Bisbee.
I was sitting in front of the hotel when I met a woman named Flower who had just moved to Bisbee. I walked over to Bisbee then and started to play piano, singing songs as people came in and danced. Thomas came in and walked over to the bar to serve drinks. I sang Christmas carols and smiled as Irish came in to join the festivities.
Finishing with ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’, I stood from the piano and was instantly kissed by Thomas as he held me tight. “I love singing here. And it’s great to be doing so as a resident!” I winked at Spank and he smiled at me.
I smiled as I looked over at Irish dancing with a woman and asked, “Got yourself a lady, did you cousin?” I saw two men I didn’t know and said, “Don’t believe I’ve met either of you.” Looking over at Spank I asked, “So Spank, what was that I heard about chestnuts?”
He turned beat red and laughed, “No roasted chestnuts.”
“I’ve warned him!” Ruby exclaimed.
“I heard something about there going to be a roastin if someone walks into Dutch Annie’s again,” Thomas said.
“Of Spank’s chestnuts?” I chuckled and winked.
“The ladies have told me Spank was spotted hanging around outside Annie’s the other day!” Ruby told me. “So I just gave him a friendly little reminder.”
“They can’t keep a secret, can they?” Spank pouted.
I blinked and said, “See Thomas is lucky that way… If he’s in Annie’s I know he’s there for patrol. Right dear?” I asked him with a look.
“Maybe he lost something and was looking for it,” Thomas said and Ruby laughed hard.
“Yeah, yeah… On patrol,” Spank teased and I glared at him. “Was just checking them erm the place over. For my keys.”
“Hey now. As the lawman of Tombstone, it is my dedicated responsibility to make sure ALL citizens of Tombstone are safe. Including the ladies at Dutch Annie’s!” Thomas exclaimed.
“Gonna introduce me to your lady there, Irish?” I asked my cousin, who was being far too quiet.
“Cousin Trin, this is the best cook in Benson.. Miss Enola,” Irish introduced. “Enola this is my cousin Trin and her other half Thomas.”
“Well hello Enola. It’s a pleasure to meet you! This here is my wonderful man, Thomas,” I said with a smile and nudged him a bit so he fell off his stool.
“Howdy Miss Enola, a pleasure to meet you,” Thomas said and then grabbed the stool. “HEY!”
“Love you dear.” I smiled and reached for his hand.
“Good day to you both. Pleasure to finally meet the two wonderful people Irish is always speaking of.” Enola bowed her head and smiled.
Thomas pulled me close and kissed my lips softly. “I love you too baby. Happy Anniversary baby. The best 6 months of my life so far.”
“I full heartedly agree. I smiled.
“Yes, I sorta been talking about you two a lot,” Irish said with a grin.
“A lot huh? Hear that, dear? We’re famous.”
“Well I had to have something to talk about besides horses and produce.” Irish laughed.
“Ummm, I deny it all. Trin did it...I am innocent I swear,” Thomas said innocently.
“Probably true,” I said with a chuckle.
Ruby and Spank headed out then and we said goodbye to them. A man named Ted headed out as well and Thomas handed out more drinks as we continued to enjoy each other’s company.
“Root beer? That’s it?” I looked at him and his innocent drink.
“Yeah, I am on duty dear. Can’t drink and shoot at the same time,” Thomas said.
“I s’pose that’s true.”
“I wish the James bunch would try that,” Irish said.
“You and me both Irish. Then maybe they would shoot each other,” Thomas said with a laugh.
“We went dancing at Kate’s last night and almost got in a gunfight because they insulted Miss Enola…” Irish said.
“Well dear you give that incident report with six statements I gave you to some sort of judge person and get a warrant signed for murder then you can hang ’em.” I chuckled and sipped my whiskey, leaning my head on Thomas’ shoulder as I watched the couple dancing. “I feel like we should dance with them, dear.”
“Nice dress Trin…” Irish smiled.
“Thanks Irish, I thought it might be festive.”
“I would love to dance my dear,” Thomas said and took my hand, leading me to the dance floor.
