Black Diamond.
This morning I walked over to Black Diamond to see what was new there. Aeryne and Bree were talking outside the cantina and I walked over to them.
“Hey Trin,” Aeryne greeted me first.
“Howdy Ladies!”
“Hello Trin,” Bree said.
“Long time no see, how ya been?” Aeryne smiled at me.
“Been busy tryin’ to figure out this fire over in Bisbee...”
“Any leads?”
“Is my only case open at the moment but it’s a tricky one.”
“Well I healed poor Rikki,” Bree said.
“Oh did you? She was at the fire then?”
“Yes, was terrible.”
“Can you tell me about that day when you healed her?”
“She said all she wanted to do was barbecue a picnic for the town. She was burned real bad.”
“Did she say anything else Bree?” I asked, getting out some paper and writing down what she was saying.
“No, not that I recall.”
“Hmm, well that’s enough to substantiate what others are sayin. Can you sign this for me hon?” I asked and handed her the paper.
“Sure,” she took the paper and signed it, handing it back to me.
“Thanks so much, Bree. Aeryne, anything happenin’ around Diamond?” I looked at her.
“Welcome,” Bree said.
“No nothing much, all is quiet,” Aeryne answered.
“Well I’m going to continue the rounds. You know where to find me!”
“Sure thing. Hey Trin... you are keeping your office here in town right?”
“Yes ma’am, the lab will stay here.”
“Thanks hun. We are going to make this town a good place.”
“See ya’ll,” I waved and headed off.
Bisbee.
I walked through Bisbee on my way home and saw Zan riding over. “Morning, Zan.”
“Mornin’ Miss Trin.”
“How are you today?”
“Any um.. warrants you know of for me.. I prefer turning myself in to getting duped,” she smiled. “And I am well thanks for asking.. Hope you are also?”
“Not sure which ones have been signed yet. I’m doing alright.”
“Guess I best be on my way then, you stay .. safe now,” she chuckled.
“Glad to hear you’d rather turn yourself in,” I nodded.
“Hi Miss Trin, Hi Miss Zan,” Jimmy wandered over to us.
Zan wheeled around carefully and nodded to the boy. “Hi there young Jimmy!”
“Oh Zan, you’ll have to tell me more about your father’s work with palaeontology. It must be fascinating,” I said, remembering what Nat had told me the night before about her conversation with Zan and Chris.
“Ooooo a perty horsie ya got Miss Zan!” Jimmy exclaimed.
“I will do that sometime Miss Trin,” she said and paused, then smiled at Jimmy. “Thanks. She’s a mean old nag at times but she gets me where I need to go.”
“Well at least Red didn’t kill me the other day. I can thank the horse for that,” I smiled.
“Now that...” Zan pointed to the large Clydesdale wandering over towards us, “Is a fine looking horse.”
Jimmy looked at Zan’s horse and smiled, “Can I give yore horse somtin, Miss Zan?”
“Yea well Red here don’t get mean unless you are on her.. she is sweet as a lamb so sure you can Jimmy,” Zan said.
“Wow! What a horse!” Jimmy exclaimed when he saw the bigger horse.
“Must be a clydesdale with the size it is. Hey there...” I reached out for the big horse to sniff my hand so I could pet it.
“Jimmy you ever get to ride any?” Zan asked.
Jimmy approached Red and fed her a piece of apple. “There you go Red..I bet you like apples like other horsies. Oh yes ma’am, I take care horses for Miss Pet at stables,” he said to Zan.
Red took the apple carefully and Zan smiled. “I think she likes you. Oh thats right I recall you saying that.”
“She a perty horse Miss Zan, jus a bit ole,” Jimmy pet Red softly.
The clydesdale lowered his head to my hand and nipped at it as if looking for something to eat. I rubbed over the horse’s nose and looked over at Jimmy. “You got more apples there kiddo? This guy looks hungry.”
“But she is fast.. I don’t think any horse around can catch her,” Zan nodded.
“I shore do Miss Trin, gots nerely hole apple!” Jimmy nodded.
“Bring it on over then. I think this guy could use it.”
“I have to head off... see you later,” Zan said then and rode off down the street.
