Tombstone.
This morning I sat in front of the hotel and waved to a woman who came out of the hotel lobby. “Morning ma’am.”
She turned and smiled at me. “Morning, miss.”
“New in town?”
“No ma’am, just waiting on news of your cousin,” she looked around the kitchen.
“Who’s your cousin? Maybe I know them...”
The woman seemed secretive there, as if she didn’t want anyone to overhear, and whispered, “Sirus Termain, ma’am.”
“I know him. He’s a good man,” I nodded to her.
“Yes he is a fine man, but wasn’t always, ma’am, and I did not wish others to start talking again. Perhaps, ma’am, you could tell me how I may find his bride? I think her name was Sky or Skylar... his writing was unclear.”
“Don’t you worry, ma’am. I’ll be making sure that don’t happen. He’s a good friend of mine now and he treats that Sheriff well. You can find her across the street at the sheriff’s office but she may not be in just yet. Usually takes her a couple hours to wake up,” I winked.
The woman blushed and said, “Perhaps then I will take a small meal here it was a long travel from California northern country.”
“I’m sure they can help ya inside. Listen, I’m worried about Si and I want to help him but I ain’t sure how.”
“Please would you let her know that I will look perhaps later in the evening to see her and become acquainted?” She started then turned back to me with worry. “Help him? What is wrong?”
“Well like you said ma’am, he didn’t always be so straight and narrow. I’m sure I’m just worryin’ too much but I know that running from one’s past ain’t always the easiest thing to do. What’s your name? I’ll tell the sheriff I talked with you?”
“My name is Missy Anne, I will leave her a note as well so that she may know to reach me if I do not happen to be around, I was to take the afternoon stage back to Pennsylvania.”
“Okay,” I nodded. “Well it was good to talk to you, I just hope ya’ll know you can count on me if ya need it. Like I said, Si is a good man.. He was one of the first people I met when I came to this town.”
She smiled wide and nodded. “Sirus is a great gent, always the first to offer to help as a little boy, but sometimes events will change a person. I just hope the town now will give him a chance, he wrote about what happened when he first returned here. He has sought out the good word and still those that have nothing better to do will speak ill of those trying to change.”
“Well I can assure you that I am not one of those folks. He was in court for something that I knew he was bein’ framed for and being a prosecuting attorney I chose not to take his case because I knew he was innocent. He landed up going free, as he deserved to.” She smiled and almost chuckled at that and I said, “So you heard about that too...”
“Thank you so much for looking out for him ma’am, I am sorry I did not catch yer name?”
“Oh, sorry. Detective Trin Paige,” she smiles and reaches out her hand.
She shook my hand and I smiled, “It was a pleasure speaking with you Detective Trin, it is good to meet those that know my cousin Sirus, I cannot wait to see him again.”
I smiled but couldn’t help feeling sad, guessing that we wouldn’t be seeing Sirus for a while. “Well I should let you go and get some food and I should carry on with some work. I will let the sheriff know you’re in town.”
“Thank you again,” she said and headed back into the hotel.
I walked down the street and found Bree standing in front of the bank. “Hey there, Bree! How are things at the bank?”
“Very good. We’re okay this morning.”
We talked a bit more and then I sat down in front of the Epitath to write in my notebook. Waterfall and Peta joined me. Peta told me that she had started to help out at the orphanage. Waterfall told us about how her mother had been killed years ago and I told them about how the last time Josh came to town was to tell me that our father had been killed by some men at our ranch back home. I talked with Tessa’s daughter Maggie about being a detective now instead of a newspaper publisher like when her mom had met me all those years ago.
***
I wandered down the street and found a sign posted on a post in front of Kate’s: “Lost Money. 4000 $ if found, you will be given clocks. Please find before sundown Friday or berry terms in the sand we will. Let my people go!”
I walked over to the sheriff’s office and asked her, “Sheriff. You seen those notes around about lost money?”
“Yup, how can I not. On my office door.”
“Sure are askin’ a lot, huh?”
“Always do, damn idiots. Like we don’t know where the clocks are.”
“I know... can’t even do anythin’ about it.”
