July 28, 1899

Tombstone. 

This morning I sat in front of the Epitath with my coffee and saw Wedge standing over by the bank. I decided to go talk to him and see if he knew anything about any of the cases I was working but he didn’t know much. He did tell me that Paty was rumored to be protecting outlaws and I knew that by talking to my connections, I would find out more. I talked with Jess about the situation with Ella, and I insisted that she needed to file a report for something to get done about it. 

While sitting in my chair on the balcony of my office, I saw Bravo and a woman walking by. I waved to them and he introduced us. We talked about my work and then they walked down the street after saying goodbye. 

I decided to walk around town and I found Skyla and Josh sitting in front of the hotel. I asked Skyla if she had seen Ella or Frost but she hadn’t. I talked with Josh about his first trial and how we were both working for the same goal of justice. 

Serenity, Ali and Gabe sat in front of Kate’s and I talked with them as we sat around waiting for something to happen. Others came to join us and we continued to chat about nothing in particular. 

I noticed Ali and Gabe walking towards the bank and thought that was weird, as they would use the bank in Black Diamond if it were any official business. Punk meanwhile, had wandered over to stand in front of the Sheriff’s office. I nodded to Wedge and Skyla and moved up to the balcony of the undertaker’s office to get to higher ground. 

As Gabe and Ali continued to talk to the banker inside, Skyla moved to the courthouse and Wedge walked into the bank. Before I knew it, Wedge was making a run for the roof and I pulled my guns out to draw. Punk kept distracting Skyla and I heard gunfire. 

“Keep hiding you two... I know who you are!” Wedge shouted then and I looked around. Wedge ran up onto the roof of the bank and followed as Ace ran out with a bag of money. I holstered my gun as I saw Wedge get shot, knowing I hadn’t had a clear shot to shoot at the roof of the bank as they’d been running around and I didn’t want to shoot Wedge. 

I walked down to the street and around back to where Wedge lay on the ground. “Wedge, you okay?” I asked him, worried. 

“Yeah.” 

“I didn’t want to take a shot ‘cause ya’ll were running and I didn’t want to hit you.”

Skyla helped Wedge limp to the clinic and I went to pet my horse who had come over to make sure I was okay. 

“Ok Trin, do a report fer Wedge,” Skyla told me before she headed off. 

“Sure, I’ll do a witness report. He had bags slung over his shoulder, Maverick did that is.”

I wandered off to write a report and then put the paper in the mailbox at the sheriff’s office. Going back to the clinic, I checked on Wedge and watched as V went to work stitching the wound. Wedge told her that he caught Ace redhanded but he shot him. I handed him the witness report and he thanked me for it. Seeing he was in good hands, I let V take care of him and walked back out to the street. 

Bisbee. 

In Bisbee, I found a couple walking down the street. Tina holstered her gun as I walked over and said, “I think somebody come to kill me.” She walked away and I sighed, looking at the couple. 

“Everything alright?” 

“No trouble,” the woman nodded. 

“Glad to hear,” I smiled at them. 

“My name’s Trin. Don’t think I’ve met ya’ll yet.”

“I am Thea,” the woman offered her hand and I shook it warmly. 

“And your husband?” I looked over at the man. 

“What? I just met her,” he shook his head. 

“Well, he hasn’t done so much as to propose yet,” the woman said. “We will have to see how it goes.” 

I blushed and said, “Oh, sorry, my mistake. Sorry sir, don’t think I caught your name.”

“Well I should be off to our shop and open up,” Thea said and walked on. 

“Don’t need a name out here. Might not be long until I die anyhow,” Piers told me. 

“Gonna be like that huh?” I smirked. “Well then I’ll wander on. Stay safe.” 

“I don’t go around giving my name to anyone,” he told me. “See ya.” 

I nodded and walked home, deciding to relax on my couch. 

***

Tombstone. 

On the way into town, I greeted Ali and Gabe as they were headed to Black Diamond. I asked if they had any more information for me about Paty’s murder but they didn’t, so I decided to head on. I talked with Ella and asked her if she had handed in a report yet and she told me that she was looking for a lawman, so I let her wander on. 

Black Diamond. 

I walked into Black Diamond and waved to Richie sitting on his balcony. “Heading in for a drink. You comin’?” I walked into the saloon and waited for his response as I poured myself a whiskey. Soon the doors swung open and I smiled over at him walking in. “Ah you decided to join me did ya?”

“I caught a glimpse of somebody comin’ but now I see it’s just you,” Richie snickered. “Trin drinking whiskey?” he looked at me and I nodded. “What has you wound up?” 

“I’ve got five cases open right now and I don’t feel like I’m making progress on any of ‘em,” I sighed. “The people I need to talk to ain’t ever around. And I know they’d break the cases wide open.”

