Tombstone.
This morning I went over to the sheriff’s office and talked with Angel and Sugar about how Angel was trying to get some guy’s attention. James came over and greeted us and I smiled at him. “Hey James. Oh Angel...” I turned, “I still haven’t found anyone who saw anythin’ at the bank the other morning.
“Neither ave I don’t think ve vill get many leadz onzis vone..” Angel said.
“Yeah might be a dead case there...”
“Vell leazt ve tried all ve can do right?”
“That happen a lot?” James asked.
“Sometimez.”
“Not often but sometimes someone will report something... and we have no witnesses to help us. And it’s in an area that has so many footprints and fingerprints that those won’t help either. Is why I’ve got a cold case folder filled with a bunch of unsolved robberies,” I sighed.
“I imagine more than a dozen people been around the front doors of the bank....What about prints around the safe?” James suggested.
“Do you think a reward might loosen a tongue or two?” Sugar asked.
“Thing is that even if there are... who are we gonna compare those prints to?” I asked.
“See I am not all about the footprintz im here to take action az it happenz,” Angel chuckled.
“James have you given our situation more thought?” I asked him.
“You don’t keep fingerprints on file?” he looked at me.
“Sure we do but we don’t have everyone’s yet.”
“Can ave mine if you vant,” Angel chuckled.
“Yeah. I have. I think I will take the job. See how things go,” James answered me.
“Oh? What job?” Sugar asked.
“That’s great to hear, James. In that case, I want to show you something else we need to do. Care to join me in our office?” I smiled widely and winked at him.
“Ok....But...first....one sec......” he said and took out the badge, pinning it to his duster.
“James gonna be a Pinkerton?” Sugar asked.
“Mmhmm,” I nodded.
“Wel alas, I’m impressed!” Sugar exclaimed.
“Will be nice to not be alone in the office anymore,” I smiled.
“Well good men are hard to find.”
“They sure are. Then they wander off to Texas for a week and don’t tell ya about it,” I sighed.
“Well Texas has a lot of good men, a lot of scoundrels too.”
“So miz Sugar vhile they're going to do their thing vould you mind helping me viht osmething?” Angel asked her.
“Shall we, partner?” I grinned at James.
“We shall.....If you ladies will excuse us,” James said.
“Take care ladies,” I waved and led the way to our office. I stopped in front of the door and said, “Alright first thing... See this mailbox here?”
“Yes.”
“Make sure people know about it and that they know they can leave us information about cases at anytime.”
“Okay.”
We walked in and I headed for the cabinet. “This... is my baby. It holds a master list of every single person that I have ever met or heard about in Tombstone.” I handed him a copy so he could look it over. “There are copies of this list all over... in case something were to happen at one of our offices.”
“Oh ok......huge list.”
“This is our bread and butter... We can use this information in court, in cases... Every day I add new information to it. To keep things simple, I can give you a blank form... You can fill out information as you discover it throughout the day and then give me the cards at the end of the day...”
“I can imagine....”
“I’ll add them to this list or update the current files with your information. That way we won’t have two copies of the same list, you know? So... any questions about that list before we move on?”
“No, not yet.”
“Alright... Basically what we do is we assist local law, rangers, marshals... In building cases, either for arrest or for court. Sometimes they are too busy to go around collecting witness statements.”
“Sometimes they are too busy to go around collecting witness statements.”
“So that’s where we come in.”
“Right.”
“Exactly. And whenever you meet someone new, create a card. We want to know everything about everyone. Information is power. Occasionally we will get a case from a citizen. If they are looking for a missing person or object, or if they witnessed a crime...
“Exactly. And, I’m sure, confidential?”
“Confidential between us and them, yes, and if a law representative is needed, them too.”
‘Okay.”
“And well, with each other too. It’s important you and I are always on the same page.”
“Of course.”
“People will assume we talk with each other about the cases we’re working... so we should fill each other in when we get new cases.”
“Right.”
“I found it really helped to bounce facts off someone else and sometimes they see something that I missed. So in lieu of that... Here is our incident report. This is what we give to the sheriff’s office when a case is completed,” I handed him a blank copy. “We fill in the details of a case there... dates, statements, etcetera. It’s basically the same as a law report in court. At least it’s used as such. In other words, an expert witness.”
“Right.”
“And that’s actually something new... Because of the Pinkerton’s case closure rate lately... they have used me in court a lot more recently. Very rarely... our reports will help the defense as well as the prosecutor. But our goal is to find the truth, no matter where it leads, and let the court decide the rest.”
“Right. Follow the evidence.”
“I did a whole case recently thinking I was helping the prosecution... All evidence seemed to point to my friend as the guilty party, which she was, but not for reasons we understood. There was a greater story going on and we needed to uncover it. In the end, the prosecutor used me as a witness but then discovered I actually was helping clear her name this time. The prosecutor lay it on me in court, claiming that my statement was invalid based on the several crimes of the Pinkertons in the past. That’s something we have to live with everyday, James... People generally do not like Pinkertons. Specifically outlaws, but there’s the odd citizen who doesn’t trust us either. But we try to do our job and gain the truth, while acting legally and as upstanding citizens working with the law as much as we can.”
“But when our reports are based on facts, helping the defense can happen.”
“Absolutely. Let me how you the report for this case I’m talking about. It’s extensive, but it will show you the process.” I went to the cabinet and took out the huge folder about Zannza Lyric and handed it to him. “In the end, Zannza was charged not guilty. Though she did indeed murder Mae Billings, it was out of self-defense and for protection of her family.”
“Right.”
