Surprising Detour at Whispering Winds PT.10

After several days, long, tired days of riding, Matt finally made his way through the hustle and bustle down Main Street in Glenwood Springs. He couldn't figure why he'd never been here before, but maybe he had before all the progress.

Still tossing around in his head, why Kitty would be here and why she wasn't planning on coming home to Dodge. Besides, trying to figure what could have happened to Doc. As tired as he was, he just wanted to find her. Spotting the sign that read, Sheriff's Office, Sheriff John Emerson, that is where he headed first.

Dismounting from Buck, he reached for the door just as it was opening. "Well, good morning." Then looking at Matt's chest seeing the tin star on his vest, "To what do we owe the honor?"

"Names Matt Dillon, United States Marshal out of Dodge City Kansas."

Offering out a hand, Emerson asked. "Marshal, what can I do you for?"

Exhaling, "Well, Sheriff, I'm here looking for a friend. I got a message she was here and…"

Quickly, shaking his head. "Ahhhh, a lady friend. And it's John ."

"What?" Matt asked.

"My name, its John. We don't stand on formality here."

Nodding, "Ok John."

"Well, then this woman you're looking for, you say she's a friend? So she in trouble of some sort?"

Scratching his head, well not exactly, ummm, or I don't think so. She was on her way from San Francisco, a business trip and should have returned days ago. But I…"

Waving a hand, "Matt? I can call you Matt?"

"Sure," Matt answered.

"Let me buy you breakfast and you can fill me in."

The two headed across the street to the café. "You have some town here." Matt said, looking around taking in all the commotion.

"She'll be a great place when it's all done thanks to Cameron."

"Cameron?" Matt repeated.

"Oh, yes. That'd be the benefactor to all this, you see. Came her a few years ago and started buying up everything." As they sat at a table, 'Ok, so I know you don't want the history of Glenwood Springs, so tell me about this woman, lady friend of yours." Looking at the waiter, "We'll start with coffee. Matt you'll enjoy the food here. Marnie is a great cook, a real gem in the kitchen."

"Well, John that will be an improvement on Dodge."

After they ordered, John sat back and looked at Matt. "So you were saying?"

"Kitty, as I said, went to San Francisco on business."

"Business, huh?" John added.

"Nodding, 'Yeah, she owns the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge. Anyway, she sent a wire saying she'd be back on…. Well, two days ago going on three. Now, that's not like Kitty. Unless something was wrong, she'd a been back."

"Hmmmm. Well, Matt, we've only had a few new people come in town in the last few days. Couple of business men and a gorgeous redhead. Came in a few days ago. Stopped me in my tracks."

"Wait. A redhead about 5'7", blue eyes?"

"That'd be her. Mister Cameron, he stumbled in his boots when he saw her. Right here, as a matter of fact. Too bad though. She wouldn't give him… well, let's just say the lady had other things on her mind."

"Look, John, do you know where I can find her?" He asked not liking that last comment.

"Come to think of it, haven't seen her for a day or so. But don't think she left."

Whispering Winds

Frank sat at the bedside of his boy, praying for him to wake up. He just kept repeating, "Come on son, you're a Cameron! Fight! Fight this!"

As Doc reentered the room, "Cameron, it could be a while before the ether and Laudanum wear off, but right now sleep is the best for him to gain some strength."

"I swear, ol' man, if anything happens to my boy, you'll regret the day you heard the name Cameron."

Entering behind Doc, Kitty was disgusted at Cameron's attitude. "Aren't you just the big man? Doc here saved that boys life and all you can do is sit here angry at the world and threatening him. Had he not operated on Frank Jr., you'd have yourself a second grave out under that tree."

Quickly he jumped up, grabbing Kitty by the shoulders. "How dare you, woman?" Shaking her and pinning her to the doorframe.

Pushing him back, "Let go of me!"

"I should kill you both." Then looking to Doc. "You, I still may do that. But..." Now snickering, "You, little lady, I have other plans for you."

Kitty glanced over at Doc, trying to give him a sign not to react.

"I told you, Lady, I get what I want."

Now in a nasty tone, "Don't you mean, you just take?"

Backhanding her again, causing Doc to jump up at him. "Ha ha ha. And what, Ol' Man? You coming to her rescue?"

"I'll do what I have to." Doc answered.

