Friday, July 31, 2015

March 23, 1900

Black Diamond. 

I walked over to Aly’s house and saw a tree had grown between her place and the church. She was laying on one of the branches so I climbed up and relaxed on one of the branch. When I had gotten comfortable I started, “Hey Aly...”

“Hey Trin.” 

“You know that guy yesterday at the saloon... seemed to know who I was?”

“That nosy man with the long coat before Bill walked in. Yeah?” 

“Didn’t you find it a little odd how he seemed to know so much about me?”

“Trin he seemed to know a whole lot of useless crap. Like how you work for a railroad,” Aly nodded. “Supposedly. He was acting really strange in court, making weird faces at me.” 

“Oh was he? I was so not focused during that trial.”

“Yeah I was trying real hard to not pay attention. I was more focused no the fact that, for the second time now, Mark was standing behind me, and this time he was tickling me with a feather, and I didn’t know whether to be annoyed or giggly.” 

“Ugh...” I shook my head. 

Bree came over and we talked with her for a while about how things had been quiet around town lately. When she was gone Aly said, “Trin...” 

“Yeah?” 

“I think from now on when I want to write a letter to someone I’m going to do it from here,” she laughed, “Instead of on the work bench.” 

“And whenever I want to catch up on journals I might have to come up here.”

“You’re welcome in my tree any time... and what got to asking about that man from the saloon?” 

“Um...” I blushed. 

“You think he’s hot or something?” she raised an eyebrow. 

“He’s gonna be my uh... bodyguard,” I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Think he wanted to call it something else.”

“You spoke with him after that time?” 

“Nope haven’t seen him since we danced.”

“Uh...what kind of something else?” she asked. “Wait are we talking about the same person?” 

“Max.” 

“I was still talking about the saloon guy with Bill.” 

“Oooooh Demarco,” I laughed. 

“Oh, no we weren’t then,” Aly laughed. “Cause that woulda been really odd Trin. And creepy.” 

“No, I haven’t seen Demarco since the trial.”

“He came to the dance after that.” 

“Did he. He ask you to dance?” 

“Nope. I don’t think I would have. He creeps me out. I’m picky about my dance partners. I can think of three people I’d say yes to, and that’s about it.” 

“Hi Miss Trin, Miss Alyssa,” Kaden walked over with an envelope in his hand. 

“Hey there Kaiden!” I looked down at him. “How are you, kiddo?”

“I got a letter for you Miss Alyssa,” he said and handed Aly the letter. 

“Thank you,” she smiled and read the letter, chuckling a bit. 

“When did you get this?” Aly asked. 

“Couple days back. Been lookin’ for ya since.” 

“Who’s it from, Aly?” I asked. 

“Lonnie.” 

“Oh?” I smiled as Aly gave him some coins and told him to check back with her soon for a return letter. When we were alone again and she’d climbed back up on the tree branch I asked, “What does it say???”

Aly smiled and unfolded the letter, reading it out loud. “‘Hi Alyssa. I got your letter today and was very pleased to have heard from you. It is true that I am not around very much, and might even say I have hung up my dove dancing shoes.’” 

“He did what?” I raised an eyebrow. 

“Yeah... sounds like he might not be dancing anymore.” 

“Wow.” 

“And then it says,” she continued reading. “‘I will take you up on your invitation to visit you, blue house in black diamond..got it. And thank you for your concern about my wound, I would have taken more just to make sure a pretty woman like you didn’t have to, and it really doesn’t hurt much. Mystical is an excellent doctor.” 

“Dang girl...” I shook my head. 

“‘I hope I can get into town this weekend to see you.’ And Trin...here is the BEST part....” 

“Aww...” 

“‘Your friend, Lonnie.’” 

“Friend!?!” I linked. 

“Yeah!” 

“After all that... it’s just ‘friend’??”

“Trin I’ve only met him twice,” she laughed. “That’s what I want to start as. Remember?” 

