Matt was stone-faced as he took the stairs two at a time, tightly gripping the wanted posters he'd received at the end of the meeting. He felt like he'd been kicked in the gut when he recognized Bellum's face was on one of them!

Bank and stagecoach robbery, murder, and rape were only the most brutal crimes their fellow passenger was accused of and he couldn't stand the idea of Kitty being in the same hotel with such a monster.

"Kitty..." He knocked gently, intending to give her a quick word before heading down the hall to make the arrest.

"Kitty?" Going in without waiting for a reply, he froze with his hand still on the doorknob; the sensation that went up his spine almost hurt, "Kit?"

His sixth sense screamed what he didn't want to hear as he stormed down the hall, pounding on Bellum's door hard enough to break it.

"Bellum!" With gun clenched in his hand he barely thought about the possibility of other hotel guests getting in the way, "Open up!"

Then the memory of the felon's smile shining down on his girl sent his weight crashing through the unlocked door. It was almost ripped off the hinges.

"Bellum?" he growled, regaining his balance with wary eyes darting around the room, "Kit?"

That's when he noticed the little wooden box laying open on the floor. He pocketed it and ran breathlessly to the lobby.

"This man." His voice was hoarse as he showed the wanted poster to the clerk, "He came in on the stage with me yesterday. Room five, third floor. I didn't know he was wanted then. Have you seen him today?"

"Why, yes sir!" the clerk's eyes lit up, "They left some hours ago. Went towards the stable."

"They…?" Matt's heart twisted; it was confirmation of what he didn't want, "W-was there a woman with him?"

"Yes, sir!" the clerk nodded earnestly, "A gorgeous redhead. Had the biggest diamond you ever saw pinned on her blue dress." He beamed, "I figured they're gonna be married soon."

The Marshal's eyes bulged, "A diamond?"

"Yes sir!" the clerk kept nodding, "Biggest I've ever seen, but...I'd say...fitting for a woman like that." He shook his head, disbelieving, "That's an awful lucky man."

Matt didn't bother filling him in on the details. His heart was twisted so tight he could barely breathe.

His long stride retook the stairs three at a time and soon he was stuffing a sack with his handcuffs, a canteen, antelope jerky, coffee and coffee pot, and matches. He was just glad that those items were always standard packing for him.

"Did this man get a horse this afternoon?" He held up his badge and the wanted poster again.

"Why, yes sir, Marshal." the manager's eyes bulged at the sight of the gold star, "I sold him two big geldings. He said they were heading west." He bit his lip a moment, "In fact, now that I think of it...he said something about seeing the Pacific." He rubbed his chin, adding, "His woman was really something..."

"I need a horse that can catch up with them." Matt growled with irritation; why did they all think Kitty belonged with that monster? "He's a felon and that woman is his hostage. Her life is in danger!"

"Yes sir, Marshal!" the manager practically tripped over his own feet as he scrambled to get a mount, "She's in danger, you say? I can't believe it! I'll feel responsible if—"

"Just get my horse!"

Once aboard, the Marshal pressed his heels firmly into the big bay beast; his heart was pounding loud enough to block out the surrounding noise as he weaved around the carts, buggies, wagons, and people in the busy street.

Upon reaching the wide open prairie, he followed two sets of hoof prints traveling closely to the railroad while his thoughts spun at full speed.

Why hadn't they just taken the train? It seemed insane to think they would ride horseback all the way to California!

Could Kitty honestly make a trip like that? With a man who intended to do her harm? The answer was definitely negative. Matt knew her far too well. She wouldn't let Bellum do that to her. If he couldn't find her fast, he might just find her dead...or maybe not at all.

Glancing at the sun, he judged that he still had a few hours of daylight left and his thoughts turned grim. Would Ad let her rest at night? And what if he did? His senses went numb at that idea. He knew he was running out of time.

"I shouldn't have brought her with me." he muttered, in bitter anger, "Better to have her back in Dodge and angry with me than dead without a grave or in some unmarked mound where I'll never find her."

Keeping sharp eyes on the trail, he kept the horse at a trot and tried to block out his negative thoughts as the miles ticked by and the sun headed towards the prairie. He would find her and that's all there was to it.

Then nightfall came on and the stars and moon glowed brightly all around him. It was almost like daytime and the trail was still easy to follow. His heart surged with a little hope, even if they weren't bedding down and he didn't make up ground, he wouldn't lose time looking for their trail either. That meant the world to him.

Suddenly, the sound of babbling water ahead excited his horse and Matt's heart sank a little when remembered that he'd been pushing the good beast pretty hard. He'd push on forever if that's what it took to get Kitty back, but the horse needed taking care of.

"Alright, we'll stop for a quick drink." he muttered consent, "but I'm afraid it can't be as long as you'd like." Reaching down to give the horse's withers a friendly rubbing, he added grimly, "My girl is up there somewhere and I gotta catch up with her."

Dismounting at the edge of a little creek, he scanned the surroundings with interest. The trees, scrub, and little rock formations around the water would be an excellent place for a campsite and he couldn't help but wonder if Kitty was closer than he'd thought.

They probably stopped to water their horses here, he thought, watching the horse take greedy gulps. But were they bedded down for the night here too? He almost doubted it. An experienced felon like Bellum wouldn't risk stopping at such an obvious spot while the sun was still in the sky. But if there was any chance Kitty was here...

"Well…" he muttered to himself, as he popped a hunk of jerky into his mouth and looped the reins around a tree branch.

A scan of the area definitely wouldn't hurt!

Author's Note: LovingmesomeMK: Forgetting about Ad was half the point in chapter 3! The other was just letting M&K enjoy each other!