Tombstone.
This morning I rode around and then saw a doggy coming over to me. I got off my horse and pet the doggy, wandering towards the orphanage with it. Jeff was there and we talked about who the dog might belong to, but he didn’t know. He said that it was a girl dog ‘cause it had long lashes. I told about my dog named Shira and how she helped ma and pa with their work. He said the Bee was really good.
“I’ve been thinkin bout doin more case stories from ma’s cases. But I not sure if I should start with ma’s recent ones or the older ones. Probably gonna do the latest ones cause they more familiar,” I said. “Ma won court yesterday she said. She was pretty upset last night though.”
“Well any be good. They all good stories,” Jeff said.
“Cause she investigated it all from when it happened and to court. Those are the stories I wanna show in the Bee. But she was real upset with court yesterday even though she won, she said. I didn’t get it. She wouldn’t tell me what happened.”
“Well we best get going,” Jeff said then.
“Okay! Come on doggy!” I said and followed him to the school.
We saw a tent that Nora had put there and I talked about how I hadn’t seen her in forever, and he hadn’t either. He said the tent had been there for a couple of months and I felt embarrassed that I hadn’t noticed. I said someone should give it back to her and he said he didn’t want her to think it wasn’t there.
I told him I hoped Miss Traci would be there as we walked into class and we talked about how old we were. We went to feed the bird and I told him about how we moved to a new house in Bisbee. I told him about the big room where Jimmy and I slept with the big bookshelf.
Miss Traci finally came into school, fifteen minutes late. “I was only going to do a review anyway and I’m not sure you have been in the classes I was gonna review,” she said and Jeff headed out.
“Mis Traci if there’s no other kids can I ask you some questions for the Bee?” I asked her.
“Yeah, let’s do that. And I’ll just cancel formal class. I saw in the last Bee, so I’m ready then.”
“I’m interviewin’ everyone in town. It’s lots of fun and lets people get to know each other.”
“I like it. By the way your dress is really cute.”
“Thanks. And guess what else I got!” I grinned.
“Oh I saw them. Really cute. A nice look for you. Ok what do you want to ask? I’m ready.”
“Okay,” I said and gathered my notes. “What your full name?”
“Traci Lee Parkin,” she smiled.
“How long have you been in Tombstone?”
“Hmmm… about two years I think.”
“Why did you come to Tombstone?”
“Well cuz it seemed excitin’ and for adventure I guess. And I have got plenty of that,” she grinned.
“What do you do for work in Tombstone?”
“Well, I teach,” she giggled.
“Anything else?” I giggled too.
“No, just that.”
“Where do you live?”
“Well I live in a little cabin over Bisbee way. Next to the big church.”
“That’s where I live!” I grinned.
“Nice,” she grinned.
“What do you do for fun in town?”
“Well… I have been to a few dances and I ride my horse sometimes. And once in a while I play poker. But I’m not sure you should put that in the paper.”
“What if I just say you play cards?” I grinned.
“Yeah, that would be okay. A few months ago I was playin and there was a big fight and I got shot in the leg. So I haven’t played since then.”
“What’s your horse’s name?”
“My horse is an appaloosa and her name is Le Appy.”
“Do you have a favorite place? Either a town or a building?”
“Well I think the Theatre is the coolest place.”
“How come?”
“Well cuz it is made real well and the stage is nice and the curtain works. And it is where everyone can come for things.”
“What’s your favorite food?” I grinned.
“Oh… I think pork chops,” she smiled.
“Are you married?”
“Oh no!” she giggled.
“Do you have any kids?”
“Nope. Well, I have all the kids in the classroom.”
“Any other family nearby?” I grinned.
“Nope all back in Virginia.”
“That’s all the questions I’ve got! Thanks Miss Traci!”
“Well you might wonder why my middle name is Lee,” she smiled sweetly.
“Why is it?”
“Well you know about the war. And who commanded the Army of Virginia? Robert E. Lee! Well he is my great uncle.”
“Wow!”
“Yeah! Just thought that would be something good to slip in there.”
