Tombstone.
This morning I talked with Bria and Angel as they played with a horse. I walked down the street and saw a crowd in front of the clinic. I asked what was going on and a woman said that someone was giving birth inside. I looked in the window and saw Waterfall sitting on the table, with Doc Freja looking after her. I watched for a while and then looked over to the woman I hadn’t met yet.
After I introduced myself she said, “My name is April. Nice to meet you, Trin.”
“Nice to meet you too. I’m in serious need of caffeine if ya’ll want to join me. The Russ Hotel has the best coffee in town.”
“Sounds like a fine idea, Trin... I could use a coffee myself.”
I led the way and April followed me. “If ya want to wait out here I can get it for ya. What do you take in your coffee?” I asked when we got there.
“Just black please. Ah... it’s been so long since I stood here... good to see it ain’t burned down.”
“You’ve lived here before?”
“Oh yes, I was raised here, years ago, when the boom started...”
“Oh that’s lovely. It’s good to have you back then. I’ve only been here since May. Let me get us our coffee’s. S’pose he doesn’t want any.”
“Then I was sent away to school. But now I am back... hope I find some familiar faces.”
I went into the kitchen and smiled at the feel of the kettle being still hot. I poured two mugs of coffee and took them out to the street, handing one to April. “I’m sure you’ll see lots of familiar faces.”
“Thank you Trin. Well, I ain’t seen any yet.”
I took out my flask and dropped a shot of the whiskey into my coffee instead of sugar. “Ah, much better. Who might you remember from back then? Maybe I know ‘em.”
“Well, as a kid running around the streets twenty years ago here, most folks around then wouldn’t recognize me now.”
We talked for a while about how things had been back when she had lived in Tombstone and then Mikk and Paradise came over to join us. Introductions were made and my dog Dante came over to sit at my feet. I listened as the group chatted and didn’t contribute to the conversation much. Eventually I walked back to the office to get some work done.
***
This afternoon I walked into town and waved to the crowd gathering in front of Kate’s. I headed to the hotel and grabbed myself a coffee and then Ali walked over. She waved to me and said, “Howdy Miss Trin. Just who I was looking for.”
“Oh really? Need to talk somewhere?”
She nodded and said, “Across the street would be fine.”
“Lead the way,” I smiled and followed her to sit in front of the old photo studio. “What’s up?”
“You mentioned not to long ago a fellas name, I believe it was Sunset Moon?” she asked and I nodded. “I met the fella last night here in town.”
“Did you? real charmer, ain’t he?” I sighed.
“He was speaking with Mister Jac.”
“Jac said he would be looking for me,” I nodded.
“They had been speaking across the street then came over on this side to where Abby and I were.”
“What were they talking about?”
“Then Mister Jac came back over here on this side where we had already been talking to him. The fella followed shortly after, and how he can make a woman fall in love to tell him anything. I don’t know how he knows that Sunset Moon, but the fella made me feel a bit uneasy. I just stayed quiet and listened. Your name did come up in the conversation. I think it was referring to you looking for Sunset Moon.”
“Jac told Sunset Moon that I was looking for him?” I sighed.
“It was late at night, I was quite tired. I do believe so. I could be wrong.”
“I had a meeting with Cole and Jac. I told them that this guy Sunset seemed a bit shady and I didn’t trust him. I asked them to watch my back, that’s it. And to let me know if they heard anything about him. This morning, Jac came to me saying Sunset was looking for me.”
“Perhaps he was in town looking for you. It was Jac who went across the street to the fella. You may be right about Sunset Moon and him being shady.”
“I have a really bad feeling about this, Ali.”
“Then again most folk round here are,” she laughed.
“Listen, Ali.. between you and me... Sirus brought up a point the other day and it made me wonder. He asked if I had any inheritance coming my way, but this guy didn’t sound like he wanted to give something, but to take something. I told you about the letters to my family, right? About the gang that killed Dad asking us for the money he owed them?”
“You did and about how them folks was at your house before you return from there.”
“And how they shot me down when I got there but I escaped to rescue Josh and Mom,” I nodded.
