April 27, 1901

Bisbee. 

Thomas and I walked over to the cafe late this morning and ordered some pastries and I looked over at him as I told him, “So... Joe’s case won’t go to trial. He won’t even get arrested.” 

“That don’t surprise me. Even if it did, he would probably get off with a slap on the wrist.” 

“Yeah... Just feels like a waste of time. Making things smell apparently isn’t enough of a destruction of property.” 

“Or painting the courthouse a bright yellow color. Though I admit it needed a new paint job. Sometimes I wonder why I ever put this badge on. Then I remember it was because I hoped to clean up Tombstone. Wow what a dumb idea huh?” 

I chuckled and nodded to him, sliding my hand over to squeeze his. “You put the badge on baby because then you can keep the peace in Diamond. Who cares what happens over there? I have to care what happens everywhere though.” 

Thomas smiled, taking my hand to kiss it. “I know. It just gets so frustrating when I see how they treat you, like you’re badge don’t even count and then when I try to do something, its not bad enough to count. We might as well be peeing in the wind sometimes.” 

“I know but…” I sighed. “I’ve worked too damn hard to get where I am today with this badge. I did decide however that I won’t prosecute in a courthouse where the man in charge is an outlaw boss and no one cares about true justice. The juries are rigged anyway so it’s not a system I can support as a lawyer. I’ll still act as an expert witness when I have the chance, and on the jury, but that’s as far as my involvement with the court will go.” 

“I know what you mean dear and I don’t blame you. I was on a jury once over in Tombstone, and it seemed a bit one sided to me. Like they were handpicked but it might have just been me. I just know I am not going out of my way anymore to stop the crime here when it does no good to say anything.” 

“Focus on Black Diamond, baby... And I’ll continue to try and solve mysteries when they come up... Or actual crimes... I s’pose the sheriff has a point. Joe didn’t really... destroy property so much. Just made it smell or changed its color…” I said and rolled my eyes. 

“Yeah, Black Diamond is probably the best decision I have ever made as a lawman. Other than Joe being a nuisance, nothing else ever happens there. You know I am thinking about teaching Jimmy how to bake something new instead of just the pigs in the blanket he so loves.” 

“That’s a good idea... He needs to learn some different foods. Maybe you could teach Natalie too. We all know I won’t be any good teaching them how to bake,” I said with a wink. 

Thomas laughed and leaned over to kiss me. “No, but you are getting pretty god at cooking the things I have showed you though. Did Natalie tell you I had a class full of girls and no boys Saturday morning?” 

“She did,” I said with a chuckle. “She said you had to forget about the guns on the desk and talk about a woman.” 

“Yeah, I couldn’t very well teach a bunch of girls about rifles, pistols and cannons from the Civil War now could I? So I started off with Hariett Tubman and the underground railroad.” 

“I’m sure they were eatin’ out of the palm of your hand.” I giggled. 

“I tried my best. From what Nat and Jimmy said about Saturday night, my class went a lot better than Miss Sunset’s. She was trying to teach respect and disrespect. Then I am not sure where it came in, but Jimmy said she said something about him and Natalie being sexed. I am not sure I want to know what that was all about.” 

“And the funny part about that? The dove teacher wasn’t the one telling them about sex.” I shook my head. “I’m just glad I had that talk with Natalie.” 

“Dove teacher?” Thomas looked at me with a confused look. 

“Miss Paisley... works as a dove over at Annie’s. And teaches at the school.” 

“Oh! I forgot about Paisley being a Dove at Annie’s. But she seems to be a better teacher than Miss Sunset. I have agreed with Jimmy and Natalie that they don’t have to go to her classes anymore.” 

“That’s very true... and yeah, I agree they shouldn’t go to her class either. There’s no point. They won’t learn anything there anyway. Except what not to do.” 

Natalie wandered over then and said, “Yeah! And miss Sunset was tryin’ to teach us ’bout salacious but it just made me and Jimmy more confused!” 

I looked over and smiled, “Well hey there kiddo! Pull up a seat!” 

“Hey munchkin! What ya up to?” Thomas asked with a smile. 

“Well I was just wanderin’ around. Not much goin’ on really,” Natalie said and took a seat. 

“We were just talking about your class with Miss Sunset and how we agree you shouldn’t go to her classes anymore,” I told her. 

“Yeah... She was just confusin’. She don’t know how to stay on topic neither. Or even.. get a topic for that matter,” Natalie said. 

“Where is you’re little brother Natalie. He ain’t still in bed is he?” Thomas asked. 

“Uh... I dunno. I was workin’ at the cantina and then came back here ’cause I wanted to see what you guys were doin’.” 

“How are things at the cantina? I bet it’s quiet there without miss Bree,” I looked at her. 

“Yeah... I really miss her. Still can’t believe what miss Rikki and Miss Muriel said ’bout that,” she muttered. 

Jimmy walked over then and when we asked him what he’d been up to he said he’d been colouring and drawing. We talked about learning how to make muffins and cupcakes and it was so good to spend time with each other as a family. We talked about how good it was living in Bisbee and we talked about the kids going to the mine. I got upset at Natalie and we told them never to go back to the mines because it was too dangerous. 

We turned the subject to things for the kids to write about for the paper and then Jimmy mentioned going to the cemetery on Boot Hill. Thomas asked what they were doing there and Natalie said they were visiting Jimmy’s pa and wanted to read the stones that were there. Natalie and Jimmy headed off to write as Thomas and I went to the saloon to dance.