June 5, 1899

Tombstone.

This morning I walked over to the hotel and heard Muriel telling the Angel and Bria that Dancing Cloud cut fingers off little children. Muriel said that it was time to take back the fort and avenge Lot’s shooting today. As Bria hid behind me, I assured her that it was okay and Muriel was just trying to scare her. I decided to take the children for a walk down the street and gave the two women a disapproving look for scaring them. 

We went over to the market stand and talked about how they didn’t trust Muriel now. I met a man with a Spanish accent and told him that Bria and Angel were my little helpers for the morning. Angel said that she’d told Muriel that if she was ever mean to Twig, that she would answer to her daddy. I told her to tell Josh about the conversation and she promised she would. She said that Muriel told her that if she found a bone later, it would be one of hers. She asked if Dancing Cloud would ever hurt them and I told her that she wouldn’t. I told them I’d be at the courthouse and went to find Ansar. 

“Can we talk inside?” I asked him. 

“Sure, what’s this about?” he asked and I followed him into the courthouse. 

“Been a somewhat disturbing morning,” I told him. 

“Oh?” 

“Was standing outside with Muriel and Dancing Cloud and Bria and Angel. Muriel went on and on about how Dancing Cloud would harm the kids and basically threatened them.” 

“Oh… hmm….” he nodded, listening. 

“Muriel said if she found another bone later, it would be Angel’s. She said that to Angel after me and Bria walked down the street to get away from the two women. I didn’t like the sound of it so I wanted to come to you for advice.” 

“Wait… hold on. Dancing Cloud said Muriel said if she found another bone later, it would be Angel’s? How would she know or another bone? Sorry, I am a bit lost.” 

“No... Muriel said that about the bone. After Bria and I had left. She was scaring them that DC would do something to hurt them. Then Angel asked if Muriel would ever hurt them and she looked pretty scared. I just wanted to give you the heads up about it because it don’t sound good.” 

“So Muriel the one making the threats? So where’d Dancing Cloud fit all that?” 

“If she’s not threatening for herself she’s sayin’ that DC will do these things to them.” 

“So both Muriel and dancing cloud where making threats to kids?” 

“DC said she wouldn’t hurt the children but the girls seemed pretty shaken up about it.” 

“And DC?” 

“I think they’re more afraid of Muriel.” 

“How many people were threatening them?” 

“Muriel was saying that DC would hurt them, but DC denied the promises and the girls asked me if Muriel would really hurt them. It was just Bria and Angel there, Twig wasn’t anywhere to be seen but they mentioned that Muriel doesn’t like Apache.” 

“Who does?” 

“Muriel said she’d seen DC cut fingers off little children but I think she was just trying to get a rise out of them. I hope that’s all it was..” 

“Sound like stories ya tell ya kid to behave.” 

“But the girls were gonna tell their father Josh about it and I just wanted to give you the heads up. Cause I don’t like women threatening children, even if it is in jest.” 

“Well no but, sound like she was scaring them away from an Apache?” 

“But Tye’s told me over and over again that DC ain’t like the other Apache.” 

“That’s a good thing, if so. Can’t be trusted too much,” Ansar said. “Why are jailer’s here under twenty-four hour watch when on duty. So he don’t steal nothing.” 

“I know. I’ll keep an eye over the girls though... I don’t like the thought of anything happening to them.” 

“Red ain’t neither. Don’t mean everyone going to like them. Know what I mean?” 

“I know, very well. I’ve had my own past with the Apache,” I nodded. “Not these ones necessarily... but I know what they’re like. Thanks for coming to town and listening, Ansar. I feel better knowing that you know.” 

“Yeah, I would keep watch out all the same. But stories are stories.” 

“All the same most stories are based on some semblence of truth. Alright we should get back out there.” 

We walked back outside and Angel looked up at me and asked, “Miss Trin, “Do they give tours of the fort?” 

“I don’t know girls. After last night I’m doubting it… I’m not sure what’s going on at the fort... I doubt they do tours anymore but I could find out.” 

“We would just like to see what it is like,” Angel said. 

“Who won the battle yesterday?” Bria asked. 

“I could talk to my friend Chet and maybe he can do that for you some night. He’s a soldier,” I told them. I looked down at the girl and asked, “You know about that?” 

“Yes,” Bria nodded. 

“Oh that would be wonderful!” Angel grinned. 

“The outlaws at the fort,” Bria said. 

“Last I heard Mr Kris got shot in the back dead,” Kris said. 

“Still there.” 

