November 21, 1900

Tombstone. 

This afternoon I wandered over to the hotel where a bunch of people were standing. Mr. Lot was goin’ on about something again and asked for the warrant of why he’d been arrested. When he read it over he laughed real hard and said he should have gotten a medal for the crime he’d committed. Mr. Eye and Mr. Kris argued about arresting Mr. Lot and I backed up a bit, not wanting to get in the way. 

I looked over at Mrs. Zan and saw the bandage on her head. “Mrs Zan you got hurt?” 

“Only a tiny bit… but head wounds seem to bleed a lot,” Mrs. Zan smiled at me. 

“Uh huh they do,” I grinned. 

“And just where have you been hiding hmm?” 

“Um… Nowhere… It’s real pretty there though,” I looked around at all the snow. 

“I know how it is.. Halloween .. kids get all that candy.. then poof you don’t see them for a while,” Mrs. Zan said and I giggled. “Oooh pretty huh? Tell me about it.. I like pretty.” 

“Hey I followed ’em around payroll last week! And I went to school and learned ’bout um... Oh wait there weren’t school last week!” 

“Oh you did? You were very brave.” 

“Well I always ride around cause in case they need help in the clinic. That’s where I work. But there ain’t much to do durin the day.” 

“Well my goodness.. you are quite growin up on us aren’t you Miss Natalie.” 

“I’m twelve, Miss Zan!” 

“Almost marrying age!” she shook her head and grinned at me. 

“Marryin’?” I blinked. “I’m still a kid!” 

“Yes you are but a smart one,” she chuckled softly. 

“My best friend is a boy though. Maybe I marry him.” 

“Nothing wrong with a boy for a best friend.” 

“’cept when you’re in school. But we finally got em to let us be sittin’ together.” 

“Well now how did you manage that?” 

“Cause um…” 

“Mmhmm… um?” 

“Cause someone yelled at the teacher for pullin’ my hair. So she was nicer to me.” 

“Ahhh I see.. well teachers should not yell. That just isn’t right at all.” 

“Nope it wasn’t but it’s okay now. She said she was sorry.” 

“Oops you said she pulled your hair.. that’s even worse than yelling tsk… Well good.. I am glad she said she was sorry.” 

“Uh huh. And guess what. I write for Jeff’s paper now!” 

“Really?” 

“My story was in the one last week!!” 

“You must really stay busy then.. writing, school, best friends.. and working at the clinic.” 

“Not really,” I giggled. 

“Well I will have to pull mine out and reread it.” 

“Uh huh! need stuff to write ’bout. The line to be dead is tomorrow.” 

“Hmmmm like what kinda stuff Natalie?” 

“Anythin’ really. Stuff that happens around town.” 

“Well…” Miss Zan leaned forward. “What about something in Benson?” 

“Somethin’ happened in Benson??” I asked and jumped up on the bench beside her. 

She nodded and searched for a small pouch on her belt and said, “There is a big ole saloon there…” 

“Uh huh?” I asked, getting out my notebook. 

“Well…” she said and held a picture out to me. “I walked by and the smoke was just boiling out of it… and someone put a flyer of a preacher and a cross in front of it!” 

I looked at the picture and blinked, “Wow!” 

“So I don’t know who set it a-fire, but it’s still smouldering. Sorry my tongue is still acting odd from the medication they gave me. Keep slurring my words,” she chuckled. “But anyway.. not sure if that is news or not but..” 

“You bet it’s news!!” 

“That old saloon is a goner for sure.” 

“Shouldn’t we tell law or somethin’ about it?” 

“Hmm I think he might know about it.. but maybe not. Haven’t seen the local law there lately. Oh and that Miss Baylinda? lives next door to me? She had the right nerve to put up a fence.. a FENCE!” 

“Wow... Wonder what that’s all ’bout!” I giggled. 

“I have to go allll the way around now to get to where I need to go,” she grinned. 

“That ain’t nice. Hey Miss Zan ain’t Mr Zan a preacher? I mean um, Mr Chris?” 

“Why yes he is…” 

“You think he knows bout this?” 

