Bisbee.
As I worked the morning shift in Bisbee, I waved to Meg who walked over and greeted me. She said she was looking for a place to have breakfast and I suggested Chezz Paradise down the street. We joked about how much work cooking was and she wandered off to the cafe. After a while I walked over to find her and Thad playing with the dice at the cafe and smiled at the two, continuing on with my rounds.
Tombstone.
I rode down Allen Street and waved to Skyla who was standing on the balcony of the hotel. “Hey there, girl!”
“Hey Trin!” she waved back.
“Sky on her perch again, howdy!” James said, walking over.
“Howdy James!” Sky laughed. “And ya know it, I gotta see everything!”
“Something about higher ground or such,” I chuckled.
“Naw, Trin. She just nosy. Got to know what’s going on, especially at the bank. She kinda gets upset when someone tries to take her money,” James said.
“I am a bank guard, James!” Skyla laughed.
I chuckled and asked, “How’s things yesterday, James? I was at home most of the day.”
“Idiotic. Just stupid people doing stupid things. I had enough; left real early last night.”
“Stupid things? What kind of stupid things?” I looked from James to Skyla.
“All kinds of stupid things,” she agreed. “Let’s put it this way. I got Carl to the office. Got a warrant he had out, after TJ deputized me.”
“Right...” I nodded, listening.
“Then Nim opens the door and leaves it open, so he runs. Mind you, two law. And who goes after him and get him and then gets shot in the back of leg by his cousin...”
“Well it started with D. I guess he kinda missed breakfast so he decided he wanted to make a withdrawal on the bank while Sky was watching,” James told me his version. “Well he got a lead breakfast.”
“They didn’t even follow him! Oh and Jet burning the office first thing when I got here yesterday,” Sky went on.
“You know though Sky what got to me the most last night?”
“What’s that?”
“Had two medics here. Jess was sitting on the porch, Bree was in the bank. JT hollered for a medic. I went to Bree and both of them just stood there and looked stupid. I said enough and I left.”
“Wow...” I shook my head.
“Who was shot then?”
“Don’t remember, some traveler I think.”
“That would be Sera.”
“The whole day was just full of stupidity.”
“Just wow,” I shook my head again, listening to them.
“Indeed it was,” Sky laughed. “And to think I chose yesterday to come back full-blown and not go out of town. Oh and Trin,” she looked at me. “Nim had me do a report and then used it as her own, even said she was gonna sign her name to it.”
“Geez,” I sighed. “I remember there was a trial that I lost in Diamond, against Rikki and Sommer.... Remember it? She didn’t even include Matt’s arrest report, even though he was the one who took them. I lost the trial over it. This was months ago but... My trust for her diminished right then.”
“See Trin, you miss all the fun,” James laughed.
“I bet she likes it that way,” Sky laughed.
Lil walked over and we continued to talk about things that had happen last week that had been dealt with with Carl and shooting Matty in Bisbee. Skyla sent me a wanted poster for Sam and Carl from an incident in Ghenna.
I went to get some coffee in the hotel restaurant and then leaned against the pole as D came over and we chatted for a while. Eventually I went off duty and then got on my horse and rode out to Black Diamond.
Diamond.
I rode to the house to see if Alex had awoke yet but he was still fast asleep in bed. Deciding to go back outside, I got back on the horse and rode over to the two bridges, curious about how the dynamite suddenly repairs itself.
Heading back to town, I went to Bill’s office and knocked on his door. “Ahh, just who I needed to see.”
“Morning Bill. Somethin’ going on?” I smiled.
“Come in and have a seat,” he invited and I did so.
“I’m listening.”
“There is my statement I gave the Sheriff,” he said and slid a paper across the desk.
I raised an eyebrow and took the paper, reading it:
Three men entered the saloon with guns drawn telling everyone to drop their weapons and kick them away. They then proceeded to tell everyone “This is a hold up” and told us to remove all our valuables and hand them over with no quick moves. My wife gave the spokesman a swift kick in the shins when he demanded her wedding ring. When they left I ran for my revolver and waisted 3 rounds in their direction The voice of the leader sounded like a man I thought was killed years ago.
