7
"I knew I recognized your face!" Kitty spat on the ground in front of Lance's boot. Her hands tied behind her, "Let go of me!" Kitty struggled against another cowhand.
"You sure look pretty out here in the evening air." Lance grabbed her face, "Beats that foggy saloon haze any day!"
The door to the cabin opened. Ray the trail boss stepped out, "She don't know nothing you idiot!" He yelled as he pushed Elizabeth off the porch.
"I told ya boss she don't know nothing. She's only here for the kids." Lance tossed his head toward Kitty, "That's the Marshal's woman. She's the one who got Thomas shot and your hand broken."
"I did no such thing!" Kitty jumped to her defense, "Your help got himself shot and Matt warned YOU," She cut her eyes toward Ray, "before he broke your hand!"
"Matt, huh?" Ray kicked Elizabeth in the side and walked over to stand in front of Kitty, "You're on a first name basis with the law?" He chuckled, "Smart woman. And the law has himself a fancy lady." He paused. "Smart man."
"What do you want!" Kitty demanded.
He slapped her across the face, "Some respect would be a good start, woman!" He looked at Lance, "Take Bear here and check everything. Go tie that one up with the children and make sure that deputy is still out cold." He looked Kitty up and down, "Me and the lady need to talk about Thomas and my hand." He grabbed Kitty's arm, "We'll be in the barn."
Lance nodded and headed to the cabin. Bear followed and picked up Elizabeth. Poor Elizabeth had no clue what was going on. She didn't know any of these men and only met Kitty once.. But she looked to her for comfort. Kitty felt helpless, "No!" Kitty yelled, "Leave her alone!" She struggled against Ray's one good hand that had a tight grip on her arm. "Let go of me!" She fought and yelled all the way across the yard ... until he threw her in the barn. Kitty landed hard on her side. She rolled over and sat up as best she could. She looked Ray right in the eye, "Don't." Kitty said firmly as she blew her hair out of her face, trying to free her hands.
"I won't hurt ya." Ray chuckled has he began to unbuckle his pants.
"Hold it!" Matt pressed his gun into Ray's back, "I told you before not to touch her." Ray slowly turned to face Matt. He smiled weakly and began to speak. Matt back handed him with his gun and knocked him out cold.
He ran to Kitty, "You okay!?" He asked as he quickly untied her hands.
She reached up and wrapped her arms around him, "Oh Matt! I sure am glad to see you."
He returned the embrace, "Let me see." He pulled back to look in her eyes, "Still beautiful." She slapped his arm. He helped her to her feet and kissed her sweetly. "Where are the kids, Kitty?" He asked as he used the ropes to tied Ray to a stall door, gagging him quickly.
"That young cowboy, Lance, is inside with another cowhand they call Bear." Matt stood and headed to the barn door. Kitty grabbed his arm, "Matt watch out. They call him Bear for a reason and not because he's fuzzy." Matt nodded. Kitty held his eyes for a moment.
"Hello, Miss Kitty." Tom walked in from the side barn door.
Kitty whipped around. She smiled, "Tom!" and hugged him, "You're okay!" He forced a smile and grimaced at her gentle touch. "Oh I'm so sorry! Did I hurt you?"
"No, ma'am." Tom assured her, "Just a little sore from riding a horse. Where's my sister and kids?" Happy to see them again... but still a little confused on how everyone got wrapped in this mess.
Kitty pointed to the cabin, "They're all in there."
Matt removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair, "Is that bedroom window still open, Kitty?" Kitty nodded, "Where are the kids?"
"They were in that bedroom before Bear brought me outside." Kitty thought for a moment. "If I can get in there, I can get to Elizabeth. Then maybe we can somehow distract Lance and Bear." Kitty paused, "They're not the smartest cowhands we've ever dealt with, Matt."
"You mean you guys have done this before?" Tom was amazed. Matt and Kitty both looked at him. Matt grunted and Kitty smiled. Tom shrugged his shoulders, "Alright, then... tell me what I can do to help."
