Slow Train to Dodge

PT.10

Carver and Festus set out to check up on the two men in the posters they now were holding. Festus was wondering if there was a connection, especially if there was a connection to Matt and the ambush that took place. Keeping his eyes peeled, as they crossed Main Street, Festus examined the face of every cowboy as Carver pointed out anyone that was new in town or unknown to him.

Just as they were about to enter the saloon, coming out of the hotel, Tracy panicked. "Mister! Mister!" She was now headed for Festus. Aren't you that friend of Miss Russell's? I remember you from a few years ago with that Marshal friend of hers and you." She was excited and out of breath.

Now looking confused and tilting his head, Festus asked, "What'cha tryin' to tell me bout Miz Kitty? Jest say it out."

Now swallowing hard. "Well, I don't know for sure but we were going in to check into the hotel and… and she was just…"

Frustrated and waiting for her to finish, "Jest what?"

"Gone! Just gone!" Her face dropped and her eyes saddened."

"Well now, wait one cotton pickin' minute." He started. "Miz Kitty couldn't jest vanish."

Now looking at Festus vest and seeing his badge. "Deputy, but she did. I swear she did!"

Just then, in a small boarded up warehouse, at the end of town, a rather burly man forced Kitty inside at gunpoint. "Make yourself at home, Red. Sorry if the accommodations aren't to your liking but you'll have to make do."

Staring back at him, she asked, "Who are you? And what do you want with me?" She was now looking around. The place had been abandoned for several years. Broken boards were everywhere, it was dirty and damp. It had recently rained so water was still dripping through the cracks.

"Oh, Lady, you're just an assurance, nothing more. Although, I must say you're real nice on the eyes. He snickered as he run a finger along her cheek.

Tightening her face and backing away, she yelled, "Keep your hands off of me! Assurance for what?"

"HaHaHa. Ah, where are my manners? My ma raised me better." Bowing in a mocking manner, he smiled. "Sam Cates, Ma'am." He said, tipping his hat.

Huffing out a sarcastic breath, "Raised you better? Seriously? I'm sure your Ma would be so proud. Kidnapping a woman." Furrowing her brow, "Wait? Cates? This is about Ben Cates?"

"Smart Lady. Yeah, he's my brother and…"

Nodding, Kitty jumped in, adding, "He was tried and convicted."

"Lady that jury had nothing, Nothing! Till Dillon got on that stand. It was his words that are putting that noose around Ben's neck."

"Ut-uh. Matt did his job. Your brother not only stole those horses but he killed a child. A CHILD! And Matt would never stand for anyone getting away with that."

Now busting into laughter. "Well, Red, way I hear it, Dillon ain't standing for too much of anything these days. HaHaHa"

Now staring at him, eye to eye, jaws tight, she said, "So, I guess it's safe to say your ma can also be proud of her boy for ambushing a man from cover? Does she know she raised a coward?"

Without warning, Sam Cates twirled around, backhanding Kitty and knocking her to the ground.

Rolling over and attempting to get up, rubbing her jaw and face, she glared at him. "Umm, touchy are we?" Now standing and brushing herself off, she looked at him. "So what exactly do you plan to do to keep Ma proud?" Raising her brow, she backed away. In the back of her mind she was thinking, "Oh my."

"Please, just shut up, Red."

Carver and Festus put Tracy up at the hotel then continued their search. At first, finding no one, Carver asked Festus to go along with the group out to the train. He agreed.

Once at the train location, Sheriff Carver and his posesy, showing up by surprise, entered the train, gathering up the three men still aboard. Waiting for the others to return with further instructions from Jessie Copperton, several of the men helped remove the debris from the tracks and get the train back on its way. Riding back to town, Carver questioned the three.

"Tell me something? If you three weren't there to rob the train, just what were you there for?" He asked, now shaking his head, in disbelief. The three looked back and forth at one another.

Festus, in disgust, said, "Go on, speak up!"

Finally, one of the men began to speak, looking at the others. "Well, we're fired anyway. We were sent to find Ms. Copperton's Granddaughter. She'd run off and Ms. Copperton, well, when she tells ya to do something, ya just do it."

"Run off?" Festus repeated.

"Yeah, young Tracy. Ms. Copperton heard she bought a ticket on this train and wanted us all to stop her and to bring her home by any means."

Carver was shaking his head. "Any means?"

Then Festus added, "Ya mean you was gonna kidnap this here girl?"

The man was now looking to Festus and Carver. 'Well, like I said, you don't know Ms. Copperton. When she says do, you do."

"Well now, you dang yahoo's is gone ta' jail."

Still rubbing her face and jaw, Kitty brushed off her skirt then looked around, cringing. Righting a barrel, and brushing it off with a piece of burlap , she sat leaning against a post, stretching her head and neck. Exhaling, she thought, "Oh, Cowboy. I'm so sorry. I'd give anything, anything to be right with you in Dodge. Please know in my heart and soul, I'm there holding you and willing you to hold on. I need you Matt. Please know that. Feel that I love you. You are my heart, my life." Kissing her fingers and placing them over her heart then blowing them into the air.

After taking Jessie Copperton to town, Webb Conley headed back. He knew her plan was to go after Tracy herself. He never agreed with her on her plan for Tracy. But over the years, he had learned to take orders like the rest of her employees. It was just that after Kitty's last visit there and Blane Copperton starting to take control of the ranch again, things ran different, smoother.

He and Blane had become closer. He always felt bad for Tracy and the way Jessie shunned Tracy. But now, with Blane's untimely death and realizing it was Tracy that would take control of Blane's estate on her 18th birthday. Jessie was getting desperate to hold on to some sort of control even if it making a deal with the devil.

Reaching the ranch, he was approached by several of the hands. "Webb? We need to talk."

"Why?" Webb asked. "What's wrong?"

"The men that came back, they've quit. Now we're down three men. Oh, and your boy, Jay, is nowhere to be found."

Smiling and huffing out a breath, he said, "That boy is always off somewhere. He'll show up."

"Now look, Webb. He might be your boy but if he's not gonna…"

Throwing up his hand, "Jay pulls more than his fair share around here and you all know it."

Nodding, "Yeah, he's a hard worker but…"

"But nothing." Webb said. "He'll show up."

Matt stirred. "Well, hello, Cowboy. Nice to see those baby blues…"

"Kit… Kitty?"

"Uh-huh. Who were you expecting?"

"Ahhh, Kit." He just smiled, reaching out his hand.

"I need you, Cowboy. I really need you."

Suddenly, as he reached out further, again calling, "KITTY! KITTY!"

TBC