Tombstone.
This afternoon I walked into the clinic, seeing both Eye and Zan sitting in the lobby. “You two alright??”
“I am, she could use a doc,” Eye said.
“Do you know how to send a telegram? Or do you want me to do it?” I asked.
“Can you do it please?” he asked.
I looked at him with concern seeing his shirt off and the bandage around his chest. “You sure you’re alright, Eye?”
“I’ll live… just need some whiskey,” Eye grinned and headed out the door.
“Ah, there’s Bree,” I sighed with relief as she came over. “Bree, we need you over here. Her ears musta been burning,” I said as Eye stopped walking.
“Why don’t you tell me what happened over a bottle of whiskey?” I asked Eye.
“Sure,” Eye nodded.
“Do you know where Zan got hit, Eye?” I asked him.
“I don’t, she came in and collapsed while I was gettin stitched on,” Eye said.
“Oh.. Well she’s in good hands now. We’ll leave her to you, Bree,” I told her. I reached up to put a hand on Eye’s shoulder and asked, “How bout that whiskey, deputy?”
“Sounds good ta me.”
“You got a favorite saloon? I can never decide which one to go to.”
“One with whiskey,” he chuckled.
We walked over to the Oriental and I pointed to the table. “Sit. I’ll get the whiskey.” I went to get two glasses of whiskey and brought them back over to him. “Talk to me.”
“Well, Itano came ta the bank ta make a deposit…”
“I’ll bet he did,” I muttered.
“I watched jes in case...didn’t know he was wanted...no one tells me nothin. I ain’t seen warrants, wanted lists ner nothin. So he asked if he was wanted and I tells him no, not that I know of. It was all friendly like really then the Marshal came up and fumbled things per usual.”
“Ansar?” I frowned. “Ansar? Or Kris?”
“Kris....I call him Pissedoff instead of Kristoff, sorry. Yea it was Kris.”
“So how did Kris fumble things up?” I smirked.
“Stead of jes arrestin Itano he tells me go check warrants....I said I ain’t know of any....he begins to tell me about it and meanwhile Itano runs off. Of course. He couldn’t just pull guns and say yer wanted come with us?” Eye shook his head.
“Did Kris show you a warrant on Steve?”
“That’d been too simple I reckon.”
“So you never did see an actual warrant on Steve?” I smirked.
“He did...while Itano mad a mad rush ta Ghenna. I did er I wouldn’t a done nuthin.”
“Ah. Where you can’t get him.”
“Yup, never smart to chase em there....I knew that.”
“Of course. But he managed to shoot ya anyway?”
“So simple....draw yer guns and say yer wanted. Well ya, Kris wanted ta go after him so we did...even though I knew it would end badly.”
I shook my head then seeing Steven outside as Eye said, “Ain’t smart ta go after anyone in Ghenna.”
“Watch yourself,” I put a hand on Eye’s knee.
“So much easier to jest pull em and say yer wanted.”
I looked over and saw Downy come in as well and I shook my head. “Well well. Downy. We meet again.”
“Kris never gets shit right,” Eye muttered.
“Why Deputy… What happened to ya?” she grinned.
“I fell down,” he grinned at Steven.
“Howdy Miss Trin,” Downy said to and looked at Eye. “Funny way ta fall.”
“Long time no see, hon,” I said.
“Yes ma’am been a while.”
“Last time I saw you I was workin’ for your husband.”
“Yep,” she nodded.
“Yup well I do things the funny way,” Eye said and Steven prodded towards his wounds. “Back off,” Eye said to him. “I ain’t gonna try ta arrest ya jes now but I will shoot ya if ya piss me off.”
“Maybe we should buy the Deputy a nice drink to express our… sympathy,” Downy suggested and Eye rolled his eyes towards her as Steven laughed.
“Not with those wounds you ain’t gonna, Eye,” I told him.
“I ain’t gonna sit here and get my wounds probed by this knuckle head,” Eye said.
“Well Downy, I think the deputy is buying or dying,” Steven said.
“Aw he’s just teasin’ ya Deputy.... he likes ta ‘tickle’ people,” Downy teased.
“I ain’t buyin ya shit,” Eye shook his head.
“I wouldn’t buy shit either,” Downy said.
“I don’t want shit, I want a drink,” Steven said.
“It’s a stinkin’ deal.”
“Then buy one,” Eye suggested.
“This your woman Eye?” Steven asked him.
“Nope,” Eye chuckled.
“Shame.”
“I told you my man’s name. Your memory must be short,” I looked at him.
“Sure is, Trin,” he nodded.
