February 21, 1901

Tombstone. 

I was walking down the street around lunch time when I saw Trent standing by the bridge on the way to Goldfield. “Well hey there, Trent. Long time no see!” 

“Hi, just getting ready to head to the event at the Venice. How are you?” He asked with a smile. 

“I was just on my way there as well. I need a distraction... Both our kids are sick.” 

“Well I hope they get well soon.” 

“I hope so too. Well shall we go to the saloon then? I could use a drink.” 

We walked into the saloon and greeted everyone there. I met a woman named Emile and talked with the others as we danced to the music. We talked about how the children were sick and how various people were housing those who hadn’t had the measles yet. We continued to talk and dance, and Angel said that there were two people yelling and hollering at the orphanage while the kids were resting. She said they calmed down when they threatened them to stop. I told them I was desperate for something to do and then I heard a boy outside talking to Meg Norwood. 

“Buster eh?” I asked, looking down at him. “Seems I’ve been needing to meet you, lad. Hey there, Meg. So this is the infamous Buster, eh?” 

“Where are we?” Meg asked, looking around with confusion. 

“We’re in Venice, hun.” Well... Club Venice. So Buster.... you are my daughter’s new friend, eh?” 

“Where?” Meg blinked at me. 

“Your daughter?” Buster asked. 

“Natalie.” I smiled at him. 

“Oh her, yeah she okay.” 

“Seems you two had a good valentine’s day.” 

“Okay…” Buster blinked. “Yeah I guess so… She tell you about the race game?” 

“She did. With the sticks.” 

“Yes Miss.” 

“She said she beat you bad.” 

“She cheated.” Buster folded his arms. 

“And how do you figure?” I chuckled. 

“She threw her stick in first.” 

“I doubt she would do that.” 

When Meg asked what Mardi Gras was I said, “I’ll give you a hint kiddo. It has to do with the church. Bet ya didn’t know that huh?”

“Church?” Buster looked up at me. 

“Do you know about easter?” I asked him. 

“Like God and Jesus and stuff?” 

“Well right before easter there’s this time called ‘lent’. And what people would do to prepare for Easter... is they’d fast something for lent. So the night before lent starts… Is mardi gras. You know why? “ 

“Cuz I gots it in my belly button.” Buster giggled. 

“Well…” I chuckled. “They wanted to eat really fatty foods and stuff… Because they would be fasting for lent.” 

“Oh, I real fast.” 

“Not speed, kiddo. Like... give up food.” 

“Watch,” Buster said and ran around in circles. 

“Not quite sure he understands.” I smiled over at Meg and chuckled as Buster begged to go in and we headed inside to dance. I sighed a bit, wishing that Natalie could be with us, but tried to enjoy the music and the dance, and when Jimmy asked where Natalie was, my heart broke as I told him she was at the orphanage because she had the measles, and Jimmy was there too. When the emotion became too much, I said goodbye and headed to my office. 

I saw Lauren walking by the stagecoach and waved to her. “I was wondering... Did you ever hear anything about that man Brice Andrews from back home?” 

“Oh yes I received a message from my sister.”

“Did you?” 

“Brice was killed almost a month ago.” 

“Killed? As in murdered?” I blinked. 

“He was trampled by a horse by a horse he was trying to break.” 

“Wow... I’m sorry for your loss, hon.” I shook my head. 

“Alright, he was a nice man I just never saw him in the same light he saw me in.” 

“I understand. Well I just wanted to touch base with you on that point. I’m still looking into this mystery but there’s not much I can do yet until something else happens. I’ll just keep askin’ around for witnesses.” 

“You know I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of days now.” 

“Yes?” 

“I have this weird feeling that Pastor Lyric knows more than he’s letting on.” 

I sighed and nodded to her. “We think the same. It’s too suspicious that he’s the only one who knows where your hotel room was there. I will press into him on Monday... let’s let him prepare for tomorrow’s service. His mind is on the children right now so I doubt we’d get much out of him.” 

“Maybe he let someone in my room. Oh I know, I wish I could help but I don’t think I’ve ever had the measles before and I don’t want to take that chance.” 

“Well I’m going to go to my office and think about some of this more.. Thanks, Lauren, and hope you have a good afternoon.” 

I headed home and later that evening I received a plate of sweet rolls on my desk along with a note that read: “Trin thank you so much for all your help, here is a place of cinnamon rolls that Bree helped me make for you and your family… Sincerely, Lauren Lyric.”