July 1, 1900

Black Diamond. 

I walked into town this morning and smiled seeing Sabi. “Good morning Aunt Trin,” she greeted me. 

“Morning Sabi!” 

“How are you today?” she blinked, her eyes a bit sleepy. 

“Well today is Canada Day so I’m feeling patriotic.” 

“Oh, I see. Well happy Canada Day Miss Trin. What are you going to do to celebrate it?” 

“I want to talk to you about something.” 

“Okay ma’am.” 

“What’s your father like... Mike, I mean?” 

“He is very nice Miss Trin. He can be a bit rough seeming but he is a good man. Tha other day when I was in trouble he came runnin to pertec me. And last night he stood by me again and perteced me. He can seem a lil scary sometimes. But I don’t think he would ever really hurt anyone. Why do you wanna know Aunt Trin?” 

“Do you think he’d ask someone else to hurt someone? Say.... someone who was lookin’ at your mama the wrong way?” 

“No ma’am... I think if he really felt he had ta have it out with someone he would do it himself. He is very onnerible. I hope he is a law man again some day. I bet he was a really good one.” 

“It’s nice sitting here with the ducks...” I sighed. 

“Yes,” she watched the door to a house sadly as I pulled out my notebook and started writing. 

“Sorry I’m writin’ up notes from John’s interview with someone... he gave me the transcript last night in the mail. Going to be nice having a partner again... He’s good with the ladies and getting them to talk,” I chuckled, reading over the transcript.

“Its okay Aunt Trin. Take your time.”

“Morning Bree,” I looked up from my notes and saw her walk over. 

“Mornin’ Trin. Easyrider is eating now, he new in town very hungry, so don’t think he stealing from me smiles he no eat for two days,” Bree said. 

“Morning ladies!” Alex greeted us then and I smiled, standing to hug him as we all greeted him. 

“How’s Aly?” Bree asked. “I miss you guys.” 

“She’s good. At home right now. We just moved. She’s always very busy,” Alex replied. 

“Moved?” Sabi asked. 

“Ah moved is a job but bet is nice,” Bree said. 

“Yeah, we needed a bigger house,” he nodded. 

“Oh...” Sabi said. 

“Maybe show me some time,” Bree looked at him. 

“Sure, you’re all welcome to come over.” 

“Where move to, Alex?” Bree asked as Easyrider came over and we introduced ourselves to him. 

“Benson. We got a nice little chicken ranch.” 

“Sounds about right,” I chuckled. 

“Awesome I like Benson. I deco the main street there did ya know that? And Mr. Mac yard I did long ago,” Bree told us. 

“Oh did you? It’s beautiful over there,” Alex smiled. 

“Thanks. Excuse me I must check all banks,” Bree said and walked away. 

“So, what’s new over this way?” Alex smiled at me. 

“I have a couple of very interesting cases going on,” I told him. 

“Oh good.” 

“I guess the Wild Bunch acted like law on Sunday night. During the dance.. When there was a robbery.” 

“Oh wow.” 

“Sheriff Sniper and Marshal Mac... Can you imagine?” 

“That’s certainly different.” 

“I might have a new Pinkerton detective... He interviewed Meg and gave me the transcript on my desk last night. Very interesting interview.” 

“Oh good. You could use some help.” 

“Yes, I could... Especially with a couple big cases now.” I looked over at Sabi with worry then, thinking about the mess the child had found herself in. 

Alex looked between us and asked, “Is everything okay?” 

“Maybe we could talk in my office, Alex?” I looked at him, not wanting to talk about it in front of the others. 

“Sure,” he nodded and we excused ourselves as we headed to the office and sat down at the table. 

“I’m worried about Sabi.”

“What’s going on?” 

“She found some money bags buried in the orphanage playground the other day. She gave them to Miss Angi as any kid would do but Angi wanted nothing to do with it. Sabi gave them then to Amara and the money’s in the city hall safe... Problem is... We talked with Angi and she said somethin’ about Mike, Sabi’s other father, wanting to use the money to persuade her to hurry up the adoption process of young Poppy. Angi told us that she wouldn’t help a man who had hired a hitman to take care of Ben because he’d been looking at Stormy the wrong way.”

“A hit man?” 

“That’s what she said. Apparently Mike ain’t law anymore either. Here’s my problem though... why would the money have been buried in the yard if it was from him.. And why would Mike hire someone to take care of Ben when he was a lawman and perfectly capable of taking care of it himself?”

“I have no idea,” he shrugged. 

“And as Sabi said this morning, he woulddn’t have hid behind someone else. He would have done it on his own,” I leaned back and looked at him. “I don’t know who to believe. Maybe Sabi’s just so caught up in Mike bein’ her daddy that she doesn’t see that a man could be like this... Or maybe Angi’s makin’ the whole story up to get rid of us so we leave the orphanage alone. She didn’t seem all that concerned when I suggested maybe the owner of the money would come back and dig it up.”

“Trin... this is why I’m not a detective. I don’t know why anyone does anything. I’d rather just deal with concrete problems like bullet holes and diarrhea.” 

“I’ve’ got to talk to Mike.”