“Do you think perhaps he’s the one that sent the letters?”
“I’d put money on it. Again, I asked Jac and Cole to watch my back... but I didn’t tell them to kill him.”
“That don’t sound like something you would say. However, when one feels threatened for whatever reason, ya just can’t be certain. You’re all about law, justice... all the stuff I ain’t.”
“I just... I don’t know what’s gonna happen next, Ali.”
“Have they agreed to protect you?”
“Yeah, I guess they did,” I reached down and pet Dante as he came bouncing over.
“If you need any help, you know you can always ask. I know just the folks perhaps willing to protect ya,” she winked.
“Thanks, Ali. I will call on you and Gabe if I need it. Dante here will do his best too,” I nuzzled him.
“If I see the fella again, would you like me to let you know?”
“Yes please, I need to know what else he’s saying about me to people, or what he really wants.”
“Once I have this baby I can wear my guns again. Right now I just don’t feel too safe round folks i don’t know.”
“So I got a plea bargain against Tessa last night... Lot charged them with community service too, to help repair the clocks,” I chuckled, changing the subject.
“Are they not working properly?” she looked at the clocks. “I didn’t know Lot was a judge.”
“That’s all I know on the subject. I was looking through my notes... We had found where the clocks were but couldn’t get them back ‘cause we didn’t have the man power. I don’t know what’s happened since. People stopped talking about it.”
“He’s an outlaw, how is it possible?”
“He’s a judge now,” I shrugged.
“No longer an outlaw then?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
“I did notice that the sign on the sheriffs office wall has been changed. perhaps changes are taking place.”
“It has?!” I blinked.
“It has,” she nodded. “Looks like Miss Rikki has had some fun again, her name is up there. All the rest the names been taken down though.”
I swallowed hard and went over to take a look. Sarrah Georgia’s name was still on the top but Rikki’s name was just underneath it. I wondered if that meant that Skyla would never be back in office again.
“Unbelievable...” I shook my head in disgust.
“What’s unbelievable?” Ali asked.
“They can’t just take Skyla’s name down... I always thought that as long as it was up there there was a chance...”
Serenity walked over then and Ali and her talked about how some Doves may have shot down Big John, the supposed detective. I shook my head, knowing that I was too distracted to focus, and went back to the office.
Ella came into my office a few hours later and told me that she was dating someone, Mr. Thijs. She seemed happy and I hoped that this would distract her from what had happened with Ace at the bank.
Black Diamond.
I walked into Black Diamond tonight, hoping to find Richie, and halted in my tracks when I saw Sunset talking with Ali and Nim.
“Oh no, ma’am, I don’t mean no trouble ‘round here. This is Black Diamond, right? I stick my trouble doin’ to Tombstone,” he was saying to them.
Nim glanced over at me and said, “This here fella been asking about you Miss Trin.”
“This is Black Diamond, correct,” Ali nodded to him. I made my way up to Richie’s balcony and she looked up at me, then back at Sunset. “Does Miss Trin know your in town asking about her?”
He turned and looked up at me. “Now fore you get a notion to think I mean you harm. I just wanna ask ya to dinner, lunch, coffee. Just so I can spend some time in your presence.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet,” I scoffed at the suggestion and rolled my eyes.
“Well we all here. You’re in her company. Talk away,” Richie suggested from where he sat on his balcony beside me.
“Well, don’t believe me? I ain’t sent...” he stopped and then continued, “That wire back home to my associates yet.”
I smiled my thanks to Richie and looked back to Sunset. “Uh huh... Your associates... Who would those be? Your wingmen?”
“Now now, I don’t discuss business in the presence of such beautiful women.”
“Well I ain’t no woman,” Richie said.
“What’s the story with this fella?” Nim looked up at me.
“Perhaps if you put out a nice suit, she may mind about accepting your invitation,” Ali suggested to him.
Sunset looked up at me and fixed his collar by drawing a slit across his neck with a glint in his eye. I swallowed hard at the motion and looked to Richie. He looked down at his closed and shrugs, dusting them off as he looked to Ali. “These the best I gots.”
