Tombstone.
This morning I was in the office when a telegram came through. I went over and read the message:
*** Telegraph to : Pinkerton agency Diamond Hills AZ***
To: Trin .. Pinkerton Agent
From: Boston Mass Pinkerton Agency
Mara Brai Morgan Approach with Extreme Caution **STOP**
File is as Follows : Suspected Arson ..Suspected Theft of Horses and weapons.. Attempted Murder **STOP**
Suspect has known allies with reminants of Pequot Tribe , Comanche Tribes, and several small outlaw groups including the Starrs Cherokee family and has been seen with Butch Cassidy **STOP**
Suspect is wanted for questioning in the Case against Lucas A. Morgan who is suspected of Hiring several outlaws
known to Butch Cassidy to track down and murder his wife Margarret and young daughter Payton Morgan **STOP**
Trin, be careful something is fishy about this one and don’t sound right **STOP**
NO Evidence has been found as yet to link her with any of the crimes other than Attempted Murder and Hiring of the outlaws**STOP**
Try to get her alive, find out what the hell is going on. If have a way, find out if Payton and Margarret Morgan are alive, find a way to protect them** STOP **
End Telegram ........
I blinked at the information and headed out right away to find Payton. She and Alex were standing in front of the clinic and I said, “Alex, I was hoping you could check the bandages on my arm this morning, as is our custom after I get shot? And Payton, we need to talk.”
“Of course. Come on inside,” Alex nodded.
“Yes ma’am,” Payton said and we walked into the clinic.
I sat on the bed and said, “Natalie ordered me to come first this morning, then she said she’d be around.”
Alex got out his glasses and put them on, looking at me. “You’re lucky you got someone to look after you at home. How does it feel?”
I adjusted my arm a little to test it. “Slept on the other side ‘cause it was too sore to sleep on this arm... I had some willow tea at Payton’s last night and that helped me sleep.”
Payton blushed and Alex took out a pair of scissors and snipped off the old bandage.
“It’s quite a bit numb this morning though...”
Alex looked at the wound and nodded. He cleaned it with a cloth. “Numb? Is it your back again?”
“I... maybe. It was that side that was numb on Monday so maybe I bugged something again when I got shot.”
“Let me bandage this then I’ll check your back.”
“Sure... I think it’s just cause I spend so much time writing... my back isn’t comfortable with it..”
Alex got out a roll of bandages and started to wrap my arm, tying off the end and then put the supplies away.
Payton, meanwhile, was looking around the room and said, “We are gonna need bigger beds... horses won’t fit on these size beds.”
I chuckled hearing Payton and said, “Alex, I might need your help with this situation I need to talk to Payton about.”
“Sure, Trin. I’d love to see the vet clinic once it’s set up,” Alex said.
“The arm looks okay? How long do I have to wear the bandage for again?”
“Arm looks good. Keep the bandage another day or so,” Alex felt along my spine and I felt my back twinge when he hit a spot near the top of the spine.
“It’s right there on the left side.”
He paused and said, “Hmmm. Right here. Just a little push.” He pushed his thumbs along the spot and I winced a bit. “How’s that? Any better?”
“Yeah, that helped” I nodded.
“Good!” Alex smiled.
“If we weren’t both taken I’d kiss those magic fingers,” I whispered and he chuckled. I sat up straighter then and looked between them, turning serious. “I got some rather discouraging news about this Mara person who’s out looking for Payton. “Come on over here, kiddo. You’re old enough to hear this.” I waited until she came over and I could tell she was nervous. “You remember how you were tellin’ me that your half sister was seen with some Native tribes?”
“Yes ma’am,” she nodded.
“She’s been seen with a couple particularly violent ones... Pequot and Comanche. But that’s not all,” I looked at Alex and saw his eyebrows raised in shock. “She’s suspected of arson horse theft, weapon theft, attempted murder... She’s been known to work with the Starrs Cherokee tribe and has also been seen with...” I hesitated and looked directly at Alex and his eyes met mine as I said, “Butch Cassidy.”
