Tombstone.
I walked through town this morning and waved to Wedge who was standing in front of the sheriff’s office. “How’s it going?”
“Pretty good, got myself a case finally.”
“Oh?”
“Mmhmm. Someone left a pile of manure in front of the sheriff’s office in Diamond. With a sign and a shovel. The sign said ‘this town needs cleaning up’.”
“And uh… that’s a ‘case’?” Wedge laughed.
“Sure is. Someone destroyed property by makin’ it smell awful there.” I nodded. “No one just deposits manure on a sheriff’s office doorstep for no reason.” When he looked away and laughed I asked, “You know something about it?”
“Sorry… Not a thing.”
“Good ’cause Thomas is livid. He finds whoever did this, he’s gonna make ’em eat it.”
“Uh… wow. No.”
Joan walked over then, as Wedge was still laughing, and when we asked her what was wrong she said, “We had a attempted attacking of the fort again yesterday.”
“Oh did you? Who was it this time?”
“Wedge, remember the man I arrested last week for doing that? The same guy. Erick.”
“Erick…” I repeated the name, trying to remember him.
“Oh… I may just have to order a shoot on site,” Wedge said. “I keep shooting him to hell.”
“Erick have a last name?” I asked.
“Yes, you might,” Joan told him. “Seth got him! We arrested him!” Joan exclaimed.
“Good, but what’s his last name?” I asked.
“He’s an easy hit… er.. target. Uh…” Wedge shifted on his feet.
“He’s attacked payroll twice now, I want to keep an eye out for him to make sure the kids don’t go near him,” I told them.
“Serranno I think,” Joan said. “But he is foolish.”
“Oh… no, that’s a new name to me,” Wedge said.
“He attacks it when it is in the fort,” Joan said.
“And he attacked the fort two weeks in a row? During payroll?”
“Yes. He says he needs the money for debts. I offered him a job.”
“Arrested both times?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm...someone else did that to me a couple of weeks ago… I took him out,” Wedge said. “Sure wasn’t the guy you just named.”
“Glad he’s at least getting arrested. Joan I was wondering…” I looked over at her. “Anyone been by to steal manure from you at your ranch lately?”
“No.”
“Hmm... no strange activity around your ranch then?”
“But Socks here was a bad horse and ran off from me,” Joan said. “Why you say? I do rent rooms out, Trin.”
“A pile of manure was deposited in front of the sheriff’s office in Diamond. Been there a while but we discovered it last night.”
“Where?” she asked.
“Our vet consultant informed us that the horses it came from were well-fed and probably lived on a ranch or in a stable.”
“You think I did it? Arrest me then, Trin.”
“No. I wanted to know if anyone’d been by your ranch. To steal manure. Or mess with the horses.”
“Lots of people,” she said.
“She’s just asking you Joan,” Wedge told her.
“I’m not accusing you of anything,” I said.
“It sure sounds like it.”
“All I know is that this manure came from a ranch or a stable. So I need to ask ranch owners if any OUTLAWS had stolen manure from them. To do this job.”
A man walked over then and Joan greeted him with the name Erick. I looked over at him curiously and greeted him, wondering if he was the one we were just talking about.
Looking over at Joan I said, “I’m merely trying to help you, Joan. I’m not saying it came from your ranch. But you have to appreciate my position in needing to ask every ranch owner.”
“See Trin, I rent rooms to help pay for my taxes. Rooms in my bunk house.”
“I understand.” I nodded.
“She’s just wondering if you know if any shit is missing from your pile...erm..at the ranch,” Wedge said.
“No,” Joan said.
“Alright then. That’s all I needed to know.”
“But we do have a new batch of livestock… But Trin, I do not really look. Ask Payton. She is my ranch boss.”
“If someone had stolen manure from you, I’m sure you’d notice,” I told her. “But I can clarify with Payton when I see her.”
“See Trin, I would not care. It gets out of my hands,” Joan said.
“Wedge, I need a drink,” I looked over at him. “I’ll be at the Oriental, Wedge.” I waved to the others and headed to the saloon, needing a drink to calm my mind and my frustrations.
Pearce.
