November 8, 1900

Tombstone. 

This morning I went to school and talked with Jeff about the bird and how her name was Pretty Bird, though Jeff called her Polly. Sabi and Soria came in too and we wondered who the teacher was gonna be. 

“I could always teach bout Sherlock again. I finished another story this week of his. It was real interestin’.” 

“Hmm… Well I sure hope she comes,” Jeff said. 

“Its been a while since I comed to school. My aunt don’t wants me learning silly stuffs like clothes,” Sabi said. 

“Why not?” Jeff asked. 

“I like learnin’ bout history,” I said. 

“Oooh yeah history is fun,” Jeff agreed. 

“It why we wear our clothes today.” 

“Like the war and stuff!” 

“Uh huh!” 

“And General Lee,” Jeff smiled. 

“And Wyatt Earp and um… That other guy. Jesse James.” 

“Yeah but thats why town folks wears em. She tolds me I gotta learn about the ways our our people, not tha ways of the towns folks,” Sabi said. 

“Mommy said that he was a guy who robbed trains and the Pinkerton’s caught him.” 

“Ok Miss Traci saids go to the Birdcage. Let’s go, she is there,” Jeff announced. 

We ran over to the Birdcage and chased each other and I sat beside Jeff in the front of the theater. There was a picture on stage and Miss Traci said that we could come to the front. I leaned over at Jeff and asked, “Ain’t that Shakespeare?” 

“Well it certainly is mister Shakespeare,” Miss Traci nodded. 

“I was right!!!” 

“Why did he shake his spear?” Sabi asked and we all giggled. 

“Alright then. I think I might be ready to begin. Did everyone have a good Halloween?” 

“I got lots of candy!” I exclaimed. 

“Yes ma’am,” Jeff nodded. 

“We didn’t have halloweens in our village,” Little Dove said. “We is preparing for tha winter.” 

“Halloween must have been one of mister Shakespeare’s favorite holidays,” Miss Traci said. “But we’ll get to that.” 

“Why was it his, ma’am?” Jeff asked. “Did he dress up and stuff?” 

“Now….” Miss Traci smiled. “We have been studying forms of art for several weeks… and I am shifting a little bit but what I’m gonna talk about is an art medium and that is the dramatic arts, which is all about the stage, and plays. And also opera where they sing everything. But it is just another kind of play with music but very beautiful. Anyways… Plays are of course where actors dress up and learn their lines we hope and their stage directions and they act out their parts and they tell a story.” 

“Like Sherlock!” I called out and put a hand over my mouth. 

“Indeed,” she nodded. “In the dramatic arts the audience watches. And the actors tell the story by acting it out. And what happens is called ‘suspension of disbelief’, which means after just a little while. If the actors are good and the stage is set good, the audience pretty much just thinks they are seein’ the real thing in front of them. Now the story can be a mystery like the mystery of the dead cowboy y’all wrote about in the Bee.” 

I grinned and nudged Jeff then and whispered, “I wanna write a story for you sometime, Jeff. For the paper.” 

“Yeah so many folks wrote about that and some was skerry,” Jeff smiled and whispered back to me, “Okay Natalie.” 

“I wrote a poem about it but there was some good stories. Anyways… The play can also be a comedy which makes the audience laugh and sometimes the actors too.” 

Sabi made kissy noises at me and Jeff and I frowned hearing her giggling. 

“Or a tragedy, which is where somethin bad happens,” Miss Traci went on. “Or a musical where people sing…” 

“Like Macbeth?” I asked. “Or um… Romeo and Juliette? When they fall in love and their families don’t like ’em bein’ together and…” 

“Hang on you are goin ahead of me. Do ya wanna teach?” Miss Traci looked at me and smiled. 

“Oh, sorry Ma’am,” I looked down.

“Just kidding yer doin good and I’m glad you like it. Anyways… We are gonna talk a bit about what makes a play and a little about the stage directions. Some of the things we shoulda done better. Which means I shoulda done better, when we did the Christmas Pageant last year. So… someone who writes plays is an artist. And is called….” 

I raised my hand and Miss Traci asked, “Yes?” 

“But… that’s hard to write a play I bet,” Jeff said. 

“Are we gonna do a Christmas play again this year?” I asked. “I wasn’t here last year.” 

“Well it is,” Miss Traci nodded to Jeff. “You know I’m not sure. No one asked me yet.” 

“We should!” I exclaimed. 

“We’ll see. Anyways… The person who writes plays is called a playwright. Play… wright…” 

“Scuse me teacher,” Sabi said and walked out then. 

“Ok back on track…” Miss Traci said, “So… one of the worlds greatest playwrights. Probably the best EVER is a man called William Shakespeare. And here is a drawing of mister Shakespeare.” 

“Wow that’s pretty close to the picture on the stage! Did you draw that Miss Traci?” I asked. 

“He has funny hair,” Jeff commented. 

“No I just copied it.” 

“You should grow your hair out to be curly like that Jeff,” I giggled. 

“No way.” 

“Most people agree that William Shakespeare was the finest English writer ever. He was born in 1564 in a town called Stratford-Upon-Avon, which was a town pretty much in the middle of England along the River Avon. His parents were well off so he grew up in comfort in this house here. They was rich and he went to a school nearby that taught in Latin, and he learned the classics. Aren’t y’all glad we don’t teach in Latin?” she asked and we nodded enthusiastic. “Well I am too to be honest.” 

“Spanish is hard enough,” I muttered. 

“So when he was eighteen he up and married an older lady named Anne Hathaway. And they had their first child pretty quick right after that.” 

“How much older?? An older lady?” 

“She was in her twenties. Not ancient.” 

“Wow. Mommy’s in her thirties,” I said. “That what she said.” 

“She was like his momma!” Jeff commented. 

“He and Anne had twins a couple years later, a girl and a boy but the boy died,” Miss Traci said. 

“Wow that sad. That um... tradegy,” I said. I thought about my own parents and shook my head, glad for the ones I had now.  

“Well you have it a lot better off than kids in those days. Yes. Not much is known about what he did until he kind of popped up in the London Theater scene in the 1580’s. So he would been what….?” 

“Um…. When was he born again?” I counted on my fingers. “Twenty-six?” 

“About twenty or so. 1564,” Miss Traci said. “So about 20 when he kind of appeared in the London Theater.” 

“That’s real old,” Jeff said. “He musta had a beard and stuff.” 

“He became part of a theater company called the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and he ended up owning it. And this company produced most of his plays on the stage and he both acted, directed, and produced his plays in a theater, which the company built in 1599. Called the Globe Theater. Here is a drawing of what it looked like from inside,” she said and flipped the sheet over on her board. “Now there was some jealousy from the rich theater people because he was not university educated, like other famous playwrights of the day such as Christopher Marlowe. But the quality of his plays and the popularity of them made all the difference. He was a very very popular guy.” 

“Well he was a good writer!” I exclaimed. 

“Like them famous folks in the big moving pictures,” Jeff said. 

“He made a LOT of money and he ended up building the biggest house back in Stratford and ended up dying at the age of 52 in 1616. He wrote many plays which are divided up into kind of four main groups.” 

“But why come he died?” Jeff asked. 

He died of consumption, which is like a bad cough. Of influenza.” 

“Didn’t know you could die from a cough,” I frowned. 

“S here are the plays he wrote… Well back then you sure could,” she said to me and then went on. “And here are his histories. He liked writing about Kings of England and the wars they fought and all the squabbling that went on in the Court. And some of his best characters come from them. My favorite is a guy named Falstaff. Anyways… He also wrote the tragedies which might be his best stuff. Some very scary plays very exciting and complicated with ghosts and murders, poison, mean women… things like that. And he wrote Sonnets.” 