Alex frowned and Payton’s jaw dropped. “That nice young lady who was in my office the other day?”
“That’s not the worst part... And you need to hear this from me,” I looked back to Payton. “Because you need answers, like any orphan does.” I took a deep breath and said, “She was known to Butch Cassidy to track down and murder his wife Margarret and... Daughter Payton Morgan...” I looked at her and she shook her head, taking a step back. I looked over at Alex for help, not sure how to make this any easier.
“Why would she do that.. my papa was takin care of her.. he left me an momma..” Payton shook her head.
“Sweetie...” I looked between them. “She’s wanted for questioning in the Case against Lucas A. Morgan. That’s your father, right?”
“She told me when I was littler.. that my papa loved her more..” Payton looked up and nodded. “Yes ma’am.. it’s my father. So... the bandits.. the ones that attacked.. I was .. suppos.....” Payton’s words faded and she fell down on the ground like a rock. I sighed and leaned back, taking a few deep breaths to relax.
Alex leaned down to check on her and asked, “Payton...?” He took her wrist and felt her pulse and said, “It’s steady.” He took out some smelling salts and waved it under her nose.
“Thank God. I had to tell her, Alex..”
“I know.”
“And I’ll have to tell Cole and Rye.”
“Yes, they need to know too.”
“And I’ll have to tell a marshal or someone.. I just wish I wasn’t working practically alone these days.. They all come to town at night when I’m sleeping.”
“I know all about that. It’s quiet here in the morning.”
The door opened then and I looked up to see Spin walking in. Payton looked up at Alex. “Hey Payton. Are you okay? Did you hit your head when you fell?”
“You okay Trin?” Spin asked.
“Morning,” Alex looked up.
“Think I am.. okay..” Payton nodded slowly. “No.. head don’ hurt.”
“I may need your help, Spin,” I said.
“Okay no problem,” Spin nodded.
“Would you like a cup of tea, Payton?” Alex asked.
“I was.. suppose ta die.. wasn’t I ..?” Payton asked.
“Yes, but you didn’t. That’s the important thing,” Alex looked into her eyes.
“You two alright if I talk with Spin about all this?” I asked Alex.
“Sure Trin,” he nodded.
I leaned down and rubbed Payton’s back. “We’ll keep you safe, kiddo. I promise.” I stood and looked at Spin. “Spin, let’s take a walk?”
“Okay Miss Trin,” Payton nodded to me.
Alex looked over at Spin and asked, “You’re not injured are you? I don’t mean to ignore you.”
“No, I’m fine. Just seen the light on in here and figured I better check it out,” Spin said and I smiled at his intuitiveness. “Want to go Trin, to talk?”
We headed outside and I led the way to my office. When we were sitting down at my desk I said, “You have fantastic timing, Ranger.”
“What’s up, Trin?”
“You have jurisdiction anywhere but in Tombstone itself, correct?”
“I have jurisdiction every where if no other sheriff or town deputy is around. Just like a marshal.”
“There’s been a woman in town who has been looking for Payton. Her name is Mara Brai Morgan. She has been looking for Payton, who she claims is her half sister...”
“Okay.”
“Payton told me she once was known to hang out with some Native tribes who were not the most pleasant people... I heard from Payton that she was from Boston so I contacted my associates in Boston Mass for information on her, to see if she was wanted for any crimes there..”
“Who, this Morgan or Payton?”
“Mara Morgan.”
“Okay.”
“Take a look at this telegram... I received it this morning.” I handed him the telegram and let him read it. “This woman is bad news, Spin.”
“Yes I see. Let me run this across my fellow rangers Mick and Amara and maybe even Suzy see if we can bring her in for questioning.”
“I don’t think she needs to be brought in quite yet. The crimes happened outside of Tombstone. I just wanted you to be aware of her. And keep her away from Payton.”
