Tombstone.
I walked into the hotel looking for my morning coffee and blinked as Peta and Tye were shoeing a horse out of the lobby. I chuckled, commenting, “You get visitors of all sorts in here, Tye… Barrels, horses…”
They managed to get the horse out but not before the horse kicked at a girl, who was no worse for wear. Tye continued to yell at the horse and Peta pointed a priest in the direction of the general store. Peta exclaimed that the horses were scary and I insisted her that you just had to know how to talk to them. Tye complained about the horse chewing on his rug and I drank my coffee as I watched Tye and Peta continue to banter as she tried to cheer him up. The man who said he was a priest gave the little girl some money and I shrugged, seeing that they were fine, and went to sit in front of the hotel. I heard Tye calling the little girl ‘Rose’.
I greeted Victoria as she came in for work and continued to drink my coffee as the priest hit on Victoria. Tye protected Victoria though, yelling at the man for his lack of tact.
When TJ walked over, I looked up at him vehemently, not wanting to be the first one to talk. “Well, well,” he started. “Miss Trin. Ya following me?”
“Would have thought it were the other way around,” I looked at him. He laughed and I said, “Been a while.”
He nodded and introduced himself to Victoria as Peta showed the priest a room.
“So TJ, you goin’ back to yer old roots, eh? Knew some men never change,” I commented to TJ.
“I been back,” TJ laughed.
“You been back... Always knew I shouldn’t trust that momentary lapse of good behaviour from you. Everyone thought I was crazy for it,” I commented.
“Yes ya were, Trin.”
“Well at least we’re bein’ honest now,” I glared at him.
They continued to talk about pie and I sat back, enjoying my coffee as the conversation swirled around me. I had so many things on my mind and now with TJ back, I knew I had even more things to think about. I stared across the street at nothing in particular and just shook my head.
“Pinkerton huh Trin? Ya have a death wish or something?” TJ asked me.
“You might’ve changed, Teej, but I haven’t,” I told him. “Been a Pinkerton since you were a ... well…” I chuckled, hardly able to say the word ‘judge’.
“A what?” Peta asked curiously.
Jy walked over then and I commented, “You’ve been putting out a lot of fires lately I hear.”
We continued to talk about the area and the surrounding towns. Tye commented then and said, “That’s what I’m gonna hang up in the dining room. A sign that says we don’t serve women here, ya gotta bring your own.” I chuckled, thinking that wasn’t a bad idea.
Ella told us that she was writing a report for the paper about what happened in court and I nodded. “Right... Oh, did Ali and Gabe get off guilty or not? I didn’t hear the verdict of that one. I did hear the second one,” I sighed.
“Tye was found guilty!” Peta beamed, as if she was proud. I looked over at Tye, looking for his reaction.
“Peta, I confessed. There’s a difference,” Tye gave Peta a look.
“Oh poor Mr. Tye,” Ella commented.
“What about Ali and Gabe?” I looked around.
“Naw, it was good. I mean, it was hilarious. I mean, he’s changed his evil ways,” Peta said and Tye looked away from Peta, shaking his head.
I sighed, seeing that no one was answering my question about Ali and Gabe and leaned my head back against the wall.
“What was that couple miss?” Ella asked.
“The first trial yesterday about settin’ the courthouse on fire.”
“They was found not guilty.”
“Of course they were,” I sighed, looking over at Tye as if to prove my point earlier.
I watched as another girl, Deesue’s niece, wandered over looking for food. I smiled at the children interacting, but my mind was so focused on the events of the trials lately.
“I am going to go look at the trading post see you all,” Jy announced then.
“Think I’ll come with ya,” I said and stood, following him down the street. I pulled his sleeve before we got there and asked, “Watch my back, okay?”
“Okay, will do.”
I saw all the stuff around that the natives had stolen from the town and muttered under my breath.
“Dago te! Hurry all, soon no more trade! We close trading post. All will be traded!” Aleaya was shouting.
“Okay, now I have to look for my stuff here,” Jy said and started looking around.
“They took stuff from you too?” I looked over at him.
“I don’t see any,” he shook his head.
