January 1, 1901

Tombstone. 

I walked into town this afternoon and saw Downy in front of the clinic. I asked what was going on and Jy told me that people got shot. 

“During the daylight? That’s a new one. Better go in there and find out who did it. Unless ya need me to telegram for a doc.” 

“Trin, is that you out there?” Steve called out from inside the clinic. 

“Looks like I’m being summoned.” I said and walked into the clinic, looking arond. “Steve, Kris, Stormy and Lot... With Downy sitting outside. Don’t take much to figure out what happened here,” I commented. 

“How about we deputize Trin to take Lot in?” Steve asked. 

“Trin, can ya cuff Lot please?” Kris asked me. “Search him as well.” 

“Who all needs to be arrested? Just Lot?” I asked. 

“Yes,” Kris said. 

“Lot and Downy,” Stormy added. 

“I’ll consider myself deputized then. Downy?” I looked over at the doorway. 

“There is a warrant for her, but don’t worry about that for now. Just get four-eyes over there,” Steve said. 

I walked over at Lot and said, “Hey there... Good to see you. One of you wouldn’t have a set of cuffs I could borrow?” I asked, looking around. 

“But Trin, go easy when you arrest Downy she shot Lot for us.” Stormy laughed. 

“Give her your cuffs Steve,” Kris said. 

I blinked at Stormy’s comment and looked around, “Excuse me?!” 

“Here Miss Trin I got some,” Downy tapped on the window and dangled some handcuffs. 

Steve tossed me his cuffs. “Make sure they draw blood,” he told me and I smiled, catching them. 

“Search him too, Trin,” Kris told me. “Take his guns and such.” 

I walked over to Lot and took his hands, cuffing him behind his back. “Yes Kris, have done this before,” I said to Kris. 

Lot resisted a little and said, “Miss Trin, if I take my hand off of this wound, I will bleed like a stuck pig. So unless you wanna bandage this first, I ain’t taken my hand off the wound.” 

I put on some gloves and started to search Lot up and down, looking for anything that could be used as a weapon or lockpick, including his guns, knives, etcetera. I glared at him as he spoke and then looked over to Kris and Steve. “He hasn’t even been treated yet?” 

“I will be back,” Jy said and headed out of the clinic as Steve laughed. 

“None of us has been treated Trin,” Stormy told me and I sighed. 

“Then I’m not going to arrest him yet. He needs to be treated first,” I announced. 

“Cuff him to the bed then,” Steve told me and I nodded, taking one of Lot’s hands as I cuffed it to the bed. 

“Maddog ya got some strange tastes,” Downy said from the window where she tapped in. 

“How so, D?” Steve asked her. 

Lot fell face first on the floor as I unbalanced him and I blinked, seeing I’d taken his free hand and not the other one. “Dang it, Lot,” I said and tried to lift him up on the bed again, but I wasn’t strong enough. “Dennis, you still out there?” I called out of the clinic, having heard him talking to Downy outside. 

“Yes?” Dennis peeked his head through the window as Lot muttered a few swear words and slowly stood, holding his wound. 

“Need your help here lifting Lot back onto the bed and cuffing him to it!” I shouted out to him as I tried to steady Lot as he stood. Lot shook his head and climbed on the bed again. “Keep that hand on your wound, Lot, and lay back please,” I told him. 

“Look’s like it was already taken care of!” Dennis called back into the clinic. 

All of a sudden, Downy shouted, “HOLY COW MISS TRIN COME QUICK ONE OF YER KIDS IS IN TROUBLE!!!” 

I felt better now that Lot was laying down and ignored Downy, knowing she was full of crap, as I cuffed Lot to the bed. “Never mind Dennis, I got it,” I said to the man outside. I took out my ink and a piece of paper and said, “While we’re at it, Lot…” I started to put ink on his finger, hoping to be able to get his fingerprint on a piece of paper. Lot, however, smeared blood and ink all over the paper, making it impossible for me to get a print. 