“Well at least you remember my name.”
“I don’t forget a pretty face and nice ass, and voice.”
“Or one you stalked,” I pointed out.
“You ain’t been anywhere near my stalk?” he said and I rolled my eyes. “So Eye, you regretting being law now?”
“Nope, I’m regretting working with Kris though,” Eye replied.
“How’d Kris not get shot?” I asked, still unsure.
“He sure handled that as badly as he does everything,” Eye said.
“I did warn ya,” Steven shrugged.
“Or did he?” I asked.
“He did,” Eye nodded.
“By whom?”
“I know....Kris messed up as always. Who ya reckon?”
“Ya shot em both down, Steve?” I asked.
“YuuHoo!... I’ll make ya famous,” Seven said.
“Let’s see two men rush a hideout....who ya think wins? Kris ortta use his head fer sumthin more than holdin a hat,” Eye explained.
“Didn’t know if anyone else was involved, Eye.”
“Well Steve weren’t alone but I reckon he did the shootin. Bastard is too good with his guns fer my luck.”
“I didn’t see Kris. Must have run off,” Steven shrugged.
“So if you didn’t shoot Kris then who did?” I blinked.
“Not a clue.”
“You sure he was shot, Eye?”
“Nope, I heard he was, didn’t see it,” Eye said and I rolled my eyes.
“And did ya see who shot you, Eye?” Steven asked as I scratched out that part of my notebook.
“Nope, but I got a damn good idea on it,” Eye grinned. “Could be the guy that yelled ‘I see ya I’m shootin’.”
“Proof is everything ain’t it Deputy?” Downy asked.
“Must have been a good shot,” Steven commented.
“Not ta me....a man shoots me I take it kinna personal,” Eye said.
“But ya don’t know who shot ya.”
“I imagine so... but what if it weren’t a man…” Downy said.
“I didn’t see ya go down,” Steven says.
“I’m sure I do,” Eye nodded and I poured myself another glass of whiskey and drank it back, looking at him.
“How would ya know who or what shot ya if’n ya never saw?” Downy asked. “For all you know a horse did it.”
“Yup,” Steven nodded.
“Or could it be the man who didn’t want to get arrested in the first place?” I sugggested.
“Don’t stand here askin me dumb shit. I ain’t in the mood,” Eye stood then. “Be seein ya Trin, I ain’t puttin up with this stupid shit.”
“Course, Eye. I’m right behind you,” I said and started to walk out of the saloon with him, ignoring the comments of those in the saloon.
I smiled then seeing Thomas near the sheriff’s office and went over to get a kiss before sitting down beside him. “How are you feeling, love? Side still hurtin’?”
“Hey sweetheart,” Thomas smiled as he looked up. “I’m doin’ okay. Yeah a little bit, but I will live. How’re you feeling?”
“Oh, I’m fine. Annoyed with the Wild Bunch but what else is new. There’s something I want to talk to you about, dear.”
“Oh?! Whats that hon?”
I finished my notes on the current incident and looked over at him. “I mentioned it the other night when you were shot but you were probably in too much pain so... I wanted to go in more detail about it now with you.” I looked nervously then and said, “You know my cousin, Irish?”
“Yes, I met him once or twice I believe.”
“You know how when he was a child... he may have stolen a horse or two as a way of proving his manhood to the tribe…?”
“Ummm, yes I remember him saying something along those lines to me.”
“Okay. Well… There’s a man in town named Bear Makaid. Nasty piece of work. He came to me lookin’ for Irish. He said he had some old business to settle with him. I told Irish about it and he was furious. Shocked. And I’d hesitate to say scared.”
“Hmmmm, Bear Makaid you said? I haven’t seen or heard of him yet. What does he look like?”
“He’s got blonde hair, a cowboy hat, and a long brown duster coat that he wears. Irish warned me that he would get right up in people’s faces to get what he wants. And… He warned he might use children as a way to get the parents out in the open where he wants them. Oh and he threatened me.”
“You got to be kidding! You know what that means don’t you?!”
“When I asked him about the business he wanted with Irish... whom by the way he doesn’t know I’m related to... He told me that it was none of my business and I’d stay out of it if I knew what was good for me.”
“When was the last time you saw this Bear Makaid?”
“Yesterday. That’s when he threatened me. Right here in front of the sheriff’s office.”
“Where did you see him?” he asked and I smiled, as I had been anticipating his question. “Oh my, he’s a cheeky bastard isn’t he?”
“I told him if I see him doing anything criminal, he’s going down.”
