Tombstone.
This morning I sat down in front of the Epitath and wrote notes for the trial this weekend. Sirus walked over and I greeted him with a smile. “Hey there, Si.”
“Hello Miss Trin. How are you doing this fine day?”
“Just getting to work on my statements and questions for the trial... Hopefully will have better luck with this one.”
“Oh yeah the trial,” he laughed. “Ya won’t ever see me in that place again. Well, unless that overweight, crooked mayor of ours comes up with something else stupid to trial me for.”
“I hear you went free on your trial last week.”
“And deservingly so. Trying to railroad innocent ol’ me. You gotta get up mighty early in the morning to try and do that.”
“Well like I said to you before the trial.. I was just glad I could choose who to prosecute. I knew you were innocent.”
“And I got assigned Miss Vic,” he laughed. “She hastes me, but I must say... did a damn good job defending me.”
“Well that's good to hear she put her personal feelings aside to do the job.”
“Yeah I didn’t expect that. But I reckon it was a good thing for me she cared about her winning record.”
I wrote a few more lines with questions for the witnesses and asked, “So we have a mess on our hands to solve with this whole thing last night ... Did you hear about it? With the Apache saying that Little Chief was taken to town by a man and Aleaya had been hit in the head.”
“Nope,” he shook his head.
“We’ve gotta get the man responsible to them or they’ll wage war in three days. All we’ve got to go on is the man was wearing a top hat and spits a lot.”
“Sounds like our over-crooked mayor to me.”
“You’re just gonna blame everything on him, hmm?”
“Yup, why not,” he nodded rapidly and put his top hat that he’d placed on the table back on his head.
“I’m pretty sure I know who’s behind it... I just gotta foil their plan.”
“Aleaya deserves to be hit in the head a few more times if’n ya ask me. If Sky didn’t ask me to take my guns off... I’d go smack him upside the head a few more times.” I nodded and continued to write my questions for court until eventually he said, “Well Miss Trin, I wish ya luck on yer case. I forgot I need to go do something. I’ll see you a bit later.”
“Thanks Si,” I nodded and watched him walk away to Annie’s where he spit towards the front steps of the building. I added his name to my suspect list and thought that will be a fun conversation to have with Skyla.
Half an hour later Ansar walked over and I talked to him about my writing. Cora came over too and joined me. We talked for a while about the case with the Apache and how I didn’t have much to go on. Cora talked to me about whether she should be some sort of law member and I suggested that she would be really good in court. She went over to talk to Dee and Ansar about an application.
I decided to go home and change so that I could sit on the jury to get some more courtroom experience. A woman walked over to the courthouse and declared that she was innocent. Dee greeted her and we wandered inside to get into position. I went in and sat down beside Victor, nodding to him as the defendant continually declared her innocence to whoever would listen.
We waited for all parties to be present and talked with one another while we waited. I talked with Bee, the woman I’d had the tour around town with Pet. When everyone arrived and there was four members on the jury, Dee began proceedings.
“Court is now in Session,” Dee banged the gavel. “Will the defendant please rise.”
Victor almost stood but stopped himself and I chuckled. The defendant stood and Dee said, “Miss Charity Hope, you have been charged with Shooting w/o Killing David Sarjeant, Shooting without Killing Sarah Sarjeant, and Shooting without Killing Mary Sarjeant ... How do you plea?”
She looked a bit embarassed and said, “Innocent.”
“You may be seated,” Dee smiled. “Prosecutor, please approach the jury.”
Ansar walked over to the jury box then and started his opening statement. “Hello ladies and gentlemen of the court. Now we have a shooting, we have two more witnesses who are family involved in this case. And shoot themselves. I hope to see that you all see the truth of this case and find her guilty of all charges. Thank You.”
He sat back down and Dee invited the defense lawyer, Angeles, to approach the jury. “Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, first I would like to say thanks for coming so early to this trial and doing this duty. I would like you to listen at every witness before choice your decision. I prove my client is innocent and being a mistake about what really happened. Hoping all you let this girl the option to be not guilty. Thanks.”