“If he bleeds out dose that mean we got a murder on our hands?” Steve asked. 

I put the equipment away and took Lot’s gun, knowing at least I could get the bullet casings from it, and put them in a bag for my files. 

“Lady yer gonna git yerself into some big ol’ trouble there,” Downy threatened me. “Big trouble.”

“Okay, who’s dead? Speak up,” Jimmi Rubble said as he walked into the clinic. 

“Me!” Lot exclaimed. 

I then took out my coal dust and put it on the gun, lifting prints from the gun, and put the prints in my bag. I looked over at Downy then and said, “I’m already in big trouble. Downy. I don’t need to hear it from you. I’m doing my damn job.” 

“The dead don’t speak.” Dennis chuckled. 

“Honey, this one is alive. Treat him last,” Jimmi told Starling as she washed her hands. 

“If you say so,” Downy stared at me, staring unblinkingly. 

“Right, who’s first?” Starling asked. 

“Looks like this one is the bloodiest,” Jimmi said and about Steve and asked, “Who wants tea? Anyone?” 

“No goin’ to sleep there, pal,” Downy shook Lot’s arm. 

I recognized the Navy Colt then as Jimmi and Starling started to work on healing the injured. I realized that Lot’s gun didn’t have any shells but was a black powder pistol that used lead balls and paper wadding. 

Since I was done with Lot, I walked over to Steve and asked, “Steve? You alright?” 

“Yeah, I had worse, Trin,” he told me. 

“Want to tell me what happened, Steve?” 

“Well we was trying to arrest Lot and Downy, Kris and me. Then boom, Lot shot me.” 

I handed Steve Lot’s gun and said, “Here you go. That’s all I found on him.” 

“Well, I saw Downy go through Kris’ pockets… Hell, I didn’t see what she took from him, but I bet it’s something she can use. Hell Trin, mind arresting her?” 

I heard jiggling behind me and saw Downy looking all innocent outside. I looked back at Steve and said, “I can’t do this by myself, Steve.” 

Suddenly, as soon as he was healed, Lot ran out of the clinic. I wondered how on earth Lot had managed to escape and blinked. “How the…” I ran out after him, drawing my gun, since I was still deputized. Steve came out and drew his gun and I looked around, trying to find which way he went. I slowed down as Steve and I went towards the bridge to Goldfield and I pointed, seeing Lot run off. 

“Now what? Guess we go after Downy?” 

“Where she go?” 

“Bet she’s still in the clinic.” 

We walked back to the clinic and looked around for Downy, but she wasn’t there. I walked back outside and asked Steve if he’d found her. Paisley asked who we were looking for and Steve said that Downy was long gone. I kicked the post in frustration and Steve promised he would get her. 

“Alright let me get this straight, Steve. You, Kris and Stormy went after Downy and Lot for a warrant on them. Lot shot you.” 

“Yes ma’am,” Steven agreed with my review so far. 

“Downy stole something from Kris. Seeing as Lot escaped my handcuffs I’m guessing it was his key. Who shot Stormy and Lot then?” 

“Yes ma’am, I saw her search him by the bank as I limped after them. I didn’t see, ma’am. No clue who shot anyone but me.” 

“Stormy, who shot you?” I asked as I walked inside the clinic. 

“Downy,” Stormy said and I nodded. 

“Who shot Lot?” I asked. 

“Detective, that man was wounded too,” Jimmi said and pointed to Dennis who was heading out of the clinic. 

“Dennis was?” 

“Yes him,” Jimmi said and I sighed. 

“Downy and one of the deputies,” Stormy told me. 

“This is a mess, Jimmy. Downy shot Lot?? By accident?” I blinked. 

“It will be ok when the sheets are changed and the floor is mopped,” Jimmi said, thinking I meant that the clinic was a mess. 

“Dennis! Don’t go too far!” I called out to Dennis. I looked back at the others and asked, “So who shot Kris?” 

