Bisbee.
This morning I wrote down in my notebook that I was starting my shift and walked outside, knowing that I needed to read more case files but was too nervous to admit what they could mean.
“Morning Trin,” Nim greeted me. She was standing in the street and I waved to her in response.
“Hey there.”
“How are you this morning?”
“I’m okay I guess. Just starting my on duty shift.”
“Missed a wonderful wedding on Saturday.”
“Did I...?” I looked at her.
“Yes, Matty and Abby, at Pet’s Willow Lake area,” she nodded.
I saw a man laying in the street past the Stock Exchange and said, “Nim, walk with me?”
We walked over and looked down at the man laying face down. He had long black hair and wore what looked to be a Native warrior’s outfit. “Is he alive?”
I looked closer, seeing that he had a bush beard, and said, “Was just wondering the same thing.”
He moaned and Nim said, “I heard something, lets get him to a docs office, have one here in Bisbee?”
“Think he’s alive,” I nodded. “Yeah, just down the street here...” I leaned down and said to the man, “Sir? Can you hear me?”
Nim knelt down and removed the guns from his waist and tried to help him up. “Can you move?”
He started to stand up then and I asked, “Sir... Are you alright? Do you need a doctor?”
“Water,” he choked out.
When I heard his voice I almost fell over in shock. It couldn’t be... “Oh my...”
“Let’s get him some water.”
“I think... I might need some too,” I looked at him with confusion. There was no way... He was dead...
“The man needs water, Trin. Lead the way. Can you walk, Sir?” Nim asked. We led him to the bed in the clinic and Nim said, “Lay down here and rest, I will get you some water.”
I shook my head in awe, wondering if this was real. All this time and... “Sayler?” I finally had the courage to ask.
He coughed and moaned, then opened his eyes, reaching for where his weapons had been. “Who’s that there?”
I looked in his eyes, as if searching for the truth. “Sayler, it’s me... Trin Paige... I...” I shook my head. This wasn’t real. There was no way.
“How do you know my name?”
I sighed, seeing that he didn’t remember anything. “We were good friends... a long time ago... Fifteen years or so I guess...”
Nim came over and held a glass of water to Sayler. “Here you go stranger, drink it slow.” Sayler tried to drink it but he did so too quickly and Nim said, “Easy, slow down.”
I put a hand on Sayler’s arm, as if needing to touch him to believe it. “Nim... he’s... he’s an old friend but he doesn’t remember me.”
“Give him time to recover Trin. Looks like he has been out in the desert way too long.”
I nodded and sighed, “I thought he was dead... He was shot in front of me. I haven’t seen him or heard from him since... We all thought he was dead but no one ever could confirm it... I planned his funeral,” I said dizzily.
“Where am I?” Sayler asked.
“You’re in Bisbee, Sayler. In Arizona.”
“I was trying to get to Benson.”
“Why?”
“Took a stage the hell out of Arizona ‘fore I got killed.”
“You’re not dead, Sayler.” Saying it didn’t even seem real. “What happened?”
“I got sideways with some bad fellows in Tombstone. I’ve been hiding out in the territory for months.”
“All this time,” I shook my head. “You really don’t know who I am?”
“Not Tombstone....Colorado.” He seemed confused and I just took a drink from my flask of whiskey as he continued to talk. “One of them from that gang in Colorado found me in Tombstone. I made em think I was dead and run away.”
“Bill and his gang... They shot you in front of the saloon. I saw the whole thing. Nell was yelling at you because you...” I remembered it all like it was yesterday.
“Are you one of em?” he reached for his holster that wasn’t there again.
“No Sayler... When I was telling Logan what the history was with me and the gang they surrounded the church with me and Logan inside... A few days later he shot me down. No one would do anything about it. Rosa tried to sell me to them and she was the damn judge. So I left Colorado.”
“Rosa!” Sayler yelled and I nodded as he remembered that name.
“Sayler, it’s okay. She’s not here. None of them are... Except well... TJ... but he’s law now. And Sniper’s around but hardly ever...”
“Miss Trin. She was my only friend.”