“Well we just need to get some things in order. They want to make demands, we can do it back.”
“I’d suggest we do it by tonight. Sounds like things are gonna go down then. We need people to be aware of it and prepared in case there’s more violence.”
“Another war, no,” she sighed.
“Violence?” Liz put in then.
“We take it to Ghenna,” Skyla said.
“Yeah, keep it in Ghenna,” I nodded.
“Ain’t coming into town and starting nothing. Not this time. Not on my watch.”
“What’s going on?” Liz asked.
Skyla pointed to the sign and said, “That’s what’s going on, Liz.”
“Good to hear, Sheriff. I trust ya but it’s getting a bit crazy,” I answered her.
“When does it not get crazy, Trin?”
“True enough,” I sighed.
“This is the west. They think they can run things... I’ll show ‘em run things,” she grunted. “Punk can be shot, I do it damn near every time I go after him. I just get hurt usually too. Me and Steve saw the clocks. We know where they are.”
“So do I,” I nodded.
“Just going to need men and guns.”
“Mmhmm.” I looked to Skyla then and said, “I met Sirus’ cousin this morning, Skyla. She was lookin’ for ya. Missy Anne, or somethin’.”
“Zephra?” Skyla asked.
I shook my head and said, “Said her name was Missy Anne. Said she was lookin’ for news on her cousin.”
“Oh yeah, about that. As of this point, I don’t know,” she sighed. “His horse returned home without him last night with blood on the saddle.” She was keeping a straight face but I could see that she had been crying about it all night.
“Oh Sheriff...” I reached out and put a hand on her shoulder.
She shook her head slightly and looked down. “He knew he had a warrant, as did I.”
“I talked to him just before he left... I told the cousin that I was tryin’ to show he’d started down the right path...”
“He has indeed,” she nodded. “That man would do anything to stay with me.”
“I know he would, Skyla,” I sighed. “I just hope he gets back soon.”
“I just feel helpless ‘cause when he left here... there was nothing I could do and nowhere I can turn. I just have to sit and wait.”
“I understand that hon... You know I’m here if you need anything.” She nodded and I said, “I’m gonna go back to the office but let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“Okay Trin, I will. And thank you again,” she said and I walked down the street.
Ali and Richie greeted me and I told them I was going to go check on the office. Richie offered to come with me and I led the way to the office, thinking how different the mood was between us since the night before.
When we walked into the office I saw a sealed envelope on the desk. “Richie...” I reached for it and looked at him with concern.
“Wait now. It may be work-related. Don’t worry before you even open the thang.”
I opened the envelope and pulled out the letter, reading it out loud. “TO PINKERTON: You quit worrying about the TIME PIECE or it will soon be your TIME to go so we can have PEACE!!! It’s time to......LET MY PEOPLE GO!!! SIGNED XX.” I looked to Richie with worry and said, “Get Sky. Bring her here.”
“Oh well now you can worry a bit,” he nodded. “I’ll go fetch her. You get your gun out.”
“Should be out by the bank,” I nodded and reached for my gun and holster to be prepared. I hadn’t worn my gun in so long and it felt strange to have the belt around my waist, but I knew that things had just gotten serious.
“Lock the door behind me. Don’t open fer anybody but me, you here? Nobody.”
I nodded and he walked out of the door. While he was gone I opened the drawer and reached for some fresh bullets, making sure my weapon was ready if I needed it. Soon there was a knock on the door and Richie called out that it was him.
Showing the letter to Skyla, she read it and then sighed, handing it back to me. “This just got serious.”
“They threatening to kill her now,” Richie said.
“Only problem is we don’t know who or what is leaving these notes.”
“Sky, I’m not going anywhere unarmed anymore.”
“Well maybe the good law is gonna have to put a deputy on the porch,” Richie suggested.
I shook my head and said, “There’s not enough manpower for a bodyguard. I’ll just keep the doors locked.”
“Well body guard maybe not,” Richie shook his head.
“I don’t have the man power to put someone on the porch around the clock, Richie,” Sky said, “But they can watch the office.”
“This is where they be leaving the threats,” Richie pointed out.
“Well I can make it known to swing by and check on the place,” Skyla promised.
