March 6, 1900

Black Diamond. 

This morning I walked around town, intent to find Aly and Ger in spite of the pain I was feeling when I breathed. “Aly!” I went over to her place. 

“Why are you out of bed woman!” Aly blinked at me. 

“Mornin’ ladies,” Alex said as he rode over. 

“I need...” I hesitated, knowing I’d been caught out of bed. I turned and saw the horse and backed up, suddenly afraid of it. 

“How’re the ribs this morning, Trin?” Alex asked me and then greeted Ger. 

“So, I hear someone needs riding lessons,” Ger said walking over. “Howdy Alex.”

“Are you hiding, Trin?” Aly’s eyes widened. 

“I...” I shook a bit, putting a hand protectively over my ribs. 

“Leo’s never hurt anyone, Trin. I don’t know what got into yours yesterday, but mine isn’t going to do anything,” Alex insisted. 

“Nice looking horse Alex,” Ger said to him. 

“Thanks, Ger. He’s a great horse,” Alex nodded. 

“Why don’t you go back inside and lay down? Want some help?” Aly asked me. 

“I thought mine wouldn’t do a thing either,” I muttered. 

“Mane is soft, muzzle moist....skin glistening...you take good care of him,” Ger said. 

I felt tears, not wanting to be afraid of the horse, since I’d ridden all my life. 

“Trin maybe it just saw a snake or something, A lot of them around, you know?” Aly suggested.

“Do you want me to take a look at him, Trin? Make sure there’s nothing wrong with him?” Alex offered. 

“Or I can...used to be a vet...” Ger put in. 

“Either one of you... I...” I nodded. 

“Sure, I’ll take a look. But how are you?” Alex asked. 

“Why don’t we get you back inside?” Aly suggested. 

“I’ll head off to the office for a few..” Ger headed to the office. 

Alex walked over and looked at me seriously. “Trin, are you okay?”

I leaned against him, trying to gain from his strength and Aly suggested, “Let’s not worry about the cause then...and focus on getting you better for now. Ok?” 

“What if I...” I looked at Aly. 

“You what?” Aly looked at me. 

“Trin, it happens. Anyone who rides gets thrown at least once. I know how scary it is, but once you’re ribs are better, you’ll have to get up and try again,” Alex said. 

“Got your reports Trin... Thanks,” Ger said as he came back. 

“What if I never... feel safe around horses again? I’ve been riding since I was little...” I said. 

“Yeah Trin, you shoulda seen Ada when she was 12,” Aly said. 

“Sure. Wanted to keep you posted,” I turned to Ger and nodded. 

“Appreciate it,” he smiled. 

“You can’t let one incident freeze you, Trin,” Alex looked at me. 

“Trin is this the first time you fell off?” Aly asked. 

“We’ve only got two cases open right now. Cake case and the bank robbery,” I told Ger and then nodded to Aly. 

“What exactly happened?” Ger wondered. 

“Oh... Well give it a break until you’re healed....and yeah...try again,” Aly said. 

“Alex what if something’s wrong with Watson?” I looked at Alex. 

“It might be there’s something wrong with him,” Alex nodded and I winced, hiding against his chest. 

“Trin, I’m serious. Let’s worry about you first..ok?” Aly said. “No need to add stress. Go inside and relax.” 

“She’s right, Trin. You need to heal,” Alex agreed. 

I sighed and looked at Ger. “We need to find Krell and Leigh....”

“Trin!! Don’t make me pick you up!” Aly said angrily. 

“Don’t let her work too hard. She has a few broken ribs and a lot of bruises,” Alex looked at Ger. 

“If you need help with the horse, I was a Vet....” Ger nodded. 

“Thank you. I’ll take a quick look at him and if I find something I may take you up on that,” Alex nodded. 

Aly moved over to me and hugged me lightly. “I stayed all night Trin. Did you sleep ok?” 

“No... I didn’t...” I shook my head. 

“Maybe I should just go back to bed... but Ger.... We need..”

