Flame Series #8: Death Train

Chapter 10

The Funeral

"Is Calleigh going to the funeral?" Doc squirmed impatiently while Kitty fussed with his tie. "I could stay with the little ones if she wants to go."

Kitty gave the lapels of his jacket a bit of a tug to stop his fussing. "She is too young to remember the Nethers. I swear, I don't know which you hate more, weddings or funerals."

"Well, they're so much alike!" The older man started to fidget, causing Kitty to smack at his hands. "That grandson, Boyle, is a blowhard. 'Course, what can you expect from a politician!"

"We're going for Sadie Nethers. She and Clint were one of the first couples to settle in Dodge. I think we can put up with an hour of Boyle Nethers, out of respect for them." Kitty finished with the tie and released the grousing old physician with a peck on the cheek. Doc swiped at his mustache in an attempt to hold onto his irritation but as usual, Kitty's kiss melted his crusty heart. Calleigh, Cooper and Hadley were his babies for sure, but Kitty would always be his first surrogate child.

Kitty corralled her children for kisses and last minute instructions, before herding the reluctant old doctor to the buggy.

MDKDMDKDMDKD

Arthur watched Jillian prepare for her coup d'état for the Dillon family. She was ready to strike the final blow and it was wickedly brilliant. Not only would Kitty Dillon be destroyed, but it would be done in a way that would prevent the great Marshal Matt Dillon from ever recovering.

"You know what I need for you to do?" Jillie was in no mood for incompetence. She gave Arthur a hard look, warning him not to mess this one up.

"I know. I'll be watching for you in the alley. You're sure you can handle her?" Arthur regretted his question the moment it left his tongue. For a moment, he was afraid Jillie was going to show him firsthand what she was capable of. He swallowed the fear that had balled up in his throat. "Sor…sorry."

"You just be ready!"

MDKDMDKDMDKD

Kitty pulled the buggy up to the hitching post in front of the Prairie Rose. "We have plenty of time. I thought we could stop in here for a bite of pie and cup of coffee first."

"I like the way you think." Doc was about to take Kitty's arm to escort her inside, when Billy Tandle yelled at him from the far end of Front Street. "What is that boy carrying on about?"

By the time Billy reached Doc, he was out of breath. "Doc…the window…your door…it's broke."

"Broke! Dagnabit, if those kids have been playing ball again-"

"Doc, calm down. You go ahead and check it out. I'm going over to the jail to see if Matt is ready to go. We'll meet you at the graveside." Kitty gave his arm a squeeze, as she watched him walk away with Billy, grumbling and threatening all the way down Front Street.

Kitty started to walk away, when something on the custom-painted window of the restaurant caught her eye. She stepped closer, inspecting the Atlantis lettering on the plate glass, taking special notice of the 'P' in Prairie. She tapped on the window to get Tia's attention and motioned with her index finger to come closer. Tia looked at the letter in question, instantly spotting the problem. She raised her hand in a halting gesture and hurried back to the kitchen. Within seconds she returned with a wet cloth and swiped across the lettering, removing the brown stain. Suddenly, the missing half of the white lettering reappeared. The two women exchanged smiles indicating success and Kitty waved good-bye as she continued to the end of the boardwalk.

She glanced across the street at the jail as she cleared the two steps leading down to the ground. It was no use trying to fight off the smile that swept across her face, as she pictured the fearsome marshal with his nose buried in paperwork-probably grumbling, much like Doc was earlier. Would the time ever come that her heart stopped beating a little faster at the thought of seeing him? She certainly hoped not.

Just as she started to take that first step leading to the office, Kitty heard a sound in the alley. Laying face down in the dirt between the two buildings, was a body. The sorrowful moans indicated pain, but it was also a good sign that there was still life. Kitty grabbed a handful of skirt, jerking the linen material up and out of the way, so that she could run to help. Lacking her husband's suspicious nature, she dropped down beside the injured body.

As Kitty rolled the slender person over, she realized it was a woman. She was stunned, first by the familiar face and then by the derringer pointed at her heart. "You're a smart lady Mrs. Dillon. Now isn't the time to make a stupid move. Let's get up-together-real slow." The two women rose to their feet, each eyeing the other with careful deliberation. Jillian's amber eyes held no trace of mercy or compassion. "Just head on down to the end of the alley. Quietly."

