Tombstone.
This afternoon I walked over to the hotel and talked with Angel and Sabi. We talked about Sabi getting adopted and then she started talking about the village in Iowa and I went to write notes from the journal for yesterday. I asked Angel if she’d seen anything related to our cases that were open but she hadn’t. I went to the bank to talk with Bree but she was busy with paperwork so I walked back to Kate’s and sat down to continue writing. I asked Jess if she’d seen anything but she told me she hadn’t been paying attention.
Cole and Payton came over then and I greeted them both. “How are you both doing?”
“Trin do we have an Indian Agent in this town?” Cole asked.
“Uh... Need to talk to me, Cole?” I looked at him.
“Not so much me, but Payton has something to report.”
“Oh?”
“Well... was gettin’ changed this mornin’... in the orphanage...” Payton started.
“Yeah?”
“An heard a noise... Thought one of the boys was up. I went ta go out... and spotted a Native snoopin’ ‘round.”
“Oh? Was it a man or a woman, Payton?” I looked over at Cole with worry.
“Was in real nice skins.”
“Which gender, Payton?” I asked again.
“I know las night Swift and Nora an millard an Jeffery was arguin’ ...male..head dress an all.”
I looked over at Cole, hoping it wasn’t the Chief I was thinking about and then looked over at Swift. “Did you talk to the Native man, Swift Fox?”
“Native man? I see many of my kind, not very clear.”
“The one with the big head dress by the orphanage...”
“I not remember seeing any one of my people with a big head dress. Was busy inside with Millard and Nora.”
I tried to calm my breathing as Payton said, “It was this mornin’...”
“Maybe ya saw Stormy, Payton,” Sabi said.
“Swift wasn’t there this mornin’. No, it was a man,” Payton said.
“She was with me at tha orfanij this mornin’,” Sabi told her.
“Did he talk at all, Payton?” I asked.
“You had left already,” Payton looked at Sabi then turned to me. “No, I ran out.”
“We did get new traveler in Apache village, new to tribe,” Swift said then and I sighed a bit as Cole sat down beside me.
“We’ll keep an eye out, Payton,” I said.
“He say he from other Apache tribe... I think,” Swift nodded his head to Cole. I exhaled, but knew that the man could have lied.
“Cole... Did Rye talk to you last night?” I asked him.
“Yes she did, Trin.”
“Then you understand my worry.”
“Yes I do,” Cole said and pulled Payton closer.
“Did you two talk with the girls?” I leaned over and whispered to him.
“Only Payton. Sabi was already asleep,” he whispered back.
I looked at Payton seriously and said, “Honey if you see this man again... and if I’m around... Come get me and tell me?”
“Yes miss Trin. It might be because how they been treatin Swift.”
Angel walked over then and she looked happy from a late night so I asked her what the man’s name was but she wouldn’t tell me in front of everyone.
Howling Wolf came over then and went into the saloon. I followed him in and asked if we could talk. “I need your help with something...” I started.
“My help?” he raised an eyebrow at me, looking surprised.
“Yes... This man that the child saw.. He could be very dangerous. To Cole’s family and to my own. If it’s the man I’m thinking of, I need to know....”
“Ohh that sounds bad.”
“Potentially, yes. Have you met him?”
“Don’t think so but I will keep my eyes opened.”
“I would appreciate that. If you find out his name, please tell me?”
“What kind of head dress did he wear?”
“Well that’s a good question. He could be wearing anything now if he’s telling people he’s Apache. If he’s wearing what he did last time I saw him, it would be Cherokee.”
“Apaches usually don’t wear head dresses,” Howling Wolf shook his head.
“That’s what I thought,” I nodded. “Cherokees do though, don’t they?”
“Yes, they do.”
“Then I really need your help in finding this man’s name.”
“I will look out for him. What did he do?”
“Thank you, Howling Wolf, I appreciate it. Uh...”
“No problem. I like it nice and peaceful in town too.”
“Several very bad things in the place where Cole, Rye and I lived before moving to Tombstone. If he knows we’re here...” I shook my head, not wanting to imagine the possibilities.
“I understand. Do you think he’s Cherokee?”
“He was the Cherokee chief when he did these things. That is why I am worried about the head dress.”
“That’s bad when he can get more warriors with him next time he comes here.”
“Exactly,” I sighed. “This is why I need your help. See the thing is... I am part Apache, myself. I understand the need to protect one’s family at all costs.”
“I’m keeping my eyes up,” he nodded.
“The chief doesn’t know this about me yet. I didn’t find out until after I left his village.”
“Where did you say the village was?”
“It was in Bear River, Wyoming.”
“Hmm, I know a Chief from Bear River. His name is Standing Bear.”
“That’s who I am talking about. I need to know if he is here.”
