Tombstone.
I walked out of the office this morning and saw a woman about to knock on my door, waiting for me with her hand raised to knock. I could see her bruises and burns on her arms and I greeted her. “Oh, hello!”
“Why, hello!” The woman gave me a quick, anxious looking smile as she glanced down.
“Can I help you ma’am?”
“You’re Ms. Trin...is that correct?”
“Yes indeed I am.”
“I was told to file a report with you regarding the courthouse bombing… I left a copy in your mailbox here and was checking to see if you had received it.”
“You must be Mer Kuiper? I did receive that and was just going to pass the completed incident report on to the Sheriff,” I said with a smile. “We have more than enough for a warrant against Rikki for what she did to you. I am sorry that you had to go through that.”
Mer smiled with relief and said, “Oh! Well… I just couldn’t let her… I mean… a place of law…”
I sighed and nodded to her. “I understand, ma’am. It is awful.”
“I fear a meek librarian was no match for that wretch.”
“I hope you are healing well?” I asked, looking her over.
“I only wish I could have done well.”
“You did do very well, hon. You survived. Now you can testify against her.”
“Oh, the burns will heal, and I am confident that my own anxieties will fade as I see justice served,” Mer said with a gracious smile.
“Yes, they will. I have been through similar circumstances. Time really does heal all wounds.”
“It is an absolute pity that we must first get acquainted over such an unfortunate situation.”
“It is scary for a while but eventually... Those ghosts will pass. Unfortunately in my case justice wasn’t served. But I had no choice other than to move on.”
“I have no illusions that a trial will right all the wrongs of that wretched woman, but at least it’s a step in the right direction.”
I shook my head and said, “It is fine. Like I said... Time heals all. Unfortunately the Natives thought they could do whatever they wanted to me.”
Natalie walked down the street towards us then and came over. “Ma!!”
I smiled seeing Natalie and looked at Mer. “I have someone you should meet. My daughter down there... she is in love with books. She’s been wanting to meet the new librarian.”
“Ma! Is Pa awake yet? We got school soon!!” Nat exclaimed.
“Oh! How splendid!” Mer exclaimed and followed me downstairs as I gave Nat a hug and introduced her to Mer. Awen came over then too and I smiled as Bill Badfinger came over to join us.
“Mister Poe!” Nat exclaimed as she greeted him.
“Mr. Poe?” I chuckled and looked between Nat and Bill.
“Yeah ma! When me and Jimmy met him he had a raven and looked a lit like mister Poe!” Nat grinned.
“I told you she reads,” I said with a laugh, looking over at Mer.
“Are you coming to school today Natalie?” Awen asked her.
“Hey there’s nothin’ wrong with readin’!” Nat insisted.
“Nothing at all, my dear! Why, it is to be encouraged and embraced!” Mer agreed.
“I do believe I said ... and I quote... I live it and he just writes about it,” Bill stated.
“Yeah Awen I am! Pa’s gonna teach if he wakes up sooon enough!” Nat said.
“And I do hope you come find me anytime you are in search of your next literary adventure!” Mer told Nat.
“I think you and my daughter will get along just fine, Mer,” I said with a smile. “How are things, Bill? Still kickin’ about, I see?”
“Ma, his name’s mister Poe. At first he said he was ‘Another Time’ but then I thought Mister Poe sounded better,” Nat told me.
“Still keepin an EYE on things,” Bill said, lifting his eyelid slightly and making Nat giggle.
“A fine imagination is a thing to treasure, indeed. Your Natalie has quite a gift!” Mer said with a glance at me.
“Indeed. She is quite imaginative. You should join the children at school, Mer,” I said as I nodded to Mer.
We continued to talk about school and it was wonderful to catch up. I decided to join them at school and followed them to the schoolhouse where I waited outside for Thomas to arrive. When he did, I went over to kiss him in greeting.
“I wanted to come and listen to your class. I hope that’s alright?”
Thomas kissed me firmly and hugged me tight. “Of course dear. Not sure what I am teaching this morning just yet. Teaching a bunch of girls is different from teaching boys.”
“That it is. Natalie made the point that there needs to be boys. How did you sleep, love?”
“Ma! Pa! Stop kissin’ and come inside to meet the new librarian!!!” Nat called outside then.
“I slept like a rock. Those late night town patrols is kicking my rear. I finally got to bed around 3 am this morning.
I blushed and looked at Tom. “I do believe we’re being summoned.”
Tom laughed and we walked into the schoolhouse together. Tom met the librarian and said that she could call him Thomas or Tom if she liked. I had begun calling him Tom lately and I sat in the back as Mer started to talk with him about the library.
“I had hoped to ask… do you have a topic for your lecture today? I’d like to run to the library and pull some books that might be related. You know, should the children wish to read more…”
“Well I am running sort of late ma’am. I haven’t got to that point just yet. It’s been a bit different with all girls in class lately,” Tom told her.
