August 22, 1900

Tombstone. 

This evening I walked over to the orphanage, looking around for Jimmy. I waved to Jeff and shuffled my feet quietly. 

“There’s Nat. How are you today?” Mrs. Rye asked. 

“Where’s Jimmy?” I asked. 

“I ain’t seen Jimmy at all Nat,” Jeff nodded. 

“What’s that in your hand?” I frowned and looked at him. 

“It is my bear that Mr. Cole and miss Rye gave me.” 

“Miss Paisley gave me one when I came.” 

“He is a sheriff and his name is Duke.” 

“Mine is named Winston.” 

“Oh Natalie, I made something for you last night,” Aunt Rye said. 

“You did?” I looked at her with tired eyes as I greeted Millard who came to join us. Aunt Rye pulled out a stuffed bunny and I grinned. “It’s a bunny friend for Winston!” 

“Hey can I see?” Jeff asked and I showed him the bunny. 

“It was just something I thought you would like,” Aunt Rye said and I went to hug her, holding on for dear life. “I hope you like it.” I nodded a bit and then saw flames in my eyes when I closed them and started to tremble a bit against her. “By the way your mom was looking for you today, did you see her?” 

“I did yeah…” I said and moved the bunny over to Jeff’s bear.

Jeff made his bear shake his paw and said, “Hi there bunny. I’m Mr. Duke.” 

“Hey, I didn’t realize it…” Mrs. Rye smiled. “Your bunny is a indian. And Jeffery’s bear is like a cowboy sheriff.” 

“Oh wow how odd that is huh?” Jeff giggled. 

“Hi Sheriff Duke. I named... Um.. Uh…” I acted the bunny out but then stopped. “I dunno what to call her. Um…”

“Take your time, you don’t need to name it now,” Mrs. Rye said. 

“I too tired, Mrs Rye,” I wiped my eyes. 

Jeff giggled and shook his bear some. “I’m just a happy sheriff and I like everybody.” 

“A special name will come to you, Nat,” Mrs. Rye said and then looked at me. “Nat, why don’t you go get some sleep?” 

“No. No sleep,” I shook my head. “No closing eyes.” 

“Well why not?” Jeff asked. 

“Her name.... Bugs. I see flames, Jeff. From next door. Big red and orange. And Mr Garth laughing.” 

“Flames where?” Mrs. Rye asked. 

“Next to our house. Last night. Jimmy and I we watched it. They didn’t know we was there.” 

“A fire was by your house?” Jeff asked. 

“Oh yes, I did hear about that,” Mrs. Rye said. “I am so glad you all are alright.” 

“The one beside ours,” I nodded to Jeff. “Mr. Garth did it. I told Miss Trin.” 

“I don’t like that man,” Mrs. Rye said. 

“But.. why would he burn someones house?” Jeff asked. 

“I dunno if people inside. I dunno who live there,” I said. “I never met them… Cause he was hired to get people out. Miss Stormy and Mr Mike were there.” 

“I sure not like Mr. Garth at all,” Jeff made a mean face and looked down. 

“I did not like him over here chasing you yesterday,” Mrs. Rye said. 

“I no fall asleep cause when I close eyes I see the flames,” I looked down. Payton wandered over and I greeted her. “Hi Payton…” 

“So you are little Payton,” Mrs. Rye said as Jeff and Payton greeted each other. “Jeffery told me you were getting adopted… I am Mrs. Rye.” 

“Yeah, that’s Payton,” Jeff nodded. 

“Pleasure Miss Rye... well I am hoping to be adopted .. if everything works out.. adults can be impatient sometimes,” Payton curtsied as I tried to come up with a name for my bunny. 

“Yes, they can. I am just settling in Bisbee. Mr. Cole and I… I have been spending time with the children here. Would like to help here if I can,” Mrs. Rye said. 

I saw Mill waving at Jimmy and ran to hug my best friend. 

“That would be grand Miss Rye,” Payton smiled and nodded. 

“Jimmy you sleep last night?” I asked him and he hugged me tight. 

“No, not one bit.” 

“Me neither. Ma and I played cards.” 

“I just sorta roam roun las night…” 

“Look what Mrs Rye gave me. It a bunny but I don’t have name for it.” 

“Awe. It’s a cute bunny wabbit.” 

A boy named Stanley came over and we all greeted him as I asked, “What should I name it Jimmy? I too tired to think.” 

“What are ya’ll doin’?” Stanley asked. 

“Just sittin’ here. Was gonna play with my bear but I not want him to jump in the creek,” Jeff said. He wants to but I told him no.” 

“Look Jimmy.. Jeff’s bear is a sheriff. And I think Mrs Rye told me my bunny is a Indian.” 

“I dunno...oh wow, dats cool!” Jimmy grinned. 

