Tombstone.
“Pinky’s comin’,” Tye sighed heavily as he saw me walking down the street towards the hotel.
“Oh boy Tye,” Skyla laughed.
“Nice greeting, Tye,” I chuckled as I walked closer. “How ya’ll doin’?” I asked and Skyla told me that she’d sent me a telegram about Dom being seen in the area. The telegram had said I needed to look further into that case and I was grateful to finally have a lead. I continued to talk with the group as we enjoyed the morning coffee in front of the hotel, as usual. They teased me about asking people a lot of questions and I told them that it was my business to be curious. I saw Sky whisper something to the new man and I just shook my head, knowing she was probably teasing me about being flirty when I was just trying to be friendly. I listened as they talked about DF shooting Lot in the leg and how Angi had helped heal the injury. She insisted she wasn’t giving up her undertaker job for being a doctor.
I took my mug back into the kitchen and washed it before heading back outside. Tye was grumbling about Peta being over-dramatic again and I just shook my head, listening to them talk. He told them about how he and Peta had been arguing about sense of fashion and color and how Peta had changed into a barrel to try and embarrass him.
We continued to talk for a while and then I talked with a man who was nervous about his wedding that afternoon. Tye joked with him that he was supposed to get drunk after the wedding, not before. We continued to laugh and tease him about how he was ‘dead man walking’.
I walked around and talked with a man in front of Kate’s saloon. He told me his name was Kerbe and said, “I don’t want your reputation to go bad in this town by being seen with me.”
“Honey I’m afraid my reputation is already bad. Don’t make much difference what I do,” I looked at him as I sat down.
“I was fooled then by your sweet innocent, virginal look.”
“People see me talkin’ with a man they figure I’m tryin’ to get him alone in a bed,” I chuckled. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with just talkin’ in my opinion though. Can’t find anythin’ out unless ya talk, ya know? People ain’t gonna just give up information.”
“True. And ain’t nothing wrong with getting a man in bed neither,” he grinned. “Are you fixing on going to church today?”
“Hadn’t thought about goin but I may.”
“Maybe we should.”
“Where is Tye? I heard a wagon… Where is…” Skyla shouted from down the street.
“Looks like both souls can use a bit salvation,” Kerbe pointed out.
“Well see that’s the problem, ain’t it?” I shook my head. “All about impressions. I actually grew up in the church... played in the church… Just been frustrated with how people seem to perceive me.”
“I perceived you very nice from the start.”
“Don’t find anythin’ wrong with talkin’ to men ya know?”
“I find it very pleasing.”
“Yet the second I ask a man where they’re from, they think I wanna bed them.”
“It will be my great pleaser to escort you to church. Well dear…?”
“I don’t know.... It’s been a while since I been in the building… God and I haven’t had the best relationship lately,” I sighed.
“You will be in my company and no one will dare look funny at you.”
“I guess it couldn’t hurt,” I stood. “Better than sittin here sorry for myself that no one trusts me to tell me the truth without me having to work for it.”
“Your company is always welcomed with me Ma’am. And if you ever need any help just hollower.”
“Shall we?” I asked and we headed into the church.
Rev. Pet Karu was talking about the multitude of believers coming together talking in tongues during the Feast of Weeks. She talked about the spirit coming on everyone and how people would testify and preach the word of God. She said that that included us, though we were from ‘afar’, as the scripture put it. After the preacher prayed, she started to give a blessing to the congregation to close the service.
As she was speaking, I felt tears falling down my cheeks and I tentatively looked around, hoping no one would see me crying. I stood and walked out of the church but Kerbe told the preacher that I needed God’s blessing and strength. I shook my head and walked out of the church, still emotional.
I sat down on the step of the church and looked over when Kerbe walked out to me. I looked down, not wanting him to seem me weak. Ella walked over and greeted us and Kerbe told me, “The house of the Lord is for the wreaks and all the neediest.”
“All the wrecks and neediest who use it as a trap to lure others into and then pounce on when they’re weakest,” I said to him, remembered benig surrounded by Bill’s gang so many years ago, that day when the church went from being my place of safety to being the place of my greatest trial.
“We have a lady in distress here Ella,” Kerbe told Ella.
“I’m fine. There’s a wedding here soon, I don’t wanna ruin it,” I shook my head and stood shakily.
“Oh my, what is wrong? May I help?” Ella asked.
“I hope you can. I am not knowledgeable in women things,” Kerbe said.
“The church used to be a place of safety for me. One day changed that... forever it would seem…” I sighed and said to them.
“Ah miss Trin,” Ella hugged me tightly.
“I can take care of a horse, a steer, a dog… but not a woman,” Kerbe said.
“I just... I can’t get those images... out of my head. It’s like every time I see a church or step foot in one... it all comes flooding back.”
“I know the church helped me,” Ella said.
“We should go somewhere else... Unless you’re staying for the wedding... I just... I’ll be fine I hope…” I looked around, sighing as I stepped back.
“It elsewhere. I am only a child miss,” Ella told me.
“I know hon, I’m sorry... Thank you for the hug…”
“I know my faith is simple.”