“I do believe Lot and Downy,” Stormy said. 

“Probably himself,” Jimmi muttered. 

“They both did?” I clarified. 

“I think so,” Stormy said. “It happened so fast, I couldn’t keep up.” 

“Thank you. You did well, Sheriff. Get well.” I went over to Jimmi and Starling and said, “Jimmi, Starling, thank you for being here.” 

“Pleasure,” Jimmi said with a nod. 

“Alright I think I got the facts, Steve,” I looked over to him. “You guys get to do the paperwork but this is what happened. After Lot shot you down.. Downy searched Kris and stole something from him but no one knows what. In the gunfight, Downy accidentally shot Lot and also shot Stormy. Both Lot and Downy were involved in shooting down Kris. Then when he was cuffed to the clinic, Downy was standing near him and suddenly Lot stood and ran out of the clinic. It stands to reason that Downy stole Kris’ key for the handcuffs. Sound about right to you?” 

“Yes ma’am.” 

“Now I have to figure out why Dennis got hurt.” 

“Have fun with that paperwork. This is why I’m a Pinkerton,” I said and winked at him. 

“You sure are smart,” Steven said with a smile. 

“Gonna go find Dennis before he goes too far,” I said and headed out of the clinic. 

Walking down the street, I found Dennis sitting in his spot in front of Kate’s. “Good, you’re still here. Feeling okay?” 

“A scratch...No more.” Dennis shrugged and took some more sips of whiskey from his flask. 

“How’d you get hurt?” I asked curiously, taking my gloves off and putting them in my pocket. I took out my own flask and started to drink whiskey to calm down. All the information being thrown at me at once was starting to overwhelm me. 

“Well, I didn’t feel like helping a marshal that was openly making fun of me with an outlaw that threatened me just a few days ago… So, I went to take shelter from the bullets in the undertaker’s building… next thing I know, a stray bullet hits me in the arm…” 

“I don’t blame you. Now you see why I’m still a Pinkerton and not a deputy.” I nodded to him. 

“The deputy ain’t no issue… It’s that Marshal, Kris I believe… That I have an issue with.” 

I sighed and nodded in agreement. “Guess he lost his cuffs too cause Lot escaped somehow. Well I’m going to head out and get some air. Need to write this stuff up. See you soon, Dennis.” 

I walked towards the office and saw a white horse in the distance. I walked over and grinned, seeing my man on the horse. “Now see... this is an image I could get used to.” 

“Well good afternoon perty lady… have you seen my sweetheart anywhere?” Thomas smiled big. 

“Now all you need is some shining armour and you’ll be all set.” I winked and pet the horse. 

Thomas chuckled and leaned down, kissing my lips softly. “How are you dear? You are looking as pretty as the morning sun today.” 

“I’m uh... well... it’s been a stressful day already.” 

“Uh oh. Whats been going on around here? Anything I need to know about?” 

I sighed and nodded, still petting the horse. Bree came over and greeted us with a ‘Happy New Year’ and headed on her way. Looking over at Thomas I said, “Alright so... what just happened… Lot shot down Steven Itano when Steve, Kris and Stormy tried to arrest him and Downy for a warrant. Downy searched Kris and stole something from him but no one knows what. In the gunfight, Downy accidentally shot Lot and also shot Stormy. Both Lot and Downy were involved in shooting down Kris. Then when he was cuffed to the clinic, Downy was standing near him and suddenly Lot stood and ran out of the clinic. It stands to reason that Downy stole Kris’ key for the handcuffs. Meanwhile, in the clinic, Downy threatened me while I worked on getting fingerprints from Lot’s gun. And I told her I’ve already got enough trouble, I don’t need more of it from her and she left me alone. I need to sit somewhere and do paperwork for this... Can we... sit somewhere dear? Preferably with alcohol involved?” 

“Sure dear. Why don’t we go into the Oriental and have a drink and relax.” 

