<<Time lapse: There was about twenty years between these two RP sims. In the old journals, Trin was about 17 or so. Now, twenty years later, she's about 30. The time gap will be filled in as journals in Tombstone continue>>
Tombstone, Arizona.
Tombstone, Arizona.
This morning I walked into the town of Tombstone, Arizona, looking forward to a fresh start. I needed to begin again in a place where no one knew my name or my past and where I could just focus on doing my job and doing it well. I saw two people standing in front of the saloon and waved to them.
“Howdy there. Was wondering if ya’ll could tell me where the sheriff’s office is?”
“Howdy,” the man greeted me.
“Morning Miss,” the woman smiled at me. “I will show you if’n ya want to follow me.”
“That’d be great. Thanks, Miss,” I smiled and followed the girl.
“Name’s Ali,” she smiled. “Right here, Miss,” she said when we reached the office.
“Hi Ali. My name’s Trin. So nice to meet you!”
“Pleasure to meet you Trin. Just off the stage?”
“Yes ma’am. Just lookin’ for a place to start over, ya know?”
“Yes I sure do,” she laughed. “Husband and I got here not too long ago ourselves. Morning Mister Ansar,” Ali said to the man sitting in front of the sheriff’s office. He was wearing a badge and I noticed the words ‘US Marshal’ on the crest.
“You know if the sheriff is in, perhaps?” I asked him curiously.
“I am the US Marshal. Why you need a sheriff?”
“Name’s Agent Trin Paige,” I reached out my hand and offered it. “I’m a Pinkerton Agent and was going to offer him my services of investigation.”
“If you will both excuse me, I will leave you two to business,” Ali said and I thanked her for her help as she wandered off.
“Ya are? Are ya licensed?” he asked me and I showed him my badge. “From out of state or something?”
“I’ve been a Pinkerton for a few months now. Started over in Georgetown and wandered to Colorado. My travels have brought me here, however.”
“Ah so ya are from out of state,” he nodded. “See that makes sense and all. Though if ya got ya citizen papers and looking into getting hired as Pinkerton here, people might see the connection.”
“Well I just came over lookin’ for a place to start over... Wasn’t really sure if there’d be any business for me here but if he doesn’t want a Pinkerton we can always do it under the name of ‘detective’. My experience has taught me that the information I gain is more valuable than the battles I fight.”
“It’s sorta complicated. Though ya Pinkertons have important roles. Just need to be hired as one for this state. It’s like formalities. Like say a sheriff or I don’t know... Texas moving here and wanting to be law.”
“I understand that,” I nodded. “Is why I was hoping to talk with the sheriff about it and see if there’s even a need for it.”
“Oh there are,” he nodded. “For sure. If ya any good.”
“Some have said I’m too good,” I winked.
“Good to hear. I hope ya keep going after it then, once you’re settled into town.”
“I hope to. No way I could talk to the sheriff now, is there?” I asked.
“Oh, well they’re not here right now but if ya need their name...” he pointed to the building where the names were in big white letters. The name ‘Skyla Thor’ appeared along with a couple of other names.
“I’ll look out for them then,” I nodded. “It’s been good to talk with you, Marshal.”
He turned around and looked at the wall before turning back to me. “Call me Ansar. Everyone does.”
“Ansar it is then.”
“You are?”
“Oh, I thought I’d introduced myself at the start. Call me Trin,” I smiled.
“You may have but I got name of everyone rattling in the old head of mine.”
“It’s alright,” I chuckled.
“It’s nice to meet ya, Trin.”
“Pleasure is mine,” I smiled.
“Ah, there is my lady now. About time woman!” Ansar said then as a woman approached. “Work faster and get over here.”
“Dang, ya need more coffee?” she asked with a chuckle.
“Trin, this is Dee. Dee, Trin. Trin here wants to be a Pinkerton.”
“Nice to meet ya, Trin,” she smiled.
“Is a Pinkerton, actually,” I smiled at him. “Just want to be one ‘round here. Nice to meet you, Dee.”
“Technicalities,” Ansar said and I laughed.
“Office been pretty empty for a bit. Nice to see someone workin’ at it again.”
