Tombstone.
This morning I went to the hotel to get some coffee and walked out of the hotel, still smiling after last night. I greeted Cole and he said he had a rough night. We went to the Oriental and sat at the bar where I asked, “So what’s up?”
“There was this guy on the roof last night… Punk?” Cole sighed.
“He was on the roof in his wheelchair?”
“And he wouldn’t come down. Hmmm didn’t see a wheelchair… He’s a trouble maker.”
“Uh huh,” I muttered, not surprised.
“Well, I was afraid he was going to start snipping people or myself. So I shouted up to him to get down,” he said and I reached over, putting a hand on his thigh comfortingly as he went on. “I gave him about four or five warnings… but then some kids ran up there with him! That really complicated things a lot but none were in front of him. I had a scope on my gun.”
“Wow…” I shook my head.
“I made sure I had a clean shot on his shoulder.”
“Of course.”
“And I shot him four times, then I stopped. Jamie was startled and feel back.. she went to the doctors. So then afterward.”
“Of course he did... Let me guess, he did nothing to help the situation.”
“Right… Then this new guy in town, a traveler passing through, after I’ve turned myself into Kris, I’ve holstered my guns… he decides to shoot me in the back and take me down.”
“I don’t like what I’m hearin’ lately about this marshal,” I sighed.
“Kris didn’t do a thing of course.”
“I plan to talk to the authorities about his lack of... activity.”
“Yeah… Good luck.”
“Don’t think you’re the only one who’s frustrated, Cole.”
“Then another thing… I came down here two afternoons ago and everyone was ribbing me… the men and the ladies… which is fine… I can take that.”
“You shouldn’t have to…” I put my hand down on his knee.
“But Del was with me and they were saying things. Things that were not true… that I sleep around with everyone in town. I never done that.”
“I know, darlin’…” I removed my hand.
“Even when Del and me was apart. I was with Abby for a few weeks and I was faithful. Sure… I might flirt a little… but go to bed with someone?”
“I know, hon. I’m the same way,” I nodded.
“So they all tell me… well… if Del can’t take it… she shouldn’t come into town... that was their attitude… and besides… they said… it was meant for me… not her.”
“Believe it or not... I may flirt and I may sleep with someone for the sake of protection but you know I never sleep with anyone for that purpose either.”
“It just hurt Del to the point of never wanting to come to town again,” he nodded.
“I’m sorry hon…” I sighed.
“Cole…”
“Yeah Trin?”
“Stand up for a sec,” I set my mug on the counter and stood.
“Alright.. Gonna shoot me finally?”
I held him tight and he leaned against my shoulder. “You can cry on my shoulder, Cole. I won’t think you any less of a man.”
“Peo-ple can be so cru-el in this town for no reason... look at Del... they knew the operation coming up,” he sobbed.
“I know hon,” I rubbed his back comfortingly.
“Thanks Trin… No one hugs me except Del.”
“Hugs ain’t sexual unless you make ’em that way, Cole,” I looked at him, stepping back.
“I know…”
“It is possible for a man and a woman to hug and just be a sign of friendship. I’m worried ’bout you.”
“Except fer people in this town do!” he glared out the window.
“Cole, stop. Did you sleep at all last night?”
“Not much, Trin,” he shook his head.
“Maybe you should?” I nodded towards the rooms upstairs.
“I don’t think I can right now… Del’s operation is happening right now… I have to keep my mind on something.”
I sat at the bar with him and tried to think how to distract him. “I met Lot last night.”
“Oh? Did he throw you like a chunk of wood down the street?”
“Basically. I just wanted to make contact with him, ya know? Let him know who I was. Then he tells Chet to tell me that it takes a lot more than womenly whiles to get a conversation goin’ with him.”
After a while, Cole walked out of the saloon and I sighed, worried about him. I took my coffee mug and headed to my office to get to work. A few minutes later I headed outside and saw Jamie. “Hi Jamie... Are you okay?”
“Hi Miss Trin. Yes, somewhat.”
“I heard you had an adventurous night last night.”
“Yes ma’am, we sure did.”
“You wanna tell me what happened from what you saw, hon?”
“Yea I can. Sorry miss Trin.”
“It’s okay. We can sit down honey if that’s easier.”