“You know this fella Trin? No need to be scared,” Richie said.
“No need to be scared?” I asked.
“Ya think that would do it, Miss Ali?” Sunset asked her.
“Is he an old beau that you never mentioned Miss Trin?”
“I’ve never seen him in my life,” I shook my head.
“You have the sheriff here,” Richie reminded me.
Sunset blew me a kiss and winked at me, and I felt my skin crawl. “Look, Sir,” I said with bite, “Go back to where you came from and tell ‘em I don’t have what ya’ll want, got it?”
“Mister, I think you out-stayed your welcome,” Richie told him.
“You might not know me but your Pappy had my name on his lips right before he...” he removed his hat and covered his heart, “Died. May he rest his peace,” he returned his hat to his head.
“So, ya going to tell her why you’ve been looking for her, Mister Sunset?” Ali asked him.
I swallowed hard and almost fell over at the news. “You killed...” I started but could barely speak and reached for Richie.
“Aww, she just playing hard to get is all,” Sunset said to Ali. “I like a good chase.”
“Mister, I know her and I can tell your not telling the truth, now perhaps you might like to start filling me in on what your here for,” Nim finally spoke up.
“Say it Trin, ifin you know something. We have law right here,” Richie told me.
“It’s been good talkin’ with you folks, now I need to finish my explorin’,” Sunset chuckled then, tipping his hat before he walked off without looking back.
“He killed... you... you killed my father!” I shouted and fell into Richie’s arms.
“He’s gone,” he assured me. “Sit, Trin,” he helped me sit and I pulled my knees up under my chin, shaking violently.
“I’ll be catching you later, Beautiful!” Sunset shouted from a distance and I shuddered, looking worriedly at Richie.
“You stay up here,” Richie told me.
“Don’t... leave...” I shook my head.
“Let me get my gun,” he said and went inside the house.
“Richie... Don’t... Go...” I swallowed hard as Ali came up the balcony and handed me a glass of
juice. I took the glass from her and looked at her, tears filling my eyes. “He...”
“He’s gone,” Nim said, coming back then.
“Did I hear him correctly? He was the one who... killed your pa?” Ali asked me and I nodded.
“Why did you not say that when I asked if you knew him, Trin?” Nim asked me.
“Why ain’t you ever told any of us?” Richie asked.
“Cause I... Didn’t know him for sure...” I cried and Ali handed me a hanky. “I guessed he might be after the... money Dad owed that gang but... I never thought he...”
“Well you welcome to stay here I got an old camping cot I’ll sleep on it,” Richie offered. “You welcome to stay over here hell ill sleep in the jail.”
“I...” I started but couldn’t even find the words to say. “I still remember the day my brother told me the news... He gave me dad’s medallion,” I took out the medal and held it tightly. “He told me we’re part...” I hesitated, not sure I should say and shook it off. “I... I saw this guy the other day and I knew that he was probably after me for something... but I thought it was money.”
“Part?” Richie asked.
“I never could have imagined he was the one who... Killed my father...”
“But what were you saying Part what? Trin if you need help the law need to know...”
“Maybe I should,” I shook my head, not knowing what to do.
“Yes ma’am, Trin, give me something concrete and I will put out a warrant for his arrest,” Nim told me.
“They can’t help unless they know full story. You being a Pinkerton know that better than anybody,” Richie told me.
“That is the... full story...” I swallowed hard.
“Trin I know you are lying ‘cause you’re scared, but still lying.”
“You going to watch over her?” Nim looked at Richie.
“For now,” Richie nodded.
“My brother told me we were part-Apache. Four generations back. That what you wanted to hear?” I asked him.
“Well Trin, that’s nothing. Hard telling what skeletons I got hanging in my tree,” Richie shrugged.
I put my father’s medal in my vest and sighed. Nim said, “Trin, you know where to find me if you need me.”
“Yeah, thanks Nim. Really...” I tried to control myself and then looked at Richie, and followed him inside his room to rest there. I had the feeling I wouldn’t be getting much sleep tonight.
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