Tombstone.
I waved at Miss Bianca and Mr. Bass this morning and when they greeted me I asked her, “Can I finish my interview with you Miss Bianca?”
“Sure,” she smiled.
“So I know you said you been here for four months and a bit… Why did you come to Tombstone?”
“I wanted to prove to my family that I could make it on my own.”
“What do you do for work here?”
“Well I’ve done a few a things so far. Shortly after I came to town Miss Paisley and Miss Kef took me in and I became a Dove. Then I decided that I wanted something more out of my life here so I stopped working at the saloon and started fixing up the old library.”
I nodded as I wrote things down and then grinned. “Oh wow! I really like that library!”
“And now I’m working as a clerk at Miss Prudy’s shop....still fixing up the library but it takes money.”
“Where do you live Miss Bianca?”
“I was staying at the library at night but I have a special man in town and he asked me to move in with him up in Ghenna.”
“Who’s that?” I grinned.
“Mr. Joe,” she blushed.
“Ma and Mr Thomas moved us to this bigger house in Bisbee last night!” I grinned. “While we were sleeping I guess cause I woke up and was in my new room! What do you do for fun Mis Bianca?”
“I love to read and learn new things.....I like to go up to the indian village and talk to Mahko....I like to take ride my horse and explore nature.”
“Do you have a favorite place? Like a favorite town or a favorite building?”
“The library is my favorite spot.”
“So Tombstone your favorite town?”
“I can go in there read a good book and feel like I’m miles away from here.”
“Me too,” I grinned. “But now we got a whole long bookshelf at home! What’s your favorite animal? Do you have any pets?”
“I love cats… but I have my horse her name is Delilah.”
“What’s your favorite food?”
“Hmm let me think......Miss Pet’s chicken and dumplings.”
“Last question. So you and mr Joe aren’t married yet right? Do you have any kids?”
“No kids. And Mr Joe and I won’t be getting married for a long time.”
“Thanks so much Miss Bianca!! I’m getting lots done!” I nodded then and said, “That’s what ma says too. She not ready for marriage but this morning she said that they wanted to surprise us for Christmas with movin in together. We’re almost like a real family!”
“That’s wonderful!”
“Ok well I’m gonna go see who’s at the orphanage for my interviewin’.”
“Take care sweetie.”
“Keep an eye on the Bee to see when your interview is there!” I said and went to hug her. She smiled and patted my head before I ran off.
I saw Frances relaxing on the swing in front of the orphanage and I waved to her. “Hi!!! How are you Frances?”
Frances rubbed her eyes and sat up, yawning and blinking. “Oh... Hello Nat- Uh... How’re you?”
“Oops I sorry... did I wake you from your nap.”
She shrugged and slid off the swing, stretching out her arms. “Naw don’t mind it. I was real bored so I thought I’d rock a bit and I guess I fell sleeping…”
“Well maybe you can help me with some interviews then! You know if Miss Abi is inside?”
“That’d be real fun!” Frances grinned and looked over her shoulder, shrugging. “Maybe... She weren’t when I was in there but who knows how long I was sleepin’.”
“Hmm... Wanna go in and check?”
“Sure. Alright,” she nodded.
“You’re real good at comin up with questions.”
We walked into the orphanage and waved at Miss Abi who was working away on something in the living room. When we’d greeted each other I told her, “Miss Abi, I’m writin’ a new series for the Bee. I’m interviewin’ people all around town so that people can get to know each other. I was wonderin if I could interview you.”
“Of course you can. Let’s go sit at the table.”
“Okay!” I grinned and Frances clapped with excitement. “Frances helps me come up with good questions. How long have you been in Tombstone?”
“Have a seat Frances,” Miss Abi said and Frances took a seat at the table with us. “I came here last summer.”
“Why did you come to Tombstone?”
“I came looking for a relative, an aunt. My last living relative.”
“Didja find her?” Frances leaned in closer against the table.
“I found out she had lived here but she had died.”
“Oh, that’s sad…” I frowned.
“Shoot…” Frances looked down at her lap.
“But I made some good friends and decided to stay and make my home here,” Miss Abi said.
“So what do you do for work, in your own words?”
“I take care of this orphanage and the kids in it. I make sure they have a clean place to live food to eat and try to do my best to bring out the best in them.”