“Thank ya,” Dee smiled and Angeles went back to sit. “Prosecutor, please call yer first witness.”
Ansar stood and said, “Your Honor, I would like to call Sarah Sarjeant to the stands.”
“Please step forward ma’am,” Dee invited and Sara walked up to the witness box. She swore her in and told Ansar to proceed.
“I know this will be hard for you being on the stands today. But thank you for coming all the same.”
“This is what really happened. Thank you,” Sarah looked eager to reveal the truth and we could see that she was still shaken up by the events.
“Is the Client, Charity Hope in fact your Aunt?”
“My Aunt, Ms Charity over there, was taking our brother David home ‘cause he has been hanging out with the wrong crowd.”
“Yes.”
“And you witnessed her shooting all this folks listed in the charges. Among them yourself?”
“I don’t think she shot us, we were behind her,” Sarah flinched a little, making me raise an eyebrow.
“He started pulling the trigger and shooting everywhere. We were standing behind and to each side of our Aunt. Suddenly for no reason at all all three of us kids were shot and laying on the ground.”
“Your Honor I like to read aloud the witness report of Sarah Sarjeant.”
“I will remind you, you are under oath,” Dee reminded the girl.
Ansar pulled out the witness statement and began reading, “Witness statement, dated June 11. What you witnessed: My aunt shooting me, my sister, and brother. Are you willing to testify in a court of law? Yes. Signature: Sarah Sarjeant.”
“That’s one hell of a shot,” Bee muttered beside me and I nodded in agreement.
“Ma’am?” Dee looked to Sarah. “Seems ya need to clarify yer statement.”
“The sheriff made us sign a statement. About the shooting, in the excitement and being wounded and all we signed what was handed up.” Sarah looked nervous and I wrote down in my notebook ‘made here sign’ as a point of interest.
“Now is that or is not not your signature signing that you state I quote ‘My Aunt Shooting Me My Sister And Brother?’” Ansar asked.
“Yes, that is my signature, but I was wounded when I signed that.”
I noticed Skyla shaking her head and watched Ansar ask, “As you can see this is a matter of family. And now is lying on the stands to cover for her family. No farther questions.”
I blinked at that and Angeles stood. “Objection. The prosecutor is speculating.”
“I agree,” Dee nodded. “The jury will ignore the prosecutor’s personal comment. Defense, any questions for this witness?”
“I haven’t questions for the witness, Your Honor.”
“Thank you Miss. You may step down and return to yer seat,” Dee told Sarah and she moved to rejoin the audience.
Ansar stood again and said, “Your honor, I like to remind the jury that this is a signed document of the court and is evidence.”
“That was made clear, thank you,” Dee nodded. “Prosecutor, any more witnesses for ya?”
“Your Honor, I would like to call Mary Sarjeant to the stands.” I watched as Mary walked forward and was sworn in as she took the witness stand. Ansar stepped forward and asked, “Did you too in fact witness like your sister see the client Charity Hope shoot someone?”
“Yes, Sir,” Mary nodded.
“And can you tell us who?”
“David shot all of us,” she said and I blinked.
“Your honor I would like to read her statement for the court,” Ansar asked and Dee nodded so he began to read, “June 11. Being shot my pa’s sister. Are you willing to testify? I have no clue, my mom can decide.”
“I was still in shock, I didn’t know what I was talking about,” Mary shifted in her seat.
“Ma pa’s sisters,” Ansar read again. “So you too stated in your statement that she shot you, correct?”
“It was the sheriff that killed my boy!” a voice came out form the audience and I wrote down that both witnesses had now gone against their written statements given to law.”
“Correct, but as I just said, I was in shock and I didn’t know what I was saying,” Mary said.
“No more questions,” Ansar nodded and sat back down.
The defending lawyer had no questions and Ansar had no more witnesses, so Dee invited the defense to call their first witness.
