Black Diamond.
I walked over to the sheriff’s office in Black Diamond tonight with a grin on my face, wanting to spend time with Thomas alone. When I knocked on the door, Thomas called out, “Just a second. Who’s there?”
“It’s me, dear. I’ve been a bad girl.” I giggled.
“Oh well you better get in here right now!”
I grinned and walked in and told him, “I’ve been bad... I’ve fallen in love with the new deputy and I just can’t control my feelin’s for him.”
“Ok, well you tell me who this new deputy is, so I can go shoot him right now.” Thomas laughed and pulled me to him, kissing me hard.
“Maybe you need to show me some justice…” I giggled and pulled him over to the desk.
“He pushed me up against the desk and kissed me harder. “Mmmm just what kind of justice you want to see…? I thought maybe I would show you my night stick.”
“Been a while since I’ve been in this office... Maybe we need to christen it again, eh Deputy?”
A while later, we lay on a bunk in the cells and regained our breathing back, holding each other close. “Welcome to the Black Diamond office dear.” Thomas laughed.
“I’m so glad we decided to move our work out here. And I’m so glad I put the kids to bed early tonight….” I giggled.
“Oh, the kiddos are already in bed. Did they put up a fuss?”
“I told them I had to help Daddy with some um... paperwork.”
“Oh I am sure they knew exactly what kind of paperwork I needed help with. Especially our 12 year old going 21 year old daughter.” Thomas laughed.
“Well dear... what do you say we go and toast a drink to your new job at the saloon?” I grinned and winked to him.
“Sounds like a plan to me. I could use a small drink before bed. Hey did you know Payton is working for Mrs. Enola at the bakery next door now?”
“Oh is she? That’s good to here. Glad she’s worked things out with them again,” I said as I took his hand.
“So what we gonna have sweetheart?” Thomas asked as we walked into the saloon and I ordered a whiskey. He brought me a glass of whiskey and one for himself and kissed me as he handed me the glass. “I love you so much,” he told me.
“I love you too dear... It’s so nice to be back in Black Diamond with you... This was my home for so long. Twice.”
“Yeah, to me its the nicest town in all of Tombstone. It’s not too big or too small, and has everything.”
“Exactly... All it needs now is something for us to do... I feel like I’m losing my investigative skills.”
“Hmmm...well did you hear about the class Jimmy and Natalie had Saturday night?”
“I did.... Not too thrilled about that teacher.”
“Me neither… why are we sending our children to a school if they’re not going to learn anything?”
“I don’t know. I think if it’s not Cas or Paden teaching... we should homeschool them that week. Though... they’re learnin’ lots with this new series they’re working on together for the Bee. Did they tell you ’bout that?”
“No, I hadn’t heard. What’s it about?”
“Natalie and Jimmy are gonna work on it together... It’s gonna be about the history of Tombstone and different events or famous people that happened to be here. They’re going to learn so much. I’m proud of them!”
“Oh that’s wonderful. Well we both know there is a lot of history here. Even though I don’t think Tombstone has been around all that many years. No telling what they will learn and find out.”
“Mmhmm sure is... They’ll learn more doin’ that than going to that school, I’ll tell you that for sure. And it gives them something to work on together.”
“Yes for sure. I think we should talk to Adrian, or someone about trying to find a more appropriate permanent teacher. One that will do the job in which they are there for. I mean anything is better than nothing. And with what Sunset us teaching, it’s nothing.”
“I don’t know... I don’t want to stir the pot over there more than we have to. I’m happy just to hide away in Bisbee and Diamond and pray the cases come to us.”
“I understand baby. But I was just thinking about all the kids. I mean I am sure not all feel the way we do, but whats the purpose of having school, if you’re just gonna socialize.”
“Well sweetie... what if you became a teacher too?”
“Ohhhhh noooooo! Me, a teacher? Can you honestly picture me teaching a room full of kiddos?” Thomas laughed.
“I sure can.” I chuckled. “The image is perfect in my head. And if they get out of control I’m sure you’d whip ’em into shape. You really need to talk to Adrian about it. I think you could teach them a lot.”
“Yeah I would whip them into shape… where's my whip?” he chuckled.