“Wonder why he would come all the way here, but we better be careful.”
“He is a very determined man. He would find a way to do something if his heart was set on it.”
“Then he will be a dangerous man...”
“So then you understand my fear.”
“Yes, I do.”
“He was going to kill me, Howling, in spite the fact I shot down the person who shot him that day in Wyoming. He was going to burn my town down because of that man, whether I was in it or not. In spite the fact I had spent a lot of time in his village and tried to help his people. I cannot see him again. I cannot let the children and Rye and Cole and...” she shakes her head. I will not repeat the past.”
“Why hunt the one who have help him and his people?”
“I need to go... I have to process all of this....” I said as I saw Prudence and her sister walking into the saloon.
“Be safe, Trin.”
“I will sure try,” I nodded. “Thank you, Howling Wolf.”
I walked outside and knew my face was as white as a ghost. The fear was overwhelming and I was trembling in anticipation. Angel asked what was wrong and I reached for Cole who stepped close and gathered me up in his arms.
I trembled against him, shaking and scared. “It’s him, Cole... It’s gotta be,” I whispered.
“Cole vat iz vrong vith Trin? Should ve take her to zeh docs?” Angel asked.
“No, she will be fine... it is just something from long ago.”
“It’s not... past anymore.. It’s...” I looked at him, holding onto him for dear life.
“I heard,” he nodded, “But I also heard not enough.”
“Trin iz zer something ve need to speak bout?” Angel asked.
“This about the man your looking for?” Swift asked.
“Yes Swift... it is,” Cole nodded to him.
“I hope not..” I shook my head to Angel. “But I...” I looked back at Cole, confused.
“Vell Trin, you know you can truzt me and me not knowing I cant help if your in trouble.”
“He may be speaking with a forked tongue..” Cole looked at me.
“That’s what I’m afraid of. The kids said he wears a head dress... Howling said no other tribe but the Cherokee..”
“Why so afraid?” Swift asked, not understanding.
“Trin this isn’t Georgetown..and there are more friends here than there was there..” he reminded me.
“I buried it in the past! It was done! It was over! I moved on and started fresh and... And now...”
“And now you have and you have built a good home here,” Cole reminded me.
“And he’s gonna ruin it. Again. Georgetown was a good home too. It was where I became a Pinkerton officially.”
“And Rye and I have as well and we aren’t going to let it go anytime soon,” Cole told me.
“Can you... talk to Angel? About all this? I’m too... I need to go... lay down.”
“I will... Trin, you go rest,” Cole ordered.
“I’m just... glad you’re here...” I hugged him tightly. “I’ll come find you later tonight. Hopefully we’re wrong but it doesn’t feel that way. My instincts are usually pretty good on things like this.” When Cole nodded I asked, “You think he’s here too, don’t you?”
“Getting that feeling and I think he has found out more than we think.”
“I’ll go home and rest. We’ll talk more later. I need to lay down. Cole will explain,” I said to her before walking off down the street towards home.
This evening I walked down the street and looked around nervously, still shaken from the possibility that Standing Bear could be in town. I found James standing with Lisa and the other Wild Bunch in front of Kate’s, as well as Rock Janic who was now wearing a deputy badge. I asked him how his first day was and he said he was about to attempt his first arrest. I went into the saloon and filled my flask with whiskey, then came back out.
Looking over at my partner I asked, “Any updates, James?”
“Nothin’ yet.”
“Me neither.”
“What ya looking for, Ms. Trin?” Bill asked.
I looked at him and sighed, then turned back to James. “If you see a man in a Native head dress looking like a chief...”
“Narrows it down to a lot of Natives then,” Bill said.
“Maybe he’s in the Indian village,” a woman sitting there said smartly and giggled. “Maybe you should look there.”
I looked at James seriously, hoping the fear in my eyes would be obvious to him and not to others.
“Wait Trin... I may have seen him earlier,” Rock said then.
“Did you talk to him?” I looked at Rock.
“What you so scared of?” Lisa asked.
“Don’t worry darling, you won’t be alone. Come to me, I’ll have ya,” Bill laughed and teased.
“Yes I did and that new girl... Tulsa was there as well,” Rock said.
“Rock, did he say a name?”
“Yep sure did... said ‘Trin Paige’,” Lisa teased.
“He did but was an Indian name... don’t remember it... said he was a traveler from ‘up river’.”
I swallowed hard and Lisa teased, “Said he was coming to get ya.” I looked over at James and she asked, “What you keep lookin at James for?”
“Miss Trin, if you wanna go native village, I can come with you, if you fear a fight,” Bill teased.
“What’s wrong with Bill?” Lisa asked.
“Because he’s my partner, Lisa. Forget it, I’ll be fine. Just forget it,” I shook my head and turned from them.