“What’s that?” Jeff and I both asked. 

“In our classes we have studied about different kinds of poetry. And a Sonnet is one form of poetry.” 

“Oooh,” Jeff and I said. 

“Do you remember when we studied the Haiku poem from Japan?” Miss Traci asked. “And the Raven from Edgar Allen Poe?” 

“I not know. I not ‘member that,” Jeff said. “Yes, I remember the Poe guy.” 

“Well… each kind of poetry has its own rules. Like Haikus have seven, then five, then seven syllables.” 

I shuddered my hand and remembered the Raven poem. “I remember when I first came here. There was a raven And it reminded me of when mommy.... or almost mommy…” I said and looked down. 

“Yes? Go ahead,” Miss Traci smiled. 

“Well…” I said. “My parents, my original ones... They died when I was little but.. Then I was gonna get adopted by Miss Ashley And then she got killed and ravens came on top of her. And well.. When I saw the raven when I came here.. I got scareed. Cause I remembered in the poem. Whenever the raven came someone died. But Miss Pet told me about how in Elijah, the ravens came and brought him food in the Bible. So not all ravens bad.” 

“Well… That was the point of Poe’s poem actually,” Miss Traci nodded. “But they have that reputation. Now in sonnets… they are written in something called iambic pentameter which is a huge word which means ten syllables. With accents on each other, every other. In four four line parts called a quatrain. Then a two line ending so the rhyming goes: abab, cdcd, efef, gg. Let me show you…” She turned the page and said, “This is sonnet 130. It is where a man is talking about his love in a very strange and kind of funny way. So here are the lines in the first couplet…” 

“My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;

 Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;

 If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;

 If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.” 

“So first the rhyming sun with dun, red with head, abab,” she smiled. “And the rhythm is… my MISTRESS’s eyes ARE nothing LIKE the SUN. Kind of like that. Anyway… The second quatrain has the next rhyming.” 

“Huh.. This confusing,” I muttered. 

“I have seen roses damask’d, red and white,

 But no such roses see I in her cheeks;

 And in some perfumes is there more delight

 Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.” 

“White with delight. Cheeks with reeks,” Miss Traci said. 

“Mouse and house,” Jeff said. 

“Bat and cat,” I added. 

“‘Ere eyes are nothing like the sun, which means they are dark or blank, maybe she is mean, if hairs are wires then wires grow on her head, but no roses are in her cheeks, and her breath stinks,’” Miss Traci giggled as she read. 

“So she not happy,” I blinked. 

“”Well he doesn’t seem all that happy with her.” 

“Rosy cheeks mean happy.” 

“He is telling how things are wrong with her.” 

“That not very nice.” 

“Okay the next quatrain then. ‘I love to hear her speak, yet well I know, That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground’. Her voice is awful but notice the rhyming. Know with go and sound with ground. And then the couplet…” 

“She must be big big cause she treads the ground,” Jeff said. 

“With big shoes,” I nodded. 

“‘Where he turns the whole sonnet on its head; And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare

 As any she belied with false compare; I think my love as rare as any,’” Miss Traci read the poem. 

“He still believes her. But it’s weird,” I said. “Cause she not pretty or nice right?” 

“He loves her, even if she isn’t… Yes! So uhm… it is actually humorous. But it shows skill, and shows how a Sonnet is put together.” 

“He loves her even if she is ugly,” Jeff said and I nodded to him. 

“It is actually humorous but it shows his skill,” Miss Traci said. “Now back to plays, which was the meat of Shaksepeare. Plays are stories acted out on the stage normally and they are divided into Acts. Normally three. Each Act has a common theme or setting and it is divided into scenes. Each scene brings the story out a bit at a time.” 

“We should write a play for Christmas!” I poked Jeff. 

“Well I wrote one last year,” Miss Traci said. “It was pretty hard too so in the play are the characters. Also called the dramatis personae in Latin and it generally describes the character and depends on the playwright. How much he tells you. In the pageant I said that Mary was the young wife of Joseph, obviously pregnant, dressed in robes typical of the period. Beyond that it is up to the director. But I wanted her to have a big belly… but they had baby Jesus. Now the people that put a play together are first the Producer, the one with the money. He pays everyone and hires the actors and director and so forth. So Shakespeare made a lot of his money as Producer of the plays he both wrote and acted in. Then the important guy is the director.” 

“What's he do?” Jeff asked. 

“He interprets the play by providig instructions to the actors on how to say their lines and interpret the story.” 

“Wow…” I grinned. 

“Where to stand, what to wear, how to say the lines, expressions, everything. Then the Stage Director. He designs and builds the sets.” 

“But can only folk be both,” Jeff said. “Producer and director.” 

“Which can be very elaborate or very simple, leaving the audience to kind of fill in the missing parts,” Miss Traci said. “Yes, you can. Shakespeare was often the producer and director.” 

“Then they will be even more rich!” 

“And the writer?” I blinked. “Wow.” 

“The Stage Manager supervises the stage during the play. Handling the curtain, and the props, and the sets, and the stage hands and so forth behind the curtain. So when the curtain goes up the audience goes ‘ahhhhhh’, and the actor gets in the costume… follow the director’s instructions and reads their lines interpreting the emotions of the part. The set is where the action happens. It is props and items on stage and maybe something that looks like a room, or a field, or whatever. Lighting can be part of it. It is up to the stage manager to build the set so the audience can figure out where and what is going on. It is an amazing art. So here is an example of stage directions that might be in the play itself. And then the stage manager and set director figures it all out. Now part of directing is telling the actors where to be on the stage. And I could have done better with this last year, but it is from the curtain back. So stage right is the right side as you look at the audience. Stage left the other side. Downstage is toward the audience, and upstage is back to the rear, and so forth.” 

“So upstage mean in the back,” Jeff clarified. 

“Yes yer right. Now let me show you something,” she said and slid the board out of the way to reveal a cemetery she’d set up. 

“Wooo look. Dead folk!” Jeff blinked. I blinked and reached over to take Jeff’s hand.

“Come up on stage,” Miss Traci invited. 

“Bad things happen in graveyards,” I said, staying put. 

“So what kind of play do you think this is from? Comedy, history, or tragedy?” 

“Um it is from uhm halloween time?” Jeff asked, getting up on the stage. 

I watched from my seat and pulled my knees up under my chin as I listened to Miss Traci. “It is from a play called Hamlet. Now in a famous scene… Hamlet is in a graveyard. So this is obviously a set of a graveyard. And the audience will complete what they don’t see.” 

“Well what don’t they see?” Jeff asked. 

“Hamlet is a play about a prince of Denmark whose mother kills off his dad the King and there is a lot of murder and treachery and they are trying to steal the throne from Hamlet. So in this scene… There is a fresh grave with bones in it.” 

“Told you,” I muttered as Jeff jumped off the stage. 

“Does someone get stabbed or blasted?” Jeff asked. 

“And Hamlet kneels in front of a skull. And he says, ‘That skull had a tongue in it once. And could sing as if it were Cain’s jaw-bone! That did the first murder! Might it not be a politician?” Miss Traci asked and put the skull down. 

“Naw, they not sing,” Jeff said. 

Miss Traci picked up another skull and asked, “Or could it be the skull of a lawyer? Where be his tricks? Where be his money? But know he is knocked about with a dirty shovel. Perhaps a great buyer of land. But no in this box. The inheritor himself has no more…” 

“But it not matter now he is dead so he not got anything,” Jeff said. 

“Alas, poor Yorick!” Miss Traci picked up another skull. “I knew him well….” 

I stood shakily then and walked out of the theatre, the brightness hitting me. I rode over to the fort, still shaken by seeing the graveyard and the skulls on stage. Mr. Wedge greeted me and I felt better seeing the horses and the soldiers. 