“Sayler, I’m right here,” I fought back tears.
“I know you,” he said after looking at me closer.
“Want me to find a doc, or you think he will be okay with rest?” Nim asked from where she stood a few feet back.
“I think he’ll be okay... We just... he just needs time to recollect himself again. Thank you for your help...” I looked to her.
“Is that Rosa?” Sayler asked with fear.
“No Sayler, that’s my friend Nim.”
“Then who are you?” Sayler looked at me.
“Your welcome, his gun is on the desk over there, if you need me shout.”
“Perfect. I will.” I looked at Sayler and said, “Sayler... it’s me, Trin. Trin Paige.”
“I can go anywhere with my new badge, so always shout when needed now Trin.”
“Trin’s here?” Sayler asked then.
“Remember... we rode to Kansas together and met the Marsh’s.. Helen and Romey...” I looked at Sayler and then thanked Nim as she left the clinic.
“Trin?” Sayler looked at me .
“Yes Sayler, it’s me. Remember you put on a priest outfit to hide from the women chasing you... I said you could stay at my safehouse...”
“No that was Trin.”
“Yes... I am Trin. Do you want me to prove it?”
He fell back asleep then, and I shook my head, looking at him. All this time and now here he was, without remembering who I was. I leaned down to kiss his forehead and then walked out, needing to collect my thoughts. I sat in front of the sheriff’s office, too shocked for any cohesive thought. A few minutes later I heard him move again and walked over to the clinic.
“Sayler...? Are you okay?”
“My head is moving slow.”
“Understandable. You still don’t remember me, do you?”
“I think I can help you remember...”
He went back out of consciousness again and I walked back to my office with a sigh. I knew I had to distract myself before going crazy so I got the files from the desk and pulled them out to read a statement from January 25, 1884. The file was written by Deputy Paul Langley and I took a deep breath as I read:
I spent the night at the office, sleeping on one of the cots in the cell. When I woke up, I heard a noise outside and went to investigate. There was a package on the doorstep with a dead rabbit inside, along with a note. The note said: Turn over your horse or war is coming.
I shook my head as things were escalating in the files and braced myself for the next file. It was from Atlan Carter, now the Sheriff. The file was dated February 3, 1884.
I was out on patrol with Deputy Langley when we were attacked by four men with bandanas. They spoke in Mexican accents and told us to turn over their horses. Knowing a bit of Spanish, Langley deciphered that they knew lawmen’s horses would be worth more money. Langley and I tried to shoot and fight them off but there were too many of them and we were knocked off our horses. When we came to, the horses were gone and a dead rabbit lay between us.
I remembered suddenly that the people who came with the one clock had been speaking in Spanish and they had all been wearing bandanas. I looked up when Sayler walked over.
“It is you. I thought I was dreaming.”
I smiled at him, “Your memory coming back?”
“Yeah. I reckon I needed that water to get in me.”
I stood then and put the files in my desk, then walked back out over to Sayler. “I can’t believe you’re here...”
“Well, I have to say you’re a surprise, yerself. You are a long way from where I last saw you.”
“Tell me about it,” I sighed. “Sayler... Can I... Give you a hug? It’s been so long and I thought you were dead and...”
He grabbed me and pulled me close, and I hugged him tightly. “I planned your funeral... I thought I’d never see you again,” I said against his chest.
“I had to run. Them summbitches were going to kill me and everyone I knew. I was about half dead and woke in the funeral parlor.”
“The funeral parlor...?” I leaned back and looked in his eyes.
“They must have thought I was dead. Good thing too.”
“We all did...” I nodded. “They shot you in the street. I watched the whole thing. Then people came back and told me you had been hanged on a sign and...” I shook my head, remembering those months of sleepless nights. “Then your friend Tex showed up... I thought I was seeing a ghost he looked so much like you.”
“I had to dig the bullet out myself. What did they say when you showed up for the body and there weren’t one.”
“I... It was so long ago... They didn’t understand why there wasn’t a body... James and I went to talk with Icca and planned the whole funeral but... Nothing ever happened,” I sighed.
