December 18, 1900

Bisbee. 

After a long day of paperwork, I opened the door and headed into the kitchen to make myself some coffee. I saw Thomas stomping around the kitchen, slamming the oven shut and grumbling under his breath. “What’s wrong, dear?” 

“Where have you been?” Thomas looked at me with anger on his face. 

“I was just... riding around town. Hardly a soul in sight. What’s wrong?” I blinked and asked him again. 

Thomas took a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to me. “That’s what’s wrong!” 

I took the card from him and read, “‘The hangman’s noose will tighten round your neck next. Watch your back Miss Trin.’” I stumbled back against the desk, looking at Thomas with fear. “Where did you find this?” 

“It was stuck in the icebox with a dagger. Who the hell has been in our house Trin? Who wants to hang you?” 

I blinked at him, my face going white. I tried to speak but I couldn’t get any words out. I was too much in shock at the fact that the person was in my house, near the kids. 

Thomas reached for my hand and held the stern look on his face. “If you have any idea who did this, you have to tell me. I wont stand for someone coming in this house threatening you or the kids.” 

I tried to think, my eyes showing my fear, as I backed up. “The... the hanging trial... it’s the only thing I can think of…” 

“Do you think its someone from the Wild Bunch?” 

“It’s the only thing I can thing of. Downy was there, she was a witness... Steve was the defendant... he was gonna be hanged either way though. Whether I won that trial or not. Kris already had a bounty on him he was gonna collect. The trial was just a formality.” 

“Just what I thought. Dear I want you to stay here and watch after the kids.” Thomas grabbed his gun belt and checked them for his pistols, making sure they were loaded. 

“Thomas... it’s me they want. I shouldn’t be with the kids alone.” 

“Well they ain’t going to get you. I don’t care if I have to gun down every single one of them this ain’t gonna happen.” 

“Honey... calm down... Let’s work through this logically…  I’m a Pinkerton remember? Let’s try and figure out who would have put this here.” 

Thomas looked at me with a confused expression. “What is logical about any of this? Some bastard come in our home, and left a death threat stuck to the icebox. What if Nat or Jimmy had found that? I hoped when we moved from Pearce, we might now have to deal with this crap anymore.” 

I sighed, knowing he was right. “I know, honey... It frustrates me too and scares me. I feel like I could... fall over at any minute.. but I’m trying not to let myself be controlled by that fear. I’ve lived that way for too long.” 

“Well I tell you right here and now. Next person I catch in our house uninvited, won’t have to wait for a trial. I will shoot first and ask questions later.” He was so firm about it that I tried to control my trembling. I knew the anger was taking over for both of us and Thomas lay his hand on my shoulder, hugging me to him. “I am sorry dear. I just.....that letter scares me cause it means whoever it was, knows you live here.” 

I nodded against him, feeling the fear take over logic that I’d tried to resort to first, and clung to him for dear life. Someone wanted me dead and I was going to figure out who it was. 

“Well I didn’t touch the dagger. I just ripped of the note. Maybe you could trace fingerprints off it or something.” 

I braced myself and went over to the cupboard, putting on some gloves. I looked the dagger over and said, “I’d need my equipment. I need... I need to ask around and see what Wild Bunch has been asking questions about me. There the ones who want to get revenge on me for that hanging, I’m sure of it.” 

“Why don’t we head over to Tombstone and have a little talk with some people?” 

“Alright. At least that’s productive. I just... I can’t believe they were... here... in my.. in our…” I looked around, feeling lost and invaded. 

“Sorry sonsaratkillers. I found out who did it, I will nail their hide to the jail cell door.” 

“Let’s just... let’s go.” I took his hand and he grabbed his hat, walking out with me as he made sure the door was locked. 

Tombstone. 

We looked around and asked where everyone was, since the street was mostly empty. I reached over for his hand, telling myself to relax. I could tell he was doing everything he could to keep the anger inside. We went to Annie’s where a crowd was dancing and enjoying themselves. They greeted us and Thomas looked around without a word. 

“No one here to help us dear... Maybe we just... dance and try to forget about it.” I looked at Thomas, not wanting to ruin the mood. 

Thomas shook his head and said, “I don’t think so dear. But I do have something to say to these people.” I cringed, imagining what he wanted to say and took a deep breath. 

“Is everything ok Thomas?” Reb asked. 

“Folks! Folks! I need your attention please!” Thomas said loudly and everyone turned to listen to him. “You all know Trin and I. You know we both serve the law. But this very night I found a letter threatening to hang Trin stuck to our icebox with a dagger.” 

“And? You think it was us?” Cas asked. 

“Oh no! that’s terrible!!” Reb exclaimed. 

“Hey you accusing us?” Muriel asked. “It was Trent.” 

“That is awful!!” Paisley said. 