“He said he saw it burning .. but surely he wouoldn’t have… He knew I wanted to reopen that old saloon.. hmm.” 

“I just meant like... maybe someone did it ’cause of him.” 

“Oh,” she shook her head. “Hmm you know Natalie.. maybe so.” 

“I gonna ask ’round,” I said and hopped up off the bench excitedly. 

“Well you be careful ok?” she nodded. 

“Ok! Bye miss Zan! And don’t worry I not use your name.” 

“Thank you,” she said and I ran off towards the orphanage. Jimmy, Jeff and Aspen were all standing around talking and I ran over to them, out of breath. “JEFF!” I shouted to him. 

“Woo…” Jeff looked over. “Hi Natalie! Look ya’ll, it is Natalie!” 

“Oh my goodness now its yellin yur name!” Aspen exclaimed. 

“Hey Nat!” Jimmy grinned at me. 

“Hi,” Aspen said simply. 

“I have... and we gotta... and it’s still…” I showed them all the picture Mrs. Zan had given me. “We gotta go to Benson!!!” 

“Well even if you can’t see no ghost Jimmy, you can hear it,” Jeff said to him. 

“Why?” Jimmy asked. 

“I think,” Jeff shrugged. 

“Come ooooon!” I said anxiously. 

“Go to Benson? But why come?” Jeff asked, confused. 

“Look at the picture!!!” I pointed. “I wanna write about it for the Bee! But I not wanna go alone! We’ll all be reporters! See???” I asked as they all looked at the picture and I tugged on Jimmy’s sleeve. 

“Woah!” Jimmy exclaimed. 

“Is that the bank?” Jeff asked. 

“It’s the saloon!!” I told them, trying to catch my breath. 

“I seen that old ugly woman somewhere before,” Jimmy said. 

“What happened? Is this old woman burnin stuff?” Jeff asked. 

“Who was the old lady Jimmy?” I asked him and then looked at Jeff. “Someone put the preacher poster and the cross in front of it! And it’s still burnin’!” 

“Oh no!” Jeff said. 

“That woman, I seen her on a sign, she hate liquor, another person carried it, they try shut down all saloons,” Jimmy told us. 

“And there’s a preacher who lives out there.” 

“Oh no!” Aspen said. 

“Who is she??” I asked. 

“Natalie, you get me that story ok? It is gonna be a good story. Can I use this picture in the Bee?” Jeff looked at the picture again. 

“Yeah but the article not done yet!” I told him. 

“I don’t know her name, she is one dem that go round trying stop people drinkin,” Jimmy said. 

“You think she closin’ down all the saloons Jimmy?” I asked him. 

“I go wit ya Nat,” Jimmy promised. 

“She is trying to close saloons? Woo!” Jeff shook his head. 

“I would love to go but I can’t stay,” Aspen said. 

“No, I think she don’t do it. Someone else do it fer her,” Jimmy said. 

“Aww,” Jeff frowned. “Aspen gotta leave.” 

“This story’s HUGE jimmy!!!” I exclaimed to him. 

We headed to Benson, even though there was a call for a doctor, because I really wanted to get the story. 

Benson. 

We ran into Benson and I showed them the flyers on the building that was still burning. “You know what I was thinkin’? What if they’re doin’ this all over?” 

“Where can we get someone to put it out Jeffery?” Aspen asked. 

“Well… we can’t be going in there. We just kids. But… what’s that?” Jeff asked and looked at me. “Look, Natalie. A bottle of shine! Moonshine!” he pointed. 

“Yeah!” I blinked. 

“Someone done been here who makes shine!” Jeff looked around the town. 

“Maybe, maybe not,” Jimmy said. 

“It ain’t smashed, is it? The bottle?” I asked. 

“We gotta let someone know,” Aspen said. 

“Nat, what is that word when someone put somthin there to make it look like it was meant to be there, but not,” Jimmy said. 

“It is just leaking shine. You think so, Jimmy?” Jeff asked. 

“I think they just do it to make a point,” I said. 

“I think whoever did this, left that bottle, to make it look like someone drinkin did it,” Jmmy said. 