“So where do you live? Here at the orphanage?”
“I live here I have a bedroom next to my office.”
“What do you do for fun in town?” I smiled.
“I like going to the dances… Go to the Russ for dinner now and then… and I love to explore the area. Would you two like to see my office and room?”
“Sure, after the interview! I just have a few more questions.”
“Okay, shoot.”
“Do you have a favorite place? Either a town or a building?” I asked and Frances snickered, pretending to shoot with a finger gun as I giggled at her.
“I like sitting on the bridge that crosses the creek when I need to think. Watching the water. I have always lived closes to water.”
“No pets. No time for pets.”
“But you like animals?”
“What about a kitty? They don’t need much lookin’ afters,” Frances pointed out.
“I like cats but they make some of the kids sneeze. So no pets,” Miss Abi said.
“Do you have a favorite food?” I asked.
“I know it is a luxury but I do love anything with chocolate,” Miss Abi said, “But it is very hard to come by.”
“Are you married or have any kids of your own?”
“Chocolate is real good! I got a piece for my birthday once! I saved it for a week!” Frances nodded.
“Yeah! I like chocolate too!” I grinned.
“Was engaged before I came here but he was a soldier and died in battle,” Miss Abi told us.
“Do you have any other family nearby?”
“I have no family.”
“Darn…” Frances stuck out her bottom lip.
“I guess the orphans are like your kids though huh?” I asked.
“I am an orphan just like the kids. Helps us bond,” Miss Abi said.
“How do ya take care of all the orphans by yourself? Where I came from the orphanage was ran by lots of grumpy nuns,” Frances crossed her arms. “A few nice ones too.”
“That’s a real good question! See Frances I told you you good at this!” I grinned.
“Well I get a lot of help from the people in town,” Miss Abi said. “When the kids are out and about playing and such it seems the whole town watches over them. These kids here had a really horrible Matron before I came here. I am trying to make up for what she put them through.”
“Anything else you can think of to ask, Frances?” I asked her.
“Is you gonna stay in Tombstone forever..?” Frances asked.
“I will be here as long as the kids want me here,” Miss Abi answered. “I love all of the kids like they were mine.”
“I remember…” I nodded. “She why I adopted Miss Trin…”
“You what?” Frances tilted her head to the side.
“I don’t mean Ms. Angi,” Miss Abi said. “I am speaking of Ms. Irelund.”
“Ohh. I never met her. Heard lots about her though.”
“I never met Ms Irelund either.”
“She was awfuller than Miss Angi who said I weren’t allowed to cry or get scared.”
“Since I have been here even at first she never came out of her office except to discipline the kids. Ms. Irelund actually fed the kids lizard.”
“Lizard?!” Frances looked horrified.
“I heard bout that,” I nodded.
“Like with the scales and feet?!” Frances asked with shock.
“She never tried to have good food for the kids. If I won’t eat it I am not feeding it to these kids.”
“That’s good to know…”
“I make sure they have ham , chicken, beef and for the holidays I am hoping someone will shoot us a turkey.”
“Well I think that’s good enough for a real long article!”
“Mmmm... I love turkey dinners!” Frances rubbed her belly.
“Can you show us your room and office Miss Abi?” I asked her.
“Of course,” she said and I gathered up my notes, walking over to the office. I was a bit nervous, remembering the last time I’d been in the office, but entered anyway as she talked. “This is my office. The bed by the window is for a child who is not feeling well and does not want to sleep with the other children. That way I can keep an eye on them if they are sick.”
“Oh I should write about that too. That’s real nice,” I smiled.
“See the pictures on the wall?” Miss Abi said. “I asked for angel pictures because I feel the kids are watched over by angels.”
“They’re so beautiful!” Frances hugged herself tight.
“Miss Abi you a real good matron,” I grinned at that.
“The door over there goes to my bedroom. Want to see? You can go in and look around. Go in and look,” Miss Abi led us through the door.
“I like all the letters on the walls,” I said, looking around.
“I feel it is homey,” she smiled. “And the littlest ones can learn their letters.”
“Maybe I can learn to read better just lookin’ around in here!” Frances nodded and giggled.
“If you need help reading I can help you. There are a lot of books in the library we could use.”
“You can read good? You must be a real educated lady!” Frances grinned.