“Yeah! I’ll put it at the end.” I giggled. “Thanks Miss Traci!”
“Well thanks for the interview. I guess we can say class is dismissed.”
“I’ve got lots done.”
“Well good,” she grinned.
“I’m gonna go read the rest of the Bee. I didn’t get to finish it yet.”
“Have a great day.”
I said goodbye and went to sit in front of the school, reading the Bee. I rode over to the fort when I was done and knocked on the big door. Miss Suzi asked who was there and I called in my name. When she came out I said, “Hi Miss Suzy! I know you got payroll soon…”
“Yes we do,” she nodded.
“I was just gonna see if Miss Angeles was here.”
“She should be here soon.”
“Well maybe if we got time I could ask you some questions for the Bee too? I’m tryin’ to get everyone in town.”
“Sure.”
“I try to be fast,” I grinned.
“Alright take your time.”
“What’s your full name?” I asked her, pulling out my notebook.
“Suzy Honi.”
“How long have you been in Tombstone?”
“About five years.”
“Wow that’s a long time! Why did you come to Tombstone?” I asked as Miss Joan and Miss Angeles came over thenn.
“To get away from Pennsylvania.”
“What so bad in Pennsylvania?” I asked.
“The Carnegies are there.”
“Who are the Carnegies?” I asked.
“The man who owns the Carnegie steel company.”
“They stole things?” I looked at her, confused.
“They murdered my father.”
“That’s awful!” I gasped.
“Yes they are awful them and the Pinkertons.”
“Ma’s a Pinkerton,” I gasped again.
“Well did she murder workers trying to get fair pay?”
“Nu uh. Not that I know of.”
“Ask her if she was at Homestead,” she stared at me.
“I will. What do you do for work in Tombstone?”
“I command the cavalry and the rangers.”
“Where do you live?”
“On a ranch in Sonora.”
“What do you do for fun in town?”
“Arrest criminals,” she said and I giggled.
“Do you have a favorite place in the area here?”
“I like the Saloon in Diamond.”
“Do you have any pets?”
“I have a dog and several cows, pigs, sheep.”
Suzy said she wasn’t married and had no kids or family nearby, and I thanked her for her interview. I looked around at the soldiers gathering and asked if there was time for more. I asked who wanted to go next and Miss Joan stepped forward and offered.
Miss Joan said her name was Joan Faulkes-Cross. She said she’s been in Tombstone for five years and came to help her late brother James, who had died since. She told me she was a sergeant in the Cavalry and she is a rancher in Benson, where she lives. She also helps Dr. Cole with the horses. She said that her ranch helps Dr. Cole’s horses recover. For fun, she reads books and gardens. Her favorite places in the area were Benson, Tombstone and Winslow. She has two dogs that protect her heard. She said she was married to a loving husband named Damien and they had kids. Mr. Adrian put in that all children were like her children, because she has such a big heart. She said the Hammerthal’s lived with her on her ranch.
I thanked Miss Joan for answering and I told the others, “Mr Adrian and Miss Angeles, I ask you later.”
“Can Natalie stay in the fort until we return to work on her article?” Miss Joan asked.
“Sure,” Miss Suzy said.
“Kids always have curiosity for this I suggest several times in school have one class under military supervision of course for they understand how important are the Cavalry for this Town and the history,” Miss Angeles said.
“Sometimes I write stories about the payroll for the Bee. But I always stay in buildings when we get there.”
“She can report on the promotions today,” Miss Suzy said.
“Captain, can Nat ride in my wagon then, please? Miss Joan asked.
“It is a brilliant idea Captain,” Mr. Adrian nodded.
“You can ride close to me Natalie just remember always search some refuge inside the doctor office if see any bullet flying ok?” Miss Angeles told me and I nodded. “Trin will kill me if someone hit you Natalie.”
“Ya she would,” I giggled. “But Miss Suzy not like Miss Trin. Cause she a Pinkerton. Though I not sure why. Ma never did nothin bad to her.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t like her,” Miss Suzy argued.
“Seemed like it. You put em beside the carnegie. Who are bad people.”
“Pinks,” Mr. Adrian groaned.
