THE SHOOTING: FLAME SERIES #19
CHAPTER 9
Uninvited Visitors
Strom ran the thin leather reins through his fingers as he kept watch on the small boy that had disappeared into the barn. He had sent Flynt ahead to keep an eye on the Lady K.
"Did you find out how many men are working the ranch?"
Flynt stepped closer to the boss. "That old drunk said most of the men are gone on a round up and the foreman took off looking for the marshal."
Before he could stop it, Duns irritating snort pierced the air halting Flynt's words. "Fat chance of that! He's worm food by now." Even Duns wasn't so dense that he didn't catch the sarcastic look leveled at him from the boss. He mumbled a quick sorry and slunk into the background.
"I been watching for a couple of hours. Nobody home but the women and that kid. " Flynt continued to report his findings. "I figure if we blindside him as soon as he gets home then we can …" There was an ugly pause as all four men knew what fate held for the women. "Rumor in town says you'll be coming after your brother's killer so he's gonna be lookin out for us. How do you want to do this?"
Strom pulled himself erect with a deep breath. He took his gaze from the barn and let it drift from man to man. "No sense making it hard on the young deputy. Let's go on down to the house so's we can be there to welcome him home."
Keever Keever Keever
Max saw the man on the mule coming back. Quickly, he ran into the house to fetch his wife. "Maybe he's just heading home. Let me talk to him and he'll go away." She gave his hand a squeeze as she walked out to meet the traveler.
"You waz right ma'am the water was cold and real palotsome." He cautiously eyed the quiet man still lingering in the background. "I jist needen to check one more time to make sure my friend hadn't come wandering by this way."
"Sorry mister." Corabeth turned back toward the house when she heard the man mutter to himself. She whirled around so fast it startled Festus and brought the anxious man out of the doorway. "What did you say?"
"I waz just plabbering to meself."
"I heard you say, Miss Kitty. Who is that?"
"That'd be his missus. She was frettin somethin fierce when ole Buck cum home without him."
A smile emerged on her face that lit a fire in her eyes. Corabeth was about to tell Festus the truth when Max came barreling toward them.
Festus watched the man's fingers point and turn into one shape after another. "What's he a sayin? He's pointin at me!" The hill man brought his angry eyes back to the woman. She signed something to the man that had an instantly calming effect.
Corabeth lowered her lids and pinched her lips together to keep from laughing. She was trying to find a polite way to interpret. "He thought you might be the one that shot the man."
Festus pursed his lips, his eyes narrowed as the glanced back at the silent man. "Zat all? Them fingers was sure flying for no more words 'n that. Why'd he think I waz a back shooter anyways?"
"Well…you look kind of…seedy." She offered him a sweet smile as a way of amends. "Max was just watching out for your friend."
"What'd you say to quiet him down like that?"
"I just told him you knew the marshal's wife and how worried she was about her husband. He must have called out her name a hunerd times while he was still sick with fever. When he did finally wake up, she was the first person he asked for."
"Yep, that'd be Matthew! Thinkin on her comes as natural as breathing to him. They is two halves of a whole. Kin I see him? Is he okay?"
Corabeth motioned for him to follow her inside. Festus rushed past her as soon as he seen Matt on the bed. He knelt down beside the sleeping man. "Is he all right?"
"The wound is healing but he only comes to for a short period of time and he's pretty weak. Usually, I just try to get food down him while he's awake. But his fever is gone and like I said the wound is healing."
Seedy! Festus groused under his breath. Another look at Matt sleeping peacefully caused him to rethink his anger. Whal I guess three days on the road did leave me a might dusty. "You sure took good care of him. I thank ya." The frown was disappearing under a grateful smile as he offered his hand. "Thank ya Max."
The large hand that embraced his, though horribly scarred, was reminiscent in size and feel of the marshal. Festus looked past the disfigured face into the compassionate brown eyes. "How would I be saying thank you?"
Max brought the tips of his fingers to his lips and then brought his hand palm down toward the hill man. Beneath the whiskered face a smile erupted as Festus signed his first word.
Lady K Lady K Lady K
"Momma?" Cooper called quietly to his mother from the doorway.