There was a knock on the door and Richie told us to stay quiet. “Who is that?” he asked. There was another knock and Richie called, “WHATCHA YOUR BUSINESS?”
“My business is that ya talk too loud,” our visitor said and I recognized Jade’s voice, looking at Skyla nervously.
“Can I?” Skyla looked at me for permission to open the door.
I sighed and stood behind Richie. “I guess.”
“Aw come on, I don’t bite...” Jade said and knocked again. Skyla kicked the door open hard and stood in front of it. Jade stumbled backwards a bit and Jade asked, “Damn, is that the way you want to treat someone that taught your husband some fitness lessons, Skyla?”
“Tell her we’re on coffee break, Sheriff,” Richie said.
“I can still hear you!”
“What do you want, Jade?” I finally asked, stepping forward.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I’m a nosey person... I’d like to know what the fuss is about.”
I shook my head at Sky and she said, “What Jade? And sorry, I don’t trust folks lately.”
“Sorry? What reason have I given ya not to trust me?”
“For catching ya with the door,” Skyla said and I chuckled. Jade wandered inside and stayed close to the door so Skyla added, “I don’t trust no one and I got a good memory, Jade. Remember the bank and Ansar... You and Serenity both.”
“Told ya we just having coffee,” Richie said.
Hearing Skyla say the name Serenity, I suddenly wondered if she hadn’t sent her sister in here to interrupt our conversation about the threat.
“Me, Ansar? Bank? Oh, please, that was a long time ago,” Jade said.
Skyla rolled her eyes and said, “And like Richie said, we are having coffee.”
“Jade you got official business here otherwise I’m gonna have to ask you to step out of the office,” I told her.
“Who’s after you, and why?” Jade smirked and pointed at me.
“How’d you know about it?” I looked at her.
“Well, it’s hard not to overhear outside the door. I got curious...”
“Who said anybody was?” Richie asked. “You seem to know a lot. Maybe a lil too much.”
She shrugged and said, “I know a thing or two... eavesdropping is easy when the walls are thin.”
I looked from Jade to Skyla and back to Jade. “If ya need to know, then we’ll tell ya. For now, please respect the privacy of this office.”
“I think that telling me is one of the smartest things you can do.”
“One of the smartest?!” I asked with a slightly raised voice.
“Ask Skyla. I’m pretty swift with my guns,” she winked at Skyla.
“Is that a threat, Jade?” I asked.
“A threat? Heavens no,” Jade shook her head.
“She’s a hoot alright,” Skyla said, “But smart... nope.”
“I think one of the smartest thangs you can do is get your nosey ass out of this office,” Richie told her.
“Sure sounded like one,” I said, looking from Richie to Skyla, and she nodded in a agreement.
“But I think you need me, and it comes with a price. Good security seems to be a necessity for you right now. You treasure your life, yes?”
“I need you?” I asked, raising my voice more.
Richie stood and walked to the door. “Ma’am, it’s time fer you to be on your way.”
“I’ve got all I need in this office, thank you very much,” I said.
“I think so... and I think you need inside information on your matter,” Jade boasted.
“Woah, hold it. What did you just say?” Skyla asked then.
Jade held up a hand to Richie and said, “Back off, slime. No one cares.”
“Inside information?” I blinked at her.
She spun on her heels and looked like she was going to leave the office. “Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter... you don’t need me anyway, do you?” I blinked again and looked to Skyla who just looked back at me and shook her head.
“I suppose being a good citizen is harder than it appears around here,” Jade shrugged.
I leaned over to Sky and whispered, “She’s Serenity’s sister. I don’t trust her faster than she can shoot a bullet.”
Richie poured Jade a cup of coffee and said, “Here ma’am, have a seat.” I looked at Richie and shook my head as he said, “Sit, talk.”
“Richie...” I started to say and then there was another knock on the door. Now what? I thought to myself.
“I think I’m fine with standing, thanks...” Jade refused Richie’s offer.
“Damn, now who?” Skyla asked and went to the door.
“Well, enjoy the coffee,” Richie told Jade.
“Everything okay in there?” Liz’s voice came from the other side of the door and I sighed with relief.
