Flame Series #11: Rodeo Queen

Chapter 10

The Rescue

Festus pushed his beloved mule, as fast and hard as the animal would gob toward the Gentry farm. He knew that Doc was checking up on Rowl Gentry, after removing his appendix the previous week. The farmhouse was in sight now and he gave Ruth a kick, all the while apologizing to the ol' boy for his roughness.

Doc was walking out onto the porch with Rowl's wife, just as Festus threw Ruth's reins over the post. "Jenny, just make sure he takes it easy, for another week at least. No heavy lifting-"

"Doc." Festus fidgeted at the edge of wooden steps.

"In a minute… Don't give him any more of that pain medicine, except at night."

"Doc." The scruffy man smiled at Jenny Gentry, but his attention stayed right on the old man.

"WHAT! Jenny you'll have to excuse him. He was obviously raised by a pack of wolves with no manners!" Jenny laughed and disappeared back into the house.

"What in tarnation are you doing out here!?"

Festus pulled on Doc's sleeve, trying to drag him closer. The gentle act simply irritated the gray-haired man more, causing him to jerk away with annoyance. "You'd better tell me what-"

"Somethin's done happened to Matthew and Miss Kitty, Doc." The words were few, but powerful enough to bring with them a paralyzing silence "M'Lady come a trottin' back home riderless jist a little while ago."

Doc's previous irritation had lost all its steam and was replaced with fear. "No sign of either of them?"

"No; but Doc…that ain't all. Thar's blood on Miz Kitty's saddle." Festus stepped wearily down from the porch and walked beside the older man toward the mule. "I wuz hopin you'd cum with me to look for em. They might be a needin' you, doncha see? Calleigh's got the little 'uns and I don't want to fret her none—least 'til we gots more answers than questions."

"Yeah." Doc swiped nervously at his mustache, then spoke more to himself, than to Festus. "All the women are excited about the barn dance tonight, so Calleigh might not notice that we're gone. Guess I'd better take the buggy home; since it won't make it over that rough terrain, at least not quickly enough. I'll meet you at the bunkhouse, Festus."

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"Kitty, do you want to stop for a while?" Matt had gotten her to eat what food was left to them, which wasn't much. He was angry and worried about the condition she was in, but not at her. He knew he would have done the exact same thing, had their roles been reversed. "It's starting to get dark. Maybe we should stop for the night."

"No! I want to get you home." Matt Dillon recognized that stubborn tone in his wife's voice and could hear her digging in her little heels. However, this time, he was going to take the tiger by the tail, since the Dillon blood carried an equal dose of that pigheaded gene.

"Sweetheart, we are going to stop. Now, I'll get up from here and stop you myself, if I have to; but one way or another, we are going to stop for the night!"

With a reluctant sigh, Kitty slowly climbed down from Buck. She was just too exhausted to continue fighting.

"Do you know how much farther it is? Are we close?" Kitty wearily pulled the bedroll from behind the saddle and tossed it to the ground.

"Close enough. We're going to make it home—likely midday tomorrow. Come on now, spread your blanket out and lay down beside me. You need to rest."

Matt watched his little champion spread her blanket out beside the travois. She was so tired; he didn't have the heart to tell her about the dirt brandished across her face. At least she'd be pleased that the black streaks covered those freckles that she hated so much. When Kitty sat down beside him, he brushed the pads of his fingers along her cheek.

"Have I told you today how much I love you?"

Kitty placed her hand over his and turned her face to kiss his palm. "I love you too, but you do realize that we're going to miss the dance tonight?"

"And here you are, all dressed up for it. I'm so sorry baby!" Matt got the response he wanted. It was good to hear Kitty's laugh, even if it was only a shadow of that bawdy outburst she was capable of.

Matt felt it was time he confessed to his wife, his true doubts about their camping trip. "You know, honey, I was really worried about this trip—and I don't mean about something like this happening."

Kitty lay down with her head on Matt's chest and her arm draped protectively across his body. She nodded gently. "You thought it was going to be soooo terrible that I would leave you after the four days were up."

As the air around them was engulfed in silence, Kitty raised her head to see Matt's face. There was just enough moonlight scattered around them to make out his stunned expression. "Really Matt…? After all these years, you think I can't tell what you're thinking?"