I looked over the horse and noticed the dried blood. “He looks to be in rough shape, Jimmy.”
“Wow Miss Trin, he a biiiig horsie,” Jimmy took out the leftover pieces of apple and held them out to the horse. “Here you go boy.” The clydesdale closed his eyes and then lifted his large head as he looked over at Jimmy. He smelled the apple and tried to bite it out of Jimmy’s hand. “Yore right Miss Trin, he very hungry!”
I chuckled, watching the horse with Jimmy. “I think he likes you.” I rubbed a hand near the dried spots but didn’t touch them and frowned. “Wish Alex were around to look at this guy... Maybe he’ll be back from the other county next week.”
The horse munched at the apple till it was gone and then lowered his head to begin searching Jimmy for more food, nipping at anything that might hold food. Jimmy chuckled as the horse nipped at his clothes and he said, “I think he wan more Miss Trin.”
“I think you’re right. You’re probably all out now though huh?” I asked as the horse turned to me and started searching me for food.
“I got more in town Miss Trin, but dey at stables..I no sure he make it dat far.”
“Hmm we can try to get him to follow us. Do you think he’d be interested in coming down the road?” I took the bridle, hoping the horse would let me lead him to the stables. The horse jerked his head a little and I could tell the bridle was too small for him, but the horse followed me and I led the way to the stables, waving to Joe along the way. “Where should we put him, Jimmy?”
“Let’s put him in here Miss Trin, he hav more room dat way,” Jimmy walked into the stables and opened the big gate. The horse sniffed the ground and lifted his head at the noise of the other horses. He walked into the open door and looked around for food, then nickered and tossed his head.
“Why don’t you get him some food, kiddo? You know how to do things around here,” I suggested.
Jimmy ran into the back room and came out with a big bag of oats. He went into the stall and dumped the bag into the feed trough and added a couple of apples to go with it. “There you go boy, and I will get ya some fresh water too.” The horse turned to the food and ate all the apples and then practically inhaled the oats. After the food was all gone he used his tongue to find more.
“Good job, Jimmy. Looks like we were right and he was real hungry.”
Jimmy looked in the trough and his eyes went wide, shaking his head at me. “Miss Trin, he dn wuffed it down...apples and all...he real hungry...” He ran back into the back room, bringing out another bag of oats and dumping them in the trough. He then brought two big buckets of water and poured them in the water trough. “I think we bes git him horse doc soon Miss Trin, I dun wan sik horsie.”
“I think you’re right hon. Maybe I could send a telegram for a vet... Wonder if there’s any around town today.”
The horse lifted his head out of the trough and looked over at us, tossing his head. He began biting at the wood and then saw that Jimmy had filled his trough and went over to eat just as fast.
I went over to the machine and sent out a telegram for a vet, doubting that any would be around but it was worth a try. Jimmy watched the horse and then turned to me, “Miss Trin, I no shore I gots nuf oats he keep eatin like dat...wha I gunna do ifn he eet all my oats?”
“Well kiddo then we’ll have to get some oats from somewhere and restock the place. I think we really need a doctor to look at him though. He looks like he ain’t eaten in days,” I said as the horse drank as much water as he could. He then moved over to the fence and tossed his head up and down.
Jimmy watched the horse and said, “Miss Trin you think I maybe wash him a bit? I cud git suds n water and wipe ‘im down, try git that blud off him.”
“Sure we could do that. I’ll help you with the higher spots since he’s such a big horse.”
Jimmy ran to get two big buckets of water, dropping soap into them. He stepped into the coral and moved slowly. “It’s ok boy, I jus gunna wash ya a bit...it make ya feel better.” Jimmy began wiping the horse down with a sudsy cloth, being gentle. “Miss Trin wud ya take off the bridle, see if he has sore or anything on his face?”
I nodded and took the bridle off the horse carefully, not wanting to hurt it more. I rubbed the horse gently, trying to remember my time on the ranch growing up and set the bridle down on the ground. “This thing isn’t the right size for him anyway. Should get him a new one.” The horse turned his head towards Jimmy and sniffed the foamy stuff. He sneezed and then turned towards me. He gave a whinny of delight when I took the bridle off and I noticed that there was more blood on his nose from the bridle that had been too tight.