“Yeah,” I nodded. “I think they makin a point. That like.. Drinkin leads to the saloon.” 

“What you think Aspen?” Jeff asked her. “Think it is a set up?” 

“I think if it’s burnin someone needs to put it out,” Aspen said. 

“That’s it… by those temprance people,” Jimmy nodded. 

“Well we gotta get someone, but who?” Jeff asked. “Ain’t no fire station in Benson.” 

“Temprance people?” I looked at Jimmy. “What temprance people Jimmy?”

“I don’t know,” Aspen shrugged. 

“I just remembered, Nat you remember that woman we met that time, at Kate’s, talkin about drinkin, and God, and how it was bad, she say she a Temperance woman,” Jimmy said. 

“Oh. She must be one of the nuns? Maybe?” Jeff asked. 

“Oh yeah!! And I talked to Mr Chris about how Jesus made wine!” I remembered. 

“She was carryin a sign with that ugly ole lady on it,” Jimmy said. 

“Hmm…” Jeff said and looked at the picture again. 

“Yeah she was!!!” I nodded. “Woah Jimmy you’re right!! I bet it’s her!!” 

“I think that ole woman started Temperance,” Jimmy said. 

“Well where is this old woman,” Jeff blinked. “Is she around now? They sure did a number on this saloon.” 

“No, I don’t know..but she have people who do things fer her, I think she too old,” Jimmy said. 

“Yeah…” I nodded. 

“Woo wait a minute. I seen her once!” Jeff said then. 

“What Jeff?” 

“I did! She was with three men when I seen her…” he started to think. 

“Yeah they sure did, and if they did this, they may be gonna do others,” Jimmy said. 

“Do you remember who the men were?” I asked. 

“You okay Aspen?” Jeff looked over at her as she had been quiet. 

“Yes, but it’s scary,” she nodded.

“We gotta tell someone quick, before more saloons burn,” Jimmy said then. 

“Naw, but they sure looked like bad guys,” Jeff said. “We have to tell the law. Maybe Mr. Kris.” 

“Yeah we should go back to town,” I nodded. 

We ran back to Tombstone and told Mr. Kris about the fire in Benson. He told us to go there and he would come follow us. We ran back to Benson and we showed Mr. Kris the saloon. 

All of a sudden then, a lady came and shouted, “THAT IS THE GREAT LADY OF KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATIN people about the dangers of overindulgence!” 

I jumped hearing the lady shout and and she apologized, “Oh, I’m sorry dears. Didn’t mean to raise my voice.” 

“OUCH dang fence.. who would put a fence there?” Mrs. Zan shouted then and we greeted her as she came over. 

“Ok so wait,” I looked between them. “This lady Carey was the great lady of knowledge and educatin’ people about the dangers of overindulgence? And she led the Temprance movement?” 

“Yes, she is the one temperance workers follow on what she says,” Baylinda said. 

“Really?” Jeff asked. 

“Lady, did she do this?” I asked. 

“I don’t think so…” Baylinda smiled. “She’s not here.. only her picture.” 

“But those who follow her carry her picture,” Jimmy said. 

“Well what’s gonna happen to the saloon?” Jeff asked. 

“Oh so the lady in the picture is this Mrs Carey?” I asked as Jeff called for the dog to come away from the whiskey bottle. “How you know so much?” I asked her. 

“I think we should be lookin fer whoever carries pictures of that old woman, it just seems weird it to be here,” Jimmy said. 

“Why there a cross?” I asked. 

“Is she a Christian?” Aspen asked. “Why would a Christian do sucha bad thing?” 

“Or a catholic?” I asked. 

“The cross reminds of Jesus.. and how we should not use too much alcohol and sin.. becomein drunk,” Baylinda said. 

“But…” I tugged on the sleeve of the red dress lady. “Jesus made water into wine. So it can’t be all that bad…” 

“But those men who wear white robes have crosses too, and they claim to be doin Gods work, yet they don't like black folk, that aint right either,” Jimmy pointed out. 

“Yes, but he don’t want us to become drunk and hurt our bodies and other.. jus like that man who was vomiting blood in Tombstone,” Baylinda said. 