“I call Sheriff Skyla,” she smiled and I watched as Skyla was sworn in. “Thanks Skyla,” she said when she was allowed to begin. “I want thee jury members to know what happened on the day in question.”
“Well I was standing near the undertaker’s when Miss Hope over there comes to Kris and I overhear,” Skyla explained. “Says a doctor and law is needed. I follow her and Kris around to the side of Annie’s, near the tracks. When we round the corner, the two girls are on the ground and David is up with his gun. I warned David but he shot Miss Hope, so I drew and shot him, which killed him dead on the spot as he wounded and I didn’t see that.” I blinked at the information and continued to listen as she proceeded. “So we went to help the girl and Miss Hope with the girls screaming even while on the ground. Then Miss Hope shot ‘em all.”
“You see Miss Charity shot at someone there?” Angeles asked.
“My baby boy, she killed my baby boy,” the voice cried from the audience again.
“I wasn’t there to see it but she was the only one left not wounded, and standing to get help the girls informed me of who the whole time.”
“Thanks, I haven’t more questions,” Angeles said and went to sit down as Ansar came forward to cross-examine.
“You took Miss Mary and Sarah Sarjeant’s statements, correct?” Ansar asked.
“Indeed Sir, I did.”
“Did you at any point did ether of the two seam in distressed by yourself or there Aunt while writing them?”
“No Sir, they were too busy screaming even on the ground that she shot ‘em.”
Angeles blinked at tat and there was whispering in the courtroom in reaction to the answer. Sarah and Mary shrank in their seats, biting their nails nervously. “And in your report you stated,” Ansar pulled out the statement and read, “‘When I round the corner I see David holding a gun and then see him shoot Charity.’ Is that correct?”
“Yes Sir, That was after Miss Hope came to us.”
“I know this must be hard. But last question. Do you feel yourself that the witness today would have any reason to lie in court to protect their aunt?”
Skyla nodded a little with a smirk in response to that and I raised an eyebrow again.
“Objection, the prosecutor speculating again,” Angeles rose.
“Your Honor I am pointing out the fact that there statements have change in the amount of time given from the sheriff and the today in court,” Ansar replied to the objection.
“Objection sustained,” Dee replied.
Skyla went back to her place near the judge when Dee gave her permission and Dee asked the defense if they had any more witnesses. I shook my head in confusion, continuing to write notes about the trial.
“Defense, any more witnesses for ya?” Dee asked Angeles.
“Yes, I would call my client, Miss Charity.”
This should be good, I thought to myself and watched as Charity took the stand and was sworn in. I watched Sarah rush out of the courtroom and sighed, guessing this was all too much for the girl.
“Well I want jury to know Charity, who shot at the girls?” Angeles asked her.
“Not me,” Charity shook her head.
“And who do that?” Angeles asked and I thought to myself that wasn’t an answer to the question.
“You see, David and I were going back home and round about Ms Anne’s he went crazy,” Charity explained. “He pulled his pistol. Pulled his pistol and started shooting everywhere. The sun must be baking his brain and all. With all the bullets flying hit his sisters (that were standing behind me on either side) were shot also. I ran down Allen street to get help -- a doctor and the law.”
“And who shot at David?”
“The sheriff shot him,” Charity said and I realized that just verified Skyla’s statement against her.
“Let me see if I understand and want to be clear,” Angeles said. “You shot at someone that day?”
“I suppose I did buy a derringer when I got to town, but that was for protection against wild Indians and snakes. When David started shooting I must have shot him back, in defense you know.”
“Well I think you wear some guns to protect yourself next time being in town,” Angeles pointed out. “I haven’t more questions.”
“Thank you Angeles,” Dee nodded. “Prosecution, any questions?”
Ansar stood and walked over to Charity and asked, “By your own statement, if you where already shot by your bother as the sheriff claimed, how could you run down a street to get help?”