Jimmy washed the horse where he could reach and said, “Miss Trin, please look in der on table, and grab that red tin can, I think we need it.”
I nodded, “Gonna have to take care of this blood on his nose now too... I grew up on a ranch but it’s been a long time since I worked with horses. You’ll have to remind me how to do it, Jimmy. You’ve done this more recent than I have.” I went into the room and found the red tin can and brought it over to Jimmy.
The horse shook his body and shifted his weight a bit as Jimmy took the tin and opened it, wincing at the funny smell. He dipped his fingers into it and then rubbed the salve on the bad spots. “Miss Trin, wud you put some on his head wher briddle ben. It hep no infetion. This wha my pa use on horsies back home.”
I nodded and took some of the stuff, smelling the weird odor, and rubbed the salve on the horse’s nose. “There you go, boy,” I muttered. There was a time when my voice had a calming affect on horses. It was like they understood me. I missed those times and wondered about learning more of taking care of horses again. I missed working with the animals... Whenever I was around them I felt home again. I continued to rub the salve gently, trying not to apply too much pressure.
The horse sneezed and then bent his head to his belly and then looked from me to Jimmy. The boy applied salve to the different spots and moved around to notice the spot on the stomach. “Oh my, no woner you look ruff horsie, this place not lok reel good.” Jimmy scooped out more salve and rubbed it over the horse’s stomach. “Miss Trin, we definaly get horse doc soon. This spot his tummy no look good. Mabe Mr. Alex be roun soon you tink?”
“I don’t know, kiddo. I haven’t seen him much this week. Think Aly said he shoud be around more next week like normal again. How about we do our best to try to keep him comfortable until Alex can see him? We’ll just have to make sure that the food is stocked and the water keeps full for him, okay?”
Nim walked into the stables then and smiled, “Miss Trin, I was told I could find you down here.”
“Hey there,” I nodded to her.
“How have you been, sorry I have not stopped and chatted since my return, but I have been busy,” Nim blushed.
“I won’t his name,” I chuckled. “I’ve been busy as well. We just put this clydesdadle down to rest since it’s got bad spots all over it. I’m thinkin’ about training to be a vet and reliving my days as a rancher back home.”
“I need to talk to you a short bit on a professional level, I have taken on a client, Miss Hensley, or Mrs Lyric, depending on which one we are getting at the moment. I have read your fingerprint reports in some law statements and was wondering if you had any other notes on this case.”
“Everything that I’ve written that pertains to Miss Zan is in the report I gave the sheriff’s office, Nim. It was rather extensive... Not sure how much more I could assist you with it.”
“Oh no, it was great, thank you very much for the detailed work, as an attorney, I only wish our law officials put as much dedication into the facts as you did. Did you know Mrs Lyric, before she took on this persona of Miss Hensley?”
“Well that’s why I’m here,” I winked.
“I will be using you at times I am sure.”
“Unfortunately I didn’t know her well, and as I stated in the report, the folks I thought knew her well before didn’t know her then either. Your client’s husband is your best asset in this case.”
“Oh, yes, I have spoken to Mr Lyric and he has been great. I am bringing in Miss Libby this evening for a medical opinion and today I found a case from 1853 and a one sentence quote from the Judge in his instructions to the jury, that I think will make this case, but I need to put a lot of work into it,” she went on. I simply nodded, not wanting to help the defence improve their side of the case. “Well, if anything else pops up about the thefts that took place, please give me a shout?”
“Good luck on the case, Nim,” I said, not promising anything.
“Thanks Trin, hope you can make it, think you will enjoy it,” she said and turned to Jimmy. “Sorry young man, she is all yours again.”
“When is the trial scheduled for?”
“I think its going to be next weekend, when I get a firm day and time, I will make sure you get it.”
“Alright. I won’t be around next weekend unfortunately. I will be taking a trip up north on Wednesday until Sunday.”
Jimmy walked over and smiled. “It ok, she hep me with BIG horsie. I Jimmy, nice meetin ya,”
“Well, have a great time.”
“Will do,” I nodded.