I rode through Pearce and saw a couple inside a store and greeted them, walking in. The woman was cradling a baby and I introduced myself to them. They said their names were Wulf and Sel and I asked what the baby’s name was.
“This one, well I found him yesterday. I think he belonged to the Apache woman who came into town and attacked Miss Suzy,” Sel told me.
“Oh? Hadn’t heard about that.”
“It was during the payroll pick-up. The woman was shot and I think arrested.” Sel nodded and rocked the baby.
“Oh I see... Sounds like they had a couple attackers. Just heard of another one as well. Do you know which Apache woman?”
“We found him after they left,” Wulf said with a nod.
“Sorry, I’m a detective, to clarify,” I said, realizing I hadn’t introduced myself fully before starting to ask questions. “You found the baby after the Apaches and soldiers left?”
“I think it was Wild something or other. Do you recalll dear?” Sel asked.
“We are glad to help out, Miss,” Wulf said. “What was your name again?”
“Yes, just laying under the table at the end of the street. I suppose she put him there for safety,” Sel told me.
“Trin Paige.. Pinkerton detective,” I introduced myself. “So this baby... belonged to an Apache woman?”
“Yes the Doc and I hunted all over for the tike,” Wulf said. “But never could pinpoint the cries.”
“I tried to find the sheriff in Tombstone but the place was all shut up. I am really not sure what to do with the baby,” Sel said.
“Well if the child was a bit older... We’ve got a good orphanage… Might still be able to bring the baby there. Miss Abi might know what to do with her... or him?”
“I am pretty sure it is hers. I recall hearing one of the soldiers threaten her, saying if she hurt the general they wouldn’t let her have her baby.”
“We are more glad to keep him. It a joy to care for him,” Wulf said.
“But if he’s got a mother… That might get complicated,” I told Wulf.
“Being a half breed my self I know how hard it can be, and yes if his ma shows up will not stop her in picking him up,” Wulf replied.
“I was hoping a sheriff or someone could find out. I really don’t think it would be wise just to walk into Apache territory carrying one of their babies, no matter how good the intentions,” Sel said with a nod.
I nodded in agreement and said, “Still.. I know the Apache chief rather well. Maybe we could go over there to talk with him together and show him the baby? I’d feel better at least trying to find the baby... though I don’t know what the situation was with the soldier’s perspective.”
“I suppose if you are friendly with the chief, that would make a difference. And we would be returning the baby after all,” Sel said.
“Would you come to town with me and talk to a colonel there? I just left him downtown Tombstone… He might know what to do better if he was there yesterday?”
They agreed and we talked about how the baby was a good baby and I sent a wire to Wedge for him to meet us and he agreed to come to Pearce. We sat down in the store and I found out that Wulf was a preacher as well, and was hoping to preach in Black Diamond. They also had artwork to sell at the store and she gave me a free picture of Allen Street. I told them I’d lived there for almost two years and we talked about how time flew.
Wedge arrived and I introduced him to the couple as he shook their hands and sat down beside me. “I’ll let ya’ll explain the situation to Wedge,” I told them, letting them give him the information he needed.
“Please,” Wedge said, looking between them curiously.
“Well, yesterday during the payroll pick-up, an Apache woman came to Pearce and attacked the General. Miss Suzy I believe,” Sel said and I nodded in confirmation. “Well they were both injured, and I think the Apache woman was arrested. But she had come to town with a baby, and hid it before the attack. It was left behind. I found it and tried to find what had happened to his mother, but... well we have the baby and would like to make sure he gets back home. Sergeant Cross gave me a lift to Tombstone, but the woman wasn’t there, so we came back here.”
“No name?” Wedge asked.
“I was hoping you’d know that, Wedge,” I said and looked at him.
“I know I heard someone call her by her name, the doctor I think. But he was speaking Apache. All I caught was Wild something or other,” Sel said.
“Who was the doctor working on Suzy?” I asked.
“Oh let me see…. Jim. That was it,” she replied.
“Jimmi Rubble?” I asked.
“Maybe, I only know Jim because the lady with him that. I am afraid we have only been here a week,” Sel said.
“His wife Star was not around?” Wedge asked. “She’s Apache herself.”
