PT.25

Kitty sat up in a well cushioned, high back, brocade winged chair. She was in their bedroom just by the window, next to the fireplace. Nothing at this point was going to convince her to sleep. Sitting in her lap was pieces of the children clothes she had been folding earlier. It was as if she could smell their scent on each piece and felt by holding them, it kept them close.

She knew she could still feel them in her heart and Matt promised to bring all her babies home safe. Holding the pieces of fabric up to her face, taking in the scents. "Oh, Cowboy. Please bring my babies home. I need you all."

She was now staring into the darkness out the window with the small, beacon of light that she had burned ever night he was gone. She left the light on to guide him home, something she still did. "Our lights on Cowboy. Guess old habits die hard."

Suddenly, a light tap on the door. "It's open."

"Momma, just wanted to check on you. You've been up here since..."

"Grace, I know and I'm fine. You and Doc can stop worrying."

"Momma, you sure you feel..."

"GRACE. Honey, I love you."

Smiling, knowing it was a que to stop. "Ok, Momma. Can I get you anything?"

Shaking her head. "No. No, Sweetheart. Grace, Mary... Mary and the children... they'll be here?"

"Yes, Momma, of course they will."

"Grace, we are going to have your wedding and we all are going to be here with you. For you."

Grace stood quiet for a moment. "Oh, Momma." Now slowly sitting at Kitty's feet.

"Grace Honey, your father and I were so blessed having you and your sisters. We couldn't ask for more than we have. Yes we've had many a bumps in the road but you girls and the babies..." now winking at her, gliding her fingertips down Grace's cheek, "you are our heart's reward. All of us together, here on the ranch."

Nodding in agreement, Beth entered, listening and joining Grace on the floor. Holding Kitty's hand.

"My precious girls." Kitty said now smiling at them both. Grace and Beth both knew Kitty's heart was breaking not knowing if Mary and the children were safe and if Matt and the men had found them.

Just as the sun was coming up, Grace and Beth were now resting their heads on Kitty's legs still holding her hands. Jamie, wiping the sleep from his eyes, peered in Kitty's room.

Kitty, in a twilight, "Jamie? Honey, are you alright?"

"Uh huh. It's morning, Grandma."

Hearing his voice, Beth and Grace stirred. "Aw, Momma. We must have..."

Smiling, "Uh huh. Maybe you should..."

Now both seeing Jamie, "Oh, the children."

Matt, Frankie and Newly woke, looking around but not seeing Festus. "Matt, Festus! He's not..."

"Et et. I'm sure he's around here. Maybe we can make some coffee and then pack up." Matt suggested.

Festus had headed out a bit ahead to see if he could pick up some signs. Suddenly hearing voices, he followed the sounds, pushing through the bushes. "Mornin', Folks. You campin' here, are ya?"

A woman looked up at the whiskered man. "Where'd you come from, Mister?" The woman asked.

"Oh, Ma'am, I didn't mean ta scare ya. Me and my friends are jest down the hill a bit. We're a lookin' fer…"

Smiling up at him, "There's plenty of eats. You want to set with us for breakfast? Coffee's hot."

"Smells plumb good." Festus answered. "Ma'am, I'd be obliged if'n I could jaw with ya."

Just then, her husband came up on them, carrying a pail of water from the creek. "Hello."

"Howdy." Festus nodded. "I be Festus Haggen. Me and my friends are jest down the hill. We're out a lookin' fer a wagon with a woman, some youngins and a hill man."

Now staring at one another, "Will? Do you think..."

Festus, squinting with one eye, "Ma'am, you seen this here wagon, have ya?"

"Mr. Haggen. I'm Will Farrell and this here is my wife, Hannah. What Hannah was starting to say to you was yesterday, just when the sun was about to set, we come across a man and woman. They had a wagon and some small youngin's. My Misses, Hannah, felt a way about the woman. Feared some."

"And he was right mean to her." Hannah said. "What I mean is, she was real friendly but her man, he hushed her and the lil' fella. Small as a minute, he was, a mite friendly too. They had two lil' girls and two other little boys. Will, didn't that lil' one say his name was Adam?"