“I think Lisa and him are closer as partners, to be honest,” Garth said and I walked down the street, having a feeling he was right in more ways than one.
Black Diamond.
Tonight I worked on journals in the office in Diamond and then walked out, deciding I couldn’t be afraid of this whole thing like I had been. Sabi and Ruby were talking near the entrance and I asked if they’d seen a Native man but they hadn’t so I walked on.
Tombstone.
I walked into town and saw Swift Fox sitting in front of the orphanage by the lake. I walked over to him and asked, “Hey there, can I join you?”
“Sure,” he blinked lightly and I sat down. “You were the one talking to Cole earlier.”
“Yup... I’m Trin.”
He pointed to himself and said, “Swift Fox.”
“It’s very nice to meet you,” I smiled at him.
“You been to Bear River,” he looked at me. I nodded and stared at the water and he said, “Me too, stayed with Cherokee for a little with my travels.”
“They did awful things to me. It is why I am so afraid that the chief might be here,” I shook my head, hearing the gunshots.
“Standing Bear here?” Swift blinked at me.
“I don’t know but it feels like it... Someone saw a man with a head dress claiming to be a chief around the orphanage earlier today. That’s why I’m here... in case the man comes back.”
“I not sure he leave his people...”
“That’s what I am hoping too, that this is a different man. I had thought also he wouldn’t leave his people and come this far,” I nodded.
“I stay with Lakota longest. Mother took me in there.”
“I remember them...”
“You do?” he blinked.
“Yeah.”
“I not remember you.”
“I just remember Chief Hawk talking about the different tribes in the area, I remember him mentioning Lakota being in Colorado Springs.”
“That after my people travel. It another Lakota tribe that come together.”
“I just... I hope I’m wrong.”
“It’s okay, you are,” he smirked and I smiled sadly at him. “You palefaces worry so much.”
“I’ll give you a secret, kiddo... I’m not just paleface.”
“Half breed?” he tilted his head.
“Fourth generation Apache.”
“Not half breed?”
“That means I have Apache in my heritage. Four generations back, but it’s there. My father fought in the civil war with a special Native army... They wore a special medal that united them.”
“Medal?”
“He survived the war and then the men decided they wanted his medal to sell it and get money for it, but my Pa didn’t want to give it up... So they... They killed him... That’s when my brother came to tell me... that we were part Native. Then those same men... they came here to Tombstone, well one of them did, and tried to kill me to get the medal from me. But then that person couldn’t do it because he had been forced into it, but he was too proud of our heritage. So another person came and found him and killed him in front of me. But I still have the medal.”
“Sound like medal thing cause trouble for nothing,” he smirked.
“But it is from my father, and it’s all I have left from him. So it’s very special. But sometimes I feel that way about my heritage...”
“But paleface money make it not. Not in my eyes... but I know of of how it is to care of something from mother or father.” He sighed and looked into the water and asked, “Why people have to bring up mother and father so much?”
“I’m sorry... it’s not easy for me either but all of this fear over the Cherokee coming here has reminded me a lot of my past, and my father.”
“I haven’t seen my mommy since the spring,” Swift pulled his knees up to his chest and sighed.
“I’m sorry, kiddo.. You know you can talk to me about anything.”
“I not know you. I not trust many in this village. Only very few.”
“The fact I’m also a Native doesn’t help? Even a part one?”
“I meet many halfbreed that talk and act like paleface,” he shook his head.
“What if I told you that I helped defended the Apache chief and saved him in a trial from getting hanged for murder?”
“I not know you well. There reason why.”
“I understand.”
“I Kaw people. Many winters ago palefaces come to my home and burn everything when I out to hunt. I leave by my self to find new home. I find Cherokee, and then I find Lakota. I make home with mommy in Lakota. I miss her greatly. I alone now.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Swift Fox.. That’s a lot for a child to go through.”
“I with Apache now, but not feel like home.”
“I understand.”
Payton walked over then and Thomas joined us while we were talking. Payton said, “There had ta be a reason that an Apache was pokin round the orphanage...”
I looked over at Payton and asked her, “Was the native man Apache, Payton? Not Cherokee?”
“Am I not to be here?” Swift asked.
“Yes... I believe so,” she nodded. “There was a female Apache in town too just before the man showed up.” She giggled at Swift and said, “No silly not you another one .. this mornin.. you don’t count in this.”
“Hey Payton. How are things with you doing? Staying out of trouble I hope,” Thomas greeted Payton.
“I mean.. you count.. jus not the Apache I saw inside.. this was a man.. not you,” Payton said and looked over at Mr. Thomas. “No.. it always finds me ... and usually bites me in the as... butt....”
