Captive Hearts 10

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Carolyn looked about her as they walked down to Ma's intently studying each building they passed.

"See something interesting?" Matt asked as he noted her particular interest in the Long Branch.

"That, I believe, was Kitty's business?" she nodded towards the saloon.

"Still is," Matt said glancing over at the busy enterprise. "Or at least 51 percent of it. Even though we hadn't heard from her, Hannah, her partner, refused to do anything other than what she and Kitty agreed upon. All of Kitty's share of the profits is in an acct over at Botkin's bank."

Carolyn nodded. "Kitty spoke often and fondly of Dodge. Though I've never been here before, I am certain I can tell you a great deal about this town of yours simply from what I learned from Kitty."

Matt smiled sadly. "I don't doubt that. She was an important part of this town. People here really loved her. Things kinda dimmed around here when she left."

"People?"

Matt dropped his head and looked away.

"When she spoke of you, Marshal, it was with more than fondness." Carolyn watched his face as she spoke. "She loves you a great deal."

Matt nodded, unwilling to speak for fear of his voice cracking with the emotions now coursing through him.

Carolyn stopped walking and touched Matt's sleeve. "I really do believe it best that she tell you everything, or at least what she's comfortable with. But you should know that life there for her was very difficult. I don't believe Dawson ever knew exactly who she was, I mean in relation to you, but he seemed to take a perverse pleasure in hurting her. From the moment they brought her into that camp, he claimed her, he …."

She took a deep breath and shook her head as though to clear it of the horrible images still firmly etched into her memory.

"I want you to know that Kitty didn't give in easily to that man. Only when he threatened her daughter did she do as he told her. When she was brought to the camp and he found out she was pregnant, I was certain he would harm the child she carried. He didn't care for children. But when he did not harm her, it surprised me, until I realized he knew it would be the only way to control her. She didn't care for herself as much as she did that baby. She was willing to walk through fire for that child. Your child."

Matt looked away, tears stinging his eyes as he thought of what she must've endured.

"The only other person she would have gone through that for was you." She added softly.

Matt stood staring at the ground for some time, willing himself to hide the feelings currently overwhelming his senses. "Let's get you on over to Ma's." He said gruffly when he finally had control of himself.

After depositing Carolyn into Ma's safekeeping, he made his way quickly over to the jail and changed his shirt. Ma had chided him for his blood stained clothes and stated Miss Kitty had enough to worry over without being concerned with him as well.

With a clean shirt and face and his hair neatly combed, Matt swiftly left the jail and headed back to Doc's. Entering the office, he heard raised voices coming from the bedroom. He had an idea of what kind of battle was taking place behind the door. Stepping across the front room, he opened the door just in time to duck a pillow, originally aimed at Doc.

"Glad to see you're awake," He smiled as he picked the pillow up and returned it to the bed.

"Matt, tell him I need to get out of here." She said glaring at Doc. "I've got a daughter to look after and I can't lie around in this bed. I've got things to do."

"Now you listen here, young lady," Doc growled. "Your daughter is just fine over at Ma's and you are not well enough to get up and go traipsing around town. You lost a lot of very valuable blood yesterday and you're too weak to do anything more than lay there and rest."

"Matt," Kitty pleaded.

But Matt put his hands up. "Sorry, Kitty, but I agree with him. Besides right now this is the safest place for you to be and you know it."

Kitty closed her eyes in frustration and looked away. She had to get out of there. If Dawson or Chavez found her here…. She didn't want to think what they would do to anyone sheltering her. "You don't understand." She mumbled.

"Doc, I hate to ask but could you make some coffee?" Matt asked conveying with just one glance his real intentions.

Wearily, Doc nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Matt sat down on the bed beside Kitty and took her hand. "Kitty," he said.

Stubbornly, she refused to look at him.

Reaching over, he tugged at her chin till she finally turned her eyes towards his. "Kitty, I do understand. You're afraid. You're afraid Dawson will show up here to get you. But you don't have to worry. You're safe here. You should know that."

"But …but he…." her chin quivered as she fought to stave off the tears.

"He's dangerous and he's out there somewhere." He finished for her. "I know. And I also know that to get to you, he's going to have to go through me, Doc, Festus and Newly and a whole host of others. And he's not going to get that far."

"No," she said sadly. "That's just the point, Matt. He…he's already…. I don't matter anymore. But I couldn't stand it if he hurt you or Doc or anyone else to get to me. Don't you see?" As hard as she tried, she could no longer contain the tears and she turned her head away again to let them fall.

Just then Matt did see and the pain of that knowledge was staggering. She was willing to be a target for Dawson, if it meant keeping him from the ones she loved. "Kitty Russell, you listen to me." He said sternly. "You are not going to put a bullseye on your back to protect me or Doc or anyone else. Do you hear me? You've been hurt enough this past year and it's time the hurting stopped."

Kitty continued to sob quietly, her head still turned.

"Damn it, Kitty!" Matt fairly exploded. "I love you, woman, and I am never going to let you get hurt again. Do you understand me? Never."

"OH, Matt." Kitty rose and threw herself into Matt's arms, sobbing inconsolably into his chest.

Hugging her as tightly as he dared, Matt gently rocked her. "I'll stop him, Kitty." He promised. "I will stop him."

TBC