The Fugitives 4

I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.

Author's note: Mathison County in MO is completely fictional, therefore anything that occurs and the terrain it occurs in, is purely imaginary.

I must also give high praise and thanks to LadyBrit for her advice on all things medical.

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The cell Jarvis shoved Kitty into, was cold, dank and comprised of one barred window and a small cot with a stained mattress.

A less than empty chamber pot stood at the ready, near the end of the cot.

Though she had protested her innocence loudly and angrily, it had had little effect, when Jarvis yanked her handbag from her arm and rudely pawed through it, bringing out a man's gold watch in his dirty fist.

Kitty ceased her protestations. Realization of her circumstances dawned on her, and she knew any further objections would be pointless. She had been set up in one the oldest cons she could remember and she had fallen for it.

Embarrassment at her naiveté, and anger at the drummer's duplicity, colored her cheeks an even rosier shade of red than any rouge she might wear. Her only consolation and hope, was in the fact that she had sent that wire to Matt. Wearily, she sank down on the least filthy end of the cot, and sighed.

"Oh Matt" she thought, as she took a deep shuddering breath.

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"Festus, mount up", Matt fairly yelled as he rushed into the small brick jail building. "We've gotta ride."

Festus, who was in a hotly contested checker game with Doc, jerked when Matt dashed in, and innocently, almost, knocked the board and it's pieces to the floor. "Where to, Matthew." He asked, trying to avoid Doc's glare.

"Mathison County," Matt grunted. "I got a wire from Kitty saying she's there." He didn't elaborate, he didn't need to. There were few in Dodge who had forgotten the ill-tempered Mathison, and his violent attempt to hang young Steven Downing on Front Street.

"What's happened?" Doc asked, as Matt grabbed rifles from the rack over his desk, and Festus headed out for Buck and Ruth.

"Nothing that I know of," Matt answered truthfully, "but Kitty's in Mathison Township and I have a bad feeling about it, Doc. I don't know why, but I just think I'd better head in that direction."

Doc nodded in understanding and stood silent for a moment longer, as he watched Matt grab his saddlebags and begin to stuff them with extra cartridges and a can or two of beans, along with a bag of coffee.

So intent was Matt at the tasks before him, that he didn't notice that Doc had taken his leave of the jail, until he heard the door shut behind him. Sparing no time to puzzle over the physicians behavior, he continued to pack his bags.

Matt was operating purely on instinct, knowing what he was doing, but not why. All he was certain of was that Kitty was in trouble, and he had to get to her.

Finally finished with his bag and an extra one for Festus, Matt grabbed his belongings and walked out the door to find not only Festus with both their mounts, but Doc as well, sitting almost comfortably on a horse he had gotten from Hank at the stable. His battered black medical bag was tied on the saddle, along with a small worn carpet bag on the other side.

Before Matt could open his mouth to question the astonishing sight, of the elderly physician on horseback, Sam walked up, leading his horse, wearing his brown hat and coat along with a determined expression.

"We're ready when you are, Marshal." Sam said seriously.

Matt swallowed his surprise, and his questions, and nodded. "Let's ride," he said, as they climbed aboard their animals, and Matt led the way east, out of Dodge and toward Missouri.

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The heroic quartet rode until the last vestiges of light had disappeared over the western horizon. When Matt finally did rein in, it was simply because neither he nor his mount could go any further. Looking around at his traveling mates, Matt doubted they could either.

"We can make camp over there." Matt said, pointing at a small copse of trees with a crik beside it.

The other men said nothing, as they followed Matt to the chosen camp site and dismounted. Watching them, Matt shook his head in wonder. Though neither Doc nor Sam said anything, he knew they weren't accustomed to long horse back rides. He could see their exhaustion in their slow awkward movements, as they went about unsaddling their horses and spreading their bedrolls.

"Matthew," Festus walked up beside him. "I'm gonna see kin I get us some firewood and get a fire goin'."

Matt nodded, gratefully. "Thanks, Festus."

Doc walked up beside him and stood in silence for a moment, watching as Festus moved off.

Matt looked over at his friend in concern. "Doc, it may be a little late to question this now, but what are you and Sam doing here? I mean, I'm not even sure why I'm here, to be honest."

Doc took a swipe of his mustache and looked up at Matt. "You and I both know why we're here, Matt. Kitty. We may not have anything to go on, but every single one of us knows something is wrong. Call it superstition or foolishness or what have you, but something is wrong, and Kitty either needs us, or soon will."

"But what about your practice?" Matt questioned. "I mean, who's going to do the doctoring while you're gone?"

"I talked to Newly," Doc said. "He's going to take care of that for me while I'm gone, and he and Burke will watch over the town, until a Deputy can ride down from Hays to take care of the law for you."

Matt grinned in amazement. "What about the Long Branch? You know, Kitty will be awful upset to have it closed down for too long."

"Won't be closed down," Sam said, from behind them. "Fred Deacon was there when Doc came in looking for Newly. Fred's filled in many a time. He'll take good care of the Long Branch till we get back."

Matt's grin widened for a moment. "Well, I guess you all got everything pretty well taken care of."

Festus returned with the wood, and the men gathered round to help him lay the fire and get it going. Not much more was said, but all four men knew that what ever they were riding into was not going to be easy. However, not a one of them, no matter how unaccustomed to horseback riding, would turn back.

Not till Kitty was safe, and back home.

TBC