April 7, 1901

Bisbee. 

This evening Thomas and I were sitting upstairs and kissing one another when Jimmy and Natalie came inside. “Shh... maybe they won’t hear us up here,” I whispered to Thomas as we heard them whispering downstairs but couldn’t make out what they were saying. 

“I hear ya down there kiddos. It’s alright if you have a cookie. But if you make a mess, you clean it up!” Thomas called down to them. 

“Dang his perfect hearing,” Natalie muttered. 

“I know right...how does he do that?” 

Thomas pulled me closer in bed and kissed me softly. “That should keep them busy for a little while.” 

I giggled and kissed him back deeply. “We were just getting comfortable too…” I whispered. 

“I know...they always seem to know the worst time to come home, don’t they…?” Thomas laughed and kissed me hard. 

“These cookies are the best sis. Did you know ma made them?” Jimmy was saying in the kitchen. 

“She did?!” Natalie exclaimed. 

“I heard that!” I called down. 

“Yeah, pa showed her what to do, and she made them all by herself. They taste almost as good as pa’s,” Jimmy said. 

“Wow!! Well they ARE real good!” Nat exclaimed. 

“I swear, they make it sound like a miracle that I cook something edible,” I muttered. 

Thomas laughed and kissed me again. “Almost as good as mine!” I tickled him hard and he as laughed under me and said, “Awww, they really like your cookies dear..you did great on them..even the little gingerbread men.” 

“Well, I worked hard on those, so they better!” 

“Ma, I’m comin’ up to bed now. Jimmy’s bein’ mean to you!” Nat exclaimed. 

“I ain’t either! I just said my gingerbread man got three feet instead of two is all!” Jimmy retorted. 

I sat up in the bed, looking innocent. “Yours does not have three, young man!!” I looked at Jimmy. 

“Whatcha dooooin’?” Nat asked as she jumped into bed with us. 

“Then what is it ma? Three legs? Is he crippled? I mean he tastes great, but he has three things one him, I swear,” Jimmy insisted. 

“Are ya sure ya didn’t just eat one of the arms or legs and are callin it three that way?” I asked. 

“Oof! Hey there munchkin!” Thomas laughed as Natalie jumped into his lap. 

“Hiya!” Nat giggled and cuddled up to her pa. “How come you guys are in bed so early?” 

Jimmy showed me his cookie and said, “Seeee?!” 

“”We were uh... tired,” I blushed and looked to Thomas. 

Thomas looked at me and shook his head. “We had a long herd day dear...we were tired and needed to rest.” 

“What’s a long hard day, pa? Did ya work or somethin’?” Nat giggled. 

“Yeah, trying to catch the fish and poo crook munchkin!” Thomas chuckled. 

“Well... maybe you should put somethin’ on your door for him. Like Shira’s poo. See how he likes it,” Natalie suggested. 

“You know, that’s not a bad idea…” I said and looked at Thomas. 

“What? Shira’s poo on my office door? I don’t think so,” Thomas said and shook his head. 

“Uh huh!!! And then when he comes to give you stuff he’ll be like woah, someone’s been here already, and he’ll leave ya alone!” Nat said. 

“But then I still have Shira’s poo on the door. How long do you think I should leave it on there?” 

“Well um…” Nat giggled and looked at me. “I dunno. She’s the detective.” 

“Or maybe not leave the poo... but you could leave a note or somethin,” I suggested. 

“I really am the poo patrol huh? What do I write…? ‘Hey Mister Poo Man, I got doggy do, please don’t put any more on my door!’” Thomas rolled his eyes and shook his head. 

“Hey Pa that rhymes!!” Nat giggled. 

“Well no but you could tell him to say what he’s tryin’ to say to your face.. Since he don’t seem to have the uh... guts to do it and is just leavin’ ya stuff,” I said and chuckled. 

“Yeah pa! Then he’ll come and talk to ya and then ya can get ’im!!” Nat giggled. 

Thomas rolled over and covered his head, beginning to snore. “I am going to sleep…NIGHT!” 

“Aw man, Paaaaaa!” Nat giggled and looked at me. “Well I thought it was a good idea.” 

“Pa I got plenty of Shira’s poo out back if ya need it…” Jimmy chuckled. 

“I think so too. Just gotta convince your father now. You two get ready for bed,” I said and laughed at the kids. 

“Why me O Lord?!” Thomas cried dramatically. 

“Cause you asked for a house full of love and laughter, and he gave you one?” I asked him. 

“Yeah pa! He answered yer prayers!!!” Nat grinned. 

Thomas tickled me and kissed me. “You ain’t helping much, Miss Pinkerton Detective!” He laughed and stuck his tongue out at the kids. “Off to bed, you two!” 

I giggled and tickled him back. “I’m just tryin’ to show you the bright side,” I said with a wink, laughing hard. 

“Okay, okay, we’re goin’ to bed,” Nat said with a sigh and clambered out of the bed. 

We said goodnight to the kids and they headed to get their pyjamas on while we blew out the candles and went to sleep.