“Nice meeting you as well Jimmi, my name is Ms Sasson, always nice to meet a gentleman. So is the horse okay?”
“I think so...he need a horse doc, got some sore need lookin at...but I take care of him,” Jimmy said.
“Excuse me, folks. I have some paperwork to get done. Let me know how this horse does over the next day or so, Jimmy,” I reached down to hug Jimmy before heading off. I shook my head at the nerve of the defense lawyer asking me for more information from an already extensive report to help the prosecution.
***
This evening I walked through the hotel, looking for any sign of life. Adri sat at a table in the dining room with a man I didn’t recognize and she greeted me first. “Good evening, Miss Trin, meet Mr ... uhm???”
“Every doctor back east swears by it, and its great for those stomach pains women get you know, during that time of each month,” the man was saying as I walked in.
“Oh... I see, Sir,” Adri nodded and I raised an eyebrow, not used to this kind of conversation.
“You a doctor, Sir?” I asked.
“Good day Miss. The name is Thomas E. Wallace at your service ma’am,” the man said.
“Thomas, pleasure to meet you. I’m Trin Paige,” I smiled at him.
“Mr .. Wallace here is woking for the handy dandy sandy... uhm ... something company, right, Sir? They sell wonders in bottles,” Adri gave me a confused look.
“I’ll bet he does,” I chuckled.
“Oh yes, the Hand, Dandy Smandy Mr. Boreman’s Wonder Tonic.”
“Well that’s quite a mouthful. I’m never gonna remember that even if I write it down.”
“Oh... you could remember, I am sure,” Adri chuckled.
“Would you care to join me and this fine lady as I partake in this fine scrumptious meal?” Thomas asked.
“Handy Dandy...... See, I’m lost already. I would love to.”
“Want to sit with us? I can get you a chair and a good cup of coffee, Trin. I am sure you will like Mr Wallace...” Adri smiled.
“Yes, please bring her whatever she likes Miss. I will pay for it. I cannot deny a beautiful madame a drink in such a oasis such as this hotel,” Thomas insisted.
I raised an eyebrow at the man as I took a seat at the table. “Well he’s quite the charmer, ain’t he?”
“What you get, Trin?” Adri asked.
“Uh... whatever he had, I guess. Not feeling very decisive tonight.”
“Beer?” she looked at me.
“I must say this is the best beer I have had since I left Philli. Those Texas people have no idea what beer is,” he smiled and leaned back a bit.
Adri walked into the kitchen and murmured, “Never had somebody talking like that about our beer, our food, our women, our town.... strange man...”
“You’re from Philli, Sir?” I asked.
Thomas looked between us and asked, “Is it customary woman such as yourselves cary such violent weapons like your men out here in the west?”
Adri placed a beer in front of me and I nodded to Thomas. “It is when I’m a detective who needs to protect herself around here.”
“Enjoy, this gentleman here pays,” Adri giggled.
“You’re an angel. Could really use this tonight,” I smiled at her. “Feel like I’m surrounded by idiots lately.”
“I personally do not believe in guns. If you can’t handle your differences with your hands, why must you kill somebody. Such gruesome barbarianism is in the past don’t you think?” Thomas asked.
“Well, Sir, I wish it was that simple...” I sighed.
Adri placed a hand on her gun and said, “You know, I was riding earlier, and I never ride without a gun. Too many outlaws around this town, Sir.”
I sipped my beer and exhaled, “It’s been forever since I’ve had beer. It’s usually whiskey...”
“I, like my father, and his father before him, attended university, and never once had to use a gun on someone. I took boxing back in college, and was good at it. Maybe Tombstone should learn to settle their differences without guns.” he said.
“They ain’t much good at settling their differences without them either,” I muttered.
“Oh, Trin, Mr .. uhm ... Wallace was searching for a room to stay, but we are full here at Russ house. You know a place that still has rooms?” Adri asked.
“I so hope that I might be able to show to find people of the town of Tombstone a better way of living. They should take a note from those of us back east. We have little crime, and its safe for people to walk the streets without fear of bullets flying,” Thomas said.