“I wish I had your faith again… I think I’m going to take a walk. Thank you honey.”
“Anytime I can give a hug.”
I nodded and walked back to Allen Street. I blinked when I saw Chet and stopped in my tracks, surprised to see him. He was talking with Poe and looked over at me and said, “Trin, I been looking for you. Have a seat.”
I looked at him and could tell something wasn’t right. “What’s wrong?”
“Trin… A few weeks ago Devil’s Ditch was razed. Lost saloon, cabin, all… I then went and heard a doc was shot and robbed and thrown in creek. I reckon was Tom… Sorry…”
“Tom…” I almost fell over at the news. “Tom’s… dead…?” I grabbed onto Chet’s arm for support.
“I ain’t got no proof but from what I heard it sounds like was him. I heard ya was here so I loaded my horse and came here but couldn’t find you,” he said and glanced over at Poe. “Give me a few minutes, then we will go end the child killers life.”
“I shook my head in awe and said, “Tom... I can’t believe it…” I barely looked at TJ as he walked over, too much in shock.
“Did ya tell Trin there I paid for her nasty ass hair to be cut?” TJ asked Chet and I glared at him, not in the mood.
“Watch yer mouth or you’ll be spitting teeth,” Chet told TJ.
“Maybe that’s ya problem hun… Ya ain’t never in the mood,” TJ told me.
“You know absolutely nothing about me,” I glared at him.
“Look here Chet’s a good man. That there Pinkerton badge don’t mean squat.”
“I’ll be in my office,” I told Chet and walked off as TJ called out for me. I sat down in my office and leaned forward, holding my head in my hands as I let the tears fall.
Half an hour later there was a knock on the door. Chet came in and I looked at him weakly and said, “Chet…”
“How ya doing?”
“How does it look like I’m doing?”
“Like yer crying. Look hon, I not sure Tom been killed, just what been told. Heck, was just told earlier TJ killed women ’n children ’n Pinkertons had files on him.”
“What? We don’t have files on TJ... At least I don’t. Did he tell you that?”
“He figured ’n I did if ya had would have said something. They say he looks like man from Texas.”
I rolled my eyes and sat back down in my chair. “He’s an idiot. I’ve never worked any cases on him.”
“That what he said. The others was mistaken.”
“I don’t wanna talk about TJ… How long have you been in Tombstone, Chet? I’ve been here a couple of weeks and I haven’t seen ya at all.”
“Got here last week, I reckon. Almost two.”
“How have we not crossed paths?”
“Not sure spent most of it at barber shop.”
“And I’m either here or in front of Tye’s hotel drinkin’ coffee and people-watchin’. Or at the hotel... You wanna walk me back there? I don’t feel like bein’ in town tonight.”
“Sure I do,” he nodded and we headed back to the hotel in Bisbee. I showed him my room and we sat down on the couch. “So what you been doing in Tombstone.”
“The badge and the sign on my office didn’t give it away?” I winked at him and told him about the Apache case and how the town had been treating me well since I’d moved there.
A couple of hours later I walked back to the hotel on Allen Street, my eyes still red from having cried the past two hours with Chet. I hoped a cup of coffee would help with the headache I’d gained and I went to the kitchen. I took in a deep breath, trying to gain some strength from somewhere, when I saw Tye. “You have any coffee made?”
“Sure do, Pinky,” he nodded.
“Could use some.”
Tye spun on his heel and pulled down a mug and poured me a cup. When he turned to look at me he asked, “Cream? Sug.... uh... Pinky? You alright?”
I leaned against the wall, barely having enough energy to stand up on my own. “No, I’m not. Just sugar…” I answered his question.
Tye dipped some sugar from the tin and poured it in my cup, passing the cup to me. “Don’t you go far. Sit upstairs even, on one of the couches.”
“Thanks Tye,” I nodded and took the cup from him. I looked around, then back to him, feeling lost. I turned to walk upstairs, moving slowly as I tripped a bit but gathered myself. As I heard the chatter and movement downstairs, I sat on the couch, barely able to reach the coffee since my hand was shaking so much. I still didn’t want to believe that Tom was gone. I couldn’t. It was just too.. awful to think that I would never see Tom again, though I hadn’t seen him in such a long time already. I’d never been with anyone serious since he had disappeared on me… The idea of trusting someone just to have them disappear had made me very skeptical of relationships as I had gotten older. I thought about how I’d broken down at church earlier too and told myself to hold it together.
At length I pulled out my notebook and tried to distract myself with journaling, leaving the coffee untouched. When I got to the part about my conversation with Chet about Tom today, I cried again and closed the notebook.
Gunshots could be heard outside and I swallowed hard, leaning back on the couch and trying to relax. Eventually, Tye walked up to the lobby upstairs where I was sitting and crossed his arms. “Well, alright. I’m here. What on earth’s gotten into you?”
I swallowed hard and looked at Tye. “Found out today... my home... where I lived before coming here... it’s gone. The man I was dating since February... who I haven’t heard from since last month... he’s…”
“Go on,” Tye said as he stepped closer and pushed the coffee towards me.