“Yes, I remember. Just rare for a guy to...”

“And honestly, this is the perfect Sunday...sitting in a tree with my best friend, reading letters from someone that has not only caught my eye, but definitely my attention.....all I need now is some biscuits and fried chicken,” she laughed and looked at me. “To...?” 

“Not many guys want to just stay friends is all I’m sayin’,” I chuckled. “While still having... fun.”

“I wouldn’t want to STAY just friends neither....” 

“Well sure... But it’s the right foundation.”

“But for a first letter...it’s perfect. none of this..yours truly or...forever yours....or such silliness.

“Aly...” 

“What?” 

“I need your help with something..”

“Okay...” 

“After the trial the other night... I ran home upset, wishing I could have done more for Ger to win that case... It felt like such a damn waste of time...”

“It was a waste of time, the whole thing. Even David said so. For everyone. Those other jury members sucked.” 

“And that afternoon Dave pulled me aside ‘cause he wanted to know if there was something he did that would make me feel uncomfortable around him...”

“Oh.” 

“So after the trial I ran home and cried in my living room. But Aly... he came to find me. He tried to calm me down and it was so incredibly sweet and just what I needed but.. The truth is... he was the last man I kissed. And the only man I’ve kissed since like November... And I...” 

“Ok Trin. David kisses whomever is within two feet of him.” 

“He’s married, damn it.”

“Yes he is.” 

“But all I want to do... Is kiss someone again. Maybe not even him but...”

“No don’t kiss him again, please don’t.” 

“When I’m around him it just makes me remember that desire and... Makes things awkward between us.”

“I know. Then you know what you need to do.” 

“But maybe it’s just because I want to kiss someone so badly again. Now that I remember what it feels like.”

“You lay in bed at night, close your eyes, pucker, and get real friendly and acquainted with the back of your hand... And if you’re lucky enough, like me, to have obtained two Apache feathers...ok never mind.” 

“I’d rather kiss Comet,” I rolled my eyes. 

“Ew, Trin. Seriously I know, since I came to Black Diamond I’ve only kissed two people. Believe me, the last kiss I had...it’s been...almost obsessive.” 

“Lonnie,” I smiled. 

“Yeah,” she smiled with me. 

“Maybe we should ride over to Annie’s,” I chuckled. 

“At first though I was angry, caught off guard.....overwhelmed,” she laughed. “He kept teasing me during the whole dance that he was gonna do something to embarrass me. Well Trin if he gave up his dancing shoes he’s probably not gonna be there.” 

“Who said it was for you?” I winked. 

“YOU want to go to Annie’s? You do know he’s the ONLY male dove I know of. Or have you changed preferences?” she laughed and I shook my head. “Well, what then?” 

“I just...” I sighed. “I want... something. Anything.” 

“Be careful about that. Don’t get too desperate or it’s gonna hurt when it’s over.” 

“Even if it’s... just a dance. Just a kiss. With Max or with..”

“That’s why I haven’t moved on from Mark yet. I could have my pick with people. You don’t want anything pretend because that’s dangerous. which is why I don’t like going to Annie’s..” 

“I’m just damn bored.”

I hopped off and called Phoenix, deciding to go for a ride. Aly hopped on her horse and we rode through Tombstone. Aly stopped in front of Annie’s and I chuckled with her about her ideas. We continued to ride and I rode through the empty Apache village and headed towards Ghenna, feeling bored. 

While we were riding, I wasn’t paying attention with so many things on my mind. I fell off the side of the cliff and felt my ankle throbbing. “Aly!” I called. 

“Trin, where are ya!?” Aly shouted from a distance. 

“Phoenix... He ran off! Where are you?” I shouted. 

“Are you ok, are you hurt??” Aly rode up the hill toward me. 

“Damn Ghenna. Twisted my ankle last time I rode through here too,” I reached for my ankle. 

