July 13, 1901

Black Diamond. 

This morning, I walked down the street in Diamond and saw Will O’Sullivan standing in front of one of the house. “Howdy Will. Been looking for you.” 

“Me?” He laughed. 

“Mmhmm.” 

“What do you need? I’m not hard to find. I live here now. Just need some hanging baskets I think,” he said and laughed. 

“Well... Seems there’s been some rumours of political disputes as of late,” I told him. 

“Oh, well they learn I’m the only real candidate. No one knows outlaws like I do,” he said and laughed. “I mean Jackson don’t get it.” 

“You know anything about who burned down the campaign office the other week?” 

“No, of course not. But I happened by it after it as burnt and was so ugly I slapped up one of my election posters on the wall as a public service. His store was so so so ugly. What an eye sore? I expect better of a candidate…” 

“Oh really? So you weren’t around to witness the fire itself then?” 

“Of course not. I would have reported it to the local law… That is if I could find one,” he said and chuckled. 

“Well, you can always report things to me in my mailbox, Will. You do know I happen to live with a local lawman here…” 

“Oh, I ain’t seen him lately.” Will offered his hand and said, “You know, I could use your vote. Jackson is is such a stuff shirt and I hear the other man Chris is a womanizer.” 

“Well, even if he ain’t been around, he’s more than likely at home with the children while I’m working. You can always get a message to him through my mailbox.” 

“Oh yes. Well, I didn’t have anything to report about the fire. I bet he burnt it himself… maybe for insurance. I hear his campaign is short of funds.” 

“Hey there Dee,” I said as the woman walked over to join us. 

“Dee, she’s asking about the fire across the street,” Will explained. 

“Oh,” Dee said. 

“I told her I walked up after it.” 

“Been looking around for anyone who lives in the area for days…” I nodded. “Things have been kinda quiet no matter when I come into town.

“Yes, it has been very quiet,” Dee said. 

“Yes we just moved in here together,” Will said with a smile. “We plan to liven things up a bit.”

“Well good to have some regular residents around here,” I said. “I’ve had my office here for a while now... If you need anything at all, please drop a note in the mailbox. I’ll make sure it gets to local law.” 

“Well can’t say as I blame them… Menkes is such a rude man,” Dee said. 

“Yes he was saying he bedded my mother and she like 80 years old such a tasteless man he is,” Will said. 

“Just would have been nice to have a witness of some sort… Not much we can do without it.” 

“Yes, and also I hear he received lots of donations from the ladies’ society meeting, but can’t account for them. Tisk tisk…” 

“Is the frustration lately. No one seems to be around unless there’s a dance,” I said with a shrug. 

“Unfortunately they do things when no one is around,” Dee commented. 

“Well we plan to be here lots,” Will told me. “Where is your office Trin?” 

I led them to my office and showed them my mailbox where they could leave me messages. Will asked me if I could hang up a poster on my window but I told him I didn’t want to get into the political stuff as it would put a target on my back. He offered to handle any problems I was having and I told them I didn’t want to make things dangerous for my children. 

“You know,” Will said then. “I hear he professes himself as strong on law, and he shot Rikki down and drew first.” 

“I was aware there has been bad blood between the two.” I nodded. 

“Well no one charged him. I think he’s paid the law off,” Will said. 

“Last I heard Chris was running as well.” 

“He is. Running after ever skirt in town… Oops, did I say that out loud?” 

“But he has not been here much either,” Dee put in. “Last I heard he was engaged to Kai.” 

“Oh is he? I hadn’t heard that yet.” 

“That was a few months ago,” Dee said with a nod. 

Jimmy walked over then and Dee was shocked at Jimmy’s BB gun, but I said that was Tom’s doing. We talked about the rules of guns and then we looked back over to the campaign office. 

“But I sure am glad he fixed the place back up what an eye sore it was,” Will said. 

“I have my suspicions,” Dee said. 

“Not really much I can do without witnesses, now is there?” I muttered. 

“I bet Chris did it,” Will suggested. 

“Even if we have evidence it doesn’t prove who did the fire itself. Just who was around. Which isn’t enough for a warrant.” 

