November 6, 1899

Black Diamond. 

This morning I worked on files at my desk and smiled when I saw Alex come into the office. “Hello there, Dear! Sleeping in were you?”

“Yeah, one of those mornings,” Alex chuckled and hugged me, greeting me with a kiss. 

“Good way to start the day...” I kissed him back softly. “I have some updates for you. You want the good updates or the bad ones first?”

“Oh, that’s good. Um... I don’t know...”

“Okay we’ll start positive... I went to the meet and greet last night and danced with Max a bit. He asked me... He was so cute I couldn’t say no,” I winked. 

“That’s funny. He’s a nice kid,” Alex chuckled. 

“We talked about his parents and what happened to them... and he said that Lot helped him name his pony.”

“So he knows Lot well?”

“Sounds like it...”

“I can see why a kid would be fascinated by someone like that,” he nodded. 

“The other thing... Some woman named Zannza came by the saloon and said she had a message for Jack Smith. She looked nervous and I went outside to talk to her but she assured me she was okay. I showed her where our office was if she needed to talk.”

“Hmmm. Interesting.” 

“Indeed. One more negative news then we should go talk to Loreh and see what more we can get out of her... You’re not going to believe this one... I kinda broke the chair leg there when I kicked the chair over in frustration...”

“Okay. Give the last negative one.”

“Carl and Sam were lying.” 

“They don’t want to go straight?” Alex raised an eyebrow. 

“Adrian sent a warrant out by telegram yesterday for Carl, Sam and Serenity. They murdered some guy named Johnny Rotten over in Ghenna.”

“Somehow I’m not entirely surprised,” Alex shook his head. 

“I hate when Matty’s right,” I sighed. 

“It’s okay. You tried to see good in them. It’s not your fault they can’t be reformed,” Alex gave me a hug.  

I hugged him tightly, leaning my head on his shoulder. “I don’t like being lied to.”

“No, I don’t blame you.”

“They were so insistent too. And then they...” I started to get upset and continue to stand in his arms, trying to relax. 

We decided to go for a ride to calm down and then went to the law office to look for Loreh. She invited us in and we took a seat at her desk. 

“I was talking with Mary last night... She brought up an interesting point.”

“What point was this?” 

“She said that Nick, the guy Dash killed, drew on Dash first.”

“Hmm, that’s interesting she says that, especially after the threats we’ve received. Something tells me those boys are breaking her down. You know, she’s taken a liking to Max, that little orphan boy and somehow I’m thinking she’s trying to keep her and him safe,” Loreh said. 

I looked over at Alex at the mention of Max and he nodded. 

“You remember that night he had his guns at Mary’s house?” Loreh leaned in and I nodded. “I found out later that evening that she asked him if he didn’t do it, to look her in the eyes and say it.” 

“She asked who.. Dash?”

“Yes, Dash and I reckon he kept a straight face enough to convince her to change her statement.” 

“We need to talk with Dash, Alex,” I sighed. 

“Yeah, we should,” he agreed. 

“You know Trin and Alex.. I can understand why Mary changed the statement...” Loreh said. “It’s been hellish having to stay cooped up and yet they still get to us. Both of us want it stopped and live our lives as usual.” 

“That’s understandable,” Alex nodded. 

“And Mary.. well, she just wants to be left alone.. probably because it all reminds her of her husband.” 

“Her husband?” 

“You see, she keeps a diary on her table.. and while she was cooking one night I happened to read it. Apparently he was rather brutal to her and thats why she’s just so uncomfortable around men. These threats from Dash and his gang just has her going out of mind.” 

“Those kind of men should be taken out back and giving their own medicine,” Alex said angrily. 

“Loreh... We’re going to talk to Dash. I have a fairly decent reputation with that... group... of people. They talk to me. Alex will be there for my protection but I want to get the story out of Dash. I have a decent read on people if they’re lying or not.”

“Alright,” she nodded. “If there’s anything I should know to keep us safe, will you tell me?” 

“Of course,” I stood and looked at Alex, anxious to go. 

“We will,” Alex nodded. 

We headed out of the office and rode towards Allen Street. 

Tombstone. 

We dismounted in front of the Oriental and saw Dash tending the bar. We headed inside and smiled, 

“Hey there Dash. Got some whiskey back there?”

“Sure do,” he nodded and grabbed a bottle of whiskey, pouring us two glasses. 

“How’s it goin’, Dash?” I started casually. 

“Oh, been kinda slow the last few days but I got big plans.” 

“Yeah? For the Oriental?” 

“Yup. Got a bunch of entertainers lined up. New bartender... changes comin’.” 