“To be honest I’m not sure about the result of the battle... It didn’t look good when I went back to the office though,” I said. 

“They must have had fun with that,” Angel said. 

“Oh I’m sure they had fun with the battle... Glad someone did,” I muttered. 

We started to talk about Paige being their new mom and talked about Josh being their uncle, not their father, though they called them mom and dad. Angel said that her parents had been killed and they told me that they came into town that morning in their balloon. 

“Dancing Cloud saw us land,” Angel said. “And I went up to her to say good morning. We were talking when Miss Muriel interrupted us.” 

We talked about the balloon races and horses and then went for a ride around town. 

A few hours later, I went back to the hotel and saw Paige, Josh and Bria sitting out front. We talked about what had happened that morning with Muriel and Dancing Cloud, and they thanked me for keeping the girls safe and occupied. I went to do the rounds and leaned back against the post to watch people going about their day as I talked with Richie and the others who were standing around. 

A priest walked down the street and started to get in an argument with an old man named Timmy. Timmy started to swear at the priest but he kept calm, continuing to tell the man to calm down. I stood off the post, ready if I was needed, and watched the old man, who was clearly drunk, continue to argue with the priest and threaten him. Pet and Chu introduced themselves and Sky moved out of the way from the two men, since Timmy had calmed down. Timmy and Chu shook hands and then all of a sudden Timmy started to throw a punch at Chu. 

Chu got hit and said, “Do you feel better, Timmy?” 

“Now ya done gone and done it, Timmy,” Skyla shook her head. 

“Timmy, go sit down and cool off,” I ordered. 

“Yeah sher, I’ll sit down,” Timmy slurred. 

“I will not press any charges to this man sheriff,” Chu said. 

“He’s lucky I’m drunk.,” Timmy said and went to sit down. 

“Alright, it’s rest time fer Timmy, I do believe,” Sky looked at his waist. “You don’t haveta. I saw it, and he’s a time out. Guns please, Timmy,” Sky said to the man as she followed him and Timmy took his guns off. 

“Sheriff, no,” Chu shook his head. “Sheriff, please.” 

“I am doing my job, Chu. Thank you,” Sky smiled. “Guns please, Timmy.” 

“Let him go,” Chu requested as Timmy handed his guns to Skyla. 

“Ah, I could use a nap,” Timmy said. 

“Come on, Timmy. I got a spot fer ya to rest,” Skyla said. 

“Sheriff, it was my fault,” Chu insisted. 

“You’re not the one who is drunk,” I looked at Chu. 

“He might be visiting a lot, Sky,” Pet winked. 

“Go lay down fer a bit and sleep it off,” Sky said as she helped Timmy into the sheriff’s office. “I’ll be back in a few moments ta check on ya.” 

“Howdy Trin,” Cole greeted me. 

“Hey Cole. How’s it goin?” 

“I got me accepted to the Wild Bunch last night!” Cole grinned. 

“And you’re proud of it?” I looked at him. “Not only that, but you’re announcing it to a deputy?” 

“Sure am! Lot himself done the honors!” 

“I’ll bet he did,” I muttered. 

“Brings me a warm curly feel’n all up and down my body!” 

“Trin, give him about thirty minutes,” Sky instructed to me. “He’s not in a cell. Let him sleep fer a bit. Just sleeping on a cot.” 

“Sure,” I nodded to her as Cole told Muriel he got shot last night. 

“You and your pal Mac,” Muriel said. 

“Mac was here?” I blinked and they nodded. “Geez. Haven’t seen Mac since last month.” 

They continued to talk about the battle at the fort and Muriel said she had the whole fort against her. After a while I heard movement inside and went into the office. “Morning Timmy,” I chuckled at him. 

“Hey miss.” 

“Feelin’ better?” I chuckled. 

“Well, other than th’ headache, yeah.” 

“Think you’re ready to be better behaved now? No more hittin’ priests?” 

“I’ll do me best miss,” I chuckled. 

“Alright then,” I went over to unlock the safe, getting out the man’s guns. 

“If only there was a woman in me life that could change me ways.” 

“Honey you couldn’t handle me,” I chuckled and handed the guns back to him. 

“Well then… I’ll be seein’ ye.” 

“You wanna tell me why you were drunk?” I asked. 

“Why I got drunk?” 

“Mmhmm.” 

“Let’s see. Me pa was an arse, me ma was a whore, me long lost brother recently died, and most importantly, I’m Irish.” 

“Of course ya are,” I chuckled. “Shall we head back out there?” 