Black Diamond. 

We rode to Bisbee and then to Diamond and I watched the soldiers, trying to forget about school. I saw a couple Natives riding through Bisbee and told Mr. Wedge about it. I told him it was the chief and someone but I didn’t know their names. I rode to the other side of the street and waited. I sat down and pulled out a notebook and wrote an article for the Bree about today and then when they were ready to go, I got on my horse and rode along with them. When I got to Tombstone, I slipped my article under the door of the orphanage, hoping Jeff would find it. 

November 1, 1900

Black Diamond. 

This morning I waited in Black Diamond and then saw the big horses ride over with the rangers for payroll. I greeted them and Mr. Wedge warned that Miss Rikki was running around with her dynamite again. Miss Bree told me to be careful and I rode at a distance, noticing two bad people following us. 

Pearce. 

I jumped off in Velvet when we got to Pearce and went to the clinic, waiting to see if I had to help anyone. I heard Miss Rikki shouting about dynamite by the bridge. I ran over to the bank and Mr. Tully told me, “Child, you have no business here..... I suggest you go somewhere safe. And do it NOW.” 

“But I gonna help in the clinic and I had to come and warn someone and.. They gonna blow it up!!” 

“OUT!” he shouted and I frowned, running back out to the clinic. 

“Run right now to the doctor’s office Natalie!” Miss Angeles shouted to me. 

I ran to the doctor’s office and cried a bit, not wanting them to get hurt. I watched from the window, ‘cause I couldn’t help but watch closely. Rangers started to put hands on their guns as the other rangers did their work at the bank. All of a sudden gunfire went off, making me jump. I knew I would be busy soon and waited to see who would be the first one into the clinic. 

Miss Angel brought Miss Suzy in and I looked over, “I here to help, Miss Ang,” I told her. 

“Natalia please we will have some more have ready cottons and clothes,” Miss Angeles instructed. 

“Beds all ready, ma’am,” I nodded. 

“Bring the wounded at the doctors office, soldiers!” Miss Angeles shouted and I went to get the pile of bandages and brought them onto the table as Miss Angeles worked on healing Miss Suzy. Mr. Spin brought in Mr. Free and I continued to wait for instructions as Mrs. Starling came in. 

“Natalie could you get me some fresh water please,” Mrs. Starling asked me and I nodded, getting the fresh bowl of water and setting it on the table. 

“There you go, Mrs. Starling.” 

“I need some water Natalia and please gives a the next who come some clean to the blood with clothes and water ok?” Miss Angeles asked me. 

“Put it down there please,” Mrs. Starling said. 

I nodded and went to get another bowl of water, putting it beside the one I put down for Mrs. Starling. I looked over at Miss Rikki and said, “Lay on table behind the curtain there. I clean wound with blood and water.” 

“Blimey a gaggle of healers,” Mr. Joe muttered as I went to make another bowl of water. I set it beside the other one on the table. 

“Natalie, help her to lay on that bed and Spin arrest her too,” Miss Angeles said and I went to help Miss Rikki onto another bed. 

“Mr Joe, there some water there for you to clean her wound. And some cloths too,” I told Mr. Joe. 

“Good thing the rangers are here they can both go to trial now,” Miss Suzy said. 

“Hello Joe my dear glad to see you and can give us a hand too,” Miss Angeles greeted Mr. Joe. 

“Could you get me some extra bandages please,” Mrs. Starling requested and I nodded, going to get the bandages and putting them on the table for her. 

“Miss Suzy you want tea?” I asked her. “I can make some willow tea.” 

“Good idea Natalie,” Miss Angeles said. “We have some tea herbs at the Saloon Natalie. If you need.” 

“We have lots of tea here miss Angeles. It part of my job,” I told her and went to boil the kettle for some hot water. 

“Very good,” Miss Angeles said as I made the tea and handed it to Miss Suzy. 

I watched the others work on their patients and then Mr. Joe said, “Yep, could still do with a bottle of whiskey.” 

I started working on a file about today and Mr. Joe complained again, saying, “I still need that whisky and some bullet forceps.” 

“I gave you some whiskey Mr Joe,” I told him. “It on the table.” 

“There you have Joe,” Miss Angeles said. 

“Is anyone else hurt?” Mrs. Starling asked, looking around. 

“Just him against the wall, honey,” Mr. Jimmi pointed at the skeleton. 

“That’s mr Bones!” I looked over and grinned. “Mr Jimmy did you know Mr Bones has 206 bones all together?” 

“Really?" Miss Angeles asked. 

“The big one on the top that makes up the head, that the skull. It also called the cranium. The bottom of your mouth is the jaw, or the mandible. Then the bones down the spine are the vertebrae,” I remembered. “They connect together the spinal cord and hold up your body. The Shoulder blades... the flat one is the scapula.” 

“Natalie, if you have sat down and counted these bones, you have too much time on your hands,” Jimmi said. 

“Mr. Alex taught me. I wrote notes when I started being helper to doctors. We went over all the main bones. We only learned 47 of em.” 

“Well don’t forget his teeth, Nat,” Jimmi said. “And his ear bones.” 

“Well yeah… Oh yeah those. The tiny bones inside. They called the hammer, anvil and stirrup.” 

“We have three main bones in our ears,” Mrs. Starling said. 

“Did you know there’s a bunch in the feet too?” I asked them as the others continued to heal the wounded people. 

“Ears?” Jimmi asked. 

“Uh huh. In the ears we learned those three little ones. Mr. Jimmi?” 

“Nat, there must be a dead thing somewhere around for you to look at somewhere,” Mr. Jimmi said then. 

“Mr. Jimmi, I heard miss Rikki talkin’ outside before the Rangers came.” 

“Well don’t tell me, tell the rangers.” 

“Miss Angeles!” I shouted for her and she looked over at me. 

“Yes Natalie, what happends?” 

“I heard em talking before you guys got here.” 

“Really? And what they said?” 

“I got here and Rikki smiled cos they were here before you… She said… ‘Maybe I’ll place some dynamite out by the bridge, then after they get the payroll, and just as they reach the bridge, shoot the dynamite to set it off’.” 

“That kid will find herself bound up and stuffed in an empty barrel one day, floating down stream,” Mr. Jimmi muttered. 

“She is a good helper in the clinic,” Mrs. Starling told him. 

“Then I saw her take out a couple bundles of dynamite and half buried em by the bridge,” I went on as Mr. Wedge ran out. “She told Free to bundle one side and she did the other. I ran to go tell Mr Tully but he told me to get out.” 

“Not for outlaws, and they are dangerous,” Mr. Jimmi said. 

“Then the guns started. I was inside watchin’. From the clinic, so I was safe.” 

“Tully told you for let’s go out to bank, huh?” Miss Angeles asked. 

“Mr Tully told me to leave the bank and go be somewhere safe. But I had to stay and help cause I knew somethin’ would happen.” 

“Ah I see,” Miss Angeles nodded. 

“So I watched from the clinic. And had the window open so I could hear em.” 

“Such an active imagination. Which window, Nat?” Mr. Joe asked.

“This one,” I pointed tot the one I was looking out of. 

“Well, that help and much Natalie,” Miss Angeles said. 

“I could see em by the bridge. And I’d opened it so I could hear em talking.” 

“I don’t see a thing… All clear,” Mr. Wedge said. 

“I know I just a kid but it’s true!! I not making it up!!” 

“I believed you Natalie and let’s see if the Colonel find the dynamite at the bridge ok?” Miss Angeles asked. 

“Rangers, someone on their feet inside,” Mr. Jimmi announced. 

“Nothing… We can’t hold her,” Mr. Wedge said as we went over to the bridge. 

“Well maybe they removed that after some shout about,” Miss Angeles suggested. 

