January 1, 1901

Bisbee.

Tonight, after convincing Pa to tell me a bedtime story, I followed him upstairs and curled into bed while he sat on the edge of it and leaned over to tell me about how he and ma first met. I grinned at Pa, but then got nervous when I heard movement downstairs and saw Shira run down to greet whoever was there. 

“So who was the first person I met, but Miss Pet at the Russ. She was feeding me dinner, when in walked the most beautiful woman I ever laid eyes on. Your ma.” Pa stopped then and patted me on the foot gently. “No worry dear, its just your ma coming home. Miss Pet introduced your ma and me to each other. I was selling that elixir stuff I told you about back then.” 

“Right... the rotgut stuff. What was it called, Daddy?” I asked, feeling a bit better. 

Pa thought about it for a while and then said, “It was called the Handy, Dandy, Smandy Mr. Boremans Wonder Tonic.” 

“That’s the silliest name ever! Can I put that in the interview daddy?” I giggled. 

“Sure sweetie. Though the only person to ever buy any of it was Miss Pet.” 

“Did it work?” 

“I don’t know munchkin, Miss Pet never bought anymore. Though I quit selling it soon after I moved to Tombstone. Your ma helped me to decide not to sell it anymore.” 

Ma walked upstairs then and grinned, leaning down to kiss pa on the forehead. “Did it work? It worked to confuse the heck out of people and made me laugh at him!” 

“Hi dear!” Pa greeted ma. 

“Hi Ma! Pa’s tellin’ me bout how ya met! How’d you get him to stop sellin’ that stuff?” I giggled, looking over at her. 

Ma chuckled and leaned against the wall, looking exhausted. “"Well, I convinced him to stop lyin’ to people and make an honest man out of himself. Told him he could do more and help people. So he became a deputy. Course that’s after he thought ’bout bein’ a lawyer first.” Ma winked at him. 

Pa kissed Ma and hugged her down onto the bed beside him. “Yeah love, tell our daughter about it.” 

“You were gonna be a lawyer pa?” I giggled, watching them both. I wondered if Jimmy had gone to sleep by now ‘cause he wasn’t doin’ more than just snoring. 

“Well yeah, I guess. Then I realized we needed lawmen who could be trusted more tan we needed lawyers,” Pa explained. 

“Mmhmm we sure did. And you’re pa’s the best one there is. Now why are you two still awake and why were there dishes left out in the living room?” Ma looked between us. 

I slipped under my covers to hide and said, “Shira did it.” 

“Ummm, I fed these two rugrats cookies and milk to get them to go to bed. Natalie wouldn’t stop begging, then she tag teamed me with Shira,” Pa told her. 

“They gave you the double-puppy-dog-eye trick huh? Very clever kiddo.” Ma grinned at me. 

“Yes they did… but Natalie deserved it… she stayed with Mr. Mack while I went to get paid at the jail with Lot and Shaun out in front of Kate’s Saloon,” Pa said. 

“Even though Millard shouted that Jeff was dead!!” I exclaimed and sat up straighter. “Who’d kill Jeffrey??” 

“I don’t think anyone killed Jeffery sweetie. Probably Millard just being Millard,” Pa said. 

“I gonna throw a rock near him next time I see him,” I muttered. 

“Now hon, your father’s right. Mill was probably just teasin’ with ya,” Ma said. 

“Now now… don't be throwing rocks at people Natalie.” Pa looked at me. 

“But ma... Mr Lot and some bad guy was out there and they was talkin about Jeff and yellin’ at him and…” 

“Jeffrey does little jobs for Mr Lot with the courthouse. I’m sure that’s all it was sweetie,” Ma said. 

I sighed and crawled in under the covers, looking between them. “Well make sure he’s okay tomorrow. I guess I sleep now. Thanks for tellin’ me that story pa.” 

“Goodnight sweetheart. Sleep well,” Ma kissed me on the forehead and tucked me in, and then went to kiss Jimmy’s forehead too. “I love you both very much.” 

“You’re welcome munchkin. I will I promise. You sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite,” Pa pet Shira and kissed me before going with Ma to their room. I curled up and fell fast asleep.