We went to sit down in front of the hotel and talked with the people who were there, who all greeted us. “Jamie honey how are you feeling honey?” Victoria asked Jamie.
“Better. My head hurts some still. But least the dancing cats are gone.”
“Okay honey, tell me what happened. We can stop whenever you need to,” I said and took out my notebook.
“Yes the cats were tap dancing on the ceiling of the medical clinic,” Jamie said.
“Cole shot at us, her, Alice and Punk and me,” Victoria said. “Punk was shot, Jamie fell off the roof.”
“This mornin? An why he shootin at a lil girl?” Rose asked.
“Cole was shot,” Vic said.
“He was shootin’ at the man and tryin’ to get a good read on him without shootin at the others.”
“Yes, I climbed up on the roof over there by those crates,” Jamie said.
“Maybe he won’t come back this time,” Abby muttered.
“He was shooting at Punk but the girls and I were right next to him. Punk didn’t even have a gun,” Vic said.
“That ain’t real nice,” Peta muttered.
“But to shoot an unarmed man,” Vic said.
“Why did you go on the roof, Jamie?” I asked.
“Were anyone else involved?” Rose asked.
“He should not have been shooting with the children up there,” Ali said.
“If yer gonna shoot folks, ya should make sure ta can aim good,” Peta said.
“Because I wanted to show miss Victoria here my new shoes. Mr. Punk too.”
“And Victoria was up on the roof?” I looked at Vic.
“Yes,” Jamie nodded. “Alice came up as well.”
“Why were you on the roof, Vic?”
“We went up there to keep Punk Company, since the whole town seems to look down their noses at him.”
“I like Mr. Punk. He’s a nice man,” Jamie insisted.
“hy the heck was he on the roof?”
“He’s been a true friend to me,” Vic said.
“Never dun nothing to me,” Jamie insisted.
Peta headed home and I looked around with a sigh. “There are safer places to go than on the roof.”
“Well the girls and I just kind of followed him up there and was talking ot him when Cole shot him,” Vic said.
“Maybe he thought somethin’ was wrong.”
“I doubt it Men like Cole,” Victoria said.
“So I get up there… and Mr. Cole yellin’ something crazy…”
“Even there was a another man who told him to drop his gun because of the girls,” Vic said.
“Who was the other man?” I asked.
“About how Mr. Punk’s gonna shoot him and whatnot,” Jamie went on.
“Punk was unarmed then after he was shot another man shot cole thinking he has shot Jamie after she fell,” Vic said.
“Something ain’t adding up,” I shook my head. “What lawmen were around?”
“Well… Mr. Kris was standin right next to Mr. Cole,” Jamie said.
“Kris, Nhil… They were both involved,” Vic said.
“Even Mr. Blood was like you have no problem arresting me,” Jamie said.
“Nhil’s a lawman?” I asked.
“No,” Jamie shook her head. “He got arrested…”
“I don’t think so but I think Sky’s cousin,” Vic said.
“Tye or Ansar wern’t there huh?” I looked between them.
“Ok so Mr. Cole was yellin’ and he gave Mr. Punk warnings, and then he just shoot and we was all saying that he doesn’t have any weapons,” Jamie went on. “Mr. Punk that is… So then I get frightened and went head first off the roof.”
“I heard that Cole was shot in the back my Nhil and died,” she said and I rolled my eyes, knowing that I’d just talked to him.
“Miss Trin, that be the second time I have seen Cole and like he was someone of law ordering people to do what he wants and when he don’t he will just shoot them,” Ali told me.
“Mr. Cole was then arrested or attempted to be arrested,” Jamie said.
“That was by Kris. Kris arrested him,” Vic informed.
“I dunno, I just remember bits and pieces. And I heard more shots.”
“Guess I have to talk to Kris…” I sighed, knowing that would get me nowhere.
“And Mr. Nhil saying he shot Mr. Cole and killed him,” Jamie said.
“I’d talk to Nhil, Trin. He seen it all,” Vic advised.
“Kris didn’t do anything to stop it from happening and he was right there next to Cole,” Ali said.
“I can talk to him too,” I nodded.
“But why didn’t he stop Mr. Cole before he shot?” Jamie asked.
“Not surprised, Ali,” I sighed.
"He was doing what seen was right he put a stop to it all,” Richie said.