“He’s gone,” I shook my head. “Was killed in the fire that burned where we live... It’s all... Just gone And on the same day that I... stepped into a church for the first time since... January…. And memories came back from that day when…” I rambled, not sure if I was making sense anymore.
Tye picked up the coffee and looked at me sternly, “You sit right there. Understand?”
I nodded and he went downstairs with the coffee cup. While he was gone I pulled my knees up under my chin, trembling as I thought about how Tom must have felt during those last minutes of his life. I tried to stand and got dizzy and knew that movement was a bad idea as I sat back down.
When Tye returned upstairs, he set some tea down in front of me. “Drink. My own little secret. It’ll calm you.”
I took the tea from him and tried to drink it slowly. “Thanks… I’m sorry Tye... I know you’re... busy…”
“Shush it and drink, Pinky. I’ll bring more if need be.”
“I just didn’t know... where else to... go…” I said as I drank some more of the tea and set the cup on the table, taking a deep breath.
“Alright. So you find out everything is gone. From your past. How’s the tea? Well, why’d you leave in the first place? Did you decide it wasn’t for you? When you say everything, what exactly is everything? Parents? Your loved one? That old teddy bear your uncle Fred made for you?” Tye asked as he started to pace.
“The whole damn town... burned down. The man I loved... killed in the flames… I mean I hadn’t heard from him in years... I figured he’d find me here eventually... or that he was done with me... I never expected... this.”
“Dammit. Stay here,” Tye shook his head and went down to the kitchen. He came back up with another cup and a bottle and set it down on the table.
I smiled for the first time that night. “Now you’re talkin’.”
“Now. If you’re smart, you’ll just drink this straight like its meant to. If you’re a sissy, I brought you more tea. Just... warn me if you’re going to mix it. I don’t want to watch,” he said as he set down the scotch and the kettle. I nodded and took the bottle of scotch, drinking it straight. “Thattagirl.”
I set the bottle down after drinking some and said, “That’s good stuff.”
“Damn right it is! You’re sitting here drinking on my dime! I ain’t cheap!”
“Tye I..” I started, but couldn’t finish the sentence.
“Ain’t no need to talk. This here will knock you flat. Lucky for you I’ve got a spare room up here.”
I nodded with a sigh and said, “It may look like I just flirt around with every guy I see but…” I held his gaze. “Tom... he was different. He didn’t care if I danced with other guys cause he knew it was how I found out information. At the end of the day... a dance is just a dance…”
“This stuff... it sneaks up on you. It tastes good enough that you won’t notice it until you’re holding onto the couch so you don’t fall off the world,” Tye warned. “Look, I ain’t all that good on understandin’ uh... yeah. I’m dating Peta. Does that make sense?” he asked and I shook my head. “Drink some more. Maybe it will in a minute,” he ordered and I did so.
“Guess I should make my way to that room.”
“Ready to sleep it off? I’ll be much better to talk to tomorrow after you’ve rested.”
“I should,” I nodded.
“More? Or - should I wait till you get situated in the room?” Tye reached for the bottle.
“The room first,” I shook my head.
“Told ya,” he grinned.
“You’re always right,” I nodded and walked towards the room, remembering it from when we took Waterfall up here the other week. “Tye, I…” I started and looked at him. “Thank you…”
Tye set the bottle down on the nightstand and looked at me. “Oh... uh. Yep. Sure, Pinky. You’re alright. And you’ll be alright tomorrow, too.”
I looked at the scotch and back to him. “I’ve had enough of that stuff... It did its job,” I said as I sat on the bed.
He gave a sigh and smiled. “Bath’s downstairs, and I’ll set a jug of water outside your door when you wake up with the inevitable headache. Sounds like it. We’ll save some for next time.”
“Okay,” I nodded, knowing there would be a next time more than likely. “Yeah that might come soon... TJ seems to think I have files on him.”
“There’s uh... nightclothes in there. So you don’t mess... err... sleep uncomfortably,” Tye indicated and then looked at me. “I keep hearing his name, he just seems like another fool with a gun to me.”
“Pretty much sums it up,” I said, finding it odd that when I heard the news about Tom, I hadn’t wanted to talk about TJ, but now he seemed like an opportune distraction. “I’ve known him a long tim.”
“Well good. I get my badge Wednesday. You’ve got between now and then to tell me all about him.”
“It’ll take that long. I’ll give you one tidbit… He was a judge when I became an agent. And not a very good one,” I added.
“That idiot with V outside - was a judge? Yeh. I can imagine.”
I smirked at his reaction, remembering when I had gone to get a restraining order from Bill and TJ hadn’t. I shook my head and looked at Tye. “We’ll talk in the morning?”
“Yup. Good idea. Ya got this. Don’t fret. Sleep it off and we’ll chat. Though... lemme lock your gun up,” he said and I nodded, thinking that was wise, and handed it to him. “Sleep well, Trin. You need it. Shout if you need something else.”
“Will do,” I nodded and lay down on the bed fully clothed as Tye headed downstairs.
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