We walked back to the main living room and I said, “I read lots! I always read Sherlock.”
“Well what did you think?” Miss Abi asked.
“Sherlock? Ain’t that the detective feller?” Frances smiled at me with curiosity.
“I always used to play the piano when I lived here,” I smiled.
“Those books are a bit advanced,” Miss Abi said.
“I want to learn to read so I can read books about acting!” Frances exclaimed.
“I been readin since I was little,” I told her.
“Who taught ya?”
“The orphangae where I grew up was real awful and I never wanted to be with the other kids so I read lots. Then Miss Ashley taught me how to read better but then she got shotted and couldn’t adopt me no more so I came here.”
“I’m ure we can find something on that subject in the library,” Miss Abi said. “If you girls are hungry there is beef stew on the stove and fresh milk on the table.”
“She got shot?!” Frances cringed.
I nodded sadly and said, “But now I got ma and Mr Thomas and Jimmy. And we moved into a big house in Bisbee last night!”
“That’s great!” Miss Abi smiled.
“They took us over there in our sleep and we woke up there this morning! You should come see Frances! It’s a real nice house. And not as far a walk as when we were in Pearce.”
“Could I? I’d love to!” Frances grinned from ear to ear.
“Yeah!!!” I grinned. “Miss Abi can I take Frances to see my new house?”
“Of course you can,” Miss Abi nodded. “I need to do some paperwork for and adoption that is coming up anyway.”
“Come on Frances! Thanks for the interview Miss Abi!” I grinned. “I’ve been wanting to put yours in first! Cause you work with us kids and it’s a kid paper!”
We said goodbye to Miss Abi and went off to my new place.
Bisbee.
I showed Frances our new house and especially the view from the balcony upstairs. “You can see the whole town from up here! Ma sings here at that saloon every other week and Pa can be a deputy here like he is on Allen Street!”
“Wonderful!” Frances clapped and grinned.
We walked through the house and she loved the Christmas tree in the living room. “Ma said that Pa did this part cause she not allowed in the kitchen since she burned our turkey at Thanksgivin’,” I giggled. “It was so funny! Me and Jimmy was laughin’ so hard!”
“But what is she gonna do at dinnertime?” Frances laughed.
“Pa’s gonna cook,” I giggled.
“A man can’t cook no dinner!”
“Sure he can! He a real good cook! Ma said she never really liked cookin’.”
“But cookin is real fun!”
I showed her our room and ma and pa’s room, though we weren’t ‘llowed in there. I led the way back inside and took her over to the bookshelf. I took off the copy of Sherlock I had like it was a fragile piece of glass and showed it to her. “I know ya can’t read but it’s got pictures!”
“What is it?” she asked, looking curiously.
“This is my Sherlock! There’s stories bout the cases he does. And ma kinda works like him too. Helpin’ the deputies and sheriffs solve crimes.”
“Shoot. Sure wish I could read somethin’ like that! I love mysteries!”
“But look at all these cool pictures!” I said and flipped the pages so she could look at the pictures.
“Who’s that?” she asked curiously.
“Oh that’s the red-haired guy. This is a fun story,” I said, opening up to one.
“The red-haired guy?” she giggled.
“So this guy gets told that there’s a job in town for people with red hair see… When he goes to apply for the job there’s this huge long lineup of red haired guys. And the people hirin test them and pull wigs off and stuff to make sure they not fake.”
“Uh oh! That’s silly!” Frances giggled.
“Well see… He gets the job cause his hair was so great… So what he’s gotta do is sit in this room and copy an encyclopedia for a long time.”
“Why did the guy who got the job need ta have red hair?”
“Well that’s the thing... you’ll see…”
“Well alright!” She nodded curiously.
“So.... See while this guy’s doin’ this job what he don’t know is that these guys that hired him? They usin his place. While he’s not there. They dig a tunnel from his place to the bank. During the same time that the guy is workin on the encyclopedia,” I said and she laughed as I went on. “So then.. Sherlock figures it all out of course cause he’s smart… And he and this cop and the red haired guy go down into this tunnel and wait for the bad guys to come. Cause that’s the night that they’re gonna rob the bank. Cause the tunnel’s done. And the thing is that when this tunnel was done then the people with the job told the red-haired guy he couldn’t work no more. They put a sign on the door saying that the job had finished. And he was real confused about it so that’s why he got sherlock.”
