October 19, 1900

Tombstone. 

This morning I was walking out of Kate’s and saw Jimmy coming over. “Howdy Miss Trin,” he greeted me. 

“Hey there Jimmy. Come on over and join me,” I smiled. 

“How is it going today?” 

“Not too bad. Getting more work done on my journals. Not much else to do today.” 

“Oh? Mr Thomas said you been writing your life or something right?” 

“Yes. It’s helping me heal from some hurt in my past to get it out on paper.” 

“I guess I will never understand why there has to be pain and hurt in this world. I saw Miss Lisa and Mr Spin get shot down last night, all over a gun,” Jimmy nodded. 

I sighed and nodded to him. “It’s because people want things they can’t have. Or shouldn’t have. Or they go about getting them the wrong way. If people thought more about others, there might not be so much hurt.” 

“Ranger Spin shot Lisa for some reason, and because she Mr Mac’s friend, he shot Ranger Spin, it just keeps going and going, why do there have to be guns Miss Trin? Wouldn’t the world be better off without them?” 

“It’s a hard question,” I sighed. 

Danny walked over then and we greeted him as I looked over at Jimmy. “Let me tell you a story, Jimmy. I used to think I shouldn’t wear a gun. That I should just approach everything with kindness and good words. I didn’t wear a weapon for a very long time. But it didn’t stop people from being mean to me. And I learned that I needed to carry something to defend myself If guns are used properly... to protect ourselves against things that aim to harm us… The problem is that people abuse the right to carry guns and it causes violence. Know what I mean?” 

Bree, Dancing Cloud and Free walked over then and we greeted them as Jimmy scratched his head a bit. “Yeah, I understand, but see your different, you use guns to protect others, cause you are the law Miss Trin. But why do others like Mr Mac, and Miss Lisa and Fat Bill have to carry guns, they aren’t protecting anybody.”

“Because kiddo... They’re abusing their right o have one and using it to get ahead. To get what they want. Not to protect others,” I told Jimmy. 

Crazy walked over then and they talked about his ride and the halloween party coming up. I sighed and said, “Enough scary things in this world... Don’t understand why we need to celebrate the things that make us afraid.” 

They continued to talk about the dance and I stayed quiet until Jimmy asked, “Miss Trin, can I ask you something?” 

“Sure,” I looked at him. 

“Is Mr. Thomas okay?” 

“Um… Well, you know he wants to adopt you, right kiddo?” 

“Yeah, I know that, and I so want him to...but he was acting kinda weird this morning.” 

“Weird how?” 

“He kept asking me about my ma and pa.” 

“He wants to know about your family,” I nodded. 

“But I only have my pa. I don’t have any other family Miss Trin. You remember, I told you he in prison.” 

“Right... and you got that letter from your ma saying that you were part Apache... but she died when you were younger.” 

Jimmy nodded and took out the letter from his pocket. “Yeah, I always keep it with me. Its all I have of her.” 

“Jimmy, how old were you when she died?” 

“I was four or five I think.”

“Did she ever tell you about her family? Before she met your pa?” 

“She got sick, and pa wouldnt let me see her. No, though some other indians we traded horses with would come see her and talk to her sometimes.” 

“So she didn’t give you a picture of her with her family... or maybe tell you about her parents... or maybe siblings.” 

“I have a strange dream sometimes, that I don’t understand. No, she had no pictures that I know of. She didn’t talk much, except when she would read to me at night before bed or sing to me. Pa kept her busy with housework and running errands for him. My ma worked so hard, I think it why she got sick and died.” 

“What is the dream that you keep having?” 

“I just remember parts of it..its like a village, my ma and many indians are gathered around a fire, this one man who is like the chief or something talks, but I cant understand him, and I am there, as a little boy, and in my moms arms,” he said and I smiled, nodding with understanding. “I wish you could have seen my ma Miss Trin, she was so beautiful. She had long dark hair, but she was not as tall as you, and I remember she had a beautiful voice like you do, in many ways you remind me of my ma Miss Trin.” 

“She sounds like she was a wonderful lady,” I smiled. 

“remember other things, some I try to forget, that my ma and pa never knew about. I have never told anyone about before.” 

“You can talk to me about anything..” 