“Well we will keep an eye out,” Dee promised. “Seeing how’s we live right here now.” 

“I’d appreciate that, Dee. The more eyes the better.” 

“Well I heard she shot Rikki down and drew first,” Will said. 

“Who shot Rikki down first? Right before the fire?” I looked at him. 

“I also hear that it was a revenge shooting. That’s a hanging offense. I would like to see him charges.” 

“When did this alleged revenge shooting happen?” I asked. 

“I did see a new deputy sheriff here the other day. A lady,” Dee commented randomly. 

“Well it was the night after the ladies society meeting,” Will told me. 

“Which was when in relation to the fire? And who shot her?” I asked. 

“He was running around town saying he was going to get Rikki.” 

“Jackson?” 

“Yes. I think Bree treated his wounds and probably heard it.” 

“When, Will? Before the fire?” 

“Yes, before the fire.”

“Yes and Kris let him go,” Dee said. “The marshal.” 

“Right before?” I asked. 

“That doesn’t surprise me.” I sighed. 

“Dirty law is the worse thing,” Will said. “Well I’m sure there were witnesses. It was on Allen street. I was not here or I would have fixed it.”

“Alright let me get this straight. Before the fire at the campaign office, Jackson was shouting that he would get Rikki and he managed to shoot her down. Bree treated Rikki’s wounds and Jackson was arrested by Kris but then released?” I asked. 

“Yes,” Dee said. 

“He most likely paid bail then.” 

“No. He was let go form the docs office.” 

“Yes and the night before was the ladies society meeting,” Will said. “And Jackson was shot that night.” 

“I see.” 

“And was outside bragging how he was going to get Rikki. I’m sure Bree heard that.” 

“Kris was there then?” I asked. 

“Yes. It was the night of Kate’s dance,” Dee told me. 

“How soon before the fire did this all happen?” I asked. “That means Monday night… What night or day was the fire exactly?” 

“Yes the ladies society meeting was umm robbed on Sunday night,” Will said. “He thought Rikki done it. I’m sure Doll can give you the dates.” 

“The fire... June 25. A Thursday,” I summarized. 

“Yes, this was a week before, or maybe two.” 

“So the ladies’ society robbery and the revenge shooting happened a week before the campaign office fire burned down?” I asked. 

“Yeah. There was witnesses. I bet Rikki knows who was there when she got shot.” 

“Rikki’s statement wouldn’t help me in court, Will,” I told him. 

“Well good luck talking to Kris. He never answers me,” Dee said. 

“Believe me, I know…” I sighed. 

“It was a week or maybe two. I’m not good on dates detective,” Will admitted. 

“But it was before the fire, yes?” I asked. 

“Yes, before the fire.” 

“And you’re suggesting the fire is in response to Jackson’s revenge shooting?” 

“Who knows. The man is dirt. I bet he’s got lots of enemies.” 

“Well at least we know the bigger picture now, right buddy?” I grinned and looked down at Jimmy who just nodded in agreement, though he looked confused. 

“Well he can accuse me. I will make a fool out of him in court.” He laughed. 

“He still hasn’t given me a statement about the event. Neither has Suzy. Or anyone else for that matter.” 

“Well of course not. That would implicate him in a revenge shooting and that’s a hanging offence. He could be the first candidate for governor that is hung.” 

“Kind of a ‘catch twenty-two’,” Dee agreed. 

I nodded, understanding. “So as usual... I just need witnesses. But there likely wasn’t a single witness to the fire, so we’d still be back to circumstantial evidence.” 

“I would like to see him charged for shooting my friend Rikki,” Will said. 

Jimmy offered them some liquorice and Dee confirmed that I would be singing at the Stock Exchange in a couple of hours. 

Will looked at me then and said, “Trin, I doubt you will ever solve the fire case but there is an easier one the revenge shooting.” 

“Will... do you know anything about the ranger station fire, which happened the same day as the campaign fire?” I asked. 

“No." 

“Not a word’s been said about that fire either. I guess my focus turns to the revenge shooting.” 

“Sounds like we have an arsonist.” 

“Don’t we always?” 

“Well I think the shooting and the cover up is a much bigger story.” 

