November 28, 1900

Tombstone. 

This morning I walked down the street and then I saw another little girl sitting in front of the photo studio. Going over to her, I waved and said, “Hi!” 

“Oh!” she gasped, putting a hand over her chest as she looked up. “Ya startled me bad!” 

“I sorry! Didn’t mean to scare ya. I’m Natalie. What’s your name?” 

The girl looked me up and down before a small smile spread on her face. She hopped up off the bench and rubbed a hand on her apron before offering it to me to shake. “Hello there Natalie. I’m Frances. was wondering when someone was gonna show up!” 

“Hi Frances! It’s good to meet you! You new in town?” I asked and shook her hand. 

“Yes I sure is! Followed that there train all the way here!” Frances smiled proudly and pointed to the train tracks at the edge of town. 

I looked over and blinked. “Wow... I rode the train here. You all alone then? No mommy or daddy?” 

She laughed loud, wrinkling her nose. “Naw! I meant I rode it! Ya didn’t think I actually followed behind it! Did ya?” Frances grinned and shook her head. “Naw. I’m caring for myself! Been sweeping floors and selling my ribbons and soon I’m gonna have enough money to go up North!” 

I giggled and nodded. “Ohh... I see. Well maybe I could show you the orph’nage where kids live. I kind of adopted my mommy and I don’t live there anymore but there’s lots of kids there sometimes. You wanna see?” 

Giving me a slight look of disgust she said, “An orphanage? I hate them things! But sure... You can show me it if ya like. So long as I ain’t getting kidnapped and trapped there forever!” She waved her arms dramatically before settling. “And so… Wait. You was an orphan?” 

“Don’t worry… you won’t,” I shook my head. “The lady there’s real nice now. You’re lucky... the one I had when I came to town was mean. She said that I couldn’t cry or be scared cause I gotta be tough now. But I’d just come to town and the lady I’d thought was gonna be my mommy was killed. Then I found Miss Trin and it’s all good now. And I have my bestest friend Jimmy too. Come on... lemme show ya!” 

Frances giggled and said, “Uh… I…” She grinned. “Sure! Let’s go!” 

I giggled and led the way to the orphanage and said, “Here we are!” 

Frances squinted and tilted her head to one side. “The orphanage is a pond?” 

“Naw.... Come on. In this building. See those two doors? One’s the boys room and ones the girls.” I grinned and looked at the mailbox. “You can pick up the kid’s paper here.” 

Frances lifted a brow, looking over the building. “Huh…” She then looked at the mailbox and said, “Oh... I can’t read none…” 

Suddenly I remembered I hadn’t done something at home and said, “Uh oh I gotta go check on somethin’. I’ll be back later!” 

*** 

A while later I walked down the street and blinked when I saw the woman coming off the stagecoach. The woman carried her bags over towards me and crouched to my level. “Well, you are a fine looking child. I am your Aunt Winter.” She snapped her fingers towards the stage coach and said, “Over here with the bag and Natalie will tell you where the other bags should be delivered.” 

I looked at the woman and stared wide. “Aunt... Winter? I remember seeing pictures of you in the photo album I got a while ago.” 

“Someone had to come here now didn’t they? I got word that my Sister has been murdered and well here I am. Is there a place to put my things that way you can show me about?” 

I nodded to her and said, “Yeah... Mommy was killed by some man and daddy was killed by a Pinkerton... I was in that awful orphanage and then I came here to Tombstone. But Miss Trin is my mommy now. I sorta adopted her!” 

Aunt Winter’s nose twitched a bit and said, “Yes, well I am sure that you will make sure I get introduced proper like to her. Now would you like to show me around Nat.” She stood back up and smiled. 

“Sure!” I nodded. “I guess I could show you around. I can show you a nice hotel over in Bisbee. But we don’t have much room in the house we live in unless you wanna sleep on the couch. The hotel must be nicer though.” 

“Alright well then let the stage man know where to go.”

“Ok mr stage man, this way!” I said to the man and we headed off. 

Bisbee. 

“This is the hotel!” I pointed to the building when we arrived. 

“Well it will do,” she smiled softly. 

“There’s lots of free rooms here you just gotta pick one. Mommy will be happy your here. She told me she sent a letter to you cause she had found out that you existed. I didn’t know if you would wanna come though. Or I woulda invited you. But well... I been tryin to get used to my new home.” 

“It is fine. The adults often take care of things.” 

“Careful bout ghosts Aunti Winter,” I nodded to her. “Miss Pet says they like to haunt ’round here.” 

“It will be fine. I am sure I have a few of those following me as well,” Aunt Winter sneered a bit.

“How come you not look for me before? I been here a few months now.” I giggled. “I came here in July.” 

“Where to next, short stuff?” she asked. 

“Um… I guess I could show you where mommy and I live. It’s a bit of a walk though.” 

“I would like that.” 

Pearce.

We walked over to the house in Pearce and I went to open the door, calling out, “Mommy??? You here?” When there was no answer I said, “Guess she’s out solvin crime or somethin.” 

“So you like it here? You are safe enough?” Aunt Winter smiled softly at me. 

“Uh huh! We lock the door and it’s safe. Come on upstairs!” I said and went up to show her our room. “Mommy sleep in that bed and this is my bed. Sometimes Mr. Thomas sleeps over to keep us safe. And when he does his son Jimmy sleeps on the floor beside me. We’re best friends.” 

“So a Man sleeps here sometimes too? I thought that this Trin was single,” she looked around. 

Nope. She in love. They not married yet though. Mommy said it’s too soon.” 

“Interesting.” 

I continued to show her around and when she commented about the dust, I said that you got used to it and we walked around Pearce to see the saloon and everything before heading back to the house to wait for ma and pa.