“I know what we need,” Ger looked at me. “YOU need to take care of yourself...Aly, would you get her back in bed and stay with her?” 

“Alex and I found a mine in Pearce... It could be where the arsenic was from but we need to figure that out,” I started and sighed, knowing they were right. I looked at Alex desperately and made my way back to the apartment as Ger and Alex talked about the mine. 

I shuddered as I sat on the couch and refused to go back to bed. Aly walked upstairs and joined me but I insisted in sitting on the couch. “Aly I can’t stand to lose both of them... It was hard enough losing Alex... to lose Watson too...” I started. 

“It’s important to take it easy because next week, if you’re not healed.... you won’t be able to accomplish much.” 

“Says the woman who wanted to go to Kate’s in her nightie.”

“You haven’t LOST Alex. He’s still here. Just not in the same way as before,” Aly told me. “Ok I did that... but I still rested. That was an emotional thing. And it wasn’t Kate’s, it was the saloon here. I’m not walking in front of outlaws in my nightie!” 

“Uh huh... If you notice I don’t wear nighties.”

“I hope they don’t kill each other...”

“They aren’t going to kill each other. They are both friends of yours...and ours...and I’d like to think that at least one of them can realize and respect that.” 

“You’re right about them.... I mean even if they find something wrong with him at least it explains what happened... But Aly if...”

“No if’s, Trin. No sense in speculating until we find out. That’s only stressful.” 

“Not if I already know it’s the truth... I know horses, Aly. I grew up on a ranch.”

“God...you sound like me talking about Mark. In a way. If this, if that...what if.” 

“Something is wrong with that horse.”

“Well then there is nothing you can do but say a few prayers, and accept it. but wait until you know for sure, ok? Either way, you’ll end up getting lots of hugs from the people that ARE here and love you.” 

I felt around my bandages and said, “Gonna have to get Alex to change these...”

“Mmhmm, Don’t wait on that..” 

“When they get back...”

“Just wait till they do. Ok?” 

There was a quiet knock on the door and Alex walked in, looking at me as he sat down beside me. He took my hand and I knew there was something wrong as I squeezed his hand. “Trin... we took a look at him and found out why he threw you. It wasn’t random,” Alex sighed and then continued, “We found a lump on his belly. Ger said he’s been bitten and the poison is in his system. It’s already gone into his eyes. He’s blind.”

I swallowed hard and looked at him, “Blind...? But he was fine before.... How can he suddenly be...”

Alex squeezed my hand and looked away for a moment. “Trin, we need to... we need to put him down.” I bit my lip and started to let the tears fall as he continued, “Ger’s downstairs with him right now. We brought him back into town so you could say goodbye. At least now you know, he didn’t hurt you on purpose.”

I nodded, trying to calm down as I leaned against him. 

“Do you want to go down now and see him? I know this isn’t easy, but Aly, Ger, and I are all here with you.”

“Yeah.... let’s just.... let’s just do this,” I stood shakily. 

Alex nodded, fighting his own tears and I hugged him tightly, knowing he was close to Watson too. I followed him downstairs and cried more as I saw Watson. I didn’t let go of Alex’s hand and looked over at Ger. 

“Come on over Trin, he isn’t going to hurt you now,” Ger assured me. 

I reached out to pet Watson one last time, my hand shaking. I nuzzled against him, crying against him. “I’ll never forget you, boy.” I looked over at the others and said, “Alex helped me pick out Watson when we were...” I looked over at him and saw his ring and thought about how much had changed over the past year. I shook my head and hugged Watson’s man one last time before turning back and going upstairs, unable to take anymore as I cried freely. 

Aly and Alex came back upstairs and Aly decided to let us have some alone time so she headed home. I looked over at Alex as I cried and Alex poured a couple of whiskeys for us. “I think you need a drink, Trin. I know I do.”

“Alex...” I continued to cry and pulled my knees up but it hurt too much. He reached out and patted my shoulder, seeming to be lost for words as much as I was. I curled up against him and cried against his chest as he held me tight. 

