October 3, 1899

Bisbee. 

This morning I started my walk around town as I looked for something to do. I walked back to my office and sat down, watching a couple of figures head towards Black Diamond. I grew curious and one of them came closer to me. I recognized the woman as Serenity and waved to her, trying to act as if I didn’t know the truth about who she really was now. “Morning, Serenity.”

“Say....you know of any doctor folk ‘round?” she asked. 

“I haven’t seen a soul all morning. Something up?”

She held her arm that was slowly bleeding and said, “Oh you know....greenhorns trying to prove a point early morning..”

“Greenhorns?” I raised an eyebrow. “Don’t know that name yet. Maybe there’s someone over in Allen Street. I was looking in Diamond and I didn’t see anyone there either. Who are the Greenhorns?”

“Naw, greenhorns meaning they new in town and think they shit don’t stink.” 

“Oooh I see. Wish I could be more help...”

“Any chance you can send a telegram fer me perhaps?” 

“Yeah, we could do that.” I stood and said, “Let me go into the office and send one.”

I walked into the office and sent a telegram for a doctor, watching Serenity carefully through the window. I finished and headed back outside. “Maybe we should get you to the clinic. Who shot at you?”

“Ya know, if I die.... well, I won’t let ya see that,” she glanced at me. 

“Oh, you were shot in the arm. I hardly think it’s lethal.”

“Some fella named Sam.” 

“Sam? That’s a new name to me,” I helped her on the bed. 

She rolled her eyes a bit and said, “Well, Ace shot him the other night...”

“Oh? So it was revenge?”

“Naw, not at all. He was just sore because I told them to take their gunfight out of town.” 

“Oh, and they didn’t like that you were bossin’ them around.” 

“They listened at first, but then got all mad cuz I told them I’d shoot ‘em if I heard a bullet come near me again.” 

“Uh huh...” I nodded and looked out to see if a doctor was coming soon. I saw Mysti walking past the clinic and went off to get her as Matt walked into the clinic, asking Serenity to describe what happened. 

Mysti and I came back to the clinic and Matt told her, “She is all yours... wound in the arm... seems clean exit.” 

“No bullet went in, I was sure of that,” Serenity said. 

“You’ve got this taken care of?” I asked Matt. “I saw someone walking back to Diamond I didn’t recognize.”

“He did walk off that way,” Serenity nodded as Mysti took care of her arm. 

“Can you describe the person, Trin?” Matt nodded to me. 

“His name was Sam, he looks like that Carl fella,” Serenity put in. 

“Hello, everyone,” Alex said and I smiled, seeing him. “Looks like something went down this morning?”

“Need to get the fellow... are you putting a warrant, Trin?” Matt asked me. 

“I didn’t recognize him enough to see who he was exactly. I saw him somewhat after I saw you ride through on Wind,” I told Matt. “Do we need a warrant? Last time I tried that I got yelled at for not creating a posse to go after him.”

“The shooting happened here... I can arrest him and hold him if he does something like... litter the town,” Matt started. 

“It happens on Allen Street law folks.... Doubt there’s much ya’ll can do out here....” Serenity pointed out. 

“I’ll deputize you then, Matt, and we’ll go after him. Maybe deputize Alex here too to help us?” I looked at Alex. 

“I’d be happy to help,” he nodded. 

“I figured as much... It happened over in Tombstone,” I nodded to Serenity then. “Any law over there right now I wonder....?”

“I just figured I’d see Trin here....get me a telegram sent out,” she said. 

“Which I could do easily enough,” I nodded. 

“None there, or this wouldn’t have happened, considering I was doing THEIR JOB,” Serenity said somewhat bitterly. 

“Good thinking, Serenity,” Matt sighed. “Indeed, agree with that,” he nodded again. 

“Now ma’am you need to keep it clean but you should be fine,” Mysti told Serenity. 

“So what do we do, Sheriff? You’re the more experienced authority here,” I looked at Matt. 

“Let me see if I can find this fellow at Diamond... and will find a way to hold him,” Matt said. 