“Seriously... the last couple of days... I’ve had rangers come up to me with a bunch of bones that I don’t know what to do with. Then a defense attorney asks me for more information on a case in which I already gave an EXTENSIVE report for the prosecution including evidence. Not to mention people ignoring me the other night at the sheriff’s office when Stormy and Amara just waltzed in though I said all was fine. What is with people lately?” I looked at Adri, irritation evident.
“I have no idea... Might be the heat and the desert dust, Trin,” Adri said. “I noticed people ignoring me too. But I swear... If I get ahold of this Lot guy, a bullet will fly straight into his butt.”
“Lot? What’d he do now?”
Thomas looked at me and asked, “Do I hear right Miss, you are a detective of some kind here? I have never seen a female detective before.”
“Yes sir. Only detective in these parts for bout a year now. You’d think that’d earn me some respect,” I muttered with a knowing look to Adri.
“First he got on me on the street, then he he called me an old crow, then I asked him if he had no manners and then he stepped into Russ house, trying to burn this place down. Fire in here and over at the entrance. He was smiling to my face while he spilled whisky and then used a lighter on it.”
“He burned the place down?! When was this??” I blinked.
“I can’t remember - about a week ago? Or two? Nat knows... I told her and she wanted to tell you. Maybe she forgot. I reported to Aly and I know Lot already got the report...”
“Oh right yes that.... Aly’s already gotten a warrant on that. Just making sure that he didn’t try it again.”
Thomas looked at Adri and asked, “Why did not the law in this town take care of this Mr. Lot? I hear Tombstone once had the best lawman ever.”
“I am not good in shooting, Trin, but I am sure in case I need them, I will be able to use them.”
“I’m going to have to get some target practice in with Aly. I’ve been a bit out of practice.”
“Seems some of the lawmen don’t care anymore? Have you ever seen Ang again Trin? She was the best shooter around Tombstone. Matt is gone too. Sometimes I see Kris when I clean the front porch...” Adri reflected.
“I swear, what has this world come too when our women must depend on guns to protect themselves. I thought with the coming of a new century, that such things would pass away and we will be riding in automobiles before long,” Thomas said.
“Well sir,” I looked at him. “We wouldn’t have to wear guns if all the other men wore them.”
“Don’t you have a gun at all, Sir?” Adri nodded in agreement.
“But see, Madame Trin, and Madame Adri, if the wearing of guns were to be outlawed, and only law officials were allowed, then would not that solve the gun problem all together?”
“Good luck enforcing that one, darling,” I chuckled.
“I think Mr. Wallace, you believe too much in the good under the sun. I learned my lesson about that, sir, got hurt, got back up and got hurt again. Now I carry my weapon, and I swear: nobody will ever hurt me again or call me an old crow,” Adri said defiantly.
“All it should take, would be your lawmen and judges doing their rightful jobs as peacekeepers to make it work,” Thomas said.
“Peacemakers make it work, too, sir,” Adri chuckled and got up to bring away the plate on the table.
I laughed at that. “The same lawmen that bring me unidentified bones that could have been buried for years with no notes or anything for me to deduce... Or lawmen who come to another county where they have no jurisdiction and want to ‘make sure that their outlaw kin isn’t causing trouble in this one’?”
Thomas nodded in agreement. “I agree wholeheartedly Miss Adri. No man has any right to hurt any woman or subject her to such profanity. That’s why there is law, and rules that are to be kept and enforced.”
“At least Aly and Ansar are here and in full force. Between the three of us maybe we will clean up this bloody town,” I shook my head and sipped more beer.
“Or lawmen being on the outlaw side, and it is obvious and no judge ever said a word about it,” Adri added.
I nodded at that one and said, “Or outlaws going under disguise to get on the jury to influence the vote.”
“It sounds to me, the town of Tombstone should stand together and elect new law officials,” Thomas observed.
“They have. Aly and Ansar. Two very good lawmen. Well, lawpeople,” I winked at Adri.
“You know, Mr Wallace, I don’t live in this town for that long now, but even I noticed that things changed..” Adri said. “I never met Ansar, Trin. He is loyal, I reckon?”
“I hope for the better Miss Adri. From what I see so far, too many people walk around with guns. Thats just asking for trouble, especially with so many saloons on the main street that I saw,” Thomas said.
