September 9, 1900

Tombstone. 

After a quiet day yesterday which consisted mostly of singing at the saloon in Bisbee, I walked down Allen street this morning looking to see if anyone needed my assistance in anything. I saw James Newton sitting in front of Kate’s and I hesitated before walking over to him. 

“Hey, Trin....How are ya?” he looked up. 

“I’m alright, you?” 

“Doin ok....Tryin to stay dry,” he laughed. 

“Been settling in okay?” 

“Yes, I have....and been trying to save my pennies for some guns..... I can’t imagine working without them....” 

“Find a job did you?”

“Well, I was hoping to be working with you.” 

“Saw you hanging out with Lisa and the Wild Bunch quite a bit.... Had me worried.”

“And now you don’t want me working with you?” 

“Well... you’ll have to make that decision James. There’s an oath we need to live by as Pinkertons... We accept no bribes, we never compromise with criminals, we partner with local law agencies... We refuse divorce cases or other ones that might initiate scandal.. Turn down reward money, never raise fees, and we keep clients apprised throughout the case we work. I’m just worried that if you were to be a Pinkerton and still had friendships with the Wild Bunch, you might have to compromise... Know what I mean?” 

“I have no loyalty toward the Wild Bunch.” 

“Are you sure?” I looked at him seriously. 

“Lisa and I have gotten close, but she has known all along that I have been interested in working with you. She has no problem with that.” 

“James...” I sighed a bit. “I’m sorry but you’ve got to pick. You can’t work for the law and date an outlaw... It’s like when they wanted me to be a defense lawyer even though I’m a Pinkerton. It’s a conflict of interest... and I’ve lost partners over it... and I don’t want the same thing to happen to you.” 

“Isn’t that just about the same as dating a defense lawyer and working for Pinkerton? There is a potential conflict of interest there, too.” 

“That’s exactly my point. Thomas has decided to be a prosecutor if he becomes a lawyer. Because I think he understood why it would be an issue for me.” 

“But you had no plans of leaving him if he went on to be a defense lawyer.....” 

“I don’t know what I would have done if he decided to pursue being a defense lawyer. It would have had to be a discussion. I’m not saying it’s easy, James, but either way we have to decide what side we’re on. And if you’re in love with someone who we might be accusing of a crime, that might cloud judgment.” 

“Ok, how about this for an idea. I won’t investigate cases involving her. I will just handle the their cases. This way my judgment will not be questioned or clouded.” 

“James, do you know how many times we investigate the Wild Bunch in this town? Nine times out of ten when a crime happens in this town, a Wild Bunch is involved. Don’t you think that they would try to convince Lisa to persuade you that they were innocent?” 

“And I would follow the evidence.” 

“I’ve heard that before,” I sighed. 

“So I guess you won’t even give me the chance then?” 

“I’m sorry James. I’ll talk to Adrian about it but I’m sure he will say the same thing I have. We’ve been down this road so many times before and I always end up the one being left in the dust.” 

“So because others have done that then I will, too.” 

“James... Give me some credit here. Do you know how many partners I’ve been through in this town? How many times I’ve had to pursue cases against outlaws where their fellow gang members tried to convince me otherwise?”

“You want me to give you some credit, yet you give me none.” 

“It’s something you need to think about.. and I hope you make the right decision... but you’ve got to see this from my side as well. I’ll let you think about it. I need to head back to the office.” 

“Well, to me, it sounds like you’ve made your decision. I believe in a job like yours you need to trust your partner. If I choose to work with you and stop seeing Lisa, then can you honestly say you can trust me?” 

“I don’t know, James. I need to talk it over with Adrian. I’ll let you know how that conversation goes,” I turned and headed back to my office. 

This afternoon I walked out of my office and saw Dancing Cloud, Sabi and Swift Fox standing in front of the Crystal Palace. “Hi Aunt Trin, how is you?” Sabi asked. She looked very tired and I wondered what was going on. 