Matt scratched his head, "Let's get to that back bedroom on my count." They ran to the cabin and made their way to the back window. Matt looked inside, "I don't see anything." He looked again, "I see Amethyst and Jessie in the far corner. I don't see Elizabeth." He looked down at Kitty, "Come on, Kitty. Give me your foot, and I'll lift you into the window."
"Are you serious?!" Kitty looked at Tom and then back to Matt. "My dress!" She whispered with wide eyes.
"Tom, turn around." Matt knew what she was hinting. Modesty being the last thing on Tom's mind, obeyed. Matt laced his hands together, "Step in my hands, Kitty." She placed her hands on his shoulders for balance and he lifted her to the window. She fell gracefully in, "You okay!?" Matt whispered.
"She's fine, Marshal Dillon." A little head popped out the window, "Thanks for coming back!" Jessie whispered. Matt grinned. He looked to the right of Matt and saw his father... "Dad!"
Amethyst ran over, "Daddy?!"
Tom ran up to the window to touch their faces, "You gotta be quiet, sweetheart." He looked to Jessie, "My son. I'm so proud of you... both of you."
Kitty grabbed the kids, "Shhh." The door opened and Elizabeth was thrown in. The door slammed. Kitty ran to grab her, "Oh my, sweetie are you okay?"
"Elizabeth!" Tom whispered from the window. She looked to her brother.
Kitty grabbed her, "Where's Festus?"
She shook her head trying to remember, "He's in the other bedroom, I think." She had been thrown around so much she could think clearly, "That big cowboy tossed him into the bedroom across the hall."
Kitty crawled back to the window, "Matt!" She whispered. He check his surroundings again. "Festus is across the hall. If you two can distract Lance and Bear I can go over there and sneak him out that window." She turned into the room.
"No Kitty!" Matt grabbed her arm, "What if they catch you!"
She padded his hand, "That's why I have you, Cowboy." She winked and gathered her skirts.
Matt sighed. Tom chuckled, "Women are amazing, huh, Marshal?"
Matt looked at the window and then to Tom, "That they are..." He shook his head. "I'm going to walk through the front door. If you think you can help keep a look out."
"I can shoot if you need me to." Tom offered.
"I'm hoping it doesn't come to that." Matt answered. "Follow me." They came around the corner. Lance was walking down to the lake. Matt motioned toward the door. He walked up the front porch and opened the door quietly. He looked around and shut the door. He turned around and met the right fist of Bear. Matt stumbled backwards across the living room. He landed against the couch. He shook his head and dodged the next hit... he swung and got Bear's left jaw. Making him fall back a bit. Bear stopped for a moment and rubbed his face. Matt kept his eyes on him. Bear shook his head and growled as he went back toward Matt. Matt ducked and darted under his arm. He heard a 'ding!' And turned around.
There stood Kitty with a frying pan. Matt had no poker face at the moment, he was speechless. Bear tried to stand and Kitty knocked him one more good time, "Hibernation comes early this year, buddy!" He crashed through the table.
Matt chuckled and walked over to Kitty, "That's one way to knock someone out." Tom walked through the door. Matt motioned him down the hallway so he could go see his family. "Go on. They're waiting on you." He turned to Kitty. Sliding her arms around his shoulders, "Ms. Russell, will you do me the honor of cooking dinner for all of us?"
Kitty laughed, "Don't make me use that frying pan on you, Mr. Dillon." She reached up and kissed him.
"Ain't this a pretty sight?" Lance stood in the door way, "The law man and the town's whor..." Lance fell to the ground before he could finish his sentence.
Matt and Kitty followed his body hit the ground then looked back up... "Howdy, Matthew!" Festus stepped over Lance as he rubbed his head. "You tend to your duties and me and ol Lance here are gonna go out to the barn and saddle up some horses fur his ride into town." He helped Lance to his feet, "Ain't that right son?" Lance held his head and nodded.
Kitty never let go of Matt's neck. They turned back to one another. Kitty grinned, "Let's get this family back to Dodge." Matt smiled and kissed her again.
"How she lookin, Doc?" Newly asked as he sat on the stairs with Thad and the couple.
Doc sat down on the top stair. He swiped his mustache, "Fever's getting worse, Newly. I... I ... I just don't rightly know." They all sat in silence waiting on the return...
TBC
