Tombstone.
It was mid-morning when I rode back into Tombstone after being away for a week up north. The week had been a long one and even though I had been home, it was almost like a homecoming getting back to Tombstone. My arm was still tender from where I had been shot by the gang who’d killed my father, and I rubbed it subconsciously as I walked into town.
Lieutenant Wedge Zeluco was standing in front of the bank, resting his hands on his guns as he greeted me. I wondered why he was so on edge and Alva walked over, greeting him. “What’s up with the bank? Any problems?” she asked.
“Nope, not at this second,” Wedge looked over his shoulder.
“Oh, has there... been problems?” she smiled, as if it was a good thing to have problems at the bank. Wedge tightened the bite on his jaw and I looked to him, wondering what was up. “Why so tense, Ranger?” she asked when he didn’t reply to her question.
“Just a gut feeling ma’am,” Wedge admitted.
Alva playfully smiled at him and said flirtatiously, “Aww... we’re of no harm.”
“Guess I’ll go get a coffee,” I said then and went on to the hotel where I poured myself a mug of coffee. I walked back out to the street to drink it and then returned the empty mug to the kitchen as I walked down towards the clinic, seeing Jyclops with Jessica.
“Don’t be gone too long, everyone will miss you,” Jess was telling him, and I wondered if anyone had missed me in the past week.
“Hello Trin,” Jy greeted me.
“Hello you two,” I smiled at them.
“And I still want to be friends,” Jess continued.
“Please, that would be nice,” Jy said.
“Hey Trin, nice to have you back,” Jess greeted me. “You missed all that fun.”
“Didn’t mean to interrupt,” I backed up slightly.
“You are okay,” Jy told me. “We just talking.”
“What did I miss?” I asked curiously.
“Come on over,” Jess motioned me over.
“I will see you both later,” Jy said, “Let you talk.”
“Don’t need to leave on my account, Jy,” I told him but he just smiled and walked down the street.
I walked over to Jess and asked, “So what did I miss?”
“You missed the showdown gunfight between the law and the outlaws.”
“What lawmen?” I asked sarcastically.
“All the lawmen of Tombstone,” she stated simply.
“The soldiers and such? So what were they fighting about?”
“Nothing really, they were just tryin’ to find a reason to fight.”
Frank walked out of the clinic then and we greeted him. Jess said, “I was told you were looking for me. Can I help you with anything? We sure could have used you yesterday”
“Looking for you? No, just talking about you was all. Lilly and myself were in the doctors’ office the other day and I was asking where you were. Seeing as you and Lilly seem to be good friends,” Frank told her.
“Anyway Trin, we had at least ten patients,” Jess told me and then said to Frank, “Oh yes Lilly and I are good friends, as is Miss Trin here.”
“Wow, that’s quite the day. Sorry to hear things were so hectic,” I shook my head at the number of patients.
“Ten? Wow, I always miss the good stuff,” Frank complained.
“I had one patient who had two bullets in his shoulder,” Jess said to me and looked over, noticing that I was rubbing my arm where I had been wounded that week back home. “Your arm hurts, Trin?”
“I went up north for a week to deal with some family issues... It... went well but there were some wrinkles in the plan,” I nodded. “I was gone for a week.”
“I had one that got hit with a broom. He had a small gash in his head,” Frank said.
“Yea, I knew you were gone. I missed you,” Jess told me.
“Thanks Jess, that means a lot,” I smiled at her.
“I bet they got work stacked up on you now Trin,” Frank told me.
“I have no idea. Haven't seen any lawmen other than Wedge.”
“Can you stay for awhile Frank?” Jess asked him.
“Yeah, why?”
“Usually the outlaws get rowdy towards evening. We probably could use another doc,” Jess said. “Ansar and Cas are injured. I think Wedge may still be suffering. I don’t know about the others. I was pretty busy.”
“They are?” Frank looked around. “Where? Oh you mean yesterday.”
“Yea, but it could be a repeat today,” Jess said. “Depends on how frisky they are and who is running the show. Yesterday it was Sniper and TJ.”
“I heard about that Tj fella,” Frank said. “Nothing good about the fella thats all I will say.”
“I’ve known TJ for a long time,” I chuckled.
“He can go either way. He can be bad as bad can be and on the other hand he can be a real sweetheart.” Gunshots went off then and Jess said, “First customer.”
“Yeah, long as it ain’t me,” Frank said, looking around.
Suddenly I saw Bravo Solo walking down the street and I blinked, looking twice. “Well I’ll be,” I shook my head. It had been at least ten years since I’d seen Dutch Solo’s half brother. There was so much history between us I was almost brought back to a time in the distant past when he once held me in his arms and protected me from the dangers of the world.