“Ya already have a Pinkerton office here?”
“Well if it’s still there,” she said. “Ain’t looked in a while.”
Dee directed me to the office above the clinic and I decided to go to the saloon first and get a drink. The man I had seen earlier with Ali was standing in front of the saloon so I asked, “Howdy there. You from around here?”
“Howdy ma’am. Not really, I’m new here. Arrived in the city yesterday.”
“Oh, well then you’re just as new as me. I just pulled in on the stage this mornin’.”
“Well then welcome.”
“Name’s Trin,” I smiled and held out my hand.
“Weylyn’s my name,” he shook my hand. “Just call me Wey.”
“Wey it is,” I smiled. “Nice to meet a friendly face. Care to join me for a drink?”
“A drink sounds good,” he smiled and let me lead the way inside the saloon. “Tasty drinks,” he said as we sat at the bar. “I spent my last afternoon in here.”
“Oh really? That’s good to hear,” I looked at him.
He reached for a whiskey and handed me a glass. I took the drink and said, “Thanks, darlin’.”
“Darlin’?” he asked, confused.
“Sorry, call everyone darlin’,” I drank my whiskey, slightly embarrassed.
“I understand,” he chuckled.
“So where ya from?” I asked, changing the subject.
He stared at me, silent for a moment, and then answered. “From everywhere. I’m wandering around.”
I nodded with understanding and smiled to the girl who came into the saloon. We greeted her and she came to sit at the bar. “You from around here?” I asked her.
“No... I arrived here about ten days ago on the train from Tulsa. How about you?”
“Just rolled in today actually,” I sipped more of my whiskey.
“What do you think of the place so far?”
I looked over at Wey thinking he was being quiet as he just continued to drink his whiskey. “Ya’ll lookin’ for work around here too?”
“I’m always looking for money,” the girl said. “What kind of work?”
“What kind?” Wey asked in like curiosity.
I noted the woman was wearing a bandana around her face and a gun around her belt. “Wasn’t really offering, was just makin’ conversation.”
She narrowed her blue eyes at me and said, “You seem awfully inquisitive. You some kinda detective? Pinkertons maybe?”
“You recognize the badge, eh?”
“I seen them from time to time,” she replied. “Usually over my shoulder in a trail of dust.”
“We don’t make it a secret what we do,” I shrugged. “I just may be different than most you’ve met.”
“Most I’ve met are a bunch of corporate bullies, pushing around hard-working folk, doing the dirty deeds of the mine and cattle barons.”
“Can’t help the actions of others, Miss,” I shook my head at the bad name some had given our organization.
“And what inspired you to pin that piece of tin to your chest? Money? Privilege? Promise of fame?”
I looked over at Wey for his reaction and then looked back at the girl. “Pursuit of the truth and justice, if you must know.”
“There’s no justice out here, ma’am,” she chuckled. “Just the truth of brutal desert and the ruthlessness of those who try a scrape a living. Little towns like these may seem safe from chaos, but there’s always trouble looking just around the corner.”
I nodded, knowing that truth all too well. I set the empty whiskey glass on the counter and noticed Wey leaving the saloon. I looked to the girl and said, “You don’t have to like me, Miss, but you’ll notice I don’t even have a gun. I just seek information.”
“What or who do you seek information on?” she asked as I turned and headed out of the saloon, ignoring the girl’s question.
Down the street I saw Ansar sitting in front of the sheriff’s office still. I went over to him and asked, “You got a minute?”
“Well, well, well,” a woman I didn’t know was standing beside Ansar. “Lazy ass marshal.”
I noticed the sheriff’s badge on her vest and sighed. “Oh sorry, dozed off,” Ansar stood up then.
“Uh huh,” she looked to me and then back to Ansar. “Ya always doing that, Ansar.”
“Not always...”
She snickered and said, “If’n I ain’t here ta pick on ya and make sure ya doing ya job ya do...”
“I do my job if ya pick on me or not. Just without ya here I get more sleep.” He looked over at me and asked, “Did ya need something, Miss Trin?”
“Can we chat inside?”
