Coronado.
As I worked around the yard on the gardens in front of the house, I heard a horse approaching behind me. I turned and saw Max riding his pony and smiled, “Hey there, Max!”
“Dago Te Missus!”
“Welcome to our place! You out for a ride?”
“Yessum. Is dem grapes?” Max looked up.
“Mmhmm. Want one?” I asked, pulling the grapes off the vine.
“Yes because I am most starvin to deaf!” he nodded eagerly.
“Come on inside and wash up,” I chuckled. “We’ve got a stable for Captain Starlight there.”
I opened the gate for him and he put his pony in the stable. We headed inside the house and he looked around, “You got a real nice house, Missus.”
“Thanks, Max. We like it. Sink’s up there in the kitchen,” I nodded to him and went over to make some bread for us to eat along with the grapes.
“I got up before everbuddy else at dat orphanage,” he said proudly as he splashed the water in the sink around.
“So where all have you been riding?”
“Oh jus out in the canyon some, I seen a buck but I can’t shoot t wif my slingshot,” he wiped his hands on his loincloth.
“Yeah, Alex has wanted to hunt that thing too but it’s relentless,” I smiled and brought the plate over to the table for him. “Enjoy!”
“Way bettern oatmeal!” he grinned and started eating.
“You’re welcome here anytime.”
“Where is Mr Alex?” he asked as he ate.
“He’s out for a ride. He likes to go out and get some peace and quiet before the busyness starts. I’ve been cleaning up around the house as we’re still settling in.”
“Yes cuz dats a woman job,” he sucked on a grape.
“Well, it’s not really... I just enjoy doing it. Helps you think about things when you’re doing other jobs like cleaning.”
“I don’t like cleanin. I maked my bed. And a man said my Pache clothes look like a diaper.”
“Which man would that be?”
“Some ranger. But I dint go round Mr. Dash, Missus,” he shrugged.
“Good, I’m glad to hear that. You seen Lot recently?”
“No Ma’am. He been gone somewheres. I rode his pig dough, yesserday”
“His pig named Dough?”
He frowned and then slowed down. “THHHHHough.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I smiled and winked at him.
“You got any coffee made?”
“You drink coffee?”
“Yessum, when we had it. Tea mostly with me real Ma and Da.” He said and I went over to the kitchen and started to make coffee for the both of us. “And a lots of sugar, Ma’am.”
I put a little bit of sugar in the cup for Max and took the two mugs over to the table and sat back down and he thanked me for the coffee. “Missus, how come you and mister Alex don’t have younguns?” he asked.
I almost choked on my coffee at the directness and said, “We’ve only known each other a couple of months... He did give me a ring though... We’re showing that we’re not going to be seeing anyone else... It’s me and him,” I smiled.
“You gonna get hitched maybe?” he sighed a little.
“Well, who knows,” I chuckled. He nodded and dropped his chin to his chest. “Oh Max, why are you looking so sad?”
“Nuffin. I’m a Pache. I’m already dopted by my tribe. But if I wasn’t, Missus Angi would only let me liv wif folks what is married.”
I looked at him, my eyes widening, and I felt my heart melt more for the boy. “You wanted to... live with us?”
“No ma’am,” he scowled. “I’m a Pache. I told ya. I don’t want to be dopted by nobody.”
I chuckled at his defiance and said, “Well.... I know Alex will agree with me but you can come by and visit any time.”
“Dats what everbuddy says,” he nodded.
“We mean it. How’s that coffee?”
He got up and carried his plate over to the sink “It’s good , Ma;’am. If you go to town, please don’t tell Miss Angi you seen me.”
“Why not?” I looked at him.
He grinned and shrugged, “Cuz I don’t want to see her til after school is done wif.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be at the school?” I looked at him seriously.
“Pache’s school is the outside, Ma’am.”
“Hey Max... Can I tell you a secret and you promise not to tell anyone else?” I nodded in understanding. He nodded and moved closer to me and I said, “I’m an Apache too... Well... four generations back... but I have it in my blood. Can still track people like it’s no big deal.”
He blinked and regarded me with awe. “A real life Apache. Den..Missus...we is kin!”
“I guess we are,” I smiled. “Keep that between us, alright?” I ruffled his hair a bit.