“Jade, I respectfully ask you to leave this office for the last time,” I looked at her.
“Oh, you don’t have to ask again... but I figured you might need an inside hand.”
“I’m good thanks,” I glared at Jade, not trusting her.
“Doesn’t sound like it, but oh well. When a mob is at your door with no gunhands to save you... don’t say I didn’t warn you, or try to help you. I actually feel sorry for you, because the worst it yet to come... Good day,” she grinned at me and turned to walk out the door.
“More threats. Get her out of here,” I rolled my eyes and looked at Skyla.
She led Jade outside and I sat in my chair, trying not to make it obvious that I was shaking with worry. “I do know I need to get down to work on these journals and figure this mystery out,” I said as we settled back down once Jade had left.
“Well, they be one thang that rings to memory,” Richie said. “‘Let my people go...’ Weren’t that what the bunch was saying about the jail?”
“Yeah, it is,” I nodded.
“When you had that Dom feller in there.”
“Have been looking at them,” Sky nodded. “And doesn’t help thy know about the clocks.”
“But still a bunch to look at. Well we find that there clock, and who has it.”
I nodded in agreement to Richie and said, “I’m getting closer I just need to crack down. We know where the clocks are we just need to know who’s behind this. We now know Jade’s somewhat involved. I’d bet you her sister Serenity knows something.”
“Who protects it? I think we will have it,” Richie said.
“Alright Trin, we will make rounds here. I need to get back out there,” Skyla said, “With Ali and Jade in town.”
“Thanks, Sheriff,” I nodded and then said, “Ali... She runs with ‘em don’t she?” Skyla nodded again and I said, “And Punk... Damn it, Punk...” I kicked my desk, realizing. “He was with me when I first got that letter. He acted all innocent.”
“Well fill me in later,” Skyla nodded. “Let me get to work.”
“Sure. Thanks,” I nodded and watched her and Liz walk out.
“Lock that door, Miss Trin,” Richie told me.
I stood and locked the door and then came back to my desk, looking at Richie with worry, knowing things just got a million times more complicated.
***
This afternoon I walked into town and nodded to Sky and Liz in front of the Sheriff’s office. A man with a Ranger badge was standing there and he introduced himself as Cletis. Ripley came over, acting drunk.
“I wanna shoot the hat off his head,” he said about Cletis with an obvious drunken drawl.
“Hey there Ripley,” I greeted him.
“Mr....well reckon I forgot your name, been a while,” Cletis said and then added, “Mr. Ripley, ...how you feeling?”
“Don’t think so, Rip,” Skyla smirked.
I raised an eyebrow and looked from Rip to Sky, then back to Rip. “Keep dreamin’ there, Rip.”
“It’s the man’s decision Miss, not yours,” Ripley told Skyla. “I’m sure he game. I ain’t here to murder him. Just a challenge.”
“It’s my decision in my own town, Rip.”
“If he agrees then it’s lawful.”
“Well we ought to make it interesting,” Cletis nodded.
“I don’t want to hurt the man,” Ripley promised. “Just shoot his hat.”
“Nope, ain’t lawful unless it’s outta my town.”
“You ain’t still feeling poorly about that drink the other night, are you?” Cletis asked.
“It ain’t your town lady, it’s the mayor’s,” Ripley told Skyla.
“My streets, Rip. Whether ya like it or not.”
“No, Mr. Cletis,” Ripley turned to the ranger. “Has had a bad gut for a while, but fine now, Sir.”
“Well that’s the curing part... Tell you what,” Cletis nodded. “I’ll let you shoot my hat but if you miss, you get to get my name tattooed on you, in the tramp stamp sort of location.”
“Erm, well, okay. Deal then, Sir,” Ripley nodded.
“Iff’n you hit me in the head, you get my face tattooed on your arm that says ‘RIP Little Cletis’.”
“Ok then, hold still!” Ripley laughed and drew his gun. I backed up slightly and just shook my head, amused by the two.
“Holster it!” Skyla shouted then and moved her hands to her guns.