“Yes I know about the fire,” Miss Abi said then and I noticed she’d come over to watch us with worry in her eyes. 

“Wait…” 

“I don’t understand why someone would do something so mean,” Aspen said. 

“Did YOU do this????” I blinked at the lady with the red dress. “You were at the saloon in Kate’s with the sign… and the picture…” 

“Cause they think they doing a good thing Aspen,” Jeff said. 

“And you were yellin’ at Chris and…” I looked at her. 

“Do I look like the woman in the picture?” Miss Abi asked. 

“Not you Miss Abi,” I said and pointed at Baylinda. 

“Her name is Carrie Nation,” Miss Abi said. 

“This lady,” I said, pointing at the woman still. “The one goin on about all the drinkin and the..” 

“It’s not nice to call folks who look different names dear ones,” the lady said. 

“The one who seems to know everythin’!!” I exclaimed. “Miss Abi what’s this lady’s name??? Told ya this story was huge!” I nudged Jeff. “I wanna know this lady’s name. I bet she did it. She not denyin’ it.” 

“Hello Miss Baylinda,” Mrs. Zan greeted her then. 

“Ms Zan why would a Christian do something this mean?” Aspen asked. 

“That woman has been all over the country smashing up and burning saloons,” Miss Abi said. 

“Hah! Miss Baylinda! That’s her name!” I exclaimed and blinked at Miss Abi. “Really??? Miss Balynda’s been doing it all over???” 

“Well now I don’t think anyone christian would do such a thing honestly,” Miss Zan said. 

“She thinks drinking is a sin of the worse kind,” Miss Abi replied. “Her name is Carrie Nation.” 

“It ain’t worse than killin' someone and startin' fires is it?” Aspen asked. 

“I think she talkin bout that old woman Nat… she goes round doin stuff like that,” Jimmy told me. 

“It’s wrong to accuse folks without any proof young Natalie,” Baylinda said. 

“So it wasn’t Miss Balinda that did it?” I asked, confused. “It’s Carrie Nation doin it?” 

“Wouldn’t a Christian be the first one to do it, Miss Zannza?” Jeff asked. 

“Well that is who the person in that picture is,” Miss Abi said. 

“Well no.. not a true Christian Jeffery.. see a true christian would leave this kind thing to God to handle…” Miss Zan replied to him. 

“But Jeffery hurting someone is not God’s will,” Aspen said. “It smells bad.” 

“Oh,” Jeff nodded. 

“So now all we gotta do is find this Carrie Nation person,” I said and gave Baylinda a wary look as I finished writing up my story. “Jeff you ready for it? I guess it’s done cause we know who did it now.” 

“That’s a woman?" Mrs. Zan squinted, looking at the picture nailed up. 

“Maybe when it is torn down it would be a good place for Pastor Chris’ church,” Miss Abi said. 

“Sorry I blamed you Miss Baylinda,” I said as I passed the article to Jeff. “I just thought you was workin’ for this Carrie lady.” 

“You kids don’t get too close… don’t want any of you getting hurt, okay?” Mrs. Zan warned us. 

“Well Jeff I guess that’s my first big story as your reporter huh??” I grinned. “Pretty good one to start don’tcha think?” 

“It sure is, Natalie,” Jeff nodded. 

“Hey Nat...we need to get ma and pa to look into it,” Jimmy suggested. 

“But what can they do all the way out here?” 

“Momma can look fer those finger things, and other stuff, and pa can maybe help.” 

“But we already know who done it.” 

“We do?” Jeff asked. 

“Uh huh. Carrie Nation. Weren’t you guys listenin’???” 

“I don think that old woman did it,” Jimmy shook his head. 

“Miss Abi just said she was goin around doin all that stuff with the saloons,” I said. 

“Well but where is she?” Jeff asked. 

“Well, I dunno,” I shrugged. 

“Was it her or was it her gang?” Aspen asked. 

“Hey wait… Miss Zan,” I looked over at her. 

“Yes?” she asked. 

“I think it someone doin it fer her,” Jimmy said. 

“You’re the only one who can do it ain’t ya? Mommy said you have badge uniform now.” 

