December 3, 1900

Bisbee. 

I walked through town after a day of paperwork and beamed when I saw Tom coming over. I ran to him and threw my arms around him as he laughed and almost got knocked over. “Hey my love! Woah, don’t knock me down!” 

“Can I help it if I’m excited to see my man?” I grinned, kissing him hard. 

“I guess not. What ya been doin sweetheart?” He asked, but I kissed him harder, letting the moment last a bit longer. He wrapped me tightly in his arms and kissed me long and hard. “I missed you baby.” 

I reached for his hand and said, “Want to go to the office and go over some cases and our to do lists?” 

Tom took my hand and smiled, nodding. “Sure dear. Hope you don’t have too big of a honey-do list for me.” 

I winked and led the way, walking towards the office. Tom signed into the ledger on the desk and then we went to the cafe where we sat down at a table. “Good place to see the whole town from here as well. Or most of it anyway. Alright so I’ll start with the good news…” I said, ordering a coffee/whiskey as Tom ordered a black coffee. “That fire at the sheriff’s office? I’ve been informed through wire that we don’t have to worry about it. Suzy was outraged that there was no report from Spin on it so it’s officially out of my hands.”

“Okay… well that’s good news for once.” 

“Mmhmm. I’ve got more. They caught the person who set the fire on the saloon in Benson. That’s off our list too.” 

“Oh really? Who was it, do you know the person?” 

“No idea. I only inform, I don’t get to be completely informed,” I winked and he laughed, holding my hand to kiss it softly. “That only leaves me two cases.” I smiled and traced my finger around his lips. “The fire at Dutch Annie’s, and the one at the Russ Hotel. The Dutch Annie’s fire, I believe will be solved with Paisley’s statement, but I haven’t been able to read over it yet. I don’t remember if you said you witnessed the fire or not...? Or just heard about it afterwards?” 

“That’s good, and if we get a statement from that well behaved guy who seems to be after Irish, we might solve the Russ fire too. No, I didn’t witness it. Just caught the aftermath of it.” 

“Okay. Then all we need is Paisley’s statement... Do you have that?” 

“I will have to look through whats at the office, but I believe I do. It may be at the office in Tombstone though.” 

“Did you want to walk over there? I haven’t seen Bear in a couple of days but hopefully we’ll get his statement in the next day or so. I’ll send him a wire to remind him.” I drank my coffee and and leaned back in my chair, smiling at him. 

“We can in a bit if you feel like walking over with me. I really do need to check on things before turning in for the night. I haven’t heard any bad things happening last couple of days.” 

“It’s been pretty peaceful from what I understand,” I nodded. “Natalie and Jimmy seem to love the house... Nat told me Cole came by for cookies and milk last night.” 

“Yeah, and Jimmy told me Cole is willing to teach him to be a vet. Already give him an assignment to learn.” 

“She told me about that too... and she said they talked about when it was time to put a horse down. She seemed pretty shaken by the whole thing since Velvet’s been acting weird but I assured her that Cole was probably right, Velvet’s just coming into season.” 

“Yeah, Jimmy said something about that. Cole wants him to find out how long Velvet will be in season if this were her first week.” 

“ I’m just a bit worried about her... she seems to really not do well with this whole topic of death. I think she’s getting old enough to really understand what it means, especially since we’ve been looking more into her real parents. She said her aunt Winter came to town but I haven’t met her. Not sure if she’s still here or if she’s moved on already.” 

“Hmmm. Is she a real aunt, or just someone from her past? Maybe I should keep an eye out for this lady. It disturbs me how people will just take it upon themselves to talk to children they don’t know. Also, I been thinking, I want Jimmy working closer to home, where is isn’t alone so much.” 

“That makes sense,” I nodded. “Natalie has really become good friends with a girl named Frances. I feel a lot better that they are hanging out together a lot now. She needs a good girlfriend. And I agree about Jimmy... I wish there were stables in Bisbee. Maybe Cole can show him the ones in Black Diamond.

“Yeah, that would be great. So there aren’t any stables here in Bisbee?” 

“Not that I know of…” 

“Well I can always use his help cleaning the sheriffs office or something like that if it comes down to it. I just don’t want him or Nat getting hurt or caught up in something because they are kids. Mmhmm I agree but we have to give them a bit of freedom too, dear, or they’ll start to rebel and make more problems.” 

“Yeah I know. But we both know how adventurous they can be. Jimmy once told me he went down into the Pearce mines on his own to hunt for gold. He said he didn’t tell anyone where he was going either.” 

“Yeah... Natalie rode out to the village and got lost, remember? AND she went down to the mines and fell off the shaft and broke her wrist.” 

“Dear, we’re raising a couple of adventure seekers. Bad thing is, if they aren’t careful, they could get hurt. We should at least ask them to let one of use know where they are most of the time if possible. In case one comes up missing,” Tom shook his head. 

“And believe me... I’ve told Natalie she needs to tell me or write a note to tell me where she’s going. Ever since those two incidents.” 

“I love them both like they’re our own Trin. I just don’t want nothing to happen to them. Jimmy has a bad habit of going off on his own too. But I think Nat will be a good big sister and watch out for him. Don’t you think?” 