“Oh dear!” Frances was listening closely and her jaw dropped, just a bit.
“Anyway… The bad guys come and then the cop and Sherlock arrest em for attempted bank robbery when they come down with money bags into the tunnel from the bank. Cause it was their escape.”
“Woo!” Frances snickered.
“Yeah!! Smart huh?? And Sherlock figured out what time and everything from when they was workin and stuff.”
“Uh huh!” she nodded with enthusiasm.
“Cool huh?? See look, this picture has em in the tunnel and it’s all dark.”
“I see!” Frances peeked and smiled.
“I been thinkin bout writin’ a casebook like this bout ma’s cases here in Tombstone.”
“"What kindsa cases here in Tombstone, Nat?” Frances asked.
“Oh she does lots. Lot of robberies, fires… Woah I could feature a different case in the Bee each week!! That’s so smart!”
“I bet you could write ’em real good!” Frances smiled. “Then I could learn ta read ’em!”
“Yeah!! And I could read em to you till you can do it yourself.”
“That’d be so great!” Frances bounced on her heels.
“I’ll have to get some from ma today and start!” I giggled.
“Yeah! You just have to! You got to!” Frances nodded.
“Well I’m gonna try and find ma,” I grinned.
“Alrighty then!” Frances nodded again.
“You gotta come over lots and I can read some to ya! Now that you know where we live!”
“I’m real excited already!” Frances clapped happily.
***
Benson.
Tonight I walked over to Uncle Cole’s house and met Miss Enola, Cole’s friend. “That’s Velvet,” I said as I hopped off my horse. “She’s been actin a bit weird, Mr. Cole…”
“Well hello there little Natalie… Pleasure to meet you,” Miss Enola greeted me.
“Nice to meet you too ma’am. Velvet’s been real spoked easily lately. I don’t get it. She hates bridges and I gotta coax her over em.”
“Natalie who saddled her?”
“Uh… I dunno Mr. Cole. Ma got her for me.”
Uncle Cole lifted the pony’s tail and grinned. “I know why…”
“You do?” I looked at him.
“Yes… She is coming into season and is going to be a little spooky for awhile..is most likely her first one and she doesn’t know whats going on.”
“Oh…” I looked down. “Season for wha?”
“You know the talk you and your mamma had about your growing up,” Uncle Cole looked at me.
“Uh… Well yeah..”
“Velvet is growin up too..” Uncle Cole smiled.
“What do I gotta do Uncle Cole?” I asked as I pet the pony’s name.
“Just keep telling her she is safe and keep her away from the boys… Okay?”
“I can do that,” I giggled and nudged my pony to wander for a bit.
“She should be okay in about two weeks,” Uncle Cole said.
“Miss Enola?” I looked at her then.
“Yes, Miss Natalie?” Miss Enola asked.
“I work for the Bee and I been askin people round town questions bout themselves. It’s for a new series I call ‘The Faces of Tombstone’. I dunno what order I gonna do stuff in but… I tryin to ask questions of everyone.”
“Okay,” Miss Enola said. “Ask what you like sweetie.”
“So maybe you two could both answer at the same time?” I asked them.
“Oh really.. okay,” Uncle Cole nodded.
“It’s real easy,” I promised.
“Sounds good,” Miss Enola nodded.
“Well ask away,” Uncle Cole said.
“Ok so first question... How long have you been in Tombstone?”
“I myself have been here about a month,” Miss Enola answered.
“About five months,” Uncle Cole replied.
“Why did you come to Tombstone?” I asked and got out my notebook to start writing on two pages.
“I came to get away from some bad things that happened,” Uncle Cole answered first.
“That seems to be what lots are sayin’,” I nodded.
"And I knew you momma.”
“Yea! She said she knew ya from Wyoming,” I grinned. “You didn’t know she was Native sorta though right? Till you came here?”
“I was part of Cheyenne tribe out west. My village has hassled often by outlaws. So I moved on to start a new life,” Miss Enola said.
“Oh, I knew,” Uncle Cole grinned.
“You did?!" I blinked.
“Yes, she told me long ago.”
“Oooh. What do you do for work?”
