December 20, 1900

Venice. 

I walked into the saloon in Venice this afternoon to a room full of people dancing and having a good time. When Pet asked if I was okay I said, “Me? I’m alive.... for now. I received a rather grim note at our house in Bisbee… But I’m trying not to let the fear control me.” 

“Oooh Trin? About?” Pet asked. 

“Someone wants to hang me, Pet.” 

“Why Trin?” 

“WB was traced on the cabinet in blood... in red letters…. Said to watch my back and the hangman’s noose would be tight around my neck.” 

“How do you get that as a death threat? Oooh…” 

“Dear Lord. Not during are Holiday festivities Ms. Trin,” Barbie exclaimed. 

“Yep… Merry Christmas to me, huh? I’m guessing it’s in response to that hanging trial against Steven I won but..” 

“We’ll take care of ya Miss Trin,” Aspen promised. 

“But... I did get some good news this week…” I grinned and held up my hand to show everyone the ring Thomas gave me. 

“Well, it’s about time he got off his butt,” Chris said as congratulations filled the room. 

“He should be on his way soon, I hope,” I said with a wide smile. 

“Congratulations Trin, finally Thomas take the big step,” Angeles said. 

“We been together for five months now. We ain’t into weddings and such, but this shows our commitment to one another.” 

“I’m just happy for ya Trin,” Pet smiled. 

Evey seemed confused and focused on the note I’d received and I told her, “I’ll be okay, hon. I’m a big tough Pinkerton, remember?” 

We talked about how Pet and Bass’ wedding was coming up and had a good time dancing and enjoying each other’s company. We joked about nicknames for each other and it was just nice to let the stress of the world fade for a while, enjoying the Christmas music and festivities. 

Thomas joined us after a while and Angeles congratulated him, as did others. “Congratulations for what? What did I do now?” He asked, looking around in confusion. 

“I showed them our ring, dear.” I grinned and pulled him close to dance with me. “"Hi love. How are you?” 

“Hi my sweet love. I am good. I figured you might be here when I heard all the music,” Thomas told me and held me close. I felt safe and happy in my man’s arms yet again. 

We talked about Holiday plans and I told Thomas that this was the best Christmas ever and we talked about our New Year’s plans. Bass and Pet bantered back and forth about how they had to go to a bake sale but we teased them about going off alone. Chris and Zan went to check on Leo and Angeles started singing, but then said that I was better at it than her and I laughed. 

Near the end of the dance, it was just me and Angeles and our men dancing. Angeles told us she got a Christmas card from Natalie and how it was a beautiful picture. 

“We finally got all four of us together in a room other than at mealtime,” I commented. 

“I missed a Natalie this morning,” Angeles said. 

“She has been sick with some sort of bug... I told her to stay home today. She wasn’t too happy with me.” 

“Yeah I think Jimmy has it too...they both felt poorly,” Thomas said. 

“Danged this time of year… At least they’re not worrying about that note we found..” 

“That really sadly and for this time,” Angeles said. 

“Don’t think they need to know about that.” 

“Oh thank heavens for that,” Thomas nodded. 

“I must be quiet,” Angeles promised. 

“Yeah, I’m worried. I mean... they just came in our house and put it there. What if the kids had been home?” I looked at them. “What if the kids found it? The dagger with that note on that cabinet with the blood… There’s no way to find out who did it. All we can do is wait until they do more.” 

“Better keep that at the office Trin,” Angeles advised. 

“That’s where it is now.” I nodded to her. “Locked away in evidence. Just wish I could have prints to compare it to but... getting those from the wild bunch is impossible.” 

“True fingers prints.” 

“Don’t even think I have any of their fingerprints on file. Gonna have to start drinking with the Wild Bunch,” I said with a sigh. 

“I believed they leave,” Angeles said. 

“The Wild Bunch?” 

“Yes. I was outside town all the week someone told me that last night.” 

“Just watch your back dear… don't get caught alone with them whatever you do,” Thomas advised. 

“I believe Wild Bunch are still hangin’ around. Lot wouldn’t leave that easily. Are you sure they didn’t mean the James brothers?” 

“I just repeat what I hear. Was outside all the week.” 

“They wouldn’t leave a threat and just leave.” I said and looked at Thomas. 

“No, I don’t think so baby. Plus if the Wild Bunch had left town, you can be assured we would know about it,” Thomas said. 

“I don think are the wild bunchs honestly, they advice in your face no by note that for sure,” Angeles said. 

“That’s a good point too... they wouldn’t be subtle enough by leaving a note. Great, now we’re back at square one.” I muttered. 

“They are direct with you.” 

“Maybe that’s why they put it in our kitchen. They put ‘wb’... Steven’s the one I got hanged... I just can’t think of any other explanation other than revenge.” 

Angeles said that she was going to finish up playing music for the day and then said, “I can ask around in mavericks too about someone have desire to revenge... and listen around.” 

“Yeah, that’s my plan. All I can do.” 

I took Thomas’ hand and walked back home with him. 

*** 

Bisbee. 

Tonight I continued to clean up the house and looked over at the Christmas tree, frustrated. The presents had been taken while we’d been out and I couldn’t believe it. They had left a Santa hat on the kitchen table. I kicked at the couch, knowing I hadn’t had time to clean all of it up and told the kids that it was just the busyness of the season, so there were no presents yet. 