“Last thing... I made this list from the signs in the sheriff’s office. It covers all the crimes and charges, and their bail times and amounts,” I said and handed him a copy of the list. “Oh and... if we have to do test results on fingerprints... we use this sheet and attach it to the incident report. I think that’s it,” I chuckled and handed him the sheet. “If you like I can show you the office in Diamond. There’s a lab there for prints and another mailbox as well.”
“I think I need a filing cabinet for all of this...” he laughed.
“Mmhmm. We only have one case opened right now.. That bank robbery case. As you can see... it’s not very long or detailed. If you can ask around and see if you can find any witnesses who might have seen something... I know it’s a long shot but you never know in this town.”
“Probably a wannabe outlaw who did it when no one was around...”
“That’s what I’m thinking as well. It will likely go cold, if we don’t find anything within that first week. Alright, shall we take a walk?”
“Sure.”
“I’m so glad you decided to take this job. As you can see it’s a lot of work for one person.”
“Yes...”
“Just be glad we don’t have to arrest as well. That would be even more paperwork.”
Black Diamond.
We walked to Diamond and headed into the Pinkerton office. I looked around and smiled. “Here we are. Personally, I like this office better.”
“Seems bigger...” he looked around.
“Krell made this for me and Gerric when they were both still around.”
“Very nice.”
“Gerric was my last partner... until he decided to become a defense attorney. We’ve got a telegram machine over here as well. We can send out telegrams if people need a doctor. Here and in Tombstone.”
“Nice.”
“Helps immensely.”
“I bet.”
“Always a good practice... if you see a crowd in the clinic, go find what’s up. More than likely, they’ll need assistance collecting witness statements. Have you ever done much with fingerprints?”
“No...”
“Let me show you how it works..”
“Okay.”
“Alright for instance... take your fingers and put them here on this counter.”
“Okay.”
“Can’t see it very well from the naked eye, right?” I watched him put his fingers on the counter. I handed him the magnifying glass and he looked. “Now we take a cloth and then this bag of coal dust... Putting the coal dust on the cloth, we cover the area where the print is. The dust will fall off and leave the print on the cloth.”
“Interesting.”
“See how that works?” I asked as I did it.
“Yeah.”
“Now you could take that cloth and compare it to the one on the counter, and see it’s a match.” I put my fingers on the counter and made a print beside James’. “Why don’t you take a look at that one and lift the print on a different cloth. You can see the difference in prints.”
He looked, comparing the two prints. “Yeah....interesting”
“Works the same for footprints, but then it’s easier to tell because it’s just dirt on a floor, or prints in the dirt outside. But each one is unique. There’s a line on that card I gave you that shows if we have someone’s print on file.” I took the cloth with James’ print on it and put it in the cabinet. “Now we have yours,” I smiled.
“Yes,” he laughed.
“It’s helpful to have everyone’s, even good citizens like law, because then we can rule people out.”
“Right.”
“Find the print that either matches an outlaw’s or one we don’t know. Best way to get outlaw’s prints... invite them for a drink. Take the cup back here. We can use your friendships with them to our advantage with that,” I winked at him.
“We can sure try.”
“Another thing we want to get into doing.. Comparing bullet casings. There’s a line for that on the card as well. Whenever someone gets shot, always helpful to see if law can give us a bullet from their gun. In the case against Zan... The fact that I checked Mae’s gun to find bullets missing was the key to proving that Mae indeed shot at Zan.”
“Right.”
“Makes sense?””
“Yes.”
“Oh and... if we investigated a case and handed an incident report to the law... We can’t be on the jury. We become witnesses then. And hopefully they call on us but that isn’t always the case. Best we can do is give them the reports we’ve got finished and hope they use our investigation. If not.. at least we know we helped lead to an arrest. So I think that’s everything... I think I’ll let you start organizing that paperwork and see if I can find a witness or two.”
“Ok, sounds good.”
I put a hand on his shoulder and said, “I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Me too,” he smiled.
“I’m glad I didn’t scare you away.”
“I don’t scare very easily...”
“Good to hear. See you soon, James,” I smiled and headed out of the office.
About an hour later I walked back into the office and smiled, seeing James at the desk still. “How’s it goin’?”
“Fell asleep...” he laughed.
I chuckled and began to work on journals from yesterday. After a while I looked up and said, “Oh by the way...”
“Hmm?”
“Alex’s friend, Max, is a Pinkerton from Boston. He comes in to help out once and a while.”
“Okay.”
“Seems a lot of our cases trail back to Boston somehow and he usually knows what’s going on with them.”
There was a knock at the door and I looked up to see Aeryne. “Come on in!” She walked in and I smiled, “Hey there, sheriff!”
“Mornin, Sheriff,” James greeted her.
“Good morning Trin. How are you? Good morning sir,” Aeryne looked at us with a smile.
“I’m doin’ great. Just got myself a new partner here. This is James Newton,” I introduced.
“Mr Newton, welcome to Black Diamond,” Aeryne said.
“Thank you.”
“This office is so much nicer for when I have a partner... Much bigger. And we don’t have to share a desk,” I winked at Jame.
“I think I have seen you around a time or two......not positive if we had been properly introduced or not....” James looked at Aeryne.
“We are just ‘better’ in general here,” Aeryne winked at me and I chuckled a bit.
“How are the new deputies workin’ out, Aeryne?” I asked and then there was a knock on the door. I saw Cole outside and called, “Come on in Cole!”
“Truthfully? Only one ever showed up for work. But Tye is doing a wonderful job. The other one might be better suited to mucking out stables.”
“I figured Ty would do well,” I nodded and James laughed at Aeryne’s other comment, while I tried to bite my tongue.. “How are things, Cole?” I looked at him.
“Of course the same could be said of my partner,” Aeryne muttered.
