December 16, 1900

Bisbee. 

I was reading Sherlock in my room tonight when Jimmy walked upstairs and came over to me. “Hey Sis?!” 

“Yeah?” I looked up from my book. 

“I been lookin through all our books for what Mr. Cole wanted me to find our about your horse. But I can’t find nuttin.” 

“Wanna go to the library and see what we can find?” 

“Yeah, I bet they got something surely.” 

I stood and put Sherlock away for the night. “"Was just gettin’ good too. The story is about this guy who’s dad got killed and everyone thinks it was the son that did it ’cause he was seen fightin’ with him, but Sherlock thinks it’s not him.”

“Oh wow. I might start readin Sherlock Holmes too… he sounds like an awesome guy.” 

“Come on, let’s go to the library!” I grinned and then stopped. “Oh! Guess what!” 

“What?!” 

“Ma showed me somethin’ real perty today. She got a ring from Mr Thomas! We’re a real family!!” 

“Pa proposed to ma finally?!” 

“Well I dunno if it was proposin’ but.... she called it their um... commitment thing. To show it was real true love. And actually I talked with Mr Cas once about this. He said he don’t want no wedding ring cause then he’d have to come home. This way he just wants to and it’s a whole lot better.” 

“Well ya know Mr. Thomas been calling Trin his wife for a long time anyways. Cause he loves her like a wife just like he loves us as his own kids.” 

“I think she just not used to bein callin him husband. Ma been hurt too much. She gotta get used to the idea that it’s really true love this time. Come on let’s go to the library!” 

Tombstone. 

We headed to the library and I looked over at Jimmy. “So where do we start?” 

Jimmy looked around, amazed at all the books, and said, “Ummm, I dunno. I never looked at books when I was in here before.” 

“Well what’d you look at when you were here before?” I giggled. 

“Ummm, well you actually. Cause we were hiding upstairs in our secret hidin spot. Remember!” 

“Right…” I giggled. “I forgot bout that! Hmm okay you wanna know bout horses, right?” 

“Yeah!” 

I looked around for the animal section and found the right book, pulling it out. I plopped down on the floor and looked over at Jimmy as we read quietly for half an hour. “Find anything yet?” 

Jimmy looked up from his book with an odd expression on his face. “Ummm, I found more than I think I really wanted to know.” 

“Find your answer though?” I chuckled. 

“Ummmm, yeah, 21-27 days, and a mare is pregnant for 340 days.” 

I heard gunshots outside then and looked over at Jimmy. “We better stay here. Wonder who’s shootin’ out there this time.” 

“I don’t know… but we best stay in here until no more shootin.” 

“WHO WANTS TO SEE A LYNCHING TONIGHT?!” One voice shouted. 

“A Wild Buncher will never compare to James boy!” Another voice shouted. 

“Sounds like we have a gang war goin’ on out there,” I said with a sigh. 

“It’s crazy out there. We better not go out there unless we have to. Then we better head home when we do,” Jimmy said. 

“Either that or we sleep here tonight,” I said as I looked around. “How long they gonna shoot at each other, bro?” 

“Wild Bunch are all talk!” Another voice shouted. 

“I don’t know sis. But maybe we be better sleeping in our hiding spot upstairs tonight,” Jimmy said. 

“Ma and pa might worry ’bout us though.” 

“Yeah, that’s what I am thinking...they wont like us being out when gun play is happening. Especially since pa got shot the other night.” 

“Yeah... I heard bout that. They been extra protectin’ of us lately.” 

“Where ya goin sis?” 

“Was gonna see if the shooting stopped,” I said and walked downstairs slowly. 

“Okay kids, let’s get out of here while it’s quiet,” Irish called to us from outside. 

“Uncle Irish!! He saved us!! How he know we in here?” I exclaimed and ran out to him. 

“Woah that sounds like Irish!” Jimmy said and ran out with me. 

“I is psychic,” Irish laughed. 

We hopped on the horse with him and hugged him tightly. “Thanks for saving us Uncle Irish! We was doin homework for Mr Cole.” 

“Yes, and the adults are being foolish.” 

“Thank ya Uncle Irish...Ma and Pa will be happy,” Jimmy said. 

Bisbee. 

We rode together to Bisbee and I hopped off the horse, feeling better. “Well that was a fun adventure.” 

“Yay! No more shootin, we home now!” Jimmy slid off the horse and hugged me. 

“Okay, home, safe and hole-less.” Irish grinned. 

“Well we got Jimmy’s homework done at least,” I said, hugging Jimmy back. “Thanks Uncle Irish!” 

“Yes. Very confusing, but I got it,” Jimmy said. 

“True your Uncle Cole should be home tomorrow,” Irish said. 

“Yeah, thanks Uncle Irish.” 

“Good horsey. What’s her name?” I asked as I pet the horse. 

“WindRunner,” Irish answered. 

“I like that name,” I said with a smile. 

“She’s a perty horsie!” Jimmy grinned. 

I fed the horse an apple and said, “There you go Wind.” 

“Ok kids you go up to the house and wait for your mom and dad.. I need to get..” Uncle Irish said. 

“Okay thanks Uncle Irish!” I waved and he waved back. 

“Ok Irish, have a good night, thank you for saving us.” Jimmy held my hand and we headed into the house as he shut the door and locked it behind us.