July 18, 1900

Black Diamond. 

This morning I walked around Diamond sleepily and greeted Paisley who was out with her horse. She asked if I wanted to ride him and I hopped up as she told me his name was Chester. A lady walked out of the sheriff’s office and I found out her name was Aeryne, who was a deputy in Diamond.

“Everybody’s a lawman in some way or another,” I commented. 

“Yes, they are Nat,” Paisley smiled. “She has worked with Aly.” 

“Miss Angi might get hanged today," I looked down. 

“How do you do little one, my name is Aeryne; whats your name?” the deputy asked. 

“It will all be okay,” Paisley put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. 

“But someone wanted to kill her. I had Winston watching the door all night but I hardly slept. Kept hearing every sound and thinking the door was gonna open.” 

“Yes, but Winston kept you safe. I am glad I gave him to you. And Millard was there too, remember?” Paisley asked. 

“But he gets a special bed with a door. I had to sleep out where everyone could see me.” 

“He is a little older sweetie.” 

“Might as well have slept outside. I’m sorry Miss Aeyrne. I’m Nat.” 

“Nice to meet you Nat. Have you just arrived in town?” 

“Yesterday,” I nodded. 

“Well welcome! We are glad to have you!” 

“Glad someone is,” I looked down again. 

“Someone isn’t?” Aeryne looked at me and blinked. 

“We all are sweetie,” Paisley smiled and I shrugged. 

“Has something happened?” Aeryne asked Paisley. 

“Who isn’t?” Paisley leaned down and whispered. She looked at Aeryne and shrugged, “I am not sure Aeryne.” 

“I wasn’t good enough.” 

“Well, you are not there now sweetie.” 

“They put me on a train and I had to sit there with the other kids who had no place to go for so long. The girls were so mean. I just read Sherlock.” 

“Ahhh well I can’t imagine that is the case lil one. They must have been mistaken if they thought that,” Aeryne said. 

“The whole way. No one else wanted to get off the train here. I wasn’t a good enough girl.” 

“Well, I am very glad you did,” Paisley smiled. 

“I hate dresses,” I pouted. “I don’t even knit.” 

“You read a lot do you Nat?” Aeryne asked and I nodded to her. “Well that’s wonderful! I bet the other kids on the train were jealous that you could read so well! Do you go to school?” 

“I’m nine, miss Aeyrne. I read all the time,” I nodded. 

“Remember Mayor Wise mentioning school yesterday Nat?” Paisley asked. 

“Oh you would be surprised little one, there are plenty of adults who cannot even read!” Aeryne said. 

“School is Saturday,” Paisley said. 

“But that’s the um.... weekend…” I looked up at them. 

“That it is, and you will see me there sometimes,” Aeryne said. 

“Yes. But that is when school is held here,” Paisley said. 

“Do you teach?” I looked at Aeryne. 

“I sure do, in fact I taught the morning class just this past week!” Aeryne smiled and nodded. 

“Tomorrow’s Saturday right?” I asked. 

“Yes. Would you like me to walk you to school?” Paisley asked. 

“Could we ride by it and see?” 

“Yes. I was going to show you Widow Lake. A fishing spot, and it is on the way.” 

We talked about the other kids I’d met and how it would take time to get used to the place. I told Paisley I found a tree to climb and read in. Aeryne went to do the rounds and I showed her the tree by Miss Trin’s office. We noticed the prints were still there and figured she hadn’t come over yet. I wondered if she would be able to tell between Chester and Leo’s prints. 

Alex rode over then and I went over to tell him about Chester adding his nose to the window for prints. “I heard Miss Ally cry out last night in town. Is she okay?” 

“She got shot last night but she’ll be okay.” 

“Miss Angi might be getting hanged today,” I looked down. 

“I heard,” Alex said. 

“Then no one’ll watch out for us.” 

“Well, maybe she won’t be found guilty.” 

“They have Miss Mysti who is her assistant sweetie,” Paisley said. 

“I was afraid that guy might come,” I told him. 

“What guy?” he asked. 

“I had to sleep in the bed without a door. The guy who wanted to hurt Miss Angi. She shot at him.” 

“I think she means Garth who she shot,” Paisley said. “He is accused of hurting her.” 

“Ah okay,” Alex nodded. 

“Why is she gettin’ hanged for protectin’ herself?” I looked between the adults. 