“Just thought drop in and see if the vet test is going to be done...” Cole said.
“Vet test?” I looked at him.
“Yeah trying to get started to work and figured I could use what I learned with Natives..but so far nothing from the board.”
“Tombstone government moves at two speeds, slow and slower...” Aeryne sighed.
“You’d do well with that job. Speaking of jobs, Cole have ya met my new partner, James Newton?” I nodded to Cole.
“Though I did get to asst. Bree with Sabi’s operation,” Cole said and nodded to James. “Mornin’... James.”
“Sabi had an operation??” I blinked at him.
“The fever she had was her appendix and Bree had to get it out before it ruptured.”
“Oh no... I was hopin’ it was just some sort of illness that would pass.”
“She is doing fine keeping her in the house has been trying but..” he laughed.
“I’ll bet,” I laughed with him.
“Kids bounce back... thank God.”
“I would say she is feeling much better now, she came to the bakery this morning for breakfast, Good lord, that child needs to be tested for a hollow leg for all the pancakes she ate!” Aeryne said and I chuckled softly.
“Bad news Cole,” Aeryne chuckled. “She was running around with Poppy and Ruby last night. I don’t think that matron looks out for those kids at all.”
“Guess she’s really listening to your house arrest rule, Cole,” I laughed.
“Meaning she raided the candy store and ice cream store...” Cole chuckled.
“Most likely yes,” Aeryne laughed and I just shook my head.
“I won’t give her any sympathy if she shows up with a belly ache.. just a dose of black strap molasses..like my mom did me,” Cole commented.
We looked outside and saw the rangers ride past and Aeryne said, “I hear Tye had a bit of a run in with Amara.”
“Oh?” I chuckled at Cole and looked at Aeryne. “What happened between Ty and Amara? We’re supposed to be on the same side.”
“Well apparently he and she ran and she butted heads about how well the other does their job. He told me he basically told her that the rangers didn’t really know how to do anything other than shoot folks down,” Aeryne said and I bit my tongue again, not wanting to share my opinions on the matter and sound unprofessional. “Yes I know Trin, but we still have to work together.”
“I know. Don’t mean we gotta say anythin’ negative towards them, even if we’re all thinkin’ it,” I sighed.
“Right, I am sure it was just a moment of lost temper so I will let it slide this time. Any exciting cases on your side of the fence?”
“Well, other than the new partner...” I chuckled. “We’ve got a bank robbery case in Tombstone but no one saw it happen. Not that we’ve found anyway. All we know is that Zeth and Bree saw the bank doors and vault open and that some money was missing. And that ladders have disappeared from the coral. Not much to go on.”
“When was this?” Cole asked.
“The other day. On the tenth. Or the ninth rather,” I said, looking over my notes.
“The Kid was in town when Bree had to come take care of Sabi..” Cole nodded.
“Kory?”
“Yes... She left the bank open while we tended to Sabi.”
“Let’s see... it was the 11th that Angel told me about the case. When I asked Zeth the date of it happening, he said it was yesterday morning. So on the tenth. Right...”
“Hmm... Kory, where have I heard that name...” Aeryne thought about it.
“No one was really around to see anything happen though. Kory shot down Thomas and then me. On consecutive nights.”
“Trin, I think they hit our bank too.”
“They did?”
“I have noticed he tends to be around town when things happen ..here and Tombstone.”
“When, Aeryne? Did you arrest anyone?”
“Yes I came along on... Monday I think it was so the 8th? And the bank door had been broken open. No witnesses except little Sabi who saw Kory and Susan in town alone the evening before,” Aeryne said.
“And we can’t really use Sabi as a witness cause they won’t let us use kids in court... Any money missing?”
“But thats not enough for a warrant so nothing I can do with it.”
“Wonder if Sabi saw anyone else around...”
“Nope, thats the odd thing, just the outer door was broken.”
“So just an attempted robbery. I’d like to look into that one too and see if that’s connected.”
“Maybe they got nervous.....” James thought out loud.
“I wonder if they realized Sabi was there and left? Susan and she used to be quite close,” Aeryne said. “Speaking of which, if you see the two of them around my niece please keep an eye out. I have a bad feeling about them....”
“Well James, now we’ve got two cases,” I said then.
“Yep,” he nodded and I wrote up a timeline for the bank case in Diamond, handing him a copy. “Aeryne, did Sabi mention anyone else around? Though she only saw them there the night before...”
“Nope, thats why she mentioned them by name. It was very quiet in town that day.”
I nodded and looked over at Cole, remembering what Sabi had told me about Susan. I saw Cole’s mind was working through things too and sighed, hoping the child wasn’t in more danger.
“She also did not directly see them mess with the door. Just they were in the area.”
“Cole... Sabi told me... that Susan was an outlaw again. That Susan used to take care of her.”
“If she had she would have said so,” Cole said and looked over, “Aeryne... Okay, remember now... horse thief, bank robber and if she has her way kidnapping is her next thing....”
“Horse thief? I had not heard that one,” Aeryne said.
“Maybe that was the guy she was with..she spat it all out like a gatling gun...” Cole said.
“Yes I heard this Kory has developed quite a reputation in a short time,” Aeryne said. “Bree is frightened of him.”
“I ain’t too fond of him either,” I sighed.
“Yes she is and as she can’t be armed it makes her fear even worse,” Cole nodded.
“Shot my man when I was tryin’ to help him in a fight and then blamed me for gettin’ arrested and shot me down too,” I muttered.
“Well let them try to commit a crime in Diamond while I am here...” Aeryne threatened.
“Don’t be surprised if he ends up with the Wild Bunch....” James said and I cringed at that idea.