“A man you thought was killed years ago? Which man?” I swallowed, grateful I hadn’t been at the ball Saturday night.
“There were about forty people at the ball. Thought I recognized the voice of the...” he hesitated.
“The voice of the...?” I prompted.
“And it turns out I was right.”
“The voice of whom, Bill?”
“Eye is alive, and it looks like he’s back to doing what he does so well. He made threats to Lil while she was fixing his wounds.”
“Wow...”
“The only tie to the robbery is his voice. No hard evidence.”
“So he’s back... And you recognized him... Was he in disguise or something?”
“All three men were wearing bandannas over their faces.”
“Did you recognize the voices of the other two?”
“No one else was around back then. That was years ago.”
“Back when Kaly and Cym...” I nodded, starting to put the pieces together.
“I thought he was killed in an ambush when the Regulators were wiped out.”
“I guess not...” I shook my head.
“Li’l Jo ran into him out of Black Diamond. Thought he was a nice man.”
“Jo probably had no idea who he was, huh? Was before her time that her mother was messed up with them somehow... And we still have to figure out how.”
“Well ... we all were surprised at the wealth of information her mother wrote to her. Ties a lot of loose ends and answers a lot of questions.”
“Oh?” I looked at him curiously. “It answers what happened to her at the mines? What happened to Kaly?”
“Kaly wasn’t around ... she came after Cym’s death. Here’s something else. A head was delivered to the Sherif... that of Mr. Sam.”
“When was this?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Wasn’t a few days before... while I was working on the Law office’s sign.”
“Last week sometime?” I sighed a bit. “Bill... I miss so dang much because I have to be on duty elsewhere.”
“A young man came up to me and said Sam and Carl were calling themselves Regulators,” Bill told me. “I laughed and said ‘The REAL Regulators would have them for breakfast’.”
“Yes, I remember that they were being called as such. And they acted against Bubba’s knowledge. He was pretty upset when he found out what they were trying to pull without his consent.”
“Nothing can be tied to EYE... he knows the law and knows how to get around it. Hard evidence is near impossible with him.”
“So there’s no way to catch him in the act ‘cause he’ll always be in disguise.”
“I suggest you start with Ryker. Then Li’l Jo.”
“He was at the ball?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve been warned not to go directly to Jo...”
Bill heard Jules outside through the open window and called down for him to come up. Thad offered to show the way and soon Jules and Thad were in the office with us.
“I was told you were at the ball the other night, during the hold up,” I smiled at Jules.
“Would you please talk to Detective Trin here about what was said last night at the estate?” Bill asked Jules.
“Yes. It was a beautiful night. I had secured a...” he hesitated and then said, “Sorry. I had invited Jo to join me.”
“Deputy Trin here moonlights as a detective,” Bill told him.
I chuckled and said, “Moonlighs, more like daylights... I’m more a detective than a deputy, but carry on.”
“It was a night I had looked forward to for some time. You most know... Well as you might imagine, pilgrim that I am, and newcomer having taken a recent shine to Diamond and her residents... I have only the surface knowledge of a few of her citizens. But I was having the time of my life. I tell you that girl... I digress. We were dancing up a storm. Lil had done a beautiful job with the place. Everyone was having a wonderful time. I had quite lost myself in the moment. The next thing I know a stranger is demanding Bills and everyone’s possessions. Being in Lil’s place and also being a Man of God, I was unarmed. I did not know this lowdown sinner. I had only a fresh knowledge of Diamonds good citizens so it was all very confusing for me. But I am no stranger to the trouble in this territory. I was robbed not two days after arriving in tombstone less than one week ago.”
“I remember the first time..” I nodded. “You might want to start wearing a gun, Sir.”
“So it did not completely shock me, but I felt had. Angry. I don’t think I could place anyone in a lineup but I do have some ideas about how to deal with it in the future.”
