Black Diamond.
I was walking through the street when I saw James walking over towards me with a smile. “Morning,” he greeted me.
“Well hey there stranger,” I walked over to him and hugged him tightly.
“How’s things?” he asked as he hugged me back.
“I’ve missed you so much,” I sighed in his arms.
“How’s things been here?”
“We have a lot to catch up on..... how is your um... business doing? Probably didn’t even notice the repairs that were made, huh?”
“Repairs?” he looked over at the shop.
“Yeah there was a huge fire...”
“A fire? In the undertakers?”
“Lot threw dynamite into the street and it hit the front of your office. I was so worried about you but you’ve been out of town.”
“Bastard.”
“Testing the new law, I guess.”
“Hmm,” he scratched his head.
“They repaired it up well if you didn’t even notice.”
“Well yeah, I never noticed a thing!”
“Oh and um.... you would have had a patient if you were around the other day,” I looked down.
“Oh?”
“I had to kill her. She was shooting at me and Aly first. She’d just almost killed Dave. I...” I shook my head. “I didn’t mean to kill her.”
“Who?!”
“Sasha... this annoying little brat who didn’t know when to leave well enough alone,” I sighed. “I shouldn’t talk about her like that. I really didn’t mean to kill her but I had to get healed too... She shot me in the chest...”
James swore and I nodded, looking at him grimly. “I really wished you were here...”
“I swear, everything happens when I leave town for a few days!”
“Ger became mayor... Aly and Stormy are deputies... Alex and Aly are engaged and I’m gonna be his best man...”
“Wow, I’ve missed quite a lot, eh?”
“Oh and I got threatened and shot in the arm too,” I said and he laughed, shaking his head. I looked at him and took a deep breath. “Did you... miss me?”
“I had such a great time away I completely forgot about you...” he started and I stared at him blankly, then he laughed. “Only joking, course I did!”
“You and your dark sense of humor,” I nudged him playfully. “There’s a few people I need to get statements from if you want to ride around with me...?”
“Well I’ve got a few things I need to sort out in the office. If I leave you to ride you’re not gonna get shot again are you?”
“Some of them are probably in Bisbee or on Allen Street,” I frowned, seeing he didn’t want to spend time with me.
“Hey, don’t give me that look hun,” he poked me. “I’ve just got back and got a few things to sort out here.”
“Okay. I just... I’ve missed you I guess,” I sighed. “Do I get a kiss before we go off to work?”
“I was thinking it was gonna be me having to ask for one,” he laughed and leaned down to kiss me.
I kissed him back softly and looked in his eyes. “Glad we’re both feeling the same thing still.”
“Well, look after yourself, try not to get shot and I’ll see you about 1?”
“Sounds good, hon. Hope your office is alright now,” I smiled and headed off.
I rode around but couldn’t see anyone that I needed statements from so I headed back to the office to get some paperwork written. When I came out a few hours later I noticed a crowd standing in front of the sheriff’s office, including Suzy who I desperately needed a statement from. She was talking with Rikki, Blaq, and some others standing around and I noticed a man I hadn’t recognized yet.
“Hi there. Don’t think we’ve met yet,” I looked at him.
“My name’s Zeth Hammerthall.”
“Zeth, I know your father well. I’m Trin Paige.”
“Nice to meet you Trin.”
“Hey Suzy, I could use your help with something,” I looked at her.
“Okay what’s that?”
“Remember when Lot shot at you and Aly? I could use a witness statement if you still remember that incident. I’ve been trying to find you since but we seem to be not crossing paths.”
“Yes?”
“Can you write a statement about Lot shooting you and Aly please?”
“When was that?”
“Back about a week or so ago... Aly was trying to arrest him for shooting her but he didn’t like that idea.”
“Oh yeah, okay.”
“If you could get that to me soon, that’d be great,” I smiled and handed her a piece of paper. “So are you following in your father’s footsteps, Zeth?” I looked at the boy.
“That’s what I want to do but I’m not up for being a detective like he was.”
“A ranger then perhaps? Or a marshal?”
“I know my father was a US marshal and fond memories when I had to see him shot at now and again. I like being a ranger.”
“Well we do need those too.” I took the statement from Suzy and thanked her for it.
“Okay we might have a trial for Jack here this weekend,” she announced then.
“Oh yeah?” I looked over.
“Yep.”
“Excuse me?” Ger raised an eyebrow.
“When Aly arrested him Sunday for shooting in town.”
“Oh I see.”
“I was told... never mind.”
“Told what, Ger?” Suzy looked at him.
“That the court house wasn’t ready to be opened yet.”
“Why not?”
“We were rushing it...”
“Rushing what?”
“We barely have enough people to hold a trial, Suzy,” I put in, trying to support Ger. “We’ve been discussing things with Jimmi.”
“That was the impression I got from talking with Jimmi,” Ger nodded to me.
“Jury, judges, and attorneys can come from anywhere in the territory,” she instructed us.
“Jimmi and I discussed that the other day,” Ger started to get anxious.
“As did Jimmi and I.”
“Yes?”
“I gave him my opinion on that. He has yet to get back to me on his decision.”
“Mmm okay,” she nodded. “Well let me go to Tombstone. I got business there.”
“I love it when everyone communicates,” I sighed, watching her walk off.
“Business huh,” Mysti grumbled, watching her go.
“Ger?” I stepped over to him.
He held up his hand and said, “She wants journeyman lawyers and judges here....”
“What is a journeyman?” Mysti asked.
“Used to be a lawyer. Not anymore though,” Zeth put in then.
“Still interested?” I looked at him.
“Someone who travels from court to court,” Ger replied.
“Hmm... never heard that but then again I’m not in law,” Mysti nodded.
“No real home, no ties to a community. So the community doesn’t feel they have their best interests at heart,” Ger went on.
“You need to talk to Jimmi,” I looked at him. “Obviously he doesn’t care what I think.”
“He listened to me the other day when we talked.”
“I need to get some statements gathered. I’ll be in town more tomorrow,” I said then and nodded to Zeth as I headed to my office.
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