“No....I don’t think it was any of you...but I want it to be known to everyone in this town...come hell or high water...the sorry son of a bastard who left this note, better haul ass back where he come from, or give his soul to God. Cause we I aim to nail his hide to my office door if I catch whoever did it!” Thomas went on. I felt my heart racing, knowing that Thomas was ferious. 

“I hope you catch the person Thomas!!” Reb said. 

“So sorry this is happening Thomas,” Bree agreed. 

“I hope you find him,” Trent said. 

“Well now we know.... it’s the ones that don’t leave no notes you need to worry about,” Cas said. 

“They better have a good undertaker is all I can say,” Thomas told them. 

“If anyone hears anything.... I suspect the Wild Bunch... Because I won that trial against Steve and he hanged…” I informed. 

“Of course. Will tell you if we hear,” Bree said. 

“Thank you, Bree,” I said to her. 

“I’d suggest you make sure they have a good lawyer.. you got a badge on… undertaker comes later,” Cas told Thomas. 

“I’m sorry we had to dampen the mood it’s just... This hit us both as a shock. To think of them in our house... Where Natalie and Jimmy sleep…” I said. 

I apologize for such rash words in front of you ladies. But when you threaten the woman I love, you call down the thunder of God is all I can say,” Thomas said. 

“I sure don’t blame you Thomas,” Bree said.

“Well take care and be safe both of you!!” Reb said as she continued to dance. 

“It’s just this was where everyone was tonight so we had to find out if anyone had heard or seen or…” I said and headed to the bar as Bree headed out of the saloon to go to bed. I reached for a bottle of whiskey and poured some in a glass, looking over at Thomas. “Want some, dear?” 

Thomas approached the stage and dropped a few dollars in each of the girls’ jars and said, “Merry Christmas.” I would have smiled if I weren’t so furious and scared. The ladies on stage blew kisses at him and he turned beat red as he came over to me. 

I leaned back against the counter and tried to relax by Thomas’ side as he poured me a cup of egg nog. “Here you go, love.” 

I took the egg nog and poured some whiskey into it, giving him a knowing look as I drank it. When I was done my drink I looked over at him and asked, “Can we... can we go home?” 

“If you want to dear. Unless you want to dance a bit.” 

“Only if you want to dance. It might take our mind off of things.” I took my gloves off and stuffed them in my pocket. 

“I think I would like a dance with my sweetheart. Its been a while.” 

“Dance Trin!! forget your troubles for just a moment!!” Reb encouraged us. 

“It has indeed.” I nodded and took his hand, leading him to the dance floor. I slid my arms around Thomas’ waist, leaning into him. For the first time that night I felt safe in his arms. Thomas held me close and I smiled at my ring on my hand and the one on his, and held him closer. We danced quietly as the chatter went on around us and I started to dance closer to Thomas, feeling the tension fade away. “We need to dance more often, dear…” 

Thomas whispered in my ear and said, “For sure dear… you dance better than anyone else I know.” 

I held Thomas close and blushed as we danced. “Well dear... years of practice from being on stages like that one before I joined the white collar life..” 

Thomas kissed me deeply and chuckled. “You must tell me more about that life sometime dear.” 

“Well let’s see... dancing, meeting people, using the conversations as information for the paper... on the record of course… Several dances with men to find out what was going on in town… Men will tel you anything when you’re in their arms,” I said as I winked at him. 

Thomas laughed and shook his head. “Well yeah, when dancing with a gorgeous lady such as you. I would tell you anything you wanted to know.” 

I giggled and leaned my head on his shoulder, speechless at how he could make me feel so relaxed in the midst of such tragedy back at home. I felt myself drunk with the music and the love, completely ignoring the letter, though I would remember it tomorrow. Thomas seemed to forget about it as well as he held me closer while we dance. I asked Cas to play a song for Thomas and he loved the dedication, seeming to be at a loss for words as well. 

“Thanks Cas, hon,” I said as I threw some change in his jar. 

“Anytime, Miss Trin.. and Thank You.” 

“Not every day I get to make him speechless,” I said and giggled. 

“You can forget about the halo dear.” Thomas kissed my lips and shook his head, laughing. 

“What halo is that?” I giggled. 

“The halo you claim you always have.” He laughed along with me. 

“Cas, I wear a halo all the time right?” I looked over. 

“Hah!” Thomas laughed. 

“If they are invisible, sure thing,” Cas put in. 

“He knows me well.” I chuckled. 

Thomas whispered something sexy to me and I grnined, asking, “Dear am I gonna have to get that saloon dress out again?” 

“You might have to.” He smiled and pulled me closer as we danced. 

After a while I reached down to hold his hand on mine and asked, “Well dear, shall we go home to the kids?” 

“Yeah we better dear… it’s getting late… they will worry if we don’t tuck them in.” 

We thanked everyone for a good night and they said goodbye to us as we headed home.