“That’s true, she is. And great with kids.” I nodded. “I thought if someone like her or me brought the baby to the village... and talked with Chief White Hawk… However I thought I’d check with you if you were at payroll and knew the Apache woman…”
“Both I and the Doc looked all over for the tike, but to no avail before they took the Indian woman of to the stockade,” Wulf told us.
“No… I was out of the territory yesterday, so I didn’t hear of what happened, till Joan told me a bit ago,” Wedge said and shook his head. “Do you feel safe going into the apache village Trin?”
“I haven’t been there in a long while.. The chief and I are on good terms though,” I said.
“Ah… ok, better then this blue uniform, for sure.”
“I’d like to see if we could get information from Jimmi on who might be the mother.”
“Sure, that’s a better route.”
“His wife will be able to take the child to the village as well. Since she’s completely Apache.”
“I hope she is alright. Even if she did attack Miss Suzy,” Sel said.
“I’m sure she’s just fine if they managed to arerst her.” I nodded to her.
“sh...you cant kill an Apache, it’s like they have nine lives,” Wedge said with a grunt.
“Don’t I know it…” I sighed and nodded.
“I… well, we are more than happy to take care of the child until you know more,” Sel said.
“That might be the best option.” I nodded and looked at Wedge. “I don’t want to cart the child all over the territory with us…”
“Sure, I now know where the baby is if they come looking,” Wedge said.
“Splendid idea, Sir,” Wulf agreed.
“I’ll try and track down Suzy… Maybe she can tell us something too,” I offered.
“And since the fort is no place for a baby without its mother, its safer with you two, for now,” Wedge said.
“And Jimmi, and talk with the Apache chief if I can find him. It may take a few days,” I said and looked at the couple.
“She’ll be around tonight Trin,” Wedge told me.
“I picked up some food and baby stuff at the orphanage from the cook ,” Sel said.
“Oh, that’s fine. I’m sure you know more than I do,” Wedge said.
“And we skipped the baby stage and adopted two children. So I’m not really all that good with babies themselves,” I said with a grin.
“I think we might end up doing the same. We haven’t children of our own,” Sel said with a sad smile.
“Wedge was Joan still in town when you left?” I asked. “She may know who the Apache woman was if she was there yesterday.”
“Ok well...I will be out on patrol again, if ya’ll need me, I will check in periodically with Trin,” Wedge promised.
“Just writing up some information on this case, and who to talk to,” I said with a nod. “Thanks Wedge. Let me walk out with you,” I said and stood with him.
We walked down the street and I looked over at him. “Well how about that? No case for there months. Now I’ve got two cases in two days.”
“Well… go figure.”
“And I’ll count on you for this one, since it’s your jurisdiction?” I grinned.
“Just use caution going to the village.”
“As I said... the Chief and I are on good terms…”
“I’ll be close by.”
“Don’t know if you remember but... I am part-Apache as well.”
“Even so… Some apache may not know you.”
“True,” I said with a nod and we headed back towards town.
Tombstone.
I thanked Wedge for his help and then walked over to talk with Joe about the case with the manure in Black Diamond. He hadn’t heard anything about it though and B came over so I filled her in on the case as well.
***
Black Diamond.
I saw Thomas walking over towards me tonight and I kissed him hard, greeting him as he held me close. We talked about my conversation with Joan and how she’d gotten defensive about the questions about her ranch.
“Wedge was there and he defended me, sayin’ that I was just followin’ the only lead I had,” I told him. “Which was that these horses came from a ranch or stable somewhere.”
“At least Wedge was there to back you up. Sounds like Joan went off the deep end again as usual.”
“Yeah… So that’s one ranch owner off our list unless we talk to Payton.”
“Hmmm. Well that takes Joan off our list. Who else do we have?”
“Then I talked with Joe and Bianca and they seemed to be all supportive of the action and how the towns really did need cleanin’ up. Makes me suspicious of both of them but I don’t know them to do something like this. They keep their noses clean and do doctorin’ when needbe. But... they do live in Ghenna... so maybe their neighbors are rubin’ off on them.”
“Hmm...Joe and Bianaca huh? Yeah but you know Joe went from being an understaker to being a doc in Ghenna..he’s been a bit standoffish since that.”