“I am currently the baker in Benson. which I plan to be for a long time,” Miss Enola said.
“I am the vet and a medical assistant,” Uncle Cole answered.
“Oh wow! So you both live here in Benson then? This your house Mr Cole? Or miss Enola’s?”
“I live above the bakery yes,” Miss Enola answered.
“Yes, now I do,” Uncle Cole said. “I live here with Irish above the stables.”
“I have a small apartment above the bakery here in Benson,” Miss Enola said.
“My uncle Irish!” I grinned wide. “We set up the Christmas tree in front of the sheriff’s office.”
“Yes your Uncle Irish,” Uncle Cole nodded.
“It’s real perty. He helped. What do you do in town for fun?” I asked, seeing Miss Enola blush a little.
“Well, I have been so busy setting up the bakery and working, I have not been out much,” Miss Enola answered. “Sir Irish did take me dancing once though,” she said and blushed more.
“Go to the dances… and once in a while I go bowling at Annie’s,” Uncle Cole said.
“You gonna be my new auntie?” I giggled and asked Miss Enola.
“Natalie...what kind of question is that?” Uncle Cole asked disapprovingly.
“I sorry,” I blushed and looked down.
“Well, if you are adopting me as your auntie… I would be honoured. I can make you cookies often,” Miss Enola smiled at me as Uncle Cole tickled me, chuckling.
“Okay next question,” I said and giggled more. “Do you have a favorite place? Either a town or a building?”
“Hmm… that is a hard one,” Uncle Cole said. “I think I like the bakery best.. it smells so good.”
“I love the memories at the cemetery. The honor of what those lost meant to the town. I sit there often and call the spirits in praise for their memories,” Miss Enola smiled and nodded.
“The cemetery?” I blinked. “But it’s scary!”
“Yes it is, Natalie, for those who do not understand its beauty. You and I should go once so we can see the beauty together,” she said and I shuddered.
“Well I try to make great things there everyday,” Miss Enola said to Uncle Cole. “I have fresh holiday cookies there now.”
“Miss Tracy taught bout Hamlet once. It was scary,” I told them. “Or was it Macbeth…”
“Most likely McBeth,” Uncle Cole said.
“It was Macbeth,” Miss Enola nodded.
“What’s your favorite animal? Do you have any pets?”
“I have a kitty at Black Diamond and my horse here,” Uncle Cole said.
“I love my horse Ginger and there is an amazing dog that keeps hiding over here that I have met. She seems to like me,” Miss Enola smiled brightly.
“What’s your favorite food?” I grinned.
“Love a good rare steak with mashed tatos,” Uncle Cole said.
“I agree with Cole on that one, with a nice hot piece of fresh baked apple pie,” Miss Enola smiled at him. “I also like fresh cooked fish.”
“Like my pecan pie as well,” Uncle Cole said.
“Are you married?” I asked and they both answered no. “So no kids for either of you?”
“No, never had children,” Miss Enola shook her head.
“I have a daughter from an adoption but she is with her auntie back east,” Uncle Cole said.
“Any other family nearby?” I asked.
“Not for me. I traveled a long way alone,” Miss Enola answered.
“No… Other than your momma,” Uncle Cole said.
“My momma’s family?” I blinked.
“She kinda treats me like a brother…” Mr. Cole smiled.
“So you like my uncle then! Like uncle Irish!”
“Well, I uh, well… yes, he is a very nice man,” Miss Enola’s face got redder.
“You should see the two of them… they can’t stop blushing…” Uncle Cole said.
“They in loooove!” I giggled.
“Maybe,” Uncle Cole chuckled. “I will tell him what you said…”
“Hey now tell him what?” Miss Enola looked over with an eyebrow raised.
“That you think he is a very nice man…” Uncle Cole grinned.
“Well he is a very nice man. He is so helpful and generous.”
“I told you Uncle Cole!!” I giggled more.
“And he talks about you in his sleep..” Uncle Cole laughed.
“What does he say about me?” Miss Enola’s eyes grew wide.
“You sure you want to know?” he grinned.
“Oh my high spirits, this had better not be in your paper, Natalie,” Miss Enola looked at me and then huffed a bit. “Yes, I want to know.”
“Nu uh I done writin!” I giggled.
“He loves your soft silky hair and how nice your face is and how soft your skin is..” Uncle Cole started.