“I don’t know. I haven’t heard the details yet. We’ll have to go to the trial and find out what happened,” Alex said. 

“She was all weird and stuff last night. Kept talkin about her gun to.. Mildew... but she said something about Jeffrey,” I told them. “And and she was wearin her pj’s and…” 

“Nat, when she shot Mr. Garth a few days had passed sweetie,” Paisley said. 

“So it wasn’t in protecting herself? She was really just..” I looked to her, afraid. 

“She was scared sweetie,” Paisley said. 

“Did you bring eggs?” I asked him. 

“How was dinner last night, Nat?” Alex asked. 

“I um…” 

Alex chuckled and handed me the basket of eggs. “I did bring eggs.” 

“Can we go eat somewhere?” I asked. 

“They didn’t feed you rats last night did they?” Alex asked. 

“No, but Mill said that we do eat lizards,” I shook my head. 

“Millard told her they do not eat rats,” Paisley said. 

“Lizards are tasty. Like chicken,” Alex said. 

“That’s what he said!!” I exclaimed. 

I showed Alex Paisley’s horse Chester and then we talked about how we liked our eggs and then rode to the cafe to eat. I asked if Alex would take me to the trial later and he said he would if we could. I noticed Paisley wasn’t wearing a dress and she said we could look for some pants for me. The breakfast was delicious and we talked about how Aly had become the sheriff of all of Tombstone. Paisley talked about some lady named Sarrah who was apparently a legend in the area but had died a long time ago. 

A woman walked in and Alex smiled, “Morning, Detective!” 

“Trin! wonderful of you to drop in!” Paisley exclaimed. 

“Nat, this is my friend Trin I was telling you about yesterday,” Alex looked at me .

“Hi Miss Trin!” I looked over. 

“Trin, this is Nat. She likes Sherlock Holmes like you do,” Alex said. “And see? Another woman in pants.” 

“Well hey there everyone! Alex, I heard about Aly’s promotion! Such good news!” Trin smiled.

“Isn’t it!? We were just talking about that. I’m so proud of her,” Alex smiled. 

“Oh and about those prints on my window…” Trin looked between us with a chuckle and I looked down nervously. 

“Can you tell whose prints those are?” Alex laughed. 

“I think the two big prints belong to those two horses out there am I right?” Trin asked and my eyes grew wide. 

“I am not sure you will get a confession from them Trin..” Paisley giggled and Alex laughed.

“And let’s see based on Miss Paisley’s giggle that would mean…..” she said as I put a finger to my lips and looked at Paisley. “The woman like one must be Miss Paisley’s... and the little small one must be..... Nat’s?” 

“See? Real Sherlock Holmes there.” Alex pointed a thumb at Trin and I blinked. 

“How’d she do that???” 

“Did they have any other good books at the orphanage Nat?” Alex laughed. 

“I dunno, I just read Sherlock all night,” I told him. “But all the shooting in town kinda got me distracted.” 

“That can be distracting,” Alex nodded. 

“Shooting in town?” Trin asked. 

“Aly got shot again last night,” Alex looked at her. 

“Is she okay?” Trin sighed. 

“Yeah, got hit in the leg. I checked it this morning. She’s at home resting,” Alex nodded.

“Good thing she’s married to a doctor... Probably their way of hazing her into the new job,” Trin nodded. 

“Hazing?” I looked between them. 

“That’s probably just what it is,” Alex looked at me. “That kind of when someone is new and other people test them to see how they react.” 

“Happened to me when I was deputy in Bisbee,” Trin said. “Who shot her?” 

“Like when boys tease me cause they wanna see if I’ll act to it?” I asked. 

“Um... boys tease you when they like you,” Alex told me. “I don’t know who shot her. She said it was some woman.” 

“Have you been shot?” I looked at Paisley. 

“I have been twice,” she nodded. 

“Maybe now that she’s in Tombstone I can close all those cases,” Trin nodded to Alex. 

“Yeah, maybe.” 

“Do you have a lot of cases Miss Trin? Like Sherlock and finding prints and stuff?” 

“Mmhmm... You could help me... If you hear anything you write it down on one of these cards. Do you know how to write?” she asked. 

“I read AND write!” I nodded excitedly, looking from Alex to Paisley. 

“She plays piano too. You two have a lot in common,” Alex looked at Trin. 