“I’m listening...” I prompted.
“Thad and I have been discussing this a little bit already. I plan to urge everyone to stay calm but with regard to your investigation and details. I’m afraid the best I can do is tell you what a sweet girl that Jo is. How she makes me feel... That’s what I remember in detail.”
“The experience is a good picture of what happened though. It helps give more substance to testimony,” I nodded to him.
“I remember you telling me that,” Thad said now that Jules was finished his account. It was your cross they took.”
“It was my cross,” Jules nodded.
“Thad, were you at the ball?” I asked him.
“Yes, I was.”
“What can you tell me?”
“They wanted all of the expensive things like rings and wallets, diamonds, weapons and such. Necklaces especially, and ties.”
“It’s our fault... Diamonds being the theme... the place was filled with...” Bill said.
“And the bad thing was that we were all unarmed.”
I nodded, knowing the rule in the saloon. “There needs to be an armed guard at the door at these events, Bill. The place can’t go unarmed completely.”
“We were talking about that, and I volunteer,” Thad said.
“There was the Sheriff and Deputy Ryker... the bandits came in with guns drawn,” Bill said.”
“That’s just asking for trouble to come your way,” I nodded.
“Was TJ Toocool there also?” Jules asked.
“I got so angry they did that,” Thad said.
“I understand that both men want to take part in the festivities as well but... You can’t have the whole town in one place and not have at least one person with a gun.”
“They were not unarmed!” Bill shouted.
“Oh... You didn’t mention that. No need to shout.”
“They were there to protect the citizens!”
“From what I’ve heard this morning it sounded like everyone was unarmed in the saloon, even the law. So you don’t need to shout at me, Bill.”
“But when someone comes in with a revolver at your head and says drop your weapons...” Bill continued to speak loudly.
“Thanks to the good Lord no one was seriously bodily injured.”
I sighed, not happy with being yelled at. “Surely law had the ability to do something about it. Otherwise what’s the point of having law?”
“Well I did look at the wanted posters at the marshal’s office in Tombstone,” Thad said. “And under a stack of files I saw some old wanted posters. I’ll show them,” he handed Bill the posters. “Be careful, they’re a bit old. If that’s the same men I saw in town...”
“Yes, indeed.”
“Then these men are here.”
“Who are on the wanted posters?” I looked from Bill to Thad.
Bill said that there was a meeting to attend and he and Jules left but I stayed behind to continue the discussion with Thad.
“I heard their names. Eye, Jack Smith...”
“And...?”
“Serenity Graves.”
“What?!” I blinked.
“And Sera.”
“These three are on these really old wanted posters... You think it’s them three that held up the ball? Them four?”
“And a couple more, but I’m trying to remember their names.”
“Thad, is that what you’re telling me?”
“Yes.”
“So Eye got the assistance of these other outlaw folks to hold up the saloon and steal jewelry?”
“And when I heard the shootings, it was them.”
I shook my head in awe. “This is huge, Thad.”
“And V had started a fire at the bank but I’m just wondering if this is just a rumor.”
“I’ve heard about that,” I nodded, still processing the news. “Just wow... I guess we should go to Bill’s,” I said with a slight sigh.
“I can’t believe she would do such a thing.”
“I can,” I said, knowing V all too well.
We stood then and headed to the town meeting. Alex came to the house for the meeting but halfway through we decided to head home so we could spend some time together. Back at the house as we cuddled on the couch, I rested against him, feeling so content.
“I could stay like this forever... I was getting so unfocused at that meeting...”
“Mmm, I’d happily stay like this forever.”
“Our time together is short enough without long meetings getting in the way,” I said and he nodded, cuddling closer.
“We had an interesting weekend around here... the ladies’ society was on trial for being in possession of counterfeit money.”
“Counterfeiting? Wow!”
“I was on the jury... but then they put out two barrels at the end of the trial and said money for ‘guilty’ goes in one barrel, ‘not guilty’ in another. They raised a lot of money but made the jury wonder why we were here. They were not guilty though. They didn’t even know what was in the bags - they were set up.”
