PT.7

Orphan Train

Winds whipping across the open prairie convinced Kitty that March still had one last blast of cold before the spring weather would come in. Glancing over at Melinda, she debated on bringing up Melinda's comments while they spoke to Doc. But she did not want to press too much as to force her to close up even more.

Kitty had her own suspicious thoughts as to why Melinda acted the way she did. She remembered quite well. She was only twelve when her mother passed and with her father leaving her as he did with Panacea, she remembered, she too was non- trusting and bitter.

And she could just imagine what this poor girl must have been through, but really wanted so much to be wrong. In some ways, she knew if she was right, Melinda had a much worse situation then she had herself. Obviously, New York City was much different than New Orleans and although Pan had turned her out at an age not much older than Melinda, she knew she had someone to depend on, if needed.

Slowing down just a bit, she looked over to this young girl who in her own mind, thinks she is practically grown, and with a gentle touch on her shoulder said, "Sweetheart, there's no easy way to ask this but back there in Dodge, what were you referring to about being special nice to Doctor Adams?"

Melinda never made eye contact.

Kitty could feel her trembling. "Ok, we don't have to talk about it now. But I just want you to know, no one is going to hurt you and you can talk to me about anything."

They continued to ride on and Melinda just watched the scenery along the way. Then suddenly she asked, "Miss Kitty, are there many others living near by?"

"Well, Honey, maybe a mile or so down the road. But if you are thinking of whether or not there are other children…"

Quickly Melinda stopped her. "No, that's not it. I just noticed a few riders back over the hill." She observed them without Kitty noticing them at all.

After arriving at the house, Matt and John were still out checking on the north side for horses. Mark had fallen asleep during the ride. Melinda rousted him, directing him into the house, tucked him into his bed, letting him sleep while they brought the things from town in the house. Then Kitty suggested starting supper.

As Melinda walked the horses to the barn, she began opening the large doors to allow for the horse and wagon then she was surprised by a man standing just inside one of the stalls and let out a loud scream. "Who are you? What do you want?"

The man, who was very tall and slender, his eyes were as dark as his hair, was standing against the post, smiling at her with a small piece of straw in his mouth. Then in a deep baritone voice, "Well, little lady, you aren't who I expected, but you just might be a bonus."

Backing up slowly and trying to put space far between them. "What do you mean? Who were you expecting? And why am I a bonus?"

"Oh, Darlin', pretty little thing like yourself." As he spoke, he started taking steps towards her.

"Don't you come any closer! I'll scream."

In a sudden motion, he reached out and grabbed for her but barely touched her hair.

Melinda turned, ran and screamed louder. "Help, Miss Kitty! Help me!" She screamed as she burst through the barn doors and headed for the house.

Kitty met her on the porch. Seeing this tall dark haired man running behind her, she pushed her behind. Kitty stepped out between them. "Who are you? And what do you want here? You've scared this child near to death."

Running his hand across his chin, "Ah, now I got the right one."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Melinda was still tucked tight behind Kitty. "He told me he was looking for a woman, but since I came in the barn, I would just be a bonus."

"Look, Mister…" now with her jaw tight, "What exactly do you need here?"

"Well, Red, I come lookin' for you. You are Dillon's wife, right?"

"Yes, I am, and who are you?"

"Name's Pritchard. But you don't need to worry yourself about that."

Furrowing her brow and tilting her head just a bit. "WHY? What business do you have with me?"

"Well now, let's see. I think we can find some way to have a little fun before I…"

Cutting him off. "What? Look, Mister, I don't know how you know me but I want you to leave, NOW!"

"Not so fast, Darlin'." Now walking closer to her. "I'll be giving the orders." He said as he rested his hand atop his gun.

Squaring her shoulders, "Well look, if you know who I am then you know my husband."

"Oh, oh yes, Ma'am, I do. And I'll take care of him after I'm done with you and that pretty little one there."

"Don't you come near us. Matt will be here soon and he'll kill you." Now, Kitty was backing up, leading Melinda inside.

"Miss Kitty, what's going on?"

"It's alright, sweetheart, just go inside."

"Yep, that's right. Lets all go inside." Now forcing his way in with them.

Once in the parlor, Kitty stood facing him. "What's this all about?"

He was smiling at her then running two fingers along her cheek and jaw line.

Slapping his hand away, Kitty was now steaming. "Keep your hands off me."

Melinda had run into Mark's room, making sure he was still asleep.

Pritchard grabbed Kitty with both hands. "Now, we're gonna wait for Dillon and then I'm gonna kill him. But not right off. Ya see, I want him to watch while I have a little fun with you, Red. And then maybe with that pretty little gal of yours."

"You don't know Matt, do you?" She spit out sarcastically.

"Oh, you think I should be afraid of him, Red?"

"When he gets here, you sure will be."

