Pearce.
As I sat at the bar in the saloon drinking coffee in the saloon, I turned when I saw Alex come in. He walked over to me with a smile and kissed me. “Hey babe! How are you this morning?”
I kissed him back and hugged him tightly. “I’m doing alright. Ankle is sore but I’m limping okay. got my cane and all,” I winked.
“You better stay off that as much as possible. Even with a cane.”
“Yes sir,” I winked. “Was waiting for you ‘cause I got a telegram from Sheriff Matty... We have office space! Want to check it out?”
“Love to!” he grinned.
We walked out to the sheriff’s office and headed upstairs. The room was open with a desk against one wall and cabinets holding research, law reports and open case files. I noticed Matt put in the list of bank managers and gangs in the research cabinet and smiled.
I sat down on the chair and looked at him, “There, see? I’m sitting.”
“Good,” he grinned. “I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you around like a fireman if you don’t stay off it.”
“That could be fun...” I chuckled and he shook his head with a laugh. I lifted my foot and rested it on the desk, pulling out my notebook. “I wanted to look at my journal and see if I recognized anyone from the attack in Goldfield.”
“That’s a good idea. I was thinking about Dani... Maybe our office isn’t the best place to talk to him. It might be a little intimidating. I thought I’d take him out fishing or something.”
“That’s a great idea. I remember seeing Jack Smith there at the attack... He was one of the guys getting cuffed...”
“Yeah, I saw him too. Got shot too I think.”
“The other guy Carl mentioned... Ben something... I didn’t recognize him. I think there was another attack though.”
“Another?” he raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah there was another attack where Rikki and Ansar were involved in. Plus a bunch of others.”
“Seems to be a common thing around here.”
“We should head to the office in Tombstone... See if anyone around there can help us. I promise I’ll stay on the horse..”
“Okay. that sounds like a good idea. Want me to carry you down the stairs?” he chuckled.
“If you like,” I smiled.
Tombstone.
When we’d arrived in our office I told him, “I sent a telegram to the fort to see if anyone would be able to come and give us info.”
“Good idea. I’m going outside for some air. I’ll be back in a while.”
“Okay sweetie.”
Alex walked outside and there was a knock on the door. “Who is it?” I called out.
“I had a message through the telegraph to talk to you,” Major Seth’s voice came through the door.
“Come on in!” I called and smiled when he walked in. “Morning, Major. I’d stand but I have doctors orders to take it easy,” I chuckled.
“I’ll let you sit down,” he smiled.
“Have a seat. You were a Pinkerton once before, right?”
“Yes, I was. I was the Pinkerton Chief and I had the office in Bisbee. No one wished to join me on it. Had to pay for the rent myself.”
I nodded in understanding, “It’s just been me and my partner Alex... Cora was doing some things but she hasn’t done much since she’s been busy with other things. Captain Honi has asked us to look into the attacks that happened on Saturday during payroll...”
“That was a bad day to remember.”
“Indeed...”
“But if you need any help, I’ll oblige you.”
“I would love some help. We’re trying to pin down a list of all who were involved. We know there was an attack in Goldfield where Jack Smith and Ben something-or-other were arrested...”
“I was on that payroll mission,” he told me.
“We also know that there was another attack that involved Rikki and Ansar and a bunch of others. Not even sure where that one happened.”
“I knew something was wrong when I was riding the payroll back to the fort.”
“What can you tell me that you remember?”
“Well when we were heading to Goldfield we did capture two people, but I was getting the missive on that as well as Benson’s. For some reason had problems keeping up that day. Must have been the wind.”
“Benson?”
“Yes. That was the other place we went to before heading to Pearce.”
“Is that where the attack with Rikki and Ansar happened?”
“Nope. It was after Benson. Went to Pearce where we always get the payroll.”
“Oh I see... In Pearce... That’s where the big attack went down...”
“Yes.”
“Well that’s more than we knew yesterday,” I chuckled.
“When I was in talking to the teller I heard gun firing. Hearing gunfire, my job was clear - get the payroll back to the fort. I figured Wedge would be following. I didn’t know that the fight was larger then I thought and did what I did normally; headed back and secured payroll. Went back and seen if anyone still needed help, but found that the gunfight ceased. Went to look for Wedge.”