“I’m good, Sabi, and you?” 

“Real tired.” 

“How come?” 

“I dunno, I don’t think I feel so good.” 

“Maybe you should see a doctor, kiddo.” 

“Yeaah maybe when Mr Cole comes.” 

“Mmhmm. That’s a good idea. You eaten anything funny?” 

“Only the rat stew from tha orphanage, and I try not to eat when that is fer dinner.” 

“That would make anyone sick,” I shook my head. 

“Rat stew?” DC asked. 

“It’s pro teens,” Sabi said.

“Dancing Cloud eats many things but not eat rat,” DC said. 

“It likes teenagers?” I winked at Sabi. 

“I guess Aunt Trin, thats just what tha matron says. ‘It’s pro teens eat it.’” 

“How are things at the village, Dancing Cloud?” I looked at DC. 

“Dancing Cloud eats things white man will not, but rat not good. Things good.” 

“That’s good to hear.” 

Swift Fox went across the street and took some fruits and vegetables from the cart, then brought them back over to us. He was eating an apple and asked, “You need rest Sabrina?”

“Naw I wills be okays. Miss Rye might come back from her trip soons and I wanna be here,” Sabi shook her head. 

“I’m going to walk around and see what else is going on. Get some sleep, Sabi.” 

“Yes Aunt Trin.” 

I walked around town and then a couple of hour later I walked back to the Crystal Palace to see Cole and Swift Fox standing there out of the rain. I ran under the cover to join them and said, “Hey Cole and Swift Fox.”

Cole leaned over and whispered to me. “It seems Millard has gotten full of himself and thinks Swift is a savage and should go back to his tribe.. where Millard thinks he belongs.” I raised an eyebrow at Swift Fox and Cole said, “Was very adult and didn’t crown him.” 

“I did try,” Swift huffed. 

“Did you find Sabi? She was looking a little tired,” I looked at Cole. 

“Was the same kind of thing they tried with Sabi... No not yet..she is most likely off visiting.” 

“Been quiet in town otherwise?” 

“Oh she told us some people are looking to steal her and take her back to saint louis..something from before we came to town.” He looked through his pocket for a note with the name on it. 

I sighed, stepping in closer as Cole backed up so I could get more cover from the shelter. “Thanks Cole. Thought I felt an ominous cloud but it was just a raincloud.” I looked at him, feeling a sense of de ja vu from the situation with Payton. 

“One down one to go I am guessing..” he nodded. 

“What was the name, Cole? Of the person wanting Sabi?” 

Cole looked at the note and said, “Susan Davis and her male friend.” 

I cringed and remembered Sabi saying that Susan was the woman who took care of her a long time ago and that she was an outlaw again. “Who was the male friend?” 

“She didn’t say or I don’t remember,” Cole shrugged. 

“Alright. Well same as with the other situation we just had... Will simply keep an eye out.” 

“Counting coup is a good thing Swift,” Cole looked down at the boy. 

Payton walked over then, her hair plastered down wet and her hair wet. “Hi... It’s... raining,” she frowned. 

“Hi sweetie,” Cole grinned at her. 

“Sure is,” I nodded. 

“Noticed...” Cole chuckled. 

“This here’s a good place to hide under,” I smiled. 

Swift Fox looked over at Cole and nodded. “I’m brave,” he perked up a bit then when he saw Payton. 

“Daddy!!” Payton grinned from ear to ear and went to hug Cole. “Oh. Hi Miss Trin,” she giggled. 

“Have to admit the wet kitten look is not bad on you..” Cole smiled. 

“Thanks... I think,” Payton blushed and Cole leaned down to hug her. 

“Pretty sure my father never called me a wet kitten,” I winked at Payton as she giggled and meowed in Cole’s arms. 

“We used to get more warning about the rain in Colorado Trin,” Cole looked at me. 

“Indeed we did,” I nodded. “Here it just starts to pour.” 

“Yup it does.” 

