June 24, 1900

Tombstone. 

I walked into the hotel this morning and called out for Pet and Alex. I heard Alex and Sabi talking and Sabi hugged me right away. Alex said that he saw the bad man again this morning at the cafe in Benson, waiting for her. 

“I don’t wanna stay at the orphanij anymore,” I told them. 

“Why not?” Sabi asked. 

“Mr Alex... can we talk maybe?” I asked him. 

“Sure, Nat. What’s wrong,” he nodded. 

“Miss Angi don’t want me anymore. She said I’m too scared ’bout everything.” 

“What do you mean she doesn’t want you?” he rose an eyebrow at that. 

“She said if I wanted to keep losing my um.... potential was the word she used… That I should keep hanging around with people like…..” I looked at Paisley and looked down. “She said she was gonna maybe look around and see if there was some better fit somewhere. I know what that means. Means she don’t want me no more ’cause I’m too scared about all the gun shots. But I told her you said fear was a good thing cause when the guns happened last night I ran inside right away,” I looked at Alex, confused. 

“What bad guy?” Amara asked. 

“I ain’t Miss, that’s the thing. Mr Alex said it’s okay not to like em though” 

“No need to worry about gun. It not gun that is problem,” a native woman said. “It is bullet that is problem.” 

“Cos then we run away and don’t get shotted. Right Mr Alex?” I asked him. 

“Right. That’s good to hide when you hear gun shots.” 

“So then why don’t Mis Angi want me no more?” 

“Why do you think he is chasing you?” Amara asked. 

“I’m just not a good kid I guess,” I sighed. 

“No, Nat, that’s not it,” Alex frowned. 

“Cause he runs after me tryin ta grab me yellin, ‘Get back here ya no good brat!’ n stuff…” Sabi told Amara.

“I almost had a mommy, okay? She was shot and I saw it and those bad guys were there,” I told them. “It happened right before they put me on that train. And now it’s my fault that I’m too scared. I don’t wanna leave Mr Alex. I like it here. I like you and Aly and Paisley and Jimmy and Sabi. And… and I don’t care what Miss Angi says about you Miss Paisley. You’re my friend.” 

“No one is going to make you leave Nat,” Paisley promised. 

“No, it’s okay to be scared. Miss Angi has to take care of a lot of kids so maybe she isn’t always that sympathetic to things like being scared of gunshots,” Alex said. 

“Or anything,” I looked at him, ignoring the conversation between Sabi and Amara. “She didn’t even care about Miss Ashley gettin shot. Or that mean man coming up to us asking about Sabi. She just don’t care!” I went to hug Paisley. 

“What on earth is Angi going on about me for?” Paisley asked, reaching down to hug me. 

“She said that if I wanted to take my clothes off like you,” I told her. “That I should keep hangin out with you… Cos that’s why you’re hangin out with me.” 

“Oh my…” 

“And that’s why you gave me the bear and stuff.” 

“I give a bear to all the children I see that are new,” Paisley said. 

“No, Paisley gave you that bear because she’s nice and wanted to make you feel more comfortable here,” Alex pointed out. 

“I know. But that’s what Miss Angi said.” 

“Miss Angi knows that I have a second job around town,” Paisley told me.  

“You do?” 

“I greet people that come to town at the stage coach. I like to make people feel welcome in town. But, I also have a job that some like, and others do not.” 

“Why didn’t she tell nothin bout that?” I asked. 

“Why on earth she is even discussing that with you is beyond me,” Paisley shook her head. 

“I don’t know either. That’s not a subject for a kid,” Alex said. 

“Cos I told her that I had friends.” 

“You do have friends.” 

“And that I wasn’t just scared all the time. That I have fun too.” 

“And it doesn’t matter what those friends do at night.” 

“Well then why don’t she want me anymore?” 

“I don’t know Nat.” 

“I do not know why she is saying these things to you sweetie,” Paisley said. 

“I’m gonna ask Miss Trin if I can stay with her. She told me last night she got a new house. It has a boat and a tree and everything.” 

“I will tell you one thing, you can choose who you are friends with,” Paisley said and Alex chuckled about my idea, but nodded in agreement with her. 

“And what about being scared of the man after Sabi? I mean sure... she can’t do nothin. She don’t have a badge. But she could care.” 

“You should be scared of him too and run if you see him,” Alex said. 

“Go to any law person you see or an adult you trust,” Paisley advised. 

“That’s what i’ve been doing! She didn’t even say good job or nothin!” I told them. 

“Then you are doing the right thing sweetie,” Paisley said. 

“Just didn’t plain care,” I looked over at Sabi and asked, “Did that man hurt you?” 

“If you feel yo can not trust her. Then do not go to her,” Paisley told me. 

“Nat, you can’t make someone care about something. All you can do is find people who do care,” Alex said. 

“I have tho! You and Paisley and Miss Trin and Mrs Aly.” 

“Exactly, so don’t worry about Miss Angi not caring,” he said. 

“You are very smart. Use your brain like Sherlock,” Paisley grinned. 

I went to hug Alex and looked over at Sabi. I asked her if that man hurt her in Benson but she said she hadn’t seen him there. “Oh just Mr Alex saw him there. What’d he say to you Mr Alex? Did he tell you he was her pa?” I looked at him. 

“I asked him why he wanted to take her since he didn’t seem to fond of kids and he told me it was none of my business, that she was his and he was going to take her if he wanted.” 

“I told Mr Ger about it. He was upset with the man. Said he was Sabi’s pa. Said the man would have to go through him first. How does a man go through someone else?” 

All of a sudden Alex told us to get upstairs and Sabi screamed as I reached for her hand and ran upstairs. We watched out the window as the man growled, “I want her. Now…” 

“You can’t have her,” Alex said firmly. 

