April 28, 1900

Tombstone. 

I walked over to the orphanage this morning, hoping to find someone to talk to about the rats in the garden. The door opened when I knocked on it and Jamie smiled at me. “Hey there kiddo, can I come inside and talk to you for a bit?”

“Sure. Come around and sit at the table.” 

She led me inside and I looked around, “Would you believe I’ve never been in here before?”

“Well... You never been a orphan, have ya?” 

“Good point,” I nodded. 

“Miss Angi put some yummy cinnamon rolls out I think.” 

“That sounds great. I was wondering... did you hear anything about rats in the orphanage gardens for the contest?”

“Yes I did.” 

“So what happened with the rats?”

“Umm Nora she picked up all the ones that we killed. I think she took the bag off to the barn for the cats to eat. I heard they had a feast.” 

“Did you hear where they came from?” 

“Well...” she looked around. “I overheard from Mister Lot in his saloon that someone placed them there.” 

“Do you remember who? Or did he say?”

“I thought I heard him say that Miss Rikki collected them all in the Ghenna halls for him. So I suspect Mr. Lot tryin’ to win.” 

“Wow...” I shook my head, wondering why I wasn’t surprised.

“But it was awfully loud in the saloon so I might have misheard too.” 

“Well it’s better than nothing right now... I think something is going on with this Jamie.... You’re really good at finding out stuff. If you hear anything else... come find me, okay?”

“Okiedokie, I will. I did hear though, and this was said right from Lot to Jeffery that Miss Ivy would do anything to win and that he had to help her win, so he would do anything.” 

“Sounds like I need to find Jeff too. Thank you sweetie, this helps a lot more than you could know.”

“Thank you,” she smiled. 

“I should keep poking around. You stay safe, okay?”

“Okiedokies,” she hugged me. “I sure hope you figure out who put the rats in the garden.” 

“See you soon kiddo,” I hugged her back. “I’ll do my best.”

“We can’t eat if them veggies don’t grow.” 

“Want to show me the way out of here?” I chuckled and she led the way out of the orphanage.

Black Diamond. 

I walked into town and smiled seeing Alex and Aly hug on the front porch of her house. I greeted them and announced that I was headed for the cafe and Alex came in to sit beside me at the table.  

“So, how’s everything going, Trin?” he asked as we drank our coffee. 

“Going alright actually. Have an extremely interesting new case here.”

“Oh yeah?” 

“Mmhmm. You know the garden contest going on right now?”

“Yeah.” 

“The other day, Aly gave me and Mark this note that she’d received... someone pretending to be Freja but we all know Freja isn’t like this,” I said and handed him the note. 

“Hmm...” he said, reading it over as Aly walked in. 

“Nice of you to join us,” I smiled at her. 

“Thanks smart butt,” she chuckled at me and then looked at Alex, “Speaking of Mark, hun, he’s a deputy now. Here. It just happened this weekend and I haven’t had a chance to tell ya yet.” 

“Are you okay with that?” Alex asked. 

“At first it was strange, but we actually spent a good part of the weekend talking, and I did lots of one on one training with him. We got alot of issues out, and it helps that we seem to have agreed about a lot of things that happened... like the moving too fast, lack of communication, etc. All that aside, though, he’s going to make a deputy, at least cause him and I are on the same page with wanting to keep the town safe,” she chuckled. “He says to me... ‘Aly...I think you and are are just...meant to be really good friends’.” 

“He’s already making a fantastic deputy. I saw that telegram go out about Rikki getting a trial... thought Suzy wanted her just hanged,” I said. 

“Well, if you’re comfortable with it, then I am,” Alex smiled. “We can always use good deputies.” 

“That’s for sure. Aly would you sit and stop pacing? You’re making me tired just looking at you, woman,” I looked at her. 

“He really worked that angle to make sure it turned out that way. When I heard she was going to be hanged, and that was because of me shooting and finally catching her, well Mark too, I had to leave, because I thought I’d get sick to my stomach,” Aly said. 

“Wow... I’m impressed,” I smiled. 

“I’m sorry, I do this when I got a lot on my mind,” Aly laughed. “He’s better at those handcuffs than I am too, I made him demonstrate right after he became deputy.” 

“I think I’ll refrain from making comment there,” Alex chuckled. 

“Um, okay it’s not like that,” she blushed. “He did ask, though, while I was cuffed if I was good at chores.” 

“Thankfully I wasn’t the only one that went there that time,” I laughed and Alex and I winked at each other. “Ya’ll sure ya want me at this wedding?”

“Yeah no...between you with that and Mark saying how he’s gonna show up in long john’s. He wants an invitation, Alex.” 

“And you’re not eloping because....?” I winked at them. 

“Speaking of invitations, not sure I want Mike there, or at least UP there on the alter. He’s ...really crude. Might want to consider having someone else for that hun,” Aly said. “Well because I think family and friends should be involved.” 

“I’m teasing Aly,” I laughed. 

“Uh huh,” she said. 

“I’m okay with anything anyone wants to wear,” Alex said. 

“So Alex, I’m walking you down the aisle at first right? So I can stand up there as we watch Aly walk down looking gorgeous?” I looked at Alex. 

“Yeah, I’d like you up there with me Trin.” 

“I told him that too...though I mentioned even though the reception was to be silly, not saying what it was, he might want to NOT show up in a church that way. Might get a few stares from Pet,” Aly laughed. “Well if you have a tux on I suppose it’s ok,” Aly chuckled. 

“She mighta made me walk down with Bree or someone,” I muttered playfully. 

“You and Bree would be cute together,” Aly laughed. 