“Can you get on?” Aly lent a hand and pulled me up on her horse. 

I reached up and climbed on the horse as the rain started to fall. “Let’s get out of here.” 

“My thoughts exactly,” she gave the reigns a shake and rode us out of town. 

Diamond. 

As we rode into town I said, “If I ever want to ride through there again, hit me up the backside of my head, would you?”

“Yeah. Shoulda done that when we walked into Apache long ago.” 

“We’re still alive, aren’t we?” I chuckled. 

“Trin you think I should write Lonnie another letter now or wait until after the weekend?” Aly asked. 

“I think you should wait.”

“Mmmm I’m really glad then. And yeah I was thinking the same thing, wait and see if he comes this weekend,” Aly got off the horse and I climbed down in pain. “Ger said I should make a pie and have coffee with him,” Aly frowned. “I need to get you a doctor.” 

I limped my way to the clinic but sighed when no one showed up. I limped back home and rested for a bit. 

After resting for an hour, I limped back over to Aly’s and saw her resting up in the tree. I told her that my ankle was starting to swell and I sat down on the bench, rubbing it. 

Alex rode over and looked at me. “What’d you do?”

“I uh...” I looked over at him. 

“Trin. A horse. Ankle,” Aly sighed. 

“Ghenna.” 

“Did you fall off?” he looked alarmed and I nodded, reaching out to him. He grabbed my arm to steady me and I blinked at his empty left hand and looked at him. “Has anyone looked at that yet?”

“It just happened recent Alex. She went to rest...” 

“It feels like it’s swelling,” I sighed. “There was no one around.”

“Okay, let’s have a look then,” Alex nodded and bent down to scoop me up, carrying me over. “I’ll carry you to the clinic.” When I was laying in the bed he asked, “Want to tell me what happened?”

“Getting really sick of this building,” I said, laying back on a bed in the clinic. 
Aly cleared her throat and explained, “We were...on a little adventure this morning and uh....she took a fall. Just glad it was only her ankle, though you might want to check the rest of her, to be sure.” 

“We were bored, took a ride, I fell,” I told him the simple version, not wanting to tell them that I was distracted with my thoughts that I wasn’t looking where I was going so I fell when Phoenix tripped on a rock. 

“Did you hit your head at all?” he asked and I shook my head. 

“Shoulda stayed in the tree, Trin. I was content having my best friend, tree, love letter, and an actual breeze to go along with it all,” Aly said and I avoided looking in Alex’s eyes as he worked on my foot. 

“Are you breathing ok, Trin? Anything besides your ankle feel out of place?” Alex asked. 

“Yeah,” I nodded. 

“What else feels out of place?” Aly raised an eyebrow. 

“Yeah you can breath or yeah something else is out of place?” Alex asked. 

“Yeah, I can breathe,” I nodded, though the other was true too. 

“Can you wiggle your toes?” Alex held up my leg. 

Aly came over and lifted my arm by the wrist and let it fall naturally. I felt my toes wiggling like normal but winced at the pain shooting through. 

“I don’t think it’s broken, but a bad sprain can hurt almost as much,” Alex said and I nodded to him with a sigh. “I’m going to give you something for the pain so it starts to take hold.”

“Okay...” 

“You’re lucky he showed up when he did Trin. There was nobody else around,” Aly said. 

“Okay, how does the rest of you feel? Are you hurt anywhere else?” Alex asked. 

I looked at him, knowing my expression would tell him everything he needed to know. “No, everything else feels physically fine.”

He nodded and then looked through a cabinet to find some willow bark. “Take this. It will help with the pain and swelling.” He handed it to me and I took it, biting on it. He wrapped my ankle, gently winding the linen around it. He made it tight enough to support but not too much to cut off circulation. “You’re going to be okay, Trin. How about be we get a drink after?” he asked and I nodded, though I didn’t agree that I’d be okay. 

“Drink might help numb that Trin,” Aly smiled. 