“My patience aint never ending. I want my kid, now!” the man said firmly and I hugged Sabi tightly. 

“Why would I just hand over a kid to some stranger? She doesn’t seem to know you,” Alex pointed out. 

“I have not seen you around town sir. Who is your child.? I know who the children in town belong to,” Paisley said. “I am Paisley.” 

“The red head in the green dress up those stairs,” the man nodded. 

“A man knows the name of his child,” Paisley chuckled a bit. 

“He ain’t goin’ to get you,” I whispered as I held Sabi closer and she held her breath as we watched from the top of the stairs. 

“Yeah well I don’t. But she is mine and I am takin’ what’s mine,” the man said firmly. 

“Well, that presents a problem because a father knows the name of his child and well, you don’t,” Paisley said. “SO, I don’t believe that is your child. That means you can not have her sir. Besides. She has parents.” 

“Lady, I don’t much care what you believe. Thats my kid and I aim to take her. Ain’t my fault her ma was some two bit whore that took her without tellin me,” the man said. 

“As I said she has a mother and father here in town. The one you pointed out has a last name of Grey Wolf.” 

“Yeah? Where do those parents live?” the man asked. 

“The other knew her father. I have no desire to tell you sir,” Paisley said. Sabi crawled into the corner and I sat protectively in front of her. “You have caused enough trouble,” she went on. “Leave. These two are not yours.” 

“This aint over! The kid is my property and I will have whats mine! You hear me??” the man growled, almost shaking with rage. 

“Children are NOT property sir!” Paisley exclaimed and then the man left with a growl. I was scared but I tried to show that I was brave, since I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to be scared anymore. 

“I almost lied and told him those were my kids but I figured it would be written all over my face that it was a lie,” Alex said after a long breath. 

“It’s okay, Sabi,” I squeezed her hand assuredly. 

“I do hate when I introduce myself, they fail to give their name. Quite impolite,” Paisley said. 

“I’ve asked him several times for a name but he won’t give it,” Alex said.

“He is gone girls,” Paisley called up to us and we walked downstairs. They promised they wouldn’t let anyone take us and Paisley told Sabi that the man thought he was her father, but she didn’t recognize him at all. I told them how we had told Miss Trin all about it and Alex decided to talk to Sabi’s aunt and check on her. I continued to hold Sabi’s hand and I decided to go find Miss Trin. 

Sabi thanked me for staying with her and I told her, “Always. I care. Not like SOME people in this town,” I muttered. “And Mr Alex and Miss Paisley and Aly and Trin, they care too. I’m gonna go try to find Miss Trin’s house.” 

I went to get my bear from the orphanage and then came out to Mr. Alex. “Winston and I are ready. Do you think Miss Angi’ll be mad?” 

“That’s a good name for a bear,” Alex said and I smiled, hugging Winston. “I don’t know if Miss Angi will be mad. Let’s not worry about that now. We’ll go find Trin.” 

“Okay,” I nodded. “We follow you.” 

“I bet we’ll find Trin in her office. She works a lot,” Alex said and we headed that to Black Diamond. 

*** 

This afternoon I walked down the street and saw a man in front of the paper office. He nodded to me and I went to miss Pet. “That man lookin for Sabi is out there,” I told her. “He’s out there. That mean man. So I came in here.” 

“Which man is it?” Pet whispered to me and stood to look out. 

I pointed to him and whispers, “The man with the long hair.” 

Pet moved Poppy closer to her side and Garth asked, “So you like to chase little children?” 

I stood by Pet’s desk and watched as the man said to Jess, “Yeah, you can do something for me…” 

“I’ll deal with this myself!” Garth drew his gun and I blinked, backing up more. “You asked for it,” he cocked his hammers. 

“Miss Jess, don’t think thats a good place to be,” Eryk suggested. 

I heard the gunshots and jumped back, stepping out of the way so I didn’t get shot. I tugged on a lady nearby’s sleeve. “Mr Garth protected us?” 

“Stay inside and keep safe,” she looked down at me. 

“But did he?” I asked, nodding. 

“Looked like he was going for his gun to me,” Eryk said. 

I peaked around the corner and saw that the man had been shot. The lady nodded to me and said, “It seems to be.” 

“Just better stay the hell away from my niece,” said a woman I didn’t know. 

“Where’s Mr Garth?” I asked. “He pertected me. That man’s the mean man who’s goin’ after Sabi. And Mr Garth didn’t like that so much so he shot him.” 

“Now if you don’t mind I want to find out why this bastard is scaring my Niece,” the woman said and wandered off. 

“Garth the good guy in this one?” the lady asked. 

“He pertected us Miss Pet,” I said. 

“A good one for using his gun,” Seth said. 

“Mr. Ben!” I ran over to him and hugged him. “Mr. Ben guess what!” 

“Hello kiddo. What?” he looked down at me. 

“That mean man was here, the one who’s lookin for Sabi. And Mr Garth pertected me from him!” 

“Amos I can’t really tell you what started it, I walked up to inform Garth that he had court this Saturday and about that time he drew on the fella that had his gun out,” the lady said. 

“That’s what happened!” I looked at Mr. Seth. “I told Miss Pet who that man was. Mr Garth heard it.” 

“Well, ain’t that just so nice of mister Garth?” Ben smiled. 

“Seth, he’s been after the kids and Garth well, he didn’t like that one bit,” Pet said. 

“See???” I grinned. 

“You can get more information from the family,” Pet said. 

“Mr. Seth… You should talk to Miss Trin. We told her all bout it. She at home. I go find her,” I said and he nodded and we headed off.