he smiles. 

“It’s almost like he can sense when ya need him and then just poof, there he is.” 

“I agree. Been a few times he has done that.” 

“I once knew a fella like that,” Sirus chuckled. 

“Oh yeah, Sirus?” 

“Yeah but it was long ago.” 

We greeted Jamie as she wandered over and we continued to talk as people joined us. I took the glass back into the kitchen for Victoria to clean and wandered back outside. There was a shout for a doctor at the doctor’s office and I came back out as Jamie and Victoria were talking about the fire. I sighed, slightly bored, but still wondering where Tye was and if he was alright since there had been yet another fire at the hotel. 

A man walked down the street and I almost fell off the bench when I recognized him. “Duke!” I jumped up and ran to hug him. “Goodness, Duke it’s been forever!” 

“Well ain’t ya a sight for sore eyes!” he exclaimed as he hugged me. 

“How the hell are ya?! “It’s so good to see you again!” 

“Aww Trin, ain’t you two cute!” Ansar exclaimed as he and Sky walked over. 

“Duke is an old friend!” I smiled and stepped back. “We worked as lawmen together back in Georgetown.” 

“That we did, many years back.” 

“Caught my fair share of outlaws with this one.” 

“Duke and Trin sitting in a tree!” Ansar sang teasingly. 

“Does no one trust the bond of old friends anymore?” I rolled my eyes. 

“Ansar and Dee sitting in a tree!” Skyla sang in like manner, smirking at him. 

I chuckled at that and heard Tye talking to Victoria about some sort of rumours. We talked about how Tye’s hotel had burned down again and Mac stated, “Fire station Burned down too.” 

“What?” I raised an eyebrow. 

“I’m aware of the damages and even the suspect. The law has been informed and they are working on the situation,” Tye nodded. 

“Geez,” I sighed, but I perked hearing that they had a suspect. 

“That it was. He’s decided to cause me problems, and he’s not going to like the result,” Tye nodded. 

“Well miss Trin, I must head off soon. I’ll be back in town next week,” Duke said then. 

“That’s it? That’s all you’re in town for?” I blinked. 

Duke walked over and kicked Mac and told him to be good. Sky apologized for butting in and I chuckled. “It’s alright skyla. Ain’t nothin’ romantic about that hug ya just saw. Duke and I have worked together for years.” 

“Many many years…” Mac commented. 

“Nothing is ever romantic about a hug,” Sky winked. 

“Did I hear the word ’suspect’?” I asked curiously. 

“Yes Trin, we got a lead on who burnt the hotel,” she told me. 

“That’s great. Any idea if it’s the same as who set the fire department ablaze?” 

“Well I think since ya around more you best keep Miss Trin safe ya here Little brother,” Duke was telling Mac. 

I chuckled and walked over to Mac and Duke and asked, “You boys talkin’ bout me?” 

“No ma’am,” Duke blushed. 

I twerked Duke’s chin and said, “Now you know I see past that look, darlin’.” 

"Well Miss Trin I must be off.” 

“Nu uh, you ain’t gettin’ away that easy.” 

Duke hugged me quickly and then headed off down the street as I chuckled. Mikk Graves walked over then and I blinked, recognizing the man who used to run the shop on the dock in Amiville. “Good Lord, it’s like it’s ‘Miss Trin, this is your life’ day. Howdy stranger!” I said to him. 

“Nice badge lady,” said a man who walked over to me. 

“Thanks. I think it’s a nice one.” 

“All good, how’s yerself?” Mikk winked at me. 

“How much it cost?” Cowboy asked. 

“Badge ain’t for sale,” I said and went to sit down beside Mac. 

I asked Tye if he was alright and he nodded, saying he had a lot to think about since the fire. Cowboy insisted he wanted my badge and I shook my head. “Best be askin’ a different question. This badge ain’t for sale.” 

I continued to sit back and listen to the conversation around me and met some more people. The place was starting to feel like home and I was starting to get to know everyone and everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I wondered if I had finally found a place to call home, after searching for so many years.