“That’s best I can do without a warrant or me seeing her commit crime.”
“Exactly. This is just informing you right now... We’re not accusing anything or starting a case.”
“Yes, I’ll keep a eye out on Payton and pass it on to the other rangers too.”
“Thank you, Spin. And remind them that we’re not pressing charges until we see her do something here. I’m sure she will.”
“We will try our best to keep her safe. Tell her don’t go out alone and always be with a adult at all times tell this mess is cleared up Trin.”
“Yes sir. She’s got lots who are lookin’ out for her. I will have a word with Cole and Rye...”
“Okay Trin. I’ll inform the other rangers too.”
“Do you know much about these Native tribes?”
“No, not at all.”
“They’re particularly violent. I remember hearing about the Comanche before coming to Tombstone...”
“Let me get Mick and Amara in here so you can fill them in too, Trin. They have a lot more experience than I do.”
“I will let you talk to the other rangers, Spin.. We just need to be on the lookout for this woman and watch her carefully. Don’t let her do anything criminal without getting on top of things right away.”
“You should explain to Mick what’s going on. He might know a loop hole to bring this woman in. He is here, I just have to holler for him.”
I sighed to him and said, “Spin... We can’t bring her in yet. Not until she does a crime here in Tombstone.”
“Okay. Let me go talk to Mick then.”
“Just keep an eye out, alright?”
“Okay will do.”
“Thank you, Spin.”
“You’re welcome,” he said and headed out of the office.
About an hour later I was sitting in my office still working at reports when the door opened and a man walked in. “Hello, detective. Long time no see.”
I looked up and blinked, recognizing Max. “Well you’re a sight for sore eyes! Long time no see, Max!”
“How are you?” he asks, looking at my bandaged arm. “Looks like you’ve gotten into some trouble lately.”
“Have a seat, Max... It’s been an interesting week,” I sighed and nodded as he sat down and made himself comfortable. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“How about the beginning? How’s Alex doing, anyway? Last time I heard from him was months ago. Winter I think.”
“He’s doing well. Married to my other best friend Alyssa Stone, who’s the sheriff here in Tombstone now. He’s working over in the clinic.”
“Married and working in the clinic, huh? Well, good for him. I can picture that.”
I smiled, nodding. “Last time I saw you I was wearin’ his ring, I think. Then I was the best man at his wedding,” I smiled, chuckling.
“That’s good you two are still close,” Max chuckled.
“He’s my best friend... I don’t know what I would do without him. I also uh... met a man since then.”
“Did you?”
“Mmhmm. First man I ever loved since that friend of yours, actually.”
“AW, that’s great! I’m really happy for you. My wife had another baby - geez, that makes eight. I was really happy to take a trip out here.”
“Wow, Max... Quite the busy man... That plus all the work as a detective. Can I ask, Max...”
“Busy busy,” he nodded and chuckled.
“Why did you come all the way out here? Not that I’m not glad to see you...”
“Did you get my telegram?”
“Which one?” I blinked at him. “I did receive a telegram from Boston this morning...”
“About a woman named Mara.”
“That was from you?”
“Yes!” he exclaimed and I looked at him with surprise. “Did I forget to sign it?”
“Yeah,” I chuckled. “It’s such a relief to see you, Max. I didn’t want to deal with this one alone.”
He shook his head and laughed. “I’m glad I came out then.”
“I told Payton about the telegram this morning... She fainted. Thankfully Alex was there.”
“That poor kid.”
“Max, I’ve talked with Mara.”
“You have?”
“I didn’t trust her from the second I met her. She was askin’ all kinds of questions about Payton. Said she was the bad seed of the family.”
“Yeah bad seed is right.”
“I told her Payton’s run into enough bad seeds and if she makes Payton’s life difficult, she’ll answer to me.”
“I knew you’d be good with this. That’s why I telegraphed you.”
