August 20, 1900

Tombstone. 

This morning I walked into the news office and left Miss Jenna a note saying I wanted to help out with writing for the paper. I walked down the street and met two people named Cole and Rye. I told them how I was hoping to get a job with the newspaper and we talked about how there was a lot of places to live. We met another man named Alex as Jess and Annie came over to join us. Mr. Cole said that they’d lost their home to a bunch of rogues not long ago and that everything had been destroyed. 

“I am sorry. They don’t seem to pray on homeowners mostly law or the bank or someplace in town,” Miss Jess said. 

“And I bet every time bad come to the town young Natalie here gets the story, don’t you young miss?” Miss Rye looked at me. 

“I only just started thinkin’ bout it…” I told them. 

“Well I bet you will find the stories and do great.” 

“What you gonna do for work mister?” I asked him. 

“My friend’s young daughter is kind of like you. She always wanting to get all the news when she could. She has a good eye for details,” said Miss Rye. 

“Not sure yet… am a fair hand with horses,” Mr. Cole grinned. 

“My best friend Jimmy helps in stables. Not lots of horses though..” I told them. 

“Will have to see what is available…” Mr. Cole nodded and smiled. 

“I ope when we find a place to reside I can be of assistance in a church mission or with the children,” Mrs. Rye said. 

I showed them around at the different churches and told them about the different churches. I realized Mrs. Rye didn’t have a gun and looked around for Mr. Cole, getting nervous being unprotected. When we saw him, I ran to him and hugged his leg. Mr. Cole said that he had big fists if he needed to protect us and we continued to walk towards Winslow where Mr. Cole could get a new gun. We talked with Mr. Jimmi and Mrs. Starling and talked about their baby who was nearly crawling now. 

We talked about where they were going to live and Mr. Cole said, “Truthfully it is up to her.. all I need is a place to hang my hat and put my feet under the table…” 

“Would hate to see people settling down and find out their new home has been raised to the ground,” Mr. Jimmi said. 

“And a place to put your gun beside your bed at night sir,” I winked at Mr. Cole but Mr. Jimmi looked at me. “Well it’s true.” 

“Yes it is,” Mrs. Rye and Mr. Cole chuckled. 

“Natalie, you should not be interested in weapons at your age.. try looking for some butterflies or fish.” 

“Hey, I will look for those with her. I love butterflies,” Mrs. Rye said. 

“I don’t mean for me, sir,” I said. “But someone oughta protect us. Otherwise we’ll all end up like Miss Ashley.” 

“Yes or camping with your friends next to the lake,” Ms. Starling said. 

“We have butterflies in Goldfield,” Mr. Jimmi said. “And fish in the lake too. Do you like fishing sir?” 

“Nat if you come round to my house tomorrow you can see Garry if you like,” Ms. Starling said. 

“Yes Nat is worried about my lack of a gun to protect my wife,” Mr. Cole smiled. 

“Young Natalie, always inquisitive in the wrong places,” Mr. Jimmi said. 

“But Jimmi… Miss Ashley died in front of me. She was s’posed to be my mommy. I watched men shoot her cos she didn’t have a gun.” 

“But Natalie.. grown ups talking. Where’s your manners little lady?” 

“So yeah... I want to know there people who can…” I bit my tongue and stepped back. “Fine, you don’t care.” 

“It’s okay,” Ms. Starling cuddled me and whispered, and I hid in her big dress, glaring at him. 

“We have the finest law officers and marshals around in the county. They will be onto this and when they get the villain, they will be looking at me. The Judge,” Mr. Jimmi went on. 

“He not listening. If bad people come right now only person with gun is Jimmi,” I said. 

“Most children are,” Mr. Cole smiled and reached down to hug Mr. Cole against his leg. 

“And my Jimmi will protect you,” Ms. Starling promised. 

“And does that worry you Natalie?” Mr. Jimmi asked. 

“Yes, it does. Shouldn’t it? I watched my almost mommy get shot. I don’t wanna watch that again mister.” 

“Of course I will protect you all. I shall be the first to surrender and tell them Natalie has all the jewelry,” Mr. Jimmi insisted. 

“He is only jesting with you Nat,” Ms. Starling insisted. 

I sighed and looked at Mr. Cole, who looked down and winked. 

“We have law officers almost on every corner, they are just very creative at disguising themselves in the woodwork,” Mr. Jimmi insisted. “Natalie, if you have seen something you think is a crime, you should be looking for a law officer, not me. I’m a Judge.” 

“And then there is always me and Jess to save your lives when you get shot,” Ms. Starling promised. 

“Which happens to me a lot.” 

“Sounds like the ones around my old town…” Mr. Cole chuckled. 

“Mr Cole, if you want a peaceful place to stay, I suggest you look at Benson, Bisbee, Goldfield or even as far west as Pearce,” Mr. Jimmi advised. 

Mr. Alex came over then and I ran to him, hugging him tight as frustration was all over my face. “We talk somewhere?” I asked him. 

“Sure Nat. Where do you want to go?” he nodded to me as he greeted the others. 

“Doesn’t matter,” I muttered.

We walked down the street and went into the ice cream store where Mr. Alex asked, “What’s wrong?” 

“Jimmi mean. He make fun of me.” 

“That’s not nice,” he chuckled. 

“I was talkin with Mr Cole and Mrs Rye about where they could get guns. Cause I didn’t like they weren’t wearin em and we wouldn’t be safe. And Jimmi said I should just think about butterflies and fish.” 

“Nat, guns aren’t for everyone. I don’t wear one,” he looked at me. 

“But…” 

“Adults sometimes don’t take kids seriously.” 

“It’s different.” 

“Why?” 

“Cause you’re not a woman.” 

“What about Mr. Cole?” 

“He wants to get gun.” 

“Ah, okay.” 

“That’s why I was tellin him bout Winslow. But then I told em about Mrs Ashley. And Jimmi didn’t even care. I not allowed to be safe? Or think about how we’d be safe if bad people come? If we here inside we close door and push chairs in front so they no get in.” 

“He probably just doesn’t want a kid to have to think about such serious things.” 

“But out there… Well Payton’s stealin money from banks. What if the people she hang out with… What if they come after me and Jimmy?” 

“Why would they? Have you and Jimmy done something to make them mad?” 

“No... But Payton might. And Payton our friend. We on the SS Cootie. I the captain.” 

“Don’t worry about what other people do, okay? Worry about your own conduct and everything will be okay.” 

“We s’posed to be good guys,” I looked at him. “Not like lollipop gang. And now Payton hanging out with bad people and robbing bank. How I be her friend now?” 

“Sometimes people do bad things but that doesn’t mean they’re bad people. You can still be friends with her. Maybe she even needs a friend more now than ever.”

“I guess…” I nodded. 

“Now… Did those nice new people have any kids for you to play with?” 

“Not really.” 

“That’s too bad.” 

“Yeah. But I met two boys the other day. One boy from the Kaw tribe. You ever hear bout that?” 

“Nope.” 

“From Kansas.” 

“Wow.”

“Yeah he had his own language so I gonna learn it. And Apache. And then a Chinese boy too. Named Xu.” 

“A Chinese boy? That’s pretty far from home.” 

“Uh huh.”

“You like languages, don’t you?” 

“I showed them the Fort for soldiers and showed them where Ghenna was so they wouldn’t go there. Yeah I like language.” 

“Maybe I could teach you some French words.” 

“That would be fun! You French?” 

“Well, I’m part French Canadian. And I lived in Paris for awhile.” 

“Oh wow!” 

“Well, Nat, I have to do some work. Have fun and stay out of trouble.” 

I waved to him as he patted my head and then I went to the library.