May 9, 1901

Tombstone. 

I walked down the street this morning and met a man named Diego who was new to the area. We talked about how there was a lot of jobs that he could do in town and Angel walked over so I introduced them. We talked about Wild Fox getting hit by the train the night before and about how she caused a lot of trouble in town. We talked about how there had been a lot of attacks on the fort lately and I commented how the soldiers hadn’t even asked me for my help. 

Seeing Jan near the Oriental I walked over to her and said, “Well, well, well… She does live..” 

“Can I help ya with somethin?” Jan looked up. 

“I hope so. I was wondering if I could talk to you about something.” 

“You’re that Pinkerton, aren’t ya?” She looked at me closer. 

“Yes... I was approached by a young girl... she claimed she was looking around for her mother. She’s about twelve, I believe. Or thirteen. Her name’s Wyett Urp…” I stepped closer to her since she gave me a puzzled look, and got out the sketch I’d done of Jan, thinking I’d done a fairly good job. 

Jan blinked and looked at the picture. “Wyette.. that’s an odd name.” 

“Indeed… However… She said her father’s passed and she’s been lookin’ around for someone by an odd name as well. But oddly enough, the name sounds a lot like your name.” 

“Well that’s some coincidence,” she said and shifted a bit. 

“Yes well... the name she told me was Janna Lee Moonie. Sounds an awful lot like your name, don’t it?” 

“That it does.. but it’s not impossible for someone to have a name that sounds like mine.” 

“So you never had a daughter named Wyett... that was separated from you for some reason when she was young?” 

She glanced up at the clock tower and then looked back at me. “I’m not the motherin kind.” 

“You see... she told me that she was from Kansas... and her father and mother met in some saloon but then the woman took off with some bad people she was running with. About eight months later she came back saying she was pregnant and that he was the father. Apparently Wyett believes that her mother is in the area here.” 

Jan gave a slight sigh and said, “Uh.. well that’s an awful sad story.. losin her father and all.” 

“So you don’t have any recollection of these events happening to yourself?” I asked her. “Jan... After Wyette left my office last night I drew a sketch of her. In case I ran into you. Would you be willing to take a look at it? See if there’s anything... familiar?” 

“Over there,” Jan said as she pointed to the Crystal Palace. We walked towards the saloon and went inside where Jan poured herself a drink and downed it quickly. 

I got out my sketch of Wyette and the one I’d drawn of Jan and set them on the counter. “Now Jan... there are only so many ways we can determine if two people are related.” 

“Let me see it,” Jan said with a sigh and stepped over to look. 

“One of the ways we can determine that is actually by ear and facial structure. You’ll notice... both you and Wyette have similar structures. And the ears... Almost identical.” 

Jan bent closer to look at the picture and shook her head, staring at the drawing. “It can’t be,” she whispered. Turning back to me she asked, “How’d she get here from Kansas?” 

“That part I don’t know,” I said with a shrug. “You’d have to talk to her..” 

“Must be a pretty resourceful kid.” 

“My daughter and her are close friends. They are both very bright young girls. Natalie talks very highly of her.” 

Jan shook her head, looking away. “I never expected to see her again.. at least not till after she was grown.” 

“Judging by your reaction... we’ve confirmed that this is indeed your daughter?” 

“I did have a little girl and named her Wyette.. I left her with her father, Henry, because I knew I couldn’t drag a kid around with me.” 

“Yes... She said her father’s name was Henry.” 

“Must be her then.. that drawing looks a lot like I did at her age.. she’s 13?” 

I nodded and said, “She lives over at the orphanage.. I can tell her then... that you’re indeed her mother? Would you... like to meet her sometime?” 

“I don’t know.. I need some time to process this,” Jan said and looked over her shoulder, then back at me. 

I nodded, taking the sketches back and put them in my pocket. “I understand... It’s a lot to process. Shall I have a talk with Wyette then? I’ll leave the meeting up to you but as far as I’m concerned, I think we’ve solved this mystery.” 

“I’ve never told anyone that I had a baby, in all these years.” 

“That’s a big secret to keep to yourself.” 

“It was easier,” she said with a nod. 

“Understandable… I never thought I would be a mother either. Now I find myself with two children. I’m not sure how it happened.” I chuckled. 

“And, well.. I don’t care much for kids anyway…. Oh I remember how it happened. You know why I insisted on naming her Wyette?” Jan asked and I shook my head. “Her father tried to convince me he was Wyatt Earp.” 

“Really…” I chuckled. 

“I’d heard rumors that Earp was in Kansas at the time, and he looked a lot like him.. and I was pretty drunk, so I fell for it.. and would up pregnant.” 

“Well, I’m glad I was able to solve this mystery for her... a daughter deserves to know her parents, I believe. I’ll let you go, Jan. You have a lot to process.” 

Jan shook her head and nodded, looking at the bottle in her hand. “I might need a bit more of this.” 

I chuckled and nodded. “Take care, Jan. I’ll have a conversation with Wyette and tell her we’ve solved this case and leave the rest in your hands.” 

“Ok… I ain’t  even sure what I’d say to her.” 

“Well you can take all the time you need. See you around, Jan.” I headed out of the saloon, proud of myself for solving another case so quickly.