“Here you go... You know where my office is,” Trin handed me a card and smiled at me. 

We said goodbye to Paisley as she headed out and I took the paper from Trin. “Do you really think I could help?” 

“Mmhmm. People tell kids a lot more than they tell me,” Trin winked at Alex. 

“That’s true!” he nodded. 

“I found this place with a bunch of chairs... By the church I think. There was a hat on this rack thing and a sign on the door that said Ladies society,” I said. 

“That’s where the ladies in town go,” Alex said. “I don’t know what they do there.” 

“That’s where that building is? Wow, no one ever showed it to me. Guess they didn’t think I was much of a lady,” Trin said. 

“That’s what they always say about me!! I’m not a good girl!” I exclaimed. 

“I can’t picture you sitting around quilting or whatever they do,” Alex laughed and looked at me. “Just because you don’t do the same things as other girls doesn’t make you a bad girl.” 

“Good gosh, quilting? Me? That’s a funny one,” Trin laughed. “About as funny as me wearing a dress when I’m working.” 

“I hate dresses!” I exclaimed. 

“You two are so much alike!” Alex smiled. 

“Mr. Alex, does Aly wear dresses?” I asked him. 

“Aly wears dresses sometimes, but she also wears pants sometimes. She says it’s easier to chase bad guys in pants.” 

“Uh huh! Easier to fish and ride and play in pants,” I nodded. 

“Sad part is I wear them more... When I perform or go to church or to a dance,” Trin said.

“There’s dances?” I looked at Alex. 

“There are! Dances are fun.” 

“I don’t go to dances enough,” Trin said. 

“I don’t either, but I’d like to go to more.” 

“Would be a good way to get drinks from your wife,” Trin said. 

“They’re too late at night. I always fall asleep while reading medical journals,” Alex said. 

“You read a lot too? You’re like Watson!” I exclaimed to Alex. 

“That’s just what Trin says,” Alex laughed. “I do read a lot.” 

“How many times have I called you that Alex?” Trin chuckled. 

“Um… once? But you’ve said it before.” 

“Only once?” 

“I have no idea,” he laughed. “My memory isn’t that good.” 

“Miss Trin did you know Miss Angi might get hanged?” I asked her. 

“She what?” she blinked at Alex. “There was nothing about that on the docket!” 

“Aly said that this morning too. I don’t know why she’s on trial, but she is,” Alex nodded. 

“Uh huh. Mill said cause some guy wanted to shoot her and she shot him back a few days later, Paisley said,” I told her. 

“Told you something was going on with Angi,” Trin shook her head. 

“I don’t want to stay in the orphanage. Can’t I just stay with Miss Trin?” I asked. “What if he comes back before the trial? What if she gets hanged?” 

“Why don’t you wait and see what happens at the trial before you get all these bad ideas about her not coming back?” Alex suggested. 

“Guess I’d have to be married for her to stay with me…” Trin sighed. 

“If you always think about the ‘what if’s’ in life, you’ll be scared all the time. Just think about what’s right now in front of you,” Alex advised. 

“Gotta live in the moment or you’ll go crazy,” Trin nodded. 

“Exactly.” 

“Like Miss Angi?” I asked. 

Alex nodded and said, “Nat, when you finish your breakfast, would you like me to show you the library?” 

“I found it yesterday! That’s where I met Aly! She was right outside.” 

“Oh good!” 

“I met Mr. Wise too!” 

“Oh you met the mayor, did you? He’s nice,” Alex looked at me. 

“Adrian was in town? That’s rare... What was he goin’ on about? Usually he comes into town to give me more work,” Trin said. 

“He kept lookin’ up at the clock tower.” 

“Not again…” she sighed. 

“What’s wrong with the clock tower?” Alex asked. 

“I was tellin’ him about the train I just thought it was weird he was lookin’ up there,” I shrugged. 

“It figures,” she stood. “I guess I have some work to do.” 

We said goodbye to her as Alex told me he was glad I got to meet Trin. I asked him if we could find somewhere to fish today and to get some pants to wear instead of dresses. I thanked him for breakfast and then showed him the tree I had found to write in. 

Tombstone. 

I headed to the orphanage and got some pants on and then reached for a fishing pole as I asked if Miss Angi would get me in trouble for wearing pants, but he said she hadn’t told me not to so it was no problem. We continued to fish in the pond and I told him how me and the boys at the other place fished all the time. We talked about feeding the whole orphanage with the fish and I looked down in the water. 