“Where was he?”
“He was rather deep in Pearce near what seems to be a farm and a wall. Guess he was wounded or was able to avoid most the shots I guess.”
“Did you see any outlaws around by the time you got to Pearce or had they ceased in presence along with the gunfire?”
“I didn’t see any outlaws.”
“How about other rangers?”
“I saw a couple... There names escape me right at this moment.”
“Okay. Well we know where it happened now at least. I do appreciate your account on the events. It helps a lot,” I said and he nodded. “Is there anything else that ya’ll need our assistance with?”
“So far I can’t think of much.”
“Alright then. I thank you so much for coming in,” I smiled.
“If there is something I’ll make sure to telegraph you,” he promised.
“That’d be great,” I started to stand and felt the pain in my ankle and sat back down. Seth walked over and extended his hand. “Thank you, Major. Sorry I can’t stand... It just hurts too much.”
“Well I hope that wound will heal.”
“Same here. Fell off one of those narrow ramps in Ghenna.”
“If you’re in need of help, I can assist.”
“Thank you, Major. I appreciate that.”
“I need to head on out.”
“Yes Sir. Stay safe out there.”
I watched him walk out of the office and then smiled when I saw Alex and Dani walked into the office. He smiled at me and said, “Hey babe. Look who I found. Dani, you remember Trin, right?”
“Hey there you two,” I smiled, looking up from my notes.
“Pleasure to See you again Ma’am,” Dani nodded.
“Dani gave me something really important that we should lock int he safe,” Alex handed me a paper and lowered his voice. “It’s his mother’s will.”
I took the paper from him and read:
Oct 23 1899
"the following is made by me, Faith Dream Graves , in the event of my death.
I Faith Dream Graves, here by leave the sum of $1000 to my sister Mysticall Dream Morgan to be used in the care of my son Daniel Graves. My husband Matthew Graves is a dangerous man. When he is angry and drunk he is harmful and has on many occasions left scars and bruises on our dear son Daniel. For this reason I do not want him to be in charge of the care of our son. Though he is blood father, the only interaction he has had with our son is by beatings and Dani deserves the love that my sister Mysticall Dream Morgan has to give him. I want her to have full custody of my son in the event of my demise. My father has stopped giving us money and he is mad at me because of this and i fear for my life if he comes home drunk one night so i am writing this will. If i am killed please investigate thoroughly
sincerely
Faith Dream Graves
I looked over to Alex and blinked, “Full custody...”
“Yeah, Dani told me some more details. His father is here in town.”
“In town?” I swallowed hard, officially worried for the boy’s safety now. “This just got serious.”
“More than you know.”
I looked at him, wondering what I had missed. “Alex?”
“Dani, do you have anything else you need to tell us?” Alex looked at me and shook his head slightly.
Dani looked up slowly and nodded,
“My father was the one who murdered my mother... with his bare hands. his motive was the flow of support from my grand father stopped, he no longer funded his drinking and gambling... My father saw no use for my mother she wasn’t his wife... she was a hostage.”
I shook my head, knowing what that meant. “And now he’s in town... We need to tell someone about this... Someone to keep Dani safe when we can’t.”
Alex looked at the clock and sighed, “I’ve got an appointment soon out in the desert. Dani, don’t hesitate to find me or Trin if you need us or if you think of anything that can help. Or if you just want to go fishing.” He turned to me and said, “I will write out a full report for you.”
“Thank you, Alex,” I nodded to him.
“Thank you... both,” Dani nodded.
“I want you to be safe Dani,” Alex looked at him. “Watch out for him and get someone to help if you see him.”
“I will... but... can I ask you something...” he smiled faintly.
“Of course,” I nodded.
“Can you watch over a young lady named Dahlia?.. she may be in danger.”
“Dahlia?” I asked, not recognizing the name.
“She’s Dani’s friend,” Alex explained.
Dani nodded, “She- is my friend.. and I worry, she stood up to my father the other way, when he drug me across town... and I think he may be after her too now.”
“We will do our best,” Alex put his hand on Dani’s shoulder.
“Thank you,” Dani nodded and turned towards the door.