“No, I don’t blame him at all,” Vic agreed.
“Mr. Nhil is a hero,” Jamie said.
“Ya well, law be dirty then the dirt in the road here,” Ali muttered.
“He sure is, Jamie,” Vic nodded.
“But that’s when the terrible headache came, and then I saw the lovely kitties,” Jamie said. “They were so nice and we sang songs. Oh and we named Miss Victoria’s piggies!”
“Cole’s no count, Punk sure ain’t no angel, but he didn’t deserve to be shot down for no reason. Glad Cole got his,” Richie put in and I gave him a look.
“Thank you for telling me what happened, sweetie. And you too, Victoria,” I said to Jamie and Vic.
“Oh you should have Miss Dina,” Ali suggested.
“List too long who wants to put six holes in both ‘em fellers,” Richie commented.
“I was surprised Mr. Lot didn’t shoot Cole himself, seeing as Lot was standing behind him the whole time,” Jamie pointed out.
“Mr Lot is just the same as Cole just smarter,” Vic nodded and I wrote down Lot’s name, wondering how I’d be able to talk to him.
“But Mr. Lot hates Cole,” Jamie said. “So anytime he can shoot Cole, he does.”
“He even told cole Jamie not to cause of you girls,” Vic said.
I closed my notebook and put it in my vest as I stood. “I have someone else I need to talk to about this, but I appreciate both of your time. Jamie, I hope you feel better soon honey.”
“Okie miss Trin. Thank you,” Jamie said.
I walked looked over at Ali and asked, “Ali... can we talk a second? Wonderin if you could give me your account of last night?”
“Last night i was sitting right here,” she told me. “I heard some folk talking but didn’t know who it was or where they were, can’t see but in front and to the sides of me. At some point I knew Jaime was up there cause they be telling her hello. Cole come standing in the front right here in the road hollering for Punk to come down or he was going to shoot him.”
“That’s the way I saw it too,” Richie nodded in agreement.
“There was no talk of weapons or guns until Cole came. Punk even said he would come down and cole shot him,” Ali said. “Jaime fell off the roof.”
“Jamie fell after the shooting,” Richie said.
“I imagine she was quite frightened. Yes. Kris be standing there next to Cole just watching it all happen.”
“T’is true,” Richie added.
“And Cole said he could take aim without hitting anyone else.”
“Uh huh…” I sighed, listening to them both.
“I’ve seen those bullets ricochet. Miss Keiki done hurt herself,” Ali laughed. “After he shot then kris tells him to drop his weapons he was under arrest. I just don’t understand how kris could of let that happen with the children there.”
“Kris told him to drop it after he shot?! AFTER?!” I asked, getting more upset.
“Yes Miss,” Vic nodded.
“If two fellas want to shoot each other and law want to be there and watch, I wouldn’t be so upset,” Ali said.
“He didn’t think to stop the threat when Cole had his gun drawn on Punk, or even the fact that the kids were up on the roof with Punk, who’s got priors?!” I asked.
“But the children were there,” Ali said.
“Unbloodybelievable…” I shook my head.
“Then he went and arrested Mr Nhil who was just trying to protect the children,” Vic said.
“Took him out of the clinic he did," Richie said.
“Mister Nihl was not too happy, he was the one who ran to pick up Jamie off the ground,” Ali said.
“Of course…” I nodded.
“I ran to get Indian healer,” Vic said. “But returned to see Kris arresting in my eyes a hero.”
“Cole deserved every bullet that went in him,” Ali said. “I recall Miss Victoria even saying, Cole was the only one with guns out.”
“He was Alicia, I told him he was the one that was the danger.”
“And he didn’t even listen to her…” I nodded. “You can bet I’ll be talkin’ to the judge about this.”
“No ma’am,” Ali said.
“Well… who would,” Vic laughed.
“Miss Trin… You must not been in town lately,” Richie said. “They won’t get a jury.”
“I don’t want to talk to the judge because of a trial,” I pointed out.
“I seen it. Even the good preacher man,” Richie said.
“Waterfall was telling me,” Vic added.
“And Kris shot me cause i was standing in front of someone waiting to him to gether the rest of the jurors that day,” Ali said. Honestly don’t know how that fella is still law.”
“Alright, I’ve heard enough. I’m goin’ to find Ansar or Dee and get this straightened out. Thanks ya’ll for the information,” I said.