“The guns scared me last night. All that shouting. And then I heard Miss Aly…” I looked over at Alex. 

“Guns are scary. It’s good to be scared of them. If you hear them, best thing to do is get out of the way,” he nodded. 

“You don’t have one.” 

“No, I don’t carry a gun. I’m a doctor so I took an oath not to harm anyone. So I don’t carry a gun.” 

“What if someone shoots at you?” 

“Well, then they shoot me. But I wouldn’t shoot them back. But… no one ever shoots at me.” 

I started to catch something on my rod but then then I fell back on the log, cutting my arm. I cried a bit but he reached over to examine my arm. He cleaned out the wound and got me to hold the rag against the wound to stop the blood. 

“I sorry…” I cried a bit, doing what I was told. 

“You don’t have to be sorry.” 

“I swear I know how to fish,” I sat down on the log. 

“I believer you! I saw how you threw your line,” Alex laughed. 

“But then I lost him.” 

“That happens.” 

“He didn’t want me to eat him.” 

“Can you blame him?” 

“I guess not… But.... but that’s why God made fish. To feed all the bigger fish and the people.” 

“Maybe that fish wasn’t big enough. You’ll catch another one.”

We went over to the school and I saw the rope on the ceiling and ran to Alex. I hid against him and he asked what was wrong. “They’re gonna hang us.” 

“No, that’s to ring the bell so everyone knows school is in session,” Alex looked at it and chuckled. 

“Really?” 

“Yep. They don’t hang kids here. Even naughty ones,” he said and I pointed to the chair in the corner. “That’s what they do with naughty kids, make ’em sit in the corner.” 

“Well that’s better than a rope,” I said and walked over to read the letters. We talked about my favorite subjects and talked about the pet bird in the cage. I decided to explore and wandered around. 

*** 

Tombstone. 

I walked over to barber shop and found Miss Paisley talking with Amos. She was giving him a shave and I told her about the fishing incident and how I had scraped my arm but Alex had healed it. I asked if we could see the trial and then saw Sabi and Jeff over at the courthouse. Sabi introduced me to her dad, Gerric, who I’d read about in the paper. 

I walked into the courthouse and found a spot to look over the balcony railing. I watched as Sabi’s dad walked over to the other lady who was the other lawyer, and waited for things to start. I walked down to sit beside Sabi and her mom said I could sit with her.

“I’m scared,” I leaned over to her. 

“Me too,” she nodded. 

“Yeah but you don’t live at the orphanij where she works. If she hangs… I’ll just be all alone again.” 

Sabi’s mom introduced herself and I asked Mr Trent for his stone and I said maybe it would bring Angi luck. 

Angi handed a boy a carrot in a holster and I figured he was Jeffery. “I want you to have this.” 

Jeff took the gunbelt and said, “But your coming home miss Angi! You’re gonna come home!!! I’ll hold this for you.” 

“‘Course she is, Jeffery,” Nora nodded. 

“You all be good. Best behaviour, and make sure you get a taco for me,” Angi said and sat in her seat. 

“Just relax Angi...everything will be okay,” Gerric promised her. 

People kept going onto the jury and then Jimmi started the trial. “I made my coffin and my funeral card,” Angi gave Gerric something. “This mornin’ was busy. I even got the paints to prep my body.”

“Let’s not put the horse before the cart Angi...you are innocent,” Gerric told her. 

I saw Adrian walk in and Sabi and I inched closer to each other while we waited for the trial to start. I reached over for Sabi’s hand and held it as we watched people gathering. People started handing out tacos in court and I wondered how anyone could eat at a time like this. 

“I am calling the jury, are the prosecution and defense satisfied with the Jury?” Mr. Jimmi asked then and both lawyers nodded. Pet said something about handing a taco to Angi and how it would be her last meal maybe, and I teared up hearing her. 

Gerric walked over to the prosecutor, Nim, and said, “Willing to let you call it off.” 

“The jury is now closed, and court is in session,” Jimmi stated. 

“Too late,” Gerric said as Jimmi welcomed the jury. When he slammed the gavel on the counter, I jumped at the loud bang. 

“No sir, I am not here to listen to plea bargins, only serve the law as written in the books,” Nim smiled. 