“Indeed, it’s the bigger case for sure, just a matter of whether these are all related or not,” I said. “It sounds as if they are.” 

“Well he’s a dirty man. And so arrogant.” 

“Well I wish you luck..like I said we will keep ours eyes open Trin,” Dee promised. 

“Maybe he needs a bath Mr Will,” Jimmy suggested. 

“Thanks, Dee. I’m gonna need it,” I said and chuckled at my son. “If only it were that simple.” 

“Well pa always says ex-lax can clean yore insides, and a good bath on the outside, might get ’em clean both in and out, right ma?” Jimmy looked up at me and I smirked, messing his hat a bit. 

Jimmy and I headed over to the cantina but Bree was napping so we went for a ride. 

Goldfield. 

We stopped riding in Goldfield when Jimmy called to me and said, “Ma! I need to show you something me and Natalie and Timmie found.” 

“This oughtta be good. I’m right behind you.” I chuckled. 

“Oh I sure hope so. Can you… help me with my saddle bag?” Jimmy asked and tried to lift it over his shoulder. I reached for it and almost dropped it. 

“Geez Jimmy, what’s in that thing? Gold??” 

“Woah ma! Be careful!” He looked at me with a big smile and said, “Actually… yes!” 

I stumbled back a bit on my horse and looked at him. “James Randall Wallace Paige. You better not be teasing me.” 

Jimmy opened the saddle bag and showed me a big chunk of gold. “I ain’t teasin’ ma. It’s real gold. We found it in some old ruins in the ground.” 

I blinked at him and looked around nervously. “Jimmy. Not out in the open. Do you have any idea what outlaws would do if they saw that pile of gold right now?” 

Jimmy looked around and asked, “What outlaws ma?” 

“The ones that could be lurking around the corner. Let’s take this bag home. Does your father know about this?” 

“Nobody but the nuggets and you now ma. We found it over a week ago.” 

I exhaled a bit and said, “Let’s ride back to Bisbee and take it home, alright? I don’t want you carrying that around with you all the time. It’s too dangerous. And we’re going to tell your father.”

“Okay ma,” he said to my surprise. I’d been expecting more of a protest but was relieved when it didn’t come and we rode back home. 

Bisbee. 

I walked into the house with Jimmy as Jimmy dragged the heavy saddle bag up the hill, grunting as he went. “Tom!” I shouted as we walked inside. 

“What I do now?” Tom asked from upstairs.

“You didn’t do anything, dear. It’s your children. Come down here please?” 

“Damn that’s heavy!” Jimmy said as he dragged the bag into the house, sweating already. 

“James Randal. Language,” I said and looked down to him. 

Tom walked downstairs and looked at me, then at Jimmy. “What in the world have you done now kiddo? And what did I tell you about that language?” 

“Well you try toting a hug chunk of gold up that dern hill and see what you say,” Jimmy said to him. 

“I want to know where you found that gold, son,” I looked at Jimmy. 

“A huge chunk of WHAT?!” Tom exclaimed. 

Nat ran into the house then and we all greeted her as Shira in behind her. Shira licked Jimmy’s face and then bounded over to greet us as we looked between the two children. 

“Explain yourselves. NOW,” I said firmly to the two of them. 

“What did I do?!” Nat asked, looking confused. 

Tom walked over to me and asked, “Did he say what I think he said? Did they find gold somewhere?” 

Jimmy looked at Nat and then at me. “We didn’t steal it, I swear!” 

I pointed at the couch and said, “Alright. Everyone sit, and explain this to us.” 

Shira sat down obediently and we looked at the kids, waiting for an explanation as Tom declared he needed a drink and poured himself some whiskey. 

“Well where do we start?” Jimmy asked Nat. 

“Well we found that letter, ’member Jimmy? From that dead soldier guy’s wife!” Nat started. 

“Oh yeah, and you found whatever it was from the soldier too sis. So we went to look where that map showed us.” 

“Yeah! The treasure map!” 

“So you found a treasure map. Where? Then where did you find this gold?” Tom asked. 

“What, no whiskey for me?” I asked, looking at Tom. 

Tom offered me half his whiskey and said, “I didn’t think you would want any before singing dear?” 