“Sorry…” 

“But it’s gotta be there! They were shoutin’, Mr. Joe. Hard not to hear em.” 

“Yeah… but there’s nothing there,” Mr. Wedge said. 

“But if…” I looked around, confused. 

“Natlia, you can write all that you said me in one note and gives that to me?” Miss Angeles looked at me and I nodded, going inside to write. I was glad someone finally believed me. 

I continued to write as the others were still talking outside and then walked back to hand her the statement. “There you go Miss Angeles.  I know I only twelve but… I know what I saw. And what I heard.” 

“Very good Natalie, you may have some future like lawmen too,” Miss Angeles smiled, reading the statement. 

I went inside to clean up the clinic and change the bed sheets and swept the floor. I walked back over to the others and said goodbye after asking where Ruby and Sabi were. Joe told me as I left that he wouldn’t require my assistance in the future and I headed home, mad and confused. 

October 31, 1900

Tombstone. 

Tonight I headed over to the group of people in front of the sheriff’s office and asked Mr. Ansar if he’d seen where my dad was. 

“Have ya checked the road? Maybe his like a lost coin,” Mr. Ansar suggested. 

“Hey there little rascal, you been getting candy from folks in town?” Pa asked as he came over. 

“Nu uh. No one givin me candy yet,” I frowned. 

“Have you asked for any?” Mr. Ansar asked. 

“Um…” I looked over and went to the door of the sheriff’s office. “Trick or treat!!!” 

“Aw Nat, candy in bank from me and here and in my bakery,” Miss Bree told me.

“They ain’t?! Well let me see…” Pa reached into his vest and pulled out a handful of candy. “Here ya go… A spooky ghost told me to give that to you,” he smiled. 

“Iz a bowl of candy zer cna take some,” Miss Angel giggled at me. 

I grinned at Pa and said, “Thanks Daddy!” as I took the candy. I turned and saw the bowl and exclaimed, “Wow! So much candy!” 

“You’re welcome half pint,” Pa smiled. 

“You take az much az you vant little vone. Iz halloveen,” Miss Angel said to me. 

I giggled and took a handful as I asked, “I has a question. Why do ya hand out candy at halloween?” 

“You’re welcome Thomas,” Mr. Ansar chuckled. “One hyper kid coming up.” 

“Iz half the fun of halloveen!” Miss Angel said. 

“Oooh.” 

“So mizter Thomas ave finally gotten vord on your application,” Miss Angel said then. 

“You getting badge daddy?” I looked at Pa. 

“Oh yes ma’am? I hope it;s a good one, ma’am!” Pa looked at her. 

“That it iz,” she nodded and handed him a tin star. 

“My daddy gonna wear a badge like mommy!” I giggled and watched with pride. “He gonna make town good and safe!” 

“Oh he applied for the get shoot by Ansar job?” Mr. Ansar asked. 

“Well I am happier than a skinny tick on a fat dog fer sure,” Pa grinned and put the star on his vest. 

“Oh Ansar,” Miss Bree punched his arm. 

“Careful, I am like a tater. I bruise,” Mr. Ansar said. 

“Now venever you vish Thomas ve can get right to training you on procedures and so on,” Miss Angel told him. “Am going to leave the teaching of teaching you to shoot to Ansar since he’z so set on talking about gunz.” 

“Mommy can help you daddy! She good shooter!” I grinned. 

“I can teach ya shoot. But not getting shot. You’ll have to learn on ya own,” Mr. Ansar said. 

Miss Angel headed to hang up the warrant board and I grinned wide. “Daddy gonna help get em now!” 

“Yep, I gonna help clean up this town, if that’s possible,” Pa smiled. 

“When law around, it’s pretty clean. But warning ya now… Them outlaws like fresh meat,” Mr. Ansar warned. 

“Well, they just better stay on their toes, I may be new, but I know if they is bs’ing or not,” Pa said. 

“Daddy is the smartest man ever, he in love with mommy!” I beamed. 

“Awww thanks Natalie, you are pretty smart yoreself, you get that from Trin,” Pa smiled. 

“I know you and mommy ain’t married but I figure it’s okay to call you Daddy still right?” I giggled. 

“Tater, as deputy, where do my boundaries run around here?” Pa asked Mr. Ansar, and then smiled down at me. “You sure can half pint, I love ya like a daughter either way.” 

“Well… the whole area of town, and the sister town of Bisbee,” Mr. Ansar replied. 

“There ve go new varrant board is up,” Miss Angel said. 

“Sister town? Tombstone and Bisbee are brother and sisters?” I asked. 

“Yeah,” Mr. Ansar nodded. 

“Okay, I wasn’t sure,” Pa said. 

“They have parents?” I asked, confused. 

“Yup, they share law.” 

“Oooh. Mommy likes Bisbee cause she goes there to talk important stuff. When she says she’s goin’ to Bsibee I know I gotta let her go and not ask. Cause she don’t get interrupted there.” 

“Bisbee sheiff can come here if needed but many stays there.. and Tombstone can go there if needed,” Mr. Ansar said.

“Ok, are we allowed to assist in other towns if they need someone?” Pa asked. 

“Well say if your in ... Pearce for example. And I am there and I say, ‘Hey you, want to help me deal with this fella?’ You say, ‘yes.’ You can aid me.” 

“Ok, sounds good to me.” 

“If I’m not there. then you can report what you see and give it to the sheriff. Which we don’t have a Pearce sheriff. So you give it to me. since I’m the main law there,” Mr. Ansar said. 

“That where we live!” I exclaimed. 

“Ok, also, who is the Bisbee sheriff or do they have one?” Pa asked. 

“It’s why Pearce is so peaceful. That’s where I am based,” Mr. Ansar chuckled. “Ain’t that right, hun?” he looked at Miss Angel. 

“Yes, I have seen you through there a time or two in passing through to Trin’s,” Pa said. “Have you been a US Marshall very long Ansar?” 

“Let’s see. I was a US Deputy Marshal for a year… and then a US Marshal for… I think almost two years. Then before that I was a sheriff, then a deputy sheriff then a deputy before that.” 

“You always eat taters mister?” I asked him. 

“Every day for every meal. Just ask Angel.” 

“Even in the morning??” 

“Yes.” Hash browns and eggs.” 

“Wow… I don’t like hash browns.” 

“Taters is good fer ya Natalie, they make ya grow,” Pa laughed. “Don’t they, Ansar?” 

“They do?” I looked at him. 

“That’s why I am so tall,” Mr. Ansar said. 

“But Mr. Ansar the same height as you daddy. You eat lots of taters too?” I asked Pa. 

“Cuz he eats all the taters. Me, I just eat one big ole tater and I srouted like a weed,” Pa said and I giggled. “Did you know taters have eyes Natalie?” 

“I am still growin’. Why I still need them,” Mr. Ansar chuckled. “‘least that why my belly thinks. And corn has ears.” 

“They have eyes?” I blinked. 

“Ok am done fiddling vith the board,” Miss Angel came back from the warrant board.

“Did ya get it straightened out Miss Angel?” Pa asked her. 

“Yez, iz level now," Miss Angel chuckled. 

“Are they makin this up?” I looked at Miss Angel. 

“Vat that theres ears of corn?” 

“How do taters have eyes?” 

“I bet ya it’s crooked and I'll have to fix it later,” Mr. Ansar mumbled about the board. 

“Yep, sure does, thats why Ansar is called Tater...he’s a big tater with big eyes,” Pa smiled. 

“He iz,” Miss Angel nodded. 

“How else they s’posed to see?” Mr. Ansar asked. 

“See Natalie, you eat corn to make you hear better, and taters to see better,” Pa smiled. 