“O oh my now how would that man know these things? He has never…” Miss Enola said.
“Should I go for a ride with Velvet?” I grinned wide.
“No, you’re fine,” Uncle Cole said to me. “Whatever it is,” he looked at Miss Enola. “He sure thinks a lot of you.”
“Maybe you can go dancing again Miss Enola!” I grinned.
“e will have to see, Natalie,” Miss Enola said to me. “If Sir Irish asks sometime.”
“Of course I haven’t mentioned his talking to him yet…” Uncle Cole said.
“Yeah, that should be a nice talk,” Miss Enola grumbled under her breath.
“Only in that I will have to keep track of the blushes and duck a lot..”
“The duck?” I looked at Uncle Cole.
“Irish throws things when he is embarrassed,” Uncle Cole laughed. “And it is worse when I tease him.”
“You’re awful, uncle Cole!” I grinned and he grinned too, moving off the step away from Miss Enola. I waved and said goodbye to Miss Enola as I headed home.
Bisbee.
An hour later I showed Uncle Cole the house. Jimmy came running in calling for me and momma and I called for him to come inside. “Hi Bro!! Don’t ya love this new house??” I grinned wide. “It’s ours and we live together finally!”
“Hey Mr. Cole! I doin okie dokie… how you like our new house?” Jimmy asked him.
“I like it.. lived here when I first came to Tombstone,” Uncle Cole said.
“Come on and sit by the fire and warm up Jimmy!”
“Yeah we sure do sis, we finally one big family..oh wow lookit!!!! What a big tree!”
“Miss Enola gave us that!! She’s um... Uncle Irish’s new lady!” I winked at Uncle Cole and he winked back. Jimmy walked up to the tree and stared in amazement as I said, “Oh and did ya see the big tree in front of the sheriff’s office? Me and Angel and Uncle Irish and Mr Freebird decorated it this mornin’!”
“Naw, I missed it..” he frowned. “But I see it tomorrow...ya know this my first time ever have one of those.
“Really???”
“Uh huh...ma didn’t know nuttin bout Christmas, and pa did believe in it,” Jimmy said.
“Well now we get to do Christmas! And Uncle Cole built us that desk upstairs. That’s what ma said! It’s real nice, Uncle Cole!” I said as he went to have a short nap on the couch.
“Uh huh...where ma and pa? They out doin law stuff?”
“Uh... guess so they not home yet. But pa said there baked cookies in the kitchen if you wanna bring em out. I was waitin for you.”
“Oh wow, really? Ma didn’t cook em did she? You remember the Thanksgiving turkey. You think that why we moved?”
“Yeah I know bout the turkey... but I don’t think that’s why we moved. Ma said it was a Christmas present for all of us!” I giggled.
“This is the bestest Christmas present I ever got. I got a family and a house, and my big sister.”
“Now as your big sister... go get the cookies! We got a guest! Even though he seems to have fallen asleep,” I grinned.
“OKie dokie big sister...I go get cookies...do I need to bring milk too?”
“Yeah!! Can’t have cookies without milk!!” I giggled.
“Yeah, well we almost had Thanksgiving without a turkey.”
“Now listen here... Ma feels bad enough bout that! We don’t gotta give her a hard time!” I chuckled.
Jimmy went into the kitchen then and called out, “I hope I don’t drop these. Pa would kill me if mess up our new kitchen.”
“Ya need help in there?” I called after a while.
“Naw I gots it. I a big strong boy, I can do it.” Jimmy walked back into the living room and set the tray onto the table.
I grinned and reached for one of the cookies. “I been workin on lots of interviews for the paper! And guess what else! I gonna write stories bout ma’s cases! Kinda like Watson did for Sherlock!”
Jimmy handed a cookie and mil to me as he munched on his. “There ya go sis.”
I looked over as Uncle Cole stirred in his seat and I grinned, “He’s awake!”
“Oh wow really? Do I get to help?” Jimmy asked me.
“Uh huh!! Ma and Pa said I shouldn’t go places alone. I had Frances go around with me today. She’s a real nice girl.”
“Awesome...yeah, and pa say we not go into Tombstone alone or without them either.”
“Mr Cole, is it true that the matron before Ms Abi actually fed the kids lizards??” I asked Uncle Cole.
