Kitty

While Matt was getting ready to take the train to St. Louis, David was knocking on Kitty's door at the inn. She'd slept badly and answered groggily, "David, is that you?"

"Kitty get dressed, let's go."

She noticed that David hadn't bothered with any terms of endearment. Usually words like dearest, love and darling flowed easily from his lips. That was not the case with Matt, but when he used those words he meant them with his heart and soul, and when he didn't say the words his eyes expressed them.

David's second knock broke into her thoughts, "Kitty let's go."

She quickly threw on her clothes, smoothed back her hair and opened the door. David barely looked at her as he peer anxiously down the hall, "We have to move quickly but quietly. We don't want to wake them. The carriage is outside the stable ready to go. I've already hitched up the horses."

They tiptoed down the creaking stairs. David made a face with every squeak, and his eyes darted back and forth. They got to the bottom step and it groaned loudly. He grabbed her hand and raced out the door. She went directly to the stable while David gave a quick look around to make sure they were alone. She saw the carriage and stopped in her tracks. "David, I thought you said the horses were hitched up."

He raced over and froze. The carriage was there - the horses were not. Laughter floated over the warm morning air and Nigel and Harry emerge from the side door of the inn. Nigel smugly crossed his arms in front of him, "We set your horses free, just like you did ours yesterday. You'd better go look for them. In the meantime the lady is coming with us."

Harry nodded at his partner, "I'll go get our horses."

He grinned at David before jogging into the stable. To everyone's surprise, he was back in seconds as pale as a ghost, "Nigel, our horses are gone."

It was David's turn to look smug, "I released your horses just before I hitched mine up. You were so busy freeing mine; you obviously didn't go into the stable. If you had, you would have discovered yours were gone."

It was a stand off. Angry looks were traded but no one moved. Kitty decided to take control, "All right you three, here's what's going to happen. Go find your horses. I'll leave with the first one to be ready to go."

After a final seething glance Nigel and Harry ran off in one direction, David in the other. Kitty looked over at the inn and saw the white haired proprietor looking out the window. A hint of a smile was pulling at his mouth. She waved and went inside to have a word with the old timer. She knew she had to go to St. Louis with David, the safety of others was as stake, so she'd make it happen.

Nigel and Harry were heading west for no particular reason. It didn't occur to them to try to follow tracks. David went east because his opponents went the other way. He cursed Calvin Barker under his breath as he walked along. The behavior of those two men was just unacceptable. Suddenly he heard light footsteps running towards him. He turned and saw Kitty hurrying his way. When she got closer she shouted, "David, where are you going?"

His voice was strained, "Obviously, I'm finding my horses to get us out of here so those maniacs don't kidnap you again. Remember, that Nigel fellow carries a gun."

She slowed to a walk shaking her head in exasperation, "What I mean is where do you think the horses are?"

David's annoyance was apparent, "I don't happen to read the minds of horses. Do you?"

Kitty glared, "No I do not, but I know that horses are smart. It's getting hot and they'll want water. I asked the innkeeper if there was a water source nearby. It turns out that the only one for miles is a small lake about 5 minutes from here. My guess is that's where the horses will be."

Without a word, David turned and stomped off in the direction Kitty had pointed. He was not enjoying the bossy attitude she'd been displaying lately, not one bit.

As predicted, after a 5-minute walk they saw all four horses at the lakeside. As they neared the animals, Kitty reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out the apples she'd purchased from the innkeeper. She handed one to David, "Hold this out and go slowly and calmly." The horses watched Kitty and David as they quietly approached. While offering the apples, Kitty took one carriage horse by the halter, and David got the other. The other two horses went back to drinking from the lake.

When they got back to the stable, David hurried to get the horses hitched to the carriage. In his haste he fumbled around and saw the snowy haired innkeeper standing nearby watching with amusement. By the time the carriage was ready, David was red-faced with frustration and embarrassment. The innkeeper raised his bushy white eyebrows and smiled at Kitty. Kitty smiled back. David scowled, and they resumed their journey to St. Louis. As he drove, David didn't want to talk about the horses or say a word of thanks to Kitty, so he remained silent. Finally he spoke without looking at her, "Well, I expect Nigel and Harry won't find their horses for quite a while. After all they were going in the wrong direction."

Kitty looked at David's profile, "You're probably right. David, I still don't know what they want with me. Do you have any idea?"

David shrugged, "No idea at all."

Dodge

Matt was a bit stooped over and his strides were foreshortened as he walked beside Doc to the train depot. They got aboard and spotted two empty seats in the middle of the car. Doc watched Matt try to settle into a comfortable position before sitting beside him. The train lurched forward at 6:00 on the dot, and Matt stifled a groan as the sudden movement jerked him back. Doc kept his eye on his patient as the miles passed and saw beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He reached over and discreetly took Matt's pulse. Not liking what he felt, he was filled with guilt. For the first time in his life, he was not doing what was best for his patient. Matt should be home in bed.

"Doc, you're wrong."

"Oh, you're a mind reader along with your many other talents."

Matt's penetrating eyes locked onto Doc's worried ones, "We've know each other a long time. I think it's fair to say we're family and would anything for each another. Right now Kitty needs help and you're helping me get to her. Out of all your options that's the best one you've got."

Doc took in Matt's words, "Yep, sometimes life doesn't offer easy choices. All we can do is our best, even if it doesn't make us happy."

Matt stiffened, "Doc, helping me get to St. Louis against your medical judgment is nothing like me killing that boy."

"Matt I've said this before but it's worth repeating. He chose to shoot at you. You shooting back was self defense."

"He was a boy."

They sat in strained silence until Doc had to ask the question that had been on his mind, "Tell me something Matt, are you going to take your badge off because of that boy?"

Matt pulled his hat down over his eyes, "I think I'll try to get some sleep."

Kitty

David made no attempt at conversation as he drove on, which was fine with Kitty. They stopped for a picnic lunch but this time David had no funny stories and they ate without speaking. They packed up the remains of their meal and Kitty stood, "David I have to go relieve myself." He looked alarmed. She knew what he was thinking and pointed to a nearby tree, "I'll go right here, but there's not much cover so please turned around." He did as she asked. It was taking longer then he thought it should, and he was about to turn and look for her when she returned.

They got back in the carriage. They'd be in St. Louis by nightfall.

TBC