I'm going to apologize again, I hate it when I start reading a story and it doesn't get finished. I'm ashamed of being one of those writers who has stalled for so long and I am truly sorry. I'm going to try and get this chapter written and posted.

KR

Kitty sat on the cot in the cell, the huge bath sheet wrapped around her shivering body. Her red locks were still damp and Jules sat behind her trying to dry them. Michael came in with a bottle of whiskey. He looked at the redhead sitting on the cot, a far away look in those beautiful blue eyes of hers. He cleared his throat, pulling himself out of thought of the badly abused, but beautiful redhead sitting on the cot. As he came into the cell with the bottle and a whiskey glass, Kitty leaned back closer to Jules. "It's okay, Kitty, he's a friend." She said as Mike knelt down in front of Kitty. Kitty saw the sheriff's badge and reached a shaking hand out to touch it. Michael watched her tentative touch and a tear fell from her eye, to slip down her bruised cheek.

"Jules try to get her to drink a little whiskey, it'll help warm her up from the inside." Mike said setting the bottle on the cot with the glass. "When you get her comfortable come on out and talk with me. We'll figure out what's next." He said.

"What's next, we should be getting Dr. Kelsey in here, Mike." Jules said a bit annoyed.

"Yes, well Doc is at the Grammer Farm, I'll be heading out there as soon as we talk a bit." He stood up. "You got any decent clothing that might fit her?" Mike asked her.

"Yes, as soon as I get her to sleep, I'll go back to my room at Mama Lynne's house." She said to him.

"Okay, I'll give you some privacy, maybe she'll tell us a little more about who she is and how this all got started." He said heading out of the cell room. He didn't bother to lock the door because there was no back door to go out. She wouldn't be escaping from this little jail.

Jules opened the whiskey bottle and poured Kitty a shot. She then held it up to Kitty. "I want you to drink this, it will help you to warm up, and hopefully it will help you sleep." She said handing the glass to Kitty.

Kitty looked up at her and took the whiskey and drank it down in one shot then made a face at the heat and taste. She then began to cry and Jules pulled her to her and held her as she cried. "Shooo, it's alright, you're safe now." She cooed to her.

Mike leaned against the door listening to the stranger sob and Jules trying to soothe her. He didn't understand what made a man like Devon Lawton do the things he had done. Kitty was not the first woman he had hurt but she would obviously be the last and for that he was grateful. Devon had been cleared of the Murder of 15 year old Claudia Taylor, daughter of Jake and Iris Taylor. Their daughter had been beaten, raped and murdered, but Mark Swaney claimed that he and Devon were down at Lucy's Ladies, another whorehouse on the other side of town and the whores were all paid well to lie. Mike knew they were lying, but he could not prove it. He goes over to his desk and pulls out his flask and drinks a quick mouthful of whiskey then puts it back in the drawer.

Tim Keagan came into the sheriff's office. Tim is Mike's brother in law and Mike despises his greasy/ weaselly brother in law, who had a yellow streak down his back as wide as the grand canyon. He was Mike's deputy, but not by choice. His wife, Sadie, was paid money by General Augustus Lawton, to convince her husband to give Tim a job and Tim reported back to Sadie who then reported to Augustus.

"Hey Mike, where's that whore?" He asked coming into the room like he was something or someone to fear.

"Excuse me?" Mike asked him.

"Where's the whore that Killed Devon, we gonna hang her." He said going towards the door to the cell. Mike quickly got up and followed him into the cell area. Jules stood up immediately and pushed Kitty behind her. "Move out of the way, whore, you ain't the whore we're gonna hang." He said to Jules

"You ain't gonna hang no one." Mike said from the door way. He walked over to Tim and looked at the smaller man. "Get out of my jail." He said just as he ripped the deputy's badge from Tim's shirt.

"You done tore my shirt. Sadie ain't gonna be none too happy about that." He looked up at Mike. "Do yourself a favor Mike, step out of the way and let me have the whore. I'm gonna make sure that the General gets what he wants." Tim said trying to stare Mike down. But Mike just looked at the slimey little worm.

"You would do well to watch your mouth, Tim. She ain't no whore." Jules said angrily.

"She's a whore alright, just like yourself. Spread your legs for 2 bits." He said laughing until Mike punched him in the face. He went flying against the cell bars. Mike than grabbed him and struck him in the abdomen.

"You're the only whore here, Tim cause you sold your soul to the devil for two bits. You take your sorry self out of this here jail and don't dare come back. And while you're at it, pack your things and get off of my property. Maybe the General will give you a place to stay, but I want you out of my house, you got me?" He said shoving him towards the door and into the outer office. He then relieves Tim of his gun and his key to the Jailhouse. Then holding his upper arm tightly he leads him out of the jail.

"I'm telling Sadie you hit me." He said from the from sidewalk. "See whose gonna be moving off the property then." He said as he started to get onto the horse which also belonged to the office of deputy. Mike grabbed the reigns and shook his head no. "You expect me to walk back to the farm? It's nearly 3 miles." He wined.

"It's a mile and a half. You could use the exercise." Mike said tying the horse back up. Time gave him a dirty look. Mike scrunched his shoulders and face as if he were going to go after Tim, and Tim took off out of fear. Mike started laughing as he headed back inside the jail. He locked the door behind him and laid the heavy metal bar across the door. He then closed the shutters over the windows so no one could see them inside and possible take a shot at him. This was not going to go well. This unknown woman had killed General Augustus Lawton's son. And now, he was afraid that she would be hanged for the justifiable death of a murderous animal.

TBC

Thank you for reading. I'm not quite myself these days and apologize for the length of time I've taken to post. I'm working on getting my head back in order, but I hope that doesn't discourage you from reading.

KR