“I’m glad Ger was there,” Alex sighed. 

“Watson looked so scared...”

“He isn’t suffering anymore.”

“Hi...” Ger said as he came upstairs. 

“Ger... have a seat,” I looked at him. 

“Thanks...” he said and laid the bridle on the cabinet. 

We had some more whiskey between the three of us and I explained, “I lived on a ranch growing up. It’s easy to get attached to horses that much for me... It’s like they become... family.”

“I know that too well. Leo’s probably my favorite person ever. I know how I’ll feel when I lose him,” Alex nodded. 

“So did I...I grew up around animals...father was a vet and taught me young how to care for them,” Ger said. “Real easy to get attached to them.” 

“I was always the one who could calm horses down. When I left Texas and wandered around Colorado... I always knew how to talk to horses more than to people.”

Alex chuckled at me. “You know me, Trin. I’m like that too.”

“Sometimes I think horses are more civilized than some people,” Ger said. 

“Can’t hold a conversation with a stranger but never met a horse or dog I couldn’t make friends with.”

I nodded and took another glass of whiskey. “You know that whole saying, ‘get back up on the horse’?”

“Yeah...” he nodded. 

“Think I can do it?” 

“You better. Who am I going to ride with if you don’t?”

I chuckled sadly and looked over at Ger, needing to change the subject. “Hey Ger... Did Alex tell you about our conversation about arsenic?”

“Nope, not yet...” 

“We didn’t exactly get around to that,” Alex shook his head. 

“He said that arsenic could be found in silver mines. We rode out to Pearce but the mines were closed.” 

“Perfect place to find some arsenic....and not be seen,” Ger pointed out. 

“They got a lot too. It’s used to clean the ore,” Alex said. 

“But who’s smart enough to do that around here? We have no idea who took it and poisoned that cake.”

“That also has access to a key for the his office,” Ger said. 

“Which isn’t a long list. We know it wasn’t Tye... Or me... Or Ray cause he’s not around enough... Leaves Krell. Or Leigh. Tye’s pretty sure it was Leigh but we’ve got to prove it.”

“What about Peta?” Ger asked. 

“She got sick from eating the cake... Why would she eat a cake she knew was arsenic? Krell and Peta both got sick from the cake, right? But it was left in Tye’s office. So it must have been directed to him...”

“She only ate enough to become sick....where as Krell ate enough to almost die....and she is a doctor so knows how much she could eat without killing herself,” Ger pointed out. 

“Hmm...” I looked at Alex. 

He nodded in agreement. “I was just thinking the same thing”

“And how would Miss Leigh bake a cake and get it out of her house without Krell trying to sneak some?” Ger asked. 

“Another good point. Peta could easily bake a cake... Or Tye could... But why would Peta poison a cake?”

“No offense to you Trin, but we can rule out all the key holders...don’t think any of them can bake a cake like that,” Ger said. 

“You know I don’t bake. That’s not an insult,” I smiled and Alex chuckled so I nudged him, relaxing a little. “Why do you think I eat out all the time?”

Plus....you forgot about Bree...she is the town’s baker and has access to the Mayors key,” Ger said. 

“She sure does,” I nodded. “Definitely need to add her to the suspect list.”

“What kind of cake was it? Not that the flavor matters... but was it a fancy kind? Like from a bakery? Or a homemade kind,” Alex wondered. 

“Was a fudge cake. I remember them saying that when we first saw it in the office.” 

“Any fancy decorations?” Alex asked. 

“Peta ate most of it so the decorations were kind of ruined,” I shook my head. I looked between them and said,  “I like this team.... Two detectives and a doctor....”

“And one detective who was a doctor and one doctor who was a detective,” Alex chuckled. 

“Mmhmm. And a detective who was a writer,” I said and turned to Ger. “So what’s our next move, Ger? You talk to Bree? I don’t know if me talking to Krell is going to get us anywhere but I could try.”

“I think we should check for an arsenic supply in town first...like the clinic....the bakery...bank....cafe...and court house,” Ger said. 