“Will the accused please rise?” Jimmi asked and Gerric helped Angi stand. “Accused, Angi Spires, you have been charged with the following offense, that of Revenge Shooting. Defense, how does the Prisoner plead? Guilty or not guilty?” 

“I didn’t shoot him in revenge, Mr. Judge Sir,” Angi shook her head. 

“I take that as not guilty?” Jimmi asked. 

“I think so,” she nodded. “Not guilty.” 

“For the record the accused pleads not guilty, be seated Miss Spires,” Jimmi instructed and Angi sat down. “We will now hear the opening statements. Prosecutor, you may approach the Jury.” 

“Thank you your Honor,” Nim said and I leaned my chin on my knees, hanging off every word. 

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the jury. First, let me say thank you for all of Tombstone, that you are taking time from your day to serve the court in such a capacity. Without upstanding citizens such as yourself, true justice and the upholding of laws that keep us all civil would not be possible. Today, we are going to hear a story, a sad one, of someone who took the law into her own hands and felt that this court was not the place to provide our form of justice, instead, that justice should be handled on Allen street by her wielding a stolen gun. You might well hear of the reasons she felt this justice should be served, yet it was not a case of self defense, but one her taking the law into her own hands and dealing out what she felt was fair and just. No matter how any of us feel about Miss Angi, as I too consider her a friend, no person can be above the laws we have written in books, that very fact Miss Angi, I believe would say to be true herself. On this day we will talk about, she chose to steal a man’s gun and shoot another as she felt it was justice, yet in truth, she broke the law. A strict law yes, for the punishment for breaking such a law is extreme. Yet, it is still the law. I do hope you will listen carefully to the case provided and in the end, come to a judgement that will send the right message to the people of Tombstone. No one person is above our laws. Thank you.” 

I squirmed in my seat as Jimmi called the defence to give his opening statement. “Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury....we will prove to you that this wasn’t a revenge shooting, but a reaction to a very scared person afraid for her life,” Gerric began as Sabi buried her face in her ma’s sleeve. “I will show you this, that she isn’t a dangerous person at all. Thank you.” 

Jimmi called for the prosecutor to call her first witness and Nim called Marshal Kristoff to the stand. The man was called to the front and signed a quick prayer before getting sworn in. “Good morning Marshall,” she greeted him and he greeted her in a Native greeting. “Can you tell the court in your own words, what transpired the day of this arrest?” 

I whispered to Sabi and said, “He doesn’t look too Native.” She nodded quietly, peaking from her ma’s sleeve. 

“I can…. the defendant had been recently kidnapped by the victim in question and tortured nearly to death...so understandably she wasn’t in the proper frame of mind. On the day in question she was petting a carrot like it was a peacemaker… I believe Dr. Gerhadsen called it a garden variety pacemaker…” 

“It is a real gun it just looks like a carrot!” Jeff shouted then, crossing his arms. Angi sat up straighter, smiling widely at him. 

“Order young man,” Jimmi looked at him. 

Nora reached over to slap a hand over Jeff’s mouth. “He don’t mean that! He’s just eight! Or however old he is!” she exclaimed and Jeff jumped. I inched closer to Sabi and she tugged me along as she inched closer to her ma. Jeff nodded with Nora’s hand over his mouth and shushed. 

“Anyway…. the victim came into town and walked into view of the defendant who immediately jumped up and threw a fit pointing her carrot at the victim… that caused me to stand up and inform the victim that he was under arrest,” he looked at Jeffery and shook his head. “Anyway....the victim started his usual outlaw stock phrases talking about how he was innocent and demanding a warrant,” Kris continued. 

“He ain’t gonna say nothin’ more, your Honor,” Nora looked up confidently at Jimmi. 

“Silly outlaws..forgetting the bill of rights don’t apply out here,” Kris stated. “I continued to so attempt to get the victim to surrender peacefully when suddenly I heard three loud gunshots… a sound I am quite familiar with, and saw the victim go down. I then arrested the victim and escorted him to the clinic after very reluctantly arrest the defendant as well.” 

“Thank you Marshall. One final question. From your recollection, did Miss Angi see you attempting to make the arrest on the victim before she took the matter into her own hands?” Nim asked. 

“Yes she did...though I cannot say if she was all there mentally....she only got a real gun after realizing a carrot don’t go bang.” 

“Thank you Marshall. No further questions your Honor.” 