“That sounds perfect.  So have you named this girl yet?” I asked, petting the horse again. 

“Hmmm, I think I will name her Cupcake…” Thomas smiled. 

“Come on honey, let’s go get that drink.” I smiled and led the way to the Oriental where we sat down at a table. I leaned forward and rubbed the temples of my head with my fingers as Thomas ordered us some whiskey. 

“Sounds like a crazy morning love. What a way to start out the new year huh?” 

I nodded and leaned my head on the table. “Is it bedtime yet?” I asked. “I think we had too much whiskey last night.” 

“You think? My head was still spinning this morning when Jimmy came up and shook me awake. He wanted me to take him our hunting with his bb gun. He is getting really good with it. We did shoot any animals, but he shot at a couple of bullfrogs in a pond.” 

I chuckled and reached across to hold his hand. “I’m glad he’s getting better at aiming that thing. And thank you for ridding the world of two more bullfrogs.” 

Thomas chuckled too and held my hand as he sipped his whiskey. “He wanted to bring them home and see if you would make frog legs out of them for new years dinner, but I told him we better leave them to the wild. He has a weird appetite sometimes.” 

“Good luck with that. I would just throw them back outside.” I sipped my whiskey and sighed, interlacing my fingers with his. “The kids seemed to have fun at the dance last night. Natalie’s working on her article for the paper this weekend about it.” 

Thomas kissed my hand and smiled, looking into my eyes. “Yeah, Jimmy was reading a book of some kind when I left the house. Natalie was writing away at their desk. When she gets writing, she is almost oblivious to the world. I walked up to kiss her cheek and she like to have jumped clear out of the desk.” 

I smiled, thinking of that image. “She’s a lot like me. You know how I get when I start writing or reading. It would take gunshots to distract me,” I said, lifting his hand and kissing his fingers. “I’m so glad you’re here, darling.” 

“Me too sweetheart. At least we are safe, and no bullet holes in us for the new years.” He knocked on the table to be safe. “I hope this new year will be a lot better than last. Though it will be hard to top, since I met you and got a family last year.” 

I grinned and leaned over to kiss him. “You’re right, though I almost got a bullet in me today but Lot ran off too far. Oh well, he’s Steve’s problem now. Though I’m pretty sure Downy has it out for me.” 

“Well I guess I will have to keep an eye on Downy. I don’t know him very well. As for Lot, well he is always in trouble, and will eventually get caught by somebody. All I care about is you being safe my love.” 

“Downy… her… She’s got it out for me, I’m sure of it.” 

“Hmmm...well I guess I don’t know her very well then…” Thomas chuckled. “Always new people arriving in Tombstone. It’s hard to keep up sometimes.” 

“Ironic thing is that back when I was in Georgetown, her husband was my first boss as a Pinkerton.” I muttered something and emptied my glass. 

“Want another one dear or want to join me in a rootbeer?” Thomas asked, pulling out a piece of paper. “Hmm… I don’t have Downy down for any warrants or bounties. But given time, I am sure she will be wanted for something.” 

“That’s weird because Steve claimed that they were trying to take her down for a warrant today.” 

“Hmmm...weird..well she may be in that mess of warrants that come out the other day...I lost track of who is wanted and who isn’t. I just try to keep my head down unless I see something going down then I step in. I am tired of getting shot full of holes and nothing getting done about it.” 

“I know, dear.” I nodded and stood, helping him stand up. “I should head to the office and put this evidence and paperwork in order.” 

He stood and kissed me deeply as he pulled me close. “Of course dear. smiles, I love you very much.” I hugged him, not letting go as the headache pounded and I exhaled, feeling tiredness wash over me as I clung to him. “You ok sweetheart? Are you sure you don’t need to go home and get a nap dear?” 

I exhaled and nodded to him against his chest. “Nap… might be good…” I said, half asleep already as he led me back towards the house. 

*** 

Bisbee. 