“Yes I do…” 

“Maybe you could stop her!! Or whoever’s doin it for her!” 

“If I see anything odd I will certainly be keeping an eye out,” Miss Zan nodded. 

“Can ya Ms. Zan?” Aspen asked. 

“There see? We fixed it!” I grinned and pet the dog. 

“Does she hurt children?” Aspen asked. 

“No.. she juz want people not to overindulge in alcohol drinks,” Miss Baylinda said. 

“Whew,” Aspen sighed with relief. 

“No they would hang for sure I think,” Ms. Zan said. “So you four musketeers got this all solved have you?” 

“Nat is the super eye spy,” Aspen nodded. 

“Yep, we shore do,” Jimmy smiled. 

“Uh huh!” I grinned. “And reporter! I gonna write for the paper for Jeff! This was my first article! Well not really but…” 

“Yes and reporter. It’s a big one,” Aspen grinned. 

“I gonna dig up da dirt for stories with Nat,” Jimmy smiled. 

“I have a question. I wanna ask you ladies bout it…” 

“Do you think I should stop workin at the clinic? And just write for the papers?” I asked. 

“Can you do both, Nat?” Aspen asked. 

“It’s kinda boring at the clinic and when people do come all I get to do is clean stuff and hand things to em. And there was a call for the doc on the way here but I wanted to do this. Cause it felt more important.” 

“Hmm well you should pick what feels more important for sure,” Ms. Zan nodded. 

“Well I just feel like they hardly even notice me in the doc office. This way I can have more fun and do it with other kids too Maybe even write for the big people paper!” 

“Adults tend to forget to pay attention at times, don’t we?” Ms. Zan smiled. 

“That sounds exciting!” Aspen nodded. 

“I think I’m gonna do it. I don’t really wanna be a doctor if all I’m gonna do for a bunch of years is study and be in a classroom,” I said. “And if it’s gonna take years and years before I actually get to do more than jes hand stuff.” 

“That is true.. well not a lot more really but might seem like it,” Ms. Zan said. 

“Well, I best go to my farm.. lot of work needs to be done.. ya all keep up the good work,” Ms. Baylinda said. 

“I think someone best be watching Kate’s and the Oriental Saloon, otherwise the same may happen to them that happen here, and that would be awful,” Jimmy suggested. 

“And watch out for that fence some brain child put up,” Ms. Zan coughed. 

“Messy, isn’t it?” Mr. Chris said then, walking over towards us and we all greeted him. 

“There was a fire here Pastor Chris,” Aspen told him. 

“I know. That’s where we’re building our new church. Close your eyes, kids. I’m gonna hug Miss Zan,” Mr. Chris grinned and hugged her tightly. 

“They was sayin a Christian lady did it, but why would a Christian do that,” Aspen said. 

“Mr Chris guess what!” I giggled. 

“What, Natalie?” 

“I not gonna be a doc no more. I’m gonna write for the paper!! The fire at the saloon is my first big story!” 

“Oh, that’s sounds great!” 

“I’m gonna be an animal doctor,” Aspen said.

“So um.. wanna tell me who set the fire and how you knew they were building the church here?” Ms. Zan asked. 

“The clinic was gettin borin,” I said and then blinked, looking at Mr. Chris. “You know who set the fire??” 

“Not sure... But the saloon has been empty for a long time and no one was hurt, so it’s all ok,” Mr. Chris said. 

“Alright.. and just where did this is where we are building the new church come from?” Ms. Zan tapped her foot. 

“So wait... my story’s not done?” I asked. 

“Well... I umm... I’m assuming, I suppose,” he shrugged. 

“I suggested it, the church thing,” Miss Abi said. 

“But wait… A church?” I looked at Jimmy, confused. 

“Nat, and Mr Holmes would say, the story is afoot…” Jimmy said and we giggled. 

“Ok I confused. What’s this about a church?” 

“Mr. Chris is gonna build his church in the burnin saloon,” Aspen said. 

“Oooh. Hey Jimmy... I can be Sherlock and you can be Watson!” I grinned. 