“Ansar is fantastic. We had a warrant on a lady and he used his position as a banker to lead her into the bank, make her unarmed, and then he arrested her while in there in a scene of ‘Oh, by the way... I’m a marshal too.’ It was absolutely brilliant,” I beamed at the memory.
“You guys from up north will never get it I think...” Adri sighed.
“Hey, I resent that. I’m from up north,” I said.
“Maybe you got used to the rule of the south already, Trin, but I didn’t mean to offend you. Sorry,” she looked at me.
“Oh but see, where I come from, they make the laws not far from there. Washington has all the answers, just they must not get down this far as fast,” Thomas said.
“Sir, did I mention I’m a Pinkerton Detective?” I chuckled at that. “I know all about your beloved Washington.”
Adri raised her eyebrows again and tilted her head. “You seem to be well educated for somebody who works for handy shandy mandy....”
Thomas looked at me with big eyes. “Pinkerton? As in the Allan Pinkerton Detective Agency?”
“Yes sir,” I nodded, tapping my badge.
“Well I be whooped and dipped in cold ice water. A female Pinkerton detective. I give you my most high regards Miss Trin. I once met Miss Pinkerton, and know he is not easy to work for.”
“That is a name, huh? Allan Pinkerton Detective Agency. Not handy mandy dandy... something...” Adri giggled.
“I’m one of the first, Sir. Only been female detectives in the agency for a couple years now. Starting to get used more in the courts... Though that’s a slow process. But they are respecting my reports in closing several cases and signing of several warrants.”
“Awww Trin ... which man would have the guts to stand against the outlaws? They are happy to have their drinks at Kate’s or flatter with the girls at Annie’s...” Adri said.
“Well any woman who can put up with his demands, and hold her own in this desolate land, has my hat off to her. Maybe if more women such as yourself were detectives and law officials, then maybe the west wouldn’t be so wild anymore,” Thomas said.
“Well thank you, Thomas, that’s awfully sweet,” I smiled.
“If I had the chance to become law... I would clean this damn town, be sure,” Adri grumbled.
“Believe me, Adri, I’m tryin’. Between me, Aly, and Ansar... And Kris has been working hard lately as well closing those warrants.. We’re getting things done. We even have a deputy over in Bisbee now.”
“Well Miss Adri, if you can shoot as good as you cook, I feel sorry for any outlaw who comes your way,” Thomas said.
“He’s a charmer this one,” I smiled.
“Would you fine ladies mind if I were to smoke a fine cigar after a hearty meal?” Thomas asked.
I felt the lateness of the hour and the affects of the beer and tried to hide a yawn but failed. “Actually Thomas I was wondering if you’d accompany me to my home? It’s getting late and I don’t like walkin’ in the dark too much alone if I don’t have to.” I winked at Adrianna, knowing that was totally made up but it was worth a try to keep the man’s company for a little bit longer.
“No go ahead, Sir,” Adri smiled and looked to me. “I didn’t mean to offend you, Trin. I just think the lawmen show too less appearance.”
“Oh I know, Adri. Believe me when I say that it’s gettin’ better,” I said.
Thomas looked at me and reached inside his coat to take out a cigar and lit it. “Oh well Miss Trin, I would be honored to walk you home. Might there be a hotel near your residence where I may bed down for the night?”
“Um... Reckon there ain’t one in Pearce but perhaps over in Benson. I know there’s a few here in Tombstone including the one we’re sittin’ in,” I said.
“Trin, there is no room left at russ. we are rented out I’m afraid,” Adri rolled her eyes. “But you can show Mr. Wallace some places I am sure.”
“Oh well then there is room in Bisbee... It ain’t exactly on the way though.”
Thomas smiled and stood, putting his hat back on. “Miss Adri, how much for this fine meal and drink you have served this late evening?”
“Oh yes, Bisbee. Nice there. I live over in Bisbee too.” She looked over at Thomas and said, “Well, a dollar Sir.”
Thomas reached into his vest and pulled out a five dollar gold piece and handed it to Adri with a smile. “You may keep the change my fine lady, for the wonderful service.”
“Shall we then?” I smirked at his congeniality.
