PT.7

The following morning, Susan and Hope, along with their two girls, decided to meet for an early brunch and talk about the ball coming up. Lula was excited, because she was finally old enough to attend such a grown up party, at least for a little while.

Hope and her daughter Miranda met up with Susan and Lula at the hotel in town and were ready to head for the café when the stage pulled in. Susan remarked how busy Emporia was starting to get, since the last trip she had made.

As the passengers began to let out, Miranda quickly looked over and with a look of surprise, shouted out, "Momma! Look! It's Miss Kitty! You didn't tell me she was coming for a visit!" She suddenly rushed passed Hope, yelling out to Kitty, as she stepped out of the stage.

Thanking Carl for helping her, she listened as he was telling her they had an hour before they took off for Topeka. Suddenly she heard her name and she felt two arms slip around her and squeeze.

And again heard, "Miss Kitty! I'm so happy to see you!"

Turning and trying to free herself a bit, "Why, Miranda. I can't believe how much you've grown?"

"I sure have, Miss Kitty. I'm 15 years old now."

"Well, I can see that." Holding her out at arm's length. "Let me get a good look at you. Wow! I'll say you are quite a grown young lady. What are you doing here in town?"

Very wide eyed. "Oh, I'm with Momma and Miss Susan and her daughter, Lula. We're having a ladies day. You know, shopping and stuff."

Nodding with a wink. "Oh, I see."

Just then, Hope, Susan and Lula joined them.

"Hope, Honey. It's so wonderful to see you again."

Reaching to hug her. "Awww, Miss Kitty, it's been too long. Momma will really be surprised."

"Well, yes, I was hoping to get a chance to see her, since I have an hour before the next stage."

"Oh, where are my manners? Miss Kitty Russell, this is my good friend, Susan. Susan St. John and her daughter Lula. Susan lives in Topeka but they are here for a visit and we were having a ladies day and…"

Kitty quickly added. "Oh, Miranda told me." Now smirking, "Shopping and stuff."

"Miss Kitty, Momma is at the shop, so you won't have to make a trip out to the house."

"Well then, I'll just go see her now." Reaching to hug her again. "Hope, you look wonderful. I'll see you before I go. Ok?" Then she turned to head toward Franny's Dress Shop.

As Kitty walked away, Susan looked at Hope then said, "Hope, I don't recognize her. Have you known her long?"

"Oh yes, all my life. Momma used to work for Miss Kitty. Then when Momma wanted to start the dress shop, Miss Kitty helped her get started. She was always like an aunt to me. She even saved my life once, when I was pregnant with Miranda."

"Oh, wait, you told me a story once about something happening to you back then and a good friend being there to help you."

Shaking her head, Hope looked at Susan. "Yes, Miss Kitty risked her life to save me and get me home to Momma."

Minutes later, Franny Farmer was getting her day started. She knew she had let Hope have the day to spend with Susan and she was carrying some boxes from the back room, when she heard the bell on the door as it opened. When she looked up, standing before her was the bright smiling face of her old friend and ex-boss, Kitty.

"Oh, my heavens! Kitty Russell! Is it really you?" Now dropping the boxes.

"In the flesh." Kitty replied.

Rushing to hug her friend, "Oh, Kitty, it's been so long. I've thought of you so much lately. How are you? And what are you doing here in Emporia? Here sit; let me get you some coffee."

"Fran, relax, slow down." Now smiling at her excited friend. "Well, it's a long story. I'm on my way to Topeka to hopefully speak to our new governor."

"Oh, Kitty. Yes, I guess with his new platform, this isn't going to be good for you."

"No it isn't, Fran. But it's not just me. Franny, you know Dodge. It's not like other towns. If it were just me to worry about, well, let's face it. I'm not getting any younger."

Franny waved her hand. "Aw, Kitty, you are younger than you think. Look at you. You're still beautiful and you're a great business woman."

"Thank you, Fran, but seriously, I'm thinking seriously about what I will do if… Well, if… But I just thought if I could try and make this Governor St John look at this through the everyday citizen's point of view, maybe, just maybe…"

As she handed Kitty a cup of coffee, "Well, Kitty, if anyone can charm the governor, you sure can. Hey, did the Marshal come with you?"

Now slightly laughing. "Oh, no. If Matt knew what I was planning, he would definitely have tried to stop me. Uh huh, definitely not!"

After they finished their coffee, Franny said, "Kitty, I need to walk over to the bank. I need change for the shop for today. Come with me and we can finish our talk. Ok?"