“Tex, yes. He dang near saw me once out near Fort Smith. I hid from him. I didn’t want no one to know I was alive.”
“He mentioned something about that when I lived in Georgetown. I saw him again and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.”
“He seen me anyway? I never could fool that ol cuss.”
“I guess he did... He really helped me right after you... after we heard that you’d been killed. He came around a few times to make sure I was okay.”
“Is there a place around here where I could get cleaned up?” he asked then.
“Of course. Hold on, let me just go off duty here and then I can focus better.”
I stepped into the office and wrote down the time when I had finished my shift and walked out. “You gonna be staying in the area a while? Could get you set up at the hotel...”
“I must look a sight.”
“Not bad for a ghost,” I winked.
“Just a pump and some scissors will do for now.”
“Of course. Follow me.” I lead him down the street to the old barber shop that was still set up and said, “No one runs this place but I’m sure we could use it.”
“Much obliged.”
“If you want the bath I can step outside and give you some privacy.”
“Thank you. I would like to get in the tub.”
I walked outside and leaned against the post, waiting. Bree walked over to the bank and I said, “Morning, Bree.”
“Hi.”
“How are you?”
“I’m fine. How have ya been?”
“Just reuniting with my best friend... I haven’t seen him in years and he’s shown up again. I thought he’d died.”
“How nice!”
“Reckon my man should be around in an hour or so as well... said he had some business to do this morning.”
“I’d love to meet.”
“As soon as he’s cleaned up I’ll introduce you. So did you go to Matt and Abby’s wedding?”
“Oh yes, was witness with Nim. It was beautiful.”
“I was out riding around and clearing my head... Didn’t make it back to town in time. Now I understand why Matt blew me off the other day though. Must have been stressed about wedding plans.”
“You would have loved it.”
“Not a big fan of weddings, believe it or not.”
“Oh, I didn’t know. Well, Ali and Gabe are gone.”
“They are?”
“Ya.”
I shook my head and said, “More people that leave without sayin’ goodbye.”
“Cleaned out Black Diamond home. They were mad.”
I looked over when Sayler walked out and smiled. His hair was short again and he’d shaved off the beard and mustache that had hidden his face. “Now that’s the Sayler I remember. Sayler, this is Bree, she works at the banks in the area. Bree, this is my oldest friend Sayler. And not by age,” I chuckled.
“Hello Sayler, nice to meet ya.”
“Howdy.”
Bree had to go take care of some business then so I focused on Sayler. “Feeling better?”
“Much.”
“Glad to hear that. I can’t wait to introduce you to Alex. I just told him about you too... and now, here you are... By the way, Nim put your guns on the table in the clinic by the door... Might want to get them. I don’t know where you’re staying... but the Copper Queen is free of charge and is a very comfortable hotel.”
“Oh, I was wondering. I guess now that I’ve mysteriously jumped ahead 15 years, I can get rid of those old dragoons and get a cartridge pistol.”
“It is really good to see you, Sayler,” I chuckled.
“You’re sweet.”
“Getting over your death was something that was not easy... I still thought of you the other day on the anniversary of it. I told Alex all about it... all about how hard it was to get over... because you were my... soulmate...” I looked at him.
“Of all the towns for me to stumble into. Must be destiny,” he said and I hugged him again. “Well, guess I could do with some shut-eye.”
“Do you want me to show you the hotel?”
“Anyone there to keep me warm?”
“I will need to stay out here...” I chuckled a bit. “Alex will be expecting me and I have some serious things to discuss with him about a case we’ve been working on.”
“Oh...I didn’t mean...”
“I’ve missed you too, Sayler. Come on,” I said and lead the way to the hotel. I hugged him again before leaving him to rest and went back to my office.
***
I sat in my office an hour later and heard the door open. I went to see who was there and smiled when I saw Alex. “Alex!” I ran to him and hugged him.
He hugged me back tightly and smiled. “It’s good to see you.” I didn’t let go, my whole body still shaking from the shock of seeing Sayler and the revelation of the Dead Rabbits connection in the files with Will Braxton. “How are you doing?” Alex finally asked.
“I.... We need to talk,” I pointed to the table and closed the door behind him, sitting down across from him.
