March 31, 1900

Black Diamond. 

I walked down the street this morning and noticed a group in front of the bank surrounding a horse. “Morning everyone,” I said and they all greeted me. 

“Who’s our new friend?” I nodded to the horse I didn’t recognize. 

“Visitor to the court house,” Ger said as I went to reach out and pet it but the horse was skiddish. “Shh.. there you go...” Ger calmed her down and I smiled at how he was with the horse. “She was dehydrated is all... but she doesn’t belong here.” 

“Anyone know who she belongs to?” I nodded to him. 

“Good thing you found her,” Alex said as he greeted Paisley coming over. 

“I think it’s Apache Trin,” Aly said. “We just found it laying there.” 

“Another one?” I looked over at Aly. 

“Least it is if she’s like the last one I found,” Aly said. 

“Trin, if we go see the Apache later, we can bring her back,” Alex suggested. 

“Yeah, might wanna take her back when you go in there today,” Aly said. 

“I would like that. I don’t want to go until I can take you with me, Alex,” I nodded to him. 

“Never a good idea to go to Apache land alone,” Paisley agreed. 

“Especially after a wedding,” Ger added and I looked over at Aly, hoping she was alright after her ex’s wedding. 

“Well that’s definitely all you two then, I ain’t going anywhere near there. For multiple reasons,” she sighed. 

“I have Apache friends, but would not go there,” Paisley said. 

“I got something that will cheer you up later,” Alex looked at Aly. “Maple liquor.” 

“I’ll be partaking of that,” Aly smiled. 

“I’ll make sure the girl here will be ready to travel,” Ger said. 

“Sounds good,” I smiled at him. 

Alex took out his pocket watch and said, “Looks like I better get going. I have a patient over in the next county.”

“See you this afternoon. You know where to find me,” I nodded to him as the others joined in saying goodbye and he headed down the street. I turned to the others and sighed, “So now we have a serial horse thief...”

“If this horse is like the other... I would say so,” Ger said. 

“Well... it’s better than having nothing to do. Have any of ya’ll seen Katoria around anywhere lately by the way?” I asked. 

“Thief takes the horse and just leaves them?” Paisley asked. “I saw her the yesterday I believe.” 

“Oh?” I looked at her. “Where’d you see her?” 

“In the Oriental.” 

“Hmm... Must hang out there more often.”

“Sounds like they may be sending a message or setting someone up,” Ger said about the horse thefts. 

“Her brother Greg had just arrived,” Paisley said thoughtfully. “Jewel was near as well. Sugar and Lil.” 

“Ok I thought all this horse theft stuff was Jack...least that what Stormy told me once upon a time. Is there something else going on in addition to that?” Aly asked. 

“Sniper too,” Paisley giggled.  

“We’ll only know when we go over there this afternoon,” I said. 

“Sounds like a party at the Oriental,” Ger said. 

“No, excuse me, Saturday it was,” Paisley said. “I told Tony what happened.” 

“How is Tony? Haven’t seen him in forever.” I smiled. 

“He is doing quite well,” Paisley smiled. 

“Who is Tony?” Ger asked. 

“My husband,” Paisley smiled. 

“Oh right...” he shook his head. “Drew a blank for a moment.” 

“Maybe you need a coffee... Shall we head to the saloon?” I smiled at him. 

“Sounds good...the horse is fine now,” he nodded and I led the way. “I’m having whiskey in mine... you two, Ger?”

Ger nodded but Paisley shook her head. 

We sat down and talked about what was new in the town and current events. 

*** 

Tombstone. 

I rode over to Alex’s house and knocked on the door, “You home?” 

“Hey Trin, come on it! You ready to ride out?”

“You bet,” I walked in, wearing my Native outfit. 

“Nice to be able to blend,” he nodded. 

“Mmhmm.” 

“Okay, so before we leave...” 

“Oh I was gonna give you something that might be helpful,” I looked at him, “Yeah?” 

“What are we doing?” he laughed. 

“Hold on let me see if I brought this...” I held him the paper. “I thought you might like this. It’s what Sky gave me to study the language.”

“Ooo, language stuff!” he smiled. “Thank you!” 

“Mmhmm, thought you’d appreciate it. The plan for today... I want to find out who’s horses were stolen. If I know the owners then I can talk to them directly about any possible threats lately. Or strange people wandering around.” 

“Definitely. I like to be able to say a few words in a persons native langue to be polite. Ok, that sounds like a good idea. Should I take my gun?”

“I’m not sure if you should bring your gun... I’m on the fence about that.”

“I kinda feel like it would be more of a threat than a help. I’d rather appear friendly to them.”