“I appreciate it, Max, but I’m out on my own now. No partners to speak of.... bunch of Rangers around though and they’re aware of the situation.”
“That’s good you’ve got others aware of it. And you’re not alone. I’ll be here for a few days anyway.”
“That’s such a relief to hear, Max. I was shot yesterday and have had quite a bit of excitement on my own front...”
“Ouch! Never fun to get shot.”
“Especially after watching the man you love get shot by the same man the night before,” I said and he raised his eyebrows. “Next time we’ll let the woman beat him up and stay out of it.”
“Is he...?”
“Name’s Kory. Was in a fight with a woman and I tried to pull the woman off him. He drew his gun on her and Thomas held his gun on Kory. Kory turned and shot Thomas down. Then yesterday, Kory came up to me and blamed me for getting him arrested and shot me down.”
“Wow!”
“We were able to get statements to the law right away though so hopefully they’ve taken care of it.”
“I hope so. That sounds like another bad seed.”
“Meanwhile I’ve got a kid I’m looking after.. Kinda taken her in as my daughter I guess... Never thought I would have a child, much less be a single mother.”
He chuckled and said, “I wouldn’t have pictured that either. But sometimes life brings you unexpected things like that.”
“Indeed it does... She found out some troubling news this week about what happened to her real parents. Ran away yesterday but her best friend found her out by the Apache village before dark.”
“That must have scared you.”
“It was awful, Max.”
“She’s been reading my journals from before Tombstone and I guess read how I used to go out there to find peace and quiet to think.”
“She probably had a lot to think about herself.”
“She found out her mother was a dove and her father was killed by a Pinkerton investigating her mother’s murder.”
“Yikes! Yeah she definitely needed to think about that.”
“About as bad as finding out that your half sister knew Butch Cassidy and that her father Lucas hired outlaws to track down and murder her mother and herself... These kids... They want to know what happened to their parents but... Sometimes the truth isn’t easy to give them, is it?”
“No it isn’t. Better to tell the truth though. They’ll find out and get mad you didn’t otherwise.”
“So now all we can do is watch for Mara to mess up somewhere,” I summarized and he nodded. “I’d take you to see Alex but I don’t even know where they live anymore...”
“I’ll find him. I’m eager to meet this wife of his,” he chuckled and I looked down, missing my friendship with Aly.
“That’s so funny he works in the clinic. He was sort of accident prone when we were kids so I can see where he’d get the interest in that sort of stuff.”
“He’s really great at it... Knows how to deal with patients well. He’s teaching my daughter how to become a doctor and helping her learn things.”
“Oh that’s great! He was always good with my kids.”
“When we were partners and I had a case with children, I always gave them to him because he knew how to work with them. And now I have one of my own. Go figure,” I said and he chuckled. “I remember the day when I told him about her.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Pretty sure he was trying hard to avoid laughing right then and there.”
“You don’t strike me as the maternal type who stays home and makes cookies and sews dresses,” he laughed.
“I’m not.”
“But that don’t mean you ain’t good with a kid.”
“She wants to learn how to sew,” I cringed. “I told her to talk to Paisley.”
“Have Alex teach her. He probably knows how to use a needle.”
“That’s true,” I laughed. “Things over in Boston are alright?”
“Yeah, things are good. They’re building a ball park. Maybe next year of the year after they’ll have professional baseball games.”
“Sounds like fun,” I smiled.
“Well, Trin, I’m going to be staying at the hotel in town so you know where to find me. Tell Alex if you see him.”
“Sounds good. I most definitely will. Let me know if you see Mara or talk to her? She’s got straight black hair just past her shoulders now.”
“I will,” Max nodded.
“Thank you, Max... For helping me with this one. Woman like that.. I don’t want to be facing her alone.”
“You’re welcome. It was really good to see you again, Trin,” he stood and smiled. I stood and shook his hand firmly and he said, “I’ll see you soon.”
“You sure will,” I nodded and led him out of the office with a smile.
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