“Rained the most in Iowa and Oregon though, if I remember correctly.”

“Good thing I don’t shrink...when wet...” Cole laughed. 

“Well... I may melt,” Payton said as she hopped down to stand on the deck. 

“Yes, we used to get snow...” Cole remembered. 

“Don’t miss that at all. There’s a reason I moved down south from Canada. Well okay, maybe that’s 

not the reason... but it’s the reason I stayed down south, for sure.” 

“I miss the snow some or at least the cool air,” Cole laughed. 

“I can go back and enjoy Christmas there and feel all festive... that’s enough winter for me. Christmases in Canada are... magical.” 

Payton and Swift smiled at each other and Cole said, “Payton do me a favor and keep Millard away from Swift please..he needs to keep his opinions to his self.” 

“Do not stand in between me and my honor. I make him eat dirt next time,” Swift looked up at Cole and I chuckled. 

“But remember a warrior always gives warning before counting coup..” Cole nodded to him. “And never to draw blood only to protect your honor..” 

“Yes daddy,” Payton nodded. 

“This just stick; coup not work if he has no weapon,” Swift tilted his head. 

“Is a bigger opponent therefore it should count as coup..” 

“I escape no injury to body I wear feather, butI I get hurt, but be red. He only two winters older, he bigger but not mean greater honor.”

“But by pushing you, a smaller person makes him dishonorable and a bully.” 

“Good advice, Cole,” I nodded to him. 

“I not care, he speak little of my people, speak poor of Ate and Ina. he will eat his teeth if I say.” 

“Just be careful he will hurt you if he can..” Cole said and looked at the boy. “Swift tell Payton what Millard said to you..please.” 

“Well... what he say?” Payton asked as Swift was quiet. 

“Millard call me savage, say I should return to my people,” Swift grumbled. 

“O si yo,” Sabi leaned against the wall and waved gently. 

“O si yo little dove,” Cole greeted her. “How are you today sweetie?” 

“It’s hot,” Sabi shook her head. 

“Was just raining here and didn’t cool it off at all,” Cole nodded. 

“You mean at story time?” Payton tilted her head as Zeth walked over. 

Sabi nodded and swallowed a bit, leaning more heavily against the wall. I looked at her and asked, “Did you get some rest, Sabi?” 

“I mean?” Swift pointed to himself. 

Kory walked past then and he smirked at me and laughed, walking past us into the saloon. I rolled my eyes hearing him and focused on Sabi. 

“Yes Aunt Trin, I had baded deams though,” Sabi told me. 

“Sabi... you want to talk to me about it?” I looked at her. 

“No... you’re not mean,” Payton giggled to Swift. “What I said was, you’re talking about at story time?” 

“Miss Irelunds head grewed up as big as tha room, and she runned around cackling eating up tha orfins,” Sabi told me her dream. 

“That’s a bad dream for sure...” I blinked. 

“She had Mildew stuck in her teef...” 

I leaned down to Sabi’s level and said, “Sabi come over here hon.. How come you’re having bad dreams, hon?”

Sabi stumbled closer to me while Payton and Swift continued to talk and Sabi leaned against the post, her head shaking. “I dunno Auntie Trin, I just didn’t feels good so whens I slept I had bad dreams I guess... and Miss Irelund is scary.” 

I reached over to pull her close and hugged her whispering, “It’s okay, sweetie, it’s okay....”  I looked up to Cole with worry as Sabi hugged me tightly and I rubbed her back. 

“Is she running a fever Trin?” Cole asked. 

“Yeah Cole... her hand is really hot,” I felt her hand and then reached up to feel her forehead. “She’s burning up, Cole.” 

“If she faints good be a sign of something bad,” Zeth stated the obvious. 

Cole reached down and picked Sabi up, then carried her to the clinic. Zeth offered to get Bree but I suggested he stay at the clinic with them in case they needed more help. I went to the bank and got Bree to come to the clinic, then headed to my office hoping Sabi would be okay.