I felt a bit more relieved and looked over at Thomas. “When Payton first mentioned it this morning, she said he was wearing a head dress and looked like a chief... I had feared it may have been Standing Bear. Not many tribes wear head dresses.”
“Are you sure it was a native Payton? Not just someone pretending to be an indian?” Thomas asked her.
“No... had a very small, nice head dress...” She nodded to Thomas and said, “I am. Nothing overly big.. native skins on too.. an moccasins.”
“That’s a relief. Standing Bear always had big ones,” I sighed with relief.
“No.. this one wasn’t big .. it was very nice .. but not big.”
“Did the man talk to you at all?” I asked but then Payton and Swift started to chat about something else. I looked over at Thomas and suggested that we go to Kate’s for a drink. I poured him a glass of whiskey and we sat down at the bar as he kissed me. “Swift Fox knew who I was talking about... He agreed that the chief wouldn’t go that far from his village.”
“Well we should keep close eye on natives around town to make sure who is here and who ain’t.”
“Yeah... and I still don’t like some Natives hanging out around the orphanage.. But at least it’s not the ones I thought.”
“Well I am sure Payton would alert someone if a stranger showed up and started doing something wrong.”
I sipped my whiskey and nodded to him. “How was your day, dear?”
“It was ok. Spent the day working on some papers I have to get sent back to Washington on the goings on here. All this indian activity has got their attention for sure.”
“I can imagine it has. Are you still reading up about becoming a lawyer as well?”
“Yeah, and well, ummm, I may be called upon by Congress to do something a little more dangerous here in Tombstone. Especially with so many different tribes moving about.”
“So you might be picking up the gun again after all, hmm?”
“Oh no, I hope not. I may be called upon to become an agent of affairs for the native tribes here local. Sort of a go between for the indians to communicate to Washington through.”
“Kind of like what I tried to do in Bear River,” I sighed. “I remember having a conversation about that once with someone...”
“Yeah, I guess, but it would also be as a way to keep an eye on them in case of an uprising, so that the Army could respond in a more quicker fashion to protect the townsfolk.”
“Well I’d feel safer but I’m still not sure these Apache are as violent as the Natives I used to know.”
“I don’t know dear. After what I heard about that Dancing Cloud, and how she responded to that one man, she could be quite dangerous if provoked, to the point others might join her.”
“That is true, they have had their moments. But most of the time they’ve stuck to themselves.” I sighed and said, “Look at this... I’m defending them already.”
“It’s okay. It’s not hard to trust them until one of them reaches up and snatches your scalp because you said something wrong,” he smiled.
“Or threatens to burn down your town,” I sighed. “See this was my point last night... We can learn from our pasts and not be so trusting this time, while still remaining friendly to them.”
“Well, good thing is, there is an Army fort nearby with soldiers, though I don’t know how many are stationed there, I have only seen one or two around town.”
“There are a few rangers and cavalry officers out and about. More of them than deputies, actually.”
“Just how dependable are the lawmen around here? They seem to often let the outlaws do as the please it seems.”
“They serve the warrants. Get things to court,” I sighed. “Care to dance dear?”
“Sure, I would love to dance with you.”
Thomas took me in his arms and I started to dance with him to the music from the record player. “I tried talking with James about this situation with the Native chief... before I knew it wasn’t Standing Bear... He said he hadn’t seen him and then just let Lisa and the other outlaws tease me and give me a hard time. I need to remember not to talk with him when he’s around them.”
“I am sorry dear, he sounds like a real jerk if you ask me. Please watch your back around him. I am not sure I trust him.”
“You and me both... I had no choice though.”
“Well, if he ever causes you to get hurt, I will be all over him like flies to a horse,” Thomas insisted.
“I know, dear, and I love you for it. It’s my fault for going over to a bunch of outlaws though. But that’s where my partner and the new deputy were so I had no choice.”
“I understand, but you can always tell them you need to speak to them alone. Or catch them alone later. I have seen his girlfriend and those she hangs around. I feel he is up to more than just being a detective. Just I don’t have proof of it yet.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder and he held me close, “It is so nice to spend time with you alone, dear,” I whispered to him.
“We don’t often get alone time here, but its nice when we do. I am never more happy than when I am with you.”
“It was nice talking with you and Rye last night too though. I really hope that you and I can spend time with Alex and Aly sometime soon... He is my best friend, after all... And she cares about me a lot though sometimes she’s not around.”
“Yes me too. I would really like to get to know them more. Aly seems like a good sheriff, probably one of the better ones in town I would say. Tombstone needs more like her and you,” he smiled.
We continued to dance and then decided to walk home. On the way we talked with Chris, Zannza, Jeff and Nora near the library. I told Chris and Zan we had to have them over for dinner sometime and they agreed that sounded like fun. We said goodnight and then headed home.
