A Little Bit Too Salty

Chapter 1

"Just leave it out back, Marshall," Mr. Jonas told Matt as he turned to wait on Kitty.

"Alright," said Matt as he grabbed his Stetson and walked out the back of the store. He had to get back to the office.

"Oh, Miss Kitty, I got your material for you. It's all wrapped up and ready to go. Is there anything else I can get you? Would you like a new parasol all the way from St. Louis?" Mr. Jonas asked, showing Kitty the parasol.

"No thank you, Mr. Jonas? How much do I owe you?" Kitty asked.

Looking at his ledger, Mr Jonas replied, "It's $6.40."

Mr. Jonas and Kitty did not hear Crego walk in until he offered to pay for Kitty's material. "I'll pay for it," said Crego.

"What?" asked Mr. Jonas.

"I said I'll pay for it," responded Crego as he walked up to the counter, tossing a ten dollar coin in the air.

"You'll do nothing of the kind!" exclaimed Kitty. "Put it on my bill, Mr. Jonas.

"I like to buy things for pretty girls, provided they let me carry the package home for them," Crego said with a leer on his face.

Turning towards Crego, Kitty raised her hand and slapped him across the face. "Now get out of here, before I hit you again."

Crego was taken back by Kitty's slap. He grabbed her arm and shoved her towards a table of material. There was no way a woman was going to treat him that way, and he was going to let Kitty know that. He raised his hand getting ready to hit her across the face.

"You're a little too salty. You need to be taught a lesson!" Crego yelled at her as he struck Kitty across the face.

Kitty tried to defend herself, but the way Crego had his grip on her, she couldn't. Unfortunately Crego didn't stop at one hit. He dealt a few more blows. This time to the side of Kitty's head, knocking her unconscious. She fell to the floor. When she did, Crego made his way out of the store.

While all that had been going on, Mr. Jonas watched on in horror. He really didn't know what to do. He wanted to help Kitty, defend her, but logically he knew he was no match for the man beating Kitty. Mr. Jonas wanted to go and get Matt, but felt he shouldn't leave Kitty alone with her attacker. He wasn't even sure if the man remembered that he was even there. Time seemed to come to a standstill for Mr. Jonas as the attack went on, but in reality it was just a minute or two.

Once Crego left, Mr. Jonas immediately went to Kitty. He couldn't believe what he saw. Kitty's face and head were battered and bleeding. "Oh, Miss Kitty, I'm so sorry. It's going to be okay. I'll go get the Marshall," Mr. Jonas said, scrambling out of the store.

Mr. Jonas walked out of his store and started quickly walking towards the Marshal's office. It didn't take him long to reach his destination. He opened the door and barged in. Slightly out of breath he yelled, "Marshal! Come quick! Miss Kitty has been attacked!"

"What!? Where is she? When did this happen?" Matt rattled on as he grabbed his gun belt and Stetson and followed Mr. Jonas out the door. This was the last thing he had expected to hear. He had just seen her not too long ago and she was fine then.

"She was attacked at my store just several minutes ago," answered Mr. Jonas.

Matt and Mr. Jonas arrived quickly at Mr. Jonas' store. When they got there Kitty was still unconscious on the floor. Matt was shocked at what he saw. For a moment he froze, not knowing what to do. This was his girl lying on the floor with those injuries. Mr. Jonas' voice broke him out of his trance.

"Marshal, what can I do to help?" asked Mr. Jonas.

Matt knelt down to Kitty and checked to make sure she was still alive. Relieved that she was, Matt turned towards Mr. Jonas. "Go and get Doc. Tell him Kitty has been attacked and to hurry."

Nodding his head, Mr. Jonas went to go and get Doc Adams. He reached Doc's office and climbed the steps to his office. He knocked on the door before entering. "Doc, you need to come to my store. Miss Kitty has been attacked."

TBC