Cletis closed his eyes and Ripley fired a shot, missing Cletis’ body. Cletis’ hat fell off and he said, “Dang.” Skyla began firing then and shot down Ripley.
Punk, who was standing by, tilted his head and then nodded over to Jade. “Oh well,” he said and then shouted, “Doctor needed, one wounded Allen Street!”
“Bad luck I guess, but nice shootin’,” Cletis said to Ripley, who was narrowing his eyes at Skyla.
“We’ll get you a doc for that wrongful shooting, Ripley,” Jade promised him.
“You did get the hat off right?” Punk asked Ripley, looking down on him.
Skyla went to search Ripley and removed all weapons from him as Ripley nodded to Punk. She cuffed him then and pulled him up.
Cletis got his hat and dusted it off, looking at the hole, and put it back on his head. “Now I’m gonna have a little sunburn in one spot all the time but, I can live with that.”
“Weird how I did break any law, in an arrangement agreed with a ranger in fact,” Ripley muttered.
“Gonna be that kind of night,” I chuckled and just shook my head.
“Actually ya did,” Skyla said. “Get over it.”
I walked over to Cletis and asked, “You alright, Sir?”
Skyla shouted for a doc again as Cletis said, “Sorry for the disturbance sheriff, couldn’t pass up the chance to have a Little Cletis tramp stamp on someone and I did get him sick the other night.”
“Anyways, jail I guess it is, for whatever reason,” Ripley sighed.
“Why’d you get him sick before this?” I looked at Cletis, wanting the full story.
“Accidental, he had a bad batch of my pre-rangering snake oil.”
“Uh huh,” I sighed, having heard that before. “So this was payback, eh?”
“Any luck?” Punk asked Jade who had gone off to look for a doctor. “I couldn’t find one in the office...”
“Just gambling I figure. He’d of shot me in the back for pay back, or front even.”
I nodded, understanding more. “Figures it’s over money. Always is,” I shot a glare in Jade’s direction. “Gonna go check on the sheriff,” I said then.
Jade glared back at me and mouthed, “Dead meat” with a sick grin afterwards. She broke the glare and then looked back to Punk as I just shook my head and kept walking.
No one was in the clinic so I wondered where she’d gone and went back to the Sheriff’s office. Liz greeted me and I asked if I could come in and she stepped back to give me room.
“Seems this whole thing was over gamblin’. The ranger had given this guy some snake oil or somethin’ and he said the man woulda shot him over money lost no matter what,” I told her. “So now ya know the full story.”
“Thanks for letting us know,” she nodded.
I nodded and wandered back outside, making my way towards the fort. I wanted to find Wedge and talk to him so I knocked on the big doors, calling out if anyone was there. Wedge was sitting on the top of the wall and looked down at me. When I asked if I could come in he said sure and went down to open the door.
“I need some help,” I said, entering the fort.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“Can we sit and talk somewhere?” I asked with a serious tone.
“Um... The eating area. Is it private?”
“Pretty private,” I nodded. “The wrong people hear about this and I’ll be sunk.”
“Ok, in the General’s office then.”
“Lead the way.”
I followed him to the office and took a deep breath as I sat down at the desk. I looked at him, the fear in my eyes obvious. “I need some protection,” I started.
He leaned back against the edge of the desk and said, “Okay... What’s going on?”
“I’ve been receiving some threatening letters... with this whole clock theft case. Not just threats on paper but verbally too. Tellin’ me to back off or there’ll be a fire, or that I’ll be killed.”
“For a clock?”
“They know I know where the clocks are, Wedge. They know I know who’s behind it by now probably. Here, let me show you the two notes I’ve gotten.”
I handed him the first note and waited as he read it, then handed him the second note.
“ALL this for a clock?” he looked at me with a confused expression.
“When I went to Ghenna and found the clocks there, TJ suggested tying me up. Serenity and Lot seemed in agrement to the idea. Lot shouted threats out to me if I ever entered there again and I ran back to town. Now Jade’s giving me looks and snooping around my office. This is getting out of hand, Wedge,” I said.
“What’s so special about a damn clock?”
“The four clocks, on either side of the clock tower... That were stolen.”
“Okay... ClockS...” he noted the importance of the fact that I was speaking about more than one clock.