“Yes, that’s probably the best thing to do.” 

“Go to the source... He seems to be the common factor. I just wanted to tell you... in case I’m not around and you’re around Sabi...”

“Thank you...” 

“Just keep an eye out? If you see Mike around... let me know if he does anything suspicious?”

“She seemed quiet today. Yeah, sure.” 

“I don’t care about the money at this point... She’s the one who found it, I want to make sure she is safe.”

“Yeah I hope she’s okay.” 

“Let’s go on out there and try to help her feel better, hmm?”

“Ok.” 

“Thanks, Alex... I’m sorry we don’t live in the same town anymore but I understand the need for more space.”

“It’s not that far.” 

I gave him a quick hug as we headed out of the office and walked over to Sabi. “Want to get some bread from Bree and feed the ducks, Sabi?” I asked her. 

“You’ll have to come over to my new house and see my chickens,” Alex suggested. 

“Yes sir.” 

“His chickens make the best eggs you’ve ever tasted!” I exclaimed. “Better still be a delivery service,” I winked at him. 

“I bet they are very good,” Sabi nodded. 

“I will! In fact, I’m going to get more than the three I have. I’ve got a big coop now.” 

“Sounds fantastic, Alex,” I said and looked over, seeing Sabi look down the road then back up at the sun with a sigh. “What’s wrong, hon?” 

“I can’t say ma’am.” 

“You know you can talk to us about anything.” 

“I know ma’am, but I will only make it worse. I talk too much.” 

Alex sat down on the bench next to her and smiled, “You don’t talk too much. But you don’t have to say anything either. Only if you feel like it.”

“Thank you Uncle Alex,” Sabi nodded. 

“I’m going to let you two talk... think I need some coffee,” I gave Alex a knowing look, knowing that he was better with kids than she was. 

“But if there’s something bothering you, you can always talk to me okay?” Alex asked. 

“I am sorry Aunt Trin,” Sabi said. 

“Don’t be, sweetie, it’s okay,” I said. “I just haven’t gotten my coffee yet. I’ll be back.” 

I went to the cafe and got some coffee and then a few minutes later I came back to the gardens where they were still talking. Easy mentioned wanting to find a place to stay so I showed him around town. We talked about jobs available and I suggested he look into being a deputy since we were in need of them. 

He said goodbye and I walked back to the others. “How we doin’ over here?” I asked. 

“I get in trouble sometimes too,” Alex looked up at me. 

“I’m on my way to my office if ya need me,” I smiled, seeing the look, and started walking. 

“Aunt Trin, I am sorry,” Sabi told me. 

I turned and walked back and said, “Oh sweetie, you don’t have to be sorry. Spend some time with your uncle,” I bent down and gave her a hug as she sobbed softly. “It’s okay hon, it’s okay,” I rubbed her back gently. 

“I should go home,” Sabi wiped her eyes and looked away. 

“You’ve got people who love you, kiddo. Remember that,” I told her. 

“I know Aunt Trin.” 

“We could go see Alex’s chickens...” I looked at him, hoping the suggestion would work. 

“You come visit me anytime,” Alex nodded. 

“Would you like to do that?” I looked at Sabi. 

“Thank you Uncle Alex. I shouldn’t right now Aunt Trin.” 

“You can, hon. I want to see them too,” I insisted. “They’re gonna be making me breakfast,” I winked at Sabi and Alex chuckled. “Come on, let’s follow Alex.”

“Okay,” she said and followed us. 

“It’s a good walk. The fresh air will do us all good,” Alex said with a smile as we headed for Benson. 

Tombstone. 

I heard the door to the Pinkerton office open and looked over to see my new partner. “John! Hey there!” I greeted him. 

“Howdy, Trin.” 

“Alex, Sabi, there’s someone I’d like you to meet,” I smiled. “This here’s John Davis. He’s going to be my new Pinkerton partner. Hopefully.”

“Hi Sir,” Sabi nodded. 

“Howdy ya’ll,” John said. 

“Nice to meet you, John,” Alex smiled. 

“We were just on our way to see Alex’s new place,” I told him. 

“Oh nice.” 

“He’s got chickens,” I winked at John. Feel like joining us? It’s over in Benson. I might want to set up an office over there as well. Seems to be coming up lately,” I winked at Alex. 

“Sure,” John nodded. 

“Shall we?” Alex smiled. 

“Lead on, Mr. Stone!” I exclaimed and we followed him to Benson. 

Benson. 

When we arrived in Benson, we found Alex’s home and commented on how big it was with the chicken coop. Aly came out to greet us and I ran over to hug my best friend, having missed her like crazy. She mentioned she’d been baking rolls and we headed inside to look around their house. Aly talked about how she’d been building toys but that didn’t seem to excite Sabi and we could tell she wasn’t herself. She left and we talked about how I’d told Alex about our case with the mysterious money. We all agreed that Mike probably didn’t have anything to do with the case. 

Alex told me that Aly had planted a tree somewhere and that I would have to find it. We continued to talk and I decided to wander around Benson and get familiar with the town again. John and I said goodbye to Alex and then headed outside.