July 20, 1901

Black Diamond. 

This evening I went to the office and found a note in my mailbox from Reverend Wulf. Going to the blacksmith shop, I saw Tom and Wulf drinking coffee together and smiled at the men as I greeted them. 

“Trin, join us and get a cup of coffee,” Wulf invited. 

“Hi there. I just got the note from Pookes that we’ve had some mishaps here in town lately?” I asked him.

“Mishaps?!” Tom exclaimed. 

“Yes. He and Haver found out Sunday morning when they woke up to a smell of fire.” 

“Uh oh. Not another fire?” Tom looked worried. 

“Alright let’s start at the beginning,” I suggested, getting out my notebook.

“And went out to look and the mares I got from Denver were gone,” Wulf went on. “Haver’s a good kid that works with Isaac, my Partner here.” 

“Right, Pookes... He wrote a note for me. So On Sunday morning when Pookes and Isaac were here, they noticed the horses were missing? And there was remnants of a fire?” 

Tom poured me some coffee and told me it was really good as I thanked him for it and Wulf went on with his story. 

“It was Haver, his 13 year old friend.” 

“Haver?” I looked at him, not knowing the name. 

“Yes the young Lad that works for Isaac. He is learning the smith trade. Big boy for his age.” 

“Pookes, the boy that works with Isaac, correct?” 

“Pookes is an orphan  Sel and I took in when we lived over in Pearce and Haver works for Isaac. They both live here.” 

“Oh okay, Haver is Pooke’s friend.” 

“Yes.” 

“I see. And he wrote a note to me saying they saw the fire at the blacksmith office, and that two horses were missing.” 

“Yes and I came over after church and took a look and they were no where to be found. Isaac never leaves the forge lit overnight. Too much dry tender about.” 

“Do they have any idea who might have done it? Anything left behind?” Tom asked. 

“No just some burnt grass and sticks the cleaned up. And the black mares are missing.” 

“Black horses then, okay that helps,” I noted, marking it down. 

“The boys searched all over for miles for the mares and they just kinda disappeared. They did not go to the Indian camp or Ghenna. I have forbid them to go there any time.” 

“Very good of you.” I nodded. 

“Do these horses have any special markings or features that will help us find them?” Tom asked. 

“Good question, dear.” I smiled at Tom, proud of him. 

“Haver is real good with horses. They follow him around like a puppy. Yes, have a Bar D on the left hip and they are fine-blooded mares. Not nags. I paid 50 dollars a piece for them as broad mares. Both about two years old… Fifteen hands, twelve hundred or so pounds. Black as a moonless night. Not one hair white on either.” 

“Sounds like really good stock Reverend. It would be a real shame to lose those,” Tom commented. 

“We’ll do our best to find them, and find out who started this fire,” I promised. 

“Yes, I had some plans for them to pay for the kids education,” Wulf said. “Most kindly of you booth.” 

“We’ll have to talk to Pookes and Haver…” I commented. 

“Yes for sure,” Tom agreed. 

“Well they are off fishing,” Wulf told us. “But they are out of  tutoring by Sel in the morning by 10.” 

“And Isaac? Would he know anything?” I asked. “I will have to look around then.” 

“Reverand would you or the boys have seen anyone hanging around the shop out of the ordinary? Like more than normal?” Tom asked. 

“Might ask Bree,” Wulf suggested. “I do know a new family just moved in. I do know a new family just moved in.” 

“So wait… There was no fire, right? We’re just talking stolen horses?” I looked between them. 

“Good idea, she knows just about everything that happens around here most times,” Tom said to Wulf. 

“Think he is called Will and his wife Dee or some such… Bout all I know. With the train going by who knows.” 

“Yes Will and Dee…” I nodded. “They’ve moved into Black Diamond. Me and Jimmy met up with them the other day. Alright well I’d like to walk around and look if you don’t mind. Maybe they left something behind.” 

“Like I said, I have not met them,” Wulf said. “Okay.” 

“Oh that was the couple Jimmy was talking about. Said something about somebody needed a bath inside and out or something,” Tom said. 

I chuckled and nodded to him. “You two chat, I’ll just poke around outside.” 

I walked outside, hearing them chat about the church and I looked around for anything out of place. I studied the horse equipment, not remembering how any of the stuff functioned and then looked closer at the horses that were there, gasping when I saw what I saw. I fell back against the post and when the men came out to ask what was wrong, I shakily pointed to the piece of deer skin. I swore, feeling the world spin. Why did these worlds have to collide again? Tom put his arm around me but I collapsed in his arms from the shock.

When I came to, I blinked up at the men seeing I was in the blacksmith office. Tom handed me a cup of water and I took it shakily, sipping the drink slowly. “Take it easy dear. Here drink this,” Tom said softly. 

“Tom…? The deer... skin… Outside… It…” I blinked and looked around. 

“We brought you into the blacksmith shop. You collapsed,” Tom told me with concern in his voice. 

“There was... outside…” I reached for Tom’s hand and he held mine gently, looking into my eyes. 

“Yes a deer skin dear. Where the horses were being kept.” 

“Apache…” I said softly, but loud enough for both of them to hear. 

Tom removed his hat and knelt beside me. “Apache?!” I nodded, starting to sit up and he asked, “Are you sure?” 