“Yes Ma’am,” he nodded and patted my shoulder.
“I can speak it too... Just don’t want everyone to know it.”
“Will ya teach me some words, den?” his eyes widened.
“Well you know how to say ‘hello’...”
“Dago te,” he chuckled.
“How about.... Doc?”
“Nope.”
“Diyi,” I said the Apache word and he tried it out. “Let’s see what other words are good to know...”
“You know some dirty ones?”
I chuckled and shook my head. “I ain’t gonna teach you those ones. Shils aash. Means ‘mah friend’.”
“Shils aash, dat’s you. You fink Missus Angi will lick me for missin school Ma’am?”
“I think you should have gone to school,” I said.
“It starts at 8....if we rode fast maybe.”
“Do you know how to say ‘thank you’?”
“No ma’am.”
“Ashoge.”
“Ashoge for the breafast and coffee,” he smiled.
I stood and said, “Let’s go get our horses and ride to school. You can show me the way. I can maybe sit in the back and listen too.”
We went outside and rode our horses off to the schoolhouse.
Tombstone.
We dismounted in front of the schoolhouse and went inside. I took a seat in the back and nodded to Carl who came in after me. He was wearing a Ranger badge and I congratulated him on the new job. We sat back and listened as the teacher talked about the McCoys and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and how families fought with each other.
I saw Alex and Mysti outside and quietly excused myself from the room. “Hey babe!” I walked over to him and hugged him tightly. “Max is inside... He’ll be thrilled you’re here!”
“Hi Trin, Hi Alex,” Mysti greeted me. “Is Dani inside the class?”
Max came running outside and Alex said, “Hey Max!”
“No Mysti, he’s not,” I shook my head.
“Hey Mister,” Max grinned at Alex.
“Hey, school’s not over yet, mister.”
“That boy keeps gettin’ lost,” Mysti sighed.
“Sorry Mysti,” I sighed a bit.
“Are you supposed to be in school right now, Max?” Alex asked him.
“Yessir,” Max sighed.
“That’s a good story she’s tellin’. You don’t wanna miss the ending,” I told him.
“Yes Ma’am...it’s a good lesson. I’ll go back in,” he said and walked into the school.
“Good boy,” I smiled at him as he walked in again.
“He’s a good kid,” Alex chuckled.
“How are you, Mysti?” I looked at her.
“I’m okay. Just worried again about Dani he keeps disappearing. Something is going on with that boy beyond his grief and I cant place it but I think he feels guilty like his ma’s death is his fault. Well he’s not here, I’m gonna keep looking for him. Good to see you Trin, Alex... Maybe we can get together again with Dani and keep exploring. I just know it was his father.”
“Okay, Mysti, that sounds great. I’m not so convinced it was his father but hopefully we’ll have an answer soon,” I nodded.
“That would be a good idea to talk more,” Alex agreed.
“See you soon, Mysti,” I waved to her as she rode off. I turned to Alex and asked, “Wanna go inside and listen? She’s talkin’ about the McCoys and Hatfields.”
“Yeah, sure. If we’re not disturbing them. That sounds like a good lesson.”
We walked into the schoolroom and sat in the back as the teacher continued, “So after the war, Asa McCoy was shot by some ex soldiers from the war and Anse Hatfield was accused--wrongly I might add--as the shooter. So the bad blood started. And yes, West Virginia split off because of the slavery issue.”
“Dey needed a detective! To find out who done it, right Missus?” Max asked and I smiled proudly at that, reaching over and squeezing Alex’s hand.
“They split from Virginia became a free state and aligned with the north,” the teacher went on. So a few years later, in 1878, there was a argument. Guess what it was over?”
I almost raised my hand to answer but then she said, “Well it was over a pig, of all things! Where Floyd Hatfield quite rightfully had his pig and well Randolph McCoy wanted it.”
Max twisted in his seat and waved at Alex and then held up his toad for him to see. Alex chuckled at him and gave him the ‘quiet’ sign. He nodded and turned back around. He raised his hand as the teacher kept talking and then Nathan asked a question and Max got upset that he’d raised his hand first. They started to fight and I looked over, hoping he remembered my advice.
“So if’n you ever see a nasty McCoy step off’n the train, you kin probably smell him first,” the teacher said.