“There’s ransom notes around town wanting four thousand dollars.”
“You need to be hid, or...?” he looked down at the notes then at me.
“Well I can’t very well wander around town by myself now can I?”
“Well, it’s now seems like you can’t.” He scratched his neck, looking at the notes again. “Who else do you trust?”
“The sheriff, Liz her deputy, Richie, but he ain’t armed, you and Chet from here... There was another soldier named Daryl somethin’ at the office too but I ain’t seen him since...”
“Chet?!” he raised an eyebrow. “You really trust Chet?”
“Chet and I go way back.”
“Okay...”
“Well... He got married and barely told me about it.”
“I see,” he cleared his throat.
“He and I knew each other since Georgetown where I started as a Detective.”
“Ahh... okay.”
“I dated our mutual friend for a couple months then we reunited here and he told me my man had died. Then he said that he was still alive but I ain’t seen Tom since so I doubt it now. He... comforted me with the news but then I guess moved on pretty fast and got himself married. He’d protect me with his life though.”
“No offense, I personally don’t trust him, but that’s just me.”
“That’s your call to make. I just... I need advice here, Wedge. What would you do if you were me?”
“Well I’m a stubborn cuss myself... I don’t deal well with threats. If you do investigate, make sure you’re not alone.”
“That’s the problem.”
“And don’t travel to the outlaws’ town alone.”
“I ain’t travelin there in pairs,” I nodded.
“Hey, if a Ranger is close by, give him a holler for help.”
I stood and reached for the notes, putting them back in my pocket. “I guess I should head to town then.”
“I’ll be there to help if I know you need it,” he nodded.
“Thanks for this, Wedge. I just... It’s been a while since someone’s been after my life like this.”
“I’ll talk to the General about helping you out if need be.”
“Alright. The sheriff don’t have much help in town so I had to go externally for this. Wanted ya’ll to be aware of the situation.”
“Well as a Ranger I am there... as Army, I need permission.”
“Of course,” I nodded.
“Very good then.”
I reached out to shake his hand and said, “Thank you, Colonel.”
“Welcome,” he shook my hand and led me back out of the fort.
On the way home, I took a long look at Ghenna and then wandered back to town. I ducked into Annie’s, thinking that no one would think to look for me there. I worked on my witness report for what had happened with Cletis and Ripley and then headed back to the office to set the report in the sheriff’s mailbox. Seeing the group in front of the saloon, I hesitated and then looked over at Punk who was standing nearby.
“Punk, can we chat?” I asked him, ignoring the others though they greeted me.
He seemed to be sleeping so I just leaned against the post, waiting for him to wake up as the others talked. Eventually he woke up and smiled at me. “See something you like, detective?”
I chuckled at his response and asked, “Feel like gettin’ a drink?”
He shook his head and laughed, “Oh what am I saying, of course you do.”
I knew his memory wasn’t that short and blushed slightly, waiting for him to reply. Serenity said she could use a drink and Punk said to me, “I don’t feel like drinkin’ just yet, Agent Paige. Perhaps you can indulge the lovely Miss Graves, while I get my bearings back?”
Serenity walked into the saloon with Ripley and I handed Punk the second note I’d received. He sighed and took the paper, but didn’t open it. Instead, he just pocketed the letter and looked back at me. “Still as annoying as ever, huh, Detective?”
“Give it back if you ain’t gonna look at it,” I shook my head and reached out my hand. When he just smirked and leaned back agains the chair I shook my head. “Fine, keep it then.”
I looked at Serenity as I passed and went into the saloon. I took out my flask and filled it with whiskey, letting the beverage calm me down, as I waited to see what would happen. The group continued to talk outside but I just ignored them, finishing my drink. I eventually walked outside and Punk shot a dirty glance at me as he chuckled, patting his coat pocket.
“Somethin’ wrong, Punk?” I looked over at him.
“Oh not at all Agent Paige,” he shook his head.
“I’ll bet,” I muttered and looked at him. “You don’t think all that writing I do I didn’t make copies? You think you’re so clever.”
Punk stood up and passed by me. He nodded over in Ripley’s direction and said, “I think he needs your company.”