Calleigh was still in her mother's embrace when they heard the young voice. Whatever hurts or fears the two had been consoling each other about vanished when they turned around to find the little boy in the clutches of Strom Medix. The dark haired man had one arm braced against the boy's throat and the other holding a revolver against his head.
Kitty reached out jerking Calleigh back at the sound of the hammer dropping the metal tab into position. A smile broke out on the strangers face. "Now, ladies. Let's all just stay calm." He glanced down at the curly headed boy. "We don't want this youngin to get hurt do we? Which one is your mother, son?"
Cooper's eyes darted from one set of blue to the other. He wasn't going to help this man hurt his mother or his sister. Strom caught the look between the three and gave the boy a quick jerk. "I don't cotton to beatin on kids but you gotta learn to answer!"
"I'm his mother." Kitty stiffened as she shook loose of her daughters hand and took a step forward. "You don't need to hurt him. What is it you want?" Her attention was split between her son and a second man coming through the door.
Strom wasn't ignoring her question he just wasn't ready to answer it. "They ready?" Even though his words were meant for his partner, his interest remained on the ladies. .
"Yeah. We put the horses in the barn so he wouldn't see em." Wilkey was smart enough to stay focused on his boss's questions but he couldn't keep his eyes off the young redhead. Flynt had said they were lookers and, he sure was right about that.
Kitty maintained a stone face but the younger man's words brought her thoughts back to Matt. Is that who they were waiting for? For a brief moment, she tried to grab on to the hope that it was Matt and that he was okay. But it was too elusive for her to hang on to. "What is it you want?" Kitty maintained a firm tone without being aggressive. Years of dealing with Strom's kind told her not to challenge him.
"Why don't we go on in the kitchen and talk about it. Maybe you could make some coffee for me and my boys." The boss flashed a smile that could just as easily belonged to a decent man. Nice smooth features lay on a pallet of tan skin. Brown hair with just enough untamed curls to have attracted the inquisitive hands of many young female admirers. The only feature that dared to expose his true identity was his eyes. It wasn't the color, but the streak of cruelty that reflected from the dark gray centers. He gave the boy a shove to get the women moving.
"Leave him alone!" Calleigh tried to keep silent but her frustration level was rising faster than her self control. Without a gun – she was helpless. Not an emotion that played well with the hot headed young woman. Her tone softened slightly when she added, "He's just a little boy. We'll do what you ask."
Strom stood silent for a moment while dangerous eyes perused his female captives. "What's he to you?"
Calleigh swallowed and struggled to keep control of her anger. "He's my little brother."
Surprise was evident by the sudden widening of his gray eyes as they settled on Kitty. "She's your daughter? Lady you've held up real nice. I would never have guessed that." This time when he gave Cooper a push, it was with a gentler hand. "Come on. Let's get that coffee."
Kitty exchanged a cautious look with her daughter before leading the way back to the kitchen. She could see the wheels turning in the young redheads mind. Scrambling for an idea, a way to get to one of those guns Matt kept in his closet. Their eyes met and Kitty's warning was clear. It wasn't just their lives at stake but Cooper's as well. Calleigh let her lids drop slowly, in an effort to relive her mother's fears.
Strom pulled two of the oak chairs together at the head of the table and nodded for the boy to sit down. With a smile that clearly said he was toying with her frustration, he motioned for Calleigh to take a seat at the other end, far away from the boy. Wilkey quickly pulled a chair up next to her.
"How old are you boy?"
Cooper looked at his mother as if for permission to speak. "Six" He replied quietly.
"Hmmm." Strom took a closer. "Six. Kinda big for your age aren't you. I heard the great Marshal Dillon was a giant of a man you must take after him." The mention of the marshal's name induced a rapid exchange of wary looks between the three hostages. It was the reaction Strom expected but he chose to move on to a more interesting subject. Trolling for more answers he threw out a simple statement. "I had a little brother but he was killed."
It didn't elicit the response he was expecting. The boy's gaze instantly fell to the floor as though he dared not look at either of the two women. Strom wasn't sure but he thought he detected the slightest hesitation in the woman's actions as she walked to the stove. The only one that surprised him was the young redhead. Without missing a beat, her cool blue eyes continued to meet his, anger intact.