“Okay let’s go.”

We rodded out to  the village but didn’t find anyone so we decided to ride around the towns and see what we could find to do. 

Old Diamond. 

We rode into Diamond and Alex said, “Some people think abandoned places are spooky. I kinda like them.” 

“Mmhmm,” I nodded. “Feels like ages since we’ve been back here...”

“It has been awhile,” he nodded and looked around in the sheriff’s office window. 

We walked over to the mine and I hesitated, looking over at him. “You really are nostalgic today, aren’t you?”

“Wanna go in?” he smirked a little. 

“If we must...” I swallowed a bit. 

We walked over to the entrance and Alex looked at a crate near the door. “What’s that? I don’t remember that being here.” He brushed the dust off the top and the dynamite exploded, making him swear and jump back. “Are you okay?” he looked at me. 

I blinked, coughing from the smoke. “Yeah, peachy. Whose idea was this?”

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said and I leaned against him, relaxing as he wiped the soot and dirt off his face and rubbed his hands on his jeans. 

“I’ll get you back for that,” I tried to keep the mood light and he laughed at that. 

“At least we didn’t get hurt. That coulda killed us both.” 

“Uh huh. Let’s um.... avoid the mine, shall we?”

“Good idea. Next time I try to touch something, tell me not to,” he climbed back on Leo and I got on Phoenix, chuckling, and rode off as I bit my tongue in reply. 

Black Diamond. 

I walked into town that evening and went to Aly’s place, knocking on her door. She answered and invited me inside. I saw a girl playing with a puppy and Aly smiled, “Trin this is the little girl Steph I was telling you about.” 

“Oh!! Steph, it’s so good to meet you!” I smiled widely. 

“Steph, this is my BEST friend, miss Trin.” 

“Who’s is this Mommy? Oh Hellwo Miss Trin. Me is Steph,” the girl smiled and I blinked at the term ‘mommy’. 

“Miss Trin does not have any kids,” Aly chuckled and then seemed to be caught off guard by the term of endearment and then smiled. 

“Nope, no kids for me. I work too much,” I chuckled as Steph hugged Aly and I smiled. “Think she likes you, Aly.”

“That was a very nice hug,” Aly smiled. 

“Me loves you Mommy. Me lives here now with me Mommy,” Steph declared. 

“Oh you do?” I raised an eyebrow. 

“Well Steph... I can take care of you for now.” 

“Mommy keep me safe wid her big gun.” 

“She sure can,” I chuckled. 

“I would keep you safe!” Aly insisted. “And Steph you can play with the things in here...I made most of them...I like to make toys.” 

“You like me pet Miss Trin, He name is Wogue.” 

“I love Rogue. He is a cute puppy.” 

We talked about how Steph knew her alphabet and counting and then I asked, “Do you go to school in Tombstone, Steph?”

“Me not go to school yet, me been twing to find me Mommy. but now Miss Aly be me Mommy me can go a school.” 

“Steph how long as your mommy been gone?” 

“Ummm, me think me came wid her two weeks ago Miss Aly. Then she go to place called like a bird name and start staying wid men. Then one day she noo! come back home to me.” 

“Do you still want me to figure out where your mommy is?”

“Trin... two weeks is a long time.” 

“I know...” I nodded to Aly, knowing that meant the girl’s mother probably wasn’t coming back. 

“Steph...would you like me to be your mommy?” Aly asked. 

“You is me Mommy.” 

“I like it when you call me that.” 

“Mommy, Me wuvs you.” 

“Trin, Ger says this needs to go to court... so she’s not ending up in the orphanage.” 

“Yeah, it does,” I nodded. 

“I could get use to this. I’ll need to be building you a bed then little girl,” she chuckled watching Steph play with Rogue. 

“Mmhmm you will,” I nodded to Aly. 

“Me gunna be a twain wobber soon. Me good horsie rider.” 

“Steph we don’t rob trains. Or people. That’s not good things to do,” Aly raised an eyebrow at that. 

“Got a trouble maker on your hands, Aly,” I shook my head. 

“Oh? Otay Mommy. How me make money then if no rob twains?” 

“Ok there are lots of ways to make money! Me and miss Trin do it all the time. See these nice toys I make? I sell them so other kids have things to play with.” 

“Aly have you taken her out to the tree yet?”

“Oh I have not,” she laughed.

We walked outside and helped Steph climb the tree. She loved it and then got tired so Aly put her to bed inside for a nap. Aly and I talked about how Tye had been giving her some warrants, old and new, to look over and get familiar with. We talked about how things happened for a reason and that we couldn’t live in the past because we might not have ended up where we are today.