“I’d like you to be there too Aly,” Alex looked over at her. 

“Might need a few then.”

“I need a few,” Alex giggled. “I need to talk to you both. But first I want to make sure Trin’s physically okay.”

“Something happen, Alex?” I sat up and looked at him. 

“Yeah. I’ll tell you about it over champagne.”

“Of course,” Aly smiled and nodded. 

“Champagne?” Aly and I looked at him. 

“Yeah, I’m in that kind of mood,” Alex laughed. 

“Have to do with this?” I traced a finger around his fourth finger on his left hand and he nodded. 

“Yeah, I got a letter from my wife..”

“Did the two of you... oh...” Aly said. 

“You did...?” I looked at him. 

“You did?” I blinked at him. 

“Um... ex wife,” Alex grinned and I hugged him tightly. 

“I know divorce is usually supposed to be sad but... Is it wrong that I’m happy for you?” I smiled against him. 

“I can’t believe divorce feels this good,” he laughed. “I’m happy. That’s why I want champagne.”

“Bout damn time,” I whispered against his chest. 

“I hope her letter wasn’t too harsh,” Aly said. 

“No, it was okay. I actually haven’t stopped grinning since. It just feels good to know,” Alex shrugged.

“I have to ask though...” Aly nodded. “Was it a response to something you wrote or did she just write you first?” 

“She wrote to me first. She left to go back to England.”

“Wow....” I tried to stand up and held onto his arm. 

“You married an english girl? Yuck!” Aly blinked. 

“Yeah, Aly, I did,” Alex laughed. “I seem to always go for the foreign ones.” 

“Let’s get that drink,” I said and then nudged him. “Hey, I wasn’t foreign!” 

“You’re Canadian! That’s foreign. Enough,” Alex chuckled.

“He has a point,” Aly laughed and I rolled my eyes as we headed over to the saloon. He poured us all a drink and then I asked if I could make a toast. 

“To living in the moment, enjoying times with friends, and being there for each other no matter what,” I toasted and clinked my glass to theirs. 

Aly told Alex about meeting Steph and how I was working on the case to find her mother.    Alex offered to help and then Aly said that Steph asked her to take care of her if her mother didn’t come back. She told us that she had been working on the farm and getting debris cleared so that she could work on the house. 

I kept looking over at the door, thinking about Max, and when they asked about my glances I told Alex about meeting him. “He said he’d protect me but he seemed a bit too eager to use his guns.”

“He ain’t no outlaw?” Aly asked and Alex raised an eyebrow at that. 

“Not sure. That’s the thing. Seemed fine enough but... there was something about him.”

“Gotta listen to that voice Trin,” Aly said. “We had this conversation earlier.” 

“But I can’t live in fear all the time either. Maybe he’s fine. Maybe I’m just a skeptic because Tye told me not to trust anyone new.”

“That sounds like good advice,” Alex said. 

“No but there is a difference between living in fear and following your instincts,” Aly said. 

“My instincts are confused. Since that damn telegram nothing makes sense anymore.”

“Then take it slow.” 

“No harm in getting to know him a little but keep your distance and an eye open,” Alex said. 

We talked for a while longer and then Aly headed out to have a nap. Alex helped me home and into the bed so I could rest. “Alex?” I looked up at him. 

“Yeah?” 

“I really am happy for you. It was killing me to watch you in that relationship. I know we can’t be together like that but... I just want the best for you. You know that right?”

“Thanks, Trin. I’m really happy to have you as my best friend,” he smiled and squeezed my hand. 

“Sorry you have to keep seeing me in the clinic...”

“That’s okay, that’s my job. I just feel back seeing you get hurt,” he chuckled. 

“I just... That trial... I lost it after that trial. Haven’t really been focused since.”

“Let me know if you ankle swells any more or if there’s any unsual pain. Don’t worry about work right now. Just rest.”