“The clinic might have arsenic too. It has some medical uses too,” Alex said as Aly came upstairs again. “Not that I want to point you in a direction, but again, you might want to talk to Bree. She’s also a med assistant.” 

“That’s another good point... She’s a doctor and has keys from Krell and makes cakes.”

“Right...forgot that. We just need motives for each of them,” Ger said. 

“And evidence...” I agreed. 

“Well she’s talking about work again.. so guess she’s feeling better,” Aly looked at me. 

“Always a good think to jump into work,” Alex nodded. “As long as she doesn’t pick up anything heavy or do any strenuous activity.” 

“Hey I can talk all I want... Doesn’t mean I gotta get up and walk around...”

“Well I think she’s got plenty of friends to help her with those things,” Aly smiled. 

“I didn’t say you couldn’t talk!” Alex looked at me. 

“But I ain’t going back in that bed before ya’ll get any ideas,” I said. “Though Alex... maybe we should check these bandages?”

“Yeah, I can check ‘em,” he nodded. 

“Trin there ain’t nothing wrong with a bed,” Aly told me. 

“And on that note...I think I will leave,” Ger stood. 

“Thanks for you help with everything,” Alex held out his hand to Ger. 

I started to unbutton my shirt and chuckled at him, “Hey Ger... If you see Bree...”

“I just came back to check on you Trin. I have a few things to finish at the house,” Aly said and headed outside. 

“I will Trin....” Ger shook Alex’s hand... “No problem...what do you say you take me to the mines 

sometime soon.” 

“That’s a good idea. Then I don’t have to go in them,” I looked at Alex knowingly. 

“Yeah, I can do that,” Alex said and Ger smiled as he left. 

“And then there were two...” I looked over at Alex when we were alone. 

“Ok, let me have a look at ya!” 

I started to unbutton my shirt, grateful it wasn’t awkward between us anymore. 

“How’s the pain been?”

“Hurts when I walk those stairs... Breathing’s been hard when I walk too much like over to the saloon or distances like that... Didn’t sleep well last night. My thigh’s been sore too... that bruise...”

He took out a stethescope from his bag and warmed it up under his arm as he said, “Yeah, it’s going to hurt like that for a few weeks but the pain will get better each day. I’m going to listen to your lungs just to make sure nothings amiss.” He placed the metal disc to my chest and listened, “Take a deep breath...”

I tried to breathe deeply but winced at the pain. 

“Lungs are clear but I can see how hard the motion of breathing is for you.”

“Hurts like hell, Alex...”

“I’m going to change the bandages then look at your thigh,” he slipped a pair of scissors under the cloth and snipped them off. I let him work, trying to breathe normal as he wound new, clean linen around my middle, trying not to get too tight. “Have you been taking the medicine I gave you?”

“Before bed... When I woke up...” 

“Good. You could probably take another dose now.”

“Alex...” 

“Yeah?” 

“Watson, he... he didn’t suffer too much did he?”

“No, he didn’t. He was in pain, and that’s why he threw you. But Ger was really good with him. He’s not suffering at all anymore.”

I nodded with relief and said, “You guys were great this morning... all of you... I just... I’m scared.”

“We’re all here for you,” he patted my shoulder. 

“Alright...” he said as I took a deep breath when he touched my skin. “Take your pants off.” 

“Yes sir,” I chuckled a bit. 

He chuckled and said, “I want to look at that bruise.” 

“Uh huh,” I said and took my pants off slowly. He blushed and rumaged through his bag and I reached down to take his hand. “Hey...” 

Alex looked at the bruise and whistled, “Wow, that’s a nasty one!”

“Not nice to say about a woman’s leg,” I winked. 

He chuckled and said, “I could leech it. Might take some of the blood from under the skin and help with the swelling.”

“Maybe we should just... let it heal naturally?” I shuddered a bit. 

“That will work. I’ve got some stuff I can rub on it to ease the pain,” Alex nodded. He took a tin of balm out of his bag and opened it. “Not the best smelling stuff, I’m afraid, but not as nasty as leeches.”