“Do I know you, miss?” he looked at me as if he didn’t recognize me.
“Bravo Solo... Never thought I’d see you again... You don’t remember me?”
“I guess I don’t,” he looked at me curiously. “Though most of the women in my past have stabbed me in the back.”
I cringed slightly and said, “Has it been that long that you don’t remember what really happened?”
He looked at me closely, still seeming to have no idea who I was. “What’s... what’s your name, Miss?”
“Trin Paige. We used to be good friends back in Colorado... Goodness that was ages ago now.”
He thought for a moment and asked, “Wait... you mean that nosey little girl always lookin’ for a story?”
I chuckled softly. “I suppose that was me. I ran the newspaper for months there... now I’m just getting stories for cases I guess. How long have you been in this area?”
“Oh, been here about a month,” he shrugged, “to purchase some land for me and my wife and child. Decided to move away from Colorado.”
“I guess congratulations are in order then,” I looked at him confused. I hadn’t even heard that he had been married, let alone had a child.
“Why the confused look, Trin?” he chuckled and offered his hand for a shake.
I shook my head and held out my hand. “Never mind.”
“Honestly Trin,” he shook his head. “No congratulations are in order. I’ve been married for twelve years... My darling Adsila only recently gave birth to our first child.”
“Well then congratulations for the birth of your child,” I smiled at him but didn’t really know what to say since it had been so long since we’d seen each other.
“So Trin how have you been?” he looked at me. “It’s been nearly fifteen years since I seen you... You don’t look like that girl I remember.”
“It’s been a long week so I’m happy to be back home. I’m working as a Pinkerton Detective now... solving cases with the law and helping them put the pieces together.”
His eyes glowed red at the mention of the word Pinkerton and he said, “Pinkerton huh... Well... good luck, just don’t expect me to rescue you anymore. You’re a big girl now,” he laughed.
“I think I’ll be okay but it’s good to see you again Bravo. I’ve been going over journals lately and putting manuscripts together. It’s been fun to look back.”
He chuckled and said, “I need to go to the general store.”
We waved to each other and I headed back home to relax, thinking over how random that interaction had just been.
***
This afternoon I walked back into town and saw Wedge telling a man to go with him, but he was being reluctant. He walked away from Wedge, who threatened that he would shoot him for resisting arrest. Not wanting to get back into work quite so soon after getting home, I walked over to the hotel and saw Sirus talking with a couple of women. I greeted them and noticed that Bree was wearing a big long dress. I asked if she was off to her wedding but she said that she just enjoyed wearing white. We started talking about hair and Sirus joked that he it was a good time for a drink as we talked about women things like clothing and hairstyles.
Suddenly gunshots could be heard down the street and I looked over to see that Wedge had opened fire on the man he’d been in pursuit for. Abby told me, “I told Alex to put his money in the bank so it would be safe for him and this happens.”
It wasn’t long before TJ was involved in the action and the group began to shoot each other. I could see Wedge on the ground in front of the bank and went over to check if he was alright. Several people were standing around him already and Lilly, a medical assistant, came over quickly to put Wedge on the stretcher.
“Hey Wedge. Typical day in the neighborhood, eh?” I greeted him as I followed.
“I should have shot the bastard,” Wedge complained and on the way he pointed to the man who was sitting beside Abby in front of Kate’s.
We made it to the clinic and Lilly began to work on cleansing his wound as he asked, “Trin? Any other law around?”
“I didn’t see any in town.. I don’t even know who the law are in town anymore,” I admitted. “Didn’t see anybody like Ansar or Cas or whoever... or Liz.”
“Thank you,” Wedge nodded as Lilly got out a bottle of laudanum and poured a teaspoon of it for him.
“I’ve been tempted to go back to the law and act as a detective under the deputy name just so there’s a lawman around.” He drank it and I said, “Didn’t see Liz either. You shouldn’t have to deal with this stuff on your own... No one should. I just can’t deal with the stress of bein’ a lawman around here. But the thing is I doubt anyone of ‘em would ask me for help even if they needed it. I’ve gotta work to get work these days.”
Wedge nodded, in and out of consciousness as Lilly gave him instructions on how to take care of his wound as she gave him something. She warned him that he would be woozy and he said, “No, I need to be un-woozy. If he’s still in town when I get up, I’m going after him again.”
“You will be okay just relax so I can get to the bullet,” Lilly told him as she carefully worked retrieving the bullet.
“Wedge, you want to tell me why you were fighting with that guy you pointed at? I don’t think I even recognize who he was,” I tried to distract him while Lilly worked, not wanting to watch the procedure any more myself.