“Ask your bosses fer help.” 

“My whom?” I sighed again. “I talked to the mayor and he just laughed at me for not researchin’ harder.”

“Well you can’t be the only Pinkerton in the world.” 

“I am in this area. I’d talk to the deputies but they ain’t around. The ones I need to talk to are the ones here in Black Diamond and I don’t even know who they are.”

“Well maybe you need to get you another out here.” 

“What we need is some dam sheriff’s,” I sipped more whiskey. 

“Who in Black Diamond you needing?” 

“Any deputy will do.” 

“Well sheriff comes into town a lil later on most days.” 

“Any one that cares why their sheriff was killed. Or shot down and rumored dead... I hear she was seen again this morning. I still gotta figure out who shot her. Sheriff who?” 

“Paty here in Black Diamond. Maybe you do need to sit around learn folks.” 

“She’s the one I’m investigating, Richie. Was rumored dead but was told she was found this morning. Still gotta find out who shot her in the first place. Was attempted murder if nothing else.”

“Well find ya a good resting chair. Watch and listen.” 

I patted my stool and said, “Found it.”

“Ok thats step one can you shut up long enough to watch and listen?” I nodded, drinking my whiskey, and he said, “Well seems you shoulda been taught them lessons day one on your job. It all about going around with your notebook and and asking tons of questions. Sometimes when your patient answers come to you.” 

I shot him a look and said, “I’ve done this job for five months. I think I know what it entails. Just hitting a bump in the road.”

“Maybe you need to get rid of stress.” 

I gave him another look and said, “Ya think?” 

“I guess you got all that figured out too.” 

I frowned and said, “Why do you think I’m here, Rich?”

“Looking fer people, you said.” 

“And sitting and watching and... letting myself think.”

“Well when you figure thangs out let me know.” 

“Where you goin’?” 

He lay down enough money on the bar for the whole bottle and said, “Just take it with ya when you leave,” he nodded to the bottle. I looked at it, surprised. “Well, I have my answers, Miss Trin. I’m gonna go relax.” 

“But...” I started but he was already walking out of the saloon. 

I considered drinking the rest of the bottle but I knew that wouldn’t end well. I took the money from Richie and pocketed it, leaving the bottle of whiskey there. I walked outside and saw the balcony empty and sighed, guessing Richie must have gone inside. Looking around for a good place to sit, I sat on the bench and looked out at the entrance of the city and pulled out my notebook, making myself comfortable. 

“Howdy Trin,” a woman said to me as she walked over and I looked up, surprised. The woman was wearing a sheriff’s badge.

“Well, you’re lookin’ good for a ghost, Paty.”

“We Daltons are good looking ghosts,” she grinned. 

“I’ve been looking into your murder... Guess we can call it attempted murder now though,” I chuckled. 

Nim walked over then and Paty and Nim talked while I tried to process what I was witnessing. If Paty wasn’t dead then I was being told false information, or people really thought she was dead when in fact she was quite healthy. They talked about living in Black Diamond and about court cases that Nim and I had both worked. I decided to head home and Went back to Bisbee to collect my thoughts. 

Tombstone. 

Walking back into town, I saw Twist and asked her if we could talk at the Crystal Palace. We went inside and sat on the couches and I leaned forward, looking at my old friend. 

“Here’s the thing... your husband’s up for a murder charge. The sheriff in a neighbouring town has been killed and people saw him with his guns drawn around her.”

“What’s going on, hun?” Twit gave me a look of concern. 

“No one saw him shoot her though. I need to know if he’s talked to you about this.”

Her eyes widened and she asked, “My TJ?” 

I nodded and asked, “Has he said anything to you?”

“Oh Lord, he told me he had to go to court but I didn’t know why.” 

“He did? When was this?”

“A couple days ago I believe. My husband is a big mouth but not a killer.” 

“So he never mentioned shooting down the sheriff?”

“No...” 

I sighed and said, “Look Twist, I just want the truth okay? I’m not really playing a side right now I just want to know what really happened that day.”

“Oh I swear, Miss Tri, he has not told me a thing. He usually keeps things like that as you know. I’d give him a huge scolding.” 

“Think you could maybe find out for me...? Ask him indirectly about it or something? I haven’t seen him in town much lately otherwise I’d ask him myself...”

“I will, trust me I will,” she tapped her foot on the wood. 

“Thank you Twist... I’m so sorry to have to bring this up like this.”

“No, it’s quite alright! I do thank you for bringing this to my attention.” 

“Of course. I’ve been quite confused by it all myself. Is why I’ve been looking for you since I got the case. Which was really only on Thursday.”

“Oh I wasn’t feeling well so I stayed in bed. That’s why you haven’t seen me around. I always get like that when TJ goes on travels.” 