“I will have them a nice honeymoon suite behind bars,” Aeryne muttered.
“Sounds like a real bad one..” Cole growled.
“Would just be nice if we had.. something to work with,” I sighed. “Otherwise these two cases are going to get cold with no leads or witnesses or evidence.”
“I don’t think they will... Unless Kory turns on Susan, which I could see,” Aeryne said.
“An interesting idea...”
“They are very sneaky Trin..reminds me of that Mex that used to live above Bear River,” Cole said and I looked over at him.
“Bear River? You were in Bear River?” Aeryne looked over.
“Is where Cole and I met. He was called Howling Bear then.”
“Well I’ll be damned,” Aeryne shook her head.
“Where Rye is from..and yes we were there quite awhile,” Cole nodded.
“Feels like a lifetime ago...” I shifted in my seat, looking down at my desk.
“I have a job offer from that area,” Aeryne said. “They seem to think I would make a good judge Offered me the job, but I am not so sure I will take it.”
“I wouldn’t go back to Bear River if you paid me,” I said, avoiding Cole’s eyes.
“Not Bear River Cheyenne and Iowa as a traveling I guess federal judge. That means you both know Sabi’s aunt. She is from Bear River I believe.”
My heart broke a bit at the mention of the Cheyenne tribe and I leaned back in my chair.
“Depends when ..we had move to the ranch right after Trin got attacked...” Cole said.
“I don’t know when, I have never been there. Just know what Sabi has told me, her Aunt Nakoma, who was in her younger years known as Sonsee something or another....” Aeryne went on, not even hearing the part where Cole said I had been attacked.
“Aeryne, the only thing the natives use white woman for is target practice,” Cole said then.
“I need to get a drink,” I looked down and stood then.
“She is Cherokee I believe,” Aeryne went on.
I cringed even more and walked past them, walking out of the office. I heard Cole say he would join my as I stepped out of the office, exhaling and taking another deep breath to calm down.
Aeryne walked out and asked, “Should I be worried about my niece you two?”
“Will explain later, Aeryne. Not a bit,” Cole answered and I knew that it was because of my past with the natives that I was more nervous about Sabi, as well as haunted by my own ghosts of the past. “Come on I’ll buy you a soda pop...”
“Will it have whiskey in it?” I asked him and followed him into the bakery. He poured me a cup of coffee and I took out my flask, adding some whiskey to the drink and sipping it slowly. Cole shook his head and I looked at him. “Cole... He was going to burn that damn town down. With me in it. Because Icca shot at him and I told him where Icca lived. And he couldn’t care less about my life or my safety.”
“Am I intruding?” Aeryne came into the bakery then and walked out as quickly as she entered.
“I know ..one of the reasons we left..and I know Nakoma wasn’t part of it either,” Cole said.
“Cole... It was a lifetime ago.”
“If Sabi is in danger with these people I need to know,” Aeryne commented before walking away. I sighed, seeing she couldn’t care less about how the subject was affecting me, but her focus was primarily on her niece and nothing else.
“Why am I still so... affected by these names that come up?”
“If she thinks that Rye you or I would hurt Sabi she just needs to get herself turned around there.”
“I don’t think that’s what she’s thinking. The point is she couldn’t have cared less that I was uncomfortable talking about all those names and it made me more concerned about Sabi. Because Aeryne knows them. They could follow her here and do to her what they almost did to me. She can’t trust these people, Cole. They’ll just stab her in the back and...” I felt my emotions build and looked away.
“I think that’s why she was sent here to keep her way from some of the brave.”
“I won’t repeat history, Cole. I won’t become a victim again.”
“I know that Standing hates Gem and me ..but our paths shouldn’t cross.”
“They’re ghosts from the past. I won’t let them continue to haunt me.” I went over and kicked the counter in anger at the sound of the chief’s name.
Rye walked in then and I bit my tears, looking away as Cole greeted her. “Hello love. Just keeping Trin from going out and hunting some thing down.” He whispered something to her and I heard Rye growl as I felt myself starting to tremble. I set the empty coffee cup on the counter and Cole refilled it, giving it to me.
“Sorry Rye, I just...” I shook my head, turning to Rye.
“Go sit Trin...” Cole suggested and I went to sit across the table from Rye.
“Cole, you explain it. I’m too...” I started but looked down.
Rye looked at me and sipped the tea Cole had poured her before asking, “Okay, what happened?”
“Yes Trin I will try..you know Sabi keeps talking about her aunt Nakoma..” Cole started.
“I think so...”
“Seems she is part of Standing Bear’s tribe..I remember her as being less violent than most of them..and Trin was run out of town because she got sideways to him..when he went to burn Georgetown down.”
“Remember, Icca shot him down and he forced me to tell him where Icca lived. He said he was gonna burn the town down whether I was in it or not. Even though I went up on that hill and shot down Icca trying to protect Standing Bear,” I looked at Rye.
“Yes, I remember that,” she nodded.
“Meant nothing to him.”
“I remember when we first met Trin we were told she was a friend but he never seemed real friendly to her,” Cole said.
“That end proved his true heart and I knew it was time to leave. It was either that or be burned alive in Georgetown.”
“And we are glad you did leave Trin. We would not have wanted to see harm come to you,” Rye said.
“Makes two of you at least... In a tribe of a bunch more who couldn’t have cared less.”
“I think Aeryne is afraid that he will follow Sabi home,” Cole told Rye.
“Because of her aunt. And now Aeryne’s been out there,” I sighed.
“And he will follow her home to meet a shot gun to the face. I may be indian but I am also a momma and I will protect my child,” Rye said protectively.
“Yes but the only town Sabi talks about is ‘Looie’,” Cole said.