“And see? Mr Adrian groans. Thought you were ma’s boss, Mr Adrian.”
“True, I believed the kids need learn about our history and about the Court. I see may kids in the trials, maybe ca be interesting. They be art to one fiction trial for understand and learn every role,” Miss Angeles said.
“Ma was real upset after court yesterday but she not tell me why,” I nodded to her. “I dunno what happened.”
“General ma’am?” Miss Joan asked. “Permission to have Natalie ride with me in my wagon. I take care of her.”
“No Natalia, Trin and Suzy have different points of view about the Pinkerton work. Same Trin and I have some differences about our work too,” Miss Angeles said.
“But what happened Mr. Adrian?” I asked and then looked at Miss Joan. “I got my horse, Miss Joan. I ride every week by myself. In case I gotta go home quick. I not be in the way. I follow from behind.”
“Go in front of me Natalie,” Miss Joan instructed.
“Go ahead Miss Joan,” I told her.
We rode through Tombstone and I followed from a distance as we headed into Black Diamond. I waved to Miss Bree and pet the puppy that came over to me as the others did the payroll. I asked Mr. Adrian if he’d read the Bee and he nodded. I told them I saw no bad guys in Bisbee and then they continued on the payroll, but I headed home.
***
Bisbee.
Tonight I walked around town looking for Jimmy and saw the big tree in the middle of the town. “Woooooah!”
“NAT!” Jimmy turned and exclaimed.
“Look at the huge tree!!!” I ran over to hug him.
“I know...its bootiful....how ya think they get to the top?” he asked and hugged me tight.
“Isn’t Christmas the BEST time of year ever!??!” I looked way up and got a sore neck and then said, “Jimmy, I gotta tell you bout somethin.”
“What?”
I looked around nervously and then back at him. “I interviewed Miss Suzy today and normally I not s’posed to talk bout the interviews till they in the paper but… I not happy bout this one.”
“Oh?! What she say?”
“She hates Ma!!!”
“She hates Ma?! Why?!!!”
“Well she said somethin about how the carnegies killed her father and said that she hates em Pinkertons too but I don’t get how anyone could hate Pinkertons! And I don’t really know what carnegies are.”
“Carnegies? What the heck is a Carnegie? Is that one them fancy otto things that are horseless carriages?”
“I dunno but I wanna look into it and find out. Cause if they hate ma then.... I dunno if she should trust em rangers or nothin cause then she’d be helpin’ mean ol’ Suzy.”
“I don’t know Suzy, I don’t guess. Not too well.. we have to keep close eye on her… make sure she not hurt momma or pa either.”
“You wanna come to town with me?”
“Sure! Let’s go see what happnin in town!”
“Okay!” I said and we walked over to Allen Street.
Tombstone.
“Streets pretty empty,” I looked around.
“Wow sis, nobody in town…. you think we ought go school?”
“I guess we could... I interviewed Miss Traci this mornin’. It was interestin’. She said she was gonna review stuff this morning but no one else was there so we just did that. You wanna see if anyone’s over at the school?”
“Yeah maybe we should… pa really wants me to go to school more,” Jimmy said.
“Yeah ma too.”
We walked into class and realized that we were late and I looked over to Jimmy whispering, “How are we... late?”
“I dunno,” Jimmy shrugged.
“Sit down kids.. we’re just plannin’ our lessons for the comin’ year,” Mr. Cas said and we went in to find a seat. Aspen, Payton, Molly, and Soria were all there. “We’ll be done here pretty quick.... who hasn’t given me their choices yet?”
“Choices ’bout what?” I asked.
“Choices about what kind of lessons you wanna have in the comin’ year,” Mr. Cas said.
“I gave my choices.. but I have another one. I think it would be fun to take a field trip to the library,” Soria suggested.
“No more cemeteries,” I muttered.
“We could do that, too, Soria,” Mr. Cas said.
“My ma took me once. and there’s a lot of stuff in there,” Soria said.
“Yes, Natalie... do you have a selection or preference?” Mr. Cas asked.