“Miss Trin, I love my pa, don’t get me wrong, but he wasn't always nice to me or my ma. Also he often had visitors who scared me, cause they wore guns, and smelled bad, and often drank too much and cussed a lot. My ma would hide me in the house but sometimes I would see. I saw him hit my ma once, causing her a black eye. I was sposed to be asleep in bed, but I heard my ma scream and cry, and went to see what was wrong. Pa had found her in his stuff, and he didn’t like snooping.” 

“I’m so sorry you had to see that, Jimmy…” I looked down. 

“My pa always seemed to be hiding something. He had no pictures, no family, and if I asked, he would tell me to stop asking him questions and go play.” 

“A boy deserves to know his family’s past,” I sighed. 

“I don’t guess I will ever know Miss Trin...looks down and sighs deeply...I found something in my little box I brought from our farm Miss Trin...I found it in pa’s stuff once, it looks like a badge of some kind. Reaches into his pocket and pulls out a Texas Rangers badge and holds it out to Trin. Do you know what that is?” 

“It’s.... a Ranger badge, Jimmy. Your pa was a Texas Ranger? See, it says those words here on it,” I looked at the old badge that had been cleaned of any prints , since it was old. 

“No, I don’t think he was ever a Ranger Miss Trin...Texas? My pa never been to Texas, he said it was a bad place..he said he was from here in Arizona Miss Trin...How would he get a Texas Ranger badge?” 

“I…” I blinked. “Mr. Thomas... he said yesterday... that he had spent a lot of time looking for his brother and sometimes he would go out with the Texas Rangers to track his brother down before he’d moved from Texas.” 

“Do you think my pa was a bad man Miss Trin? Is that why he mistreat my ma? Mr Thomas has a brother?” 

“I guess Mr. Thomas’ brother wasn’t a very nice man. Maybe Thomas would know something about this badge though, or recognize it himself… Jimmy your father is in prison for life... He must have done something seriously wrong. And I don’t think he was a good man for beating on your ma.” 

“What’s Mr Thomas’s brothers name?” 

“He said his brother’s name was James Robert Wallace... Their ma’s name was Lousise Allison Wheeler Wallace. Jimmy do you know what your last name is?” 

“Well they say my pa kill a man for cheatin at cards...but I think my pa might have been drinking, he loved his whiskey,” Jimmy said. “My last name is Wheeler.” 

“Jimmy… That can’t be a coincidence..” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Thomas and James’ mother was Louise Allison Wheeler Walace… That means... Wheeler was her name before she was married.. How many Wheeler’s could there be in Texas?” 

“But…..my name is Jimmy.....wait! my ma used to call me James when I was little, she said she loved my name.” 

Paisley and Angel walked over then and we greeted them, but my focus was on Jimmy. “Jimmy... Where is Mr. Thomas right now?” 

“You alvrihgt?” Angel looked at me. 

“He is at home I think Miss Trin, he was working on a letter I think,” Jimmy said. 

I looked at Jimmy and asked him, “Jimmy... Do you understand what this means?” 

“What?” he asked, shaking his head. 

“Mr. Thomas is your uncle!” 

“He’s my what?” 

“Which means the brother he was looking for all this time, the one that wasn’t a very nice man, is your pa. Think about it Jimmy... Your last name is Wheeler... Thomas and James’ mother’s maiden name was Wheeler…” 

“But Miss Trin, my pa said he had no family, that he was only child.” 

“Mr. Thomas had been looking around for your pa with the Texas Rangers and this... badge.. shows up in your Pa’s box…” I shook my head, looking between the others. 

“You mean, my pa and Mr Thomas are brothers?” Jimmy scratched his head. 

“I think so…” I nodded. 

“But why would my name be Wheeler and not Wallace...I mean do you think my pa hid his real name?” Jimmy asked. 

“He could have.... I’ll have to talk to Mr. Thomas about his relationship with his brother more,” I told him. 

Ansar walked over then and Angel called him a term of endearment, but I was still too stunned to be talkative with the others yet. 

“So you found another letter Jimmy?” Paisley asked. 

“No, but Miss Trin was just telling me that Mr Thomas and my pa may be brothers,” Jimmy said. 

“Trin is a great detective,” Paisley said, and I smiled but I was deeply troubled by the revelation. 

“Jimmy if…” I started. 

“What Miss Trin?” 