"Hannah, I think he said he was Adam, umm, Rerdon?"

Festus' eyes shot open. "Ya mean Reardon? Adam Reardon?"

I think that'd be the name." Hannah answered.

"And ya say they passed ya at sunset?"

"That's right, Mr. Haggen. Is this who yer lookin' for?"

"It plumb shore is. That Ya-hoo, he be kidnapping Miss Mary and them there youngins."

Now looking on, shocked. "Oh, my word!"

"Thank ya fur the coffee, Ma'am. But I need ta be gittin' ta Matthew and Frankie. We need ta git on their trail."

Now holding on to one another. "We're sure sorry bout yer friend and them youngins."

Shaking his head, "Much obliged ta ya folks." Turning quickly, he rushed back to Matt, Frankie and Newly.

"Matthew! Matthew!" Rushing towards his friends. "I jest jawed with a family. They crossed paths with Mary at sunset yesterdee."

Without a word, they packed up and mounted and charged forcefully up into the hills, coming upon the Farrell's. Festus introduced Will and Hannah to Matt, Frankie and Newly.

Noticing Newly wearing a badge. "Marshal, we wish there'd be more we could do."

Nodding, "We appreciate what you've told us."

Matt turned to Will Farrell. "Were they..." Now hesitating.

Quickly, Hannah stepped forward. "Sir, they seemed unharmed."

Matt lowered his eyes, huffing out a deep breath. "Thank you, Mrs. Farrell." She could see the pain in his eyes as well as the others.

Grace and Beth sat silent in the kitchen. Beth was making breakfast for lil' Katie and Jamie. "Momma, where's my brothers?" Katie spoke in a soft dainty voice.

"Aw, Honey, they'll be home soon. Remember, they went fishing."

"Ewwww! Stinky."

Chuckling, "Yeah, Honey, it can be."

It was now the morning of what should have been Grace and Chet's wedding. What should have been a happy day for this family was now sad and somber. Everyone, all over the area, now knew of Mary and the childrens disappearance and that all plans were on hold.

"Grace, while they finish, I want to check on Momma."

Winking in her direction, "Yeah, me and Jamie have things here. Right, Buddy?"

"Right, Aunt Grace."

Beth made her way upstairs, tapping on the door. "Momma? It's Beth. Can I come in?"

"Sure, Honey. It's open."

Slowly, Beth opened the door. Kitty was standing, looking out the window, looking out over the full view of the ranch front. She was willing and praying her family would ride down the road approaching the house. With her hands folded, pressed against her lips, "Please. Please come home to me, to us."

"Momma, Grace has breakfast."

Shaking her head, "No. No, I'm not hungry."

"But you need..."

Turning, staring at her daughter. "I need my family back under my roof. That's what I need. My child. Your children. My grandchildren." Shaking her head, "This is all my fault."

"But how? Momma, they were just fishing."

Waving her hand. "NO! No, Beth, the first time at the cabin." She was now pacing.

"But …"

"No. No, Beth, you don't understand. I shouldn't have let him take her even if it meant killing him."

Beth stood startled. She always knew Kitty would go to any lengths protecting her family. She had proven this many times. But she also knew she deplored taking a life. It never set well with her spirit or conscience.

"Beth, Honey, I love all you girls."

Now embracing her, "Momma, we know."

"Beth, I know I didn't give you or Mary life but I promise you, I couldn't love you girls anymore than if I had. I love you the same as Grace."

"Momma," smiling a loving smile, 'we know. We've never questioned or doubted your love for us. Shortly before Momma passed on, she sat me down and had long talk with me. I don't know if I've ever told you this but she explained to me all about her and Poppa. And not that she ever considered what happened a mistake, but deep down she knew Poppa's heart belonged with a really lucky woman. Then she explained that when the time came, she was at peace with knowing I was in good hands. She said any woman Poppa could love so deeply had to have a huge capacity for love in so much as would love me as I were her very own."

Now looking up. "Momma, you were so right." Now wrapping her arms around Kitty. "I couldn't ask for a better Momma to finish what my first momma started. And I know for a fact Mary feels the same."

Turning when they heard a sound. Katie stood in the doorway tilting her little head. "We have lots of love in our family."