“Not quite what I meant dear.” I laughed and tickled him behind his ear.
He laughed and kissed my lips firmly. “I know. I have thought about seeing if I could be a teacher. Though I ain’t the best at math, I am sure I could teach history, and maybe how to write some. Have them reading something each week a little at a time maybe.”
“There you go. And how much math do they need to know, really? Just gotta add and subtract, multiply and divide. Forget ’bout the rest of it.”
“Multi who and div huh? All I know is 2+2 equals 3 or is it 5?”
“Maybe one day we’ll have machines to do all that stuff for us.” I winked.
“Do you think they will ever make something faster and easier to type with than these blasted typewriters?”
“I hope so.”
“Wouldn’t that be the neatest thing, a movable typewriter that might fit in your pocket.”
I slid my hands around his waist and asked if we should get home then.
Bisbee.
We walked into the house and heard the kids talking upstairs. We walked upstairs and saw them with books spread out all over the floor. “And just what are you two up to?” I looked between the two children.
“If I catch two kids out of bed, someone is getting skinned alive!” Thomas said then as he came up the stairs beside me. I cringed and watched as the children’s eyes went wide with terror and they started cleaning up the books.
“Uh... we was doin’... homework…” Natalie said first as she cleaned.
“But, you said we had to go to bed not have to go to sleep. We ain’t sleepy,” Jimmy said as he yawned and wiped his eyes.
“You look sleepy to me, kiddo. What you two readin’?” I looked at Jimmy and chuckled.
“We’re readin’ bout the biggest rose field in all the world right here in Tombstone!” Nat exclaimed.
“Lalalala,” Thomas said as he walked upstairs and closed his eyes, covering them.
I chuckled and reached for Thomas’ hand. “Oh come on now, dear... They’re just bein’ studious. Did ya’l know your pa’s gonna talk to Mr. Wise about bein’ a teacher?”
“Yeah about this Sheiflin guy who named Tombstone after a bunch a injus killed these prospectors and named the Big Nut mine Tombstone,” Jimmy told us.
“We’re workin’ on our first article for the paper!” Nat exclaimed.
Thomas looked goofy at the kids and me and said, “Did you know your ma uses big words to confuse yore pa? Like studious.”
“I thought teachers were s’posed to be smart.” I chuckled and winked at him.
“Yeah so does Natalie pa..” Jimmy said. “She call me a dramatic the other night...still not sure what that spose to mean. Pa you tell her I ain’t a dramtic!”
“Geeez.... Jimmy, ya jes provin’ my point. Ya can’t just let things go and they gotta always be so much more hard than they really is!” Nat rolled her eyes.
“See pa. She pickin on me. I make it hard cause you are a brat sis! Why you gotta always get the last word?”
“Cause I’m always smarter!”
“Alright you two, time for bed. Put those books away.” I grinned and looked between them.
“She sounds just like her ma Jimmy. Don’t feel bad.” Thomas smiled at me.
“Don’t help me or nothin’, dear.” I chuckled.
“But we already in our pj’s!” Nat protested.
Jimmy put the books away and stuck out his tongue at Natalie. “Ma I love you. No matter if you are a girl!”
“He’s your son.” I grinned at Jimmy and looked at Thomas.
“She’s your daughter.”
“Sure is.”
“You ever feel like they talk ’bout us as if we ain’t here?” Nat asked.
“All the time… you should hear them when they’re in bed. It’s almost too weird. But we gotta love them, cause I don’t think anyone else do,” Jimmy said.
“Now Jimmy… Get in, mister.” I pointed at his bed.
“But Maaaaaaaaaaa!” Jimmy cried.
“You gotta go to bed fiiiiirst.” Nat grinned.
“In bed with you both...that includes you too Little Miss Sunshine!” Thomas looked at her.
“But paaaaa!” Nat protested.
“Bed. Now. Or I’m cookin’ dinner tomorrow night,” I threatened.
“I want ma to tuck me in...not you pa,” Jimmy said.
Nat ran into her bed and pulled the covers over her eyes. “Well I want pa!!!”
We tucked them in and then Thomas and I went to bed happily.
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