The Long Road Home 8

I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.

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Matt crept thru the woods very cautiously, ever mindful that he was in enemy territory. He found the horses, but as Kitty had said, there were several men around and he saw no way to get to them without being caught. Turning he went back the way he came. Once he reached Kitty, he helped her to her feet.

"You were right," he told her as he took her by the hand, "too many men. Let's go."

Just as they started off Matt heard Jarvis groan. Taking his gun out, he walked over to the man, hitting him on the head again. Though he didn't say anything, the look on his face told Kitty all she needed to know, about how he felt about Jarvis and what he had tried to do.

Matt led Kitty thru the woods and back to where he had tied the horse. It wasn't much, but it would have to do. Matt mounted then reached down and helped Kitty up behind him. Turning the horse, he road slowly away from the camp. Once he was sure they were far enough away, he spurred the horse into a gallop, leaving the camp and its men behind.

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Matt and Kitty rode as fast as they dared, considering the terrain and the condition of the horse. They still had a little light left, and as far as he knew, the cutthroats they had left behind weren't aware of their captives escape. But Matt didn't want to take chances. He kept the horse at a gallop, till he could feel it beginning to falter.

When they finally reined in, Kitty was about ready to fall from the horse. Her headache had returned and it was making her lightheaded. Matt felt her distress as she laid her head on his back. Jumping down he turned, catching her as she slid from the saddle into his arms. "Kitty? You alright?" he asked.

Kitty nodded, but he knew better. Matt looked around at where they were, and picked out a spot close by. Carrying her over, he sat her down on the ground, placing his hat under her head for a temporary pillow. Crossing back over to the horse, he pulled the bedroll off and brought it back to cover her with it.

"Kitty, you're about done in. You need to rest."

"Matt, we can't. Those men….they'll be coming after us."

Matt had grabbed the canteen and held it to her lips as she took a drink. "Kitty, by the time they figure out you're gone, we'll be on our way again. In the meantime you need to rest, at least for a couple of hours."

Kitty was too tired to argue. Along with the headache she was now sick at her stomach. "Alright," she agreed, "but only for a couple of hours, Matt."

"Good girl," Matt told her. "Now you just lay back and sleep. In a little while we'll get out of here."

Kitty nodded as she closed her eyes and let sleep take her.

Matt went back over and took care of the horse, but left it saddled only loosening the cinch a little.

Despite his assurances to Kitty, he wasn't absolutely sure they were safe. Jarvis had told his men not to disturb him and as they had left him tied up, he thought they could be sure of at least a few hours head start, but he wasn't sure that would be enough.

Once Matt had finished with the horse, he went back to Kitty's side and stretched out beside her. Gently he pulled her up just enough to place her in his arms, where he held her while she slept.

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Matt gently shook Kitty awake a couple of hours later. She needed the rest, and the peaceful look on her face made him wish he didn't have to, but he was afraid for them to stay in one place for two long.

"Kitty, Kitty," he shook her arm. "Honey, wake up. We need to get going."

Kitty opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Matt? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," he reassured her. "But we need to get going. I want to put as much distance between us and those men as we can."

"Me too," she said and shivered. Fall in this part of the country was cold but she knew it wasn't the weather that chilled her. The thought of Clay Jarvis and his men did that all by themselves. Matt took her hand and helped her to her feet as she looked around. "Where are we, Matt?" she asked.

Matt glanced around at the surrounding area. "Well, I'm not sure, Kitty. I figure maybe 20 miles from where the coach wrecked."

"That far?" she said wonderingly. "Why would someone go that far to rob a stage?"

"Well I'm not certain, of course, but I've heard of a few gangs that stake out a large territory and raid anything that comes into it." He could feel her shivering beside him and wrapped his arm around her pulling her close. "Don't worry." He told her. "Whoever they are, we're away from them, and if we get going we'll stay away from them."

She nodded and hugged him a little tighter as they approached the horse. Once he had the cinch tightened again, he mounted and pulled her up behind him. Spurring the horse, he turned and headed south. At least he thought he was heading south.

TBC