“But taters and corn don’t gotta hear or see. They’re veggies,” I looked at Pa. 

“Sure they do. They have to see where to make you grow big and tall when you eat them,” Mr. Ansar nodded. 

“You ain’t never seen a tater look at you?" Pa asked. 

“Not other than Mr. Tater," I shook my head and Mr. Ansar chuckled. 

“Well, see, then one looked at you,” Pa tickled me and laughed. 

“Iz okay Natalie. I ave to sneak in more corn into Ansar’s diet so he hearz better,” Miss Angel chuckled and I giggled. 

“I don’t need corn. I am just ignoring ya sometimes,” Mr. Ansar said. 

“Better watch it though Nat, you eat too much corn, it grow out yore ears,” Pa said. 

“But how do you know how much is too much?” I asked. 

“When you belly sticks out to here,” Mr. Ansar held his hand out far from his belly. 

“Is he right daddy?” I looked at Pa. 

“Um…. Well…” Pa looked at Mr. Ansar. “That’s right. What he just said.” 

“I’m only wrong when I’m not right, and I’m always right-handed,” Mr. Ansar said. 

“So Mizter Thomas, you vanting to get down to learning the ropes now or vait for another time?” Miss Angel asked him. 

“Well Miss Sheriff, I is ready as I am gonna get....might as well get to learnin now ifn ya got the time,” Pa said. 

I blinked, seeing Mr. Ansar pulling out some rope from the vest and he said, “Can we start with the hangman knot? It’s my fave.” 

“I got plenty of time tonight,” Miss Angel said. 

“Miss Angel, can I watch?” I asked. 

“That’s why you keep taters in the root cellar, so they don’t spoil like Mr. Tater,” Pa giggled and whispered to me. 

“Vhy don’t you stay out here vith mizter Ansar?” Sorry little vone iz grownup stuff.” 

“Okay,” I hugged Pa and said, “Don’t get shot daddy.” 

“I never spoil. I am finely aged like wine,” Mr. Ansar said. 

“He von’t little vone. Iz going over procedures and sutch,” Miss Angel told me and looked over to Mr. Ansar. “You know libeling vine can become vinagar too.” 

“I will do my best sweetheart, you stay outta trouble, and go see if Miss Pet got you some candy over at the Russ,” Pa told me. 

“Oh okay. I do that,” I said and headed off. 

October 25, 1900

Tombstone. 

This afternoon I ran over to Kate’s and saw Jimmy talking with some people. “Jimmy!” I exclaimed. 

“Natalie!!” he grinned and hugged me tight. “I am so happy to see you!” 

“Mommy told me.. bout your pa... she said I should come find you,” I told Jimmy. 

“Yeah Mr Thomas told me...it don’t seem right Natalie...I thought he was a good person, and that he was in prison,” Jimmy frowned. 

“But prison for bad people and maybe you better now with Mr Thomas only,” I said. 

“I guess you are right… but Mr Thomas say he gonna see my pa get buried in the cemetery...then I can visit him,” Jimmy said as the conversation around us continued. 

“That a good idea. I come and visit him with you if you want,” I nodded and looked over, “Hi Mr. Joe.” He grunted in response, not saying anything. 

“I would like that...we can put flowers on it, and make sure no one mess with it.” 

“Yeah! Mommy still laying down and resting. I told her no moving today.” 

“I heard she got shot...she ok?” 

“Her leg hurt but she’ll be okay. I been helpin’ with bandages.” 

“Who shot her, you know?” 

“I think she glad this over so we can be family. She not tell me but... she said man who did is dead now. So she safe.” 

“But can Mr Thomas adopt me if he my uncle?” 

“Probably would make it easier, wouldn’t it? Cause he already family.” 

“Yes I think he can, Jimmi,” Bree said to him then. 

“I dunno, I just a kid, I not know bout those things,” Jimmy chuckled. 

“That’s all I think. Family should keep family. I not know how these things work either.” 

“That makes sense. Howdy Miss Angel!” Jimmy looked over as the woman came over. 

“Howdy Jimmy,” she greeted him. 

“Hi Jimmy,” Jeff greeted him then as he looked over at us. “Hi Natalie.” 

“Natalie, did Miss Trin give you that candy apple I brought ya yesterday? Miss Bree made it, I got two from the bank,” Jimmy smiled. “Hi Jeffery.” 

“Um... I don’t think she remembered,” I shook my head. “Hi Jeff! How was school today? I didn’t go cause I was lookin’ after mommy.” 

“I not make it either, I been kinda just sittin and readin at the orphanage,” Jimmy said as Jeff ran into the Russ House suddenly. 

“Wanna go with him Jimmy?” I asked Jimmy and then looked over as Miss Angel introduced herself to me. “I’m Natalie. Natalie Paige.” 

“Let’s go get apple from Miss Bree,” Jimmy suggested. 

“Yeah!” I nodded excitedly. “We goin’ to get apples!” 

“Natalie come on!!” Jimmy called out to me as he ran to the bank. 

“I’m comin’! Hold your horsies!” I chuckled and then greeted Bree. “Hi Miss Bree!” Jimmy grabbed an apple for us and I started to eat the candy apple, smiling as it tasted so good. “Thanks Miss Bree!” I said to her. 

“I think Miss Bree best baker in all Tombstone,” Jimmy smiled. 

“Miss Bree if apples have candy on em are they still healthy?” I asked. 

“Not that much candy just rinse mouth soon and enjoy,” Miss Bree said. 

“Natalie did you know Miss Bree gonna be a momma? She tell me yesterday!” Jimmy smiled. 

“When you having baby Miss Bree?” I giggled. 

“Yep Nat. Sixteen days now,” she nodded. 

“Wow. How come husband not around?” I asked. 

“Sick. I am writing a letter right now to him.” 

“Oh that sad. I hope he feel better soon.” 

“He real bad kids,” she told us. 

“My mommy not sick but she hurting in the leg,” I frowned. 

“Ya can tell other kids to get an apple to got same ones in cantina in Diamond,” Bree told us. 

“Okay!” I grinned. 

“I am sorry Miss Bree… ifn I can ever help with anything, let me know ok...you prolly need rest yoreself I think,” Jimmy said. 

“Yeah miss Bree shouldn’t be workin’ with baby!” I agreed. 

“Yes I know honey, you take good care of her,” Miss Bree smiled. “Thanks Jimmi. I love work honey not hurt me. Not hard.” 

“Oh that good,” I smiled. 

“You’re welcome Miss Bree..but if you need help round the house, or whatever, I be happy to help,” Jimmy smiled. 

“You wanna ride that bull thingy?” I asked Jimmy then. 

“What? That giant mean ole bull? uh uh..I see Mr Thomas do it, and he said his bottom hurt,” Jimmy said and I giggled. “Did you see the bed races yesterday Natalie? I hear they were fun to see.” 

“Yes, was fun,” Miss Bree smiled at Jimmy. 

“Natalie, maybe we should head home and check on Mr Thomas and Miss Trin,” Jimmy said then. 

“Yeah okay that sound good. See you soon Miss Bree. Thanks for apple!” I said as we started to head out. 

“Hope they are okay!” Miss Bree shouted out at us as we headed home. 

October 19, 1900

Tombstone. 

When ma came and told me that Jimmy wanted to see me, I headed over to Kate’s and hugged him tight, happy to see him. 

“Where you been?” Jimmy asked. 

“I been workin' lots. At the clinic. And readin' so I can be better. I wished you was at school yesterday.” 

“Guess what!!!” 

“What??” 

“I think Mr Thomas is my uncle.” 

“Really??” 

“Uh huh.” 

“Why you think that?” 

“He and my pa might be brothers, cause Mr Thomas mom last name Wheeler, like mine.”