"So all of that pretense about the boxes…and sun bonnet…? The mouse-"

"Oh, noooo!" Wide eyes accompanied the outburst. "That part was real! I hate those scary little creatures!"

Matt bit at his lip to keep from smiling. "Well in that case… Good thing I had my gun, huh?"

That tone and condescending quip… That was a prime example of the male superiority that had caused her to play those tricks on him in the first place. Exasperation quickly settled back over her.

"The more outrageous I got, the more frightened you got. Then I saw that look on your face—you were going to try to back out!" She grinned, dirty face and all, as she reached up to kiss his cheek.

"Why, you little…fraud! You let me worry myself half to death that you would leave me." Despite his accusatory inflection, Matt's body had detected the change in her tone, even before his mind had an inkling. Slowly, methodically, her voice was becoming warm, sultry…tantalizing.

"Be honest. The one day and—long night—we did have…" Kitty lowered her head, letting long, thick lashes lazily brush upward, gradually revealing hungry blue eyes. Eyes that made promises that Matt knew her body could keep.

Despite his injured state, Kitty let her hand slide down Matt's muscular frame, caressing the one part that brought them both so much satisfaction. "Have you ever been on a camping trip like this one?" She had resurrected that voice. The one that was as smooth as a fine aged whiskey and twice as intoxicating.

More than anything in the world, Matt Dillon wanted to pull that woman into his arms. He wanted to caress that body, to kiss her senseless. To touch and taste every inch of her body, until she was nothing but a boneless mass of ecstasy. Until she lay, unable to move—or speak—except for the sweet utterances of a sated lover.

But…he could not; and they both knew that… he couldn't. He felt lightheaded again, but this time, not from the attack.

"No" He replied simply. "I can honestly say, I have not."

Between their laughter and exhaustion, neither of them heard the riders coming up the hill. It was Festus' familiar twang that first caught their attention. His relief in finding the wayward pair could be heard echoing all through the surrounding woods. Within moments, Doc had dismounted, grabbed his bag and was running to his patient strapped to the travois. Even in the moonlight, Doc could see a strange look come over the Marshal's face.

"No; no, Doc. I- I'm okay." Matt struggled to elude the old physicians probing. "Really, Doc. You can wait 'til morning."

"Don't be silly. For heaven's sake! We've been looking for you for hours and now you want me to wait 'til-" Doc's examination came to a sudden halt.

Festus had already gone to Kitty, giving her a much needed drink of water. The sudden stillness coming from the Marshal and Doc, caught his attention. "Doc. Is ol' Matthew all right? What's wrong with him, Doc?"

The scruffy man was too caught up in worry over the big man, to notice the chagrined expression on the lady's face, as she hid behind the canteen.

Doc settled back on his heels. He closed up his black bag and with a gaze that fell somewhere between admonishment and amazement studied the two sheepish smiles. He shook his head and rubbed his hand across his upper lip. "Looks like you two weren't quite ready to be rescued, huh? Do you want us to go back down the hill for an a few minutes?"

It was too late to stake a claim on modesty. Matt had tried to stop the older man's examination until he could overcome the effects of Kitty's verbal seduction, but Doc was too quick to rush to his side. "Well, if you're gonna leave…" Matt gave up any attempt to be discreet, "At least make it an hour." As if to confirm his request, Matt shot a mischievous wink at Kitty.

Doc pulled himself to his feet. "Festus, put Kitty up on my horse and lead Buck behind you. We need to get these two back home, where I can properly check them out." As much as he tried to maintain a growl of reprimand, he couldn't keep the smile at bay that said how relieved he was to find them safe.

Before lifting her up, Festus dampened the corner of his kerchief and wiped the dirt from Kitty's face. "There now, yore all purty again." Kitty wrapped her arms around the scruffy little man, whispering her thanks in his ear.

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Once again, Tia and Calleigh had Spin in their midst, dressing her, doing her hair and applying just enough make-up to make her irresistible. The two old friends stood back to admire their creation.

"You look absolutely gorgeous! Wait until this…Billy person sees you." Tia was thrilled with Spin's appearance. "Calleigh, where's Newly and the kids?"

"Downstairs, with Ma Smalley. Wylie is there too."