Gerric was allowed to question the witness and he came forward, greeting the marshal. “As a trained lawman, you know how to read people and the state of mind they are in....and as you stated in your testimony, you thought she wasn’t mentally with it....why do you think that?” Gerric asked. 

“Objection, the Marshall is not a medical authority,” Nim stated. 

“Marshals are trained to observed,” Gerric pointed out. 

Yes, but I’ve seen enough craziness in this town to know nuts when I see it,” Kris stated. 

“Objection sustained, unless the Marshal can produce a certificate to practice medicine,” Jimmi stated. 

“Your honor, my wife is one of this country’s most highly respected doctors,” Kris pointed out. 

“My Marshal can tell! Heck.. it’s why I hired him!” Adrian scowled from the jury box. 

“Defence, please rephrase,” Jimmi ordered. 

“And just about every doc in this town has practiced their cross-stich on my body at one point in their lives,” Kris pointed out. 

“What were Miss Angi’s actions during all of this Marshall?” Gerric asked. 

“Kinda like that,” Kris pointed to Angi, who was walking her two fingers across the table and giggling. 

“Oblivious to her surroundings,” Gerric pointed out. 

“Pretty much. I’ve seen it a lot in people who have been through traumatic experiences. In fact doctors back east call it railroad syndrome.” 

“Thank you Marshall..no more questions.” 

Jimmi asked the prosecution if she had more witnesses. Nim called Julielynn Slade to the stand and the woman was sworn in at the front. “Good morning Miss Slade. I know you have information on the actual kidnapping itself, but I wish you to save that for the trial later in the day, please if you would, focus just on the events that transpired on Allen Street, I would like to hear your recount of them to see if they match what Marshall Jameson just told the court.” 

“She just wasn’t herself... She kept mumbling something about, ‘he’s half dead, he’s half dead.’ She has this carrot and I kept trying to talk to her but her face was completely blank… I was snapping my fingers in her face but she just kept muttering that same phrase… Garth walks into town and he face goes pale, and she jumps up pointing her carrot, ‘he’s half dead, he’s half dead!’ Next thing I know she’s grabbing Ben’s gun and she shoots him!!” She shook her head. “Not that I’m sorry,” she started shaking. 

“Thank you Miss Slade, no further questions your honor,” Nim stated and Gerric walked over to question her. 

“Miss Slade....do you feel that Miss Spires knew what was going on at the time?” 

I ducked down into the seat, looking at my Sherlock. I considered reading it, to distract myself during the trial. 

“She hasn’t been right since he beat her and hung her….” Julielynn shuddered and pointed. “I mean look at her.” 

“I take that as a no then. And the carrot she held...did she call it anything?” Gerric asked. 

“She thinks a carrot is a gun for crying out loud! Yes! She pointed it at me one day.” 

“What did she call it?” Gerric asked as I heard Sugar gasp. 

“Witness will answer,” Jimmi said. 

“A gun,” Julielynn stated. 

The witness returned to her seat and Jimmi asked if there were more witnesses. Nim said she wanted to read a statement and read, “Dated: 7/17/1899. Name of Witness: Ben Stolen. DESCRIPTION OF CRIME: I was enjoying the fresh air on Allen street ,talking to a few friends, Miss Angi being among the crowed, she was cleanly not in her right mind, when along come Mister Garth...In a split second Miss Angi just seemed to start shouting accusing Mister Garth of being half dead, most folks were to assume at that point that Mister Garth were the one that had near beating Miss Angi half to death , I ain’t never seen Mister Garth to be that sort of man and still find it hard to believe if it was to be truth, anyways, before I knew it, Miss Angi had pulled my colt from my holster and blasted the poor SOB in the knee...she then dropped my colt in the middle of dusty ol Allen street..I was more mad about that seeing how I spent the morning cleaning the dang thing, she did apologies to me for it a bit later..but none the less..I couldn’t react fast enough to have prevented any of it from happening….” 

The prosecution rested its case and I pulled out Sherlock to read, keeping myself distracted from the nerves. Gerric called a doctor forward and she had treated Miss Angi’s current injuries. She said that she found the woman had been beaten and injured all over. She listed a bunch of stuff and Gerric asked what her state of mind was. Jess said that her mind was of a mental break down that she was still suffering. Nimbrel came up and asked if the injuries took place before Mr Garth was shot by Angi, or sometime after the events, and she said that they occurred days before. Nim pointed out that self defence wasn’t an issue before the court. 