“Yeah or a field trip to Winslow they have a bunch of stores there! It would be fun!” Jeff suggested.
“Can we learn about the carnegies and why the rangers hate the Pinkertons? Miss Suzy complained ’bout em when I interviewed for the paper and I dunno why.”
“We can go anywhere we can get to, Jeffery.. I just need to clear it with the powers that be,” Mr. Cas nodded and then looked at me. “We ain’t learnin’ about no personal grudges.. you can ask Miss Suzy that.”
“Sorry Mr Cas,” I looked down. “She jes said I should learn.”
“A true journalist never gives up Nat,” Aspen told me and I nodded to her.
“Do the Pinkertons know Romeo and Juliet?” Molly asked.
“Yeah we never did Romeo and Juliet in our Shakespeare studies!” I said.
“Jeffery can be your Romeo Nat,” Aspen teased.
“Can we learn what a Carnegie is at least? I thought it one of those hoseless carriages,” Jimmy asked.
“You all know I happen to have access to the Bird Cage theatre as well if you ever wanna plan a play or somethin’,” Mr. Cas said.
“Can we do a play of a Shakespeare story?” I sinked down in my chair.
“Mr. Cas, I sure wish we could do a play sometimes more cause the theatre is the funnest ever thing,” Jeff asked. “But folks don’t seem to ever wanna do it.”
“A play would be fun!” Soria nodded.
“You can do a play on whatever ya want.. I ain’t no drama teacher though.. you’d have to plan it and work it out yourselves,” Mr. Cas said.
“Or remember Jimmy when we first came to town and they were doin those acting things where they came up with lines on the spot?” I asked. “Mr Cas you was leadin the improvisationy thingy weren’t ya?”
“This will be the first year in like seven that we won’t be doing the baby Jesus christmas play,” Molly said.
“I can open and close curtains and introduce people,” Mr. Cas nodded. “Yes I was, Natalie. Millard is apart of that as well.”
“Yeah! I remember that!” Jimmy exclaimed.
“Yeah we should be doing Baby Jesus!!!” I exclaimed.
“Aww we just talkin it ain’t like anythin gonna be done about it,” Jeff shook his head and sighed.
“I was the inn keeper in last year’s play,” Molly said.
“Mr. Cas you wanna be a camel… we gotta have camels for the wise men if we do baby Jesus?” Jimmy asked.
“What’s wrong, Jeff?” I looked at Jeff and frowned, giggling at Jimmy.
“Hey, Jeffery.. I am just offerin’ the place to do it,” Mr. Cas said.
“Nuttin Natalie,” Jeff shrugged.
“Ma says the wise men weren’t even at the manger,” I said. “They didn’t come till the baby Jesus was in the house, she said.”
“If you work hard on it Jeffery you still have three weeks for the baby Jesus pay,” Aspen said.
“I would not want a bunch of wise men watching either,” Molly stated.
“I wouldn’t want a bunch of Mr. Adrian’s either,” I giggled.
“Mr. Stinky Fat Bill can be the donkey…” Jimmy chuckled.
“And Mr Lot can be the mean ol’ king Herod,” I grinned.
“Okay.... we’ll call it a good list tonight...between the bunch of you you asked for almost every subject there is... and ropin’, too. I am gonna leave a box in here, for you to drop suggestions in, too. In case you think of somethin’ else,” Mr. Cas said.
“He would be good at that for sure,” Aspen nodded.
“Uh huh! Miss Pet would be the angel,” I went on.
“One of the new babies could be baby Jesus,” Aspen said. “Ms. Bree has a new baby.”
“Me and Jeff could be the Mary and Joseph!” I looked over at him.
“As much as I say I hate school actually it ain’t that bad and I look forward to every Saturday,” Molly grinned.
“I be the drummer boy,” Jimmy said.
“Well I ain’t a’kissin’ no girl,” Jeff said.
“I can play the piano,” Aspen said.
“If you wanna have a play.. you need a director... someone who can keep everyone movin’ in the right direction.. and you need people for all your parts... you have a place to do it, with fancy lights and everything.. that’s more than most have,” Mr. Cas said.