“Alright,” I nodded. “I believe he went out there but who knows if he’s still there now.”

“Perhaps he went to diamond to get measurements for a pine box...” Matt winked a bit to Serenity. 

“Thanks for coming over so fast, hon,” I said, not noticing the wink between them as much. 

“Much appreciated, doc,” Matt nodded to her. 

“Not a problem Trin hon was just packing up my house.. moving .. so it was a break.” 

“Thank ya fer the quick treatment,” Serenity said to her. 

“Very well... let’s see what I can find in Diamond,” Matt tipped his hat. 

“Guess we just keep an eye out then. Stay safe, Sheriff,” I said to him as he walked out. “Give me a smoke signal if ya need me.” Turning to Alex as he slipped his arm around my waist I asked, “How are you, darling?”

“Not too bad. How are you this morning?”

“Happy to have something to do, though not happy someone was shot for it,” I nodded to Serenity, though I still didn’t trust her since discovering that she really was a member of a gang that had been tormenting me for months. “Serenity, let me know if this guy comes after you again. We’ll keep an eye out.”

Mysti and Serenity continued to talk about pain management options and we said goodbye to give them space. Alex and I walked hand in hand to the cafe where I poured him some coffee. 

“Coffee would be good. I can’t seem to wake up today,” he told me. 

“I can help with that,” I kissed his lips and went to pour him a cup of coffee and one for myself. 

“Thanks Babe,” he took the coffee and kissed me deeply with a grin. “I’ve wanted to do that since I got here.”

I smiled and kissed him again. “Aw babe.. You’re sweet. It was nice to have something to do this morning.”

“Yeah, that’s great. Too bad someone got shot, but nice to have something to look into.”

“Gotta keep an eye out for the Sam guy... But did you see who was shot? Did you recognize her?” 

“Yes, I did.” 

“Felt strange helping her in spite of that revelation...”

“And I passed someone I hadn’t seen before when I first got here... wonder if it was him.”

“Oh?” 

“Yeah, some guy.” 

“Did you talk to him? Was he headed for Diamond?”

“No, I didn’t talk to him,” he shook his head. “He was leaving in a hurry and didn’t look friendly.”

“Hmm... I’ll let Matt handle it then. I don’t want to get in the way unless he asks for my help. What has you so tired, darling?” I asked, looking at him closely. 

“Weird dreaming keeping me up at night. I don’t usually remember them, but lately they’ve been waking me up and I can’t seem to fall back to sleep.”

“Oh?” I asked curiously. 

“I can’t remember last nights, but I do remember it was scary,” he shrugged. “Just a dream, but still odd.” I squeezed his hand and he said, “I sure am happy to see you today.”

“I’m happy to see you too... I missed you yesterday. I did some shifts but nothing really happened.”

“Do you think this morning’s shooting will turn into something big?”

“That’s a good question... He shot her because she didn’t want him and her man shooting in town... Guess they didn’t like her telling them what to do. I’ve never heard of this guy before though.”

“Violent reaction,” he shook his head. 

“People ‘round here tend to be trigger happy.”

“I suppose so,” he laughed. “Me included, although I haven’t shot anyone yet.”

“You almost had a chance too. But because it happened on Allen Street... We have to let the guys over there have authority. If it happened here or in Diamond we could have deputized to our heart’s content.”

“I bet that won’t be the last we see of that guy. Sounds like someone who is looking for trouble.”

“Sounds like it, doesn’t it? I mean even if he comes through Bisbee... I couldn’t arrest him unless he did something here.”

“No, I suppose not.”

I leaned against him and nuzzled close as I set the coffee cup on the counter. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close as I sat comfortably against him. It felt so good to be with him. It was nice to have a man to rely on after I had been left behind so many times before. 

He finished his coffee and set it on the bar. “Babe... I hate to go, but I’m going to have to go back out into the desert in a few minutes. I’ve got some business to take care of.”

“Stay safe dear.... I want you home safe to me tonight,” I hugged him tightly. 

“I promise I will do my best.” 

