July 8, 1899

Tombstone. 

This morning I sat in front of the hotel with my coffee and notebook, ready to start the day. Tina came over and we talked about the balloon races and how much fun the week had been. Ali and Richie came over before long and sat down beside me, talking about the festivities the night before. Richie spilled my coffee on purpose and then asked if I could get him another coffee and I made another joke about how he had been hanging around the Black Birds too much. 

Jess walked over and commented on how it had been such a busy week, but it was such fun. Richie made a joke that he should run for sheriff and I reminded him that it meant he would actually have to work. I let them talk and sighed, focusing on my notes as I didn’t want to think about someone replacing Skyla. Riche made me another coffee and I thanked him for the drink as I continued to write. 

“For the first time in a while there was some events here last night,” Ali looked over at me at length. 

“Yeah the races and the fireworks sure livened up the place, didn’t they?” I nodded. 

“Indeed they did. however those are not the kind of events I was talking about,” she chuckled. 

“There were other events?” I looked over, intrigued now. 

“When I got to town four wounded in front the sheriff’s office.” 

“You’re kidding... What happened?” I raised an eyebrow. 

“She just told ya,” Richie said. “Four people got shot.” 

“What happened to make them get shot, and who were they?” I shot Richie a look. 

“Well you didn’t ask that,” he shrugged. 

“From what I hear, a fella was unholstered waving his guns around. Shen shot him, a miss shot Shen, Cletis shot the miss, then I think the other miss drew and Cletis shot her as well.” 

“Wow, I miss all the fun.”

“I think that’s how the story was told to me.” 

“Don’t forget Miss Ya’ii was shot too,” Jamie said as she came over. 

“Ain’t got that far yet,” Ali smiled at her. 

“Mr. Lot had to come doctor. It was gruesome,” the child continued. 

“Wow...” I shook my head. 

“Oh sorry Miss Ali if I stole your story,” Jamie apologized. 

“It’s alright Jaime,” Ali smiled. 

“Oh you tell it Jamie. Ali talks to much anyway,” Richie stomped his foot laughing. 

“Thankfully Miss Sky showed up and put every one in there places,” Jamie continued. 

“Of course,” I smiled. “You said someone had a gun out and that’s what started it all? Who was this fella?”

“That’s what I heard, yes,” Ali nodded. 

“No idea who the guy was?”

“Dunno who the man was tho he was just visiting town,” Jamie said. “Same with the other man and his wife.” 

“Oh...” 

“I heard the man hit a kid,” she went on. 

“What?!” I asked Jamie. “Hit a kid?”

“Yes Miss Trin,” she nodded.

“Who was the kid that was hit?” When she didn’t answer I said, “Think I met Shen yesterday... I’m sure Skyla could give me more information when I see her.”

Ali said goodbye then and headed off to Black Diamond. Jamie looked at me and said, “I dunno any other details. I’m sorry.” 

“It’s okay hon, I’m glad you could tell me that much,” I smiled at her. 

“Jamie I reckon we need to start calling you sheriff,” Richie told her and she giggled at that. “Deputy fer sure.” 

“Mmhmm,” I chuckled. “Could be my assistant too.” I handed her a couple of gold coins and smiled, “That’s a little thanks for your help, hon.” 

“I hadn’t seen that many people in town in a long time,” Jamie said. 

“It was good to see yesterday that’s for sure,” I nodded. ‘Before the uh... shooting crowd.” 

“Ohh, thank you,” Jamie giggled as she took the coins. 

“My pleasure.” 

We talked about the festivities the night before and Richie asked me what the name of my new suitor was. I told him that I had to go back to the office but that we were just starting out, and that we weren’t too serious yet. I said goodbye and headed back to the office. 

***

This afternoon I talked with Skyla and Sirus as they dealt with a man who was acting drunk in the crowd. I didn’t find out his name but Shen walked over and I smiled, needing to talk to him. 

“Oh Shen, good... Was lookin’ for people who were around last night for the festivities after the festivities... Still tryin’ to get the full story myself.”