“I’ll take it.” 

He laughed and gently rubbed the balm on my thigh. I felt a tingle and bit my lower lip, looking anywhere but in his eyes. “That’s it. Should help some. You can put your clothes back on now.” I reached for my pants and put my clothes on. “Although... you do look nice in nothing but your undies and a gun belt,” he winked. 

“Listen you... It’s taking all of me not to lean over and kiss you right now.”

He shook his head and asked, “Feeling better?” 

“I’ll take a hug,” I said when I had my clothes on again. 

“A hug would be nice. I’ll be careful not to squeeze too hard. 

We hugged each other gently and I whispered against him, “I’m so glad you’re here.” 

He smiled and said, “I should go get somethings done and let you rest. Or work. Just nothing too physical.”

“Think I’d be allowed to go down to the office for a change of scenery?”

“If you can sit comfortably in the chair, that’s fine. Take a pillow,” Alex nodded. 

“Works for me,” I took a pillow from the couch. 

“Okay, I’ll see you later. Or if not today, I’ll stop in tomorrow to check on you.”

“You better,” I nodded and watched him walk outside. 

I took the pillow and headed outside and down to the office. “Ger...?” I looked at him at his desk. 

“Hey there...gonna take a nap down here?” 

“Nope. But I want to give you a hug.”

He came around his desk and asked, “What for?” 

I hugged him gently, “For being so great this morning... for being here.. For helping me get through this...”

“I’m glad I was...” 

“I’ve missed you the last couple days,” I nuzzled against him. 

“Missed you too...but her place is worse than she let on...” 

“She said you were great for her...”

“I’m glad to have helped her....” 

“We’ve only got two cases open,” I looked into his eyes as I stepped back. “But this cake thing is a big one.”

“One only you know about and the cake...but the Mayors shooting case is still open too, just waiting trial.” 

“Right... But we’ve done all we can on it. Same with the robberies. The bank robbery isn’t really something that has much more for me to do... So I guess our main focus is the cake right now.”

“Yep... You best sit down Trin.” 

I nodded and headed to my desk to sit down.  “Just need to focus on work and I won’t think so much about Watson..”

“Let’s look at motives,” Ger nodded. 

“Okay... Well Leigh’s got the most motive. Tye’s got a hanging case against her.”

“Yeah...hanging trial over her head.” 

“A good reason to shut the sheriff up. And Alex said that given enough arsenic, it could be lethal.”

“I agree...” 

“She could have baked the cake in Bree’s bakery... Without Krell knowing. Krell could have been off with Bree for all we know.”

“AND if the mayor ate it too while in Tye’s office....kill two birds with one dose.” 

“Right,” I nodded. “What about Bree? What motive would she have?” He looked at me with a blank stare so I continued, “Think about it. She’s a doctor so she has access to arsenic. She’s a baker so she could easily bake the cake. She’s close to the mayor...”

“ I could understand her doing it to take Leigh out...but then why....wait..that’s it.” 

“What?” I looked at him. 

“She might be setting Leigh up to take the fall so she would have the mayor to herself.” 

“That makes a lot of sense... Is Bree smart enough to do that though?”

“I think she is smarter than she acts.” 

“It’s an interesting possibility... gives them both plenty of motive.”

“Okay...that leaves Peta...” 

“The only other person who could get into the sheriff’s office... She would know how much to eat so that it doesn’t kill her..”

“And has access to Arsenic and knows how to use it. So...why would she want to poison her own husband?” 

“She puts the cake in Tye’s office, knowing that he’s with her so he won’t eat it, but then eats it to make it look like she wasn’t the poisoner... Because she wants to catch Krell in there talking with Tye and gets him to eat the cake?”

“Okay...then why would she want the Mayor dead?” 

“Maybe she wants her husband to be mayor? Which could also be why Bree targeted him because she might have thought Tye wants to be mayor.”

“I thought David wanted to be Mayor....” 