“You better hope I’m in another town if Standing Bear ever comes here,” I looked at Cole.
“And he better hope I don’t catch him around my daughter,” Rye added.
“Will telegram you if you are,” Cole looked at me. “I think Sabi doesn’t get treated right when she is with her aunt..”
“Wait... Aeryne said that she was also known as Sonsee... That aunt...” I remembered.
“Nakoma I know, the other I don’t,” Cole said.
“I knew Sonsee. I talked with her, Sasha, Hawk, Gemini and Fire once...” I sighed. “Cole, all Aeryne said today was that we would know her... cause she was from Bear River.. Unless he said something after I left the office.”
Rye thanked Cole for the tea and pushed her cup towards him.
“I sort of remember her...” Cole refilled the mug with tea. “She doctored us after an outcast raided and shot without warning.”
I shoved the cup in front of me and said, “It’s in the past, damn it. Why can’t it stay there? Us three... We’ve moved on.”
“Because we are our past Trin..and yes we did and I don’t think we will have any trouble from anyone up there,” Cole said.
“We better not,” I shook my head.
“Cause sometimes the ghosts haunt us,” Rye reached over and took my hand. “But we all have traveled far for a new life. Its time to let those demons go and move on to a new happy life sister.”
“I’ve been doing that, Rye. I’ve left them behind. And now... She wants to bring them back to life again and make us worry about a threat that probably won’t even happen.”
“You have friends a daughter and a new man ..what more could you want?”
“Those natives would never go this far out of their village,” I reflected.
“No they would not. and they are now welcome here,” Rye agreed.
“Yes it is a long way over many hostile miles as we know,” Cole said. “We had many arrow and gun shot hole in the wagon before we got here..”
“It’s like that damn reaper case. Dutch and Gaide warned that he’d come here but he never did. Neither did Dutch. Saw Gaide a couple times with it but then he went back to Colorado. I’m not goin to let myself get worked up over possible scenarios. I’m a detective. I will deal with the facts as they exist. Not hypotheticals.”
“Well as we all know standing was a chief full of smoke. He spoke of things he would do and then run from them,” Rye said.
“I should go back to my partner...” I said then and stood. I gave them both a hug, grateful that they were there and that they understood. Rye told me that she had started to work there in the bakery and I congratulated her on the new job before heading back across the street.
I smiled when I saw James still at his desk and said, “You’re still here..”
“Mmhmm. How you doin? Better?”
“Sorry about that. Too many ghosts in here for my liking.”
“Understandable.”
“The place where Cole, Rye and I all met... Bear River... Did not end well for me.”
“I see.”
“And now Aeryne is over there in that area and talking about it... and worried for her niece because of her other aunt, part of a tribe that hurt me and the others badly... I’ve tried so hard to bury that part of my life, James. And now it keeps rising up to haunt me. Cole and Rye were the only ones who were nice to me in that tribe. The only ones that stood by my side through it all. I was thrilled to see them in Tombstone.”
“Sadly our past tends to catch up with us from time to time....”
“If Standing Bear shows his head in this town, don’t hold it against me if I shoot him down the first chance I get.”
“I won’t.”
“I’m part Native... and I had spent a lot of time with his tribe trying to understand their ways and help protect them against outlaws. One day, Standing Bear was shot by an undertaker in my town which was next door to the village. I was up on the hill with him shortly after he was shot and saw Icca there and shot him down. But the chief wanted his own revenge. He forced me to show him where Icca lived and worked. He insisted that they were going to burn down the whole town for what Icca did. Whether I was in it or not.”
“Not good.”
“It was then that I wandered and tried to find a different home. Fifteen years later, I found Tombstone. Most of the time... it’s easy to keep emotions separate from this job. But things like that.... Things that you’ve tried so hard to bury in the past and keep as such... We can’t be afraid of hypothetical possibilities. We need to focus on the facts and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
The telegram started to click then and I looked over to see the message that was coming through. I read out loud, “Doctor needed in Tombstone. Cavalry and deputy wounded.” I looked over at James and we headed for Tombstone.
Tombstone.
We walked into the busy clinic and I stopped in my tracks when I saw Vena back in town. Evidently, she hadn’t been killed by the chief after all and I looked around counting the people on the beds. Angel, Seth, and a young boy I didn’t know were all laying on the beds. I turned and saw Rikki in the room as well and shook my head, looking at James with worry. James asked Lilly how Angel was doing and I went over to Seth to see if he was okay.
“You should check into this calvary fella. He tried to shoot the deputy,” Rikki said then.
I rolled my eyes and said sarcastically, “Yeah, that sounds right.”
Seth started to wake up and I looked over at the boy I didn’t recognize. I asked him if he was hurt and he said he wasn’t, just making sure that the bed was in shape. He said his name was Kei and V said that he was her son. James asked V if she saw what happened and I reminded him that we couldn’t get statements from outlaws. He said he was just finding somewhere to start and I watched as Sabi and Kei teased each other and then followed V out for a scolding.
Meanwhile inside, we tried to talk to Seth to find out what happened while Angel was getting treated by Bree and Lilly. “Was asked to arrest V,” he told us. I intend to ‘till told otherwise to arrest her,” Seth said. “But with my injuries I can’t do anything about it.”
I looked between them and said, “Well he hasn’t said if he needs our help yet... Or who shot ‘em.”
“I will need the help, Trin, and happy to see another Pinkerton has joined,” Seth said, getting to his feet.
“Mmhmm, this is my new partner,” I said.
“Who shot you?” James asked.
“Why don’t you start from the beginning, Seth?” I suggested.
“I had two ladies facing me but only one shot... Figure it was Rikki by the shots. Seem to be from her position,” Seth said.