Gerric called Paisley to the front as a witness and she whispered to me that she would be back. I closed my book and watched closely as she was sworn in. “I understand you were with the defendant priory to the incident....how was she acting?” he began. 

“I was with Miss Angi. She was talking.” 

“Did Miss Slade speak the truth that she seemed not to know what was going on?” 

“Julie was accurate in her testimony.” 

Gerric thanked the witness and then called Nora to the stand, who was sworn in. I watched closely and looked back at Paisley as Gerric began. “You are with Miss Spires a lot...aren’t you?” 

“Oh yessir, sure am. She’s the Matron, see, an’ I live there at the orphanage,” Nora said. 

“How has she been since she got beaten up?” 

“Well, uh... See… She been real queer since that day. I mean... She ain’t been in her right head. I mean... You gotta understand. ’Fore that day, she’s the most... Cleanest person ’round here. Real squared away an’ all. But see… She ain’t wearin’ but one shoe. An’ she ain’t even been brushin’ ’er hair, or even eatin’ much. An’ she been carryin’ ’round that carrot all day, see, callin’ it a gun. Her ‘Peacemaker’, see. She been carryin’ on in all kinds ’a’ strange ways. Reckon she been completely terrified, too.” 

“Why do you say that?” 

“Aw, well, see, ’cause she been... Well, she just ain’t been ’erself, is all. She been real jumpy all the time. She ain’t never wanted no gun, see. An’ now she’s tryin’ t’ carry one? Never mind it’s a carrot.” 

“Thank you Nora....no more questions Your Honor.” 

“Excuse me your honor but I was not allowed to finish my treatment of Miss Angi. She suffered a complete mental breakdown as the result of her physical injuries,” Jess stood then. 

Jimmi asked if the defence had any witnesses and Gerric called miss Angi forward. The bailiff had gone off somewhere, so Jimmi said he must be checking the rope. That made us all nervous but Jimmi swore in Miss Angi and then Gerric was allowed to begin. 

“Miss Spires, how did you obtain the bruises we all see today?” 

“Do I gotta talk about it?” she looked to the floor, her face pale and her body trembling. 

“You don’t have to go into large detail,” Ger said and I looked over at Sabi, making sure we were still holding hands. Sabi squeezed my hand gently in return.

“Your honor I protest!” Jess declared. 

“Garth, he put a knife to my back. He - he made me go to Ghenna. I don’t like to go out there, it’s scary.” 

“I know, do what you can please,” Gerric assured. 

“Remind me never to go to Ghenna,” I muttered to Sabi. 

“Well... when we got there, he made Julie get a chair, and then made me stand on it... And put the noose around my neck,” Miss Angi continued. 

“Mr. Garth is a bad man!” Jeff shouted then. 

“Then... well, that’s when he hit me with the pistol,” she went on and Sabi nodded to me. “He broke my nose I think. And then, he hit me again and again.” As she talked, I looked down and started shaking nervously. "And he yelled at me, but I couldn’t hear it none... It was like the silence was so loud.” 

“Miss Nora, please keep that lad quiet,” Jimmi instructed about Jeff. 

“You are on a chair, and hit you with his pistol a lot...go on,” Gerric prompted. 

“And he kicked the chair out from under me. The noose,” she said and I started to cry softly as she pointed to the rope burn on her neck. “The noose cut off the air. I couldn’t breath.” I watched as Jeff kicked the bench in front of him hard, and I wished I could do that too. “And then this man… well, he came up and he cut me down. I ain’t seen him in town before. Garth, well, he woulda let me die. He tried to kill me,” she said and I wondered who the other man was so I could thank him. “I didn’t tell anyone who it was, because I was terrified he was gonna cut my tongue out for talkin’... or finish the job, and really kill me.” 

“So you were terrified for your life… What were you thinking when you saw him again?” 

“Wouldn’t you be? Someone tried to kill you? And they didn’t get to finish? He’s gonna come get me again. I know I’m not safe. When I saw him?” 

“Yes. When you shot him.” 

I remembered the nightmare I’d had last night of the man coming after Angi and she went on. “I don’t know what you mean... I mean... people are tellin’ me I shot him... but...  but I don’t remember it none.”

“Thank you Miss Spires, no further questions,” Gerric smiled and went to sit down. 