I thought to myself that was a great question and leaned forward as Charity answered, “David, my adopted Nephew, slightly wounded me. After a couple of minutes I was able to stand up and run for help. The girls were worse off.”
I wrote down the words ‘slightly wounded’ as Ansar asked, “Now he is you nephew? But the two witnesses claim he was your bother. Seams your story’s are not adding up. And have you ever know your two girls to ever lie to you?”
I wrote down the words ‘brother’ and ‘nephew’ with question marks as Charity began to answer. “The girls stated I am there Aunt. I be the adopted sister of Pastor Bryan - raised by Pastor Bryan & Mrs René - at the age of 18 became the Nanny of the Pastor’s newborn triplets. I was living with the Sarjeants in Black Diamond...Until the Misses forgives me I don’t be knowing where I be living.”
“Objection,” Angeles stood. “The prosecutor is confusing Miss Charity.”
“That is not the question,” Ansar shook his head.
“They do not lie,” Charity said. “They were nervouse and wounded when they were asked to sign. They made a mistake.”
“Overruled,” Dee said to the objection. “I don’t think it is confusing to try to straighten out her relationship.”
“You know as the jury we are only humans and everyone lies at one point in there life or another,” Ansar looked over at us but I thought to myself that it shouldn’t happen on the stand. Turning to Charity he asked, “And if they had lied to you, would you ever punish them, doing chores or cleaning up the yard?”
“Objection, since the beginning it was clear the relation parental between the witness and my client,” Angeles said.
“Overruled again defense,” Dee argued. “Your client is the one who stated two different relationships.”
“I was their Nanny, I helped raised them. Punishment was their parents job, not mine,” Charity said and we all raised our eyebrow at that.
“Oh now your the Nanny? first an Aunt.. now a Nanny.. Oh wait or was it something else all together. No more questions your honor,” Ansar just shook his head and walked back to his seat as I chuckled at his statement.
“She’s both!” Mary shouted out then.
“I hate to be confusing. I am Pastor Bryan’s Brother by adoption. David the pastor’s dead son,” Charity explained and I blinked at the word ‘brother’.
Dee indicated for the defendant to return to her seat and then said, “Seems we have heard all the testimony from both sides. Guess we are down to closin’ statements. Prosecution, yer first.”
“Sister, I am so confused right now. And David is dead!” Charity said to her lawyer and I blinked at that, hoping it was a Catholic reference of some sort.
Ansar stood then and approached the jury bench. “As you can see in the court today that this was not self defense. She shoot the man as and the two witness are living in FEAR by there own AUNT! She shoot the two innocent females and her bother. you here the statements with us in the court today. And fearing for there life from this Evil. To protect the there family any man, women and child would lie and say they didn’t shoot them. But lets fact the cold hard fact that they stated for the sheriff thats she did in FACT shoot them and her brother. Thank You.”
I remembered writing down th point in my notebook at the admission and smiled, watching Angeles step forward to give her closing statement.
“I want to say a few observations for some clear about the situation,” Angeles started and I thought, Good, some clarification. “The witness being wounded and in shock when signed the witness report, like lawmen i can said its something sometimes happens like in the case we have today,” she said and I stifled a cough. “And like doctor can agree I never see like professional someone shoot people behind except have eyes in the back, and both witness said stay behind Miss Charity, this way we cam see she no shot a the girl. Now about this trial, the Sheriff said she see David shot a Charity and later her shot at him. So I want all your really think about this and make my client Not Guilty in all the shot charges, thank you.”
“Thank you both for presentin’ yer cases,” Dee smiled to both of them as Angeles sat back down. She looked at us and said, “Please head into the jury room and look over all the evidence you have seen and heard here, choose a foreman and return with yer verdict, unanimous or by majority, of guilty or not guilty for the charge of Shooting without Killing David Sarjeant, Shooting without Killing Sarah Sarjeant, and Shooting without Killing Mary Sarjeant.”
We made our way into the jury room and sat down around the table. Pet said, “Reckon we’re all here,” and we began our discussion.