“I don’t... know him...” he breathed deep.
“I’ll find out who he is,” I nodded. “I’ll be back.”
I walked out of the clinic noticing V coming in, and wondered what she was doing there. I went over to Kate’s where a group was sitting, including Abby and the man Wedge had pointed at still sitting there. “Hey there Abby. Sure is good to see you again. Don’t think I’ve met your friend,” I greeted her and smiled at the man.
“It’s good to see you too Trin. This is Alex.” She turned and smiled to the man and said, “Darling, this is a friend of mine, Trin.”
“Alex. Nice to meet you.”
Alex still held Abby, and looked up to smile at him. “Nice to meet you as well, Trin. Abby introduces me to everyone in this town.”
“That’s good. Helps to know peoples’ names. How long ya been in town? Don’t think I’ve met ya before.”
“I’ve been in the town for a couple of days. Since Thursday. Or was it wednesday? I can’t seem to remember.”
“It’s a nice area. Tends to pull ya in,” I nodded.
“Yeah, well it wasn’t the area that pulled me in. It was letters from my darling here.”
“That would do it too,” I chuckled. “Well it was nice to chat with you Alex. I’m sure I’ll see ya around,” I smiled to Abby wit a knowing look.
“Nice talking to you as well miss Trin. Hopefully I see you around more,” Alex smiled at me and I nodded as I turned back towards the clinic.
Wedge was sitting up in the bed now and I smiled to him. “How ya doin’, Wedge?”
“Okay,” he answered.
“He will be okay, just needs to get his legs under him.”
“Glad to hear it. Thanks, Lilly.” I walked over to him. “I’ve got some information for ya.”
“Do tell,” he smiled to him.
“The guy you pointed to? Sitting beside Abby? His name’s Alex and he’s her suitor. Guess they’d been sending letters back and forth and he just got to town on Wednesday or Thursday.”
“He must be ‘dirty’,” Wedge pointed out. “He was doing his best to hide his information.”
“Oh was he? Well he sure wasn’t shy in sharin’ it with me.”
“Dig deeper,” he told me. “And he’s wit Abby. She seems to like the wrong kinds of men.”
“I thought TJ was with Abby.”
“Me too.”
“Guess I’ll have to have some girl talk wit Abby,” I said and he smiled. “Gonna have to pull her away from him to get anything good though.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks Wedge. Glad to be of help.”
“Thank you,” he nodded.
“Just get better,” I smiled. “I should head to my office so they don’t think we’re workin’ together.”
“Keep me posted?” I smiled at him and he winked, nodding.
“Thanks ladies,” I said to Lilly and Jess standing by and headed to my office.
After working in my notebook for a few minutes, writing about the events of the day, I heard Serenity shout, “The heck is wrong with ya happy trigger finger ranger? He was gonna be goin’ with ya nice like.”
I sighed, wondering what Wedge had gotten himself into now. Abby shouted that they needed a doc and I headed down to the clinic, thinking that someone would be there soon enough. When no one came I walked down the street and saw a group standing in front of the hotel and sheriff’s office.
“What happened?” I asked Jess who was standing nearby.
“Trin!” Alva spun around. “Damn if I don’t have a case for you!”
“What’s up?” I asked her, curious.
“I don’t want all the town listening in, where to?” she tried to drag me away.
“Let’s go to the Oriental,” I chuckled softly and led the way there.
When we were down the street she asked, “Ya ready with pen and paper?”
I nodded as we sat down at a table and pulled out my notebook. “Alright, talk to me.”
“So..this dark gentleman. Named Alex...apparently beu to Abby...” she started.
“Yeah?” I smirked, having had the impression that this was who the case would be about.
“He was inside the bank..when a lady group appeared, they robbed the bank..this Alex fella ran after because he got robbed in the bank... and he shot down one or two ladies..and mr Ranger Wedge came about.. and he arrested mr ALEX instead of the robbing ladies. And so.. Mr. Alex refused being arrested. That’s when shit hit the fan..but..ya might not want to write that down.”
I chuckled and just waited for her to continue as she said, “So Alex walked away, and mr ranger shot Alex down point blank. Uh..no..scratch that. Mr Alex shot mr Wedge down first.”
“Right,” I nodded. “That sounds more accurate to what happened.”
“And then..mr Wedge shows up right now and basically does a revenge shooting on mr Alex. And now I think he dragged him off to the rangers station.”
“Guess I should have a chat with Wedge. Anyone else see these robbing ladies? You recognize any of ‘em?”
“I tried to cuff the ranger but he slipped away....fat hands.” She shook her head then at my questions and said, “No clue,” but I could tell that she was lying.