“Makes me uneasy about it, is all I’m sayin’. Course I got no proof either way unless I can match those prints.”
“As for Bianaca, I don’t know her well enough to make any judgement. Well let’s keep Joe at least as a possibility.”
“And Bianca. Heck, and Joan. But I don’t wanna go there quite yet.. Just her nervousness and feeling guilty of something seemed worrisome. But she’s a soldier and has no motive.”
“Yeah. Have you head if there were any other manure piles left at any of the other jails?”
“Not yet but that’s a good approach as well. Anyway I have another case… Of more pressing importance…”
“Good Lord dear, could you imagine what would have happened to Jimmy if Joan had adopted him?” Thomas shook his head.
“Thank God you found him first.” I smirked.
“I know that’s right. The poor kid doesn’t need that kind of terror in his life. No kid does.”
“Speaking of kids… I met with a nice couple over in Pearce today. They run a bookstore over there… Wulf and Selene Falconer. They told me about how Suzy had been attacked by an Apache woman during payroll yesterday. During the attack, a baby had been hidden under the table nearby to protect him. The Falconer’s found the baby after the attack and took him home to care for him since no mother was found. The mother had been arrested after the payroll.”
“So was the indian woman the mother?”
“So it seems.” I nodded.
“Wedge came to consult on the case but he hadn’t been there at the attack. The couple offered to care for the baby while we searched for information about the mother.”
“Is Suzy ok?”
“I have no idea. I promised to talk to Chief White Hawk about the incident, as well as Jimmi Rubble who was the doctor at the attack, and Suzy Honi who may know who attacked her.”
“What jail do they have the woman in, do you know?”
“That I’m not sure about either. And I’m not sure if she’s still in jail. I don’t even know the name of the mother.”
“Hmmm...but you know for sure that this couple is tending to the baby for the time being?”
“Yes they are and they are great with him. He is a preacher.”
“Well, we need to get in touch with the Apache tribal elders as soon as we can. The last thing we need is a bunch of Apache’s running round looking for a child.”
“Why don’t we go over there now, dear? Chief White Hawk and I know each other well.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“He knows I’m part Apache. Do you think I should go in unarmed and wearing my native clothing? Or are we good as is?”
“I think we should go as is”
“Alright.”
We rode over to the village, but no one was there, so we headed back home.
Bisbee.
We walked into the house and saw Jimmy and Natalie sitting on the couch talking. They greeted us and Natalie exclaimed, “Look ma, we’re together and ain’t fightin’!”
“Did you have fun?” I asked with a smile.
“Yeah, we learned about a lonely ghost who stayed awake for 300 years!” Jimmy told us.
“And I told about the ghost ya fell in love with when ya moved from Texas, ma!” Natalie said.
“Wow, 300 years, I would be lonely too after 300 years,” Thomas commented.
I blushed a bit and looked down at them. “Goodness.. haven’t thought about Dutch in a while. Glad he decided to stop poppin’ up out of nowhere.”
“Ma, are ghosts real?” Natalie asked.
Thomas wiggled under me as we sat on the couch together and he said, “Nope, just other things do that, don’t they dear?”
I blushed and nudged Thomas in the ribs as I said, “No honey... only the Holy Ghost... but that’s a bit different.”
“There’s a HOLY ghost???” Natalie exclaimed.
“A Holy Ghost? Wow…” Jimmy shook his head.
“Yes kids, in the Bible, there is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,” Thomas said and hugged me.
“But I thought Jesus lived inside us... Not some ghost,” Nat said.
“Honey it’s far too late for this kind of conversation... Maybe we should talk about this tomorrow?” I suggested.
“They are talking about God, Jesus, and the spirit within us,” Thomas said with a smile.
“All THREE of them are inside us?” Nat looked down at her stomach with confusion. “How they all fit in there?”
“I never been told I was full of God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit pa...I been told I was full of bull...is that what they meant?” Jimmy asked.
“Kids… go to bed,” I said tiredly, looking between them.
“Yes, and ask Mr. Chris about that next time you see him,” Thomas suggested.
The kids hugged us and said goodnight and we tucked them into bed upstairs.
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