“I’m not sure she did kinda doubt it..” Uncle Cole said.
“That’s what Miss Abi said… Oh wait I not sposed to talk about the interveiws till they in the paper.”
“I think she fed us horse though. We often had what Jeffery and Payton called horse stew,” Jimmy said.
“She did??” I blinked.
“I think the worse thing she ever fed them was horse..” Uncle Cole said.
“I not know, just what Nora say also,” Jimmy said.
“Wow… I guess Miss Abi lied then,” I frowned.
“I not like eatin horse. They not made to eat, they made to ride, and take care of. They perty animals,” Jimmy said.
“Horse isn’t too bad just sounds that way,” Cole said.
“Uh huh! Horses are pets not food. How are the horses at the coral Jimmy?” I asked.
“They are good. We been kinda slow lately. People not comin town much cause all the fires pa say been happenin,” Jimmy replied. “Mr. Cole you like healin horses and other animals?”
Uncle Cole finished his cookie and milk and said, “That was one good cookie..almost as good as Miss Enola’s. “Yes I do they are much easier than some humans.”
“Well Pa made em. He a good cook,” I grinned. “Jimmy, maybe Mr Cole could teach you how to heal horses like he does!”
“Pa said maybe I could learn from you some day how to better tend horses at the corals and stuff,” Jimmy said.
“Any time you’re ready,” Uncle Cole said.
“Oh wow really?!”
“I am already teaching Payton..so yes I will teach you as well.”
“So I am going to be a vegetarian like you?”
“Mr. Cole says that my horse Velvet is comin into season and I gotta keep her away from boy horses,” I said then.
“Means you have to study like at school,” Uncle Cole said.
“Uh, you mean yore horse be ummm, in matin season sis? Ain’t that what its called Mr. Cole?” Jimmy asked.
“Yes, Jimmy,” he nodded.
“Means we can have little ponies running around soon!” I giggled and ate my cookie happily.
“I will study Mr. Cole. I want to learn all I can about tendin horses and maybe other animals. SO ifn they get sick, or somethin, I can fix ’em,” Jimmy promised. “I get first pony!” he chuckled.
“Well yeah cause I already gots the mama one. That only fair,” I grinned.
“Ok first assignment..find out how long Velvet will be in season if this is her first week,” Uncle Cole told him.
“And I’ll keep tellin her she’s safe and loved,” I grinned.
“Ok Mr. Cole, I find out soon as I can. Where good place to start, the library?” Jimmy asked.
“Yes the best place to start,” Uncle Cole nodded.
“Miss Bianca’s runnin the library now and makin it real nice! :covers her mouth realizing she said something from the interviews again,” I smiled. “Ma might have some books on horses upstairs in our shelf too, Jimmy. She really knows horses well. She hadta learn from somewhere. She said she grew up on a ranch.”
“Some things you can learn by watching some you have to ask about,” Uncle Cole said. “Like did you know if you give a horse too much oats it will be all crazy like it is on loco weed..”
“Uh uh!” Jimmy exclaimed.
“Make sure you not do that Jimmy,” I giggled. “Or we’ll have to call him Otis.”
“And first good lesson is you can use cold tar to seal a cracked hoof…” Uncle Cole said.
“Also, if they eat too much grass, don’t they get that where they get stopped up and can’t poop?” Jimmy asked.
“Think I’ll just read my Sherlock. It makes more sense,” I stared at them blankly.
“Yes that is called foundering,” Uncle Cole nodded.
“Oh, don’t you want the scoop on the poop Nat?” Jimmy chuckled.
“Nu uh,” I giggled. “You scoop the poop all yourself, Jimmy!”
“If they eat too much green grass. Do you know how to fix that Jimmy when a horse is all stopped up” Uncle Cole asked.
“Give em less oats?” I giggled.
“Ummm, I think pa used to use warm water and ummm had to clean them out,” Jimmy said.
“Yes warm water and a hose,” Uncle Cole said and I grinned, getting an idea.
“What sis?” Jimmy looked over at me.
“Nothin!” I giggled.
“Just remember to be standing off to the side when you do it…” Uncle Cole grinned and I thought to myself I would have to ask ma where the garden hose was.
“My teacher didn’t warn me..” Uncle Cole laughed. “Not something I want to repeat.”