***
While Alex was out in the desert, I decided to poke around town and see what I could gather about the payroll attack. There was a group of outlaws standing in front of Kate’s, as well as Jessica who was a doctor. I rode over to talk to them, but none of them seemed to know anything about the attack though, and I turned and saw Cooky walking over. I headed across the street to the Crystal Palace and greeted her.
“Hey Cooky! You’re a ranger now too?”
She smiled big and said, “Seems being a bounty hunter wasn’t to be!”
“Guess you heard about the payroll attack by now then. You weren’t there, were ya?” I smiled.
“Had no idea there had been one! Would have been there to give the law a hand.”
“Geez, why is it that no one knows anything about this attack?”
“Well I’ll get to digging fer ya...”
“That’d be great... The captain’s asked us to get a list of those involved,” I said quietly so those across the street couldn’t hear.
“See if I can find anything... haven’t had a wire or anything,” she looked over to the group outside the saloon and shook her head.
“They didn’t know a thing. Or at least they told me they didn’t.”
“Bet they do! They never tell the truth!” she said, stroking Watson’s nose. “I not heard a thing either.”
“Very strange...”
“When was it supposed to have happened?”
“Happened on Saturday. We saw the first attack in Goldfield but apparently there was one later in Pearce. Ben and Jack Smith were arrested from the one in Goldfield. Past that I ain’t sure who’s all involved in the Pearce one,” I said, still speaking quietlly.
“Oh my! Well I haven’t heard or seen anything of that nature on our desks. But I sure will get to finding out fer ya!”
“Thanks hon. I kinda sprained my ankle and uh... Tryin’ to stay off it as much as I can. Riding around a lot more.”
“Oh my! Well, you just take it easy there!”
“Between Max and Alex...” I chuckled. “Alright I best get goin’ here... Don’t seem like anyone here knows anything. Or they know and ain’t tellin’ me.”
“Well you rest up that ankle... I’m sure someone will eventually let it known to someone what happened!”
“Uh huh, sure they will. After they’ve told me to stop lookin’.”
“Isn’t that the way it normally is?” she laughed.
“Mmhmm. Stay safe, Cooky,” I waved and rode off towards Pearce.
Before leaving town though, I saw Dash and Gina standing in front of the Oriental. Dash had been helpful in clarifying events in the past, so I figured there wasn’t any risk in trying to get his help again. “Hey there Gina, Dash,” I greeted the two.
“Howdy Trin,” Gina greeted me.
“Howdy Trin, what’s the good word?” Dash asked.
“The good word? Who knows, no one’s tellin’ me, as par usual,” I said somewhat bitterly.
“Good good. Hey, you find anything more on that conversation we had a few weeks ago?” he asked.
“Not a thing... Figured it was settled since you were charged not guilty and they didn’t have to worry about nothin’ no more.”
“Oh no... Just cause I aint go my neck stretched, don’t mean she wont stop trying. Payback comin’.”
“You’re lookin’ for the truth ‘bout Loreh, right?” I asked softly.
“Well I wasn’t gonna name names out here on the street but...”
“Is why I said it quietly,”I said softly. “Just loud enough for you and me and Gina to hear.”
“Yeah,” he said, just as quietly.
“I reckon it all work out sooner or later.. but if ya learn anything, please let me know.”
“And if you know anything about the attack on Saturday...?” I nodded.
“Maybe, depends on what it be,” he said with a low voice. “What attack was that?”
“On the calvary paryoll.”
“Oh, okay,” he smiled. “I’ll look into that for ya, no problem.”
“No one’s sayin’ nothin’. It’s like it never happened,” I nodded.
“Well I’ll feed you lies since they was all my people. Oops, saying that out loud...” he stopped.
“Yeah, I figured it was a long shot,” I sighed and looked at him again, “Your people?”
“I’m just teasing ya, Trin.”
“Uh huh,” I smirked a bit, knowing full well that he was a leader of the Alvord-Stiles gang.
“I only employ dancers here at the Oriental. Pfft, like they could do anything at all.”
“Right. Other than seduce men into doin’ things,” I winked. “Just kiddin’.”
“Just business, Trin,” he smiled.
“Mmhmm. See ya’ll soon then. Stay safe,” I nodded and rode off for home.
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