“Crazy...” Alex shook his head.
“The crazy part was who the defendants were... Pet, Cora, Freja, a few others... It was quite a day.
The place was packed.”
“I don’t Cora or Freja well, but I can’t imagine Pet doing something criminal.”
“Right? She was the leading witness for the defense. Was genius. Actually... Lot was the lawyer and he brought up an interesting investigation idea...”
“Oh yeah?’
“He said that the arresting officer, the army general, and the judge who is the army captain, were in charge of the money for payroll with the army, right? He proposed that perhaps they’re acting illegally in how they obtain money for the payroll. Though I have seen them go to banks several times.”
“Interesting,” he nodded.
“I tried to make eye contact with him at the trial because it would be interesting... But then I got home and remembered he’s the main one we’re trying to avoid in this whole Regulators investigation. Speaking of which... Seems like EYE, the last remaining Regulator from that gang, is using other outlaws like Serenity and such to hold up saloons and rob people.”
“Wow!”
“It happened at the ball Saturday night. Apparently there was over forty there dancing... They asked for their jewelry and such. Law went after them when they’d left the saloon.”
“Probably a good thing I wasn’t there,” Alex chuckled.
“Not sure exactly how much they acquired, but I’m guessing some of the folks were pretty resistant. I heard about it from Bill, Thad and Jules. Glad I wasn’t there either.”
“They wouldn’t have gotten my necklace from me, that’s for sure. At least not if I were still alive.”
I smiled and cuddled against him as he brushed my hair from my face. “I do hate how long weekends are without you...”
“They are long. It’s lonely out in the desert.”
“How lonely?” I smirked, kissing his neck softly.
He grinned, looking into my eyes. “Lonely enough that all I can think about is getting back here to you.”
***
Bisbee.
This afternoon I performed in Bisbee and was pleasantly surprised by the large crowd that gathered. When I was finished, I walked over to wrap my arms around Alex and he hugged me back. “Great singing, Babe.”
“Thank you all for coming today!” I looked to everyone. “Hope to see you in Venice on Thursday! I may throw some classical songs in there as well for that set.”
“Wonderful as always, Trin!” Skyla exclaimed.
“I will try,” Ella nodded.
“Sky, you finally got to meet my man,” I smiled at her.
“I have once already, Trin!” she laughed. “In town while I was on the balcony.”
“Oh that’s right... Feels like ages ago,” I smiled.
“That does feel like along time ago.”
“That’s what happens when I’m outta town a lot,” she said.
“Carl, good to officially meet you,” I nodded to the man Skyla was dancing with. “I see your name in paper so much...”
“Hopefully ya won’t anymore,” Skyla laughed.
“Oh won’t I?”
“I might walk back to Tombstone. And yes it is Trin,” Carl said to me, then said goodbye and headed out of the saloon.
“Now that I got him away from his cousin, I don’t think there will be too much more trouble. He’s doing it for me,” she laughed.
“Still dancing with guys with warrants on ‘em, huh Sky?” I laughed and winked at her. “Ah yes... Another reformation project.”
“I do a bunch of those.”
“Well good, been getting sick of seeing his name in the warrants,” I chuckled. “Well Alex... Shall we call it a day?”
“Let’s head home,” he looked at me and held out his hand.
“You two be good now!” Sky laughed.
“Aw mom, do we have to?” I winked at Sky.
“And Alex... put a ring on it,” she laughed at him, making me look to Alex for his reaction to that and he chuckled.
“Have a great evening, everyone,” Alex smiled and nodded to everyone.
“See Sky, avoiding,” I chuckled.
“No he’s not! He laughed! Dang it woman.”
“And on that note,” I chuckled.
“I don’t do subtle hints,” Sky laughed.
“You never were one for subtle, Sky,” I winked and we headed out of the saloon.
We got on my horse and rode back home to enjoy the rest of the time we had together before he had to return to his work in the desert.
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