“I saw my pa do somethin once that made it easier to work. He took a washtub, hung it up, ran an ole hose through the bottom, and filled the tub with warm water,” Jimmy said.
“That works but you have to be careful or you can hurt the horse..will rupture his intestines and than you will have to shoot the horse.”
“Mr. Cole, why when a horse break its leg, they shoot it? When people break their leg, we don’t them.”
“I have splinted a simple break on a horse and used a sling to keep it off the foot but usually when a horse breaks it leg it is a bad one and it is the only thing you can do to stop the pain. It is sometimes the only thing you can do Nat,” he said, seeing me frown and look down.
“I don’t know if I could shoot a horse. Especially if it were mine. It just not seem fair.”
“No it doesn’t but as a vet and a responsible horse owner you may have to one day. Not always fair, I know.”
“Do you think maybe some day there will come out with someway better to take care of horses so we don’t have to shoot em?” Jimmy frowned.
“I sure hope so cause I hate it when I have to put an animal down cause I can’t help it.”
I started to tear up at the thought of Velvet and told myself, “She’s gonna be fine. She just in season and growin’ up.”
“Me too Mr Cole. I not like see animals suffer, but I don’t like having to put one down either. Sometimes one is way better than the other I guess,” Jimmy said.
“Yes she is Nat..no danger there unless she get with a boy horse ..she is too young to have a baby right now,” Uncle Cole told me and I started to get to work cleaning up the cups and tray.
Jimmy came over to hug me and said, “It ok sis, we take care of Velvet. Maybe she have whole bunch of ponies.”
“This is true Jimmy..” Uncle Cole said.
“Wonder if that’s why the man shot ma and killed her. Cause she weren’t a good dove no more…” I said then.
“I don’t think that were it sis...I think it was just a bad man,” Jimmy hugged me tight.
“I wish I had all the answers for that Nat..It isn’t the same with humans some of them are just plain mean,” Uncle Cole said.
“I just…” I sighed against him. “Don’t like talkin about dyin’. .It makes me remember my real ma and pa dyin over ma gettin killed while she was workin as a dove. I found all this out not till I got her to Tombstone then and me and Miss Trin started lookin into it. Then my aunti Winter came to visit and we been talkin about it a bit but she don’t know much either.”
“Mr. Cole, why cant we break bad people like the do bad horses. They ride em and break em til the behave and mind like they should,” Jimmy said and I blinked at that, going back to put the tray in the kitchen and washed the dishes.
“Because horses sometimes are smarter than bad humans,” Uncle Cole said. “Since I was your age and living with the Cherokee…”
“Oh wow, You lived with the Cherokee Mr Cole?” Jimmy asked him.
“From the time I was four or five… till I was grown.”
I slowly walked out into the living room and said, “I guess it’s almost bedtime.”
“Wow...I never met a Cherokee Indian before,” Jimmy said and looked at me. “Yeah, we get to sleep in our new big beds.”
“I think you two should hit the bed..I will lock up behind me…” Uncle Cole said.
“Thanks for comin over Uncle Cole!” I said and went to hug him tightly, still a bit reserved since we’d been talking about death so much again.
“You’re welcome, sweetie,” Uncle Cole hugged me tightly.
“Ok Mr. Cole, I hope you have a safe walk home. Thank you for coming to visit. I get right on that assignment you sent me,” Jimmy promised.
I walked upstairs and started to get ready for bed. Before laying down though, I looked over and said, “Hey Jimmy?”
“Yeah sis?”
“I’m not really gonna have to shoot Velvet am I??”
“Nooo...that just ummmm was for sick horses....Velvet ain’t sick, she just getting ready to be grown up horse.”
“I hope so,” I nodded and went to hug him. “Our house is perfect.”
Jimmy hugged me tightly and kissed my cheek. “Yes it is. I got my sister, and my pa and ma. Best Christmas ever.”
“And you don’t gotta leave anymore. That the best part,” I grinned.
“I love you big sister Natalie. Yes! No more cold orphanage and rickety hard beds,” he chuckled.
“I love you too Jimmy,” I smiled and hurried under the bed hearing Ma come in. “Quick! Into bed before they catch us still up!” I whispered and we got into bed, falling fast asleep.
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