“Ooh. Well then that mean he can adopt ya?”

“I guess so, but I think Miss Trin worried.” 

“How come?” 

“Cause she think my pa be mad if he find out Mr Thomas try adopt me, she think he may send someone after Mr Thomas.” 

“Oooh. That wouldn't be good. Momma will keep him safe though. She loves him.” 

“You won’t believe who I saw last night.” 

“Who?” 

“Miss Lisa...she got shot by Ranger Spin, then Mr Mac shot him.” 

“Wow! Mr. James there too? Mommy not seen him much she says.” 

“No, I didn’t see him anywhere..I heard Mr Rock died though, he was buried yesterday.” 

“Hmm. That sad. What you doing today?” 

“I was just chatting with Miss Trin, enjoying the quiet...not much happening today.” 

“Yeah it like ghost town here. Yesterday was real busy. I went to school and talked about men wearing skirts then went and followed soldiers on horses during payroll. Warned em about bad guys in town but they got shot anyway. So had to heal bad lady who shot em. Well, helped mr. Joe heal em.” 

“I wished people would lay down their guns for the good of people, and for the better of their lives,” Jimmy shook his head. 

“Yeah would. At least some people use em for good like ma. I wanna do somethin' but I don't know what.” 

“True, but too many people get hurt or hurt others with guns..if only people like Miss Trin had guns, the world would be so much better. I met a new indian girl, I think you will like her.” 

“Oh yeah?" 

“Her name is Shira, she lives up in the Indian village.” 

“Wow,” I looked around and sighed. “Jimmy, I bored.” 

“Me too, what should we do?” 

“Hmm… I not have any ideas… You have horse right?” 

“Miss Bree went to her store in Black Diamond I think, maybe we could go get ice cream or something, yes I do.” 

“Yeah we could do that. Let’s go get our horses!” 

“Okie dokie.” 

We went to the stables and hopped on our horses and then rode down the street. When we drove through Diamond, looking for something to do. 

October 18, 1900

Tombstone. 

This morning I was sitting in front of the clinic reading when Miss Paisley walked over. I greeted her with a hug and pulled her inside. “I reading books to get better as a doctor. Thought I would read before school,” I told her. 

“Always a good idea! I will be at school today.” 

“Yay! I haven’t been able to go much.” 

“Well, I am glad you are going today because I will be there.” 

“When the armies go to the different banks around towns I gotta be there to help out. It really the only time I ever see anyone in the clinic so I gotta help out. It gets busy sometimes.” 

“It sure does get busy in here sometimes!” 

“How is you?” 

“I am very good! What do you think you will learn today?” 

“I dunno. I just never get any of the homework done so I always feel bad about goin’ without it. Not sure how much longer Mommy can keep the house in Pearce if we don’t make more money. So I gotta do my part.” 

“I do know that no homework will get assigned today” 

“How you know that?” 

“Teacher told me so.” 

“Ohh!” 

“I know today’s teacher very well,” Miss Paisley said. 

“Who is it?” 

“Not tellin’,” she grinned and I frowned. “You will like the teacher.” 

“I hope so. Mr. Finesmith asked why I not come last week. But he didn’t really wanna hear my answer. He just wanted to lecture me to come.” 

“He likes to do that,” she nodded. 

“May I ask a question?” 

“What your question?” I asked her. 

“Do you like me?” 

“Yeah! Why else I say hi to you all the time?” I grinned. 

“Then you will not object to your teacher at all,” she smiled. 

“You’re a teacher??” I grinned and hugged her tightly. 

“Mmhmm…” 

“Wow! Miss Paisley, can I ask you a question?” 

“Of course.” 

“Where did all the kids go? Did Nora take em with her wherever she went?” 

“No.. they might not be awake yet.” 

“I mean overall… I don’t see much of them. No one to play with.” 

“No, they are still around. Keep this in mind... We all teach each other all the time.” 

“Do you know what time armies start going to banks?” 

“Nine am.” 

“Oooh right after school. That good. I always afraid I miss it.” 

“No, you will be done in time.” 

I walked over to the book then and wrote down that I was done work and said, “Okay I ready to go to school now! Should we go to school?” I tugged on Miss Paisley’s shirt. “We don’t wanna be late.” 

“Yep! Hmm… I wonder where all the kids are.. I bet Molly is asleep,” Miss Paisley looked around as we walked over to the school. 

“I told you not many here,” I looked at her. “Miss Paisley you let me ring the bell?” 

“Sure,” Miss Paisley opened the door. “Go ahead.” 

I went to ring the bell and fed the bird. “Now watch I broke a school rule…” Miss Paisley giggled and I did too. 

“Do we know what the bird’s name is?” I asked, getting some cracker to give the bird and fed it. 

Soria and Mr. Trent came in then and even Mr. Adrian came into the schoolhouse. “Mr. Mayor!!” I grinned and ran over to give him a hug. “Mr. Mayor, do you know what the bird is called?” 

Mr. Adrian laughed and held his finger to his lips in a ‘shh’ fashion, and pointed to the front of the room as Miss Paisley said, “I will give others a moment to arrive..” 

I nodded and grinned, turning excitedly to the front. I was too excited to see the mayor than to behave. I leaned over to Soria and said, “That’s the mayor of Tombstone. He’s Mr. Adrian. Or Mr. Mayor.” 

Mr. Adrian looked over at the bird and then looked back at the class. 

“Mr. Mayor I gonna help with payroll today!” I told Mr. Adrian then. 

“I think that is enough time to wait…” Miss Paisely began and pulled the papers out. “I am going to be giving a series of classes on where clothing came from and how it evolved into today’s clothing. Have you ever looked at what you are wearing and wondered why we wear this?” she asked as others came into the school. “There is a story to what we wear. I hope to show you over this series how clothing transformed to what we now wear.” She pulled the paper again and showed another picture. “Would you believe it began back this far? back before 3100 BC?” 

“Oh my!” Mr. Adrian and a girl named Leena exclaimed together. 

“You’d think clothes would change by now,” I muttered. 

“Our story begins in the Middle Eastern part of our world,” Miss Paisley went on. “Clothing looked much different than it does today and I know many of you have talked Art with Miss Parkin. You see examples of the clothing in art.” She pulled the paper over and revealed a print. “This is a document actually. Egyptians used art to document many things. Mostly historical events were documented in art, and in this document you can see the clothing worn.” 

“How come the men didn’t wear shirts Ms Paisley?” Leah asked after a giggle. 

“Most of the men you will see are not fully dressed according to our standards today,” Miss Paisley smiled and I giggled. “This was quite normal for them and acceptable." 

I raised my hand and when Miss Paisley called on me I asked, “Is that like Apache men wear no shirt?” 

“Some Apache men do not.. Under certain circumstances does that happen.” 

“Oh.” 

“Sometimes, you will even see women in this period topless,” she said and I blinked while Leah gasped. 

“It was just considered normal for them,” Miss Paisley explained. 

“Oh My!! But wasn’t that a sin for them to do that?” Leena asked. 

“Many wore gown with special names. I will get to the names. No, they did not consider it a sin. Their concept of religion was also different. They worshiped a god, but not as we know. The short skirt of a man had a name. A shendyt," she went on. “It was often heavily pleated and gathered at the front. 

I tried to write the name out but looked at the word with a funny look. “I not think I spelled that right.” 

“This is what one look like closer up,” Miss Paisley pulled the print over to reveal another one. 

Soria raised her hand and asked, “Where did the cloth come from miss teacher?” 

“The cloth they used was linen. Mostly a flax linen.” 

“Flax?" I tilted my head. 

“That's a plant," Mr. Adrian nodded. 

“It was a plant grown in the region so that was used to make the cloth,” Miss Paisley said. 