MDKDMDKDMDKD

"See Doc?" The young boy pointed to the broken section of windowpane. "It looks like they broke it so that they could reach in and grab the handle."

Doc swiped at his mustache and cast an impatient glance at Billy. He didn't need a fourteen-year-old kid to explain the obvious to him. "Do you think so, Billy! I could probably figure that out." He pushed the boy aside and stepped into the office.

"Anything missing Doc?"

The lad's excitement only fueled the old physician's irritation. "How in tarnation can I tell, if you don't give me a chance to look around! He walked around the room noticing that the only broken glass was in the front door. He didn't see anything missing, but there was something added to the room. The smell of chloroform permeated the stuffy air in the office. Doc retrieved the brown bottle from the cabinet. It wasn't necessary, but he held the bottle up to the light to verify that half of the liquid was missing.

"What is it Doc? What's in the bottle?" Billy peered over the old man's shoulder.

Doc was too intrigued by the theft to hold his anger toward the boy. "Why on earth would someone steal chloroform?" Possibly someone trying to remove a bullet on their own? Someone not wanting the law to know. He would talk to Matt about this after the funeral.

MDKDMDKDMDKD

Matt pushed the stack of papers off to the side of his desk. He hated paperwork and it seemed as though the powers that be were constantly sending him more forms and more reports to be completed after each arrest or shooting.

He stood up to stretch out the kinks in his oversized body. Matt snatched up his cup and walked over to the stove for a refill. He stared out the window, peering across the street at the Prairie Rose. Kitty had said something about having a late lunch after the funeral. A smile caught his lips despite the bitter taste of the coffee. As much as he was grateful for his family it was nice to spend time alone with the woman that made his heart beat faster. Even if it was just a meal.

Even though he was staring out the window, he failed to see Hodge Pickens walk right past him and into the office. "Marshal they need you down at the feed mill. Tate Sawyer and Eli Walls is a threatening to shoot each other."

"Again!" Matt glanced back at the clock. It was almost time for the Nethers' funeral, now he was going to be late. Kitty was going to be upset with him. He grabbed his gun and buckled the belt, as he followed Pickens out the door. "I should just let them shoot each other and get it over with."

MDKDMDKDMD

An unusually large crowd had gathered for Sadie Nethers funeral. Most of them were there out of respect for Sadie, but some curiosity seekers were there to get a peek at Boyle Nethers. While giving the eulogy, Reverend Potter managed to work in a sermon for those faces rarely seen on Sunday morning.

Matt walked quietly around the edge of the crowd, searching for his wife and the local doctor. It seemed as though he had arrived just in time to hear Boyle give his own personal tribute to his grandmother. Even though the marshal was only paying half a mind to the speech, he was surprised to hear Boyle actually talked about the lady instead of himself. He was even more shocked to see the Heltons' faces in the group of mourners.

The pallbearers lined up and gently lowered the polished walnut box into the grave. One-by-one, the people walked past, each throwing a handful of dirt into the hole out of respect. From the back of the crowd, Matt heard a familiar voice call his name.

"Matt." Doc stepped away from the group to stand beside his friend. The two men seemed to be inspecting each other, both searching for the same face; both stunned at her absence. "Where's Kitty?"

Matt pulled back, his quick action spurred more by fear, than surprise. "I thought she was with you." Those hairs on the back of the marshal's neck stood at fierce attention. This time, his anxious glance was searching for another pair of faces. But the Heltons were gone. "Where did you see her last, Doc?"

"Uh...we...were standing outside of the Prairie Rose, when Billy came running up all excited. I went with him and Kitty said that she was going over to the jail; to go to the service with you. I was supposed to meet up with you two here."

Matt had split his attention between Doc's words and continually scanning the area for Kitty. "What did Billy want?"

Doc scratched his head after giving his earlobe a tug. "Strangest thing, somebody broke into the office. Looked as though the only thing they took was some chloroform."

His answer elicited a sharp stare from the marshal. "No, Doc. That's not the only thing missing..." Matt pulled his hat down over his forehead. "They took Kitty too!"

TBC