“I’m four-generation Apache, hon. I’m sure. 

I spent so much time with the Natives before coming to Tombstone.. I’d recognize that material anywhere. It’s... It’s what they use for Native clothing.” 

Tom looked at Wulf and asked, “Could it be someone trying to pass it off as Apache?” 

“I hope so…” I blinked. 

“I think so. The Apache are not that careless,” Wulf stated. 

“I mean I don’t want to go accusing the Chief or his people of horse stealing. It would cause one heck of a ruckus,” Tom said. 

“Why do you... think I collapsed?” I asked, drinking more water. 

Tom put an arm around me and held me close. “Are you going to be ok? I have never seen you collapse like that before.” 

I leaned against him, pulling him close. I was relieved they were both there and blinked back the threatening tears. “I just... I saw... and it… Damn it, why can’t the past stay where it belongs?” 

Tom reached for a handkerchief from his vest and wiped my eyes. “It’s okay Trin. We can’t escape the past.” 

“Trin, the past is past but we often learn from it and at times it is useful,” Wulf advised. 

I sighed, reaching for Tom’s hand. “I need... to get that evidence locked up..” 

“Trin, I think your on the right trail,” Wulf told me. “It was planted.” 

“Are you sure you’re ok? Maybe you should go home and rest,” Tom suggested, squeezing my hand tightly. 

I nodded to Wulf and said, “Either way... I can’t... I don’t want to scratch the Apache from being a possibility.” 

“To cover up the deed or I hope not to start a war,” Wulf said. “I leave that up to you but being around Indians in Kansas and now here they are not careless in what they do.” 

“You’re right reverend,” Tom agreed, holding me tightly. “From my dealings with them in Texas and a few times here, they aren’t as careless as people think they are.” 

“If I can answer any more question let me know,” Wulf said. “You best get Trin home.” 

“Thanks for telling us all you know…” I nodded to Wulf. “I need to get that evidence locked up.” 

“Not much more you can do anyway tonight,” Wulf said. 

“Yes I think so too reverend. Thank you for your help, and we will find those horses as soon as we can,” Tom promised. 

I wandered out slowly to retrieve the evidence, putting my gloves on before I did. I gathered the deer skin into a plastic bag and went to my office, shakily opening the door as Tom followed close behind. I put the bag into the cupboard and locked it, going back to lean against Tom. 

Tom held me close, kissing me softly. “Are you okay dear?” 

I kissed him back and leaned against him tiredly. “I just... any time I see... Apache things... I still can’t get over how the natives treated me so many years ago. Especially since going over the journals lately more with Natalie…” 

“Well whatever you do, don’t go riding off into Apache territory alone. Ok? You come get me first and we can ride together.” 

“Of course, dear. I promise I won’t go anywhere on this one alone other than asking around town for witnesses. Can we go home, dear?” 

“Yes dear we can go home.” 

Bisbee.

We headed home and heard the kids talking inside. I held my hand on his arm to stop him so we could listen to them while they talked inside, since the windows were wide open. 

“So yeah then we went down in the mine and we found this! See?” Natalie was asking, holding out a gold nugget to Jimmy. 

“Wow sis! What mine did you go into to find that?” Jimmy asked. 

“Well um... Don’t tell ma and pa, okay?” Nat looked nervous and I perked, looking over at Tom with concern. 

“I won’t say a word I promise,” Jimmy insisted. 

“I was with Michelle and Michael and they wanted to go in the caves and stuff and we... We went to…” Nat hesitated. 

“Michael and Michelle went with you? Awww wish I had been there,” Jimmy said and pouted. 

I opened the door then and stormed in. “You went to where exactly, Natalie Grace?” 

Tom walked in with me and Nat jumped, looking down at the ground and swallowing hard. Shira barked excitedly, looking between all of us.

“Well?!” I looked at Nat expectantly. 

“But ma. Michelle and Michael wanted to go with her. So it really aint her fault. Pa you tell her!” Jimmy insisted. 

Nat cringed and stepped back a bit. “I… I’m sorry.” 

“So if they told you they were going to stick they head in a cow butt, you would do it too huh?” Tom asked and Nat shook her head. 

“Natalie Grace, where exactly did you go?” I asked her firmly. 

“Ewwwwwwwww Paaaaaaaaaa!” Jimmy made a face. 

Nat looked over to Tom then and said, “They wanted to explore. So we started walkin’ towards Pearce and I SAID we weren’t s’posed to go in that mine but... But Michael went in there anyways and I showed them where I got hurt and he made the lift thingy go up and wanted to go down and I just COULDN’T let them go down alone cause what if something happened!!!” 

Tom looked at Natalie, shaking his head, and then looked back at me. I sighed, too tired to deal with it, giving him a pleading look. “But…” Tom started. 

“Which one of us fainted back there just now, huh?” I looked at him. 

“YOU FAINTED?!?!” Nat exclaimed. 

“Fainted? WHO!” Jimmy looked at us worriedly. 

“Dear you go to bed. I will handle these to outlaws on my own,” Tom promised. I nodded to him and headed upstairs, giving Nat a look as I walked up to my room. I continued to listen as they talked but eventually I fell asleep, letting Tom deal with the kids.