“If Mr. Thomas wants to adopt you... And if your pa hears about that… But why…” I looked down, trying to sort my thoughts. 

“But how could he do anything really?” Paisley asked. 

“But wouldn’t my pa be happy his brother was here to take care of me?” Jimmy asked. 

“He could send someone after Thomas,” I suggested. 

“Does he have those kinds of connections?” Paisley asked. 

I sighed and leaned my head back against the chair. “Considering he’s spending a life in prison for doing God knows what? Yeah, I’m guessing so.” 

“Perhaps finding the reason why the anger might be in order.” 

“That is why I want to talk to Thomas.” 

“It may be something unexpected.” 

“Oh vouldn’t let thignz like that vorry you miz Trin. Sides you got good law about zhe territory,” Angel looked at me. 

“Yep,” Ansar nodded in agreement.

“Angel it ain’t that I’m worried. I just... like to have all my facts in order so I can be prepared.” 

“That is what makes you a great detective Trin,” Paisley said. “You are thorough.” 

“I’d rather know something is coming before it does.” 

“And I know that feeling very well. Knowledge is power.” 

“As a detective? Knowledge is everything,” I told her. 

“Indeed it is,” Paisley said and smiled at Jimmy. 

“Well like the a fight with me an Angel,” Ansar told us. “I said she let the kid lose and into the house but she says I did it. When it fact it chewed though the rope when we tied it up and let it self in as we found out latter. You can’t have all the facts.” 

“That is why they say hindsight is 20/20 Ansar,” Paisley said. 

“Sure,” I chuckled a bit, “but when those facts are to be discovered... I will do my best to discover them. I won’t leave any stone unturned, you know that better than anyone, Ansar.” 

“But you can get as much information as you can ahead,” Paisley said. 

“Still think you lead it inside…” Angel pursed her lips. 

“Did not! You just didn’t tie it up right!” Ansar argued. 

“I’m sorry, we are talking a baby goat here, yes?” I clarified, looking between them.

“Maybe.. it got untied and followed Ansar in..” Paisley suggested. 

“I did too tie it up vright,” Angel argued. 

“Knots do come untied…” Paisley pointed out. 

“No way, that kid woulda been happy chewing on a tater if I tied it up,” Ansar shook his head. 

“Vell I know for a fact I tied it up correctly outside cauze vas screaming for food and I fed it,” Angel argued .

“Does that mean he would be happy chewing on you Mr Ansar?” Jimmy chuckled and I smiled, knowing that at least Jimmy didn’t understand the danger of what we’d just realized. 

“Maybe the goat chewed the knot,” Paisley giggled. “Wanted to find Ansar and nibble on him.” 

“Screaming for food, see she tied it up improperly. She admits!” Ansar grinned. 

“It doze adore him,” Angel chuckled. 

“Oh the possibilities…” Paisley said. 

“Then that would make you Goat Man Ansar wouldn’t it?” Jimmy giggled. 

“Last time it followed me though the yard. I think it thinks I’m food,” Ansar smelled his own arm. “Yeah, I kinda smell like a baked tater.” 

“You kinda look like on too Mr Ansar…” Jimmy winked. 

“Thanks. See he know how to compliment!” Ansar grinned and Jimmy laughed more. “Had to get me a new hat.” 

Jimmy whispered to me and asked, “Miss Trin, if we was to plant him in the ground, would he grow taters?” I smiled a bit and Jimmy asked me, “You okay Miss Trin?” 

“I guess I’m just... processing all of this,” I admitted.

“It is a lot to think over. You should talk to Thomas,” Paisley suggested. 

“Yeah... I need to find him,” I nodded. 

Ansar and Angel continued to banter back and forth and I stayed quiet, not really paying attention to the conversation. 

“Miss Trin, should I go find Mr Thomas for you?” Jimmy asked after a while. 

“I think I’m going to find Mr. Thomas. Why don’t I go see if Natalie wants to come see you, since I know you’re in town?” I asked Jimmy. “Would you like that?” 

“Ok Miss Trin, I think he at home. He was writing something when I left,” Jimmy said. 

“I’ll look for him there,” I smiled. 

“Please do. I not see her in long time,” Jimmy jumped up and down. 

We said goodbye to the others and headed off to find Natalie and Thomas.