“I would hope so... Now that they are together... even moreso. Oh and uh…  Nat found a dog,” I chuckled. 

“Oh! I found out when we got home last night, them two were still awake. They played possum because they didn’t want to get in trouble. It seems Cole kept them up later than normal,” he smiled. “A dog?” 

“Mmhmm. A husky dog,” I giggled. “She named her Shira.” 

“Is it at least a clean dog?” 

“Yes dear... I’ll take complete care of her,” I chuckled and patted his knee. “With Nat’s help of course. Who knows, she might even become a good guard dog for you. Would you rather have had a cat?” I teased. 

“I don’t mind a dog,” he chuckled. “As long as it ain’t mangy or smells like an old outhouse in the middle of a Texas summer.’ 

“Come on dear... Shall we go see if Bear is home?” I chuckled. “I’ll let you lead the conversation.” 

“Yeah, I think we best make a house call.” 

I took his hand and we walked over to Bear’s house where I let Tom knock on the door. “Go ahead and knock dear. I ain’t touchin that man’s house again,” I said. I tried to control my emotions, knowing that this was the man who set fire to my office, and I couldn’t do anything about it without Ansar. .

“Good evenin Mr. Bear,” Thomas started. 

“Evening, Sir. Just the man I was coming to see..” Bear said as he opened the door. 

“Oh really? Well I came to see you about that witness statement we talked about the other day. It seems your help would be much appreciated in the case,” Thom said. 

Bear took out a folded paper from his pocket and handed it to Tom. “I think you find what you need there… it is all I saw…”

“I do thank you kindly sir. I would like to ask you one other simple question if I may?” Tom took the statement and read it. I knew I would be jumping for joy if it was anyone else giving us the statement. 

“Of course…” 

Tom read the note and smiled big, giving it to me. “Well actually, you covered my question in your statement here. You are helpin us to solve two wide open cases with this here statement. I do thank you kindly Mr. Bear.” 

“In one statement?” I blinked. 

“Anything to help Deputy,” Bear said. 

Tom handed me the statement and I read it over, blinking at what I read. I reached for Tom’s arm and gripped tight as I asked, “The cases are... connected? Would you be willing to testify in court, Bear?” 

“It would appear so dear. Who would have guessed all we needed was to come ask Mr. Bear,” Tom smiled. 

“I can only tell you what I saw ma’am. Of course I am a law abiding person,” Bear said and I laughed at that. 

“Ok Mr. Bear, sorry to disturb you at such a late hour. But I had to get this statement so we can close these cases. They keep pilling up before too long,” Tom said. 

“It is no problem Deputy..” Bear shrugged. “Fire is a serious thing when building are right up against each other.” 

“I am working out of the sheriffs office both in Tombstone and Bisbee now, so if you ever think of something else, or need us, don’t hesitate in letting me know,” Tom said. 

“Glad I could help..” 

“Get a new duster did you?” I asked, looking Bear over.

“No was in my saddle bags…” Bear raised an eyebrow. 

“Ah, just remember seeing you with another one on.” 

“Oh my white one… yes,” he said and I nodded. “I had to burn it.. along with some other things..got skunked while I was out.” 

“Of course you did,” I smirked. 

“What is the truth,” Bear said. 

“Well dear, shall we head into Tombstone and have a look around?” Tom looked at me. 

I opened my notebook and marked the cases closed, since we now had a statement, and smiled. “Dear, guess what.”” 

“What dear?” 

“It’s time to celebrate! I closed all the cases I had open!! Except for the cold cases... and well... most of those involve people who have left town and we’re never gonna see again anyway. Though the dead tend to rise around here.” 

“Oh wow, awesome love. Now I will have to find other work for you to do,” Tom smiled and tipped his hat to Bear. “You have a good evenin sir.” 

I nodded to Bear and pulled Thomas away as we headed for town. 

Tombstone. 

We walked down Allen Street and I stopped in my tracks when I saw the man in front of Kate’s. Anthony James hadn’t changed at all and he was talking with Chris, Zan, Pet, and some natives. We talked with them for a while, and talked about Tom’s work and about Natalie writing for the Bee. 

Thomas went to the office to check on some things and I asked Anthony how his brothers were doing. 

“They’re fine. I think Dom is around, and i haven’t seen David in awhile. The last I heard of him was that he was down in Mexico.” 

“So ya decided to come back to the area huh?” I asked. 

“Yeah. I keep ending up back here for some reason,” Anthony nodded. 

“Yeah tends to happen to a lot of people. The dead like to rise around here.” 

“What do you mean the dead?” he asked with a weird look. 

“Well, me and Chris will pray ’em back into the kingdom of glory,” Pet said then and I chuckled as Chris grinned. 

“Well when you think someone’s gone for good they show up again,” I muttered. 

“Gone don’t make ’em dead... does it?” Pet asked. 

“It’s a figure of speech, Pet,” I chuckled. 

“Oooh I stand corrected.” 

“Oh, so is that your way to say that you miss me?” Anthony grinned and I chuckled. 

When Thomas came back from the office, I said goodbye to the others and headed home with him.