“Wow...” Adri’s mouth opened and then closed. “Thank you sir, you are so kind. Hope to see you soon again...”
“It’s been my pleasure ma’am, and I sure hope your evening finds you well and without issue as it grows late,” Thomas raised his hat to Adri and turned to me. “Oh yes my fair lady Miss Trin, lets return you home so you may find rest and peace for the evening.”
“I could use it,” I nodded and winked at Adri, “Thanks for the drink, Adri.”
“My fair lady?” Adri muttered and walked to the kitchen calling, “Have fun, Trin.”
We walked out of the hotel and passed a group including Bill, Lilly and a couple other Wild Bunch members. We walked down the street a bit and I stopped to turn to him. “Bunch of folks in front of the hotel there you’ll want to avoid. And don’t let ‘em know you have no gun.”
“Oh yes ma’am, I shall remember that for sure. I do not wish to tussle with the rif raf of Tombstone on my first night here.”
I nodded towards Bisbee and said, “See that yelllow building in the distance? That’s the hotel I was referrin’ to in Bisbee. Always free room and board. Not too far from town either.”
“Ah thank you very kindly Miss Trin, I shall see if they have a room this late evening once I have seen you safely back to your home.”
“My home is a bit of a walk but it’s this way,” I said and led the way down the street.
Pearce.
I stopped in front of my house and turned to Thomas. “Here we are, the town of Pearce.”
“Oh wow, you were right in saying a long walk. But I kept my word, I would see you home now matter how far it were. Do you live alone Miss Trin?”
“I am grateful for a man who keeps his word. Perhaps you’d like to come in and smoke that cigar of yours for a bit?” I looked him up and down, realizing it had been a while since I’d been alone with a man outside of a work context.
“Oh I do not wish to intrude upon your graces Miss Trin. I know it’s late, and I do not wish to cause you issue if seen allowing a stranger inside your residence.”
I smiled, looking around. “Oh, no one will notice. Natalie, the child that stays with me and kind of adopted me instead of the other way around, will be fast asleep upstairs. If you like we could wander over to the river and sit there for a bit before I need to call it a night?”
“Oh I would much rather sit inside ma’am. These clothes are not really made for sitting in dirt and grime. Especially this type out in the middle of God only knows where.” He reached into his coat and removed a small bottle and handed it to me. “A free gift of Mr. Boremans Wonder Tonic for you Miss Trin. Every home should have one.”
I smirked, taking the bottle, and went to open the door. “Come on in.” When we’d gone inside I said, “Well, this is home.”
He stepped in after me and removed his hat and coat. “What a very rustic, but beautiful home you have Miss Trin.”
I smiled and led him to the couch. “Thank you, Sir. You can either sit beside me on the couch or on the chair, whichever you prefer. Have you traveled over on the train today?”
Thomas sat down on the couch beside me. “I started out on train, but the only way I could get here to Tombstone today, was finish by stagecoach. What a dusty, hot ride that was. So did I hear right that you said you were from up north also? How is it a young, intelligent woman such as yourself would end up in Tombstone of all places?”
“Ah yes.... I recall my trip here from Texas... Brutal trip and had been leaving some very frustrating times back then. Left Texas in 1870... Traveled from there to Arizona but made several stops along the way with a few stops back home in Canada... Then came to Arizona last year.”
“I was supposed to take over the family business back home in Philadelphia, but being as I was tired of my mother and father ordering me to do this and that, I decided to come out west and see what it has to offer a man of my stature.”
“I understand. My mother and father owned a ranch up north. Back in ‘69 I left to marry a man in Texas. On the way down, however, I received word that he had died in a stagecoach accident. I lived with his sister a while there and then journeyed to Colorado.”
“I grew up in Philadelphia, working at my fathers paper mostly. Then I spent four years in college learning business and how to make money. The most boring stuff a person could take I think. My father fought in the Civil War and had made his fortune shortly after. I went through Texas getting here, and do not wish to ever return there.”
I nodded, remembering my time in Texas and sighed. I leaned back against the couch and looked over at Thomas. “You were a reporter?”
He looked over at me and shrugged. “Not really, I was more of an apprentice printer. I delivered papers as a boy until my father saw I was old enough to learn the trade itself.”