“What’s going on?”
“You remember how I told you about my friend who passed away... the one who died on Sept. 11 all those years ago...?”
“Yes,” he nodded.
I leaned forward and reached for his hand. “I saw him this morning. Talked to him. He’s alive, Alex!”
He raised an eyebrow in surprise at that. “Really? Wow! That’s amazing.”
“I know... He was laying on the ground and had stumbled into town on his way to Benson, I guess. He’d been traveling for years since... Since he was shot, and hiding out in different places because no one could know that he was alive. If they knew... that gang that shot him would surely come after him. And me. His body had never been found, Alex... We planned his funeral and everything. And now... my best friend is still alive,” I shook my head.
Alex looked at me with concern and asked, “Are they still after him? And you?”
“It was over fifteen years ago.. I’m sure they’ve moved on to bigger conquests by now. If they had wanted us dead, they would have found a way, I’m sure. But that’s not the only news I have for you... and this one may be related to a threat on me personally...” I looked at him seriously now, squeezing his hand and holding it on the table.
“What happened?” he squeezed my hand back.
“This case... this cold case that I’ve been digging into... What do you know about the Dead Rabbits?”
“A little. I know their a gang you don’t want to mess with.”
“Alex...” I hesitated.
“Tell me. Are you okay?”
I shook my head and took a deep breath, starting from the beginning. “Back in June, the clocks were stolen from the tower on Allen Street. I was assigned to help investigate what happened to them. I located one of the clocks in Ghenna, an outlaw town, but then was threatened to leave and never return or they’d kidnap me. They almost managed to but I got away... The thing is... I started getting threatening letters. Really scary ones, telling me to back off the investigation. Alex... dead rabbits started to show up. There was a package left on the sheriff’s office and they called me over to open it. I thought they were making fun of me and then I got back to my office and... my friend told me about this Dead Rabbits gang. The rabbit was the symbol that they were close.”
Alex looked at me, his eyes going big. “That’s a clear threat from them.”
“Then one night, this group of Mexican people wearing bandanas came into town with one of the clocks and dropped it on the ground. They tried to negotiate a price for them but it ended in a shootout. Several wounded. The case went cold after that because we realized we didn’t have enough manpower to do anything about it.”
“Gangs all too often get away with stuff because of that,” he nodded.
“Alex... this Will Braxton guy...” I sighed and said, “The sheriff and deputy working on tracking down his activities... as he continued to steal horses and no one knew who was behind it... The cases are escalating. The last one I read... Atlan and Paul are out riding, that’s the sheriff and the deputy, and these guys came wearing bandanas and shooting at them to give over their horses. A shootout pursued and when Atlan and Paul wake up, the horses are gone and there’s a dead rabbit between them.”
“Wow, these guys are bad news,” he shook his head.
“Alex... These guys... the timing of all of this... It can’t be a coincidence. The dead rabbits are responsible for the clocks... I just don’t know who they are.”
“I think it’s time we work on finding out,” he grinned at me.
I stood and looked at him, “Shall we go to the library on Allen Street then?”
“After you.”
“Make sure you close that door behind me?” I looked back at him and he did so. I took his hand and pulled him close, kissing him deeply. When he’d kissed me back I said, “Let’s go,” with a wink, and lead the way to the library.
Tombstone.
I opened the door and led the way into the library. “Here we are,” I smiled and looked at him.
“I like libraries. They’re always dark and cozy,” he smiled back at me.
I looked around and then looked back at him. “There’s something romantic about them too...”
He grinned with a spark in his eyes and pulled me in close for a kiss. I kissed him back and he wrapped his hands around my waist, pulling me close. I looked around for a couch or a chair and then got an idea, “Mmm.. I know where we can go... Follow me.”
I led the way up the spiral staircase to the small room and sat on the desk, pulling him close. He leaned down and kissed me and said, “Nice quiet spot up here.”
“I thought you would like it,” I smiled, sliding my hands up under the back of his shirt as I continued to make out with him.
“Miss Trin, ya in?!” Daryl’s voice came from downstairs a few minutes later. “It’s an old friend! I need your help!”