“Just be careful dear. I don’t need you getting shot. If you see him in the middle of a criminal act, come find me if you can. Better to team up than to try and take him alone.”
“Of course,” I nodded. “Also.. Zan was in the clinic when I went in there earlier today... I saw her and Eye in there. Steve had shot Eye over in Ghenna when he and Kris tried to arrest him for an open warrant. But Zan was in the clinic too and I ain’t sure why. Care to come with me to investigate it?”
“Give me a few minutes dear to finish up this paperwork then I will gladly go with you. I am trying to get these warrants right for the judge so they don’t throw the cases out of court.”
“Sure dear,” I smiled and stood, kissing him softly. “I’ll holler if I need ya!”
“Ok dear. Please be careful, and I will be along shortly,” he kissed me back and gave me a hug.
“Trin!!” Zan shouted over at me as I walked towards her and Stephen talking. “You seen my horse??”
“Um… No?” I looked at her.
“You stalking me Trin?” Steven asked.
“It’s about… um… well it’s tall and kinda yellowish. And I think its wearin my hat,” Zan said. “‘Cause I don’t have that either.”
“For your information I saw my friend in the clinic and wanted to come make sure she was alright,” I looked at Steven.
“You want to fill in some blanks here?” I looked at Zan.
“Who me? You have crossword puzzles?” she asked and I titled my head to the side as she shoved her hair out of her eyes and grumbled, “I really need my hat.”
“Zan.. talk to me. What happened?” I asked.
“I think the horse kicked her in the head,” Steven said.
Zan tapped her chin and said, “Wellll I was riding toward Ghenna and its was lightning and stuff…”
“And her hair is stuck to the horses foot,” Steven said.
I glared at him and then focused on Zan. “No good story ever starts with ‘I was riding towards Ghenna’.”
“Anyway I heard some loud booms and coulda sworn I saw someone fall over but then something hit me in the head,” Zan explains.
“You didn’t see what it was?” I blinked.
“No, whatever it was knocked me down the hill and blood was all over the place… I tell ya I haven’t ever seen so much blood and my horse I guess ran off. Have you seen my horse Trin? An my hat cause I am going to get in trouble over that hat..” she nodded and winced.
I blinked and looked over at her, checking her over. “Are you hurt anywhere, Zan? Was the blood from you or someone else.”
“Probably from the hole in my head if I were guessing. Needs stitches or something.. but there ain’t a doc... right now,” Zan said. “So I wrapped it up real good but..”
“Bree was there, weren’t she?” I asked.
“I gotta go find my horse,” Zan said.
“Think I saw it. Follow me,” Steve said.
“At least your memory’s still good... That’s a good sign…” I said.
“Bree was there?” Zan felt her head. “Maybe she was… Wait.. you seen my horse?” Zan looked at Steven. “Was it wearing a hat?”
“I sure have. I think I seen your hat,” Steven said and I looked at him, trying to determine if he was lying or not.
“Maybe I wont get int trouble if I find my hat,” Zan looked hopeful at him.
“Where’d you see her horse, Steve?” I asked him.
“Well I am gonna see if it’s still where I saw it last,” Steven said.
“He wont eat it will he?” Zan asked.
I held her back and said, “Don’t you dare go after him. We’re not going to fall into that trap and follow him to Ghenna.”
“I just seen it!” Steven shouted.
“Zan, go to the clinic,” Bree said.
“Oh I ain’t going after him. He shot me once already. Not yet am I going after him anyweay…” Zan said. “Okay, Bree.”
“He shot you?! When??” I looked at her with worry.
“Yeah. I had healed him,” Bree said.
“Earlier… Come on. I will fill you in,” Zan said and I followed them to the clinic.
“I had some of that good stuff whiskey.. waiting for a doc,” Zan said.
“Let’s fill in the blanks here.. Start from the beginning,” I suggested.
“Ok well… Steven he was at the bank.. and Kris said there was a dead or alive bounty on him.”
“And then Kris and Eye ran after him towards Ghenna,” I nodded. “Eye got shot.”
“Soo Steven ran.. Kris and Eye went after him..yea,” Zan said.
“Alright, we’re on the same page. Keep going,” I smiled.
“I got Bree.. and she was helpin Eye.. so I climbed up the hill.”
“Mmhmm.”
“And yelled to ask about Kris…” she said as Bree started to unwrap Zan’s bandages and washed Zan’s head with soap.
“Steven yelled if he saw me he would shoot.. but.. I never drew a gun.. then booom.. and as I fell I heard the other one yell leave or die a painful death.. but. Sure as I am Steven shot me I barely glimpsed him.”