"Doc! Doc, don't. He's just trying to bait you, make his conscience feel better about committing cold blooded murder."

Now gripping her face, "You got yourself a lot of fire, I'll give you that."

Snapping her head to release his grip, "Ya, don't say."

Interrupting, Doc looked at Kitty. "Honey, maybe you can go see if Mac has the broth ready yet." Doc said wanting to get her out of the room and away from Cameron. He knew he couldn't control her mouth.

Nodding, "Yeah, alright. Anything not to share space with…" Then motioning with her head to Cameron.

Frank looked back at her. "Go on, go, but remember, I'm not through with you."

Glenwood Springs, In Town

After breakfast, John invited Matt to Lucy's place for a drink. "Matt, we can ask around." As they entered the saloon, Matt stopped for a minute, thinking of when he stopped at the Long Branch, the way he scaned the room , to lock eyes on Kitty. Then he remembered, this wasn't the Long Branch and there would be no Kitty.

The two walked to the bar. Leaning on the bar top, "Morning, Artie."

"Morning, Sheriff. Who's your friend?"

"Artie, this here is Marshal Matt Dillon from Dodge."

"Well, welcome, Marshal, to Glenwood Springs and here to Lucy's place."

Nodding, "Thanks, Artie."

Just then, Matt felt a hand on his back. "Well, hello there, bigggg fella'. Just passing thru?"

John turned. "Matt this here is Lucy. Lucy, this here is Matt Dillon. Marshal out of Dodge."

She had a stunned look at hearing his name.

"She's the new owner here."

"Well, Ma'am, it's nice to meet ya."

"Ya know, Marshal, it took me a long time to gain ownership of this place. It's tough for a woman to own a business."

"Well, Ma'am…"

Slapping his arm, "Oh, skip the Ma'am. It's Lucy."

"Ok, Miss Lucy, but actually, I have known of others."

"Is that so?" She said, wrapping her arm in his. "Why don't we go sit and talk?"

John just looked at Matt and they joined Lucy at a table.

Lucy watched Matt's every move.

"Miss Lucy, this looks to be a fine place."

"Oh, yes. And I work hard here. And John is good to me. You know, doesn't cost me to stay in business, not like some saloon's." John just rolled his eyes. "How bout' you?"

"How bout me, what?"

"Now, I hear there's a saloon in Dodge." Smiling at him. "Owned by a woman."

"Yes, that's right."

"As a matter of fact, I think, she paved the way for us women as business owners. Never met her but sheeeh, my hat's off to her."

"Kitty's a good woman and a good business woman as well."

"Kitty you say?"

"Yes, Kitty Russell."

"Well I've heard the name."

John jumped in. "Lucy, let us ask you, that woman that you were talking to the other day, have you seen her since?"

Waving a hand, "Nah, I warned her to steer clear of Frank but…" Still watching Matt's reaction.

"Ahh, Lucy. She didn't want Frank. Can't say the same for him though."

"What do you mean, John?" Matt asked.

"Well, Matt, I told you when she came in on the stage, Frank Cameron was falling over his own boots to impress her. But she brushed him off."

Under her breath, Lucy mumbled. "She'd better."

Just as they were talking, Benjamin came in. "Sheriff? Sorry to interrupt but I think there may be a problem, Sir?"

"What kind of problem, Ben?"

"Well remember that good looking redhead, Miss… Russell? I believe her name was. .The one that was hurt."

Matt suddenly snapped his head up. "Hurt? What do you mean, hurt?"

"Ah, nothing serious. I think she sprained her ankle. Anyways, Sheriff, her bags are still in the hotel lobby. She never came back. She missed the stage."

"Ben, do you know where she went? Being hurt like she was, she couldn't have gone far."

"Oh, no, sir, Sheriff, she had me get her a buggy so she could go find that ol' doctor fella' out at Whispering Winds."

Lucy looked up at Ben. "She went to Whispering Winds? Sure, John, she didn't want Frank, huh?" Lucy said sarcastically.

"Someone want to tell me what is Whispering Winds?" Matt asked looking confused.

Lucy, now looking upset. "She went to Frank anyway, after all."

Matt spun around to look at Lucy. "What? Who Is Frank? You mean Cameron?"

Lucy just got up,feeling a bit angry. "UGH, John."

Matt said, "Care to fill me in here? Is Kitty in trouble? What's going on here?"

TBC