“Mean lady that slapped a child,” Connie shook her head. 

“I think I musta have some sense that trouble was comin’,” Pet said. 

“What’s to know, Trin?” Sky laughed. “Me and Liz walked into it, I started barking orders. People started moving.” 

“A lady slapped a child?” I looked at her. 

“Yea.” 

“Which one?” 

“Tally got slapped,” Sky said.  

“Wow...” 

“By who?” Pet asked. 

“A woman named, um... Desire slapped her.” 

“Then I heard gunfight ensued?” I shook my head. 

“Yup, was bad apparently,” Sky said. “I wasn’t here for it. Me and Liz played cleanup crew,” she laughed. “Shen and Cletis was here for most of it. The court is asking fer more statements.” 

“Yeah that’s what I heard,” I nodded. 

“When did the guns start?” I asked. 

“It started with me eshooting a drunk fella,” Shen said then. 

“I guess someone shot healer,” Connie said. 

“Someone shot the healer?!” 

“Yes, a woman shot Ya’ii in the back,” Shen told me. 

“Desire shot Ya’ii,” Pet said. 

“Ya’ii was shot by um, Jersey,” Skyla said then. 

“Oh, Des... Des or Jersey?” I looked between them. 

“Yes Jersey. Hell, they are twins,” Pet shrugged. 

“Jersey shot Ya’ii,” Sky nodded. 

“And why did Jersey shoot Ya’ii?” I asked. 

“‘Cause when she herself and whole family was shot, there wasn’t no one to heal them,” Pet said. 

“Someone want to start from the beginning?” I looked around the circle, confused. 

Meanwhile, Sky tried to control a man who was acting drunk. I asked her if she needed help and wandered over to try and reach for his hand. He pulled back from me and I suggested that Sirus could come over and slap him back to his senses. Liz asked the drunken man if she needed to lock him up but she didn’t make a move to. She eventually drew her guns and pointed them at his feet and told him to move to the jail cell. I backed up slightly but the man just shook his head. Liz fired a shot at his feet and told him to go sleep it off. The woman nearby tried to get the children to run off and the man stumbled out into the street. He fired back at Liz and shot her down, then shot down Skyla who drew his guns at the man. I drew mine and shot the man for shooting down Skyla and Liz. When he went down I sighed with relief and walked over to Liz. 

“You okay there, Liz?” 

She groaned and I looked at Skyla, “He shot two lawmen. We gotta get these folks to the clinic,” I said looking around for help. 

I went over to the man and looked at Liz, “Liz, hon, get me your cuffs.” 

She tossed the cuffs to me and he limped over to the clinic before I was able to get the cuffs on him. I called for Ya’ii’s help and we ran to the clinic. I finally cuffed the man and said, “Maybe you’ll think twice about shooting two of my partners, Sir.”

“Had I known you butt your nose in I woulda shot you too,” the man told me. “I were just defendin’ myself. Damn deputy shot at my foot. Serves ‘em right.” 

Ida came into the clinic and got to work healing the patients with Jen, who got assistance from her son Casper. 

“Sure you were. Deputy was tryin’ to get you to calm down and not hurt anyone else around, I said to the man. 

“Whatever ya say. All lies,” he shook his head. 

“Deputy Liz was just doin’ her job,” I said as Jen worked on getting the bullet out of Sky as Si held her down. 

“Hasslin’ folks part of her job huh....” 

He sat up and held onto his shoulder and I said, “Protectin’ the public is.”

I made sure his cuffs were on tightly as the business continued in the clinic. Ya’ii brought another patient into the clinic and I just shook my head, wondering what on earth was going on today. Liz asked if the prisoner had been treated yet and he said that he was still waiting. Ida finally managed to come over to take care of him and I backed up to let her do her work. 

Eventually TJ walked in and looked around, “What I miss?” 

“He was drunk, then Liz shot warning shots at him to shut him up, then he shot at Liz and Skyla, so I shot him,” I explained to him. 

“Holy hell, you shot someone Trin?” TJ looked at me with surprise. 