“Sure, let’s go,” he said and I led the way outside. 

Timmy took a seat in front of the sheriff’s office and I heard Cole talking to Sky about getting accepted into the Wild Bunch gang. Sky insisted that he had anger problems but he yelled in response and I chuckled at the two of them. I told Skyla that Timmy was good to go and the banter continued around us as I leaned against the pole and listened. Cole mentioned that everyone picked on him and hurt Del one night going on about how Cole slept around. 

After a while I looked at Pet and said, “Startin to think I should get a place other than the hotel... Sounds like you’re gonna be busy. I’ve had my room long enough. Could just sleep in the office here. Besides... What do I need a double bed for?” 

“Trin… Hold that thought. I have something to show ya.” 

“I sleep in the office if I’m too tired to make it home,” Sky said. 

“Ya do Pet? Here in Tombstone?” I asked hopefully. 

“Iffn you wanna walk, it’s on the way. On the border.”

“Alright, I can stay on duty then.” 

“I’ll call for ya,” she said and she and Chu headed off. 

“Hey Sky.. You know I’ve been in town officially a month now?” I smiled at Sky. 

“Yup I do, and look at ya!” 

“Mmhmm. Right where you said I should be from day one.” 

“I know law folks when I see em,” Sky smiled. 

“I’ll let you say ‘I told you so’ now,” I winked at her. 

“I don’t say that,” Sky laughed. 

“But I’m giving you permission,” I chuckled. “Sure is quiet around here without Tye, huh? Oops, sorry. Forget I said anything,” I winked. 

“And don’t forget I like my quiet times. Few, far and in between they are,” Sky said. 

“Why do you think I work the day shift?” I grinned. 

“I wonder whenever I come to town, even if I’m not on duty,” she laughed. 

“Did you say it’s quiet time?” Sirus asked. 

“Um… yea. Quiet time,” Sky blinked and shook her head. 

We continued to talk and I walked over to Kate’s. I saw a man nearby, nudging him to see if he was awake. Vic asked me if this was Tom and I told her that it wasn’t and that I hadn’t seen him yet. I still didn’t believe it was true and looked down as the man nudged me back. 

“How much have you had, Sir?” I asked the man. 

“I usually lose count before I start drinking,” he said. 

“Sir, are you stayin’ anywhere in town?” 

“Miss Trin, ya aint’ going to be harassing the fella are you?” Ali asked me. 

“Nope I’m gonna take him back to sleep off the alcohol so he doesn’t do any harm to anyone else,” I said. 

“I’m staying in that fort!” he pointed east. 

“Of course you are,” I muttered. “Think you’ve had enough whiskey today, hmm?” 

“No I’m not done drinking!” he finished his whiskey and slammed the bottle on the floor. 

“He harm someone today?” Ali asked as the man stumbled up and burped really loudly. 

“Guess not,” I jumped at he smash of the bottle on the ground. “Just making sure he don’t.” 

The man jumped behind the counter and grabbed two bottles of whiskey and carried them out. He popped the top off one and lay down to drink it. “You want to hear the story about the horse?” 

“Sure sir, Tell us a story,” I nodded. 

He stuttered his words and hiccuped a bit as he said, “There once was a horse. The horse was brown. The end,” he laughed. 

“That was quite the story. Little anticlimactic,” I chuckled. 

“Encore! Encore!” Ali clapped. 

“There once was a man who layed in my street and got trampled on cause he wouldn’t get his own sorry ass up the end…” Sky smirked. “I like mine better.” 

“Yup, I like that one better too,” I chuckled. I looked over to ask Vic if she was okay since she was being quiet and she insisted she was fine. 

“Okay okay. There once was a man who only had one shoe. He threw it at the sheriff and knocked her wig off. She ran and never came back,” the man laughed harder and we all laughed. 

“Sky I’m gonna go look at a house with Pet,” I told her then. 

“Okay Trin,” Sky shook her head. “There once was a man who tried to hit the sheriff with a shoe except he was so drunk he hit his face instead,” she told the drunken man. 

Bisbee. 

I went to look at houses with Pet and she showed me a small one that would work well. She said she’d put in a good word with Mayor Spank and I thanked her for her help. 

“I gotta find someone to tell me what happened yesterday.” 

“Yesterday?” 

“At the fort?” 

“Oh that.. Yeah I don’t know much other than that the outlaws took it over, or were trying to. Law were outnumbered and anyone who did attempt to go got shot.” 

“Is it still under siege?” 

“No idea,” I shrugged and she said goodbye and headed back to town.