I went into the kitchen to look at the top hat again and sighed, not recognizing it. It sort of looked like Adrian’s and I sent him a telegram, hoping he would get it soon. The telegram read: 

“I think we have your hat in our kitchen. It was left behind when some jerks decided to bust into our house in Bisbee and left a death threat on my kitchen cabinet. Looks like the hat you used to wear. Please reply asap and we’ll get it back to you if it is for sure yours. Detective Trin Paige.” 

The door opened and I jumped at the sound. Whirling around, I exhaled when I saw Tom. “You scared me dear... I was just looking over this danged hat again. I think it may have belonged to Adrian so I just sent him a telegram about it. I’ve been cleaning up the living room and trying to figure out when to go get gifts for the kids again.” 

“I don’t know dear. Have you told them what happened?” Tom frowned and shook his head. 

“The kids? I told them that I’ve been doing some cleaning up and that there’s no presents because we just haven’t had time to get them but we will.” 

“Why us Trin? What did we do to deserve this happening to us and the kids? I mean they’re kids! They didn’t do anything.” 

“I don’t know... Why now? So close to Christmas? I just.... I know it happened after that trial... the one I won where Steve got hanged. But he was gonna get hanged either way. I had very little to do with the outcome.” 

“I didn’t find out anything in town. Nobody knows nothing. It’s like talking to that snow out there.” 

“Maybe we should take another trip out there... I want to tell Cole about this... maybe Chris and Zan.. People we trust. They need to have their ears open in case anything comes up.” 

“Yeah, you’re right. I just want this to be the best Christmas for the kids. They deserve it so much, and you do too. I just cant understand why someone would do such a mean thing.” 

“I agree with you... I hate it just as much as you do. I just... I wanna find out who did this. They probably wore gloves ’cause I don’t see any damned fingerprints anywhere.” I glared around angrily. “All I saw was the finger tracing of the WB. And even if I lifted prints from that... I’d have nothing to compare it to.” 

“We could print the whole damn Wild Bunch.” 

“I’d love to... Been trying to do that for almost two years. They’re too smart.” 

“Damn it! I have jurisdiction on this one. I be damned if they are going to get away with it.” 

“I know you do dear... That’s why we’re going to figure it out.” I took his hand and said, “Let’s just... go to bed. I can’t deal with this right now.” 

We walked upstairs and I stopped to look over at our sleeping children, feeling the tears start to fall. Thomas walked over to them and tucked them both in, kissing their cheeks. “I love you both you little angels,” he said to them softly and walked back over to me with tears in his eyes. He was at a loss for words and I pulled him into the bedroom, sitting on the bed as I stared down at the floor. 

“Anyone else’s cases... anyone else’s I can deal with…” I looked down at the floor. 

Thomas unbuckled his gun belt and let it drop to the floor as he sat down beside me. “It’s just not fair to them Trin. They both been through so much. And then you… and now here we are fighting to keep it all together… I could kill someone right now.” 

I felt myself trembling and shaking against him. “I just... I don’t even know what to do anymore. I feel so lost. Like I can’t think. Normally I could just go find witnesses, get statements, and the case would be done. Or I’d match bullets. Or I’d even match fingerprints if I had someone to match to. But now... I’ve got nothin’ except for the fact it was the Wild Bunch. And Ang’s point about it being too subtle for them made me really wonder.” 

“Yeah I know. But we both know the Wild Bunch have new members. Maybe we should ummm, talk to Lot. He likes kids. Maybe if he knew one of his gang was threatening a home where kids lived, he might step in.” 

“I hadn’t even thought about that... maybe he would help but I doubt it. He and I have never gotten along.” 

“All we could do is ask dear. I mean he and I don’t get along too well either. But he knows Jimmy and Natalie. Surely he could see it from their point of view,” Thomas said as he kicked off his boots. 

“You’re right. We’ve got nothing to lose.” 

We climbed into bed and Thomas pulled me close. “We will get this straightened out baby, I promise.” 

“We’d better... I just feel like I’m not even enjoying Christmas. I’m just trying to get through it to survive, and I hate that feeling.” 

“I know baby. But we got to think about the kids. If we let it get us down, then it will ruin it for the kiddos. I couldn’t stand to see them hurt over this.” 

“I know, you’re right. They’ve both been through hell this year... Jimmy’s father getting shot down and killed after coming here to find him.. Natalie finding out the truth about her mother dying while on duty as a dove and her father getting killed by a Pinkerton…” 

Thomas placed a hand on my heart and said, “Trin, I love you  and those kids more than anything in this world. I would do anything to protect you and see that no one hurts either of you.You are my family now, and you always will be.” 

I nodded and kissed his lips softly, longing to just rest in his safety. I set my gun on the nightstand and wrapped my arms around him tightly. 

Thomas lay back with me and pulled the covers over us as the air was turning cold. He snuggled me close and kissed me. “We will make it baby. You and I are strong willed, and willing to do what it takes to get the job done.” 

I nodded and let the tears fall as I lay against his shoulder. “I love you baby... I’m so glad I don’t have to do this alone anymore…” 

“I am here for you dear. I am always here for you, no matter what.” 

We both fell asleep with tears in our eyes, holding each other close.