Finding Mary
PT.7
Tessie wanting to help and show just how grown up she was. She climbed up into Kitty's buggy, led the horse out into the clearing and down the path onto the open road. Talking aloud, "I'm 7. I'm gonna show I can do big folk things too. Eh ah, horse. Let's go find us some folks fer help."
Kitty looked around for Eva but couldn't find her anywhere. "Ummmm where can that child be?" She muttered, wondering why Tessie hadn't returned.
With the sun now down, it was too dark for trying to track anyone or anything. But Matt wasn't giving up.
Sam and Newly filled Frank and Frankie in on what had been happening. But they were trying to assure them that Matt was out there with Festus.
"And we'll be there as well." Frank said as they both headed towards the door.
"Wait!" Ellie blurted out. "Where... where are you all going to look? I mean you've been at this for..."
"Doesn't matter, Miss Ellie. My wife is out there." Frankie said, turning and heading towards the door.
"Pa, we're going home now?" Adam asked, standing holding his fish.
"Oh, Adam, son, your Grandpa and me, we have something we have to do first. But I want you boys to stay..."
Quickly, Ellie added, "Here with me and we'll put those fish on ice so they'll keep."
"Thanks, Miss Ellie."
"Be careful. Please?"
Nodding, they left.
Frank and Frankie rode out of Dodge towards Matt and Kitty's place, figuring on following any tracks .
Stopping by the ranch, both Reardon men were surprised to find no one there. "Pa? Miss Kitty should be here. Miss Ellie said she came back here."
"That's right." Now looking around, finding nothing suspicious. "Well, Son, let's see what we can find. Maybe we'll catch up to Matt."
Tessie, rushing to make her way to town, was happy to see riders. She didn't know them but maybe she could still get them to help.
"Well now, little miss, what'cha doing out here all alone?"
Wide-eyed, "I live just back that ways but…"
"But nothing. A little girl like yourself shouldn't be out here all alone."
Tessie was trying to get them to listen. "But I have to..."
"Maybe we'll just see you home."
"But my Granny and my friend need help and I'm going to get it. This here's her buggy."
One of the men rode around the buggy. "Hey! I know this buggy. This belongs to Mrs. Dillon."
"No it don't, Mister. It belongs ta my friend Kitty. She let me and my sister pick flowers by her house and made us hot chocolate and cookies. Then she gived us a ride home. That's when the trouble begun. My brother, he be Addy!"
"Brent, I'm sure this is Mrs. Dillon's buggy. Look here, it has the Dillon ranch symbol on it."
Brent started thinking then looked up over the trees. "Mick! Look! Good Heavens! We'd better go see what that is."
"NO," Tessie yelled. "Mister, that be where I live. My granny, my sister and Miss Ki..." Now the flow of tears rushed on.
Mick rode on going to look for help. Riding hard, he came across Festus. "Ah, Festus. Am I glad to run into you. There's a huge fire just up over the hill in the trees. Me and Brent, we were riding and come upon a little girl. She said she was looking for help."
What kind'a help?"
"Not sure. She was running on about her granny, brother Addy and a friend."
"Well, you go on. Get some help, gather some men. We may need them but mostly they all out looking for Miss Mary."
Mick looked surprised. "Miss Mary? You mean Dillon?"
"Yeah, ya' ninny."
"Festus!"
"What, Mick? Jest go on see who ya can gather. I'll catch up ta Matthew."
Grabbing his reins. "Festus!"
"What'cha standin' here jawin' fer, Mick?"
"Festus, it's just that the little girl was in Miss Kitty's buggy."
Festus stopped, eyes wide. "Miz Kitty's buggy? Well, why didn't ya jest say so?"
"I was trying too."
Rolling his eyes. "Alright now, Mick. Jest go." And Festus rode, heading up over the hill.
Word got out about the fire. Folks from all around gathered to help. All headed out.
Tessie made it to Dodge and as she rode up Front Street, Ellie, Grace and Doc were standing on the boardwalk. Furrowing her brow, hands on her hips, Doc smiled. He couldn't help but think of the image she held, a picture of her mother.
Breaking his thoughts, "Pap?"
"Huh? What?"
"Pap, look. Do you see what I see?"
"Yeah, a little lady in a buggy."
"Yeah, Momma's."
"Huh?" Doc mumbled as he tugged his ear.
"I said MOMMA'S."
"Why by golly, that is Kitty's."
"Pap, something's wrong."
"Now don't jump to..."
Now shooting him a look, also one he had seen before. "Well, let's just find out."
Approaching the buggy. "Well, hello there, Little Lady. Can we help you?"
Tessie was scared and tired. "I hope so. My granny, sister and friend need help. I'm tryin' ta get some. Granny is sick. My friend and the lady doctor are trying to help her but Pa's gone. Him and Edmond were fightin'. Then him and Jeb were fightin'. I told my friend I can get help, even if I am 7."
Still with furrowed brow, "Pap?" Tessie kept staring at Grace. "Pap, why is she staring at me?"
Doc leaned down, "Ok, Honey, we're going to help you. Is there something else wrong? Something..."
Tessie was still looking past Doc right at Grace. Tessie walked closer to her, touched her face tenderly. "You look like her. Pretty."
Now Grace was puzzled. "Look like her? Honey, what's your name?"
"Tessie. Tessie Webb."
"You said I look like her. Who, Tessie?"
Just then, Obie, rushed up Front Street. "Doc! Doc Grace. We need Mr. Dillon and a lot of help. There's a fire. It's the old Witting place. It's burning and spreading!"
"Well, Pap, one good thing."
"What's that, honey?"
The Witting place has been abandoned for oh, 5 years now."
"Nah uh." Tessie said. "That's where I live. And that's where my Granny, Eva and my new friend is. She's real nice. Kitty, she looks just like you."
Grace gasped and swallowed hard, holding her stomach. "PAP?"
TBC