"The coffee should be done in a few minutes." Kitty returned to her spot by the sink and leaned back against the cabinet. "I'm sorry for your loss but I don't understand what does that have to do with my family?"
Strom uttered an annoying sigh and offered up a disappointing scowl. "Really, Mrs.-" In a sudden pause his expression changed, "Mrs. Dillon sounds too formal and I think you and I are going to become really close friends. What is your first name?"
Cooper was not old enough to understand the subtle innuendos of the man's comment but he knew it meant something bad for his mother. This was all happening because Calleigh shot that man's brother to save hers. It broke Kitty's heart to see that look; the same one Matt wore whenever she was in danger. Always assuming it was somehow his fault.
"Kitty." She replied softy. The gentle smile that touched her lips was directed at her son.
"Kitty. Unusual name. I like it." Strom held his words for a moment as he watched her approach the table with a steaming cup of coffee. Once again he pulled the boy closer laying the barrel of his gun against his head. "That looks really hot. Be careful, we wouldn't want someone to get burned now would we."
Heeding his advice, she carefully placed the cup in front of him and repeated the same for Wilkey. She could see by the way he looked at her daughter that he too had plans for later. A brief glance at Calleigh was all she needed to see the rage brewing barely below the surface. Under any other circumstances she would have felt sorry for the young man just knowing what would happen to him if Calleigh got that gun away from him. For now, they would both have to be patient.
Sam Keever Sam Keever
Matt had been excited to see his friend and managed to stay awake longer than usual. His first concern was Kitty because he knew she must be heartsick. Especially after Festus told him about Buck coming back alone. The hill man reminded him that she was a strong woman and she would hold the family together until he got back. Waiting wasn't an option that the marshal would consider. Matt was insistent that they start for home in the morning.
Corabeth was just about to set a tray in his lap when she heard his travel plans. "You're not leavin that bed mister!"
His intent was to state his case but she had Matt at a powerful disadvantage as the aroma of the hearty antelope stew teased his growling stomach. When she pulled the giant roll apart and spread the butter and honey across the golden brown surface his mouth began to water so hard he couldn't speak. "But Corabeth, Kitty will be…"
"Hush! You're not going and that's the end of it. Kitty would not want you getting up before you're fit."
Matt looked across the room at the two men seated at the table hoping one of them would help. Max smiled and shook his head no. Festus quickly tried to swallow the oversized bite he had shoved in his mouth. "I aint a fightin her Matthew." He caught the wink the old woman threw his way. "I'm a thinkin she cud whip us both. You best jist lay there and eat those vittles."
"I'll eat but I'm going home in the morning!" His words were forceful but he made sure to mumble them under his breath. In the meantime he figured he did need to eat to keep his strength up.
Festus volunteered to help with the kitchen chores after supper. Matt had drifted back to sleep and Max disappeared into the barn to check on his pregnant nanny goat. Corabeth had put on a fresh pot of coffee and it was just coming to a boil when she put away the last of the dishes.
She poured two cups and handed one to Festus. "Why don't we set outside to enjoy some of this fine weather?" Corabeth saw him cast a fretful glance at the marshal. "He'll be fine. I doubt that he'll wake up but if he does we can hear him." She gave his forearm a slight tug. "Come on."
They settled onto the bench that Max had made for one of their previous anniversaries. "You must be a very good friend to the marshal to come all this way and worry about him the way you do."
Festus was fearful of the steam as he took the first sip. He smacked his lips in approval. "Hot but mighty good. Yes'm we's been friends for…" He leaned back against the worn back board and shook his head. "…too long to count I reckin. Matthew is one the finest men I've ever met." The night air had cooled the coffee leaving it a tad safer to drink. He took a healthy swallow. "Ya know Dodge aint all that fur from here. I figure he musta stopped to rest ole Buck when they whey laid him." Festus looked around the little homestead. The way it was tucked back into the woods made it seem a far piece off of civilization but actually it was only a few miles to the main road from Hays. "This surely is a right peaceful plot of land. Raising goats profitable is it?"