“Oh I assure you… I know how that goes.”
We waited as kids continued to come into school and Mer joined me in the back of the schoolhouse. We talked about how Jeff runs the Bee and Nat wrote for him on occasion. Natalie asked Zandra if her mean uncle and aunt were coming and I told her not to call adults mean, even if they did yell. I told her to smarten up and she went on to talk to Jeff about a place called Fairbank.
“We will start in just a moment everybody,” Tom said as the children discussed whether or not they had homework.
“Good morning everyone! We are going to learn about something interesting today. Anyone in here who has ever heard of Buffalo Bill Cody or the Wild West Show?”
“I heard summin about him once but not much,” Jeff said. “I heard he was a outlaw.”
“How about Calamity Jane, or Annie Oakley?”
“Yeah!! I heard those names! I dunno what they did though. How come I never wrote ’bout them yet?” Nat exclaimed.
“I heard about Annie, yes. Nora told me that story many times,” Jeff said.
“No. I haven’t but I lived in Canada,” Awen said.
“So did ma!” Nat exclaimed.
“I am sure you have heard about the famous lawman Wild Bill Hickock also right?” Tom asked but they shook their heads.
“Yeah that wild Bill is the outlaw so then naw not heard of buffalo one,” Jeff said.
“Well kids, those people all have been a part of Buffalo Bills Wild West Show. Which is a traveling show of sharpshooters, Indians and people from around the world.”
“Wow! I wanna see them!” Nat exclaimed.
“A show? Like a theater?” Jeff asked.
“Like a circus? With animals and costumes and stuff?”
“And clowns and food.”
“I hate clowns,” Nat said with a shudder and I gave her a look to quiet down while Tom taught.
“No Jeffery, like out in public, on the streets, and sometimes in a theatre. But they would do trick shots, and trick horse riding and have indian fights. Not real of course. One of the most famous indians of this century, Sitting Bull was even a part of the show.”
Zandra raised her hand as Jeff and Nat said they wanted to see it and when Tom called on her, Zandra said, “Sir, how can there be shooting, Without anyone dying?”
“Yeah do they use fake bullets or somethin’?” Nat asked.
“Well Zandra, they would shoot at playing cards, or targets,” Tom said.
“Ain’t so such thang as a fake bullet, is it Mr. Thomas?” Jeff asked.
“Wild Bill Hickcock is said to have shot the glass off the top of a dogs head using a mirror and his rifle and shooting from over his shoulder once,” Tom said.
“I bet that dog was not happy,” Awen said.
“Well I not think thats a bit funny cause he mighta even blasted that dog,” Jeff said. “Yay but the dog didn’t kilt over.”
“But how many times did he kill the dog practicing?” Awen asked. “Doggies don’t sit still ya know.”
“I am sure he wasn’t. But Hickock was said to be the fastest deadliest man with his two Army Colt Revolvers. But that’s a story for another time. They also would light a match by shooting it with their pistols or rifles. Can anyone in here do that?”
“Maybe he used a fake dog,” Zandra suggested.
“Hmm a fake dog. Mr Wallace where do you get a fake dog?” Awen asked.
“Probably the same place you get unicorns and pink elephants Awen,” Tom smiled at her.
“I can’t cause I’m not allowed to use nuttin but my BB Gun and it not shoots fire,” Jeff said.
“I’m not allowed to use a gun Sir,” Awen said.
“Yeah Jimmy’s not ’llowed either,” Nat said.
“Well of course not. Children shouldn’t be running around shooting guns. BB Guns are different. But can still be harmful if not careful.”
Millard came into the schoolhouse then and I noticed Nat blushing as she threw a piece of paper over towards Jeff. Jeff picked up the piece of paper and Tom said, “Ok, back to our class. Children!” I glared at Nat for throwing the paper.
“Pa, does the Wild West show ever come to Tombstone?” Nat asked, and then corrected herself. “I mean uh, Mister Thomas?”
“I don’t think so Natalie. They travel all over the world though. To places like Germany, England, France and even Canada.”
“Aw man. I wanna see it. Maybe when we go visit Grandma in Canada we can see it.”
“It’s a possibility,” Tom said and I smiled at my daughter, nodding. I remembered then the telegram Josh had sent me about my mother and looked down, not wanting Natalie to worry. “Of course you have other traveling wild west shows, but Mr. Cody’s is the most famous. He got famous from being an indian scout and fighting in the Civil War.”
“Wow! Like Grandpa!” Nat exclaimed and I started to get emotional as I thought about my father.
“Yes,” Tom said and asked, “Anyone in here know who Sitting Bull is?”
“Mr. Thomas, was Mr. Cody an Apache or a Cherokee or a Cheyenne?” Nat asked.