I looked around, wishing there was more law with me, and told Jy I was heading back to town. I walked into the hotel, looking for Tye, and told found him in the kitchen. “The medical supplies, the piano from the orphanage, the wagon from the funeral home…”
“Hey Tina! I just heard from his wife the other day, Clint’s dead,” Peta exclaimed then.
“I know. I been askin’ about it myself,” Tye nodded.
I coughed and looked over at Peta. “Clint’s… dead?!”
“That’s what Harmini said,” she replied.
“Yes he is,” Victoria said as she continued to sweep the floor.
I looked over at Tye, not believing it, and he said, “I’ve heard that before. I’m goin’ down to the trading post.”
“Why? Ya gonna get stuff back, Tye?” Peta asked.
“At least get the kids’ stuff back,” Tye said.
I relieved my skepticism was being matched and looked at Peta. “Tell me what happened.”
“Well, that’s just what Harmini said. Said some fella in Mexico killed him.” She looked over at Tye and shouted, “Let me know if ya get killed, sweetie!”
“Who killed him?” I asked Peta.
“She didn’t say. But if she’s in town, ya can ask. Her name’s Harmini, she’s, uh... about... her hair... is…” she gestured vaguely. “Just ask around.”
“I won’t believe it ’till I see the body. And even then, I’ve seen a body and been wrong before,” I muttered, remembering Dutch.
“Well it’s likely all rotted now. But you can talk to her. She’s quite nice. It was Clint was the asshole. I guess we should head over.”
I shook my head, amazed still. “You go on ahead, Peta,” I told her. When she wandered down the street I looked over at Tina and noticed she was wearing a badge. “Ya’ll hear anythin’n about Clint Houston recently?”
“No, nothing.”
“Howdy Pinkerton… ain’t seen ya in a long time,” said another female officer I didn’t recognize.
“Something happen?” Tina asked.
“Do I know ya?” I looked at the one woman and then looked back at Tina. “Not sure yet.”
“Been a long time... at a town event.. well it been long,” said the woman.
“Sorry, I don’t remember,” I shook my head.
“I’m Alibeanie, deputy at Benson.”
“Nice to meet ya. Trin Paige,” I said.
“That’s great to hear,” Tina said. “If outlaw come we can kick his ass. He is dangerous.”
“So you’ve said. I’ve got bigger fish to fry right now,” I said. “See ya’ll around,” I waved and walked down the street.
I waved to a soldier on a horse and greeted him. “Wonderin ’ if you could help me with somethin’. You heard of a man named Clint Houston?”
“That name isn’t forgoten in my memory, had a lot of dealings with him most of them turned into scars,” he said.
“Seen him recently?”
“Knowing him well enough to how many times I’ve seen him, for the like of me none to my knowledge.”
“Alright. Well to answer your question, I work here in Tombstone. Name’s Trin Paige,” I told him.
“He loves shooting any law or cavalry in sight so if i did, would be seeing me in a clinic,” he said and I nodded, knowing that point well. “Well it’s good to meet you. Used to be the chief of the Pinkertons along while back.”
“Oh did ya?”
“Name’s Seth S Hammerthall.”
“Pleasure to meet ya, Seth.”
“Now I’m just cavalry.”
“No ‘just’ about it. Still a job,” I smiled.
“Might go back to being Benson law if the sheriff would take me back.”
“I haven’t been over to Benson yet. Hear lots about it though,” I nodded.
“Are you going to watch the promotion day at the fort miss Trin?”
“Promotion day?”
“It’s today.”
“First I’m hearing about it.”
“Oh so you haven’t been over near the fort then.”
“No sir.”
“Well I’ll see ya around sooner or later then.”
“Well been good to talk to you. I better carry on.”
“I’ll see Clint sooner or later and think of ya.”
“Come find me here if ya do.”
“I'll think of ya,” he said and I nodded, walking on to the trading post.
I watched as the natives continued to auction off items from the trading post. Jy pointed out that Ty was there and I nodded as I continued to watch. Tye bought back the items for the kids and I just shook my head, folding my arms across my chest.
“You know, Jy if I had money…” I muttered.
“I wish I did too.”
“We couldn’t do anything to stop it either. They had all the stuff over here where we had no jurisdiction,” I muttered.
“Congratulations to our winners!” Adrian shouted then as winners continued to be announced for the items being auctioned.