“It’s good for the throat and I’ve got lots of time before I have to sing.” I shrugged. “Besides... extenuating circumstances.” 

Jimmy looked around and said, “Ok well you remember our hideout where we found that money. Well upstairs there is an old teapot where I found a letter with a map on the back of it. The letter was from the wife to her soldier telling him she found the gold.” 

“Yeah,” Nat said, “So then we went to the hideout and showed Timmie ’cause he’s our newest Nugget friend. Then we went and found this real neat ranger’s station.” 

“Wait, wait... which ranger station?” I blinked. 

“The Ranger station in Black Diamond,” Jimmy replied and I swallowed hard, looking at Tom with worry as I recalled the fires as of late. 

“Don’t worry ma, it was empty. Except Nat found a letter from a soldier to the same woman who wrote the letter I and map I found. The we followed the map to a place high up in the hills, where there is a house, but just below it a ways was some old walls fallen down and we found that big chunk of gold buried there.” 

Tom looked confused and said, “I didn’t know Diamond had a Ranger station.” 

“It’s the one that Suzy told me had been put on fire... around the same time as the campaign office. But no one has given me a statement or anything to investigate it, so since the soldiers seem to think they can solve it on their own, I’m letting them deal with it,” I explained. 

“We did see not fire damage when we went in there ma. We found a case full of guns and a jail cell inside though,” Jimmy said. 

“Mama it was real neat. But the cell was unlocked. So we could go in and out of it no problem. I don’t think it been used much at all,” Nat said. 

“Oh and we found these real old guns and a knife inside a rusted out stove in an old shack of some kind too. But we left them there.” 

Tom looked at me with worry then and looked back at Jimmy. “You didn’t play with those guns or the knife did you Jimmy?” 

Jimmy looked at Tom and then at Nat, who stayed quiet. “No pa. I picked them up to look at ’em, but left them on the floor. They looked real old though. The knife was huge. Almost as long as my arm I think.” Nat nodded in agreement as he talked. 

“Ok, just remember what I have told you both. Never play with guns or knives. They are for adults and not kids. Understood?” Tom looked between them. 

“He was carryin’ that BB gun around today too again,” I said, looking at Tom. 

“But ma!” Jimmy cried. “I wasn’t aimin at nobody. I always carry it with me when I go out. I never know when I will run into a bear or somethin.” 

“Jimmy. What did I tell you about your bb gun? That it can hurt people just like a grown-up gun can. You are supposed to keep it slung on your shoulder at all times. Right!” Tom looked at him. 

“Yes pa, that’s what you told me,” Jimmy said and looked down at the floor. 

“Now about this gold..” I said, looking over at the bag, then at Tom. “How much would you say is here, hon?” 

Tom held out his hand then to Jimmy. “Let me have it son. I guess you aren’t ready for that responsibility.” 

“But pa!! He’s our protector!!!” Natalie cried. 

“I sorry pa. I jus…” Jimmy looked at the floor, handing over his bb gun and trying not to cry. Natalie reached over to squeeze his hand too. 

Tom looked at me and said, “I don’t  know hon. It needs to be weighed. I ain’t never seen that much gold in my life I don’t think. Not at once.” 

“Me neither. And I wonder if we can determine where this money came from... Other than where they found it at the ruins there,” I said with a nod. 

“NO!!! You can’t take our gold too!! They’re gonna take it, just like the other money, Jimmy!!!!” Nat cried. 

“NO! You can’t have it! Not this time!” Jimmy cried. 

“Hey you two! Settle down. We ain’t going to take your gold. But we got to find out what its worth, and find a safe place to keep it,” Tom said. 

“And, we need to find out where it came from,” I said with a nod. “If it came from someone’s account in a bank, then that gold belongs to someone. If it just came from the bank, then they’ll probably let us keep half as a finder’s fee. But we can’t take all of it for ourselves.” 

“Give me back my bb gun and we will consider letting your take our gold to find out what it’s worth,” Jimmy said. 

“He’s your son,” I said and rolled my eyes. 

