August 5, 1899

Tombstone. 

I walked into Tombstone, seeing no one around, and sat down in front of the sheriff’s office in case a lawman decided to show up. I knew I needed to talk to someone about my conversation with Balth at the Crystal Palace last night. 

Ali and Abby came over and told me more about what happened last night. Her story lined up with Balt’s for the most part but something still didn’t add up. Waterfall came over and we talked about how she hadn’t had the baby yet and how Ali could give her advice. 

Black Diamond. 

I walked into town a couple of hours later and found Ali and Gabe talking to Richie on his balcony. 

“Trin? You bring coffee?” Richie called down. 

“I’ll go make some,” I said and went over to the cafe. I couldn’t carry three cups over but handed one to Gabe and told Richie the coffee was ready. 

“You didn’t bring me any?” 

“I made it, didn’t I?” I winked at Ali. 

He went to get the coffee and then leaned against my shoulder. 

“So how are you today, Trin?” Gabe asked. 

“Anxious to get going on my trip tomorrow. I think being with family is just the thing I need right now. Feeling relaxed about my decision about law though. Going to resume being a detective and focus on improving my position as a lawyer. Being a deputy would tie me down too much. It’s the first time I’ve felt a peace about that decision in a while,” I smiled as I sipped the coffee. “How’s Caleb this morning?”

“He’s good, sleeping at the moment, again,” Gabe chuckled. 

“He sure sleeps a lot,” I smiled. 

“He’s doing well. Had him out early this morning sitting on the porch with me.” 

“Sounds nice.”

“The doc said for the first couple weeks he would sleep a lot,” Gabe nodded. 

“Think Richie fell asleep against me,” I moved my shoulder a bit to wake him. 

“Trin!!” he exclaimed as he woke with a start. 

“He is awake,” I smirked.

“You moved, made me fall. Knock me out.” 

“Right, that was it.” 

“When your being used as leaning post you can’t move like that,” he complained. 

“You fell asleep.” 

“Is that why I felt the ground shake?” Ali asked and I chuckled. 

“Where is Adrian? I’m telling on all you all,” Richie mumbled. “Being mean to me.” 

“Now, now, don’t go running to Adrian because your ass is getting big from all that sitting,” Gabe shot at him. 

“Hey now I got purty ass,” Richie said. 

Ali rubbed her guns and glared at Richie. “You’re going to do what now?” 

“See?” Richie turned. 

“His ass so big it fell through the bench near the Russ House this morning,” Ali said. 

“That’s right, nothing so I don’t have a fat ass.” 

“She went without guns for a long time Richie,” Gabe warned. “She has itchy trigger finger.” 

“Thank you Trin,” Richie looked at me. 

“Thank you for what?” I smirked. 

“Not seeing nothing,” he said. “Ali wouldn’t shoot me... would ya Ali?” 

“I was telling Richie this morning about the miss who come to town last night,” Ali said and then answered, “Oh hell yes I would! But only with a good reason to!” 

Richie slid behind me and I chuckled, stepping to the side. 

Gabe laughed and said, “Smart woman.” 

“I ain’t stupid, Gabe,” I winked at him, laughing when Richie moved back behind me. I leaned back into him with a smile, remembering how comfortable we had been together when we had been dating. 

Richie wrapped his arms around me and said, “Not so fast now, lil lady.” 

“Stop hiding behind the ladies Richie,” Ali said. 

“Aw, ya miss me, Rich?” I chuckled. 

“Get a room, you two,” Gabe pointed to the hotel. 

“Gabe come up with your own line,” Richie glared at him. 

“Darlin’, that train left the station long ago,” I patted Richie’s arm. 

“Well you can at least help stop a bullet.” 

“Yeah, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I chuckled. 

“You leave Miss Trin out of this!” Ali shouted. 

“No she fun holding on to. She staying in it,” Richie said. 

“See, he misses me,” I chuckled. 

Gabe stepped out of the line of fire and Ali said, “Appears he does.” 

I kissed his cheek and tried to reach for his hand to free myself from his grasp. 

“I’ll hush, be good. No shooting,” Richie ran up to his balcony. 

I smiled and went to get some coffee, following Gabe into the kitchen. I asked him what really happened last night and he told me a similar story to what Ali had told me. I sighed, knowing that it didn’t line up with what Balth had told me, and decided to go find a lawman to talk to for advice. 

Benson. 

The only one I knew that was on duty this afternoon was Sheriff Al, over in Benson. I greeted him and Paige who were sitting in the whicker chairs in front of a house and I apologized for interrupting. 

I told him how Balth had told me what had happened with the incident with Nim and how Ali and Gabe weren’t giving me the truth. It hurt that my own friends would lie to me but he reminded me that they’re outlaws too when they’re not mayors of Black Diamond, and I couldn’t completely trust them. I thanked him for being an ear and went back to Bisbee to get ready for my trip up north.