“Oh….” I raised my hand again and Miss Paisley looked at me. “Doesn’t Flax make medicine too?” 

“I have not looked into its medicinal purposes, but quite likely. They tended to make full use of all they grew," she said and I looked back at Mr. Adrian for an answer as she went on. “I know it was used widely for many uses. Not just clothing. Like Sesame is used for seeds to eat, oil for cooking and so on.” 

I pulled out the book I was reading on medicine as Leena asked, “Miss Paisely, is that woman wearing a dress? It looks more like a night gown.” 

“She is wearing one of the period’s later garments… but both versions are a kalasiris Natalie?” she looked back at me.

“I found it! There’s a tribe called Maori. They used flax oil for healing wounds and flax for making clothes,” I grinned and closed the book again and grinned back at Mr. Adrian proudly and he chuckled. 

“The later version always reminds me of overalls,” Miss Paisley said. “Just a long skirted version.” 

“I bet the clothes weren’t soft as they are today too,” Soria commented. 

“Linen is not always a soft cloth and I am sure with the methods they had to produce it, it was rather coarse,” she said and revealed a sketch drawing as Jeff came into class and apologized for being late. “This is what one of the earlier kalasiris might look like,” Miss Paisley said. 

“She looks like a princess!” Leah exclaimed. 

“As you can see, it is full and also pleated," Miss Paisley noted. 

“I see fringes on it. Like cowboys wear,” Soria said. 

“That would be the ends of the material,” Miss Paisley nodded. “This would simply be a length of material wrapped around that had been pleated. Same for the men, only the men’s skirt would be much smaller in size.” 

Leah raised her hand and asked, “Was the clothes always white or other colors too?” 

“Clothing was white,” Miss Paisley said. 

“Very reasonable,” Mr. Adrian nodded. 

“Why?” I asked. 

“I wonder how they kept it from gettin dirty,” Leah said. 

“But… well how come a boy gots a skirt?” Jeff asked, looking around at all of us girls. 

“All wore skirted garments,” Miss Paisley said. 

“Jeffery you should wear skirt like them,” I giggled. 

“It was much easier to tend to um.. certain matters of nature Jeffery,” Miss Paisley explained and I blinked at that as Leah laughed. 

“Well there is a point,” Mr. Adrian blushed.

“But I sure glad I ain’t in that town where boys is a sissy,” Jeff stated. 

“Think about that next time you need the outhouse.,” Miss Paisley smiled. 

“What if Mr. Adrian wears one? Then you wouldn’t be the only one,” I grinned. “Sounds like it made it easier.” 

“He wouldn’t ever wear none of them skirts, ‘cause he ain’t no sissy,” Jeff argued. 

“We can talk about kilts in another lesson,” Miss Paisley said and I tried to imagine Mr. Mac in a skirt.

“Madame, the colour white helps to deflect the sun, I am supposing?” Mr. Adrian asked. 

“Yes it does,” Miss Paisley nodded. “Black absorbs color and white reflects.” 

“Oh yes, I read once that it was very hot there,” Leena said. 

“When they get the linen, it is more of a cream or ivory color,” Miss Paisley said as we continued to giggle. I couldn’t wait to tell Jimmy about this class. “It is natural and in that way, naturally helps them keep cool.” 

“Did they have the same color skin as Indians Ms Paisley?” Leah asked. 

“Not really, but they were quite tanned from being in the sun as the Apache are,” Miss Paisley said. 

“Wait… Apache dark because of the sun only?” I asked. 

Miss Paisley showed another picture and said, “It does play a role in their skin tone, yes.” I raised an eyebrow at that and she went on. “Another document showing examples of the clothing. A man and a woman.” 

“The other picture had nice bracelets and hair band too,” Soria said. 

“The Egyptians wore wigs,” Miss Paisley said. 

“Wigs? Why?” I asked. 

“Oh!” Mr. Adrian exclaimed. 

“Yes,” Miss Paisley nodded as Jeff crossed his arms. 

“Oh. So the hair band was part of the wig?” Soria asked. 

“Oooh she has such a pretty dress on. I sure wish I had one like that,” Leah exclaimed. 

“Possibly part of the wig, but perhaps jewelry,” Miss Paisley said. 

“That is very pretty,” Mr. Adrian nodded. 

“How come they wore wigs?” Leah asked. 

“t was rather unsanitary there,” Miss Paisley exclaimed. “Many of them suffered from fleas. Mostly lice.” 

“Well that ain’t even a dress at all it is a piece of cloth Miss Paisley,” Jeff looked at the picture. 

“Imagine dealing with lice all the time,” Miss Paisley said. 

“I’m sure glad we don’t hafta cut our hair and wear wigs like them!” Leah said. 

“Are they collecting flax in that picture?” Soria asked. “Looks like they are working in a field.” 

“I am sure they still has their own hair, but this covered any thing unsightly," Miss Paisley said. “I think they are more likely dealing with papyrus.” 

“Miss Paisley?!” Jeff raised his hand. “Did boys and girls wear all white all the time?” 

“Yes they did Jeffery. Most often in a document, they talk on papyrus and how much they possessed.” 

“They sure had funny words for things!” Leah said. 

“Sure did,” Jeff nodded. 

Miss Paisley turned the paper over and I asked, “Why didn’t they just call it paper? Pretty much the same word just easier.” 

“Often you see headdress. This is a special one,” Miss Paisley said about the paper. 

“He must be a King,” Mr. Adrian guessed. 

“It is worn by the King,” Miss Paisley said. 

“Yeah Mr. Wise, he gots two girls so he must be a king,” Jeff smiled. 

“It is suspected that it is the Scorpion King by some,” Miss Paisley said. 

“Two girls?” I blinked. 

“Those sure are funny hats!” Leah giggled. 

“Prolly had more then two girls.. just didn’t have enough room on the pappy-rus,” Mr. Adrian guessed. 

“Two women.. likely goddesses as they are wearing the crowns representing the two Niles.... Upper and Lower are placing the crowns on his head,” Miss Paisley explained. 

“Or that!” Mr. Adrian grinned. 

“Goddesses?” I blinked. 

“Yep and he wanted to be looked at more too maybe,” Jeff turned back and looked at Mr. Adrian. 

“The Nile was split into two regions,” she explained. “Upper Nile and Lower Nile. Upper Egypt/Nile is in red and Lower Egypt/Nile is in white.” 

“But…” Jeff started. 

“The King wears the unified crown,” Miss Paisley said. 

“Mr. Adrian should have a crown! He kinda like our king,” I exclaimed. 

“Well how come they ain’t got shirts on?” Jeff asked. 

“That is just how it was back then Jeffery,” Miss Paisley said to her. 

“Well he is. He in charge of everyone and make sure everyone safe. Right Mr. Adrian?” I asked, turning around. 

“Well.. I get lice every now and then. and I do have my topper,” Mr. Adrian said and I giggled. 

“When you see a headdress it is usually for a God other than this crown,” Miss Paisley said. 

“Well I sure am glad we ain’t in them days. I not like be without a shirt,” Jeff said. 

“But what about the Native chiefs? They wear head thingy,” I said. 

“Native chiefs here?” Miss Paisley asked. 

“Is that their crown?” I asked. 

“They are not in Ancient Egypt,” she said. 

“I been learnin’ bout Apache ’cause mommy half Apache. But is that why they wear head thingy’s? Cause they’re like in charge?” I asked. 

“I got my head shaved once here and so did teddy and mildew cause all us kids had lice,” Jeff said. 

“Lil Natalie.. Apache always wear shirts.. and no chiefs where bonnets .. that’s plains injuns,” Mr. Adrian explained. 

“Oh that’s so neat!” Leah turned to me. 

“Oh,” I looked down. 

