February 6, 1901

Tombstone. 

I walked into Annie’s this morning and greeted Paisley, Spin and Reb who were there. Paisley commented that it had been a long time since she’d seen me. 

“Been a rough week. Figure this is where everyone hangs out though so I might as well come see if I missed anything while I was away.” 

“Can I get you two something to drink?” Paisley asked. 

“I went bad, Paisley. I went to Iowa and became a outlaw with Garth, Sniper and Mac sometimes there,” Spin said. 

“I’d love a coffee and whiskey, Paisley. Thanks,” I said and then blinked at Spin. “You didn’t…” 

“Yep.” 

“No more ranger?” 

“Nope,” he said and I sighed. 

“Back and forth to Iowa is a big trip,” Paisley said. 

“I always knew you were a bad boy.” Reb giggled and winked at Spin. 

Paisley poured me a cup of coffee and whiskey and I thanked her for it. Paisley started dancing beside Reb on stage again and Spin asked me, “Well you catch any bad guys lately Trin?” 

“Unfortunately, no. They keep terrorizing my family. Lot shot Thomas last night.” 

“Oh dear…” Paisley said. 

“Oh I hope he is ok?” Reb asked. 

“Shaun and Downy called us names and kept tormenting us,” I said. “Thomas said Lot had called me and the kids names before shooting him when Thomas had had enough.” 

“Downey likes to call me Parsley,” Paisley said. 

“They need to leave the kids out of it. They didn’t do anything. Hell, I didn’t do anything.” 

“Oh yes, that’s just mean,” Reb said. 

“All I did was get Steve hanged. And he was gonna get hanged anyway trial or no trial. I haven’t gotten any of them arrested recently so I don’t know why this is all building al of a sudden.” 

“At least persley spices up food.. I dunno about Down.. all it does is keep a body warm in the cold. It is not cold here…” Paisley winked. 

“Walked into town last night and... showered with insults from every side. Nice welcome home after being in Canada for two weeks. Where my daughter fell off a horse and lost her memory," she sighs and shuts up, rambling.” 

“Oh that’s too bad Trin,” Reb said. 

“Some people have funny memories on events is all Trin.. They twist and turn them to suit their needs,” Paisley said. 

“Though Thomas said that she’s remembering things from books…” I nodded to her. “That’s probably what’s happening.” 

“That’s encouraging,” Reb said. 

“I am sure it is,” Paisley said. 

“I just hope her memory comes back. It’s awful... watching her.” 

“Give it time. I am sure something will trigger it.” 

“Last night she said she talked with Millard ’cause she was all confused… Aspen had said that she’d tried to kiss Mill though she liked Jeff. So Natalie talked to Mill about it and got him real embarassed. Thomas was there... I feel for her. She’s twelve, it’s that age…” 

“Yep.” 

“Gonna have to have the talk with her soon.” I cringed. 

“Should before you ‘need’ to.” 

“If she’s goin’ around talkin’ to boys about kissin’... maybe I do need to soon.” 

“Yep.” 

“I had to find it all out for my self its good to have someone to talk to,” Reb said. 

“Sure enough.” I nodded to Reb and chuckled. “Just never given that talk before.” 

“I’m sure you know how to kiss boys Reb.” Spin laughed and I chuckled. 

“Well, I got the chat early,” Paisley said. “Momma saw to it.” 

“How early, Pais?” I asked. 

“I was 10 when momma passed. I was maybe 8.” 

“Wow. I’m sorry hon,” I said. 

“And more.. but I had to figure everything out myself!” Reb giggled. 

“No.. you see momma disliked some of father’s friends so she wanted me to be aware. They had boys. She figured those boys would get ’ideas’ she called it.” 

“Spin, how’d you learn about the birds and the bees?” I asked him. 

“Oh little girl name sue taught me my pee pee could be used for other things besides peeing,” Spin said and I chuckled. 

“Little girl huh? She show you how?” I asked. 

“I was 12, she was 14.>” 

“I sincerely hope there are no fourteen year old boys in Tombstone wanting to teach Natalie. How old are Millard and Jeff? Don’t think there’s many other boys is there?” 

“Jeffery is 8,” Paisley said. Millard we believe is 13.” 

“Ah. He’s the one I gotta watch out for then.” I winked at her. 

“It’s good you are being alert,” Reb said. 

“I might be too alert... since the accident.” 

“Can never be too careful,” Paisley said. 

I said goodbye to them then and Reb told me to tell Thomas to get better quickly, and I headed home.