“You don’t have to Jeff. Mary don’t get kissed to have the baby!” I told him.
“Oh,” Jeff said. “Uhm but Christmas is soon. We ain’t even got no time now for a Christmas play,” Jeff said.
“Are there narrators for the play? Or people saying each part?” Soria asked.
“We need the directors from last year,” Molly said.
“Oh Oh Jimmy can be the shepherd. Cause he looks after horses and stuff and that’s close enough to the sheep.”
“Someone must still have the script from last year?” Molly asked.
“I never been in a play in this town. But if there are narrators, I can be one,” Soria said.
“Yeah, and Payton and Molly can be my sheep, and Millard too,” Jimmy chuckled.
“Okay....you all think about that on your own.. like I said.. I ain’t a drama teacher.. but I know how the stage works,” Mr. Cas said.
“Jimmy, I will whip yer butt,” Molly muttered.
“But Mr Cas you be director!” I told him.
“All ya’ll we are gonna be getting a time set for a group picture in the very near future so be watching out for a day ok?” Jeff asked.
“Can’t you be be our director, Mr. Castion?” Aspen pleaded.
“See Aspen agrees,” I giggled.
“Molly you gotta catch me first,” Jimmy smiled.
“You all keep all the teachers posted on the things you want to learn about.. or you’ll end up knowin’ the same stuff everyone else does.. think up some stuff that suits you,” Mr. Cas told us.
“We really do need to get a picture fer the wall!” Molly nodded.
“Why can’t we do the picture tonight Jeff? Cos we all here,” I said.
“Yes Molly and when the date is here who ever misses it just misses it but yeah we are gonna have to get a new photo. We ain’t all here and we gotta set a time,” Jeff shrugged.
“Miss Myst can do a class picture.. Jeffery spoke to me about that already. I am sure there are a few folks that would be happy to help with your photograph,” Mr. Cas said.
“Oh…” I looked down.
“Why can’t us kids take the photos?” Aspen asked.
“No one said you couldn’t.. I didn’t see anyone wavin’ a camera around,” Mr. Cas stated.
I looked out the window and saw Uncle Irish riding by the school, so I waved at him and he waved back.
“I don’t carry the dang thing every where i go…” Aspen muttered.
“Well, it’s pretty important to carry it with you if you wanna take a picture.... I didn’t know you had a camera,” Mr. Cas said.
“Mr. Cas I think we should learn how to fox them horseless carriages, my pa say they will soon replace the wagon and stagecoach,” Jimmy said.
“Jimmy, we should get Pa to get us one for when we ride from Bisbee to town,” I told him.
“I can show you all how them internal combustion engines work,” Mr. Cas said.
“Mr Cas? Maybe there could be a story writin’ class or somethin’?” I asked.
“Internal combut enjines....what the heck is that?” Jimmy narrowed his brows.
“You are all free to go.. now KEEP THINKING about what you’d like to learn about.. look around.. there is stuff to be learned about everywhere!” Mr. Cas said with a smile.
“Oh oh that sounds fun a story writing,” Jeff nodded.
“Oh I’ve asked for stories a few times.. never got none.. but I asked,” Mr. Cas said.
“Yes sir, ya did,” Jeff nodded.
“I’m workin on some for the Bee now, Mr Cas,” I told him. “Been interviewin people all over town. I wanna ask all the kids too.”
“With all them interviews Natalie we wont ever run out of anything for the bee,” Jeff smiled.
“Oh, Jeffery?.. I got some half written ones... but they wasn’t really so much stories,” Mr. Cas said. “I got one about Molly doing something bad…”
I leaned over to Jimmy and asked, “Have you met uncle Irish yet?”
“Uncle who? I thought Cole was your uncle,” Jimmy said.
“I got two!” I grinned.
“Yeah, but is your pa your uncle too?” Jimmy chuckled.
“You kids are dismissed.. stay and chat all ya want, but don’t stay on my account.. I intend to have lessons about all of these subjects for you,” Mr. Cas said.
