June 14, 1900

Tombstone. 

I walked over to Joe’s house and sat down beside him on the bench. “This place is looking great, hon...”

“It will suit me just big enough for me to work and not disturb people,” he nodded. 

“Mmhmm... How long has it been since you owned or lived in a house in Tombstone?”

“A couple of years,” he rubbed his chin. “In fact, Epitaph has done an interview with me.” 

“They did one on me recently too. What was your interview about?”

“Oh, about my trade and what I have done here.” 

“Undertaking you mean?”

“From painting ladies, to a doctor, to a vet to an undertaker,” he laughed. 

“That’s quite a resume you’ve got there... I’ve been a Pinkerton and a lawyer pretty much the whole time I’ve been here. Was a bartender for a brief stint at the Oriental but not so much lately. Though been thinking about picking that up again.”

“Well I have always been in the medical profession but my art gave me some release.” 

“I can see that... I would love to see some of your art sometime... I often find I work too much. I need a job on the side that I can just enjoy, you know?”

“Although I gave up doing that when I met Cymbal,” he paused. “One of my paintings is still here I think. Want to see it?” 

“I would love to,” I smiled. “I often wondered what the woman who I’d investigated for eight months looks like...”

“No this os of another woman,” he laughed. “Come on. It’s in the Crystal,” he said and led the way to the Crystal Palace. Sabi waved at me as we passed the group in front of the hotel and I followed Joe inside the saloon. He paused and then pointed at the naked picture of Gigi on the wall and said, “That was one of my early works.” 

“Ah yes, I’ve known Gigi a long time. That’s a stunning picture,” I smiled. 

“She was a fine lady, but I had to make a choice... my art and paintings like that, or Cymbal. I burnt all my art work and chose Cymbal.” 

“Probably a smarter choice... do you ever regret marrying Cymbal because of what happened? I mean I know now her death was an accident but just with how all the outlaws loved her?”

“No regrets at all. Was an exciting time in my life, through good and bad, and was probably my happiest time in Tombstone.” He paused a moment and then said, “Lets say life was never ever dull.” 

“I’ll bet it wasn’t... I often find my life boring at times... I miss having adventures and doing cases and trying to solve mysteries. Everyone got up and got married though so I’ve been kind of left stranded.”

“I must admit the wold west does seem a little calm these days,” he chuckled. “Maybe I will have to do something about that, but them I may become one of your cases.” 

“I will say that having you around makes things a bit more interesting... I kinda like our company a lot, Joe. I don’t usually get to spend this much time with someone.”

“Well undertakers don’t tend to have much living company, and I still have not had a body here since I arrived,” he said with a frustrated tone. 

I reached out and rubbed his arm sympathetically. “Well I gave you a skull, didn’t I?”

“Indeed you did but really need a nice body to experiment and embalm,” he chuckled. 

“Don’t know how I can help ya there hon... I just need somethin’ to do... Want to walk around?”

“Sure, whre to?” 

I took his hands and we walked down the street to find the group still standing in front of the hotel. Sabrina, Poppy, Bree, Matt and Sugar were all there. They greeted us and we talked about our morning. 

“Did ya ever find that lady Miss Trin?” Sabi asked me. 

“Nope I haven’t, Sabi. Any more problems with that?”

“I met her here in tha hotel the other day. She was really nice! Didn’t hurt me or nothin!”

“Well that’s great, Sabi,” I smiled at her. 

We said goodbye to Sugar as she had to take care of some things and I looked at Matt, “Matt, anything new down the pike crime wise?”

“Not really yet. It’s been quiet.” 

“Saw Javier is on the docket for court but haven’t heard anything about a trial. He should be there for shooting me and Angel but I haven’t seen anything about that. Was he arrested for that?”

“Can’t understand why everybody is behaving,” Joe shook his head. 

“They’re saving it up,” Poppy giggled. 

“I ain’t seen him in town in a while.” 

“Probably gonna go free in spite of shooting law and a civilian,” I sighed, “Cause no one cared to put out a warrant for him.”

“There is a warrant for him,” Matt told me. 

“There is?” 

“Yes.” 

“For that incident?” 

“Yes,” he said and I felt better about that as Angel walked over to join us. 

“Did ya see Mr Boney earlier Poppy???” Sabi asked her friend. “He got all shaved up and his hair cut and got a new suit!!!” 

“Who’s Mr. Boney?”

“Tha drunk guy Miss Trin,” Sabi answered my question. 

“Must not have seen him around.”

“Oh Boney got all cleaned up?” Angel asked. “Zat mean hez not going to be drinking az much?” 

“Yep Miss Angel!” Sabi nodded. 

“Oh wow,” Matt shook his head. 

“I guess he came into a lot o money or somethin,” Sabi said. 

“He was at school I thought I had bumped my head,” Poppy put in. 

“Yeah! He even had a cane!” Sabi said. 

“Sounds like an interesting guy,” I nodded, listening to them talk. 

“To say the least...” Matt nodded in agreement. “Though if he cleaned up his act.. more power to him.” 

“I’m bored,” I muttered as I stood beside Joe. 

“I am used to the slow life, the dead are not the most conversational people,” Joe chuckled. 

Bree, Matt and Angel left and I noticed that Matt had called Angel ‘dear’ and wondered when the next wedding would be. Joe and I talked with the two girls about school and how Aeryne was their new school teacher. Sabi said that she lived with her and her mommy and Miss Autumn and hopefully one day with Mr. Ben. 

I decided to get some work done and headed back to the office.