“Ya know, ya don’t need no damn sleep,” the sheriff laughed.
“Sure thing,” Ansar turned around and opened the door. “Ladies first,” he said and I led the way into the office. “How can I help ya?”
“Ansar! No getting busy in my office now, ya hear!” the sheriff called out and I just shook my head hearing her.
“Thought I’d alert your attention to someone interesting at the saloon.”
“Oh? Who is that?”
“Was talkin’ with a woman who seemed rather suspicious at the sight of my badge. Seemed pretty cocky about leavin my kind in the dust.”
“Wouldn’t be the first but go on. Get a name?”
“No but can give you a description. Blonde long braid down the back. Blue eyes, blue bandana around her face. She didn’t seem too friendly to give her name. Bout my height.”
“Did they break the law by any chance?”
“No but she seems like the type that would.”
Ansar had to go out of the office on business so I wandered out to the street. Some people were talking about a woman named Tiffany and I recognized the girl from the saloon earlier that day. I listened to the town talk about bandits stealing some money and trying to kill the mayor, then that people were blaming the mayor for it. I saw the sheriff and another man who looked like a lawman talking and wandered over to chat with them.
“Hi there, I’m Trin,” I introduced myself to the man they were calling Tye.
“Mornin’. Tye Durden. I own this here hotel. Pleased to meet you,” he nodded to me.
“Oh, you own the hotel. I may need to talk to you about a room.”
“What’s on the menu today Tye?” a woman nearby asked him.
“Well, I believe we’re full up right now. And Miss Pet, we’re doin’ some renovations, but I got a few things I can prepare for you ifn you’re hungry.”
I wondered where I would sleep tonight if the hotel was full and the woman named Pet said, “You’re names Trin? i have a hotel and Bed & Breakfast as well. you needin’ a room?”
“There are, though, a few other hotels. Aye, just there. Miss Pet owns one as well,” Tye nodded.
“Yes. That would be great.”
“Her rooms are a tad cheaper than mine too. Its a little out of the way, but a cozy little place.”
Pet handed me a brochure and we headed out to see her hotel.
Bisbee.
“These rooms are communal livin’ spaces,” she explained as we walked through the living room of the hotel. “With so many on the go all the time it’s unlikely you will be in the room at the same time as another.”
“How many guests do you have staying here?”
“Oh about twelve now. Maybe less.”
“That’s a pretty good amount,” I nodded.
“I don’t charge for the rooms.”
“You don’t?”
“They are part of the charity of the church.”
“Oh that’s wonderful to hear!”
“Instead, I encourage donations, great or small, and those funds go directly to Tombstone.”
“Of course,” I said with a smile.
“And um, I should warn you...” Pet said hesitantly.
“Hmm?” I looked over, concerned.
“Well, this hotel is haunted.”
I laughed, having heard enough ghost stories in my day and thought of Dutch. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. Fell in love with a ghost once.”
“So long as you don’t mind sharing space with spirits, you should be good.” She looked at me again and said, “Really? Oh, now I’d love to hear that story.”
I smiled at her reaction and said, “Well, I investigated this guy’s murder ‘cause the local law didn’t seem too interested in it... We thought he was gone for good and then we found out he was actually spotted in Utah, alive and well and tied up in a mine.”
“Mmhmm,” she listened intently.
“But while I was investigating him it felt like something was missing... the pieces didn’t come together. I had a feeling he might still be alive.” I sighed a bit, missing Dutch as I remembered. “Goodness that was almost a year ago... Anyway, finally met the man himself in person and he told me all that happened. Turned out I’d been investigating a murder of his triplet brother.”
Pet looked like she found the story interesting and so I continued, “Course the town thought it was Dutch since it looked so much like him. Meeting him in person...” I shook my head, remembering that night like it was yesterday.
“My, my, my, triplets you say...”
“Anyway... I should get settled in, I guess.”
“I reckon,” Pet nodded. “Wait, let me check. Oh, select any room other than the Julia Lowell.”
“Will do,” I nodded.
“Yes, any room other than that one,” she smiled. “I’ll leave you to settle in. Yell if you need me and welcome to the Copper Queen Hotel, Trin!”