“Well after Colorado I wandered through the west and was never really settled in one particular place for long. Had some runins with the outlaw gang I was runnin’ from and then some Native tribes who I thought were trustworthy but turned out not so much... Almost got me killed... Then my friends and I decided to go to Texas, much to my hesitation. However my friend was so fed up with the law and how shady they had been that he became one of the gang members there in Kingsley and never looked back. Pretty much left me in the dust, as a Pinkerton at the time already. That was my cue to head north to Canada again and then here to Arizona. That was all after my first case in Colorado in which I investigated a man’s murder only to find out he wasn’t actually dead at all,” I winked at him.
Thomas puffed on his cigar and inhaled the smoke. “I find it very interesting that you are a Pinkerton. Not saying you cant do it, but Allan Pinkerton never was one for liking women working much. I guess maybe someone changed his mind. So how long have you been here in or near Tombstone?”
I smirked as he hardly commented about the long journey into my past that I’d just taken verbally. “Well sir... When you live in a town where the marshals become corrupt and the outlaws rule the town to the point of bullying folks out of said town... One takes control of the law and puts it in their own hands. Female or not.” I thought about it and said, “I moved to Tombstone in May of last year.”
Thomas looked at me and said, “Miss Trin, I would like to bid you a farewell tonight. I can see you are fighting sleep, and I do not wish you keep you up. I have enjoyed this conversation very much.”
I frowned as he still didn’t reply yet again and nodded. “I s’pose it has been a long day... Tiring reliving the past again this evening but I s’pose the past is what makes us who we are today, right?”
“I agree Miss Trin. I find it pleasing to know a strong willed lady such as yourself that can handle her own in a land of such violence and uproar as it seems. To go through what you have, and make it this far, says a lot about you and how strong you are.”
“Was the only way to survive it all and I didn’t even tell you the worst details of it. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of stories you could tell me about your journey here as well. Guess we’ve got lots of time for that in other nights, hmm?”
“I s’pose so Miss Trin. I am planning to settle here and try to survive the west. I may have to call on you some time to lead me in the right direction if I step in the wrong place or say the wrong thing.”
“You can call on me any time, Thomas. I enjoyed your company this evening. So nice to have an intelligent conversation with someone.. I will admit, I don’t often get to talk to many men who aren’t lawyers, lawmen, or outlaws. Or doctors,” I reflected.
“Well I will admit, I studied law a little bit, but only enough to know I should stay out of it. I prefer to let other people handle the law, and let me live in peace. I have never picked up a gun, and hope I will never have to. I am a fighter with my hands, not with bullets.”
“I like you already just for that fact alone, Sir.” I stood and looked at him. “Shall I walk you out?”
He smiled and took his coat as he stood. “Why thank you Miss Trin. And thank you for the lovely walk this late evening, as it was quite nice to see some of the scenery of Tombstone.”
“Perhaps I could give you a better tour some other time. Hopefully you will be able to find your way back alright?” she asks, realizing she doesn’t want this man to leave but knowing it was getting late. It had just been so long since she’d had such nice company with a man.”
“Yes ma’am, I should find my way back alright. I usually am good at finding my way round once I get a good look. I just follow the tracks back into town right?”
“Yes sir, just follow the tracks. I hope you have a pleasant rest at the hotel. It’s very comfortable there,” I smiled and opened the door for him, holding out my hand. “It was a very nice evening, Sir. And thank you for the beer earlier as well.”
He took my hand and placed a small kiss on it as he stood in the doorway. “It was all my pleasure Miss Trin, and I sure hope we might take tea near that river you mentioned some time. It would be quite enjoyable I do believe.”
I blushed at the kiss and smiled at him. “Have a safe trip back, Sir, and I will be looking forward to it.”
“Do have a restful sleep Miss Trin and may I call on you again sometime to maybe have dinner at the hotel?”
“Most definitely. You know where I live now. I would like that very much,” I smiled and then he tipped his hat before walking down the tracks towards Tombstone. I walked into the house, feeling that familiar, though not too recent, feeling of anticipation and intrigue about the man. I couldn’t wait to find out more about him and spend more time with him.
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