Nim walked up and nodded. “Miss Angi, first let me say I am so sorry for what happened to you, but rest assured, that Marshall Jameson did his job and we will be bringing Mr Garth to trial for the crime he committed against you. Now, if I may, a quick question, maybe two,” she said and I committed the name to memory. “You run the orphanage and are responsible for the well being of many children. To do this correctly, you have rules that the children must follow. If one of the children broke one of those rules and when confronted, told you they were sick, that was the reason, would you still punish them to make sure you did not send the wrong message to the rest of the children?” 

“Miss Nimbrel, I’m gonna tell you, what I been tellin’ the kids since this happened. I committed a crime, from what y’all are tellin’ me. It was an awful crime to shoot a man. When we do something wrong, we are punished. In the orphanage, the punishment fits the crime. A child breaks a window, they gotta pay for the window.. They skip school, they do extra chores. But the town of Tombstone has decide that the punishment for a woman defending herself is death. Therefore, if that is God’s will. That is what will happen.” 

“Thank you Miss Angi, no further questions your Honor.” 

Miss Angi returned to her seat and said to Gerric, “It’s ironic he tried to hang me... and here, the County of Cochise is going to hang me.” I cried more as I heard her and Sabi squeezed my hand as her own tears fell. “I guess I was meant…” she looked at the floor. 

“Defence rests your Honor,” Gerric told the judge. I didn’t even know Angi all that well yet, or anyone, but I knew that I was just more afraid of being left alone again. The lawyers were given the permission to give their closing statements, and Nim went first. 

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, there you have it, I really do not need to add much more, or try and sell you on the verdict you should reach. Miss Angi herself just told you what she has been telling the children. She knows as well, no person is above the law. She committed a crime and now we need to give the punishment that is on the books. I look forward to hearing your guilty verdict when you come back in from deliberation. Thank you.” 

I pulled my knees up under my chin and watched Sabi’s daddy as Sabi threw a lollipop at Nim and we chuckled at that as Gerric began. “Ladies and Gentleman of the jury, first I want to apologize for keeping you here so long, but with my client’s life on the line, I need to do my best for her. As you all heard, from every witness, even a professional, Miss Spires has not been in the right frame of mind...and even Miss Spires stated she doesn’t remember.” 

“Are we ordering from the bakery or the deli? Or the taco stand!” Angi exclaimed then. 

“Your honor Please! I wasn’t allowed to finish my testimony!” Jess exclaimed then. 

“Doctor, please compose yourself,” Jimmi ordered. 

“As a licensed Medical Professional myself, I can tell you her claims are accurate for someone suffering from displaced amnesia....set off by a traumatic event that has happened. And I think we can all agree she has suffered one recently. Also, where is the victim in this case? And why didn’t he fill out a statement? Sounds strange that he wouldn’t want to see his shooter punished?!? I am sure, once you see the events for what they really were, you will come back with a not guilty verdict. Thank you.” 

The jury was allowed to go talk over the case in the special room off to the side. I watched with nervousness as they walked back there and could tell Angi was nervous too. Nora and the other kids started getting loud and scared and we waited on the edge of our seat. I decided that if they did go to hang miss Angi, I wasn’t going to believe it. 

Miss Angi looked over at us and had tears in her eyes and said, “I am sorry.” She looked over at Nora and said, “

I battered up some fried chicken, its’ in the ice box, just needs to be fried up. Nora, you can fry it, right?” 

“Ma’am... You’re gonna be able to just fine... I’ll help you with it, all right?” Nora swallowed hard. 

Finally, the jury came out with a decision after a lot of noise and discussion. I wished someone would hold me and looked up at the judge in fear as we watched. The foreman came out and Jimmi said, “Members of the Jury, would your foreman please stand and give your verdict.” 

“You’re honor. This Jury finds the defendant… Miss Angi… On this Friday… 1:10 in the PM... Not Guilty….” Mr. Wise said with many dramatic pauses. 

There was cheers in the courtroom and we jumped for joy, running over to hug miss Angi. I cried on Sabi’s shoulder with relief, knowing that I wouldn’t be alone. Gerric asked Angi to make sure that she would check her over again to make sure she was safe. I heard gunshots outside and was nervous to go there but then Miss Angi brought us back to the orphanage and made us dinner to celebrate. I played piano and let the problems of the day go away as everything had been fixed.