The Prisoner Exchange
PT.11
Kitty could hear Barbar just beyond the door to the outhouse. As creepy as that seemed, she knew she had to do something, not to be tied up again, but what?
He was growing impatient. "Come on, Red! Get out of there already." He began banging on the door.
Now, she knew he was right there. Quickly, with all her weight, she forced the door open, pushing the door into him and knocking him over. Then grabbing fistfuls of her skirt, she took off running.
Shaking his head standing up. "Ah, now, Red. Don't go make me chase ya down. I'm not gonna like that. Remember what I told ya before bout training ya some? Red, you're a hard woman. Real pretty, but hard." He set out after her quick like, madder than hell, that he let her get the best of him.
Festus and Jack were coming up just behind Matt.
"Festus, Matt didn't look too good to me when he rode off." Jack looked over at the deputy.
"Sheriff, twixt me and you, ol' Matthew looks to be ale'in sum. But you can't tell him not to be tryin' to go help Miz Kitty. No sir. No way."
"Oh, Festus, I learned that about Matt for sure. But I'm still worried."
"We'll find Miz Kitty and take care of Matthew. Miz Kitty will make shore that be did. I garontees ya that."
Still running as quick as her feet would take her, she looked up and could see a tall man atop a horse and there was no mistake. It was her Cowboy. But she knew instinctively that something was wrong. Rushing towards him, she yelled. "Matt? Matt?"
As she got closer she could see. "Oh, Cowboy, I'm glad to see you. Cowboy? Are you…"
But before she could finish, he began sliding down off the horse. "Kitty. Are you alright?"
"I am now. I am now." She answered, wrapping her arms around him.
Suddenly, a voice behind them called out. "Hope you brought my money."
Matt was quickly trying to focus. "Barbar? There is no money, just me to take you in. You're going to jail where you belong, along with your friend." Matt was trying to draw his gun and aim, but he was now seeing double.
"Cowboy, are you alright?" Kitty asked worriedly.
Barbar began laughing, mocking him. "Isn't this perfect? Now I have you both and you thought he was going to rush in and save you, Red."
"You did this!" She was now fumingly angry. "You'll pay for this, if it's the last thing I do."
"Maybe I'll just shoot him here, then take you with me and make you mine."
"Over my dead body!" Kitty now flew into a rage.
Matt tried to stop her. "Barbar. Leave her out of this. This is between us, man to man."
Matt lunged at him and the two began to fight. Now Kitty was frantic. The last thing she wanted was for Matt to be hurt more. She figured out he was suffering affects from the injury to his head. She grabbed one of their guns and fired it in the air, too afraid to try and shoot at Barbar for fear of hitting Matt.
Jack and Festus heard the shots and rushed towards the sounds, not knowing what to expect.
Kitty stood screaming. "Stop! Stop it! Please."
Then she heard another shot, shocking her. She knew she didn't shoot again. Seeing the two men on the ground stop moving, she held her breath. Suddenly, she heard,
"Miz Kitty? Miz Kitty, you be alright?"
With tear filled eyes she turned, now seeing Festus standing before her. "Oh, Festus? Is he... is he..."
"Oh no, Ma'am. Ol' Matthew, he'll be just plum fine . I shot that other feller."
Her knees buckled. Quickly, Jack caught her. "Whoa, I gotcha. Let's set her down over here. Festus, you check on Matt."
Festus rushed to Matt. "Matthew? It's me, Festus. We gonna take good care of ya. Doncha worry none. Miz Kitty, she be alright her own self. Me and the Sheriff, we be lookin after her fur ya."
Kitty quickly pushed to Matt's side. "Oh, Cowboy, I'm so sorry."
"Kit, don't be. You know nothing would have stopped me."
With tears streaming down her cheeks she forced a smile. "Let's get you home."
TBC