“You don’t go the Rubble route. He’s lost his mind,” Richie said as I walked off.
I saw Dee and Ansar standing in front of the courthouse and knew the anger was all over my face. “Judge, I need to speak with both you and Ansar.”
“Oh dear, by the look on yer face this don’t look good,” Dee observed.
“It ain’t. I’d brace myself If I were you. Can we talk inside, please?”
Ansar spun around to show off his new lawyer suit to Dee and I started to shift position as I waited impatiently.
“Seems Trin needs to talk with us,” Dee said.
“Inside. Behind a door, preferably,” I said and followed them into the office in the courtroom. “Have a seat. Hopefully we can have some privacy here.”
“What is it?” Ansar asked.
Too angry to sit, I started pacing as I talked. “Last night... Punk and Victoria and Jamie and some other children were up on a roof somewhere’s ’cause Punk was hiding from the town and Jamie went up to show him somethin’,” I explained. “Cole, in the streets, looked up and saw Punk there and thought he was armed, as he usually is, and thought he was gonna snipe down. Cole took out his gun and drew it on Punk, tryin to get an aim on him without hitting any of the others. Nhil, Richie, Ali, some others were all there. Kris was there too. Didn’t do a damn thing until AFTER Cole shot up at Punk. Jamie fell off the roof ’cause she was scared and Nhil went down to help her. Then Kris arrested Nhil, for God knows what reason. Cole got shot. The whole thing could’ve been avoided if Kris had’ve done his damn job and stopped it when the first weapon was drawn. Punk wasn’t even armed.”
“Wouldn’t Cole be the one to be arrested?” Ansar scratched his head.
“He arrested Nhil.”
“Did you get a report on Nhil?” Ansar looked at Dee.
“I’ve heard this time and time again. Kris just stands there and doesn’t stop things from happening. He reacts to situations, he doesn’t prevent them.”
“Well don’t rightly know what this has to do with me,” Dee said. “I sure don’t tell law how to do their jobs. Ain’t law’s job to be psychic though.”
“I just want to know what he was arrested for,” Ansar said.
“If they was they would never get to sit down,” Dee said.
“Don’t know why he arrested Nhil but Nhil was just tryin’ to protect the children,” I said.
“Well I am sure Nhil did something to get arrested. And Cole, from the sound of her testimony needs to be arrested as well,” Ansar said.
“You’re missing the point,” I looked at him. “Your marshal didn’t do a damn thing to stop it from happening. The first sign of Cole’s gun bein’ drawn, Kris shoulda been in there arresting him for unholstered guns in town. That is a law around here, right?”
“Yeah Cole needs to be arrested. Maybe Kris didn’t see Cole draw. I wasn’t there. But seams you did. and for that I can arrest him. You did also say he fired the weapon correct?”
“Kris saw him draw, I’m sure of it. He saw him draw and shoot at Punk, who was unarmed. THEN he told him to drop the weapon.”
“Sound like Kris was doing his job if he told him to drop it.”
“Gotta wonder what that fella was doin in the roof,” Dee smirked.
“Ansar…” I shook my head. “Kris wasn’t doin’ his job. If he was doin’ his job he woulda arrested Cole for unholstered guns before the shooting coulda even happened.””
“Are ya from the big city, Trin?” Dee asked.
I sighed, seeing they didn’t care. “The chain of events here is obvious. Kris arrested Nhil, who weren’t even the one doing the initial shooting. He was tryin’ to protect the children.”
“Well as ya may have noticed Kris ain’t the fastest man in the west. But if he did tell cole to drop it and Cole did. Then it was up to Kris to make that arrest or not. Seeing as he was the law on duty at the time,” Ansar said.
“And he made the wrong arrest. Aside from the fact that he was just reactin’ to a crime instead of preventing it from happening. As he could have done,” I pointed out.
“Well we ain’t all good with word and fancy talking. Kris like to talk with his gun. I aint too sure that would of help saved anyone,” Ansar said.
“Each lawman got his own way, that’s for sure,” Dee nodded.
I sighed, seeing I was getting nowhere. “Fine, I’ve said what I had to. Just seems the whole thing coulda been avoided.”