“Another one?” I blinked.
“I mean why would the other, yea.. I didn’t know him he ran up after we got there,” Zan said.
“Figures all this has to happen in Ghenna where the deputies can’t do anythin’.”
“And went to where Steven was I guess.”
“I don’t even know if Marshals or Rangers can do anythin’ in Ghenna, can they?”
“I have no idea.. I was just trying to get Kris out to get him help.”
“So Kris WAS shot?”
“Is it gonna scar?” Zan looked at Bree and nodded to me. “Oh yeah…”
“By whom? Surely Steven wasn’t doing all the shooting.”
“I don’t know.. he ran over on top of the building. And no there was too much gunfire for it to be just one at Kris,” Zan said.
“Be beautiful as ever,” Bree promised Zan as she started to stitch up her head.
“Right. But Kris got healed up?” I asked.
“Um.. well I am not sure.. I made my way here and passed out.”
“Bree was gone by the time I picked myself off the bottom of the hill.”
“So we’re not sure if Kris was shot..”
“Well let me think… I yelled at Steven asking if Kirs had the medical help he needed.. he yelled no back. So that kinda tells me Kris did get shot.”
“So he did get shot. Just the question remains is whom… Was Steven alone out there..? Eye knows it was Steve who shot him.”
“Steven wasn’t alone when Kris got shot but I don’t think the other guy had got there when Eye got shot.”
“So the other guy may or may not have shot Kris. You have no idea who the other guy is?”
“No.. not even sure I would know if I saw him to be honest.”
“You’re sure it was a guy and not a woman?”
“Well I think it was the same person I passed by before.. and…” Zan started.
“Drink much liquid Zann and don’t run around and get dizzy,” Bree advised.
“Lots of liquid.. alright. Thanks doc.” Zan nodded and looked at me. “Um well I cant say.. guy or gal. Most of those lady outlaws look like men anyway.”
“Trin, I went to Ghenna to find Kris. In this cell was some woman and blood all over floor. Kris was gone by time I arrived,” Bree told me.
“Was she wearing tan clothes?” Zan asked.
“Since I ain’t seen anyone else around and Downy said ‘we should make up for our sympathy’…” I nodded. “I’m gonna guess the woman was Downy.”
“Yes I believe was her name,” Bree nodded.
“Seems like the person had on.. light brown or tan clothes,” Zan said as Bree gave her a cup of camomile tea.
“Well now I’ve got all the details straight anyway,” I nodded. “Shame we can’t do a damn thing about it.”
Zan took the tea and sipped it slowly. “Thanks.. I needed that… So law has no jurisdiction in Ghenna?”
“As far as I know,” I nodded. “Once outlaws cross into Ghenna, they’re untouchable.”
“Steven did not rob my bank though,” Bree said. “He deposited some money.”
“Hmm wonder why they went there to start with… Well Bree…” Zan looked at her.
“Cause Kris was an idiot,” I sighed. “And thought that he could follow Steve out there.”
“When he left the Russ he pulled a stick of dynamite out of his boot,” Zan said.
“To hide of course,” Bree said.
“I wasn’t going to take any chances,” Zan said.
“Oh wow I was not here then,” Bree shook her head.
“Well at least he didn’t hurt you.”
“Wish we could otherwise we could charge three for shooting two lawmen. Three, actually. Since you’re a ranger. Two I guess. Downy would get the other one. If we had jurisdiction.”
“Damn, now I have to go find my horse and hat,” Zan nodded.
“When I got to you you was passed out,” Bree said.
“Don’t go into Ghenna alone, Zan,” I warned her.
“I won’t… she will come when whistled for if she can.”
“Rangers just try go and help no matter what. I know this,” Bree said.
“Glad you did, Bree.”
“Me too…” Zan hiccupped. “Eye wasn’t going to last much longer.”
“I fix him he was shot bad in chest,” Bree said.
“Zan!! I just remembered!” I said then. “Rangers and Marshals DO have jurisdiction in Ghenna!”
“Found this…” Steven said as he walked into the clinic then. Zan turned green and looked down at the ground.
“I made mistake when said I hello Steven. I was so shaken with the trouble my fingers was flying to save his life,” Bree said.
“Zan, honey, could you write a statement about all this?” I asked her, ignoring Steven as I gave her a blank statement.
“Um. you…” Zan pointed at the floor. “Well sure,” she said and took the statement from me.
“Call me if you need,” Bree said and walked outside.
“I think I need to lie back down now.. I’m going to need a new horse…” Zan looked around for a pencil and started writing notes and told Steven to keep what he’d found.