We kissed again and I said, “I should head to the meeting in Diamond as well. They’ve been really informative for plans with the town.”

“Good to have those meetings. You have a good day and be safe as well. Watch out for that rogue.”

We said goodbye and I watched him walk out the door before heading for Bill and April’s house in Black Diamond. 

***

Tombstone. 

This evening I went to Annie’s and looked for Castion, knowing that he would be entertaining with the turntable music. I greeted people as I walked over to Cas and asked him, “Castion, was wondering if I could talk to you about a trial that happened ages ago...”

“Sure, go ahead. I don’t pay very good attention so don’t expect much.” 

“Kaly’s soap... something about stealing things to make her soap better...?”

“Yeah, she stole soap someone else made. That’s how she made hers better.” 

“Yeah? I’m trying to figure out what happened to her.”

“Happened?” he looked at me. 

“Yea. There’s a memorial up for her in Diamond... Guess they suspect foul play.”

“She fell into a vat of lye,” Muriel informed me, though I could never really trust what she said as fact. 

“A vat of lye?” I looked at her. 

“Yup, making soap. I saw Cas push her in then her hand came up.” 

“You did not, or I’da pushed you in, too,” Cas glared at her. 

“Cas, you have no idea what happened to her? Or might’ve? When was that trial if you remember?” I asked, getting serious again. 

“Last I saw her she was dancin’ without a care... not seen her since.” 

“Strange... I met her back in July... So I was trying to figure out what happened to her.”

“She was always in trouble of some kind... who knows who she made mad.... the list is long and distinguished.” 

“Don’t suppose it had anything to do with what Cym was into, do ya?”

“Nope, never saw Miss Cym near her eacept at a party Mayor Kaly threw for her one time a while back.” 

“Hmm... Well, thanks for your time, Cas. I know you’re busy. Been trying to track ya down though and knew you’d be here tonight.”

“Yep, you can find me over to Pearce if you need anything else.” 

“Thanks, Cas,” I smiled and waved to Adrian as he walked in. 

I walked over to Sage and smiled at him, “So... You’re my new boss, huh?”

“Hah, It would appear so...” he smirked a bit. 

“Wish ya were around during the day. Would make shifts more interesting,” I smiled. “Been deathly quiet around there, though Serenity got shot in Tombstone this morning and came to get healed in Bisbee.”

“Hm, well I’ll be here when trouble decides to come. I’m glad I’ll still be workin’ with ya,” he smiled. 

“Indeed. Good to see you again.” 

“You too,” he nodded and grinned. 

“Gonna wander around I think... Just here on some investigation notes. Guess it doesn’t really help me figure out what happened to Kaly...”

Castion asked if anyone there was afraid of clowns and I took that as my cue to head out. I had no desire to hang around any masked individuals, good or otherwise. 

Black Diamond. 

I walked into Diamond and wandered around and then saw the sheriff’s door open and Matt working hard inside. I knocked on the open door and he said, “Hi Trin.. please enter.” 

“Hey there Sheriff. Busy?”

“Well.. just writing a report.. and waiting for the events.” 

“Did you ever get ahold of that Sam guy that shot Serenity?”

“I saw him this afternoon...” 

“Oh?” 

“He was here in Diamond, but could not charge him.” 

“He has to do a crime in our own towns to arrest him, right?”

“Right... And we do not have a warrant from the other towns.” 

“I saw the sheriff of Bisbee tonight over in Annie’s. Sage... Good to know he still exists.”

“The most that I can do is wait for him to slip.” 

“Yeah. At least you know what he looks like now though,” I nodded. 

“Oh yes.. mm.. what do you know about the gang The Regulators?” 

“The Regulators?” I looked at him curiously. “First I’m hearing about it.”

“Mmm... let me check my notes... It used to be an old gang.. seem defunct...” 

“Oh yeah? Kinda all died off?”

“But this person, Sam.. claimed to be rebuilding it.” 

“Oh?” 

“And he is the head person,” Matt rolled his eyes. “Along with his cousin Carl.” 