Meanwhile, as they were talking, Melinda woke Mark and had him slip out the back, telling him to run and run fast to find someone for help. "Please, Mark. You need to go and get help as fast as you can." She hugged him and sent him out the window.

Mark ran like the wind, not sure where he was running to but he ran. Then he saw a buggy coming in the distance.

Pritchard had Kitty pinned to the wall, forcing his body tightly up close to hers.

As she was fighting and pushing to get him off, Melinda walked in and began hitting him and yelling for him to leave her alone.

He let go and grabbed Melinda. "Now, now, you are a little tiger, aren't you?"

Kitty, catching her breath, reached for a lamp and swung it, catching him across the shoulders and back of his head. Then she screamed for Melinda to run. As Melinda headed out the door, she saw Mark riding in with someone on a buggy. But at the same time, she saw two riders on horses. She soon realized the buggy was Doc from town. Mark must have run into him out on the road.

As Kitty made her way to the door, she encouraged Melinda to take Mark and run and find a place to hide.

Melinda, putting up a fight, asked, "But what about you and your friend?"

Shaking her head, "We'll be fine. Just go, take Mark and hide. I'll find you."

Melinda reluctantly did as Kitty asked.

"Doc, am I glad to see you. I hurt him but I need to find Matt."

"Well, where is Matt?" Doc asked, looking puzzled.

"He took John and they rode up on the north end to look for the horses. Doc, please, find him."

"Ah, Kitty, I don't like leaving you here alone with…"

"Doc, please?" Kitty quickly took a rope Matt had lying on the porch and tied Pritchard's hands and feet together. Kitty then went to find Melinda and Mark.

Doc rode as quick as Popcorn would take him up over the north end of the property. Spotting them, he began to yell out. "Matt! Matt!" As they approached, he yelled. "Matt, it's Kitty. She needs you at the house. There's a man there. Kitty's in trouble, Matt."

The three headed back as quick as possible.

Kitty walked the property, calling out to the children, at first, not hearing anything. But as she continued, she heard Melinda yelling for Mark and could hear him crying. When Melinda saw Kitty she yelled. "Oh, Miss Kitty. Please, Mark's hurt and I can't help him."

"Melinda, calm down. Where is he?"

"In the hole." She said, still a bit horrified.

"Hole? What hole?"

"I don't know. It's over here. We were running and he got ahead of me then he suddenly was gone but I could hear him crying."

"Ok, honey, wait." Kitty laid down on the ground next to the hole which once was an old well that had caved in. Kitty wasn't sure just how deep it was but she knew she could see him. "Melinda, sweetheart, I need you to go to the house. In the barn there's a rope hanging by the horse stalls. Bring it to me."

"But… but..."

"Melinda, please. Hurry, go."

Once again, Kitty laid on her stomach, looking down into this old well hole. "Mark, Honey, I'm gonna get you out. You're gonna be ok. Can you hear me?" If ever she needed him to talk, now would be it. "Mark, honey, are you hurt?"

He would only cry a little but not answer.

Melinda got to the barn and grabbed the rope and as she came out, the two riders stopped her.

"Hey there, young lady. We're lookin' for a friend of ours."

"Well, no one is here and I need to go." She turned and ran off with the rope, just missing Matt by minutes.

Matt and John, followed by Doc, arrived at the house with no sign of Kitty or the other two children. Matt looked around and saw the strange horses, knowing in his gut, something was off. Then a shot was fired. It came from the direction of inside the house. Matt, Doc and John took cover, while Matt tried to figure what was happening.

Melinda made it back to Kitty and Mark. "I found this, Miss Kitty."

"Good." Kitty quickly tied one end to a small tree near the hole. "Now, Melinda, I'm going to go down there and try and send Mark up. But I need you to watch the rope and let me know if it starts to get loose. Can you do that?"

She just nodded.

Kitty finished tying the rope around the tree, then she tossed the other end into the hole. "Mark, Honey, can you see the rope?"

As he slowed down crying, he felt his way around the tight space and grabbed the end.

Kitty could see him tug on it. "Good, Honey. Ok now, I'm going to try and come down. Can you stay up close to the side? I'm coming. We're going to get you out of here. Honey, I promise, you're going to be just fine. Ok?" Kitty, little by Little, tried lowering herself down. The rope was burning her hands but she ignored that and continued down the narrow hole. Finally, she felt the debris beneath her feet, hoping it wouldn't move and take them deeper.

Not being able to see to much, Kitty suddenly felt two little arms around her waist. "Uh, ok, Honey. Mark, now listen to me closely. Did you ever climb a tree?"

He nodded. She assumed that was a yes.

"Alright, I'm going to boost you up and I want you to climb the rope. Can you do that? Can you try?"

Mark didn't want to let go of Kitty's waist.

To herself, she was saying, "Oh, Cowboy, I need you here."

TBC