“Anyone else confused?” I chuckled.
“Yes, very,” Cora grinned.
“I know I am,” Pet giggled. “How about you, Bee’ga? How’d ya like to speak for us?”
“Only thing I know for sure... It ain’t easy to shoot some one when you’re already wounded. There’s no way David could have managed to shot all those girls. Also, Charity said that the girls were on either side of her, not to her back like the closing statement stated.”
“Them gals are lyin’,” Bee commented.
“It seems to me like she was telling a lot of lies,” Cora nodded.
“On that I believe we all agree,” Pet giggled again.
“Not to mention the confusion over relationships... but I’m not sure that’s the main point. The point is the girls lied on the stand, including the woman on trial. I say guilty without question.”
“But so was the Nanny-brother-sister-aunt. adopted person. Whew boy,” Pet exhaled and I nodded to Pet.
“Yes, I agree Pet,” Cora nodded. “She couldn’t tell one straight fact.”
“I’m gonna be blunt and just say I think she’s guilty,” Victor said then.
“Not sure the point of relation matters so much as the fact they were lyin’,” I said.
“So who told the best lie?” Pet asked.
“Works for me,” I nodded to Victor. “We’ve got two guilty with me and vic. Who else? We just need one more to say guilty and we can go back out there.”
Pet raised her hand and Bee said, “Me.”
“Done verdict then. Pet you want to be foreman?”
“She can be foreman,” Pet pointed at Bee. “But I have a question first. An important question.”
“What’s your question?” I asked.
“How’d she run AAAAAALLLLLLLL the way back into town from behind Annie’s wounded? And how’d David get wounded so that the Sheriffs bullet took him out. Maybe David was protecting the girls from her and her wound was self-inflicted?”
“If David’s protecting the girls from her then she’d still be guilty,” I pointed out. “She admitted to buying a gun.”
“Ohh no mystery she’s guilty as sin,” Pet nodded.
“Alright then.”
“Just for lyin’, but... what did you have to say Cora?” Pet looked at her.
“Well I just think I agree with Pet and that she seemed to lie about everything. So I have doubts about her. I think she’s guilty,” Cora nodded.
“I don’t like liars,” Bee said.
“Then we’re agreed. Bee, you’ll go out there and tell them that we’ve reached a verdict of guilty?” I looked at her.
“Ok, fine by me,” Bee nodded.
“First Bee, ask the judge for sandwiches,” Pet joked. “We deserve something for listening to all them tall tales.”
“Let’s go,” I chuckled and we walked out into the courtroom to take our seats again.
We took our seat and Bee announced that we declared Charity as guilty. “Thank you jury members for your time and thought ya put into this decision, I gotta say ya had a lot to confuse ya.. you are free to leave,” Dee said to us. Looking at the defendant she said, “You have been found guilty by a jury of yer peers, your sentence is 25 Minutes or 50L. Bailiff please take the prisoner out of the courtroom, and thank you for yer services here today. Court is dismissed,” Dee banged the gavel and the crowd dispersed as we walked back outside.
***
This afternoon I walked over to the sheriff’s office and waved to Skyla and Liz who were standing there. “What a twist in court today, huh, Trin?” Sky asked me.
“That it was indeed. You handled it well,” I nodded. “Sheriff I was wondering if we could clarify something for the trial tomorrow against Amo.”
“I usually don’t talk about it until the trial, but what?”
“This is important, Sky. In your statement you said that Amo shot Frank, right?”
“Amo shot...” she blinked. “Let me see it.”
“Thing is when I talked to Frank about what he witnessed he never mentioned it.”
“I said threatened to shoot,” Sky clarified.
“S’pose it could mean threatened to instead of actually did. We can clarify it if we need to. Any more progress on this whole Apache business?”
“I ain’t seen hide nor hair of this other man,” Sky said.
“Shane T whats-his-face...” I sighed.
“With a top hat and spits a lot,” Sky nodded.