Nodding, they both walked back towards town.

Sheriff Nelson was reading his mail, when the door to his office swung open and two men pushed through the frame.

"Sheriff?"

"Yeah?"

"You'll be turning that gun, you're wearing, over to me, slow like. And no funny ideas, ya hear?"

Sheriff Nelson looked up, surprised. "What's this all about?"

"Shut up and just do what you're told and you won't get hurt!"

Nelson stood and released his gun belt. One man collected the gun belt while the other grabbed his arm leading him out to the street, now with the gun to his back.

As Hope, Susan and the girls left the café, Susan suggested to Hope that she wanted to cash a bank draft, before they began their shopping. Then they would stop at her shop to have Fran do some measurements for their dresses.

Just as they approached the bank, Fran and Kitty were coming down the boardwalk and all began talking and entered the bank together. There were a few people in line. The bank had just opened.

No one was paying much attention to anything going on, till they heard a loud voice. "Ok, everybody, just stay where you are. Do what you're told and no one will get hurt!"

Kitty looked around the room, swallowing hard, but trying to observe everything she could. Two of the men she thought she had recognized from posters she saw in Matt's office. She pulled the girls close, and in a low voice, "Look, ladies just do what they say and don't make a fuss."

After talking to Fran, it dawned on Kitty that Susan might be related to the governor in some way. She wasn't sure how but at this moment that wasn't important. She just didn't want these men to know that.

Suddenly, Lula began to say, if you men are trying to rob this bank, you will go to jail. My fath…"

Quickly, Kitty slapped her hand over Lula's mouth. "Sshhh! Honey, don't. Please, don't say anything to them. Especially don't let them know who you are. That's the last thing you can do. You hear me?"

Lula looked at her, confused. "But why? My father will…"

With tight jaws, "I know what he will do. But these men will…" she stopped, not wanting to scare her. "Lula, listen to me. If these men figure out who you are, they will try to use you to hurt your father, or they may hurt you just because of who he is. Do you understand me?"

Dropping her head, "Yes, I think so."

"So, look, you and Miranda, just stay over here and away from them. I won't let them hurt you. I promise!"

Hope was shaking and starting to cry. "Oh, Miss Kitty. What are we going to do?"

"Now, Hope, just stay calm. They just want money. They didn't expect all of us to be here, so when they get the money they'll go."

"But they've got the Sheriff."

"Yes, Hope, I see that." Now Hope was in full tears. "Honey, please stay calm. Stay with the girls."

Susan looked at Kitty. "I get the feeling, you've been through this before."

Nodding her head, "A time or two." As she rolled her eyes. "One more then I'd like."

One of the men casually walked over towards Susan. "Well now, what'da we have here?" As he slipped his fingers thru her curls then ran them down her cheek.

Kitty stepped in close. "Why don't you leave her be? Take the money you came for and just go." She added sarcastically.

As he turned a step in towards Kitty. "You say somethin', Red?"

One of the other men stared over at them. "Hey, Butch. Red, there, looks familiar like. Huh?"

Just then, Hope hollered out, "Miss Kitty!"

Then the first one turned his attention from Susan and grabbed Kitty by the chin. "Miss Kitty, huh? Ya gonna purr fer me, Kitty? Huh?"

"You don't take your filthy hands off me, and I just might do more than that." She said pushing his hand away.

"Whoa! Davey, this one's a wild cat! Wait, I know where she is familiar. That there saloon in Dodge. Member when we was goin' thru Dodge a while back and that there big Marshal throwed us in jail? She was all cozy with that big Marshal." He kept snapping his fingers trying to pull his memory for a name. Then, "Ahhh! That's it! DILLON! She's Dillon's woman!"

Just as he said it aloud, their ring leader came from the bank manager's office. "What's going on out here? What'cha sayin' about Dillon? Who saw Dillon? And where?"

"Nah, Boss. He ain't here. But his woman is. Red over here, she's Dillon's woman, Miss Kitty." He said with a chuckle.

The boss man's eyes widened. He took three large steps, even with a pronounced limp, across the room, grabbed her face with one hand and pulled her up close to him, face to face. "Is that right, Red? Are you Dillon's woman?"

She just stared him straight in the eye, jaw as stiff as she could get it, then said, "And who wants to know?" As she brushed his hand off her face, while her insides shook with fear, remembering the last time she was asked that question.

TBC