“I’m only walking down with him,” I pointed dat Alex and he grinned. I realized then that Ger was supposed to walk down the aisle and frowned then. 

“Gonna spit it out?” Aly asked me. 

“What’s up?” Alex asked. 

“Just... Worried about Ger.... He hasn’t been around and he was really upset about that court thing... I miss him,” I said and Aly finally sat down. 

“Yeah, I’m worried about him too,” Ale nodded. 

“Sorry, negative spot on all this, Aly,” I sighed. 

Aly stood then and started to pace, not saying a single word. Alex looked at her with concern and I looked over at him. 

“I knew I shouldn’t have said anything. I guess I just thought maybe one of you had seen him or...”

“I haven’t seen him since the beginning of last week,” Alex agreed. 

“I need to go home for a bit,” Aly said and left the cafe. 

I sighed and leaned back, “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“It’s okay, Trin. We’re all worried.”

“How are you? How was your weekend?”

“It was okay. Uneventful. So, about that garden case... note is very odd.” 

“Yeah,” I started, grateful for the distraction again. “Isn’t it? Freja’s not like that at all. Thing is...” 

“No, she isn’t.” 

“Aly said Ivy was passing these notes out to everyone at the dance. Mark said she openly admitted to putting goats in Ivy and Lot’s garden the night before...”

“Oh wow, goats would make an awful mess of a garden,” Alex nodded. 

“Mark also said there was a fire in the jail in Tombstone destroying the display there. And the orphanage garden had rats in it. Now today... I went over to Tombstone to talk with anyone and found Jamie at the orphanage. She said she overheard from Lot that someone placed the rats there. She thought she heard him say that Rikki collected them all in the Ghenna halls.”

“Someone purposefully put rats in the orphanage?” 

“For him. Listen to this part though...”

“I can understand when these outlaws mess with the bank, but the orphanage? That’s beyond messed up.” 

“She said she heard Lot say to Jeffrey that Ivy would do anything to win and that he had to help her win so he would do anything.”

“Wow.” 

“Alex... this is twisted. No law has come to me about this. Other than Aly showing us that note but then didn’t want anything to do with it cause it was all in Tombstone.”

“Hmmm.. that’s crazy.” 

“Isn’t it?” 

“Is it illegal?” 

“Illegal? Destruction of property?”

“I mean, it’s messed up and horrible, but is it illegal to put rats somewhere? I suppose yes, it falls under that.” 

“Pretty sure you could get arrested for that. I need a lawman with me on this.. That’s my current issue.”

“It’s unsanitary, that’s for sure. Right, someone with Tombstone jurisdiction.” 

“Or anywhere jurisdiction. Like a ranger. Or a marshal.”

“Sorry,” Aly walked in, rubbing her eyes a bit. 

“Are you okay?” Alex looked at her. 

“Mmhmm,” she smiled a bit. 

“I’m sorry hon. Come on, have a seat. We’re talking about other stuff now. So Aly what else were you going to update Alex on about this weekend? I can’t remember.”

“You don’t need to apologize Trin, it’s ok. Just caught me a bit off guard is all,” Aly said. “I understand.” 

“It seems like there was something I wanted to tell you tow, but I can’t remember.” 

“I don’t remember either. Rikki incident?” Aly shrugged. 

“We’re a fine trio,” I chuckled. 

“This weekend went fast,” Aly said. 

“Yeah you heard about the shootin’ cans, gun stealing, getting shot trifecta case?”

“Yep,” Alex nodded. “That’s a really nice color on you, Aly, It brings out the shade of your eyes.” 

“Mmhmm I agree. Should wear blue more often,” I agreed. “Why does it feel like forever ago since we’ve had morning coffee?”

“It has been awhile, hasn’t it?” Alex asked. “I think the last time I was only here for about ten minutes.” 

“I think I need to let James go... Or at least let him come and go as he pleases without expecting anything serious.”

“He hasn’t been around much?” Alex nodded. 

“He was in town briefly last week. When we’d gone over the basis of the fire at his office and killing Sasha, he said he had to get to work. I asked him for a kiss and he said he thought he was the one who was gonna have to beg for one. I gave him a quick one and let him be.”

“Hmmm. That’s really tough to be with someone who isn’t around much.” 

“So I’m not gonna say I’m with him until I actually am. For now he’s just a guy I wish I was with.”

“You know what, Trin... I think you do better on your own,” Aly said. 

“I think you’re right,” I looked at her. 

“Until the right person comes along...and you’ll know that... just be happy with where you’re at! You’ve got us...” she went on. 

“Doesn’t stop me from wanting a dance or whatever here and there though,” I winked. “You’ll have to drag me out to some of them.”

“And a town that you work hard for,” Aly added. 

“I am happy, Aly. I think that’s the acceptance I’ve finally come to.” 

“Of course not! You should get out more, dance, flirt even, but don’t get upset when men get flakey or don’t wanna spend time with you. That just is a sign that ...you’ve gotta let it be.” 

“I’m glad you’re happy,” Alex smiled. 

“Who knows, maybe I’ll meet someone at your wedding. Wouldn’t that be ironic?”

“That would be great!” Alex chuckled. “There are guys out there who really like a girl in a tux,” he winked. 

“Now I see your plan,” I winked at him. 

We talked a while longer then and Aly told us about her and Mark going to see if their keys worked in Bisbee and she got shot by Rikki, but there was already a warrant out on her. 

That night, I went to the dance at Kate’s and wore a sleeveless red dress, trying to be more relaxed and let myself go. Jack declared that he was giving up being an outlaw to sell horses and I told him that I would buy him a drink the day that became official. After dancing a while, I headed home.