I cleared my throat and looked at Alex before calling down, “Daryl... How’d you know where to find me?”
“Think who ya askin’. Was a tracker for fifteen years.”
“Guess we should go down there,” I looked at Alex and he nodded. “Hold on Daryl, we’re comin’ down.”
I led the way downstairs and looked at Daryl. “What’s going on?”
“I’m Alex. It’s nice to meet you,” Alex introduced himself.
“Miss Trin you still able to send out Lines?” Daryl asked, reaching his hand out to Alex. “My name is Daryl.”
“Lines? Like telegrams?” I asked as Alex and Daryl shook hands.
“You the only one I could think that could send the line. Man shot up bad. He in the Fire Station.”
“What happened?” I asked, adjusting my hair with a look to Alex.
“Man was callin’ woman names, her man defended her. The other shot him down.”
“You want my help as a detective or do you want to deputize me so I have jurisdiction here?”
“Well, I am only Cavalry,” he laughed. “I’ll see what I can do from here.”
“Guess I’ll just have to be detective then. You want help identifying those involved? Show me where they are.. I’ll tell you names if I know them, if Alex can come too.”
“Yes ma’am, he can,” Daryl nodded.
“Let’s go then,” I smiled.
“I’ll be of service in any way I can,” Alex nodded.
We walked over to the firehouse and I saw Lil and Cole standing there with Bella, Starling and Jimmi close by.
“This man got shot, Trin,” Daryl told me.
“Cole, why ain’t I surprised?” I shook my head. “Lil, you alright?”
“I am fine, thanks,” she nodded.
“Who shot ya’ll?”
“Is any other injured?” Starling asked.
“Ace,” Lil answered.
“Lil... thanks for looking for a Doc fer me,” Cole said.
“Serenity’s man?” I blinked. “Serenity’s man Ace shot you both, why?”
“Only Cole, Trin,” Lil said.
“He mouthed off is why,” Cole said.
“He mouthed off so he shot you?” I looked at him.
“Yes Trin, that’s about right,” Daryl nodded. “I walked up on them before they started to shoot. Heard him threatenin’ Lil.”
“No. He had fair warning... so I shot at him and he ran off and then we shot it out and he got me,” Cole explained.
“Where’d the shooting happen?” I asked.
“Over near Dutch Annie’s,” Daryl nodded.
“Oh... see, now that story makes more sense, Cole,” I nodded.
“Then you need to make out a witness report mister,” Bella pointed out.
“He was saying things to Lil... I not repeat,” Cole said.
“No need to repeat ‘em, Cole. We can guess.” I looked over at Jimmi and asked, “Still need me for anything?”
“Thank ya Trin and Alex. Ya been a big help.”
“Glad I could help. I’ll always get the story one way or another,” I smiled at Daryl.
“Ya always have, that’s for sure,” he nodded.
“Is there any law here?” Bella asked. “Someone needs to make a statement.”
“I done talking!” Cole exclaimed then.
“Bella, you can drop statements off at the sheriff’s office in the mailbox,” I told her.
“Trin, I have not met the gentleman with you,” Lil looked from me to Alex.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce myself,” Alex said.
“Oh, Lil... This is my...” I hesitated, wondering the title to call him.
“I’m Alex,” he smiled.
“This is Alex,” I nodded and he shrugged at me, making me chuckle.
“Okay then Daryl needs to make one as well as Cole and Lil so we can take that man to court,” Bella said.
Nice to meet you Alex. I am Lil,” she smiled.
“I am Cole. Nice to meet you, Alex.”
“Nice to meet all of you.” Alex tipped his hat.
“Reckon we should get back to what we were doin’ at the library?” I looked at Alex.
“Yep, we’ve got business over there,” he winked.
Lil grinned and winked at me and I couldn’t help but blush. Alex blushed too and Lil said, “I kinda know that kind of business.”
I cleared my throat and looked to Cole and Lil. “You two try not to get shot up again, alright?”
“Yes ma’am,” Lil nodded.