“Glad to hear it Dash,” I smiled.

“I haven’t had the pleasure of officially meeting you yet. I’m Alex,” he reached out his hand and shook Dash’s.

“Oh right, sorry. Dash, this is my man Alex. Alex, this here’s Dash.”

“Pleasure to meet ya, Alex,” Dash said. 

“You too,” Alex nodded. 

“Was wondering if I could ask you a question...” I started. 

“Sure, but I’m not gonna tell you my special drink ingredients. Ya need relationship advice? That’s what most folks ask me for.” 

“She’s doing okay on that front, I think,” Alex chuckled and I smiled, resting a hand on his thigh. 

“Dang glad to hear that,” Dash smiled back. 

“Been hearin’ some different versions of a story lately and thought the only way to get the truth would be to go straight to the source,” I started. “What can ya tell me about what happened with Nick?” 

“Okay well, let me start by saying, whatever it is... I didn’t do it. I’m innocent, I tell ya.” He looked at me and said, “Oh yeah... my friend Nick,” he lowered his head and took a deep breath. 

“Heard somethin’ happened between you too,” I nodded. 

“Well, we was talking this one day and Miss Loreh come along... I worked for her at the time. Bumped right into me on purpose up in front of Annie’s.” 

“Worked for her?” 

“Yeah, I did odd jobs protecting her... But earlier she asked me to get her information on someone, ‘bout a trial that was coming up.” 

“Okay...” 

“I had to refuse the job and she got real mad about it. Told me she’d make me pay if I didn’t do it.” 

“Why’d you have to refuse?” I asked, thinking that didn’t sound like Loreh, and also curious why she hadn’t mentioned it. 

“I had something else already on my schedule. Was heading out of town for a few days. That and, well, it was getting information about someone I don’t wanna be involved with. Anyways, me and Nick go down ta see what her problem was. Nick sat in the chair next to Miss Loreh, but that Mary woman... She started yapping her gums at me like she always do.” 

Alex and I chuckled in sympathy, knowing it was true to Mary’s character, but listened as he continued. 

“Woman hates me and insults me every time she sees me. So I gave her a lil verbal lashing back. At which point all three of ‘em started on me. Mary was mad ‘cause she claimed I laughed at her child dying... But I poked fun at her being preggo... Didn’t know she lost her kid then.” 

“Sure...” 

“No ma should ever have to go through something of that sort,” Dash shook his head. “Later on me and Black both apologized for her loss and all... But she won’t tell that to no one.” 

“Black? Blackfoot?” I asked, sensing his empathy. 

“Blackfoot,” he nodded and I looked to Alex, remembering Loreh saying that Black had come with Dash one time, like Lot had the other night. “Anyway, all three givin’ me heck for whatever... When my buddy Nick... Nick told me to be nice. I told him I was being nice, that Mary always starts that kinda stuff. Nick then told me he’d make me be nice, even if he had to shoot me. I don’t much like them type of threats.” 

“Well sure,” I nodded. 

“So I warned Nick to simmer down or he’d find himself in a puddle of his own blood if he tried to shoot me, at which point he pulled out a shotgun and pointed it at me. My life flashed before my eyes and I reacted by drawing my own colts and shot him where he sat.” 

“Self defense...” I nodded. 

“I feared for my life,” Dash said. 

“Anyone with a gun pointed at ‘em would.”

“I hated to have to do that but was left with no other choice. I then looked at the still-yapping Mary and Loreh, then started off... Almost bumped into this Fran woman. Then seen Loreh head off to Black Diamond, walking slower than a turtle. And I headed towards Ghenna yelling for a doc. Fran followed me in the same direction, being little help. I then went back to Nick, as soon as I could. I learned Kacee had gone to Shucks where she found four doctors, but it was too late. Nick had expired. I lost a good friend. Them gals didn’t even look hard for a doc. My mistake was going in the wrong direction to look.” 

“Sorry to hear that, Dash...” I nodded. 

“Nim then came down to arrest me... I was right there by nick at the time. I tried telling her I was innocent but dang law never believes me. I didn’t wanna go to jail or get hung. I knew the gals were lying saying they didn’t see Nick pull the shotgun first. So that’s why I defended myself from Nim.” 

“Okay let’s talk about what’s happened since... Cause that hasn’t really been helping your side either...”

“Sure.” 

“They’ve been sayin’ you’re threatening them to keep quiet. I wasn’t close enough. Did you see him with any guns out at Mary’s the other night?”

“Well, because they lying about it all I lost my temper. I didn’t mean anything threatening.” 