“So Irish…” I said as the music continued and the four of us danced. “Thomas has been callin’ me his wife. Guess we’re as good as married.” I chuckled and winked at him.
“Yes we are my dear. I love you no matter what,” Thomas said with a smile.
“Well… Seems the kids think it is so as well. Must make it true…” Irish grinned.
“Mmhmm. Well it ain’t our fault there’s never a preacher or judge around and I love him as much as if I’m married to him.”
“True, have noticed the lack of preachers except on Sunday and have never seen the judge.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Who needs a preacher or judge. Hell, cannot even get the mayors attention these days?” Enola asked.
“True enough. Who needs ’em? We’re committed like we’re married. Just gotta wait on the ring now.” I chuckled and winked at Thomas.
“Oh but let it be about adopting a child and they are all over you about that,” Enola said.
“Only took you what a month to get the bakery painted.” Irish chuckled.
“Ring?!” Thomas looked around and smiled. “What?! Oh, I um… wasn’t paying attention.”
“Well dear we could consider this necklace your ring... I mean... I do have half your heart…” I giggled.
“Yeah, I am not going thru anyones rules anymore. I am just going to live the life I choose,” Enola said.
“Thomas my brother, you better pay attention.” Irish grinned.
“Now wait there, Sir Thomas, that’s cheating,” Enola told him. “A necklace is on a chain that can break. A ring is a solid band that cannot be broken.”
“We’ll call it a commitment ring. It’s much better. Marriage has a bad vibe to it.” I chuckled.
“Wait a minute now… how did we get on rings and necklaces and weddings and all this stuff. What happened to Christmas, and Ho Ho Ho, and Old Angsigne and all that?” Thomas chuckled.
“You’re the one who said I was the best Christmas present you ever had.” I laughed hard and kissed him deeply.
Irish handed Thomas a shovel as he laughed. “Keep digging Thomas.”
“We need to hang around you two more often.” I chuckled.
“Well its the truth. But how in the world did that get to ‘Where’s my ring at?’” Thomas smiled and kissed me more.
“Um… Cause I told Irish you were tellin’ people I was your wife?”
“Oh....welll ummmm…. I have been doing that haven’t I?”
“Mmhmm. Got me callin’ you my husband too. So we better have a commitment ring or somethin’ to prove it.”
Thomas looked around and pulled out his handcuffs from his belt, clicking one on his wrist and the other on mine. “There, will that work?” He smiled.
I glared at him and nudged him. “You take those things off, Mister. Oh wait…”
“Take them off...but yore my wife...till death do us part remember! Plus I don’t have a key…”
I reached into my pocket and took out my key, unlocking the cuffs. “HAH!”
“Thomas I think you best think pretty quick there.” Irish laughed.
“Never underestimate a Pinkerton,” I said with a wink.
“Hey!” Thomas exclaimed.
“What did I miss? Sorry, I was getting lost in the moment,” Enola said as she looked around.
“Thomas thought he could outwit me but I win!”
“Trust me Thomas, you will lose every time. Trin is sly.”
“Thomas did a minor funny is all baby,” Irish told her.
“Oh you don’t have to tell me...she beats me every time...but only because I let her..” He smiled.
“Just for that dear, I’m not helpin’ with Christmas dinner.”
“What?! You’re not cooking dinner for Christmas?!”
“Well we already agreed I’m not cooking. But I ain’t cleanin’ up neither!”
“I’m still trying to find out what what Enola is cooking,” Irish said.
“Not till I’ve got a ring on my finger that says I have to,” I said with a grin and winked at him.
“You lose Thomas.” Irish laughed and Enola and I joined in.
“Well if you ain’t cookin, and I ain’t cookin. Who is gonna cook Christmas dinner?” Thomas laughed and kissed me passionately.
“We know what happened at Thanksgiving. I already wasn’t gonna cook. Natalie assured I don’t have to worry about it. Speaking of dinner, I should go get dinner started. Takes a couple hours to prepare for four people.”
I waved to Irish and Enola and headed home as Thomas checked in at the office before returning to the house.
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