Chapter 10 – Rose Ellen Receives Some Surprises

Rose Ellen noticed Matt was becoming more cooperative even as she cut back on his directly drinking the mixture derived from the tiger lilies. She now added the potion to the stew and porridge she served him. He was still slightly feverish and quite weak, but she was letting him gradually regain his strength. It was about time, because it was nigh on to three weeks since she'd brought him to what she considered to be their place. That's when someone knocking on the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Pardon me, ma'am for disturbing you. I was wonderin' if I might trouble you for some water for my horse and maybe even a cup o' coffee for myself," said a blond man dressed like a drifter who hadn't seen a bathtub or clean clothes for weeks.

She agreed, but, nevertheless, was shoved back inside by the man and his two not quite as scruffy companions. They quickly checked the other rooms when they heard Matt call out for her. They found him in the bed when they pushed into the room with a gun at her back. He pretended to be out of his head with fever.

"That your man? What ails him?" one of the companions asked, but with an air that he just might be something more than she wished to tangle with.

"Yeah, he's my man. His leg's busted and he's been runnin' a fever from it and maybe the ague. Doc was out here and did all he could. I hope he's on the mend, but I can't tell for sure," she said recognizing the men for the outlaws they were thanks to her experience with Loy Bishop and his partners.

Rose Ellen knew Matt wasn't as weak or feverish as he pretended. He hadn't survived this long as a lawman without being able to size up a situation quickly. That didn't mean she could trust him to remain as cooperative if a posse came out this way. With his gun across the room on a peg, it wasn't likely he could reach it with his leg in a splint and no crutches to speed him along even if he forgot the fact he had no pants he could wear. Despite the advantage she held over him, she laced his dinner with laudanum in addition to the lily brew so he'd fall asleep if one or more asked her to go to town. She was too close. She wasn't about to love him now. After dealing with Matt, she fed the three intruders directly from the pot, which was untainted, and gave them a chance to spruce up.

Only the blond rode into Dodge with her to load the Collins' wagon with axes, dynamite and ammunition along with the normal flour and sugar at Jonas' store. Rose Ellen didn't know if her escort and his dark-haired companion, who was looking at the boots, saw they were observed, but that Kitty woman was lurking behind the ladies' dress rack. When she left the store, however, Kitty remained as if the redhead had shopping to do. Rose Ellen said nothing of her suspicions as they brought the wagon back to the farm. Once the groceries were unloaded all but the other two took off to the east with the wagon, leaving the blond man on guard.

Two hours later the two were back with three more. Matt was still asleep. She'd given him a second weak dose of the laudanum when she first returned. Now she thought that maybe it hadn't been such a good idea. She was sure of it when, a short while later, the leader entered the house dragging Kitty Russell with him.

"I see you plan to stay for awhile," she quipped even though she knew it wasn't smart of her. "You even brought your own whore to keep you entertained."

"Come on out, woman," the leader ordered. "My men can start with you while I have fun with the redhead. I have some further use for the marshal's whore beyond that so I'm not allowin' anyone to go too far with her. Otherwise, she won't bring him runnin' so I can kill him. After that, it won't matter. Tom," he said to the blond man still in the room with Matt. "Is it safe to leave her man alone?"

"Yeah, Mr. Roundtree. He's out of his head with fever. Besides, he's got a busted leg. He ain't goin' nowhere," Tom Brower replied as he joined the rest of the gang and the two women in the main room, leaving the door slightly ajar in case he was wrong.