I blinked, seeing the dead horse Steven brought into the clinic and stifled myself from the smell. “Holy crap… How the hell did that happen, Steve?”
“Found it with some wolves,” he shrugged.
“Uh huh,” I nodded.
“Yea… new horse… new hat…” Zan made a face and scribbled some more.
Eye walked into the clinic then and I asked him, “Eye, can you write up a witness statement for gettin’ shot? Marshals and rangers have jurisdiction out there.”
“Hmmm I see. Well, the Marshal got my ass shot by his ignorance,” Eye said.
“I think they can arrest Steve and Downy for shooting law.”
“Cain’t say who shot, didn’t see fer sure I only know Steve said he would and then I got shot. Don’t know if Downy even drew a gun.”
“Zan said she saw someone else out there. And in the saloon, Downy mentioned getting you a drink to show their sympathy.”
“I saw two people but only know for sure it was Steve there....I mean I am sure she was but I cain’t say I seed her. As a law man I cain’t just make assumptions.”
“So no one knows who actually shot whom?”
“Nope they was a fair distance and a top a buildin’.”
“Zan?” I looked at her.
“Hell I should arrest Kris fer obstruction of justice… he could have done that whole thing much better,” Eye said.
“I was behind the building.. until I got shot…” Zan said.
“So you didn’t see who shot you either, Zan?” I asked.
“No ma’am cant honestly say I did.”
“Ya know, after all that I checked the boards and still don’t see a warrant fer Steven either,” Eye pointed out. “They is jes four warrants and none got his name. Ain’t sure I kin trust the Marshal so much.”
“Gonna look good on my wall,” Steven said then, taking the horse head he’d brought in. “See ya folks.”
“I need another damn whiskey. This is hurtin’ my head,” I sighed.
“Yea, I ain’t sure what’s a goin on; they is four warrants on the board. I jes checked it agin with yer man. Have him check it.”
“Hi Zan, what happened to your head?” Amara asked as she walked into the clinic then.
“I’m with you on the whiskey…” Zan said and continued to scribble more before handing the statement to me.
“I will write up what happened and what I know,” Eye promised. “I ain’t sure the man didn’t jes defend himself given the circumstances.”
“Well…” Zan looked over at Amara. “Seems I got shot pretty close to what might be a brain but at this point I am not sure.”
“I’m gonna go git a drank,” Eye said.
“I need to go find my hat.. drink first.. then hat,” Zan said then.
“Where did you loose your hat?” Amara asked.
“Hmmm in Ghenna I think.. but I gotta find it,” Zan said. “That’s government property.”
“I would not go there alone Zan,” Amara warned.
“Oh I won’t.. No worries there,” Zan promised.
Eye took his whiskey to the office and I waved to him as I continued to write my report, trying to put all the facts together.
“Well Detective.. if ya need me I will be looking for a new horse.. and whistling for my hat.. I mean.. looking for a new horse and looking for a hat,” Zan told me then.
“Alright Zan. Get better,” I smiled up at her.
“Yep. Thanks Trin…”
“Trin, are you still here?” Amara shouted then and I walked outside to where they were now standing.
“Apparently, Amara. What’s up?” I asked her.
“Can you tell Steve about the complaint that Paisley showed you and Wedge? Or do you have a copy?”
“Nope. I don’t have the report from them and I wouldn’t tell anything to an outlaw. You best talk to Wedge,” I told her.
“I ain’t no outlaw,” Steven muttered.
“I just asked if he was bothering Paisley,” Amara said.
“Believe so. Don’t believe it’s an official charge yet,” I nodded.
“Guess I gotta burn Annie’s now,” Steven claimed.
“Again, you’d have to confirm with Wedge. I have some things I need to take care of,” I said and walked into the sheriff’s office to get some writing done.
When there was a knock on the door, I walked out looking between Zan, Dee and Frank.
“By golly you scared the…” Frank coughed when he saw me. “Let’s just say I was scared.”
“Sorry Frank.. What’s up?”
“I was looking for law. Seen any about? If not that’s ok. I was just going to leave them a note.”
“Eye’s in the office but he’s busy workin’ on a statement.”
“Well I need to go get supper started, find that stupid hat and something else.. I forgot.. hmm… You all take care…” Zan said and headed down the street.
“Oh that’s fine. I am in no mortal danger. It can wait,” Frank said.
“Glad to hear it,” I nodded.
Eye walked out and handed me his statement and I smiled, “Thanks Eye, going to hand this to the courthouse and head home.” I headed to the courthouse, dropped the report into the mailbox, and went back home.
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