“Tried to cuff? Are you law?”
“Uh... no. I’m just handy,” she stood up then.
“You can’t try to arrest someone unless you’ve been deputized.”
“Civil arrest, ma’am... Never heard of it?” Alva chuckled.
I shrugged slightly, not believing her but trying not to show it. “Guess I’ll go talk to Wedge.”
“See ya!” she said and I packed up my notebook as she walked out of the saloon.
I walked over to the fort across town and knocked on the big door. “Anyone there?” I called. “It’s Detective Paige!” I looked around, wondering where Wedge was. “Lieutenant Zeluco?” I shouted.
Gunshots made me turn around and I saw Alex laying on the ground in a pool of blood, unconscious. Wedge swore and fell to his knees and I ran over to him. “You okay Wedge?”
“No... I’m not,” he swore again and then shouted up to the mountains, “Don’t come down here, Abby!”
“Why not, Wedge?” she called back.
I called for a doctor and Wedge asked Alex, “Why’d you follow me, Sir!?” The man was unconscious though and Wedge told me, “All he wants to do is defy anything I say to him. Then he walks my direction!”
“Seems like he’s askin’ for trouble then. Was told that a bunch of ladies were robbing the bank and robbed him while he was in there.”
Alex stood up then and limped back to town. As he called back he said, “Shoot first and ask later? I’ll remember that the next time I see you.”
Abby ran down the mountain towards Alex as Wedge continued to swear at the man. I asked her to stop and she turned around. “Was Alex robbed in the bank by a bunch of women?”
“Probably,” she replied. “He isn’t into robbing other people and I told him to put money in the bank here.”
“Find out for me?” I asked her. “I’ll be back in town soon.”
“I will see what I can find out,” she said and ran off after Alex.
I turned and walked back to Wedge and he grumbled, “What?”
“Inside,” I pointed to the door. “Let’s talk this out.”
Wedge cursed under his breath as he went to open the doors to the fort and led the way inside. “You wanna sit somewhere?” I asked him. When he just paced back and forth I sighed, knowing this wasn’t going to be easy. “Why’d you try to arrest him? You thought he robbed the bank?”
“No Trin... I didn’t think he robbed the bank.”
“Why’d ya arrest him then?”
“I just wanted to see the receipt... to make sure he made a deposit.”
“And he wouldn’t give it to you,” I nodded, understanding now.
“Nope.”
“‘Cause then...I would have known Rikki was trying to rob him.”
“That’s fair. Not too much to ask.”
“And he kept walking off, so I decided to arrest him for unholstered weapons.”
“Right,” I nodded.
“And... he walked away again! I had to shoot him. Threaten to shoot. I’m a damn ranger...”
“I know, Zeluco,” I nodded.
“What does he do? Shoots me,” he swore again.
“So now you try to arrest him for shooting a lawman...” I summarized.
“Yes.”
“So then he comes at you with his loaded pistol and you shoot him in self defense out here by the fort.”
“His gun was in his hand, walking towards me.” I nodded and he said, “He shot me once. I gave him a chance once. Never again.”
I nodded and sighed, looking him over. “I’m worried, Zeluco...”
“About?”
“Town’s people goin’ around makin’ citizens arrests because they call it legal and there ain’t no law to do anything proper about it. Was there even court this weekend?”
“Yes, there was,” Wedge nodded. “Blame that on the Marshal Ansar.”
“Hmm?” I raised an eyebrow. “What happened?”
“So far as I know... he isn’t ever around, so the lawless are breeding like rabbits.”
“Meanwhile I go off to avenge my father’s death and get shot for it...” I sighed as I reflected on my week back home. “That gang that killed my father was sending threatening letters to my brother and referencing my name in them. Josh wanted me to go down there and help him deal with it ‘cause him and Mom are on their own on the ranch... So I go down there and they’ve basically got the house surrounded and I had to give ‘em a bunch of money to get them gone. But on their way out they shot me to show me they meant business and weren’t going to let me forget that we owed them.”
“I’m sorry to hear that Trin,” he shook his head.
“I guess they said that Dad had gone to join their gang and they were protecting us from him by killing him, though I don’t believe a word of it.”
“I agree.”
“Just wish they would leave our family alone now. Mom’s suffered enough. I felt so guilty leaving them, Wedge... but I knew I had work to do here too.”
“Hey Trin, you do what you must do.”
“I’ll probably go back in a few weeks to check on things.”
“They’ll be fine, I’m sure.”
I looked at him and sighed. “And you? Will you be fine?”
“Yes, I’m just a simple lawman, Trin.”
I smiled to him and then said goodbye before he opened up the doors to the fort and I headed back to my office.
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