“Well Sky, this morning Sirus decided to wear a top hat and I saw him spitting as he walked across the road. Hope it was just because I’d said it in conversation that we were lookin’ for someone. “I doubt he’d actually do something like that just seemed a bit facetious.”
“He did what!?” Skyla blinked. “He wasn’t around for that...”
“He was wearin a top hat and spit as he wandered over to Annie’s.” I shrugged as her face grew red.
“I’ma kill ‘em!” Skyla shouted angrily and I nodded, knowing that was gonna be her response.
“Maybe somebody wants this war to happen then. Who knows.. those big wig fat cat politicians love to stir the pot,” we heard Punk talking from down the street at the saloon. “In three moons, none a’ that is gonna’ matter, Blood Shadow.”
“Hey Trin, ya hear Punk down there?” Sky asked.
“Yeah I do. I ain’t gonna get anywhere talkin’ to him though. He hates me I’m pretty sure,” I nodded.
Skyla smirked and I heard someone walking up behind me. I turned to see Blood Shadow walking up towards us and he asked, “Do you have man who hurt little chief?”
“No sir, we don’t yet but we are looking for him,” Sky promised.
From a distance I heard Punk setting a glass down and saying, “Dead Rabbits... heh.”
“We need a bit more of a description to go on, Sir,” I told him.
“You have 2 moons.... Or war will be upon town,” he promised. “Find man... Blood shadow not wait for 2 moons.”
“We need more,” I looked at him but he was already walking away.
Ella walked over then and I greeted her as Sky walked into her office. “Hey Ella. Frustrating day ‘round here.”
Frank walked over and I greeted him with a smile as I overheard Punk introducing himself as William Blake to a woman nearby. “Can you look over this statement I wrote up from our talk yesterday, in case you can’t make it tomorrow?” I asked Frank and handed him the paper.
“Sure can,” he took it and read it over, then signed it and said it looked fine. He walked off and I went over to the saloon and looked to Punk.
“I’m sorry Sir, mind if I have a moment?” He continued to talk to the others and I leaned against the fence, waiting for his reply. I didn’t really want to talk to him but I didn’t want to lose the opportunity since there were no other outlaws around.
Punk smiled up at me. “Oh why, Agent Pagie.. how lovely of you to join us.” He motioned for me to sit and said, “Please, do have a seat then.. Detective.”
I chuckled knowing the “Blake Williams” voice and asked, “Sir I don’t suppose you know anything about this mess with the Apache claiming war on the town in a couple days...? I could really use some help.”
“War?” the woman who Punk was talking with asked.
I nodded and said, “Yes ma’am. Apparently a child was taken from the village by someone in town... They want the man captured or they’ll wage war on us in two days.”
“One day and none of you have any actual information on this? Not even any statements or reports on what actually happened?” Punk shook his head playfully. “My, my.. the law does seem to slack ‘round.. here these parts,” he whispered.
“We know the child was taken and returned to his camp. We know the child was taken by a man in a top hat and who spits a lot, not that that narrows it down. We know that the chief’s wife was hit over the head by something.”
“How exciting,” the girl observed and I looked over to her. “The threat of war on a town when they won’t even give us an accurate discription of someone to look for is exciting to you, miss?”
She looked at me with shock. “Oh, excuse me. I guess you are right about that.”
“And you all know this because a man who wasn’t even there told you?” Punk asked. “Some great detective work there,” he smirked.
“How do you know that, Sir? The man who told me witnessed the boy being taken by this man. The lack of details we’re being given is making me wonder if this weren’t a setup. Obviously they don’t really want the man caught or they would have helped us with more information to find the proper man.”
He laughed and said, “The man who told you this, told you this himself. And that’s evidence enough? You don’t even have a clue how the child was returned. Yet, if you pay attention to details.. it has been peppered with clues.”
“It’s not enough evidence. I spoke with the chief and the chief’s wife. I value their word and do not think the Apache would lie,” I argued.