“Which two ladies?” I asked.
“Rikki and V of course.”
“Just making sure.”
I heard through the window that Kei had left the bag of cookies and I shook my head, looking at Seth. “So V and Rikki came at you both... you got in a gunfight and you and Angel got shot?” I clarified.
“Yeah. Tried for a peaceful arrest but didn’t happen how I liked.”
“An arrest for what?”
“Sounded like assault. Angel would tell more about this. Long as she can come out of being wounded.”
“Well, she is a little out of it at the moment....anything you can tell us.....?” James looked at him.
“Was there a warrant on one of them, Seth?” I asked.
“No, it was no warrant to what I know, but her guns were out when I came over... Said there was a cake in her guns.”
“Cake in her guns??” James blinked and I looked between the two men, confused.
I heard Lilly talking to Angel and the deputy replied back. I exhaled, hearing her voice.
“Well must have been something else,” Seth said.
“With her gun?” I asked, looking at James.
Seth walked over to Angel’s table and asked, “Angel?”
“Uuungg vat?” Angel looked up.
“Can you tell Trin about the arrest?” Seth asked. I waited, still not understanding the situation and looked over to James to see if he was as lost as I was. “Opposite that I saw her guns out.”
“Can try.Ver iz Trin at?” she looked around.
“I’m right here, Angel,” I walked closer to her. “Me and James, we can help you if you tell us what happened.”
“And if needed, I’ll still help,” Seth said.
“Seth, you’re injured,” I looked at him.
“Vell started vith me arrezting Rikki for arson but she came villingly, paied her finez and ve..” Angel started. “Over a drink...”
“Arson? When’d that happen?” I looked at her.
“Erlier the vagon. But she paied her finez.”
“Then?”
“But vhile her me and rock ver in the sheriff’s talking. Somvone vame and set fire to the front door. I got Rock and Rikki out before it got bad out zeh back door. Came around and Rikki and I put out zeh fire, tried to azk miz Jess if she saw vho did it but she didn’t. During zat time I heard somevone in zhe sheriff’s.”
“She needs to rest, folks,” Lilly said to us then.
“She will, Lilly. But if there’s an arrest to be made and they’re right outside we need to act now,” I said.
“Ven to go in and miz V vas in mine dezk and had grabbed some of mine reportz,” Angel went on. I chazed her out zeh back avround to allen and lozt her. Bree pointed vone vay Rikki another. I vent the vay Bree pointed. Riiki she loves to play trickz on me.”
“I don’t call her a firebug for nothing,” Seth said.
“Then ve ver standing by the ladiez society and Kai came up looking for miz V. She came...” Angel went on.
I heard Rock outside talking with Rikki and looked over at James. “Should we get Rock’s statement?”
“I’ll go.....” James said and headed out.
“Thanks James,” I nodded to him.
“She came out of zeh church and I demanded her to return mine reportz,” Angel went on. “She said she didn’t ave them. I vent to go see if she’d hidden them. I... I found mine reportz burnt up on the alter vith the candelz. I chazed V to Ghenna but she slipped avay... So I came back. I vas s upset at the loss of mine reports but miz Pet insisted on speaking to me and Rikki. Miz Pet then azked me to arrezt Rikki and then told me Rikki had been extorting her. I azked Rikki to come vith me but she refuzed.”
“This just gets worse and worse,” I sighed.
“About zis time miz V showed back up.”
“Gonna be a hell of a report for you to write up,” I winked at her.
“I azked them both to come vith me vith mine gunz drawn. But miz V said somthing about cake in her gunz. I kept trying to arrezt both to no avail. Iz ven zeth showed up.”
“Right,” I nodded, knowing she meant Seth but her German accent made it sound like she was referring to his brother.
“He azked if I needed help and I did. All the argueing over gunz vith cake and extorting money from miz Pet and threatening her.”
“Saw that V had her guns out and offered my help. Next thing you know it’s to help arrest V,” Seth put in then.
“Rikki drew and shot Zeth, so I pursued Rikki. She ran me down Allen behind zeh courthouse to Ghenna and ve met up in zeh cantina. Ve stopped and I told her come vith me cause I vasn’t leaving vhtout being shot or her coming vith me.”
“So she decided to shoot you,” I summarized.
“She had put her gun avay saying she didn’t vant to shoot me but I had no choice either I couldn’t leave vithout Rikki. Ve apoligized to vone another she drewve vbopth shot and she got me in zeh gut.”
James walked back into the clinic then and I asked, “How’d your first interview go, partner?”
“He claims to not know anything.”
“Had to take a chance he might’ve seen something,” I nodded. “Seems we’ve got enough for court between Angel and Seth’s statement when they write ‘em up.”
“There was two kids that saw what happened,” Seth said. “Helped me in the doctors office.”
“We can’t use kid’s testimonies in court unfortunately,” I reminded him.
“One is V’s son. Oh...”
“But you two can write up your reports... I was just wonderin’ if Angel needed to deputize us for anything,” I said.
“Not now,” Angel shook her head.
“Couldn’t the fort also deputize?” Seth asked.
“No sir. Only deputies and marshals and sheriffs. As far as I know,” I replied.
“Guess I could ask,” Seth shrugged.
“Less ver in marshall law but that never happenz,” Angel started to sit up.
“Well we thought we would offer our assistance when we saw the telegram buzz through.”
“Well I had orders to head to the lake,” Seth said.
“Need to head that vay mineself,” Angel said.
“You two get some rest. You know where to find us if you need us,” I told them.
“I’ll send you my paper soon as I can have time,” Seth said.
“Those papers will probably just go to Angel, since she is the law in charge of this one,” I told him.