Alex shook his head, “I don’t remember him talking his guns out.” 

“Did you tie and gag Loreh in her office?” I looked at Dash. 

“Just warned them that if they kept lying and I hung cause of it... things would spiral out of control.” 

“Because they’d been in perfect control up until this point?”

“I just wanted to stop things from gettin’ worse... all they had to do was to be honest.” 

I sighed a bit, knowing this story wasn’t lining up with Loreh’s. “That’s not an answer to the question though, Dash...”

“Mister Blackfoot, as you know, is my boss. He ordered me not to harm them so I didn’t.” 

“Threatening is one thing but did you actually tie and gag Loreh?”

“I went to Bisbee at the request of Mary to talk,” he said. “When I got there they all yelled and screamed bloody murder.” 

“Dash,” I sighed. 

“Mary had asked the request through Gina. I ain’t even had guns on.” 

“I’m trying to help you here. Did you tie and gag Loreh in her office?”

“Yeah I did that just ta scare her a bit.. I ain’t harmed her.” 

“Okay, at least she ain’t lying about that,” I sighed. 

“Used my finger in her back pretending it a gun,” he explained. 

“Ah!” Alex exclaimed and I jumped, looking over at him. “That might be why she said your guns were drawn.”

“But she said they were drawn in front of Mary’s place. When that crowd had formed.”

“No,” Dash shook his head. “Let me tell ya this.” 

“People don’t always remember things in the right order when they’re scared,” Alex shrugged. 

“I know why they both want me dead,” Dash said. “Mary cause she plain crazy and swore she’d see me hang for laughing at her dead kid. But as I said.. I didn’t know the child had passed or I wouldn’t have done so.” 

“So then why would she change her...” I started, thinking about her statement and turned to Alex in confusion. 

“Can’t rightly answer that question. But Miss Loreh... like I said... I worked for her since she first came to Tombstone. We kinda had a very close relationship at one time. But it didn’t work out. Anyhow... I know a lot of her dirty little secrets. Been investigating a few myself but got nuttin’ but dead ends so far. You remember that day I came to Diamond looking to talk to Thad, Trin?” 

“Yeah... When you and I met over in Bisbee.”

“The first day I met Miss Loreh... I had all intentions of just robbing her, but we talked a good bit and I didn’t. I kinda seen a bigger potential payday.” 

“So this is about personal vendetta,” I summarized. 

“She informed me that she had stolen... money from her father. Thad Greenburg. I’d have to go through my notes to make certain the name.” 

“Thad... Not Bill’s brother Thad...” 

“And that her father wanted her dead and would be sending someone to kill her.” 

“Really...” 

“Yeah, but after talkin’ to Thad, he’s not her father. I was hired as her... prosecutor. I know she has his money, seen it myself. But sadly she hid it from me even now. She told me once, Loreh wasn’t even her real name. But got no way of finding out what it really is. All this was was all before she got that lawyer job. Now she running scared I’d spill the beans on her, thus hanging me would solve her problem.” 

“That would be a convenient end to it,” Alex nodded. 

“I ain’t said nuttin’ so far to no one..cause I got no proof of anything.” 

“You can trust we won’t either.”

“So how am I to defend myself from the lies that gonna get me hung.” 

“Not sure how we can help you unless we can talk to someone else in law for you... We’ve got a lot to process here...”

“We really appreciate you talking to us. Good to hear all sides,” Alex nodded. 

“I considered putting a add in the paper or doing something to spook her but cant imagine how. Oh I remember the fella’s name now. His name was Thadeus Greenburg.” 

“I’ve never heard that last name before.” I looked at Alex and said, “We should head back home.” 

“Hope I’ve been some help to ya’s.” 

“You sure have, Dash. Thank you for this. And thanks for the whiskey...”

“Good to meet you,” Alex stood and shook Dash’s hand again. “Thanks for talking to us.” 

We said goodbye and headed home. 

Pearce. 

This evening marked the beginning of a new chapter in Tombstone. After hearing that most folks had left Diamond because of some tension at the town meetings, Alex and I decided to follow suit and head to Pearce where most were resettling. Since Alex was out in the dessert on another one of his trips, I met Matt, Abby and Jamie in Bisbee and rode with them towards Pearce where they showed me around. It was a cute little town, with lots of potential. Matt explained the history of the town and I tried to listen to him but it had been an emotional evening of moving from the home that Alex and I had bought together. We rode Jamie back to the orphanage and then when we were back in town, I headed into the saloon to get something to drink. It had been a long day but I knew that this was the right decision and that we would have a fresh start in a new location.