The Cabin

Beau downed a cup of water in one gulp and smiled behind his sleeve as he wiped his mouth. He was pleased and relieved to see Kitty awake and coherent. She was a vital part of his plan, his insurance that the marshal would cooperate. He decided to allow Matt to remain at her as she slept, it was good for her health.

Matt brushed aside the damp stray hairs that clung to Kitty's too pale face. The words she'd said echoed in his head - Doc found something when he examined me and had to operate. He thought about the night they'd spent together, just before he left to meet up with Mike and Beau Wilson.

For months he'd been gone from Dodge more that usual, a lot more. When he was in town he was busy catching up on work, and exhausted from his travels. Neither he nor Kitty were pleased with the situation, but kept reminding themselves it was temporary. That night he'd walked up the steps to her suite to give her good news and bad.

She'd heard his footsteps and opened the door before he knocked, wearing the royal blue dress he like so much. "Come in Cowboy, dinner's almost ready. Let's have a drink before we eat."

She poured them each a brandy. They clinked glasses and took a sip before he sat on the settee and pulled her onto his lap. She snuggled close and they quietly relished each other's warmth and company. After a few minutes he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, "Kitty, when I saw these I thought of you. I could picture you wearing them, and figured you'd make them look kind of nice."

Kitty laughed lightly and lifted the lid. Inside was an exquisite pair of earrings. Delicate silver moons with a single pearl hanging from each. When Matt saw the look on Kitty's face he knew he'd made the right choice.

"Oh Matt, these are so elegant and beautiful. I'll put them right on."

He watched her deftly removed her gold hoop earrings and replace them with her gift. "Kitty, I have good news. The vacant sheriff positions in Eagle Springs, Franklin and Belmont have all been filled so I won't be away from Dodge so much. Helping the deputies in those towns whenever things went bad took me away a lot, too much."

Kitty glowed, "Oh Matt, that makes me so happy and I know you're pleased too. You've been being run ragged hurrying from town to town to put out fires. She stroked his cheek, "You're not finished. What else do you have to say?"

Matt gave her a lopsided grin, "You know me too well. All right, here it is. I know I just said I would be around more, but I have to leave early tomorrow morning for a few days."

Kitty looked into his eyes, "Matt maybe you should send someone else this time. You just got back and I…."

He broke in before she could continue, "Honey, I know how much I've been away, and I will be around more after this but I have a chance to get the Wilsons."

"The Wilsons?" She bit her lower lip, "Matt, you've said no one can figure out where their hide out is. No one can find them."

"Until now. One of them has turned himself in and made a deal with the Attorney General to lead me and Mike McGuire to the hideout in exchange for amnesty."

Kitty stared straight ahead. After a moment she spoke firmly, "Get them Matt, be careful, but get them."

Later that night they'd made love and he'd touched every inch of her body. He'd rubbed his hand across her stomach, and felt a small, unfamiliar swelling. He didn't want her to think he thought she was getting fat, which she wasn't. He also didn't think she could be pregnant, but if she was he wanted to know. He commented as casually as he could, "Kitty, I um - well you seem to be a little - well - swollen. Is there anything I should know?"

She'd smiled, "It's a little embarrassing Matt. I've been having problems with gas. Doc said he'd give me pills." She pulled him over for a long sweet kiss that ended all talk.

Now as he sat by Kitty's side knowing that Doc had found something that needed surgery, Matt decided that on that night he'd done too much talking and not enough listening.

Festus and Doc

Festus quickly found tracks that fit what Moss had described, a wagon being pulled by a heavy horse followed by 2 smaller horses. He got on his mule and with Doc close behind in his buggy, they were on their way.

Before long they found themselves near Jack Smythe's farm. When they got close, Festus saw a body lying in the dirt face up, with insects swarming around, "Doc look it."

Doc quickly climbed from his buggy and was shocked. Smythe had been shot in the face at close range. Festus hurried to Doc's side and felt ill at the sight of the old farmer's mutilated face.

Doc slowly shook his head, "Those men did this to steal Smythe's horse and wagon. Festus, we have to find Kitty fast. I don't know who they are or what they want, but I see what they're capable of."

Festus looked grim, "Doc, this here looks like the kind a thing them Wilsons do. Matthew should a caught em by now, but I'm afeared it's Wilsons that have Miss Kitty, an I'm wonderin where Matthew's at."

The Cabin

Matt gently dabbed away the sweat that streamed down Kitty's face. It was obvious that she shouldn't have been moved.

He looked up and saw Beau eyeing him carefully, "Beau, I've been around the Dodge doctor enough to know that after surgery a patient needs care. If you want Kitty to improve I need some things so I can tend to her."

Beau looked at Kitty and saw she wasn't looking too good.

"Keep talking."

"I have to change her bandages and need clean ones. Someone has to wash a couple of sheets and I mean really scrub them. When they're dry they can be torn into strips. The other thing is nourishment. She can't eat solid food so meat broth is best. It doesn't seem like you raise chickens, so someone has to hunt."

Beau mulled it over and decided quickly. "Dexter and Gideon go out there and shoot a rabbit or something. Skin and clean it and then boil it to make broth."

He grinned at Harlan, "Take two sheets down to the stream and wash them."

Harlan bristled, "Beau, I'm no laundress. Make Uriah do it."

Beau grinned, "He's no laundress either."

"He's the youngest now that Willie's gone."

Beau's grin didn't waver, "Uriah will stay here with me and help guard the prisoners. You go wash sheets, it's something you'll be good at."

Harlan glowered but got two sheets and stormed out.

Beau laughed and looked at Matt, "All right marshal. While we wait for my brothers, I'll explain what you're going to do for us so we don't kill your lady."

Festus and Doc

Festus and Doc buried Smythe in a shallow grave. They'd arrange for a service and marker later. There was no time now, they had to get back on the trail. As the hours passed, every fiber of Doc's being ached for them to go faster, but he refrained from voicing his frustration. At mid-day they came upon a stream. It was almost dry, but a tiny trickle of water was dribbling along. Festus got off his mule.

Doc couldn't contain himself, "Festus, we can't stop."

"Doc, it's hot enuf fur mama chickens ta be layin boiled eggs. We push our animals too hard we gonna kill em. We gotta let em drink."

Doc knew Festus was right, and reluctantly got out of his buggy and led his horse to the stream.

Festus leaned over to fill a canteen and saw some dried blood on the ground. It was where Matt's shoulder had been grazed by Willard's bullet. He pointed to the blood, "Doc, thar was sum kinda trouble here. That's a sign we're headin in the right direction."

TBC