The Wilson Cabin – the Next Morning

Matt was on a cot staring at the ceiling when the sun rose. Sleep had been elusive. The sweltering heat and restraints that prevented him from moving freely made sleep difficult, but the biggest reason for his wakefulness was the person who filled his thoughts. His worry for Kitty made him feel like a caged tiger. As he felt his jaw clench and muscles strain futilely against the ropes that bound him, he tried to assure himself that Gideon and Dexter had to have failed in their attempt to kidnap her. She was a strong and resourceful woman, and Sam, Festus and others would do anything to keep her safe. The more he thought about it, the more he convinced himself that Festus already had the two Wilson brothers locked up in cells.

He was taking a deep breath to calm his nerves when he heard the front door open and looked towards the sound. Gideon entered, grimy with sweat and trail dust. Dexter followed carrying Kitty's limp and unconscious form in his arms. She wore nothing but a nightgown – her head lolled back, her face a deadly white and her bare legs dangling down.

Shocked by Kitty's condition Matt frantically pulled at the ropes that held him, "What did you do to her?"

Beau ignored Matt, strode angrily across the room and glared at Dexter and Gideon, "What took you so long?" He nodded towards Kitty, "And she'd better not be dead."

Gideon put a hand up, "Take it easy Beau, she's alive but sickly. We found her in a doctor's office. It seems he operated on her not long ago and she hasn't mended yet. She can't even walk on her own. That's not our fault, we had to take her the was she was. We were slow coming back because we didn't want to bump her around too much. Even so she started moaning and groaning and then went unconscious. She's alive though."

Beau pointed to a bed, "All right, put her down there and try not to jostle her more." His initial anger abated a little, "Seems like you two did all right under the circumstances. Go get cleaned up and get something to eat." He looked at Matt, "I'm going to untie you for a time. I want you to talk to your lady so I can see that she can wake up. Be sure you don't do anything I don't like or you're both dead, her first so you have to watch."

As Beau untied the ropes, Matt looked at Kitty with a lump in his throat. His heart ached at how pale and fragile she looked. The second he was free he rushed to her side and gently stroked her cheek, "Kitty, Kitty can you wake up?"

Her eyes fluttered open. When she saw Matt she was totally confused, "Matt you're here. How? Where are we?"

Matt took her hand, "Beau Wilson led Mike and me into a trip. I'm so, so sorry Kitty they brought you here because of me."

Kitty whispered, "Is Mike here too?"

Matt swallowed hard. Kitty cared about Mike as much as he did. They'd shared a lot of good times, meals, laughs and lively talks with the spirited Irishmen. They'd also had the privilege of being taken into another world, when Mike sang his beloved Irish folk songs in his lilting tenor voice. Matt looked into Kitty's questioning eyes and knew he had to tell her, "I'm sorry to have to say this Kitty. Mike is dead, they killed him."

Tears welled up in her eyes, "Oh no. Dear, sweet, wonderful Mike. Mike who was always so bursting with life."

Kitty squeezed Matt's hand and for a brief moment they were lost in their memories of their friend. Matt pushed a stray hair off of Kitty's wan face and set his grief for Mike aside. He had to focus on the woman lying ill before him. "Kitty, Gideon said Doc operated on you. Why? What happened? Did someone hurt you?"

She met his eyes, "No Matt, it was nothing like that. Doc found something when he examined me and had to operate. It was nothing that anyone did. It's not anything to worry about. I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine."

It was obvious to Matt that she wasn't perfectly fine and he was about to ask another question when Beau shoved a cup of water into his hands, "Here, give her a drink. We can't have her perish from the heat now, can we?"

Matt glared at Beau but took the cup. He put his hand behind Kitty's head and gently lifted it as he put the cup to her lips. She drank the water and Matt set her head back down on the pillow. He grasped her hand again and she gave him the most reassuring smile she could manage before falling into an exhausted sleep.

Dodge City – The Same Morning

Festus woke up hungry. He quickly decided that he needed someone to have breakfast with, most particularly someone who could be talked into footing the bill. Figuring Doc to be a likely candidate he climbed the stairs to the office and knocked.

Doc's head was drooping. He'd dozed off gagged and tied, but woke at the sound of the knock and immediately started rocking his chair back and forth to make noise.

Festus heard the sound and was puzzled, "Doc? What ya doin? I jus hear a tap tappin."

Doc starting rocking even more vigorously to make chair legs hit the floor with more force.

"Doc, I hear a tappin an a bangin, are ya fixin something? I could help ya, then once what you're fixin is fixed we could go git us some breakfast."

Festus heard more banging. "Doc, ya want help or don't ya?" Still getting no answer as the banging continued, Festus shook his head, "All right Doc, if ya don't want no help, I'll just mosey along."

He was half way down the stairs when his stomach rumbled loudly. He paused very briefly, hurried back up the stairs and yelled, "Doc, I'm a comin in ta help ya. It's the right thing ta do."

Festus the door open. His jaw dropped and he froze for a second in disbelief at the sight of Doc gagged and tied to a chair. Then he rushed over, quickly untied the gag and cut the ropes. "Golly Bill, what happened?"

Doc spoke rapidly as Festus tugged the ropes away, "Festus, they took Kitty. We have to find her, she's in no condition to be moved."

"Who, Doc and where'd they take er?"

"I don't know. Two men I've never seen before. Listen, let's go over to the stable and speak to Moss, they may have stopped there to have their horses looked after."

Inside Moss Grimmick's stable Doc explained what happened and described the two men. Moss crossed his arm in front of him and shook his head in bewilderment, "They stopped here all right, but they seemed nice, real nice. It's hard to believe they'd kidnap Miss Kitty."

Festus piped up, "Well they did Moss, an they had Doc here all tied up an gagged an wot not. Did they say their names or where they was headin?"

Moss shook his head. "Nope."

"Well how was they travelin? I mean the kind a horses an such."

"I can tell you that Festus. They came in driving a one horse wagon pulled by a big roan." Moss frowned, "Now that I think of it, it looked a lot like Jack Smythe's horse. Anyway they had two saddle horses tied behind. Both medium size – a bay and a pinto."

Festus nodded, "Thank ya, that gives me a good notion a the kind a tracks I'll be lookin fur. I'll be followin them directly."

Doc gave Festus a no nonsense look, "You're not going without me. Kitty will need medical care when we find her."

"All right Doc git ya buggy an what all you'll need. I'll grab us some rifles an we'll git movin.

TBC