“As I told you when you came to me the other night, Quid pro quo. And you ignored it. Just like you ignored every other detail that’s already been said. Now if you will excuse me.”
“I ignored it because as par usual, you are only interested in undermining me at every turn,” I shot back. “If you want my help, or if they want our help, then some respect would be much appreciated.”
“I don’t need your help Trin. Clearly with the lack of facts and details.”
“Then find the man himself and don’t wage war on the town.”
“Your help ain’t much. Quid pro quo, detective. If you can’t play the game, then I suggest looking for actual facts somewhere else.”
Cole walked over and I sighed, nodding to him. “Hey Trin. How’s things with you?”
“How are things with me? That’s a great question.”
“I was just talking with Libby, the new medical assistant,” Cole smiled. “Didn’t hear what Punk is up to though?”
“Who the hell knows what Punk is up to,” I shrugged.
“Oh, I’m gettin’ old I guess. Gabe shot me down last night and some Mexican too. I can’t do the fancy running yet. Only one left for me to shoot anymore is Voo, and he’s a dunce.”
“So you’re finally gonna admit that it ain’t worth it to go shootin’ everybody?”
“Well I ain’t sure about that... but I need to improve my technique, that’s fer sure.”
“Uh huh,” I sighed.
“I can’t change what I am. I told ya the story about the scorpion and the frog, dang it!”
“I know Cole, I do,” I shook my head in frustration at everything going on. “Maybe I just need a drink.”
“Maybe you need a pair of guns too!” Cole suggested.
“Don’t you remember how that worked out for me?”
“Well, if ya want to talk with me and share your woes, I’m always here to listen Trin. Ya know that.”
“I know, Cole... I just wish we had more to go on with this whole Apache war threat mess.”
“Oh? That’s news to me.”
“And me,” Bee said. “What ya sayin’?”
“Gonna go take a seat,” I sighed. “Richie should be along soon.”
“Alright Trin,” Cole nodded.
“What am I sayin about what, Bee?”
“Apache,” she asked.
“They want to track down the man who kidnapped Little Chief. The kid was returned and is safe though.”
Richie finally came over and I went over to hug him. “There’s that man of mine!”
“Who me?” he grinned.
“Let me get us some coffees darlin’,” I winked at him.
“Well thank ya, Miss Trin,” Richie smiled and I went into the kitchen to pour a couple of coffees. I came back and handed them to him and said, “So what has been th days goings on Miss Trin? Anybody get killed today?”
“Had someone arrested today, does that count?” I smiled.
“Arrested? Who?”
“Was on the jury for the case against Charity Hope. She was guilty as sin and her family was lyin’ on the stand to protect her. The best was when the defense called the sheriff as a witness, not the prosecutor. Made me fall right out of my chair. Well, almost,” I winked.
“Well so they took em to jail did they?”
“Mmhmm. We called her guilty and they took her away. It was a beautiful thing watching justice at work.”
“You will be Judging before long,” he chuckled. “You will have to hire a gun just to protect you.”
“I hardly think so. Prosecutor’s a good enough job for me. And jury duty when I’m not,” I chuckled. “You wanna be my bodyguard?”
“Now I might be able to protect from a feller in a fair fight. I don’t believe in gun toting..”
“Now darlin’ I didn’t necessarily mean with a gun,” I chuckled.
“Miss Trinnnn!!!! You have me blushing!” Richie protested.
I reached over and squeezed his hand. “How was your day, darling?”
“Long and slow, Miss Trin.”
Ali walked over then I asked how she was doing. “I’m doing well, thank you. how are you two?”
I smiled over at him and said, “Reckon we’re doin’ just fine, ain’t we Richie? Richie’s gonna be my bodyguard,” I chuckled.
“I’m too lazy fer labor,” he protested.
“I promise you... It ain’t gonna be work,” I winked at him.
We talked for a while with Ali, Cole, Bee and Gabe who walked over and joined us before we decided to head home.
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