December 10, 1900

Tombstone. 

I walked towards the hotel tonight looking for Pet and heard Rikki shooting out about a quick-draw contest. Shaun shouted something about wanting to take someone’s money and I didn’t find Pet by the hotel so I went over to the sheriff’s office. 

“What’s with all the shouting tonight, Zeth?” I asked him as he leaned against the post in front of the office. 

“Just Rikki’s boredom. They’re down the road a little bit, so guess they can’t hear us.” 

“I’ve had a headache of a case on my hands. I need a distraction while I wait for the people I need to show up.” 

“I’m not sure if Garth or Mac were ever caught.” 

“This one has nothing to do with them. I’m still investigating the robbery and holdup of the mayor at Dutch Annie’s last week.” 

“I do have a question about the saloon in Benson.” 

“Oh yeah?” 

“Like who did it.” 

Gunshots and more shots went off then and Shaun shouted that they were taking over the street. I looked over at Zeth and sighed. “I have no desire to get shot tonight, do you? There really needs to be more poker games in this town or somethin’.” 

“Just my luck being the only lawman not busy.” 

“I just heard Angel yelling down the street. You’re not the only one.” 

“How about Lot versus Shaun, winner gets arrested?” Zeth shouted out. 

“Nothin I can do legally till she asks me for help,” I said and shrugged. 

“How bout you shut yer mouth before you get shot?” Lot shouted. 

“How about either of us watches you bleed out?” Shaun joined in the shouting. 

“How about Lot, Me and Shaun against all the law?” Rikki shouted. 

“That too!” Lot shouted. 

“I’ll be inside. A shot detective is a useless one, as I was always told,” I said. 

“Need to get more lawman in town,” Zeth muttered. 

“Or less outlaws.” 

“And doctor.” 

“Yeah.” 

“And law can even have the pinkertons with them!” Rikki shouted and I rolled my eyes hearing that. 

They continued to shout and I headed down the street, not having any desire to be apart of the shooting. I wandered around Dutch Annie’s, not seeing anyone I needed. Since no one had thought to deputize me to help, I went to Bisbee to avoid getting in the middle of the gunfight. 

Bisbee. 

I walked over to the bank, feeling annoyed and ignored, and talked to Chase about how everything was safe over there. I told him the Wild Bunch were busy in Tombstone and he took a quick break, heading out of the bank. 

Benson. 

I walked over to Benson then and saw Aspen and Jeff. We talked about my horse and Jeff said they were looking at Jeff’s pet shop. He said he was told that he could put any pets he finds in the shop. I told them it was a good thing they weren’t in Tombstone and we talked about our pets. We talked about who was taller than whom a nd I told them about our family moving to Bisbee. We talked about the story time at the orphanage and how good it had been. 

“But Miss Trin…” Jeff looked at me. 

“Yeah Jeff?” 

“I not think my daddy went to heaven.” 

“Why do you say that?” 

“He kilt a bunch of folks. He even was wanted by law all his life.” 

“But maybe before he died he met someone who told him about Jesus.” 

“He was bad even more then them outlaws in T ombstone… Uhm.. Well I not think so ma’am.” 

“You never know, kiddo.” 

“But my momma she might be in heaven.” 

“They have people that go to jail and tell people there ’bout Jesus. So they can apologize for the bad stuff they did and they can see that Jesus came to save ’em.” 

“Maybe your pa is payin a penance and workin his way into Heaven,” Aspen suggested. “God is very forgiving, right Miss Trin?” 

“Jeff you remember the story about Jesus dyin’ on the cross?” I looked at him. “Jesus was on a cross beside two bad guys, right? And one of ’em looked over at Jesus and asked, "What do I gotta do to be saved?” And Jesus saw his faith. Cause the bad guy realized that this guy Jesus was the one who could save him.” 

“I do,” jeff said. 

“And right there... Jesus forgave him and said today you’ll be with me in heaven. Even after all the real bad things he did…” 

“But miss Trin no one was around when law was chasing us and kilt my daddy,” Jeff said. “And my momma.” 

“Well kiddo God still has a way of reachin’ people. You never know.” 

“Well if he is in heaven then someday I see him right,” Jeff said. 

“That’s right. Like my pa,” I said. 

“And mine too. My pa was good,” Aspen said. “My ma too.” 

“And Natalie’s first ma and pa. Even Jimmy’s pa..” I couldn’t help but sigh a bit at that one. 

“I’m sure not gonna be like my daddy when I grow up,” Jeff insisted. “I’m gonna be a good guy and boughty hunt bad guys. And I’m gonna kilt them.” 

“That’s good, Jeff. And see… He taught you what not to do. So his life still had a purpose, right?”  

“Yes ma’am,” Jeff said. 

“What happened to your parents, Aspen?” I asked her. 

“My pa was a prosfeffer or somethin he taught in a big school he started in Kansas,” Aspen said. 

“Oh wow.” 

“My ma and pa was bushwhacked ma’am. My ma is from France we went there to see her my grandfather a while back. Is or was from France. I can’t remember the word what my pa was.” 

“Professor?” I guessed. 

“Yes, that’s it. It’s a big word. He was comin out this way to try to start another big school.” 

“Sometimes people just say prof too,” I told her. 

“But Aspen, did you not have no other family?” Jeff asked. 

“My sister didn’t live she got the fever... she looked just like me and we was same ages her name was Willow.” 

“Oh I’m sorry to hear that,” I said. 

“My ma use to say she couldn’t tell us apart.” 

“She lives inside you then,” I said with a smile. 

“That’s what my mom always said,” Aspen said. “I do not remember every thing about her just what my ma and pa said.” 

“Yes,” Aspen said. 

“Woo… Two Aspen’s!” Jeff giggled. 

“She was only four when Jesus called her home,” Aspen said. 

Jeff asked Aspen if she wanted to see the shop in Black Diamond he saw and then Chris walked over. We continued to talk and laugh and talked about Rudolph and Santa. We talked about how the old church would soon be replaced with a new one and I asked if it was the Temperance woman. 

“Carrie Nation is her name. Mean ol woman…” Chris said. 

“That’s what Nat wrote about in the Bee. She ain’t very purty either,” Aspen said. “I guess when yer mean ya ain’t purty no more.” 

We continued to talk and enjoyed each other’s company as we talked about how well Chris and I knew each other. We talked about the Christmas play and about the Nativity scene in Black Diamond. We went out to Mr. Chris’ house and played piano and continued to talk. It was a fun night hanging out with good friends.