Dark Reflection

Chapter 14

"Plan of Action"

by

Lilyjack

His good eye squinting in concentration, Matt intently listened to Doc's plan as they sat side-by-side once more on the edge of the bed. The exhausted patient had only slept a couple of hours before waking, and he immediately began to softly pepper his physician with questions. What exactly did Doc have in mind in order for "Jack Mathias" to escape Sheriff Silas Blackthorne's clutches? It turned out the plan was quite simple, although it required trusting other individuals in the town as well. Back when Doc had first lied to Blackthorne about expecting Mathias to die, the crafty old man had made a circumspect inquiry, finding someone he felt they could welcome into their small circle of trusted conspirators.

"Harry Botkin." Doc pressed his lips together, nodding his head firmly at his new friend "Jack."

Matt raised his brows silently in surprise and then asked in a near whisper in order to spare his broken ribs, "How do you know we can trust him, Doc?"

"He resisted them from the get-go, Jack. They nearly beat him to death months ago, just like they did you. He's recovering - not nearly as fast as you are, mind you. I almost lost him, to tell the truth. He hasn't even made it out of his house yet. But he has no love for Blackthorne or his army. He's agreed to hide you until you recover and can leave town. Meanwhile, we can make a show of burying our weighted pine box on Boot Hill…"

"But Doc…" Matt wheezed.

"Jack, we don't have time for discussion. As soon as it gets dark and the boys get here with that coffin… Hey, they should have been here by now. I wonder what's keeping them… We'll sneak you outta here over to Botkin's empty warehouse where—"

"But Doc, you know I've got other things to do." Matt's expression had turned anxious, urgent. "Important things and I thought you'd…"

"Oh boy, here it comes…" The old man scrubbed a hand over his lower face, frowning. "Do you know how close you came to dying, Jack? Just a matter of a few days ago, for heaven's sake! And you are still not well at all! You can't go gallivantin' around, trying to do whatever it is you think you need to do! You're not capable!"

Matt visibly winced, remembering how he'd collapsed in the floor just a couple of hours earlier. He reached up, gingerly rubbing beneath the black eye patch to relieve an irritating itch. He sighed. "Doc, you don't…understand. I've got no choice."

"Oh, I think I understand perfectly well. Your 'choice' is a pretty little thing with bright red hair and big blue eyes." Doc closed one eye and jabbed a finger toward his patient. "Am I right?"

Matt's face managed to flush in spite of the bruises. He answered in a low voice, "As a matter of fact, Doc, you're…right. How did you…?"

Doc grumbled in frustration, "Did anyone ever tell you that you talk in your sleep?"

Matt turned an even brighter shade of pink. "What did I s-…?" he began in alarm, grimacing and catching hold of his side with his hand. He had to remember not to get too excited. The outcome was too painful.

"Ohhh…nothing serious…but you did call her name, Jack. Several times. And she's the reason you got the daylights whaled outta you to begin with! I'm not an idiot, you know. It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together."

"Doc, she's…in bad shape." Matt's expression was pleading as he blew out a soft breath.

Doc's tone changed, softened. "Whatta you mean?"

"I was in there with her…just a few seconds, but I know something was seriously wrong with her. I know Kitty, and she was glassy-eyed…not herself. She didn't know what was going on. I've seen that look before…on soldiers in the hospital during the war..." Matt held up a hand as he took a couple of fortifying breaths. He hadn't spoken this much at one time since being injured. He began again in earnest, "…powerful pain killers, Doc. That's why I don't want you…giving them to me. I don't like the way…they make me feel. I think Blackthorne is giving them…to her, Doc, while she's locked up."

Doc's face sobered. "That's very possible. It's a shame, that's what it is. That young woman had a future and…"

"That's why you gotta…help me, Doc. I hafta get Kitty out of there."

"Oh, Jack, I don't think we can." Regretfully, Doc shook his head. "I know you realize you already tried and failed, son. And I'd be no good to you. What on earth do you think we could do? Blackthorne is too strong. He simply has too many men and guns."