“He was neither Natalie. He was a white man just like we are.”
“But we ain’t seen many injuns around here in a while,” Jeff said. “I wonder if they went to French. I heard folks say that before.”
“Sitting Bull sounds more Indian,” Nat said and giggled at Jeff. “Why would they go there? They don’t talk French.”
“Cause I heard a woman say once when she was mad she was just gonna go to France,” Jeff said.
“France is beautiful in the springtime,” Aspen said.
“How do you know Aspen? Have you been *everywhere*?” Nat asked, emphasizing the last word to show her jealousy.
“How else would I know if I hadn’t been there?” Aspen asked.
“Yes he was. He was a medicine man and a Sioux warrior in the Dakota Territory,” Tom explained.
“Ooooh. Sioux is a new one I not heard ’bout. So he was like a doctor,” Nat said.
“I heard of ‘em,” Millard said.
“Do we got Sioux here, Mill?” Nat asked.
“Injuns all look the same to me,” Millard said with a shrug.
“That name is new to me. I ain’t ever heard such Injuns,” Jeff said.
“Yes sort of, you could say. He was most famous for his part at the Little Big Horn and the fight and last stand of General Custer,” Tom said.
“How come he was named after a pie?” Millard asked. “Or was the pie named after him.. hm…”
“You are thinking of Custard Millard.”
“Oh.”
“But now you can see why all these people were in the Wild West Show. Wild Bill Hickock because he was a famous lawman and indian fighter, Sitting Bull because he as a famous Sioux indian, Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane because they were famous for their shooting.”
“And shootin’,” Jeff said.
“Is this a history class?” Awen asked.
“Yes Awen, this is a history class,” Tom said with a nod and then finally said, “Ok. Calm down children! “ Tom said in a firm voice, and I could tell that he was getting frustrated with the kids getting a bit out of control today. “I want us all to have fun and enjoy my class, but we all need to get ourselves under control. Understood? I would hate to have to assign writing assignments of how to act in class to all of you.”
Awen raised her hand and when Tom looked at her she said she was only 6. Natalie, I noticed, was also avoiding her father’s gaze.
“I am not saying anyone did anything. But the speaking out and talking over the teacher must quiet down. Otherwise I might as well sit down and let you all just do whatever you want. Right?”
They all nodded and apologized as Jeff asked if he could still talk a little.
“I don’t mind a little chatter, but when I get up here and try to teach, I would like you all to pay attention to me as much as you can. I know you all want to play, and learn and have fun, but that all happens outside of the classroom.”
“Yes sir,” they all said and Awen sniffed a little.
“Now I am going to dismiss class early this morning. Cause I have a headache and well, I run out of material it seems. The next couple of weeks I won’t be teaching but I expect all my student to show the other teachers the same respect you show me. Ok?” Tom looked around and I looked up at him, sensing his patience was running thin. “You are all a great bunch of children, and I am so happy to have you in my class. Maybe next time I teach, we can take a field trip.”
“On the train??” Jeff asked.
“Now class is dismissed. Shoo all you kiddos!” Tom said and handed out candy to everyone.
Nat stood shakily, looking from Tom to me as the others headed out. Tom told her to come to him and she walked over to the front of the room. Tom hugged her tightly and told her he loved her. She apologized for making him mad and he said it was alright and that he’d just needed to get control of the class.
When it was just the three of us in the classroom, I looked from Tom and Natalie and said, “Natalie, I want to tell you something too. I’ve received a telegram from my brother Josh…”
“What’s wrong ma?” Nat asked with worry.
“Well kiddo.. It looks like... Like you and I have something else in common now,” I said, wiping a tear from my eye.
“What do you mean, ma?” Nat asked, looking at us with confusion.
Tom looked at me and frowned with understanding, holding me close as he put his arms around me. “Oh I am so sorry…”
I choked up and leaned into Tom while drawing Natalie close. “Grandma’s gone, sweetie. She was getting old and she... She’s gone.” I hugged them both and hold them to me as Nat cried against us. “Josh and Leslie... They want me to help with the funeral. I’m not sure when it’ll be but... it will be soon.”
“We can all go if you want dear. I don’t like you and Natalie going that far alone. Plus Jimmy will want to go to be with you and Natalie too,” Tom said.
“Yes... It might be sometime throughout the week, I’m not sure when yet,” I said with a nod to him.
“Is Uncle Josh okay?” Nat looked up at me.
“As well as I am. We’re just glad she’s not hurting anymore,” I said with a nod.
“I don’t wanna go to the cantina today,” Nat said and hugged us tight.
“You don’t have to go today, sweetie. You can come home with us,” I told her. “I wanted to tell you as soon as I found out... It’s hard because they’re so far away... And I knew it would happen soon ’cause she’s well... she was getting old…” I said as we headed back to Bisbee.
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