The Rescue 36
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Though the weather had warmed in the past few days, it was still frigidly cold in the late night air and Kitty shivered but she maintained her silence. She was determined not to complain of anything.
Several times, Matt looked back at her. "You alright?" He asked.
Kitty consistently nodded each time. "I'm fine."
Looking at her, Matt knew better, but he also knew there wasn't much he could do about it right then, other than get them both as far from the trading post as fast as possible. He toyed with the idea of heading back up to the cabin, but the trail up there would most likely be treacherous and snow laden.
He'd never been much further west then they currently were so he had no real idea where they might find a safe haven in that direction. But he did know people down south. People that just might be willing to assist them, regardless of their status of outlaws.
"Hang in there, Honey." He looked back at her once again. "I've got an idea where we can go, for at least a while."
"I'm fine." Kitty repeated, not sure if she was reassuring him or herself.
Back at the trading post, Blint, Tiller and Grafton were silently watching the figure in the front window. It looked like a woman sitting by the fire, perhaps doing needlework or something. But it was too dark to be certain. "Ak, you and Harry sneak up to that window and look in." Grafton ordered. His voice letting them know he would brook no argument. "It's too dark to see who that is from here."
Ak wanted to protest but he had not the courage to do so. "Come on, Harry." He pulled on his cohort's sleeve and moved forward. They didn't think this was a set up but the thought that it might be, made them move carefully and quietly. Once to the window, they cautiously crept up just enough to look in.
The person in the chair was sitting quietly, with a blanket over their lap and a shawl over their head. There was very little to indicate whether the person was even female, much less the female they wanted. That was until Harry paid closer attention to the shawl covered head. Just on the fringe, near the figure's neck line was a flash of red. Though the dim lamp light could illuminate little, it was bright enough for Harry and then Ak to see that.
Ak stepped over to the door and quietly tried the knob. It turned easily. "This far up and this time of year, they probably don't expect anybody to come so they didn't lock the door." Ak whispered to Harry. Go back and tell Grafton it's her. And hurry."
Running in a crouch, Harry made his way back to Grafton. "It's her." He said excitedly. "She's got a shawl on, but we saw her hair. It's her. And the front door ain't locked. We can walk right in."
Grafton stood thoughtfully for a second. "Alright," he looked back over at Harry. "You go on back up there. You and Ak get in front of the door and bust in shooting. If there's anyone in there with her, you'll get them before they can get you. If she's alone, the shots will warn everybody to stay out of it."
"What about you?" Harry cast him a suspicious look.
"I'll be right beside you." He slapped the shorter man on the shoulder. "I'll probably go in through the window to get their attention while you two go in through the door."
Eagerly Harry nodded and started forward but stopped when he realized Grafton hadn't moved. "What's wrong?'
"Go on!" Grafton demanded. "I'm coming."
Harry nodded uncertainly, turned and headed back to Ak's side. Hurriedly whispering instructions he glanced back behind his shoulder to see Grafton coming forward as he'd promised. With a sigh of relief, both men moved to the door, pulled their guns, turned the knob and threw themselves into the room, firing as they entered.
Instantly, the three men behind the counter rose and began firing. Harry went down without a sigh. Ak, though immediately wounded, wasn't quite finished. When he fell to the floor, he rolled to his side, aiming his gun at the figure still sitting in the chair by the fire.
Festus saw the motion and shouted. "Get down, Doc." His yell startled Ak and he turned his gun instantly upon the sound and fired, hitting Festus in the upper chest. Percival swiftly raised his rifle and fired upon Ak, putting his lights out for good.
When Doc finally got out of the chair he'd been trapped in, because the shawl had caught on the arm, he ran over to Festus, and gently turned him over. He was still alive but seriously wounded. Barking out orders he arranged to have his friend moved to a bed where he could work on him and hopefully save his life.
While he was working on Festus, with Maizie's help, Percival and Buster took care of Ak and Harry. None of them knew about the third man who'd veered off to the left when he was sure Ak and Harry would work as effective distractions. He had a feeling it was a setup, seeing someone in the window, and he wasn't about to get caught up in it.
Racing around the side of the building, he slowed his steps when he was sure he was out of sight. The moon was full and bright and he had no trouble seeing the ground around him. He wasn't sure why, but he had a feeling his birds had already flown the coop and were getting away while he and his now dead companions were dickering around out front.
Carefully scanning the ground as he walked, he found what he was looking for, behind the building. Cut deep into the snow covered ground, two sets of horse tracks led west as clearly as any sign post. "Thought so." He grinned.
Retracing his steps back around to the front. He cautiously made his way to the tree line where they'd stowed their horses and untied them from the tree limb they'd been tethered to. Initially he thought to take Ak and Harry's horse with him as backups, but he figured they would slow him down. Letting go of their reins, he hastily mounted his own horse and, skirting the trading post building, made his way back to the tracks he'd found and rode.
Smiling as he picked up speed, he imagined what he was going to do with the reward money he was soon to collect and the red head, he was soon to take.
TBC