"I think in her condition…she'll need a doctor. I don't know exactly how…I'll get her out, but I've got to try again. I can't leave her in there, Doc." Matt scrubbed his fingers through his curly hair and looked at the physician grimly. "I'll come up with a plan this time…not go charging in like a bull."

"I kin help ya'." A quiet voice through the open door from the outer room startled Matt and Doc both. Had Ocie and Lafe finally gotten back with the pine box?

Their gazes shifted to meet an unexpected face sticking his head through the door frame - soulful brown eyes and straight dark brown hair with an angry scar slashing across his cheek. The thin man with the pronounced limp removed his hat, held it respectfully against his chest and slowly advanced into the room, repeating, "I kin help ya…with yer plan, I mean." He visibly swallowed and continued when the astonished men failed to answer him, "Doctor Adams, awful sorry t' interrupt, but my name's Chester Goode. Yer front door was, uh, unlocked, and I was wantin' to talk to this here feller Mr. Mathias on account 'a my boss, y'see. That's Miss Kitty over to the Long Branch. Yer acquainted with her if I'm not mistaken, ain't that right, Mr. Mathias?"

Matt finally recovered sufficiently to nervously clear his throat and reply cautiously, "And if I am?" He was torn between being deliriously happy to be reunited with Chester and worrying exactly whose side Chester was on in this strange place that was still called Dodge City even though everything seemed turned topsy-turvy. Matt slid a sideways glance towards a still and silent Doc, who was probably himself also wondering how much this Chester Goode had heard and precisely where his alliances lay.

Chester tensely worked his weather-beaten hat in his hands as he spoke, "Well, Mr. Mathias, I believe yer a friend of Miss Kitty's and…" He swallowed hard again and his eyes visibly filled with tears. "…and she's in a tight spot. Terrible men in this town have her locked up and she's…well, she's not bein' treated right. No, not a'tall. I cain't git her out by myself, and I know you tried, too – I saw you myself, at the Long Branch givin' ole good fer nothin' Linwood Chaney just what he deserved - so I think I can trust you, Mr. Mathias. I thought maybe we could work us out a plan together-like, to bust her outta there." Chester lifted his chin and finished, "That's what I come to say. I hope you'll think about it cause I don't know what else to do. I cain't fight all them men by myself. There's too dadblame many of 'em."

Matt and Doc sat astonished, looking at this slight man with the big heart who'd come desperately seeking help for his boss, and apparently his friend as well, at such a serendipitous moment. Matt reached out a hand to Chester, so relieved to see him once again and so very grateful that he was also looking out for Kitty. Chester firmly gripped his hand in return, giving him a small, anxiously hopeful smile.

"Nice to, uh…nice to meet you, Chester. And I would be very happy to work with you…on getting your boss outta that place."

"You would?" Chester's voice rose a notch or two.

"I don't know how you think you're going to be much help to anyone." Doc had been standing there skeptically listening to the conversation between the two unlikely conspirators. He scowled meaningfully at his reluctant patient. "You can hardly get yourself from one side of this room to the other."

Doc received a disdainful stare from that one blue eye before Matt re-focused on his newfound, old friend. What a wonderful sight, he thought to himself, then almost laughed - sight was a commodity he possessed little of at present.

Matt smiled at Chester genuinely, thankful to have his faithful friend to work with again, even if, in this crazy world, his former assistant did not seem to remember him. "Course I would, Chester," he stated quietly but assuredly. "I think, between the two of us, we'd…make a good team."

"Really?" The surprise and delight was evident in Chester's wide smile.

Doc rolled his eyes. "I hate to break this party up, but we've got to move a dead body soon. It's dark out, so the coast should be relatively clear." He fumed, "Now where are those boys with that casket?"

"Casket?" Chester's features exhibited alarm. "Dead body?"

Matt blithely reassured him, "Oh, don't mind Doc. He's just…killin' me off tonight."

Raising an arm, elbow akimbo, Chester exclaimed, "Well, forevermore!"

Matt stiffly stood, clapping a hand on the smaller man's shoulder, for a little steadying support as much as anything. He pronounced with a warm smile, "It's good to have you on board, Chester. Now, let's put our heads together and see what ideas we can come up with."

tbc

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