“Coulda, but didn’t. Just how the west is sometimes. If ya think ya can be a great law gal. Sign ya name on the doted line,” Ansar said to me.
“That ain’t my point,” I looked at him.
“We ain’t all super cop, we are only human as the saying goes,” Ansar shrugged.
I turned to open the door and said, “I’m just concerned about justice being done. And what happened in reaction to that incident last night was not justice.”
“Well Trin, I think we hear ya loud and clear, just don’t think ya like the answers. Not every lawman reacts the way we want, but they all out doin their best at the time,” Dee said as I walked out of the office.
I walked back to the saloon and sat down beside Ali and Richie, pulling out a flask. “Well, Miss Trin is back,” Richie pointed out.
“Already a rough day?” Ali looked at my flask.
“That was extremely unproductive,” I muttered and drank from my flask.
“Yeah, I suppose that’s best way to learn,” Richie nodded.
“Gabe and I were out one day looking for some land. I think he took me in a big circle to get back to where he wanted to be,” Ali said.
“Miss Trin, plain and simple,” Richie looked at me. “Cole came into town looking for trouble, saw Punk, took it on him. There’s your story.”
“I don’t wanna talk about it anymore,” I shook my head.
“Reason as to it. Just mean low life mean folk. They still got that one feller locked up?” Richie asked.
“That’s a good question,” Ali said. “I was with Jamie until she was well enough to leave. She was seeing kitties on the ceiling,” Ali said.
“I left after I seen medicine woman get there for Punk. I went to bed down after that,” Richie said and I shook my head, drinking more whiskey. “Miss Trin, you’re gonna have to go sleep that before high sun iffin you don’t slow down.”
“Yes, mom,” I said with a bit of bite and put my flask back in my pocket, knowing he was right.
“I believe she saved his life,” Ali said and then greeted a man who walked over. “Good morning, Mister Nhil.”
“You’re Nhil?” I looked up then.
“Howdy, ladies,” Nhil greeted us, tipping his hat.
“There is our answer. He ain’t in jail,” Richie observed.
“Good to see you out of jail,” Ali said.
“Feel like joinin’ us?” I asked, nodding to the chair beside me.
“I paid bail...most likely going to get hanged after the court date though,” he shrugged. “Well worth what that snake did to Jamie… speaking of the child, is she alright?”
“She’s okay. I talked to her this morning,” I nodded. “Nhil…” I hesitated, knowing he could see my badge. “I’m sorry.”
“She’s doing well,” Ali insisted. “Was really concerned about her head injury last night. She wanted to sleep and was telling us she was seeing kitties dancing on the ceiling.”
“Well if she slept and woke, she will be fine...thats the dangerous times, when she goes to sleep for the first time,” Nhil nodded.
“Well gonna go see a man about a horse you all take care now,” Richie said and headed off.
“Well, ifn you need some witness I’d like to help but I can only account for what happened until I took Jamie to the doc’s office,” Ali said.
“Nothing you can witness too, the marshall was there, they will just say I should of left it to him to deal with...but the man just talked and talked as cole was walking off ignoring him,” Nhil shrugged.
“Well, he was standing right there and let it happen. i can see how cole perhaps thought he could just walk away as well.”
“So you work over at Sky’s ranch?” I asked, not wanting to talk about the incident on the roof anymore as Ansar and Dee stood across the street.
“Gabe tells me you found a job Mister Nhil,” Ali commented and then looked over at me. “Miss Trin, you inside my head?”
“Apparently,” I chuckled. “I haven’t even seen Sky’s ranch yet. Would love to visit it sometime.”
“I have probably seen it while taking a stroll but don’t know which be hers,” Ali said.
“I grew up on a ranch back home... Love being around horses.”
“Gabe purchased a new wagon yesterday and took me for a ride. I guess now I can tell Kaiden he got us a family wagon. it can fit quite a few. Guess I should be heading on home to do some chores. Hope you have a wonderful morning,” Ali said and stood.
“Have a good day, Ali,” I nodded to her.
“Morning Mister Cole,” Ali nodded. “Yes, I have some chores that need doing.”
“Have a good day then,” he nodded.
“Thank you, you as well,” she said and headed off.
“You get any sleep?” I asked Cole and then said, “I’m gonna head to the office. See you around, hon.”
“Alright Trin… you take care,” he said and I headed back to my office.
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