TIME FOR REDEMPTION
PT.7
After saddling up again, Matt and Susan began riding. Matt was now taking in the disaster around them hoping now to find water nearby for the horses.
Alongside him, Susan looked meekly at him. "Matt? Do you think it's over? Everything is… well…" Now looking around and shaking her head, a bit scared and confused. "How are we going to find them now?"
As he turned to look at her, he noticed the frightened look washing over her. He inhaled and thought quickly. The last thing he wanted was a panicked woman on his hands, and especially one who was so used to being pampered. "Susan. Look, we're gonna be just fine and yes, to answer your question, I think the storm is over and yes, we'll find your family and Kitty. So since we've lost some time, I suggest we try making up some of it. We shouldn't be too much further from the old closed down stage stop. That's probably where they would have gone when they saw the storm coming up."
Lowell and young Jerry were out by the barn, or what was left of it, seeing if any of the horses were still there. But no luck. They had ran off when the strong winds started ripping through the barn and wood planks were flying.
Lowell, now discouraged, in pain, and unable to move his right arm and shoulder, turned quickly when he heard Carrie come in behind them. "Who's there?"
"Father, it's me, Carrie. I just wanted to see where you and Jerry were. Miss Russell is trying to find something she can try and make us all something to eat and she says maybe we should try to look for the nearest town."
"Oh, she did, did she?" He quickly spit out sarcastically.
"Yes, Father. She says we can't stay here. We need to find some place to get help."
"That blasted woman is why we're in this mess!"
"Father! How can you blame her?"
"Well, Carrie, it is she those men wanted off that stage."
Carrie, very upset, turned in anger. "How could you? UGH!" Fleeing the barn, not wanting to look at him any longer.
"Young Lady. Don't you turn your back to me and walk away. I'm your father."
But she continued on.
As she reached what was left of the cabin, she found Kitty attempting to make a fire in the hearth.
"Oh. There you are. Well, I found what could pass for beans and some canned meat so I'll see what we can do with that. And if we can get some water from that well outside, there's coffee." As Kitty looked up, she could see Carrie was upset. "Carrie Honey? What is it?"
Shaking her head, "Nothing."
"Oh, Honey. I've seen that look plenty of times." Then patting a spot she had cleared off to sit, "Come here. Sit right here. I'm a good listener."
Exhaling, Carrie plopped herself down beside Kitty. "Oh, Miss Russell. Sometimes I just wish my mother were still with me."
Now reaching over and placing her hand softly atop Carrie's. "Aw, Honey. I'm sure it won't be too much longer before she gets back with the Marshal from Dodge."
Shaking her head again. "No, Miss Russell. My mother died when I was a very little girl."
"Oh, Carrie. I'm so very sorry. I lost my mother when I was very young as well, so I know how that feels. I thought…"
"Yes, everyone thinks Susan is my mother. Father married Susan so I'd have a mother. Don't get me wrong, she takes good care of me. See, I was only five when Mother died and it was hard for Father. He was a very busy man and trying to care for a little girl alone… well…"
"Oh, I understand." Kitty said, listening carefully.
"Well, when Father was traveling to St. Louis on a business trip he met Susan. She was working at a very fancy hotel. Father said it was a beautiful hotel called, ummm… Oh! The Royal Hotel. Ummm, I think he said it was a special hotel for ladies. One of his business partners introduced them and Father married her and brought her to live with us. He didn't want her to have to work anymore."
Kitty sat with a surprised look on her face just taking in every word Carrie was saying. But in her mind repeating:
"THE ROYAL HOTEL" A very fancy hotel. A very special hotel for ladies. Ummmm… Well now!
Having been to St. Louis regularly, Kitty was very familiar with The Royal Hotel and the special ladies it is for. Kitty, biting her bottom lip, fought back the urge to laugh, thinking back to years ago when both Susan and her mother openly, in the streets of Dodge, would mock and belittle Kitty for being a whore, harlot, tramp, nothing but saloon trash and forever look down their noses at her as they walked down the streets of Dodge.
After eating what little food they found, Lowell looked to Kitty. "Carrie tells me you wish to walk out of here."
"Look, Mister Lowell, we can sit here hoping for someone to come along, where we have no more food or water, or we can walk as best we can and try to find civilization and get help. All we have to do is stay on the main road. That way, when Susan and Matt come back we'll see them."
He was now favoring his shoulder. "It was you who put us in this mess. It was you, those outlaws wanted."
"Look," she began as she reached over to check his bandages. "I'm sorry! I don't know any of those men or what they wanted." Pushing his hands away. "Oh, here let me have a look at that." Swatting his hand away again. "You have this all pulled apart. I told you to stop pulling on it. Carrie, can you get me some clean water from the pail over there? Please?"
"You know my wife? I mean when she was in Dodge?"
"Well, yes. But that was many years ago. We were just kids."
"And this Dillon?"
"Yeah, Matt. He's the Marshal."
"What was he to my Susan?"
Kitty furrowed her brow. "What?"
"I said, what was he to my Susan?"
"Nothing! I told you, he was and is the Marshal."
"You mean they weren't a couple? Nothing like that?"
"NO! Why would you think…" Kitty's jaw was tightening quick. "Mister Lowell, if you felt that there was something between Susan and Matt, why were you coming to Dodge?"
Lowell didn't answer.
Kitty finished fixing a new bandage.
Lowell huffed at her, walking away. As he walked out by the well, he noticed a man stumbling as he came closer. He realized it was the third man of Sheppard's crew. He had been hurt in the storm.
Kitty rushed to see who it was. Now seeing it was him but seeing he was no longer a threat, she wrapped him up, fed him and while she was getting Carrie and Jerry ready to start walking towards the road, she happened to overhear Lowell speaking to the injured man. His words were deep and husky. He spoke low in tone but it was still loud enough for Kitty to catch. Quickly, her eyes widened, brows arched. "I'll be damned!"
TBC