“It’s not just work,” I nodded. “I feel lost. Wandering. Nomadic...”

“I know what you mean. But you’re not alone. You’ve got me. You’ve got Aly.”

“And then that extortion case gets pushed under the rug with a shooting law case...”

“I never said alone...”

“I know, I’m just trying to be encouraging.”

“I know hon, I’m sorry. I just need to get out of this mood and I don’t know how. I need closure I think. I thought seeing Dutch’s body would bring it but... These notes.... the note that has my name on it that I haven’t seen...” 

“I wish I knew what to do to help with all of that,” he shrugged. “I’m kinda useless, I know.”

“So am I. I just need Gaide to get here before this takes over more. Guess I should rest...”

“Yeah you should. I need to go home anyway.”

“Okay... thank you, hon. And congratulations.”

“Thanks. Rest well and stay off that ankle.”

“Yes sir,” I waved and he headed out of the apartment as I turned over to go to sleep. 

*** 

This afternoon I walked over to Aly’s and climbed up into the tree to work on some notes. Aly joined me and we talked for a while until Jackson came over. We suggested he climb up on the top branch and we continued to talk. Quiet Wolf came over with Aly’s puppy who had gotten loose and then we heard gunshots off in the distance. I went over to investigate and Jewel told me to mind my own business. 

I walked back over to Aly and she looked at me seriously, “Why you still standing with that ankle? What’s going on?”

“Nothing, apparently,” I shook my head and greeted Quiet Wolf. 

“Is my brother ok?” 

“I guess,” I shrugged and started to walk away. 

“Ok Trin I know you. Wait,” Aly growled softly. “Come over here.” 

I turned and walked back. “Was that you growling or Rogue?”

“Ok, it was me, sorry,” she cleared her throat. “Please talk to me. Don’t go in there drinking without saying something to me first, please?” 

“Nothing to talk about. Nothing to do. Shooting happens and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it because Tye in’t here and I hurt my ankle because I was too unfocused and fell off my damn horse and I’ve still got a killer after me but I don’t have any idea who it is or when they’re coming or why or...” I said, starting to get hysterical as Quiet Wolf decided to ride back to the village. 

Aly walked over and embraced me tightly. I cuddled up against the puppy in her arms and said, “I need some damn answers.”

“I know. But you can’t make anything happen sooner than it’s meant to be.” 

“I need the sheriff. I need Max. I need...” 

“You need to calm down.” 

“I need to get off this ankle and get a drink.”

“So let’s go.” 

I shook my head and said, “I think I’m going to go home.”

“Are you sure that’s what you need right now?” 

“I just need to rest.”

“Then you should. If I see Alex, I’ll let him know. That is better than drinking right now.” 

“Ok please take it easy.” 

I limped home and saw Ger and Mysti in the street. “Trin, what did you do to your ankle?” Ger asked with concern. 

“Sprained it,” I shook my head with a sigh. 

“Hi there, Trin. Seems like sprain is going around,” Mysti said. “I did my ankle like that just the other day.” 

“I’ll be fine just.. wasn’t looking where I was riding.”

“You’re okay, how about Phoenix?” Ger asked. 

“He’s fine. Found his way home.”

“Good. I saw ‘Mark’ ride out, how’s Aly?” 

“What, Mark was here? What was he doing here?” Mysti asked. 

“She seems okay. Not sure why he spends so much time here if he’s still gettin’ married to another woman,” I answered. 

“Man wants what he can’t have, especially when he already had it before and lost it,” Ger said and I nodded. 

“I need to rest for a while...” I sighed. 

“Need help up the stairs?” Ger asked. 

“Pain will surely drain you,” Mysti said. 

“Yes please...” I nodded, knowing that wasn’t the only thing draining me but I didn’t say anything. 

Ger helped me upstairs into my apartment and I told him that I would be resting for most of the day tomorrow to keep off my ankle. He hugged me goodnight and I headed to bed. 

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