“You want me to say it again? Show you the lack of bullet in my gun?” I asked him. 

“Just didn’t know you could actually shoot,” he shook his head. 

“Surprise,” I winked at him. “How long have ya known me, TJ?” 

“A while, just never saw ya shoot anyone.” 

“I can count on one hand the number of people I’ve shot,” I told him. 

Ida finished working on the prisoner and turned to Skyla as Ella continued to cry on another bed in the clinic. I wondered what was going on and asked, “Ella... You okay, honey?” 

She was obviously not okay but I didn’t know what to do for her other than leave her in the capable hands of Ya’ii. Looking around and seeing that everything was in order, I nodded to Skyla before walking out of the clinic and letting the others do their work. 

***

This evening I walked back into town and waved to Skyla and a little girl with her. “Hey Skyla!” 

“Hey Trin.” 

“Quite the afternoon huh? First time in a while I had to shoot someone. But he shot at you and Liz. There were kids around.”

“I didn’t fire ‘till he did,” Skyla nodded. “And kept trying ta talk to him.” 

“Speaking of kids... you have one?” I looked down at the girl.

“Yes, this is my daughter Lacey. Lacey, this is Miss Trin.” 

“Well hello there Lacey! Didn’t even know ya had a daughter!” 

“She goes to finishing school,” Skyla laughed and I saw Lacey frown. 

“Oooh that’s why we never see you around. Well don’t you look just like your mama,”I smiled to Lacey. 

“She got mouthy with her daddy so to finishing school she went,” she looked at Lacey. 

The girl reached out her hand and I shook it, telling her it was nice to meet her. Sirus came over then and Lacey lit up, running into his arms for a big hug. I smiled, watching the two of them together and Skyla told me that Sirus spoils her rotten. We talked a bit more and then I met a woman named Paisley. We talked about the event at Kate’s that night and then Cole came over and talked with them. 

Lawrence came over and I introduced him to the group of people, though I could tell he was a bit shy and wouldn’t hold my hand. We decided to go home after talking a while and headed back for Bisbee. 

Bisbee. 

When we got to the house, I hugged him tightly and tried to wash the stress of the day off me as we hugged. We cuddled on the couch and I leaned back into his arms, silent for a while. I didn’t even know where to start so I just lay there quietly. 

“Just relax,” he whispered to me. 

“I... I shot someone today...” I swallowed hard. “I can’t get it out of my mind.”

“It’s okay, you get that feeling.” 

“I can count on one hand the amount of people I shot. TJ, who’s known me the longest ‘round here, he couldn’t believe I’d actually done it.”

“He deserved a bullet.” 

“He’d shot at Liz and Skyla... There were kids around... I had to take him down. No one else could... or would... I did’t shoot TJ, it was someone else, who was acting drunk in the street... Liz was trying to detain him but he wouldn’t go with her.”

“TJ needs a good slapping.” 

I shook my head and said, “He came in after it all happened. Just was so stunned I’d shot a man in the streets. Truth is I was just as stunned. Though I acted tough about it...”

“That’s not good.” 

“I did the right thing, right?” 

“Right,” he nodded. 

“We tried to solve it peacefully but he wouldn’t listen... He shot them...” 

“He?” 

“The drunk guy that I shot down. Shot Eliza and Sky...”

“Name?” 

“Um... Didn’t even get his name. He was acting all drunk and Skyla and Liz were just trying to calm him down. Just feel like I failed... I always try to keep things peaceful and without a gun...” 

“Not your fault, just the way it goes.” 

I nodded and curled up against his shoulder, enjoying being close to him. “I’ve missed you...” 

“Missed you too.” 

“Adrian’s got me buried in paperwork with this job but I love it... Just gotta force myself to get out once in a while.”

“You need rest,” he said softly. 

“Lawrence?” I looked up at him. 

“Yes?” 

“Thank you...” 

“For?” 

“Helping me relax... Comforting me... Being here... I could keep going,” I winked. “Or you could just shut me up and kiss me.” 

He kissed me passionately and I kissed him back, relaxing for the first time all day.