The Church

Chester ran to his wife Ellen. She was sitting on the floor of the church with an arm around each daughter. "Ellen, Bess is alive but Doc needs bandages. Could you rip strips from your petticoat?" Ellen nodded and reached down to do as she was asked, but her hands were shaking too badly. Chester put his hand on hers. "It will be all right, I've been through worse with Mr. Dillon."

Ellen nodded and forced herself to calm down. A few minutes later Chester was handing strips of white cloth to Doc. Meanwhile, Festus was walking up and down the aisle saying calmly, "Now I jus want all you folks to keep low and try not to fret none. Frettin don't help a dang thing, anyways things are gunna work out fine. You yongins maybe should picture a candy drop or some such thing. " He kept walking and talking and people seemed to grow a little calmer.

Meanwhile Frank followed the minister to a little used door. After both men pushed, it creaked open and Frank stepped inside a tiny room. He saw the ladder that led to the roof and shook it to check its stability. It was old and rickety, and had a missing rung, but with the reverend's sharp carving knife in hand Frank carefully made his way up. When he got to the top he reached up and felt a small door. He pushed upwards and it opened easily, allowing him to climb out onto the roof. Lying as flat as he could, he looked down and saw two men. He was surprised that only one was wearing a gun belt, but then remembered that the man called Monty had been armed with a rifle, and must have set it down. Frank's plan was to climb down from the roof, jump the armed man and then try to get to Monty before he could reach his rifle. Frank carefully crawled out to the edge of the roof, and put his arms around a pipe that extended down to the ground. As soon as he had a firm grip, he started moving his legs around the pipe so he could shimmy down.

Swifty heard a sound and looked up. He pointed to the roof, "Look there Monty. Someone's up there thinking he's smart. I'm going to take him out."

Monty looked up, "Let me have the pleasure. I'll get my rifle."

Swifty frowned, "Where's your gun belt?"

Monty shrugged, "I was so busy loading the dynamite this morning, I forgot to put it on. Come on. Let me shoot him, my rifle's right over there."

Swifty put his pistol back in his holster, "Sure, you can have the pleasure."

Monty ran a couple of feet away and picked up his rifle. He aimed and fired just as Reardon was starting down the pipe. Reardon fell, and remained motionless on the ground.

Swifty grinned "Nice job." Monty nodded "Thanks, Swifty, I'm a pretty good shot." He picked up the end of the fuse line, "Let's get going with the explosion. I've got the end of the line right here. I'll take it a safe distance so I don't get blown up, and light it. You might as well ride back to the cabin. I'll go there directly after the church explodes. I want my turn with the red head. Don't let her get too worn out before I get there."

Swifty patted Monty's back, "I'll try and make sure nobody has at her more than once before you arrive."

Monty watched Swifty until he was out of sight, and then watched for another minute. Sure that Swifty was a good distance away, Monty dropped the fuse line and ran to Frank Reardon. He was unconscious but alive. Monty opened the door to the church holding his rifle ready to fire. All eyes were upon him. He looked around, "Is there a doctor here?"

Doc stood immediately, "Yes."

"A man took a bad fall, go check on him."

Doc was mystified but didn't hesitate to hurry out the door. Still holding his rifle ready to shoot, Monty walked over to Festus, "I've been in town a few days and know you're Dillon's deputy. If we want a chance to save him we need a few good men with guns. Not a big posse, that won't work."

Festus was confused, "You mean you ain't gunna blow us up."

Monty shook his head, "No, but if we want to save Dillon, we've got to get going fast."

Suddenly, the church that had been filled with terrified whispers was alive with talk and confusion. Monty fired his rifle in the air to get quiet. "The deputy is going to get a few men to hurry home to get their guns and horses, he'll pick out who you are." He pointed to two big farm boys. "You two go see if that doctor needs help. The reverend will tell the rest of you want to do."

The farm boys went out to help Doc. Festus told Newly and Sam to fetch their horses and guns. Chester knew what was happening and went to Festus, "I'm going with you."

Festus shook his head, "Chester, you have a family to think of."

Chester spoke firmly, "You can't imagine what Mr. Dillon meant in my life. I have to go."

After thinking for a few seconds, Festus nodded, "Go git a horse and rifle."

The two big farm boys brought Frank inside the church. Monty went over to Doc, "How is he?" Doc looked up still puzzled by Monty's actions, "He wasn't hit by a bullet. He has a concussion and broken ribs, but he'll recover."

Monty nodded, "Swifty was going to shoot him, so I figured I'd better take care of it. I didn't aim for him, just the pipe he was holding. I figured a hard fall would give him a better chance than a bullet and a hard fall."

Reverend Brant stood in front of the congregation. "I'd like everyone's attention. While the danger isn't over for Kitty and Matt, a plan is in the works to rescue them. I want everyone to go home and pray for their safe return. When they get back, the wedding will be resume."

People started filing out feeling stunned, confused, thankful, hopeful and worried.

Ellen Goode, Julie Blaine, Claire Hollis, Mabel and Josie lingered and went to the side of the church where Doc was caring for Bess and Frank. Ellen Goode put her hand on Doc's shoulder, "You shouldn't be here tending to them alone. I'd be glad to stay and help. So would Julie and Claire."

Mabel looked at Ellen, "You and your friend have youngsters to care for, and they look kind of scared. Maybe you should get them home. I'd be happy to stay and help Doc, so would Josie."

Doc looked up, "She's right. Ellen and Julie, take your children home, and Claire maybe you can give Ellen a hand. Especially with Chester being gone."

Ellen, Julie and Claire looked at each other. They saw the wisdom in what was being suggested and with some reluctance went on their way, leaving the two saloon girls to help Doc with Bess and Frank.

The Cabin

Kitty and Matt sat opposite each other in straight-backed chairs, with their wrists firmly tied behind them. Matt's left cheek and jaw were swollen and discolored from being punched by Carl. As they sat unable to speak or touch, their eyes were filled with concern, love and a hundred other emotions.

Carl, Ralph and Knife were showing signs of impatience when Swifty burst into the cabin, "Monty went off with the fuse line to get a safe distance. It should happen any time, it's going to be a huge blast and a flash of light like you've never seen." He started to look out the window before adding, "Oh boss, some idiot got on the roof of the church to try to stop us. Monty took him out.

Matt and Kitty looked at each other in sorrow, knowing that the man who was taken out had to have been a dear friend, probably either Festus or Frank.

TBC