“Okay.”
“Don’t sound like you need more witnesses than you’ve got. Between the two of you, the rest of ‘em were outlaws or kids,” I pointed out.
“I need help finding out vho started the fire at the sheriff’s,” Angel said then.
“We can do that,” I nodded. “We’ll write a report and let you know what we find.”
James and I headed to the sheriff’s office and saw a bag of cookies down on the floor in front of the office. James bent down and opened it and we smelled the scent and realized it was definitely not cookies.
James and I went over the timeline of the case we’d heard from Angel. I filled him in on what Angel had told me while he was talking with Rock, and James wondered if Angel had left the back door open so that the arsonist could get in. I noted that somehow, Vena had gotten into the sheriff’s office while Angel and Jess were talking to go and get Angel’s reports. James suggested that maybe Rikki or Rock opened it for Bree and I nodded to that, having thought the same thing. James told me that Rock had been unresponsive but that maybe if I could talk to him he might tell us more. I suggested that he talked to Bree and Jess and maybe he could get more out of them of what they might have seen. We said goodnight and parted ways down the street to get to work.
Pearce.
I sat in my living room this evening, writing my journal from today. I sighed, wondering where Thomas had disappeared to and if he’d ended up like all the rest who had left. There was a knock at the door and I jumped, going to open the door. I beamed when I saw Thomas and threw my arms around him. “Thomas! I was just thinking about you!”
“Hey my love! I’M HOME!” he exclaimed, hugging me tightly and picking me up, kissing me deeply. “Gosh I mised you so much!”
“I’ve missed you so much! Natalie told me about seeing Jimmy and that you two went to Texas? How is it that you always show up on the days that are the hardest for me? It’s like you have a sixth sense.”
“Yeah, I got a telegram and had to leave quickly. I didn’t have time to say good bye. I took Jimmy and he loved it. Well, I sensed you needed a shoulder to lean on and a pair of warm arms to hold you so I decided to come back home,” he smiled.
“Can I make you some tea, darling?” I stepped back.
“Oh I would love some. So Jimmy told Natalie all about his trip?” he slipped his gunbelt and coat off.
I went to the fireplace and boiled some water and filled two cups with tea. “Yes, Jimmy told him about the Alamo and tacos. She said he was so excited. I’m sure they’re off riding somewhere now.”
“Yeah, I took him to where I lived before I came to Arizona, and showed him the bull fighting there.”
“Hope you like the tea, dear. Sounds like you need to relax a bit too,” I smiled and we took a seat on the couch. I nuzzled against him and exhaled. “It’s been such a long day..”
“I brought you something,” Thomas pulled out a single yellow rose and handed it to me.
“You did?” I smiled at the rose. “The yellow rose of Texas, hmm? Don’t expect me to start singing the song...”
“Oh Lord please don’t sing, I need my hearing if I am to be a lawyer,” he smiled, kissing me deeply.
“Fine then, I won’t invite you to hear me sing at the Stock Exchange in Bisbee when I sing,” I nudged him and tickled him.
“Awwww, well then you can sing anytime you want sweetie. You have the most beautiful voice I ever heard in all the United States.”
I giggled and kissed him on his lips. “So did you just decide to take Jimmy for a trip to Texas or is there more that I’m missing here, darling?”
“Well, I took him with me so he and I could have a little talk while I took care of some business. See, I want to adopt him, like you did Natalie, so he wont have to stay in the orphanage anymore.”
“Oh Thomas, that’s the best news I’ve heard all day! I’m so glad to hear that. You will be the perfect father for him. Are you going to apply to be a lawyer now that you’re back home as well, darling?”
“I asked him on the train ride there, what he thought about being adopted, and he said, only if he got to take care of Miss Pets horses, and keep seeing Miss Trin and Natalie..and I was like.. DONE!” he smiled.
“That’s the sweetest thing ever.”
“Yes, I will apply now I am back home. I read up on a little of the old law books I had back in Texas while we were there. Jimmy couldn’t understand why the cattle had such big horns,” he chuckled.
“So I have a new partner at the office...”
“Oh really? Is that the man you had talked about before, with the outlaw girlfriend?”
“Yes, James. He actually has a really good head on his shoulders and I think he’ll be a good partner. We got a case today and he worked through it rather well. We still need answers but it’s nice I can share the load now.”
“That’s great, just please watch your back with him. You never know when you might find yourself cornered by the outlaws trying to bribe you or something.”
“Yes I know... He is on thin ice and I am watching him carefully but I was outnumbered in the decision. My bosses seemed to think he would be a good asset and told me I couldn’t discriminate against someone because of who their girlfriend was. In truth before I knew he was dating Lisa, James was very helpful and nice to me.”
“So how is Natalie doing? She liking her job at the clinic ok?” Thomas asked, leaning back with me and cradling my head on his shoulder as he wrapped me in his arms.
“Natalie... well... She’s had a hard couple of days but she is getting through it. She told me something today though. She went to school this morning and confronted Miss Traci.”
“Miss Traci?”
“The teacher who pulled her hair in class.”
“Oh?! How did that go?”
“I was so proud of her... She told Miss Traci she was sorry for sitting on the wrong side and then for running out... And Miss Traci apologized and said she was just teasing and shouldn’t have done what she did. She said that as long as Natalie was there and learning, that’s all that mattered to her. So I guess it’s alright for Jimmy and Natalie to be sitting beside each other after all,” I smiled.
“Well I been horn swaggled. I guess people can change after all huh? I am proud of her too. Have you talked to Jimmy about writing his father any?”
“No I haven’t... He hasn’t mentioned it to me yet.”