Beth and Kitty smiled at one another. "Yes, Katie, Sweetie. Yes, we do."

Now looking up at Kitty with her big azure blue eyes and long blonde curls. "Give you love, Grandma?" Throwing her arms around Kitty as she knelt down to meet her face to face.

"UHHHHH. Yes. Lots and lots of love."

Tears pooled as she remembered Mary doing the same thing at that age.

Now that the sun was up. Mary tried to gather the little ones all together. "Now, look, I want you all to listen. I 'm going to get us out of here. I don't want you all to worry."

"Miss Mary?" Tessie began with her frightened eyes. "What happened to Edmond? He never be so mean. Me and Eva, we be scared. We wanna go back." Now lowering her tone, "Ya know, home with Miss Kitty, the big man and everybody." Slightly smiling. "Yer family. Can we please?"

"Oh, Tessie." Scooping her up. "You bet we can and we will. I promise. You'll see."

Suddenly, in the distance, Adam heard a voice. It was faint but he heard, "Mary? Adam? Tessie? Eva? Matthew? Michael? Can you hear me?"

Adam jumped up. "Ma? Listen. I heared..."

"You heard." Mary corrected him.

"Yeah, I heared our names. Listen."

Then again as if the wind carried the voice. "Mary, Adam, Matthew, Tessie, Eva, Matthew, Michael! If you hear me..."

Mary recognized Newly's voice. "UNCLE NEWLY! We're here!"

"Mr. Dillon? Did you hear that? It sounded like Mary. She called out my name."

"Newly, what direction?"

"Sounded like it was straight ahead. It was distant but it's in earshot."

"Lets go, Boys."

As they started up further, Newly was thrown back by a loud gunshot. His body rolled backwards downhill. "Ah! I'm hit." As they stopped. "NO! NO, go! Go get them. I'll be alright."

Matt, Frankie and Festus were cautious but had full adrenaline pumping. "Mary!" Was being yelled out by his Pa .. then..Frankie.? She yelled in return, enough to set Adam off.

"Pa! Me and Ma, we're here with the rest of the family."

Again, another shot rang out. Edmond now gathered the group together. "Quiet! Not another word. Shut ya'all's mouth up."

Standing tall, even at his small size. "That's my pa and he's comin' ta git us. And I bet my Grandpa is with him and he's gonna lock you in jail." He was now stamping his foot in anger.

"Adam, Honey, don't."

Edmond lifted his hand as if to swing at Adam.

Jumping between them, "DON'T you dare." Quickly, she yelled to the kids. "Go on, kids. Get out of here. Go towards Pa and Grandpa. Hurry! Go!" Backing up herself.

Edmond quickly reached out, grabbing Mary by her hair. "You ain't going no place."

She continued swinging, hitting at him, screaming, "Let go of me, Edmond."

"Stop yer fightin'."

Matt, Frankie and Festus closed in, seeing the little ones running towards them. "That's it. Come on now."

Looking at the kids. "Where's Adam?"

"We was all runnin' and..."Tessie now shrugging her shoulders.

As Festus approached close enough, he could see Mary wildly fighting with Edmond, trying to grab the gun from his hands. "Hold it, ya yahoo!"

Now pointing his gun at Edmond. "Let ur go!"

"Nah, Ya ain't taking her. She be mines." Edmond demanded.

Festus was trying to keep Mary out of his line of fire as Matt and Frankie worked their way around from other angles.

Mary was still struggling to free herself. "Let go of me! You're crazy! You're hurting me." She was now kicking and shoving him. Her temper was in full on mode.

"Mary Honey, it's Frankie. Honey, calm down, we're here. Going to get you out of here, Honey."

"Frankie, the kids…"

"No, Honey, they're fine."

"Webb, this is Matt Dillon. There's no way out. Drop the gun. Let her go!"

Edmond was now getting confused, trying to concentrate on all the voices at once.

Again, Mary swung. "Let go of my hair, you fool." Now the next kick doubled him over, hitting him in the groin. As he doubled up, she pushed away and again the gun went off.

All three men yelled out, "Mary!"

TBC