“I’ve been preaching here,” Mr. Chris pointed behind him. “But Mayor Wise said we should build a church here in Benson.” 

“I thought where the saloon was would be a good place to build a church,” Miss Abi said. 

“So wait… Someone burned down the saloon. To make room for the church?” I asked. 

“Sometin sound fishy bout all dis,” Jimmy shook his head. 

“t has nothin to do with the Temprance thing?” I asked. 

“No, that’s not why the saloon was burned,” Miss Abi shook her head. 

“Oh. Well good.” 

“I’m not sure. But it would be a great spot for a church, don’t you think?” Mr. Chris asked.  

“Cause I didn’t wanna throw out that story. Just seems awfully… What’s the word..” 

“If it didn’t stink so bad.. maybe,” Aspen said. 

“Fitting? That there’s a cross. Set up where you wanna build a church.” I looked at Mister Chris suspiciously and asked, “You sure you not do that? To stop people from drinkin and get people to come to church?” 

“Oh, heavens no,” He said and pointed to his cross. 

“Oooh you already got a cross,” I noticed. 

“I love the piano!” Aspen gasped and stepped closer. 

We walked over to see the piano but then Aspen stepped on a nail and wandered over. I decided I probably should start wearing shoes and Mr. Chris asked if she was okay. We decided to walk away from the building and talked about how the building looked like the Alamo. I got lost in my thoughts though as I kept thinking about the story and I caught up Mr. Chris on how everything happened. Jeff and Aspen walked back but I told him that I’m not gonna work at the clinic because it was no fun without Mr. Alex there. 

All of a sudden Mr. Chris looked at Ms. Zan asked if she was okay and she told him, “Man by the name of Steven Itano.. Shot me in Ghenna.” 

“Were you on duty?” Mr. Chris asked her. 

“Well I am pretty sure he shot me.. but not a hundred percent sure.” 

“Maybe we should go home?” I asked Jimmy and Jeff, looking between them as Mr. Chris and Ms. Zan kept talking. I told Jeff that he had the story and the picture from Ms. Zan, though I wouldn’t tell him that she was the one who gave me the picture. When Ms. Zan talked about Mr. Steven bringing a horse into the clinic and Ma seeing it, I started to pay attention but they said it was being taken care of. I wrote another article about payroll and school and gave it to Jimmy. 

Jeff talked about having to give court summons to people and wished that it wasn’t so scary. He said he had to do it alone. Jimmy gave us each a peppermint stick and then we headed home. Jeff asked if me and Jeff were orphans but we told him about living with Ma and Pa so we’re a family now. 

“Should we go home?” I asked Jimmy after a while. 

“I think we better Nat. after what I hear today from pa, we best be headin home,” Jimmy nodded. 

“And Miss Zan said we gonna marry. What you hear from pa?” I asked. 

“Marry?!” Jimmy blinked. 

“Right Miss Zan?” I giggled. 

“Marriage is a good thing, Jimmy,” Mr. Chris said. 

“Sorry? having a bit of trouble hearing today since well you know,” Ms. Zan cleared her throat. 

“Pa say somtin bout a man name Bear somtin, he lookin fer ma’s cuzin Irish somebody,” Jimmy said. 

“Oh? Sounds like bad guy,” I frowned. 

“I ain’t marrying my sis, that would be, wrong!” Jimmy shook his head. 

“We better be careful,” I said. 

We waved goodbye to the others and headed home. 

Pearce. 

“We made it!!” I said as we ran home. “No bears caught us!” 

“Yes we did…” Jimmy shut the door and locked the door. 

“What this guy Bear look like?” I asked. 

“I not sure, pa didn say...but he said watch out for strangers trying to talk to kids,” Jimmy said. 

“Oh. Well we won’t talk to no strangers then. Or if we do we won’t tell em much.” 

“Sounds like a good idea,” Jimmy said. 

“You gonna come to school with me tomorrow?” I grinned. 

“I try, if I get up, you know how I like sleepin in.” 

“You gotta stop sleepin in or you get in trouble!” I smiled. 

“I know, but I been learnin from pa as much as I can.” 

We kept talking and then headed to bed.