“When you see an Apache in what you may feel is no shirt... look closer... you often see something beaded…” Miss Paisley smiled and I looked up, blinking. 

“But if they catch us looking closer they might get mad,” Jeff said. 

"Then don’t,” Miss Paisley told him and I was confused. 

“And then they chase us and grab us and kilt us and skin us,” Jeff looked at us girls. 

“I was speaking figuratively. The beads would be very visible Jeffery,” Miss Paisley pointed out. 

“Oh, okay Miss Paisley,” Jeff giggled. 

“Clothing always had rules back then,” Miss Paisley said. “Folks paid close attention. Clothing indicated many things. It could indicate status in society like the headdress.” 

“But clothes is important now like uhm the fireman’s clothes. And the sheriff,” Jeff pointed out.

“Oh yes!" Miss Paisley nodded. “But we are not there yet in the series.” 

“Like how they wear badges,” I pointed out. 

“We are starting small... and in the case of the man’s clothing here... very,” Miss Paisley said. 

“Wooo you gonna tell us more next time too?” Jeff asked. 

“Oh yes! For next time... just think where clothing may go next… I will not ask on it, but just think. and with that... CLASS DISMISSED!” 

We thanked her for class and then I ran over to Mr. Adrian to give him a hug. I headed outside to get on my horse and rode off to find payroll. I found them and followed them from a distance, hearing someone telling Mr. Free, “We take them when they come back through Tombstone again.” 

Black Diamond. 

I rode off after Mr. Wedge and the others and called, “Mr Wdge Mr Wedge Mr Wedge! There two people in Tombstone. They talk bout how they gonna get you guys when you go back to Tombstone. I not know their names.” 

“Oh? Do you know them?” 

“One of them said somethin bout a roof. You gotta be careful Mr. Wedge!!” 

“Oh… that again. I will thank you.” 

“I had to tell everyone! Cause I gonna be a doctor.” 

“Thank you Nat. General...you catch that?” Mr. Wedge asked her. 

“Yep,” Miss Suzy nodded. 

“Be ready then, Nat,” Mr. Wedge told me and I nodded. “I run to clinic if I hear guns.” 

“Maybe we will do something different,” Miss Suzy suggested. 

“I run to clinic if I hear guns,” I promised. 

“It’s dangerous to do that right now but maybe later easy,” Mr. Seth said. 

“Tombstone...they Will be waiting for us,” Mr. Wedge informed. 

“Good Natalie, I no want my assistant to be shot too,” Miss Angeles smirked at me and I grinned at her. 

When the soldiers were done with their work at the bank, I followed them at a safe distance as we rode through the towns. When we were in Goldfield, I warned Mr. Seth about the guys wanting to attack them in Tombstone and he went totell Miss Suzy, even though I said she already knew. As we continued to ride, Mr. Wedge called for them to ready their weapons. 

Tombstone. 

When we got back into Tombstone, I somehow lost the soldiers and rode over to Mr. Trent and asked him, “Mr. Trent, where’d cavalry go?” 

“They was heading up the far tracks miss Nat,” he said. “Towards Ghenna way.” 

“Oooh. I not supposed to go there. I wait here in case they need help here.” 

“Well then I guess you shouldn’t then miss.” 

“I helping with payroll and heard there people gonna shoot em here. So I warned em and now they go through town and prolly get shot.” 

“Golly.” 

“I followed em to Diamond, Goldfield and Pearce. Then we came back here. I like watching all the horses and I wanna help Miss Angeles if she need it in the clinic,” I said and hopped off Velvet. 

“Well just be careful miss.” 

“That why I stay here now. Wasn’t class fun?” 

“Yes miss, it was right informative.” 

“Uh huh. You can call me Natalie, Mr. Trent. Or Nat.” 

“Thank you Miss Nat,” he said and I giggled. 

“I can’t help it I reckon, learned my manners real good.” 

“I gonna go see the fort at least. Bye Mr Trent!” I said and rode off towards the fort. Mr. Wedge and Mr. Seth were on the ground and someone else was shouting. I shouted to Mr. Joe that they were hurt and asked what I could do but a bad man searched Mr. Wedge and stole money from him. “Hey! You can’t take that money! Miss Angel he taking money!” 

“I ain’t doing nothing,” the man shook his head. 

“Mr Joe we taking em to the fort or to Tombstone clinic?” I asked. 

“I don’t carry money,” Mr. Wedge looked up at the robber and I grinned, thinking that Mr. Wedge was the smartest man ever. 

“I go to clinic in Tombstone and wait for you,” I said and ran back to town. “Mr. Trent I was right! They was shot!”

“Who was?” 

“Mr. Wedge and Mr. Seth and I dunno who else.” 

“Golly! That is a shame.” 

“I tried to warn em! They shoulda gone round back or somethin’. There so many of em against not many bad people. How did they... lose?” 

Miss Bree walked over then and Mr. Trent answered, “I do not know miss Nat; sometimes things don’t work out as they should.” 

“By Fort. I go wait in clinic.” 

Miss Bree suggested we go to the fort and we headed out that way. I decided to stay in the clinic though, not wanting to be out in the area of the fort because Mr. Joe said they were all going to come to the clinic. 

I started to make tea and then Mr. Joe started to work on a lady’s shoulder, so I offered her tea and wrote her injuries down in the journal. Miss Bree asked if I was shot and I told her I was helping in the clinic. Miss Bree headed out to find more injured people as I helped Mr. Joe, making tea and getting tools for Mr. Joe. More people came in for treatment and I continued to do my work as things got busy. When everyone had been treated, I replaced the dirty sheets with new ones and swept the floor. 

I wandered out to the fort then to check on the clinic there and Mr. Wedge said that things were okay there. I asked Miss Ang if there was anything I could do and he said that I just had to check on Mr. Wedge. 

“Don't let his grumpy state bother you,” Miss Angeles told me. 

“Miss Xav said that Wedge was sneaky today. I remembered it,” I told them. 

“Xav deserved be shot she a critter,” Miss Bree muttered. 

“I was going to shoot any outlaw I saw today,” Mr. Wedge declared. 

“Well Wedge, they got you instead it seems.” 

“So who shot Xav?” Mr. Wedge asked. 

“Saw gunshots from the hill,” Mr. Seth said as he started to wake up then. 

“I was shooting at her...and Ang got in the way…” Mr. Wedge looked over at Mr. Seth. “Say again, Major?” 

“Someone was on the hill Colonel Wedge and I returned fire and ended up down’ed,” he said. 

“I tried warn you but I guess not good enough. I need to learn names,” I sighed. 

“Gunshots but didn’t see much of where,” Mr. Seth said. 

“Take a rest Major and Colonel try to not moved much, both will have time for write and gives a Suzy the reports,” Miss Angeles said. 

“Names of who, Nat?” Mr. Wedge asked. 

“Of the bad guys. So I can tell you who next time.” 

“Ahh… Okay Captain,” Mr. Wedge nodded to her. 

“I not warn you good enough,” I frowned. 

“Oh, I will teach you that. I deal with they like Ranger too,” Miss Angeles said. 

“No… It was perfect Nat, thank you,” Mr. Wedge smiled at me.

“But Mr Wedge, you got shot,” I went over to him. 

“You did best ya could Nat,” Miss Bree said. 

“Yes, but IN the back,” Mr. Wedge said. 

“That better?” I asked. 

“They rotten shot folks in back,” Miss Bree said. “Maybe we need do that to them.” 

“Well...not much one can do if they don’t see the weasel who shooting you in the back,” Mr. Wedge said. 

“Yeah. I think I go back home. Get better people,” I said then. 

“Ok...thank you Nat...thank you very much,” Mr. Wedge said and I looked around the big fort in awe before heading home.