“Hey! How would you like me to tan your hide son? I might use the butt of your bb gun to do it? Then toss it in the trash. So don’t be trying to get smart with your ma and pa ok?” Tom said firmly. 

“PA!” Nat exclaimed and I looked over to Tom with a warning look to relax. Tom drank the rest of his whiskey and Jimmy started to cry. 

“Maaaaaa....I don’t want to be whooped with my bb gun!” Jimmy cried. 

“Now Jimmy, no one is going to whoop you, are they, dear?” I looked over at Tom firmly, hoping I was right. 

Tom sighed deeply and said, “No. I ain’t gonna whip you Jimmy. But you need to watch how you speak to us from now on. Ok?” 

Jimmy rubbed his eyes and moved closer to Nat, hugging her and me tight. “Okay.” 

I rubbed his back and said, “It’s okay buddy. Your father just wants you to respect us more. You have to know we know what’s best for you two.” 

“But why cant we keep all the gold ma? We found it in the ground this time. Not like the money we found in the hideout. So it don’t belong to nobody,” Jimmy said. 

“Your father will explain that. I need to go upstairs and change.” I hugged him once more before ruffling Nat’s hair and heading upstairs to get ready for my gig. 

Downstairs I heard Tom say, “Well son, ummmm…. That gold come from somewhere. It didn’t get there on its own. Someone buried it. Which meant they either stole it, or hid it there from outlaws stealing it. So we have to find out who it belongs to.” 

“Well okay but.. We still get to keep some of it, right?” Nat asked. 

“That all depends on who it belongs to. If the people are no longer living, well then yes. But if they are alive, then they might give you something for finding it. It appears to have been buried a long time. Did you see a date on the letters or the map?” Tom asked. 

“Do you still got the letter?” Nat asked Jimmy. 

“I’m needed over at the saloon. Am I getting my bartender today?” I asked as I walked downstairs and looked over at Tom. 

“I remember something like 1863 I think pa,” Jimmy said, looking from Nat to Tom. He dug in his pockets and said, “I must have left it at the hideout. I didn’t want anyone else to find it.” 

“Yes of course dear. Be there in a few,” Tom promised me. 

“We should go back and make sure of that date then, Jimmy! I bet those people not alive still! That’s soooooo long ago!” Nat exclaimed. 

“In 1863 I was seven years old, just so you know.” I smirked. 

“Yeah, we will try to make sure they are dead first,” Jimmy said. 

“Well... Um... maybe not THAT old,” Nat said and looked at me. 

“I’ll see you later, you two. You stay safe out there. And see you soon, dear,” I said as I gave them a hug. Jimmy and Nat ran out and I went to the saloon to start setting up. 

I played at the Stock Exchange and the music went well with a few people there to listen. Ruby and Spank got into some sort of fight while I was playing that ended in Spank getting a black eye. 

After everyone told me how great the music sounded I looked between Ruby and Spank and said, “As for the two of you.. Music’s s’posed to bring people together, not make ’em fight.” 

“Sorry about Spanky and me, Trin. It was all… his fault as usual,” Ruby insisted. 

“Tell her that. She hit me… Three times,” Spank insisted. 

“I think it was the whiskey dear, not them,” Tom said. 

“He would push any woman to the utter limit,” Ruby said. 

I looked at Tom and told him, “No more whiskey for Ruby.” 

“Me?!” Spank shook his head. 

“Chauvinist,” Ruby muttered. 

“See what I gotta deal with?” 

“You should call in at the surgery, Spank. Get the doc to check that eye out.” 

“Yeah, don’t want no doc.” 

“Take her home and give her some coffee Spank, she might feel better afterwards,” Tom suggested. 

“What they gonna do? That musta hurt. Anyway… Thanks Trin for tonight.” 

“My pleasure, Spank,” I said and smiled at him. 

Spank and Ruby headed out and I looked over at Tom and chuckled. “See Tom... That’s why we aren’t getting married.” 

“Thank God for that then....cause I don’t want no black eyes,” he said with a laugh. 

“Now if we can just figure out what to do about Jimmy and Natalie,” Tom said. 

“Yeah…” I sighed and we said goodbye to Jy and headed home to deal with the kids and figure out what to do with the gold they had found.