Early the Next Morning
Kitty turned over in bed smiling, and tried to remember why she felt so happy and content. Through half closed eyes she spied Matt getting dressed and remembered. Matt was safe, and she'd spent the night in his arms. She watched him run his fingers through his hair and straighten his vest. It would embarrass him to know how much she cherished watching him do those everyday things. She was filled to the brim with love. It was a good time to tell him about the baby.
"Matt."
He smiled at her. "Good morning. It's barely dawn you know. You should go back to sleep." He gently kissed her forehead.
"Do you have to leave so soon? Stay and talk. It's early even for you, isn't it?"
"It is early, but I want to get my rounds done and get an early start in the office. A lot piles up over 10 days. There's also Daniel to question."
Kitty nodded. Matt already looked preoccupied and burdened. It wasn't a good time to talk about their baby after all.
She smiled up at him. "Matt, that gash on your head is looking better. How does it feel?"
"Fine. You always say I have a hard head, I guess this proves it." He kissed her again, "Go back to sleep, I'll see you later."
Matt methodically walked around town checking side streets, alleys, doorways and abandoned buildings. Satisfied that all was well, he went to his office and entered quietly. He put his hat on a peg, and chuckled at the sight of Festus asleep on a cot, muttering about ham hocks and gravy.
He decided that questioning Daniel was his priority, he opened the door to the back. It squeaked loudly. Festus's eyes popped open, "Matthew is that you?"
"FESTUS GET IN HERE"
Festus yanked on his boots and hurried to the back. "Matthew, what's wrong?"
He saw. The cell was empty.
"Matthew, I – I checked on him real late las night. Nary a soul's been here since. I swear it on my Aunt Thebes grave."
Matt frowned. He trusted Festus implicitly. Besides, if anyone crept in and opened the door to the back when Festus was asleep, the squeaky door would have woken him. That's why they never oiled it.
Matt put a comforting hand on his deputy's shoulder, "Festus, did you leave the prisoner alone, for even a minute?"
"No Matthew I been here the whole, entire time. I swear - well now - exceptin for a minute or two ta help Molly. But Molly was in here that whole, entire time. Nothin cudda happened. Besides I checked the prisoner afta Molly left, an he was sleepin like a log."
Matt's ears perked up, "Molly, when?"
"Late las night, she needed help findin an earing that she lost outside a here. Ya see her mamma gave her them earrings on her dying bed, so they was real special. I stepped outside with a lantern an found the earing in the dirt. It didn't take more than 2 or 3 minutes, and Molly was right here in the office. Like I said, I checked on the prisoner afta I cum in from finding the earing."
"Festus, stay here. I'll go have a word with Molly."
"Matthew, I sure am sorry …." Festus hung his head. He hated disappointing Matt more than anything.
"Don't worry about it Festus."
Kitty
Kitty was unable to go back to sleep, but was still in bed when she heard Matt's footsteps coming down the hall. She wondered what was bringing him back so soon. Oddly, his footsteps stopped short of her room. Curious, she threw on a robe and poked her head out the door. To her surprise Matt was about to knock on Molly's door.
She called out in an insistent whisper, "Matt, what are you doing? It's not even 7:00."
Matt looked at her with tinge of regret, "Daniel escaped. Molly was the only person who came to my office last night."
"Oh Matt." Kitty, tied her robe and stepped into the hallway. She looked up at him and crossed her arms in annoyance. "I don't know what Molly was doing there, but I'm sure she had a good reason. She couldn't have anything to do with that man's escape. Matt, she's my friend." Her voice thickened "Daniel attacked her thinking it was me and she didn't tell him different. That's the kind of person she is – the kind of friend she is.
Matt put his hands on Kitty's shoulders, "Kitty, did you know that she and Daniel have the same last name?"
"I – maybe – no - I don't know, but what of it? Lot's of people share last names. There are hundreds of Russells out there that I'm not related to."
"Kitty, I just have to ask her some questions. It's my job."
"Right, your job." She pulled away, shaking her head angrily.
He took her shoulders again, "Kitty, look at me. You trust me don't you? I'm not out to hurt Molly. I just need some answers."
She looked up into his clear blue eyes and let out a breath, "Oh Matt, I trust you more than anything. Can I at least come with you? A US Marshal asking questions can be intimidating. She's my friend, and you'll see she has nothing to hide."
"Sure you can come."