“Oh really?” I looked from Punk to Ripley. “And what kind of company would that be?”
Punk brushed me off and walked away from Kate’s casually, winking at Rip as he left.
Ripley put his hands up and asked, “What I said?”
“Think they tryin’ to get us to talk alone.”
“Well, seems you wanted to talk alone.”
“I did?”
“You two want me to leave, I don’t want to be a third wheel,” Cletis said.
“Not with me,” Ripley shook his head.
“You’re alright, Ranger,” I assured him.
“Well don’t want to be in the way iff’n you two got somethin’ workin’,” Cletis looked knowingly at Ripley.
“Nah,” I shook my head. “I ain’t hardly talked to Rip.”
“Well, she ain’t showin’ me her breasticles yet, so first base ain’t happening,” Ripley laughed and I chuckled.
“You’ve got guns on ya though, eh?” I looked to the gun belt around his waist.
“I do?” he nodded.
“Think ya could protect me if it came down to it?”
“Depends. From what?’
“He shoot their hat off at least,” Cletis nodded and we just laughed.
“I just... might need someone watchin’ my back tonight,” I kept my glance on Ripley.
“Damnit, need to go look at something,” Ripley said and walked off.
I looked to the ranger and asked, “You ain’t gonna leave me out here all alone are ya?”
“Guess not,” Cletis shrugged. “What you worried about?”
“Been gettin’ some threatening letters... verbal threats...”
“Get them all the time,” Cletis nodded. “Who sending them to you?”
“Ain’t been proven yet but I have a good feelin’.”
“And who dat feeling about?”
“Do names matter? They’ll find a way to get the job done if we know ‘em or not.”
“Names don’t hurt exactly, tend to help if its bob and I see Bob comin’, sort of gives me a heads up.”
“Thing is I ain’t positive so I don’t wanna incriminate the wrong folks.”
I heard Sniper laugh and turned suddenly, having been caught off guard. “How are ya, Sniper?” I asked him.
“I’m okay, and yourself?” he asked and I shrugged.
“So, you basically want me to stand around clueless, not that that ain’t all that normal and wait for some unknown party to try and do you harm?” Cletis asked me.
“My lord, those people down the street have the stolen watchtower clock!” Chrono shouted then and I looked over to see a woman with one of the big clocks from the tower.
“Hola good folks of tombstone! We are here to collect what we asked for! Can ya deliver? Because we can!”
“Who are you and what do you want?” Sky asked then and the woman continued to awkwardly hold the clock upright.
“Sheriff, they must be the ones who did that to the clock tower, don’t let them get away with this outrage!” Chrono shouted.
“I did bring my friends this time too!” the woman shouted and I noticed two men walking up behind her.
“Damn, guess I will go see what they want,” Cletis said and I followed him down the street.
“There’s tres mas where this one came from!” the woman said and I nodded, understanding that she meant there were three more clocks other than that one. “You did not heed our REWARD posters? We lost some money! We have clocks! We want our money for these clocks!”
“How did you lose your money?” Liz asked.
“This chica must no read,” one of the men said then.
“Four thousand dollars for?” Sniper chimed in then as the crowd in the street grew.
“Joo give the lost dinero we give the clocks,” another female voice came from on top of Kate’s.
“I’m gonna go look,” Cletis said and walked over to the clock.
“NO no mister. JOO no come touch these clocks without our monies!” the first woman shook her hea at him.
“So why would anyone buy a clock? I’ll give you $9 for it,” he shrugged.
“You think we cheap Mister? You cheap, offering only nine dollars. We want more than that!”
I moved my hand to my gun in case this went bad and the woman shook her head at me, pointing a finger at me. “You no either move closer!”
“Why you think we should give you the money not like we lost it?” Liz shouted back.
“You good folks want you clocks back, yes?” the woman asked Liz as I backed up slightly, but not by much.
Cletis moved closer and said, “If I was you, I’d leave the clock and get while you can.”
“You sure full of a lot of questions and no answers,” Liz shouted.