“Sheriff Matty will save you,” Max nodded solemnly and Alex smiled, nodding to him in agreement.
I thought about something and pulled out my notebook, looking through the list of gang members. I showed Alex the James’ gang section where there were a list of a few McCoy’s and he nodded.
“Well, thats my lesson about feuds and I guess what I wantcha to take away is it probably is better just to get along,” the teacher said. “Even if you have to get along with lowlifes like those pig-stealin McCoys. So without further ado... Class... is... dismissed!”
“Dat were a great lesson, Missus. Ashoge!” Max said and I smiled at him using the new Apache.
The teacher walked over and said, “Thanks fer sittin’ in folks. I hope y’all enjoyed it.”
Max ran back to us and Alex smiled at him, “Hey Max!”
“Was a fantastic lesson, Ma’am,” I smiled at the teacher. “Don’t think we’ve met yet. I’m Detective Trin and this is my partner Alex.’
“Hey Mister. I drinked yer coffee,” Max chuckled.
“It is my honor to make your aquaintance!” the teacher smiled.
“This ain’t my Ma and Pa,” Max told her, “Cuz I’m a Pache, so I got a whole tribe.”
Ella came over and asked if we’d seen Nim because she had to give a report about being kidnapped. I didn’t ask too many details because I figured if she wanted my help she would ask. Besides, Nim and them could handle it on their end if she’d already talked to them.
“So, Max, have you been behaving?” Alex asked him and I turned to listen to the two boys talk.
“Mostly,” he ducked his head.
“Mostly, huh?” Alex chuckled.
“Yessir,” he nodded. “I got Mr Matty’s girl lost in dem caves and left her but he forgived me and dint whip me.”
“Aw, that wasn’t nice to leave a little girl in a cave. You’re supposed to defend girls, ot leave ‘em.”
“Yessir but I was hungry and anyways, she tooked me dere . But I dint tell him dat part, cuz den he might whip her.”
“Well, that was nice of you to make sure she didn’t get whipped.”
“Yessir. GIrls can’t take whippins and I’m used to dem.”
“Which mines did you guys go see?” I asked then.
“Over by Pearce, Ma’am.”
We headed out of the schoolhouse then and talked with Sommer about the house as Max went and talked with some people down the street.
Pearce.
We decided to ride to Pearce and I asked Alex if he’d been able to send some letters to his friend in Boston. He said he sent one this morning and that his friend’s name is Max. We decided to head home and on our way, we heard Matt shouting that he’d been shot.
Riding around, we found Max running over to us. “Mr Matty..he got shot”
“Where?” I asked.
“It’s the cavalry....dey doing somefing. I followed along.”
“The payroll...” I looked at Alex and he nodded. “Who’s out there?”
“Let’s go see,” Alex said.
“A bunch of soldiers but den somebody is shooting. Keep cover Missus, he is up in dose hills. Don’t go. He gots a good spot for shooting down.”
We rode out towards the crowd on the hill and stopped at the bottom. Alex looked at me and said, “Stay here with Max. I’m going to sneak up and take a look.”
We waited and then Max started riding up the hill. I called after him and he turned back. “It’s not safe up there,” I told him.
“Mr. Matty...”
“I know... He’ll be okay... Alex is going up. I don’t want you to get hurt too, Max.”
Max rode away anyway and I sighed, running after him. A crowd had gathered and they were putting cuffs on Jack Smith. I shook my head and looked around to see Matt inside. “You alright, Matt?” I asked, blinking when I saw the Ranger badge as April finished tending to his wounds.
“What happened, Matt?” I asked, concerned.
“Just the usual, bullets flying.. outlaws captured..”
“You’re a ranger now?”
“Mr Matty, you gonna die?” Max asked, worried.
“Trin.. we will talk later.. now I need to get a prisoner back to jail.”
“Sure,” I nodded. Stay safe.”
He walked outside and followed him and stood beside Alex. Looking over at Wedge I greeted him, “Morning Wedge. Never a dull moment, huh?”
“Howdy,” he nodded to me.
Seeing they were all busy and there was nothing we could do to help, I looked at Alex and he asked, “Shall we head home?”
“Guess so,” I nodded and got on my horse, following him home.
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