“He did to me, and I wasn’t sure what to tell him. I mean, I know he loves his pa and all, but is a ten year old writing his pa in prison a good idea?”
“I’m not sure... I really don’t want any bad blood following the boy here if his father hasn’t changed, and if you’re hopin’ to adopt him in some way I really hope it even less.”
“Me too dear, but he is so determined to write his father. Miss Paisley seems to have given him the idea. Poor kid, hasn’t heard from or talked to his father in over two years.”
I shook my head and leaned against his chest, getting more comfortable. “I’ve missed you so much... I almost thought...” I swallowed hard and hid against his chest.
He looked in my eyes and shook his head, holding my face as he said, “I am never going to leave you like those past have. I swear it before God almighty.” He kissed me deeply, holding me tight.
I kissed him back, believing him and rubbing my hands down his sides. “I’m afraid my past might catch up to me, but I’m trying really hard to not fear the hypotheticals and keep my eyes on the facts... But it feels like lately things have been all happening so much in this one area that it’s encompassing all my thoughts and then today I find out... I just... I’m scared, Thomas.”
“What do you mean love? Is there someone or something bothering you here in Tombstone?”
“Aeryne and Cole were in our office in Diamond meeting James... Somehow Cole brought up Bear River, where he and I met, and Aeryne started talking about the people she knew there, including Sabi’s aunt, whose name I recognized...”
“I am here for you dear. You can tell me anything, you know that.”
“The thing is... Aeryne is afraid that Sonsee might come for Sabi or that there might be trouble there. And the chief of Sonsee’s tribe... well... The thing is... Aeryne is afraid that Sonsee might come for Sabi or that there might be trouble there. And the chief of Sonsee’s tribe... well... And you know I don’t say that lightly.”
“Yeah, I know Trin. But who is this Sonsee and what happened?”
“I don’t know... Aeryne just kept talkin’ about it and she kept bringing up how they wanted her to be a judge over there and how she was worried for Sabi... And I had to walk out of the office. All the names and things she was talking about there with the Native tribes I just... I couldn’t listen to it anymore. It brought back too much hurt. Too many memories I’d buried. And then Cole mentioned that if Standing Bear comes here and I just... I lost it, Thomas.”
“It’s ok Trin. I am here, whatever happens, you wont have to go it alone. I love you, and will take care of you.”
I shuddered against him and looked in his eyes. “He was going to burn me alive, Thomas! Me and that whole town. It didn’t matter how much time I’d spent with them or how much I’d tried to help him when he got shot by Icca and I’d even shot down Icca for it. He didn’t care, he was just gonna...” I shuddered against him and looked in his eyes.
He cuddled me close and rocked me in his arms. “Oh my god Trin, I am so sorry. Let it out sweetie, don’t hold it in.”
“I just... I wanted to forget. I didn’t want... I left that life, Thomas. I left that life of fear and being betrayed. I came here and made a new start and Cole and Rye were the only ones in that tribe who cared about me at all and they were so happy to see me here... I just... I want the past to die, Thomas!”
“And now Natalie’s all curious about going to the village here and White Hawk talked to me about my past and said I was welcome any time at the village and I just... I don’t know. I’m scared. I don’t want us to get hurt by yet another Native tribe but these are my people. How can I just... turn my back completely on my heritage, though it’s caused me nothing but grief and pain?”
Thomas listened to me talk and held me close, rubbing my back. “Jimmy mentioned something about a Mahko being chief of the Apache tribe now. Maybe you could sit down and have a talk with him. Just you and him, and see. If you want, I can go with you. I think it might help you to visit them love. Maybe it will help heal the hurt inside you.”
“I think that will help... It helped talking with White Hawk and he seemed to really care. I told him about my father getting killed and then men from his army coming to kill me because I had dad’s medal, but that man couldn’t do it and then he got killed right in front of me. It helped to know he understood... I just... I’m scared, Thomas.”
“I know dear, but I am here. I wont let nothing happen to you. I would die for you, and even kill to protect you and Natalie both. I have a little bit of a past that isn’t quite what you see before you baby. But maybe sometime I will tell you about it if you want to hear about it.”
“Someday soon, darling, but not tonight... Tonight I just want to rest in your arms and fall asleep right here, where I belong... You know... teaching James about being a Pinkerton today... It really reminded me why I love this job.”
Thomas pulled the quilt from the back of the couch and covered us with it. “I am glad you have a partner now Trin. I have been worried about you so much working out there alone. Especially after you got shot by that idiot who shot me. You don’t know how hard it was for me not to tie him behind a horse and drag him from here to Tuscon.”
“I know... About as hard it was for me not to chase Kory through the whole territory after he shot you.” I leaned against him. “I love you, dear... We’ve only been together for a short time but.. You being away for a week really made me realize how much I do love you.”
“I thought only of you my whole time in Texas. I went down to a river not far from where Jimmy and I stayed, a lot like your little river our front, and sat under a tree at night imagining you doing the same back here.”
“I bought something for you as well... I don’t know if you would wear it but... I wanted to wear something here that showed how much we love one another...” I said and took out the jewelry box. I broke it in half as it was intended and gave him half of the heart on a chain. “It’s a heart that’s broken in half and we each wear the one half... What do you think?”
He looked at it and then looked at me. “There is no other person I would rather split my heart with besides you.” We slipped the necklace around each other’s necks and he kissed me deeply. “I love it baby, thank you so much.”
I kissed him and slid my hand around his neck. “I wanted to do something special and show you how much I love you, instead of just saying it.”
“Well, this is the most wonderful thing you could ever have given to me. You mean the world to me.”
We continued to talk and then fell asleep in each others’ arms.
No comments:
Post a Comment