“NO NO, JOO NO MOVE CLOSER! I WILL PEW PEW YOU!” the woman shouted as she reached for her guns, looking at Cletis. “We no need answers given. We have clocks! You want clocks, give us money for them!”
“Are they Mexicans?” Chrono assked.
“I don’t want to be pew pew’d... less that means something good,” Cletis blinked.
“No mister, PEW PEW is NOT good!”
“You want money... go get an honest job...” Skyla shouted.
“We do have honest jobs. We make tacos!”
“Now run along you chili chokers before this gets ugly,” Cletis told her.
I moved a bit closer and the man held out his hand to me. “Stop! Joo stay still!”
“Hand over them clocks and this wont get messy!” Sky shouted.
“Hello,” Liz greeted Al. “Stand over there and be ready Al.”
I sighed as I watched Cletis walk over and stand right on the clock. The woman smiled and said, “Then I suppose things get ugly Mister.” She unclipped her holsters and stepped back slowly, letting out a yell. “They no give us monies! We asked for moneys!”
“What’s going on here?” TJ asked as he walked over. Suzi was preparing to draw as well and everyone looked as if they were ready to fire on one another.
“Mister TJ, Senor. Ready yer guns if you wish. We must protect the clocks or get our moneys!” the woman with the clock said.
“Don’t shoot, you fools! They have hidden the other parts of the clock, we may never find them!” Chrono shouted.
I looked over and watched as TJ walked closer. “One clock in the hand is better than 3 we can’t see,” Cletis pointed out. “Take the nine dollars.”
“Last chance, hand it over!” Skyla shouted. “And oh, we’ll find ‘em if we have to drug ya all over hell and creation!”
“Joo becareful down there, someone on roof of courthouse!” the woman above Kate’s yelled out.
“Ain’t takin no nine dollars mister! We asked our demands! You never see rest of clocks if we don’t get that!” the woman with the clock yelled.
Cletis moved to the side a little and said, “Take the nine bucks.”
She shook her head and asked, “No one else give in?”
I watched Cletis, thinking to myself that I was brave but I wasn’t stupid, and stayed still as I waited. Sky shouted, “Law, they don’t want to meet our demands! Show ‘em now!”
Gunfire rang out in the streets as people ran from one side to the other. It was hard to tell who was on which side of the law and I felt a bullet hit me in the arm and looked around to see that it had been TJ who shot me down. I grabbed my arm and winced at the pain shooting through.
“Any of our people wounded?” the woman on top of Kate’s yelled down.
“Ya’ll will never see the other clocks if I get cuffed!” the woman who had been holding the clock shouted.
“Damn law shooting at me while I was helping,” Sniper laughed from close by me on the ground.
“Now ya have two enemies,” TJ shook his head at Sniper. “Us and them.”
“Yeah yeah,” Sniper shrugged.
“Wrong move.”
“I don’t mind being shot down, ya should know that.”
“I’m still askin’ fer money!” the woman called out.
I shook my head at the irony of having landed right near the clock that I’d risked my life to find. Skyla shouted back, “Go get the other clocks and we’ll talk about ya damn money!”
“Who can walk?” Jimmi came over then with the stretcher and I told him that I could. I walked over to the clinic, holding my arm, and Starling and Jimmi went to work healing the group in the crowded clinic. I rubbed my arm, feeling it was tender, but it didn’t hurt as much as my pride.
“I think I’m fine,” I looked at Skyla, “I just... Was a graze.”
I looked around, wondering where Sniper ran off to, and Ya’ii came in to help heal people as the job was too big for just two people. Thinking that my wound wasn’t really that painful, I walked outside and looked to Sniper who was standing in front of the clinic.
“Sniper? Thanks for... helping...” I said to him.
“Ya welcome, Trin,” Sniper nodded. “Now no doubt I’m gonna be assassinated for helping,” he laughed.
“I know what sacrifice you made, Sniper. That’s why I’m thankin’ ya,” I nodded back. Abby called out from the bank and heard that they needed a doctor there too. “What the hell now?” I sighed. I wandered over, knowing I had a job to do, and ignored the pain. Voo had been shot down by the clock and I just shook my head, too tired to deal with more shooting, and walked back to my office.
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