“Carl? Haven’t heard that name either. Guess I’ll have to look into this gang’s past.”

“Well.. whatever the past is past.. seems that either these two are either pretenders or trying to rebuild it.” 

“Well... if they’re trying to rebuild it, I wanna know what they were like before so we can be prepared this time.”

“From what I have talk with this individual.. he may not know anything about the past.. he probably thinks that the name sounded good..” 

“Either way... If they were a gang from the past I want to look into it. Even just for my own interest’s sake,” I chuckled. 

“Anyway... One more detail about Mr. Sam,” he said a bit sarcastically.” 

“I’m listening...” 

“The lady that is always very discreet,” he grinned, “Miss Victoria... She claims that Sam is her beau,” he rolled his eyes. 

“Victoria... I remember meeting her at the hotel but I haven’t really seen her since. Was at least a month ago. She kind of came over and introduced herself to me and Alex. But Like I said, haven’t seen her much since.”

“She was announcing it all over this afternoon. My opinion? If that lady does not keep her mouth shut, I bet that Sam or someone else just hoof her and we will never find her body.” 

“Yeah...” I nodded in agreement. “She’ll talk too much and people will realize who she’s associated with.”

“Well I’m gonna head home for the evening. Thanks for this information, Sheriff. I’ll let you know what we discover at the library hopefully.”

“Very well, Trin,” he winked. 

“Stay safe. Keep me posted,” I waved and headed outside. 

I greeted April and Abby and Lil who were standing outside with Jamie, waiting for the children’s picnic to begin. I asked when the memorial for Kaly had been put up but no one really knew much about it. Kato came over, the boy that had taught us some Chinese phrases, and then I saw Ryker walk over. I asked him if we could talk and he nodded, following me over to the cafe. 

When we got there I noticed that the cafe had been taken down and wondered what it would be replaced with. “Okay so... The Sheriff was telling me about this possible new gang... The Regulators...” I started. 

“Yeah, we had a run-in with them today. Really reckless.” 

“Was wondering if you could keep me posted...”

“Of course I will,” he nodded. “We need to work together.” 

“Serenity came over to Bisbee to get healed and told me about Sam shooting her. If she keeps doing that, trouble could keep coming our way.”

“Yes I know. We don’t need that.” 

“No, we don’t,” I shook my head. “Just wanted to make sure that we as deputies were on the same page.”

“Indeed we are. If I see or hear anything I will let you know. Be careful though. These guys are really reckless.” 

“Thanks Ryker...Hey, I haven’t seen Nim around lately...”

“She is away on business. She should be back in a few days.” 

“I will keep an eye out. I’m going to the library to research what the old gang was like. If these guys are copies, I wanna know who they’re copying. Will go with Alex... I don’t intend on wandering around alone too much.”

“Keep me posted if you find anything out. Good idea.” 

“Who all did you deal with today, just so I can keep track of names?”

“Let’s see... Carl, Sam and Dash... Some girl too but don’t remember her name.” 

“Dash?” I blinked. “He was over at Dutch Annie’s tonight. I was there talking with Cas about some stuff relating to Kaly’s undetermined end.”

“Yeah. He got treated then ran away before I could talk to him.” 

I shook my head and sighed a bit. “Guess you can’t do anything if he’s way over there. Matt said that you’ve got to watch for them to slip up here.”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “When he comes back, we’ll be ready.” 

“Well... maybe my on duty shifts will no longer be boring during the day...”

“I think business is about to pick up, Trin.” 

“Well you stay safe too, Ryker. Hopefully we’ll nip this in the butt sooner rather than later.”

“Hopefully,” he nodded. “If you need my help with anything, let me know.” 

“Guess I’ll let you get back to work and I’ll head home to bed. Alex has been out working in the desert a lot during the evenings... Comes in after I go to sleep usually.”

“You should stay for the fun.” 

I shook my head and said, “Nah, I’ll head home. Have a good evening, Ryker. And thanks for the chat.”

“Be safe Trin,” he tipped his hat and I headed back to Bisbee.