“Well I’ll let you go hon... Just wanted to touch base with you. Thanks for responding to my telegram.”

“My pleasure, Miss Trin, and ya can stop by anytime for a cup of tea and a chat at any time.” 

“Oh I will,” I smiled. I’ll see you soon hon. Keep me posted.” 

As I went home, I saw a horse chewing at my grass and went out to pet it. She wanted to stay near my side so I decided to keep her. 

I sent Cole a telegram, knowing I needed to talk to him about a few things. He wandered over before too long and I thanked him for coming. We talked about the horse for a while and then I said, “So Cole... wonderin’ if we could chat about some things...”

“Oh?” 

“I figure you’re in the know with some things around town... I’m hitting dead ends everywhere I turn.”

“Me?” 

“You know people I don’t,” I winked. 

“I can try to help but people don’t tell me much.” 

“Okay let’s see...” 

I talked to him about the different cases I was working but he didn’t seem to know anything. 

“There a doc in Bisbee?” I heard Frost shouting. “I got hit in the arm!” 

“Where you at?” I shouted back, running off to find him. I found him in the clinic and asked, “What happened?” 

“Some men were shootin in town, I had to stop it, I almost got the one guy, I actually had him, until the other man came from behind and shot me without me lookin’, Alex Cross and Jac or somethin’.” 

“Damn it,” I muttered. 

He leaned over and grabbed some whiskey off the table and poured it gently on the wound. 

“What can I do to help? I don’t know much about this medical stuff.” 

“Um... see if you can find some tongs or somethin’.” 

I looked around and went over to the cabinet as he spread the wound with his finger in his arm. I found some tweezers and turned, “Will these work?” 

“Perfect.” 

I brought them over to him and he took the tweezers, gently going into the wound and retrieving the bullet, almost shouting from the pain. I reached over to hold his other hand and said, “Squeeze if you have to.” 

He grabbed my hand and slowly pulled the bullet out, dropping it on the ground as he started to shake from the adrenaline. 

“Breathe, Frost,” I reminded him and interlaced my fingers with his. He inhaled and exhaled deeply, then stood to go and look in the cabinet next to him. “Woah, slow down,” I tried to stop him. 

He found a roll of gauze and said, “Got it.” 

“Sit yourself back down, Mister.” I tried to help him back on the bed and took the gauze from him. 

“You don’t have to try and impress me, Deputy.” He sighed and let the gauze go, smiling at me. 

“Thank you,” I took it and started to wipe up the blood. 

“Don’t look like I need stitches, I’ll get it checked out to make sure it don’t get infected though,” he said. 

“Good thinking,” I nodded. I slowed down the wiping as it was mostly cleaned up and looked around for a bandage to wrap around the wound. I found one and wrapped it around his arm slowly and carefully, trying not to put too much pressure on the wound. He looked at me and smiled as he watched me work, and I caught him staring. I blushed and held my hand over the bandage, looking into his eyes. “You alright, Frost?” 

He smiled and looked back into my eyes. “Perfect.” 

I swallowed a bit, setting the gauze on the bed beside him, still looking in his eyes. “Now what?” I asked, feeling my heart pound against my chest. 

He took a hand and placed it against my cheek, still looking in my eyes. He stood slowly and leaned in to place a soft kiss on my lips. He pulled away, still looking at me. “Oh God, I’m sorry...” 

I was taken aback by the kiss and blinked. Putting a hand on his chest, I leaned forward and kissed him back. The kiss deepened and then he leaned his forehead against mine, speaking with a slight laugh in his voice. “Wow...” 

I exhaled deeply, feeling my knees go weak. “Uh... yeah... wow...” I said somewhat shakily. 

“Well the arm is better,” he quickly let go and moved his wounded arm around in a circular motion. “Feels better I mean.” 

I chuckled and pulled him back into an embrace. “I reckon the rest of you is better too. Where’d that come from, Mr. Deputy?”

“Well Detective,” he chuckled, “I... I don’t know.” 

I smiled and squeezed his waist slightly. “That was one hell of a kiss.”

“You’re one hell of a lady.” 

“I am?” I swallowed hard. 

“Of course!” 

I looked in his eyes, still in awe as I slid my hands up his sides. “I resort to my earlier question... What now?” 

He kissed my cheek once more and then looked in my eyes, “I’m sorry, I have to run.” 

“I’m gonna have to talk to you about some business soon darlin’...” I said, kissing him again. 

“Perhaps we can arrange a... private meeting?” I whispered. 

“Sounds good to me,” he smiled and nodded. 

“Goodnight, detective,” he smiled and went on his way. 

I went back to my horse who was waiting for me outside the clinic and said, “Well that was unexpected, girl...” I led her back up the hill towards home and went inside, falling asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.