“Who knows anymore... Perceptions can be confusing,” I shrugged. 

“Yes they can. Are Leigh and Peta friends?” 

“We’re just hypothesizing scenarios. Hmm... That’s a good question. I don’t see them together enough to know. You think they could be working together?”

“Wait...if Tye saw her put the cake there, wouldn’t he tell us?” 

“Yeah, I would hope so. Personally Peta was too hyper and upset over the cake.... Like normal... I don’t think that was faked.”

“Well, then she would have placed it there when she wasn’t there. So, she has the least to gain from this...” 

“Leigh and Bree still have the most.”

“Yeah....now to find out if Leigh can bake or not...” 

“That’s all you, partner,” I winked at him. “Leigh likes you.”

“Mmhmm. I wonder if the clinic keeps an inventory of their medicine and ingredients.” 

“I would hope so. Bree would know that. I could still talk to Krell...”

“So would Alex and Myst.” 

“But Alex doesn’t originate out of this clinic... Myst on the other hand... She was made the official town doctor. She’d have to know.”

Aly called out for me there and then I asked what she wanted, and she came into the office then. 

“If you can talk to Myst, Bree and Leigh...” I tried to focus. “I’ll try to work the mayor.”

“I think I will leave Bree for later,” Ger suggested. 

“Did you know that miss Ella is expecting?” Aly asked. 

“And on that note...” I muttered. “I’m going to go rest some more.” I walked upstairs and took a nap after taking more meds. 

*** 

Tonight I walked around town aimlessly and Aly came out of her house, stopping me. “Come in here before someone thinks you’re drunk wandering like that.” 

I walked inside and said, “I just wanted to..” 

“Are you drunk?” she blinked at me. 

“No... Just hard to think straight after what happened this morning. With them putting Watson down and everything..”

“You’ll be alright hun.” 

“A long, emotional day... You know...”

“I know. I wish I could help you feel better, I really do.” 

“I just had to get out and move around. The pain meds are helping the ribs so breathing is getting easier. It’s just... the memories... I know I’m not gonna sleep well tonight.”

“You probably won’t. But I’d be willing to stay again, if you want.” 

“I just need to do something to get me ‘till bedtime...”

“So you feel idle?” 

“I feel lost,” I shook my head. 

“You know the time I felt the most lost? The day after I broke up with Mark..... I felt really lost...and I went wandering around Black Diamond....clueless... like I couldn’t focus.” 

“And then you wound up unconscious in the clinic. I remember.”

“Yeah...well that night.... my head was spinning. I was lost in my thoughts....but they were scattered everywhere....” 

“That’s how I am right now...”

“So I just started up at the sky and watched the clouds. Problem was....I didn’t stop while doing it, and I fell face first into the creek...and got my whole body wet. I know, that’s why I’m telling you. You look like how I felt. I recognize it.” 

“How am I going to get past this, Aly? I lost my horse.... The one thing that has been with me since me and Alex were together. The one piece of consistency in my life. Other than this job.”

“Trin... Sometimes things don’t make sense... There is that cliche of...when one door opens another closes... You have people in your life, here and now, that love you. And like I said earlier... You haven’t lost Alex...he’s still here...just in a different way. At least you HAVE Alex...Mark run off with them Apache and I’ll probably never see him again.” 

“But I don’t have Watson anymore. He’s gone.”

“That’s true. but you know you’ll have the nice memories of him, Trin.” 

“Usually when I’m this lost I ride...”

“Well and...I know it’s not going to replace Watson... but get yourself a new horse... and then you can ride and build a new friendship.” 

“Sooner the better I guess...”

“Yeah.” 

“Horses have always been apart of my life. If I leave it too long... I might not do it.”

“So...like you said...the sooner the better.” 

“Maybe I could even get one that looks exactly like Watson... Think I might get home and rest a bit. It was good to see you hon...”

“Ok. Do you want me to come over later to check on you?” 

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”

“Alright I’ll do that,” she said and I headed back outside.