September 18, 1900

Black Diamond. 

This evening I walked out of my office in Diamond and smiled when I saw Thomas. “Darling! Hey there!” 

Thomas walked out of the cantina towards me, munching on a tortilla chip. “Hola, mamacita! Mucho caliente por fabor!” he laughed. “Hey my love.” 

I chuckled and went to hug him tightly. “Hola, mi niovo!” I winked at him. “How are you doing, darling?” 

“I am wonderful. How about you? Anything interesting been happening?” 

“Not much, really. Court docket came out today but other than that….” I looked over at the cantina and sighed, seeing the decorations already. “Halloween starting early this year?” 

Thomas smiled and looked around. “Yeah I guess so. Guess if the food wont scare ya, the decorations will.” 

“Unreal... Enough scary things in this world, you know? Care to join me in the saloon, darling?” I asked, shaking my head. 

“Sure, my treat.” 

I grinned and took his arm. “Best thing I’ve heard all day.” I wandered with him into the saloon and looked around. “It feels like ages since I’ve been here.” 

“It’s actually my first time in this saloon. What’ll it be my dear lady?” 

I smiled at him and said, “How about some coffee with whiskey? My favorite drink. Wakes up the mind and body,” I winked. 

“Hmmm, coffee and whiskey. Comin right up, with a side of Thomas,” he smiled and took two cups, filling almost full with coffee. He added whiskey to them both and handed one to me. “There you go.” 

I smiled and took the cup. “Thank you, darling... So have I missed anything in town tonight? I’ve been hiding out in my office most of the day catching up on reports.” 

“Oh not that I know of. I been over in Tuscon most of the day. Checking on things about the native situation. No word yet on what they want done. I just arrived back bout an hour ago actually.” 

“Well I’m glad to hear that... I haven’t heard anything about this Native man from the others and haven’t seen anything unusual. I just need to focus on the present and not worry about other possibilities... Until I see Standing Bear in front of me I’m not going to let him haunt me. And the reality is... he wouldn’t travel this far from his tribe.” 

“I think you are right dear. Most chiefs and even elders don’t travel far from their tribal camps for more than hunting reasons. Also he has no reason to come here, unless it were by coincidence.” 

“Exactly. I just wish there were more cases to distract me with. I barely have anything to do right now.” 

“Well be careful of what you wish for love. Especially in Tombstone.” 

“I know,” I sighed and reached for his hand, interlacing my fingers with his. “Here’s the problem with the current case…” 

He held my hand in his, holding it up to kiss it softly. He looked into my eyes and smiled. “Have I ever told you that you are as pretty as a Texas sunset in the fall?” 

“You are so sweet, dear,” I blushed, caressing his cheek with my thumb. “When you say things like that it makes me forget about work.” 

He smiled and leaned closer, kissing my lips as he held the nape of my neck in his hand, pulling me closer. “Well can I help if I am seeing the most beautiful lady in all the south?” 

I giggled and set the mug down on the counter. “Care to dance, darling?” 

“Mmm, thought you would never ask,” he smiled and led me out onto the dance floor. 

We danced together to the music, holding one another close as he kissed my neck softly. I leaned into him and exhaled, letting my body relax. “Nowhere I feel safer than in your arms, darling.” 

“Well there is nowhere else I would rather you be than in my arms. I love to hold and kiss you. Wish I could all day long.” 

“Oh, I told Chris and Zan that we’d like to get together with them... It would be great to sit down with the four of us. They’re such a good couple that have been through a lot.” 

“What did they say? I think it would be great to sit down with them and visit. Too much goes on around here not to get to know people better.” 

“Yes... they loved the idea.” 

“How is little Miss Natalie?” 

“She’s doing well. Told me she had breakfast with Alex and Payton this morning for a bit.” 

“Oh I bet she enjoyed that. She is such a smart girl, she has a good head on her shoulders.” 

“Mmhmm, she sure is. I would love for you to be able to spend some time with her too... I told Chris and Zan it would be impossible to get the four of us in one room as the kids have so much energy,” I chuckled. 

He smiled and squeezed me tight in his arms, looking into my eyes, smiling. “Yeah, between her and Jimmy, we would never get a word in. Jimmy has been carrying on about Texas ever since we got back. Poor boy didn’t see very much before he came to the orphanage.” 

“I’m glad you were able to open his world up a bit though, dear. Things are working out between you two living together now then?” I smiled at him, sliding my hand around his waist as we danced. 

“Oh yeah. Though before I got him a bed of his own, we slept together, and that boy kicks in his sleep. I probably still have bruises where he kicked me in the night,” he laughed and kissed my lips as I ran a hand down his side. 

“Maybe I’ll have to kiss them better…” I whispered and kissed the back of his neck. 

“Mmmm...You sure are quiet tonight dear, you feeling ok?” he rubbed his hands gently up and down my arms and sides, pressing his body closer to mine. 

I leaned my head on his shoulder and nodded. “I am... Just been so much on my mind lately with all this Native stuff being talked about. I really wish there was something else to focus on but it feels like something’s tugging at me for attention. Like I still need closure or something…” 

He pulled me closer and slid his hands down to my hips, dancing as close as he could. “Well I know something or ummm someone who needs attention, and its closer than you think,” he kissed my neck, nibbling a bit. 

I moaned and slid my hand down lower. “I think I know what you mean, darling... Perhaps we should.... find a bed somewhere, hmm?” 

He moaned and squeezed my bottom softly. “I think you are right dear. It would not be a good thing to just drop here on the floor of the saloon for all to see.” 

I blushed and gasped a bit, pulling him outside. “Come on, dear... There must be somewhere…” I tried to think and then headed to the hotel, holding his hand tightly. “I have a better idea.” 

“Okay,” he smiled and I led my way upstairs to my old apartment above the office. I chuckled as I saw the yellow rubber duck still on the ground, where David Norwood had left it so many months ago. “See, told you the duck was still here.” 

“There it is!” he laughed. 

“Not exactly the most comfortable place though… You know there’s real nice hotels in Bisbee…” 

“Yeah, I have stayed in one many times. Very comfy and big beds too.” 

I grinned and we headed to the hotel in Bisbee, finding a secret stairwell. We climbed upstairs and found a hidden bedroom. “I had no idea this was here!” 

“Wow, me neither! This is very nice!” he looked around with an amazed expression. After a while, we were so caught up in the moment and each other’s closeness that we forgot about the room and just enjoyed the rest of the night together.