This evening I wandered into the house and sighed. I was tired of doing other people’s jobs and it just confirmed more and more why I was just a Pinkerton and not a deputy. I noticed the plate and cups on the table and shook my head, wondering how long the dishes had been there, and took them to the kitchen. I washed the dishes in the sink and put them away in the cupboard, hearing Shira bound downstairs to greet me. I leaned down to pet the dog and said, “Hey there, girl. How are you still awake?” 

I heard voices upstairs and wondered why the whole house was still awake. I blew out the candles and checked to make sure the door was locked. As I walked upstairs, I heard Thomas giving Natalie a bedtime story and chuckled as I realized he was telling her about his first business venture. 

“Did it work?” Natalie was asking. 

“Did it work? It worked to confuse the heck out of people and made me laugh at him!” I grinned and leaned down to kiss Thomas on the forehead. 

“I don’t know munchkin, Miss Pet never bought anymore. Though I quit selling it soon after I moved to Tombstone. Your ma helped me to decide not to sell it anymore,” Thomas told her and then looked over at me. “Hi dear!” 

Natalie giggled and looked over at me. “Hi Ma! Pa’s tellin’ me bout how ya met! How’d you get him to stop sellin’ that stuff?” 

I chuckled, leaning against the wall, feeling exhausted. “Well, I convinced him to stop lyin’ to people and make an honest man out of himself. Told him he could do more and help people. So he became a deputy. Course that’s after he thought ’bout bein’ a lawyer first…” I winked at Thomas. 

Thomas kissed me and hugged me tight, pulling me down onto the bed with him. “Yeah love, tell our daughter about it.” 

Natalie giggled and asked, “You were gonna be a lawyer pa?” 

I looked over to where Jimmy was fast asleep on the bed near us and I wondered how he was sleeping through the talking. 

“Well yeah, I guess. Then I realized we needed lawmen who could be trusted more tan we needed lawyers,” Thomas said.  

“Mmhmm we sure did. And you’re pa’s the best one there is,” I said proudly. “Now why are you two still awake and why were there dishes left out in the living room?” I looked between them. 

Natalie slipped under the covers, as if she was hiding. “Shira did it..” 

“Ummm, I fed these two rugrats cookies and milk to get them to go to bed. Natalie wouldn’t stop begging, then she tag teamed me with Shira,” Thomas told me .

“They gave you the double-puppy-dog-eye trick huh? Very clever kiddo.” I grinned. 

“Yes they did...but Natalie deserved it… she stayed with Mr. Mack while I went to get paid at the jail with Lot and Shaun out in front of Kate’s Saloon.” 

“Even though Millard shouted that Jeff was dead!!!” Natalie started to sit up straighter, looking between us. “Who’d kill Jeffrey??” 

“I don’t think anyone killed Jeffery sweetie. Probably Millard just being Millard,” Thomas told her. 

“I gonna throw a rock near him next time I see him,” Nat muttered. 

“Now hon, your father’s right. Mill was probably just teasin’ with ya,” I told her. 

“Now now… don’t be throwing rocks at people Natalie,” Thomas scolded.

“But ma... Mr Lot and some bad guy was out there and they was talkin about Jeff and yellin’ at him and…” Nat started. 

“Jeffrey does little jobs for Mr Lot with the courthouse. I’m sure that’s all it was sweetie,” I told her. 

Nat sighed and crawled under her covers. “Well make sure he’s okay tomorrow. I guess I sleep now. Thanks for tellin’ me that story pa.” 

I went over and kissed Nat on the forehead and tucked her in. “Goodnight sweetheart. Sleep well.” I went over to kiss Jimmy on the forehead and stepped back. “I love you both very much.” 

“You’re welcome munchkin. I will I promise. You sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite,” Thomas said as he pet Shira and kissed Nat goodnight. 

I headed to the bedroom and lay down in bed with the safety and security of my man’s arms around me after a long day.