Family of the Heart

PT.3

It was a slow and exhausting ride. Chet was doing his best to keep himself alert, knowing he'd been gone over a week. And he, much like Matt, was happy to be on his way home as opposed to staying around for the trial and hanging, if that's what the verdict would be. Riding straight through the night, he decided to stop by a stream, water his horse and rest slightly.

Kneeling down at the edge of the stream, cupping handfuls of cool water, he splashed his face. It was refreshing. Now stretching his neck and shoulders, inhaling deeply, suddenly he stopped. Hearing the click back of a gun barrel, he hesitated before turning.

He heard, "DON'T MOVE."

"Who are you? What do you want? I'm not carrying anything valuable." Chet offered to the unknown figure behind him.

In a gruff voice, "Ain't your valuables I'm after. Turn around slow. Keep them hands where I can see um. Git over there by that there tree."

Chet complied, keeping a close eye on the gun the stranger was pointing at him. "Well then, if you're not here to rob me, what..."

"Hey! I'm the one with the gun here. I'm in control."

Nodding, "Ok, but if there's something you want from me just…"

"Hey, I said quiet!"

Chet sat quietly, his mind filtering through his thoughts. 'If it's not money, what does he want?'

After sitting for several minutes, "Did you think you could just drag a man from his home and bring him to hang? Leave his family," now shaking his head, "without... well, without a husband or father?"

Quickly Chet realized, this was now about Saul Barrows, the prisoner Newly brought in, but had him deliver to trial. "Look, I know something like this isn't easy. Barrows, he's your kin?"

Nodding, "Yeah, my pa. And the family needs him."

Chet could now see this young man was grieving, which let him know the outcome of Barrows trial. "What's your name?" Chet asked.

"Albert. Albert Barrows."

"Albert, the Marshal brought your father in on a murder charge." Chet stated.

"My pa didn't kill anyone. But you brought him to hang."

Still watching closely, "Albert, look, I just brought him to trial. I have nothing to do with the court's decision. I'm a Deputy. I just do my job. Besides, there was a witness."

"HE'S WRONG!" Albert yelled out.

"Well, someone still has to pay."

"Someone. YOU!" He now pointed the barrel right at Chet, cocking back the hammer.

Chet, unsure what to do next, Jumped up, lunging away from him. Then all he heard was a loud shot.

Dillon Ranch

"Grace, Honey, try to calm down. I'll make some inquiries; see what I can find out. But let's all just not get ahead of ourselves." Heading out, "Kit, I'm gonna go to town and talk to Newly, see what we can do. See if I can find out what is going on."

"Matt? Breck. Talk to Breck."

"Kit, you know how I feel about..."

"Matt, he's a lawyer. See what he thinks." Now walking close to him, "Cowboy, we may need him." Giving him a look of deep concern.

Dodge City

Martin Singleton made his way out of the Dodge House headed to the Long Branch, Howie was standing out on the boardwalk, sweeping. "Good morning." Singleton said.

"Oh, oh good morning. Did you have a good night, Sir?"

"Yes, yes, I did. Thank you, my man. Howie was it?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Howie, how long have you been in Dodge?"

"Oh, many years, Sir. I've seen Dodge grow and change. Marshal Dillon really gave us a good respectable town to live in and..."

"Marshal Dillon?" Singleton repeated.

"Oh, yes. Yes, Marshal Matt Dillon. He was Marshal here for many years before Marshal O'Brien. He was Marshal Dillon's deputy."

"Hmmm, so that mean you know this Dillon well then?"

"Oh, yes. He and Miss Kitty. They've been here in Dodge since... well, seems like forever now."

"So, the Dillon's are a staple here?" He asked.

"Seems like that. They are very well..." Stopping.

"Howie, Mrs. Dillon? That'd be the one they call Miss Kitty?"

"Yes, Sir. Good people they are. Why this town holds them both in high regard."

"Is that so? I thought I understood she was a..."

Now Howie furrowed his brow. "A what?"

"Oh well, I just mean she owned the Long Branch when it was a saloon and well we all know what..."

Now Burke approached them. "Morning, Howie."

Nodding, "Burke."

Staring at Howie, waiting for an introduction.

"Oh, Burke, this here is Mr. Singleton. We were just talking about Marshal Dillon and Miss Kitty and Dodge."

Smiling, "Well, you couldn't find two better folks. Dodge has been grateful to them both for a lot."

"Ha," Singleton huffed out. "What could she have done that you would feel such a way? Well, besides..." He raised his brows.

Burke now realizing his inference, "Now wait just a minute. Miss Kitty, is a decent woman. She's done more for the folks of Dodge. Oh, yeah, some women folk, they didn't like their men in the saloon. But, Miss Kitty... it's… Well, they're men and she always..."

Waving his hand and tapping his hat, "Thank you, Mr. Burke." Smiling at him.

Now Burke looked at Howie. "What'd I say? I was just trying to tell him Miss Kitty would make sure she kept control of..."

Rolling his eyes, Howie just shook his head. "Burke!"

"What? I was just saying..."

Now waving him off, "I have work to do."

Singleton entered the Long Branch. Ellie was delivering orders to a table. "Good morning. I'll be right with you. How can I help you?"

"Tea please and a menu?"

"Certainly." Handing him a menu.

Sam watched from the back room door, curious as to what Singleton was up to today.

"Well, Ma'am, I'll have eggs, ham and biscuits."

Nodding, "Coming right up, Sir."

As she began to walk away, "Wait. Maybe you can answer a few questions."

"About?" Ellie asked.

"Oh, your predecessor, Miss Kitty."

"Miss Kitty?" Ellie repeated. "Why would you ask about her?" Ellie remembered what Sam had told her about the day before. "Look Mr..."

