Herbert Walters had a hard time keeping up with Matt's long stride, as they walked quickly through car after car to reach the passenger car. Matt no sooner entered the passenger car than he spotted Phoebe sitting by herself and quickly walked up to her.

"Phoebe, where's Kitty?"

Phoebe gave Matt a strange look. "I thought she was with you."

"I sent her back here after... You haven't seen her at all?"

"No Marshal, I'm sorry. I haven't seen Kitty since the two of you left the passenger car together."

Matt looked about the car before addressing Phoebe again. "When you see Kitty, have her stay here with you."

Phoebe never questioned Matt. "I will, Marshal."

Matt turned to Walters. "I want you to stay here and keep an eye on the women. If anyone comes in here, I want you to keep a close eye on them. Do you understand?"

"They could be the killer. I understand Marshal. "

Matt nodded his head and left the car. He quickly went through the dinning car next door, and exited the train. He figured running along the outside of the train, to where Thomas and the men were digging, would be faster then going through the interior of the train. As Matt was running along side the train, a shadow in the snow just ahead of him caught his eye and he stopped. Matt looked at the roof of the train and then back at the trains shadow. Matt watched as the shadow of a man walked along the top of the train. The shadow was heading in the same direction as Matt, so he carefully walked straight out away from the side of the train until he could just see the shoulder of the man, and then as quickly as he could, Matt went back to the side of the train where the snow was less deep and started running along side of the train to the closest platform. As soon as he reached the steps, Matt swung himself up and quickly climbed the iron rungs leading to the roof of the train. No sooner then his head crested over the edge, Matt's eyes scanned the roof top, but it was empty. Whoever the man was must have climbed off the roof as Matt was climbing up to it.

Matt scrambled down the rungs as fast as he could, landing on the platform with a loud thud. He opened the door and looked into the car where the man had just been on the roof. The hallway was empty. He swiftly moved through the car and reached the other platform. He moved to the side of the platform and looked up and down the side of the train. Seeing no one, Matt swiftly moved to the other side of the platform looking up and down that side of the train, again seeing no one. However, in the distance at the front of the train Matt could see the male passengers where they were clearing away the snow. Matt jumped down from the platform and started jogging towards them.

As Matt approached the men, his eyes scanned along the men working to see whom, if anyone was missing. It had crossed his mind early on that there could be a stow-away on the train, but Matt had discarded that idea since he had roamed almost every inch of the train early on in the trip. However, after seeing the figure of a man on the roof of the train, it was apparent that someone was using the roof to move about undetected, and the killer could very well be someone that stowed away. As Matt considered this possibility he continued to scan the men working at removing the snow, before he could establish if anyone was missing, Arthur, the train's engineer approached him.

"Good news, Marshal Dillon. We have the tracks, ahead of the train, almost cleared to the point where we can push our way through the remaining snow."

"That is good news, Arthur." Matt looked over Arthur's shoulder and noticed that Thomas was nowhere in sight. "Arthur, I sent Thomas out here to check on things, and I don't see him anywhere."

"I am right here, Marshal." Matt turned around to see Thomas standing there rubbing his hands together for warmth. "I was just about to head into the train to update you on the progress out here, and to see how you were coming with wrapping up that situation from earlier."

"I have everything well in hand, and Arthur just told me the news about the tracks." Matt rubbed his chin slowly. "Thomas, you and Arthur get the men busy uncovering the wood. I am going to check on the women and be right back to help you."

"I can do that for you, Marshal. After all, the passengers are my responsibility." Thomas offered.

Matt gave Thomas a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Force of habit." Matt stated with a wide grin. "You don't mind, do you?"

Thomas shrugged his shoulders. "No, Marshal, I do not mind." Thomas looked at Arthur. "What do you say we go get everyone busy freeing up that wood, Art, so we can get out of here."

"You don't hav'ta tell me twice." Arthur remarked.

As the two men walked away, Matt turned and headed back to the train. He climbed onto the first platform he came to, and then up the rungs to the roof. Once he was on the roof he noticed that there was a thin layer of snow covering part of the first car after the engine and wood box, but the rest of the car roofs were clear. He started walking along the roof towards the back of the train in hopes of finding a clue. It wasn't until he was almost to the baggage car at the end of the train when he noticed tracks leading away from the train into the near-by woods.

Matt swiftly climbed off the roof and to the ground. He bent down and looked at the footprints in the snow. There were two sets of footprints, Matt's heart started to race as one of the sets where from a woman's boots. He looked around but didn't see anyone. He desperately wanted to call out Kitty's name, but knew if he did that it could do more harm then good. Moving as quietly and quickly as he could, Matt followed the tracks into the trees. It wasn't long before he stopped when he saw something ahead behind a rather wide tree. Matt took a few steps forward to get a closer look. His eyes went wide when he saw the dark blue fabric of a woman's skirt peeking out from behind the tree. Matt raced around the tree and stopped dead in his tracks. "Kitty!"

There before Matt, laid Kitty, bound and gaged with her hands tied behind her back, half buried in the snow. Matt fell onto his knees next to her. "Kitty. Kitty, it's Matt. Open your eyes, Honey." Getting no response Matt carefully removed the snow and looked her over to see if she was wounded. "Kitty, open your eyes, Honey." Not finding any wounds Matt took out his pocketknife and cut the rope from around Kitty's wrists and arms and put the knife back in his pocket. He carefully removed the gag and started rubbing her cheek. "Kit, it's Matt. Open your eyes for me, Honey." He rubbed her cheek some more. "Kit, Honey, open your eyes." Matt noticed that her eyes start to move back and forth under her eyelids. "That's it, Honey, open your eyes."

Kitty's eyes fluttered a few times before she was finally able to open them. "Matt," she whispered.

"I'm right here, Honey."

When Kitty's eyes finally came into focus, she saw Matt's face smiling down at her and then shivered violently. "I'm cold."

Matt took hold of Kitty's shoulders, "Let me help you sit up." He pulled her up out of the snow into a sitting position. "Is that better?"

Kitty rubbed her upper arms with her hands. "It's a start."

Matt leaned in and gave her a long warm kiss. "Are you starting to get warm now?" he quipped as he leaned back on his heels.

Kitty nodded her head and then looked down at her legs. "Think you can help me with these?" She said pointing to the rope.

Matt gave her a big grin. "Yes ma'am." Matt had the rope cut and off in no time. As he helped Kitty stand up, he scooped her into his arms hugging her tight. "Are you alright?" He whispered into her ear.

"I am now," Kitty mumbled into Matt's chest.

Matt pulled Kitty away from his chest so he could look at her. "Do you know who did this to you?"

"That would be me, Marshal."

Matt spun around and instantly pushed Kitty behind him. Thomas stood with his legs slightly apart, his back straight, and a large knife in his hand.

TBC