As I listened to the items, I made a list of all that had been auctioned off: blankets, coat rack, stove and biscuits, and the sink from the cavalry. Undertaker’s office: vase, coach. Native toys. Rangers cannon. Men’s and women’s gunbelt. Whiskey from Kate’s. Miner’s bathing tub. Medical supplies. Orphanage: Piano, bunk bed. Madame’s black book, the mayor’s desk, sheriff badge, a portrait, the church beeswax candle, and the court clock.
“Mr. Tye, do you know how winners get the item they won? I asked but no one answers Apache girl,” said a little girl named Twig.
“Twig, I know!” Freja said. “The Apaches will deliver your item…”
“Alas, I’ll have to go candle shopping,” Pet muttered.
“Pet, some folks are taking things back. Maybe the winner will return it.”
“I believe the Apache will be delivering them to us within a few days,” Tye said.
“It’s my plan as well,” Pet nodded. “I’m sure Madame NEEDS her black book.”
“It will come in a wagon and it will be in a box,” Freja said.
“Oh, okay thank you,” Twig said.
“Glad to hear stuff is being returned,” I muttered and then chuckled to Jy. “Guess we can mark that as the first case I’ve ended.”
He chuckled and Adrian announced, “Promotions day at the Fort Folks! Beginning at Nine in the AM.. what a wonderful adventurous day we have in store for us! I hope you have all planned on an exciting weekend! Indeed!”
I pulled out my notebook and pen and wrote ‘case closed’ on the front page of the Apache thefts case. “That feels good to write,” I grinned.
Chatter continued about the items people had won and I headed back to the saloon for some celebratory champagne.
***
I walked over to the hotel this afternoon and greeted a woman named Jules. “I’m not quite sure how I got here, truth be told,” she admitted.
“Oh?” I looked at her curiously. “How do you mean? Maybe I can help you.”
“Well, yuo see…” she looked over her shoulder and trembled a bit seeing Dancing Cloud. “I arrive on the stage, but I can’t quite remember anything before that. I don’t have any bags or any money and my memory is not too clear.”
“That’s very strange indeed,” I nodded.
“I recall a few things, sorta dim memories of a journey. And I have this bump on my head,” she pointed.
“What kind of things? It’s a shame you didn’t keep a journal we could look back over.”
“I’m not sure if I was involved in a scuffle with someone, but I seem to see shadows of.... well…” she looked over at the Apache, “Indians, someone who looked like an outlaw... but it’s a bit fuzzy.”
“It’s alright, your safe here,” I nodded to her.
“I’ve been wandering around, trying to see if anything looks familiar or if anyone knows me, but no luck so far,” she said and smiled. “Thank you for your reassurance.”
“I just wish there was something maybe that we could do to trigger your memory. Do you remember anything from your childhood? Growing up?”
“Actually, I’m not feeling so good, so I think I’ll find a place inside to sit down a bit.” She turned towards the hotel to find a chair. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
I handed her my card and said, “If you need me, you can find me here or at my office down the street.” I watched her walk off with concern and went back towards the crowd.
I saw Poe amidst the crowd and walked over to him. “We need to talk.”
Poe smiled and shook his head at me, speaking in Apache. I looked at him with frustration as he continued to talk to Aleaya who was standing nearby. Poe continued to talk to me in Apache but I just looked at him blankly, not understanding the language well enough. I decided to join in on the race and headed through the course, picking up amulets as I went as was instructed.
When I’d finished the race, unsure how well I did with my time, I went over to Poe and asked, “Can we talk now?”
He continued smoking on his pipe and said something in Apache and I sighed, still not understanding. “The man we’re both looking for has been declared dead and I’d like to know why,” I leaned down and whispered to him. “If you know something, it’s only right for you to tell me. Otherwise we ain’t on the same side. Do I make myself clear?” I said softly to him, with anger in my voice.
Poe kept his eyes on his pipe and then raised a hand to me, as if telling me to stop. He exhaled and I glared at him. “You might think you’ve got me all figured out, but I know your game, Poe. I ain’t as weak as you think I am,” I said and walked away from him.
I walked into the saloon and slammed the doors hard, wishing it did more than just make the door swing harder. I filled up my flask and went back outside. I met a woman named Polly and then headed off to my office.
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