"Singleton. Martin Singleton, Ma'am."

"Well, Mr. Singleton, I'm not in the habit of discussing my friends with total strangers. So, if you'll excuse me, I'll get your order." Turning and walking away.

Huffing out a huge breath, "Why? Why are these folks all so sure fired ready to protect this woman, these people?" He asked himself.

Matt rode down Front Street, approaching Newly's office. As he entered, "Morning, Mr. Dillon. What can I do for you today?"

"Newly, yesterday, that wire that came for Chet..."

"Oh," Newly responded. "Bad news, Sir?"

"Looks that way. Chet should be back today, right?"

"I'm expecting him." Newly answered.

"Seems he and Grace have some trouble. Newly, there's a couple, the Burnett's, they've filed papers to get custody of the girls."

"Tessie and Eva?" He asked.

"Yeah."

"But I don't understand. Why now? And who are these people?"

"Those girls... they've been with us for months. Newly, you've seen how Kitty..."

"Ah, yeah and they love you all as well."

"Newly, Grace and Kitty..." now exhaling, "Well, I promised them I'd do what I could to find out what we can do. Kitty wants me to talk with Breck."

"Well, if you ask me, I think that's a perfect idea." Smiling, "I know you don't care for him and the way he is so friendly with Ki…"

Scrunching his face, rolling his eyes, "Yeah, yeah. Newly, I trust Kitty. He's just a little too friendly for my taste."

"Say, Mr. Dillon..."

"Newly, as long as we've known one another, it's Matt. Ok?"

Nodding, "Ok, Matt. Yesterday, over at the Long Branch..."

"Yeah?" Matt looked with questioning eyes.

"I'm not sure, but there was this Dude fella. Sing... ah, Singleton. Yeah, that's it. When I came in, he was questioning Sam."

Puzzled, "Ok. And?"

"It was his questions that bothered me. They were about Dodge, well, and an awful lot about you and..."

"Me? I don't know anyone by that name."

"Matt, he was also asking about Miss Kitty."

Now Matt's eyes widened. "KITTY?"

"Yeah, Sam was disturbed by his questions and the conversation stopped when Grace came in. But, you know Gracie..."

Throwing back his head, "Yeah, I'm afraid I do. She's her momma's daughter." The two chuckled.

"Who do you think he might be?"

"Well, Newly, over the years there've been a lot of stories."

"Maybe, just..."

"Yeah, maybe but it sticks in my craw. I'll stop and see Sam. Right now, I guess I'd better find..." rolling his eyes, "Breck."

Chuckling, Newly nodded. "Matt?"

"Yeah?" Matt stopped.

"We'll talk later." Newly was now concerned about the news of the wire and the Burnett's.

Leaving the office, and crossing Front Street, Matt spotted Breck. "Hey, Taylor?"

"Mattttt! Glad to see ya. How's Kitty?"

"She's fine, Taylor! Our family is fine." Tilting his hat back. "Actually, I need to... well, Kitty asked me to... Taylor, you got a minute?"

"Sure, Matt, for you, anytime."

The two men entered the Long Branch. "Ellie, good morning."

"Oh, Matt, hello. Be right with you. Morning, Breck." Smiling at him.

Breck sat at a back table while Matt approached Sam. "Sam? Newly says a dude was here yesterday."

Nodding, "Yes, Sir. That man right there." Now pointing at Singleton. "Newly says he was asking questions about..."

"Oh now, Ellie and I, we're not telling him anything, you understand?"

Smiling, "Sam, its ok. What kind of questions?"

"Well, mostly about Miss Kitty and her owning this place and what she did here." Matt peered over his shoulder. "But I just told him she was my boss and more importantly, my friend. You both have been for..."

Nodding, smiling, 'Yeah, Sam, I know." Matt turned and began walking towards Breck then suddenly changed his mind and turned towards Singleton, stopping at his table. "You Singleton?"

Looking up at Matt's tall presence. "Who's asking?"

"Names, Dillon. Matt Dillon. I understand you've been asking question around about me and my wife."

"Maybe I have. And?"

"WHY?" Matt asked.

Smiling, Singleton looked up at Matt. "Curious. Yeah, just curious."

Furrowing his brow in annoyance, "Curious about? Just who are you? And what are you doing in Dodge?" Now the lawman was surfacing in him.

Quickly, Breck interrupted them. "Matt, you wanted to talk?"

"Oh, yeah." Now following him back to the corner table, sitting and sipping at the hot coffee Ellie had brought out. "Breck, we may have a problem and may need your help."

"Ok, Matt, I'm listening. Tell me what you need."

Inhaling, "Well, I'm sure you know about the two little girls we have out at the ranch. I know you do. You were handling the adoption papers for Grace and Chet."

Nodding in agreement, "Yeah, that's right."

"Are you aware there's a couple called the Burnett's that's filed for a hearing to fight for custody?"

"Well now, that puts some things in perspective."

"What?"

"Now, Matt, wait. I just received a letter from a Boston attorney asking for information about the ward care of Teresa and Eva Webb. Matt, Chet is their cousin. He is kin."

"That's what we're wondering about."

"Matt, let me check into this further. Chet and Grace have already filed paper work and let me find out more about the Burnett's."

"Breck, Grace can't..."

Holding up his hand, "Matt, I know Grace is cut from the same cloth as her mother and I'll handle this or see what we can do."

Popping his hat back on his head. "Ok, I'm going to let you do what you need."

"Matt, I'll..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

"Matt, I know how Kitty and Grace feel about those little girls. I remember how Kitty was when she went through this with Mary."

Singleton now had his ear focused and tuned into the conversation at the back table. "Hmmm." Now standing, leaving and heading across the street for the telegraph office.

Newly stood watching. "What could this dude be up too?"

TBC