Corabeth laughed as she stretched her long legs out in front of her crossing one thin ankle over the other. "Have you ever seen a room full of three year olds? Well that's what it's like raising goats. If it can be jumped over, pushed in, chewed, eaten or climbed – they will do it. Guess that's why they call them kids. "
Festus enjoyed the comfortable way she had of talking. "Do you and the mister have any youngins?"
She drew in her long legs and rose to her feet. "Can I get you a refill on that?" He handed her the clay mug and she disappeared into the house. Her smile was still in place but something painful had awakened in those tired eyes. Festus was in the process of silently berating himself when she returned with the coffee.
"I'm real sorrowful if I sed…"
The wrinkled hand that popped up to silence him was marred with tiny scars and calluses that bore witness to a lifetime of hard work. "We had a son…" She began slowly as she settled back into a comfortable position. "Neither you nor the marshal have asked about Max's face." Grateful eyes cast a glance to the quiet hill man. "Sam was a big boy like his dad. Brown curly hair blue eyes like mine. He would be just about the same age as your marshal."
Their eyes met and Festus knew it was all right to ask. "Yur husband sees yur boy in Matthew don't he?"
Corabeth nodded as she reached over giving his hand a squeeze. "He does." A heavy sigh was released as if to draw strength to tell the tale. "It was winter and Max had dropped Sam off at school. They got into a fight because Sam had it in his head that at ten years old he had learned all he needed. The only thing he wanted to do was be a farmer like his dad." A smile crossed her lips with the memory of the stubborn boy. "Max was on his way into town for supplies and didn't have time to argue so he ordered him off the wagon."
"Ma'am you don't need to tell this. It puts a hurt on yur heart I kin tell."
"You are a very kind man Festus Haggen but the truth is, I need to tell it." The old woman wiped the tear from her cheek. "That was Miss Orville's first teaching job. She weren't much older than the kids she was teaching. Anyways, it was terrible cold that day and the fire wasn't burning fast enough and…she poured some coal oil on it to make it burn hotter. Sam hadn't much more than cleared the door when Max heard the explosion. Course he went running back but the place was an inferno."
The muffled bleating of the goats broke the silence that Corabeth had let settle over them while she steadied herself for the rest of the story. It was several minutes before she could continue. "Sam and Miss Orville were the closest to the stove and were killed instantly." Her eyes were drawn toward the barn. "Max went back in that school five times and rescued nine children. He was burned but not that bad, if he had just stopped then. But the thought of leaving Sam in there was more than he could handle. The school was caving in and Max was caught under a rafter. By then half the town had showed up and managed to pull him out."
"Is that why he don't speak?"
"Yeah, I never did understand all the doctoring terms but something got broke and he can't speak. Not that it mattered because neither of us had much to say for a long time. The people of Cutlers Crossing treated him like a hero but he sure didn't feel like one. The one child he couldn't save was his own. So, we packed up and moved out here to hide in the woods." When she paused to take a drink of her coffee she realized it had gotten cold. "Guess I been talking too long."
Festus quickly jumped to his feet and snatched the cup from her hand. "You jist sit still. I know how to pour coffee too. Be rite back." It wasn't unusual for Festus to be helpful, especially to a lady, but there was another reason he was being so helpful. The heartbreak that claimed that woman's body and soul was just about to bring him to tears. He needed a moment alone to get himself under control. He refilled the cups and headed back outside.
Corabeth took the cup with a nod of thanks. "That's the first time I ever told that story. Max don't like to go around people cause they can be pretty cruel." Her eyes gravitated to the sleeping man in the house. "He was just so drawn to that man in there. I'm glad to hear your marshal is a good man. You know, he hasn't been awake enough to tell us much about himself. Does he have children?"
"Yes'm he does. Two girls and a boy." Festus spoke with such pride one would have thought they were his children. He went on to describe Matt Dillon's life as best he could. When he attempted to explain the relationship between Matt and Kitty, he realized it just wasn't something that could be defined with words. "I'm going to have to go back home and let her know he's okay. Them two is…well I just don't know that one would survive without t'other."
"He's not going to be able to ride for a while longer but he could travel in a wagon if you saw fit to bring one back." Corabeth offered a wink and a smile with her suggestion.
It was a good thing they had finished making plans because a very excited white haired man came running out of the barn. Festus didn't need to understand sign language to know that the babies were about to be born.
