Tombstone.
This morning I walked down the street towards the sheriff’s office and waved to Rock as he greeted me. “Wish I could help you more on that arson case... but we haven’t found any other witnesses. Nothin’ on that bank robbery either.”
“Hmm… I heard Angel got Garth to pay his bail after an arrest. Do you know which warrant that was?”
“With him it could be anything. I don’t pay too much attention to warrants… I can’t really help with them unless someone deputizes me.”
“I see, good to know.”
“Which I’ll gladly help with if someone needs my help,” I winked at him.
“We have issued a warrant for Lot, Mac and Lisa.”
A little girl came over and greeted us then. “You are going to grow up to be a ’hear breaker, little girl. What are you called?” Rock asked her.
“Dee,” the girl said.
“Deedee? Deesue’s niece?” I blinked, recognizing her then.
“Well Dee, do you know the meaning of what I just said?” Rock asked her.
“Yes,” Dee nodded to me.
“Hey there kiddo, you’ve sure grown up since I saw ya last!” I exclaimed and smiled.
“You mean heartbreaker? No,” Dee crossed her arms and looked up at the man.
“Be well all got to go see a man about a horse,” Rock said then and walked off randomly. “Ooh, you tell her miss Trin,” he said before leaving.
“See you, Rock,” I chuckled.
“What’s wrong wit your horse?” Dee asked.
“He means you’re gonna date lots of boys and then leave ’em,” I explained.
“I don’t like boys,” the girl said defiantly.
“You will,” I smirked.
“Do you?”
“I like one boy in particular, yep,” I grinned.
“Ewww!” she giggled and went over to try and read the sign.
Aeryne walked over and we greeted one another as she asked, “Anything exciting going on?”
“Not a blessed thing. You?”
“Nah not really, just came back from a visit with the Apache.”
“All safe over there?”
“Oh yeah. I traded them some bakery goods for this nice blanket,” she said and unfolded her new blanket, showing it off.
“Very nice,” I smiled.
“Yeah,” she said, refolding the blanket. “I figure if we can interact with them without shooting at them they might end up being a little more friendly…”
“Good luck with that,” I shrugged a bit. “Tried that tactic a few too many times myself and it failed in the past.”
“Where there is a will….” Aeryne nodded and looked over to greet Joe as he came over.
“There’s a bullet in your back. Or a town blown up. Or…” I finished for her.
“You sound s bit cynical Trin,” she observed.
“You would be too if you’d been backstabbed by the Natives as much as I have, Aeryne. I may have Apache in my blood but it has brought me nothing but betrayal and grief.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that. I am sorry to hear that Trin.”
“And every single tribe I ever tried to help in the past has either left me for dead or threatened to kill my town and make me choose between my white friends and my Native ones.”
“It should bring you pride.”
“I don’t intend to get caught in that trap again, Aeryne. I can’t be proud of how Natives have treated me.”
“Then how do you get along with them?”
“I am friendly to them when they come to town but I don’t go seeking friendship or security in their village anymore.”
“I just don’t want them riding through Black Diamond hurting folks.”
“I’ve been almost killed too many times by Natives, Aeryne. It’s why I walked out at the mention of Bear River,” I said as we noticed Joe walk away from us.
“So I try my best to be a friend instead.”
“In spite of my efforts to help them. So now I just stay away. There is a part of me that still tugs me towards that village, but I’m too scared to and too hurt by my past to open myself up to that possibility again.”
“Perhaps another in the future then.”
“The Apache here have been kind to me and I have helped them in the occasional case in court…”
“Either way I would rather give these people gifts of bread rather than they harm our citizens.”
“I feel those wounds were starting to heal. Until Sabi started bringing up the possibility of her other aunt coming here from Iowa. And until we started to fear the Cherokee’s arrival.”
“She won’t.”
“It would bring too much danger to me, Cole, and Rye. Not to mention her and Payton I’m sure.”
“Sabi has been forbidden from ever writing those people again.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear that.”
“Her aunt has been notified that her familial claim is void. As has mine.”
“I’m sorry, Aeryne, it’s just such a difficult subject. We’ve tried very hard to bury the past hurt from that tribe. All three of us.”
“She is an orphan until Cole and Rye adopt her.”
“We don’t want any danger coming to impede their adoption.”
“I am sure there will not be.”
“I just wanted you to understand the background of my reaction,” I nodded.
“Iowa is a long way away and a 6 year old little girl is not worth the bother to these people.”
“She shouldn’t be traveling that far alone anyway,” I nodded.
“She wasn’t. I was with her. I was offered a job as a judge. I have since declined it.”
“I remember, and I’m glad you declined.”
“I will be sheriff to Black Diamond. Someone needs to; Lord knows Stormy won’t. Nor will the Rangers obviously,” she shook her head with disgust as she motioned across the street.
I nodded in agreement and said, “I need to head back to my office and get some paperwork done. Stay safe, Sheriff. You know where to find me if you need help.”
“One day the law here will organize and be effective. Until then I will be in my town upholding the law alone. Take care Trin.”
“The law have been issuing and serving warrants left and right here,” I looked at her.
“Yes, one of them is right there. Yet the ranger, the only law with jurisdiction is standing there.”
I looked over and saw Zeth and Nim, understanding her point well. “Anyway nothing I can do here until someone asks me for help. I’ll be in my office.”
“Same here, but I will go to my own office,” she chuckled.
“Stay safe Aeryne.”
“You too Trin,” she said and we headed off to our respective offices.
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