“Your… bear?” Stanley asked. 

“Yeah, my sheriff bear,” Jeff nodded and we greeted Swift Fox as he came over and I introduced myself to Stanley. 

“Stanley, Mr. Cole left you something behind the building if you would like it,” Mrs. Rye said to him and they walked around to find whatever it was, and Jeff ran after them. 

“Jimmy I wore my pants so it easier to bike,” I told him. 

“Natalie, you tell Miss Trin bou las night?” 

“I did,” I nodded. 

“What she say?”

“She gonna talk to Mr Ansar. He the only one who can do somethin’. But she use my note as statement of some kind.” 

Miss Lisa walked over and Jfef told her she could probably jump the creek off the bridge and she said she probably could after she ate him up. Jimmy told me that he couldn’t sleep at all last night and I agreed, saying I kept seeing the fire. He said he kept thinking about Miss Aeryne and I wondered if those guys ever came out of that house. I told Jimmy I needed to do something before I thought about it too much and Jimmy said he was afraid of telling his mother anything. I asked Jimmy if he wanted to go see if anyone was in the clinic but then I looked over at Millard. 

“Hey Mill... What should I name bunny?” 

“Stew,” he said. 

“I no eat bunny,” I frowned. 

“Yeah, yeah and taters,” Jeff giggled. 

“Tater like Mr. Ansar?” I asked. 

“Yeah like them kind!” 

“Did you eat the stew the other night, Nat?” Mill asked but I shook my head. “It was good,” he shrugged. 

“Sounds it.” 

Mill looked down the well and had an evil grin on his face as he said, “I see a dead body down in the well!” 

I frowned and walked down the street, not wanting to see more dead bodies. I heard Mr. Chris and Miss Zan but saw Mr. Garth in front of it and ran quickly past them, almost running into Sniper inside the saloon. 

I hid behind Mr. Chris and he asked, “What’s ging on, kiddo?” 

“You alright Natalie?” Ms. Zan asked. 

“Mean man set fire to house next door is outside,” I told them. 

“Next to here?” Mr. Chris asked. 

“To my house. Where me and Ma Trin live. Two people inside.”

“Who did it? Did you see?” 

“Mr Garth did it!!!” I pointed outside. “I wrote ma a note. She gonna talk to Mr Ansar cause he only one who can do somethin,” I said and hugged my native bunny. 

“Who was inside the house?” 

“I dunno. Two men yellin out but I don’t know em. We watched from the balcony. Didn’t see em come out.” 

“Probably ran out the back,” said Mr. Kinney. 

“Miss Aeryne layed on the floor. Mr Mike and Miss Stormy were there. Mr Garth said he were hired. To get them out of house. Then he set fire to it. And it burned right NEXT TO OUR HOUSE!!” I cried. 

“Oh my,” Ms. Zan shook her head. 

“Jimmy and I thought our house burn next. Well, my and Ma’s… Not mine and Jimmy’s” 

“Are you ok though? You seem very upset which is understandable,” Ms. Zan said. 

“I not sleep last night. Jimmy didn’t either. Kept seein flames,” I told her. “He wanted to run out and put out fire but I stopped him. Said we had to stay inside.” 

“You made the right call,” Mr. Kinney said and I clinged to Mr. Chris. 

“Natalie, have you let the law know about this?” Mr. Chris asked. 

“I told Miss Trin. She was gonna tell Mr Ansar.”

“Ok.” 

“But we no see him yet today.” 

“Come buy vegetables and support the starving kids at the orphanage!” Jeff shouted then. 

“This bull crap again…” Mr. Garth muttered and I started to walk outside. 

“Shut it Jeffery, or I’ll be having dinner!” Mr. Garth shouted at Jeff. 

“Why you burn house down???” I looked at Mr. Garth. 

“Natalie…” Ms. Zan looked at me with concern. 

“You can’t be eatin’ me!” Jeff shouted. “I am the king!” 

“Why don’t ya mind ya own business?” Miss Lisa asked. 

“It is my business! Was next to my house! So it my business!” I cried at her as the others talked nearby and I glared at Mr. Garth. 

“Well if ya gonna tell the story then tell it right or shut ya mouth,” she said to me. 

“Dat how I saw story!! I not see you there!” I looked at her.

“Them veggies are rotten people!” Mr. Garth shouted. 

“Hey little miss, why don’t you come with us and take a look at these vegetables,” Ms. Zan looked at me. 

“But…” I started. 

“Well you don’t to,” she smiled. “I’m not your boss, just thought you might want a tomato or something.” 

“But he…” I frowned and walked across the street. 

“I was there too, little girl,” Miss Lisa said. 

“No they ain’t! Come see for yourself, folks!” Millard shouted. 

“And that ain’t the way I remember it,” she said. 

I rolled my eyes and headed home.