We said goodbye to everyone and then headed back to the library. “Guess we should actually get something productive done, huh?” I chuckled, looking at Alex.
“I thought we were,” he winked.
I laughed and kissed him a bit before asking, “So what do I call you, hmm? Friend don’t sound appropriate...”
“No, friend isn’t right. More than friends, I’d say.”
“I would think so as well... Seeing as I wouldn’t just make out in a library with just anyone...” I smiled back.
“No, I can’t say I would either,” he chuckled.
“So... you’re my man then?” I smiled widely.
“Man works. Does that mean your my woman?”
I leaned forward, kissing him firmly, then leaned back a bit. “Does that answer your question?”
“Mmmhmmm, it does. I think you should do it again though, just to make sure.”
I chuckled and kissed him deeply and pulled him closer this time.
“I really do enjoy your company.”
“That makes two of us. I do want your help looking at this... Dead Rabbit stuff though. I really don’t want to do it on my own.”
“I will help you in anyway I can. You don’t have to be alone.”
I hugged him and led him over to the shelf with gang history information and found a book on the Dead Rabbits. I pulled it out and went to sit in the chair with him.
“Some of these gang members are really crazy,” Alex said. “Half of them were lawmen at once point and turned.”
I nodded and read from the book, “From the 1820’s until their final decline in the 1870’s, the Dead Rabbits were a huge gang of criminals who controlled much of the Lower East Side, excluding the Bowery, and were famous as thieves and thugs. When they went to battle with other gangs, or do their crime they would carry a dead rabbit on a pike. Like when Atlan and Paul woke up to find the dead rabbit between them.”
Alex shuddered and nodded, “Definitely a gang symbol.”
I continued to read, “They were also political sluggers, supporting pro-Irish candidates. he Dead Rabbits resented descriptions of themselves as criminals. Explains the bandanas and disguises...”
“Interesting how the two groups were divided by religion too - the Bowery Boys were protestant and the Dead Rabbits were Catholic,” Alex noted.
I nodded and asked, “Indeed... Hmm... Wait, religion... Let my people go...” I said softly.
“Moses,” Alex nodded.
“Catholics would know that phrase, wouldn’t they?”
“I would expect they would.”
I sighed and leaned back in the chair, wondering what this all meant now. I continued to read out loud, “Throughout the 1850s, the Dead Rabbits excelled at robbery, pick-pocketing and brawling.” I looked over at him and said, “That sounds about right.”
I cringed as I continued to read, “According to legend, one of the most feared Dead Rabbits was ‘Hell-Cat Maggie,’ a woman who reportedly filed her teeth to points and wore brass fingernails into battle.”
“That’s one woman I would not want to get too friendly with,” Alex chuckled.
I shook my head and read more, “While the Rabbits mostly dabbled in petty crime, they were also famous for the events of July 4, 1857, when one of their street fights with the Bowery Boys turned into a bloody riot that killed a dozen people.”
“Violent bunch.”
“But they disbanded... So the ones who have been dealing with stuff around here... They must be... second or third generation?”
“Yes, probably,” Alex nodded. “I would imagine a lot of them would want to leave the New York area where they were known. Tombstone seems like a place they just might find themselves.”
I nodded with a sigh and closed the book. “We should get back to town... I need to get changed for my gig at the Stock Exchange.”
He stood and gave me a kiss and said, “I’ll walk you back into town before I have to take a ride out into the desert.”
“You won’t be staying?” I looked at him.
“No, I have some business to attend to. If I’m done in time, I’ll come back.”
“Guess I’ll have to wear my dress for you some other time,” I winked at him and led the way out.
Bisbee.
I said goodbye to him and then went to do my gig at the Stock Exchange. After I finished playing, I saw Alex standing near the bar and went over to greet him. We went back to my place and talked about the song I had written for him.
“I did. I’m very impressed you can write songs too,” he smiled at me.
“Only with the best inspiration,” I kissed his neck and we continued to make out.
Wen he looked into my eyes I asked, “Yes, dear?”
“I could get really used to this. You just might tame me.”
“And you might just renew my faith in the opposite gender...” I smiled and we continued to kiss.
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