I went up to Mr. Cas after class ended and asked him if I could interview him for the Bee and he said I could. I pulled out my notebook and asked, “What’s your whole name?”
“MY whole name is Castion Eyre.... no one knows my middle name.”
“You not gonna tell?” I grinned.
“Nope.. there is a wager in town on who guesses it first... I got a stake in that,” Mr. Cas said.
“How long have you been in Tombstone?”
“I have been here.... goin’ on five years now.”
“Why did you come to Tombstone?” I asked.
“I had been workin’ on riverboats for some time, and someone I met was headed here... I decided to try my luck... and I never left.”
“Where do you live?” I smiled.
“I live in Pearce.. have been there for over four years.”
“What do you do for work here?”
“Well, a little bit of everything. but I own the General Store here in town, which young Jeffery manages for me.. and I own a mine here in the territory as well.”
“How do you have time for anything fun, Mr Cas? And what do you do for fun?”
“I’m havin’ fun right now, Natalie.. fun is what you make of it.”
“Oh and you’re a teacher too right Mr. Cas?”
“Yes I am also a teacher... I am the teacher who makes the other teachers look really smart.”
“Do you have a favorite place? Either a town or a building?” I giggled.
“Pearce is and will always be my favorite town. I love Kate’s Saloon, I like Allen Street, I like the orphanage when the pies are fresh, too.”
“Do you have any pets?”
“I do.. I have a horse named ’Skunk’, a fine dog named ‘Henry’, and Henry has a pet goat named Chester.. oh, and a really big spider.”
“A really big spider??”
“Raised him from just a little fella. Now he eats tadpoles.”
“But why on earth would you have a spider as a pet?”
“Well, Miss Myst is quite afraid of spiders, Natalie... he represents peace and quiet to me.”
“Miss Myst... she your wife? Are you married?” I giggled, looking at him.
“Oh my goodness no…” Mr. Cas shivered a little.
“You don’t wanna be married?” I giggled.
“I figure if I am married I HAVE to be there... this way I am there because I wanna be.. it shows how much I care,” Mr. Cas said.
“I like that logic,” I grinned. “Do you have any kids?”
“Oh my goodness no… again.”
“Don’t want your own kids?” I giggled again.
“There is prolly a law somewhere keeping me from furtherin’ my bloodline,” Mr. Cas grinned.
“Do you have any other family nearby?”
“I do not... but I have some friends who are like family to me.”
“I hearing that lots,” I grinned. “That’s all the questions I got. But can I ask you a question um.... not on the paper?”
“Well you done a fine job, Natalie.”
“Thanks Mr. Cas,” I grinned.
“You are most welcome,” he smiled.
“I um... really don’t like that interview with Miss Suzy. She was real mean about ma. I dunno why. Ma not hurt no one.”
“I don’t blame ya.”
“Do I gotta print it?”
“Nope.”
“Cause I don’t get it. She not a bad Pinkerton. Or a Carnegie. Whatever that is.”
“You got what they call artistic freedom.. you print what ya want.”
“That good to know. Mr Freebird’s was real funny. He said he robs banks for a livin’ and his favorite place in town was the bank. Oh but.... Mr Ansar mentioned you lots in his!!”
“Well, despite his ways, I have known Free for several years.. he is a good fella deep down,” Mr. Cas said.
“And how it was a lot cos of you”
“Ansar is like a brother to me.”
“That’s what he said too,” I nodded.
“If I had a brother, I’d want it to be him.”
“I got a brother now!” I grinned and pointed to where Jimmy was at the door. “We live in Bisbee! Ma and Mr Thomas and married either but I think it’s cos of your reason.”
“Bisbee is a good place.. Mayor Spank and I are good friends.”
“They wanna be together, not haveta.”
“Wanna is always better than hafta.”
“But I found a puppy too! She almost scared Pa the other night,” I giggled.
“Oh nice. I found my dog too.”
“Thanks so much for interviewin with me Mr Cas.”
“You are most welcome. Be safe,” he smiled and I went to give him a hug. “Run along now.”
“Bye Mr Cas!” I exclaimed and headed out to look for Jimmy.
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