He stroked her cheek lightly before locking his marshal's face back in place. He turned to Molly's door and Kitty stood close, so Molly would see her when she opened the door. Matt knocked lightly. There was no answer. He knocked louder, "Molly, it's Marshall Dillon." He knocked a third time. No response. He knocked louder - nothing.
"She's gone. Kitty, you must have a key. I need to get in there and I'd rather not kick the door down."
Kitty raised an eyebrow, "Well thank you for that. Matt, she's probably just sleeping. A lot happened to her yesterday. She's probably exhausted."
"I have to get in Kitty, one way or another."
"Alright, I'll get the master key. It will just take a second."
Kitty retrieved the key from her jewelry box. She was sure Molly was in her room sleeping soundly, and didn't like the idea of barging in on her, but she knew the lawman in Matt wouldn't back down, and didn't want him kicking the door in.
Kitty stepped in front of Matt with the key. "I'll be the one who opens the door."
He started to protest but the door slowly opened and Molly appeared, sleepily rubbing her eyes. "Good morning, Marshal Dillon." She noticed Kitty standing in front of Matt and surprise crossed her face. "Kitty, I-I've never known you to be an early riser."
"Matt has some questions. I know you haven't done anything wrong, but figured you wouldn't mind having a friend by your side.
Molly nodded, but the warmth and sincerity coming from Kitty's eyes unsettled her.
She pushed the door open, "Come in, but please excuse my appearance."
Matt got to the point. "Molly, the man I brought in, Daniel McLaughlin, escaped."
Shock filled her face. She'd been prepared for that announcement.
"Festus said you visited the office last night. Do you mind telling me why?"
"Of course not, though I'm sure Festus explained. I lost an earring that meant a lot to me. When my mother was on her deathbed she gave me a pair of earrings." Molly swallowed hard and her voice cracked. "It's hard to talk about. Those earrings are all I have left of her." She took a deep breath, "I was pretty sure I lost it in front of your office so I went to look, but it was too dark to see anything. Festus was kind enough to go outside with a lantern and search. He found it within seconds. That, Marshal Dillon was the extent of my visit to your office."
"That's what Festus told me. Mrs. McLaughlin, you said you're a widow. Would mind telling me about your late husband.
"Marshal, I can see that you harbor some ridiculous suspicion of me because of my last name, but as I said before, McLaughlin is a common Irish name. I was married to a man named James Colin McLaughlin. He passed away 5 years ago in Denver, you can check on that."
"Thank you, I will."
He started to leave but Molly put a hand on his arm. "Marshal, I would never do anything to help Daniel McLaughlin. He hit me, shoved me into the mud and threatened my life. Worse yet, he wanted to do it to Kitty."
Matt gave a short nod. "Sorry to disturb you so early in the morning." He left the room. Kitty met Molly's eyes before following Matt out the door.
As soon as they were alone in the hallway, Kitty took Matt's hand and starting pulling him into her room. He resisted, "Kitty, I have to go. I know you're her friend and you're grateful to her, but I have to check out her story about being the widow of that James McLaughlin."
Kitty yanked hard and he found himself in her room with the door shut behind them.
"Kitty, I've got to go check out her story. Surely you understand that."
"She's lying Matt. No need to waste time checking." Kitty's eyes were hard but filled with tears.
He was pulled up short. "How do you know?"
"She told me she was widowed last year, not 5 years ago. As for her mother and those earrings - she told me her mother owns no jewelry except her wedding ring. She hasn't even spoken to her mother in years. She wouldn't know if she was alive or dead. I don't know why Molly didn't keep her stories straight, but she didn't.
Matt took Kitty by the shoulders. "I'm sorry. I know she's been a friend when you needed one."
"I'm sorry too Matt, but I truly believe there is a good person inside of her." Kitty let out a big sigh. "What now?"
"She knows she's given me information that won't check out. I reckon the purpose was to keep me busy and give her time to quietly leave town. Instead I'll wait behind the stable. My guess is she'll pick up a horse and ride to Daniel. I'll follow."
"I'm going with you."
"Kitty, I know you care about Molly but… "
"Don't try and stop me." She raised an eyebrow.
"Kitty, please. You know I don't want to hurt Molly and I'm thinking of you. You're – you're – you – you're not feeling right."
"Says who?"
"You were as white as a sheet when we rode home yesterday, and you're turning pale again now."
Nausea was rising up again, but she wasn't about to give in.
"I'm going." She gave him a hard stare. "Let's get to the stable?"
They held each other's eyes. He knew he couldn't win this one, "Just promise me you won't do anything risky."
"I promise Cowboy."
TBC
