June 10, 1899

Tombstone. 

This morning I walked around town feeling lighter already without the weight of the gun around my waist. I saw Waterfall and Pet by the church and wasn’t sure if I should interrupt. I walked over to Kate’s and got a drink before walking back out and talking with a woman named Cora. Ansar came over and we talked about my change in going back to the detective agency and he said that it was sad to lose me. 

“I’ve been thinking about this whole fort takeover thing…” I said as I sipped my coffee. “Have they attempted it again since that first time?” 

“Once.” 

“How’d it go?” 

“Like the first time.” 

“The soldiers got it back though right?” I sighed. 

“Empty now. We waited them out, I think.” 

“I was thinkin’ about that and it’s part of why I went back to detective. Outlaws won’t listen to people with guns…” 

“That’s why I shoot them. Then they listen.” 

“But my whole plan was for someone to go in and negotiate with ’em, someone unarmed... It would have worked too. I had Ali’s friend go in and talk to her.” 

“Outlaws are like... monkeys.. all your going to get from them is poo thrown at you.” 

“But now that I’m a detective again... I can act as kind of a negotiator…” 

“I try to negotiate when I am there at the time.” 

“With guns,” I winked at him. 

“Hey, I may wear a gun but not always about it. Just the answer to the problem.” 

“I know, Ansar. Just offering another alternative.” 

“Sometimes.” 

“Not sayin you’re like this, ’cause you do it properly, but guns make people think that it’s the only solution.” 

“Most times. That’s the way it has to be. and with some folk thats all there will ever be.” 

“I know... Just wish they accepted that there could be another way to sort things out,” I nodded. 

“Dreamland your thinking of.” 

“Yeah probably just being naive I guess.. It’s worth an attempt though,” I smiled. 

We greeted Peta and talked about how things were going at the clinic. “How ya doin’, Trin? Tye mentioned ya quit law,” Peta said. 

“Yeah, that’s just how it is,” Ansar said. 

“Yeah... I’m doing much better thanks. Feel like ten million weights have been lifted,” I looked at Peta. 

“I just wasn’t myself, I wasn’t thinkin’ clearly... Was more afraid of gettin’ shot or doin the wrong thing,” I said. 

“Yeah, you don’t have to work,” Ansar smiled. 

“I hear there are whole cities with only one or two gunfights a day,” Peta said. 

“Went back to what I know I’m good at and that is being a detective.” 

“Yep. I understand. And if yer law, there’s no end to it.” 

“There is.. but it’s ten feet under and full of worms,” Ansar said. 

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to Tye about it yet… Guess he can go back to calling me Pinky.” 

“Better than Red,” Ansar laughed. 

“I guess except that I hate the color pink,” I chuckled. 

“Whitey?” Ansar suggested. “Bluey? That’s it… call ya Rain.” 

“Just namin’ off colors of the rainbow? How about just Trin?” I chuckled. 

“Rain is shorter,” Ansar said. 

“Why’d ya call her rain?” Peta asked. 

“It’s the same amount of letters,” I chuckled. 

“Rainbow,” Ansar suggested. 

“You could call her Nirt, which is Trin backwards,” Peta offered. 

“Why are we trying to nickname a nickname?” I chuckled. 

“Shh, and don’t tell it that,” Ansar said. “It’s not a shorter name. You want to hurt its feelings?” 

“Huh? Ya lost me,” Peta said. 

“I’m too smart for you, Ansar,” I winked at him. 

“Trin don’t like being called Pinky,” Ansar explained. “So I was looking for a better color.” 

“Well ya can just call her Trin then,” Peta said. 

“Okay you’ve made your point. I’d rather be called Pinky than Rain,” I smirked. 

“Or Nirt,” Peta said. 

“Nirt?” Ansar raised an eyebrow. 

“Who’s side are you on?” I looked at Peta. 

“Ain’t on nobody’s side, exactly,” she shrugged. 

“Mine. Peta always on my side. If I am correct, say no,” Ansar said. 

“Really, Peta?” I looked at her. 

“I ain’t on nobody’s side. I make fun of everybody pretty much equally.” 

I chuckled and we talked with Cora as Ansar headed out to get coffee. I told her that if she wanted to be law, Ansar was the one to talk to. Pet joined us and she noticed that I wasn’t wearing a gun anymore and I told her that the badge was different too. More people joined us and we continued to talk as we let the morning go by. As they talked about family and births, I grew quieter, not particularly enjoying the topic. After a while I suggested that they should just avoid men since they were allergic to me about something and Cora suggested that perhaps it was the job I did. We continued to talk about men and then Pet told us that when she came to town, she’d gotten robbed and then within the hour the man who robbed her was shot by Clint Houston. I shook my head, still hating how that story ended. 

“Worked for a month tracking that man down. Then he gets in a dual with Jimmie in the streets... gets shot and taken to the clinic…” I sighed. “We get him to the cell and he escapes, only to get killed later that night. I knew it had been too easy.” 

“Yep. That’s Clint houston for ya,” Peta nodded. “He’s like a cockroach, ya can’t stomp him out.” 

“Still don’t believe he’s actually dead... I never saw his body.” 

“If the good judge say he dead, I reckon it must be true,” Ali said. 

“That man rises from the dead more times than I can count. Should start callin’ him Lazarus,” I winked at Pet. 

Cora headed off and Pet showed me her pocket Bible that had a little gun under the flap of the inside so that she would always be prepared. We continued to talk with people and Pet headed off to a private wedding so I went to sit on the balcony of the Pinkerton’s office while I did paperwork.