Kitty and David

With Kitty safely at his side once again, David drove at a clip eager to leave the kidnappers far behind.

Every few miles he looked back nervously, "Kitty I saw those men in Dodge. You must know something about them."

"All I know is that they appeared in town around the same time you did and their names are Nigel and Harry. She refrained from telling David that in Dodge she'd assumed he'd hired them to spy on her. Now that she knew that wasn't the case, she had no idea what to make of them.

They fell silent as they drove into the night. Kitty's thoughts went to Matt. She knew he was suffering from much more than a stomach wound. When she'd gone to him in Doc's she could feel his utter weariness and despair. Something must have happened with that bank robber that left him in misery and pain. She ached to hold him, ease his mind, tell him that his cause was always good even when it brought him sorrow. Tears formed. She swallowed hard and clung to the hope that he'd found her note and knew that she loved him.

David was deep in thought about the kidnappers. Why would anyone kidnap Kitty? Suddenly he had an epiphany - Calvin – Calvin – Calvin. Those men had to be working for his partner Calvin Barker. There was no other explanation. It was all about the bet. To win he had to marry Kitty within a month of arriving in Dodge. Calvin must have hired those two to spy on her. When he and Kitty set off to be married, they kidnapped her to stop the wedding. If they could keep her hidden until the month was up, Calvin would claim victory. David chuckled to himself. Worthy partners had become worthy rivals. He grinned, there was no way Calvin was going to win.

He flicked the reins again, and Kitty could hear the horses panting, "Slow down David. Horses can't go at this pace forever."

David pulled back on the reins but snapped at her, "I was just about to. I know what I'm doing."

Kitty smiled to herself at his defensiveness. She looked around. It was dark and hard to see, but she could swear they were going in circles.

"David, are you sure you know where you're going?"

"Of course, straight north. Soon we'll be at an inn where we can stop for the night."

Kitty looked up into the clear night sky. She had been on countless nighttime rides with Matt and he'd taught her to find directions by the stars.

Her voice was urgent, "David stop, stop right now."

Thinking something had happened he stopped immediately, "What's wrong?"

"Trade places with me."

David relaxed and smiled. His words dripped with sweetness, "Darling, I know you're tired and perhaps a wee bit cranky, but we'll be at that inn very soon."

Kitty's voice rose, "Listen to me, we will never get to that inn with you driving – never. Change places now, or we'll be driving all night and end up nowhere."

He started to protest, but knew he was lost and very much wanted to spend the night in a bed. Without a word he climbed over her and she scooted over into the driver's seat. She took the reins, looked at the sky and turned the horses north.

An hour later, close to midnight, they reached the inn. Kitty stood beside David as he knocked on the door. There was no answer and he knocked again. A thin but testy voice call out, "Hold your horses." A minute later an old man with snow-white hair and bushy white eyebrows, slowly opened the door holding a lantern.

David poured on his customary charm, "My dear fellow, it's frightful of us to bother you at this late hour, but we would be extremely grateful if we could have 2 rooms for the night. I'd be more than happy to pay extra for our late arrival." He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "We would have arrived sooner, but my fiancé insisted that we go in one direction, and it was exactly the wrong way. You know how women are."

The old man lifted his lantern. He studied Kitty's face and then David's, "Mister you seem like the type that's full of excuses. No matter, I have 2 empty rooms. Come on."

The old timer slowly led the couple up a rickety staircase that creaked with every step, "This big room's for the lady. Mister, you can have the small one at the end of the hall. Been a busy night. Two big dark-haired fellows showed up an hour ago. Good thing they're sharing a room or I wouldn't have 2 for you folks."

David's eyes widened. He looked around nervously and whispered in Kitty's ear, "They're here. Lock your door and know who's knocking before you open it."

Kitty gave him serious look and nodded, "I would have never though of that." She went into her room and was glad to be alone. It was hard to believe she'd left Dodge City only that morning. What a crazy day. All she knew was that she couldn't let those men prevent her from marrying David. It was the only way she could protect the Ronnigers.

David was lying in bed, naked and in a snit. He was annoyed by the old timer's comment about making excuses, and irritated that Calvin's men got to the inn before he did. Of course that was Kitty's fault. If she 'd known they were going the wrong way, she should have spoken up sooner. No matter, they'd be on their way before those men were even awake. They'd marry in St. Louis and be on a train to New York soon after. From there they'd sail to Europe and after 6 months of marriage he'd be sole owner of the biggest gambling empire in London.

Dodge City early morning

It was still dark when Matt woke up in a cold sweat, breathing hard. Kitty had been in his dreams, but she'd faded away and the boy he'd killed emerged in her place. Someone put a gun in his hand and he fired at the boy again and again and again. He couldn't stop shooting no matter how hard he tried.

His heart was still pounding when he heard a short knock on the door.

Without waiting for an answer Doc breezed in carrying his medical bag and a bulging suitcase. "Morning Matt, I stopped by your room and packed some clothes for you. You'll be happy to know we'll be traveling by train. The tracks are fixed and we can be on the 6AM express to St. Louis."

Doc set down the bags and eyed Matt for a few seconds before coming to a decision. He pulled a creased piece of paper from his pocket. "I found this in the shirt you were wearing when you got shot. That bank robber wrote it, didn't he?"

Matt took the note but didn't have to read it. The words were etched in his mind.

Dear Ma, I know ya worry bout me caus I been actin crazy since pa passed. Please dont worry none. I am all rite. I jus cant cum home no more. I am sendin this money so you an my little sisters wont be hungry agin. I love ya Ma. I love ya.

Your son,

Charlie

His voice was barely audible, "I wanted to deliver it but couldn't find his mother's name or the name of the town she lives in."

"Matt, I wish you'd understand that that note doesn't change the fact that he robbed a bank, shot three people and tried to kill you."

"He was a kid Doc, a kid who loved his mother and sisters, a kid who had years ahead of him to learn to be a man.

Doc sighed and dropped the topic. He held out his hand, "I figured you'd want this. It was on that same shirt."

Matt's badge rested on Doc's palm. Matt stared at it as if seeing it for the first time. He voice was strained and quiet, "My license to kill."

"Are you going to put it on?"

Matt made no move to take the badge, "There's no point wearing it in St. Louis. I don't have jurisdiction there."

"Not everyone will know that and there are people who take things more seriously when they see a US Marshal's badge.

Matt lifted the star from Doc's hand, "I'll carry it with me."

TBC