“Thanks so much, Pet!” I said and headed upstairs to the Teddy Roosevelt room to settle in. I spent a few minutes settling in and putting my clothes in the dresser before wandering back downstairs and towards town.
Tombstone.
In front of the saloon I found the girl that I had met earlier named Ali and greeted her. “I got settled into the hotel okay,” I smiled to her.
“Hope you found a nice one?”
“I did, yes. Over in Bisbee I guess,” I deduced from the town signs.
“Is that one of Miss Pet’s hotels? I know she has two but i don’t remember which towns they are in.”
“Yep, the hotel not the bed and breakfast. She said the hotel’s haunted but I ain’t sure I believe her.”
“That’s a lovely hotel. We were going to stay there but the rooms were all full at the time.”
“So you work around here?” I leaned against the post and smiled to her.
“I work on keeping this here chair warm,” she chuckled.
“I think you and I will get on just fine,” I said and we both giggled.
A man walked over and Ali greeted him, “Afternoon, Fire Marshal.”
“Hello,” the man nodded.
“Hi there, Sir,” I smiled to him.
“Miss Trin, meet Fire Marshal Jy.”
“Jy, pleasure to meet you. Agent Trin Paige,” I held out my hand.
“Nice to meet you,” he shook my hand.
“Just arrived in town today,” I smiled at him. “Haven’t met that many people yet. Hopin’ to meet more lawfolk though.”
“You might be able to meet some.”
“Have met a couple so far,” I nodded.
“Why you wantin’ to be meeting more of them people?” Ali asked with a sigh.
“Well, ‘cause I’m one of those people. Though perhaps in a different way,” I looked at her.
“Guess I shouldn’t talkin bad about lawfolk. There are some good ones around here,” Ali admitted.
“I know what ya mean though. Have met some shady ones before too,” I smiled to her.
“Well, well, well...” I turned then. “Ida!” I recognized the doctor from Colorado Springs.
Ida walked into the saloon without saying anything and then a girl came over and said, “Bonjour.”
“Bonjour, madame. Ca va?” I greeted her in French.
“Où pourrais-je trouver un endroit pour se reposer? Umm ... hôtel?” the woman asked.
“Name is Ali, yours?” Ali asked her.
“Mon nom est McKenzie Lysette,” she answered. “Umm pardon. My English is not good,” she smiled.
“La salon es dans la ville de Brimsbee,” I answered.
“Pleasure to met you Miss McKenzie,” Ali smiled at her. “It’s okay, neither is mine.”
She laughed, feeling a bit more relaxed. “Brimsbee?”
“A travers la pont,” I answered her and then looked to Ali. “I speak French and Spanish.”
“Ah, merci,” Kenzie nodded.
“Just told her that Brimsbee is across the bridge,” I explained.
“I shall need to practice my English, no?” Kenzie smiled.
“I see that Miss Trin. I’m so glad at least one of us does,” Ali smiled at me.
“You can, yes,” I said to Kenzie, “But I love practicing my French.”
“How about Bisbee?” Jy chuckled. and Ali laughed.
“What he said,” I blushed, realizing I’d said the town’s name wrong.
“Bisbee is the town name,” Jy told Kenzie and she nodded, understanding.
“Mister Jy, I have been here about a week and I still don’t know names of towns,” Ali admitted.
“I’m still learning names,” I nodded in agreement.
“That is why I am here,” Jy chuckled.
“Thank you for the directions. It’s a lovely afternoon, is it not?” Kenzie asked.
“Indeed it is,” I smiled, “and it’s my pleasure.”
Kenzie tipped her head a bit and walked away to see the town as we waved.
In the streets I heard Tye shouting, “Kris, bringing prisoners!”
“Guess I should mosey on too. Good to meet you, Jy,” I said, seeing Tye walking down the street with a marshal badge on. I grew curious, seeing that he was a lawman as well as the owner of the hotel.
“Hope to see you around town Miss Trin,” Ali smiled. “Next time I will buy us drinks.”
“Sounds great, Ali,” I said and watched Tye with the Native prisoner as I walked back to the hotel.
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