"I thought your folks were coming back for the dance?" Tia put the finishing touches on the rodeo girl's hair. She stretched back again, the expression on her face beaming with pride.

Calleigh thought about the two of them—alone, with a fire, that ice blue gown—the moonlight. She didn't try to hide the sudden smile, but she didn't explain it either. "Yeah, they probably just lost track of time. Come on girls, we have a dance to go to!"

The young doctor led the way downstairs. She left, Hadley, with Ma Smalley; but Newly had promised Cooper that he could go to the dance, for just a little while.

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By the time they reached the LadyK, Kitty had fallen asleep in Doc's arms. Matt, on the other hand, had become so restless after four days on the travois, he couldn't wait to stand up, if only for a few minutes.

Doc gave his passenger a gentle shake to wake her. "Kitty? Honey, we're home." He helped her lean forward enough for Festus to pull her down, before he dismounted the horse. "I want her to have some more water and something to eat. Something light, before she goes to bed."

"I'm standing right here, Doc." Kitty's sleepy voice did little to back up her claim; and the yawn didn't help at all. "I just want to go to bed."

"You go on. I'll bring something to you as soon as we get Matt up these steps." Doc was torn now on which patient to help first. The decision was soon taken out of his hands.

"Doc, never mind me. Festus can help me. Just make sure that Kitty gets up to bed all right."

Matt waited until he was sure that Doc was able to maneuver Kitty up the stairs, before even attempting his own journey. Together, he and Festus began their trek. The smaller man served as a crutch to the big man on their wobbly trip into the house.

"I don't think I can make it up the rest of those stairs just yet, Festus. Let's sit down for a minute while I catch my breath."

Doc soon appeared at the top of the stairs. "She drank a little more water, but she's fussing at me to come and check you out."

Adams hurried as fast as his old bones would take him down the steps. "So, let's take a look." His first concern was the head wound. "She clean this out?"

"Uh-huh." Matt winced as the doctor probed the gash. "You know, it had stopped hurting...until you got a hold of it!"

"Oh, stop your whining! Hmmm, it looks good. You're not dizzy or anything?"

"Not now; or at least I wasn't," Matt grumped, as he cast Doc a scathing look. The first couple of days were pretty bad, but even the headache is gone now."

"Where did she get satin for a bandage?" Doc looked at what was once an expensive garment. "This looks pricey. What kind of camping trip was this, anyway?"

"Just do your job, Doc. Some things you just don't need to know." Matt winced again when Doc pulled the remains of the Marshal's shirt aside in order to check the bullet wound.

"I'm starting to wonder just how many doctors there are in this family. Kitty did a terrific job, Matt." Adams carefully replaced the bandage, then leaned back to make eye contact with his patient. "And she was probably terrified the whole time."

"She was, Doc; but she never stopped doing whatever had to be done." Matt glanced up toward the bedroom. "I was too out of it the first couple of days, to realize that she was going without food and water. Heck, she even gave Buck water, instead of drinking it herself."

Doc pulled his wire-rimmed glasses from his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't know why I even waste my time worrying about either one of you! Neither one of you has the sense God gave a goose! You just seem to wander through life…"

"Doc, could you please hold the lecture? I need to get upstairs to Kitty."

Matt's impatience was not up to Doc's level just yet, but he was tired and worried about Kitty. Before Doc could snap an answer back, another voice was heard.

"Doc? Is he okay?"

All three men looked up in search of the voice. Perched on the top step, was a tired, bedraggled redhead.

Doc started to sputter, his frustration past the point of explosion. "What in thunder are you doing out of bed! Why are you sitting there?"

"It was taking so long, I thought maybe something was wrong with him. I got kinda dizzy, so I sat down. Now, answer me, Doc—is he all right?"

"Is he…!? You got dizzy… After I told you to..." Doc was fuming. The link between his brain and his mouth had lost connection, leaving him unable to express a complete thought. "You two are just…just… Festus!"

The old man grabbed his hat and shoved it down further over his head than it was ever meant to go.

"You take these two and…well, you just take 'em! I have a dance to call!"

Grabbing his bag and jacket, the old man stomped out the door. Huffing, puffing and mumbling with every step.

TBC