DERAILED: CHAPTER 12

"Charlie! Martha!"

Kitty was the first passenger off the train in the bright morning sunlight and flew to greet her friends waiting on the platform. She was so ready for the hug she got from both of them! It was Charlie who noticed first. He knew Matt would never let his wife get off the train without him, and he knew no lawman was ever the first onto the platform.

"Where's Matt, Darlin?" He looked down into her eyes.

"We had a little incident in Pueblo," she explained. "He took a prisoner. He's been in the baggage car all night with the guy. Will you go check on him?"

"Of course I will. You and Martha go inside, we'll meet you there."

As they watched Charlie head off to the baggage car, Kitty pulled Martha in for a second hug: her only connection with a friend after a long, lonely night.

"Oh, Martha, it's so good to see you! It's so good to be here! This trip just HAS to get better right now!"

Martha pushed Kitty back just enough to study her. It was an up-and-down look that only women who loved each other permitted.

"Kitty, it'll be all right. The men can handle it. Oh, you look just lovely! Oh, Kitty! You must be something like five months now! You're just aglow with it, sweetheart!"

"You're right. If it had been another month, Doc would have fought me over this trip. Martha, I have so many questions to ask you!"

"We'll talk it all out, Kitty! We can start as soon as we get home. I have the guest room all ready for you and Matt, and we're planning a wonderful dinner for you tonight. We'd better go inside like Charlie said."

Kitty couldn't help herself. She lagged behind Martha on her way into the depot, craning her neck back to try to catch a glimpse of Matt at the baggage car. It had been fourteen long hours since she'd walked with the porter the night before to that baggage car to join him in delivering two big plates of stew and biscuits to her husband and his prisoner. Matt had only allowed himself a quick minute to stand up and give her a reassuring hug, then she'd watched him take the wrist shackles off of Powers so he could eat first. But the porter had to get back to work, so she'd had to leave right then: right then before she could be sure Matt got to eat something. Now they were in Denver at the dawn of a new day. Maybe this trip would be okay after all. But right at this minute, all she could think about was being home. Home in their beautiful house, home in the big brass bed. No place would ever compare. No sanctuary ever so perfect! Poor Matt! Even if everything went perfectly for him and Charlie, he had to be exhausted. She remembered all too well how beat he always was when he came home from delivering a prisoner. Why would this be any different? If only she hadn't pushed him to come on this trip. He and Frank could have found those guys up in WaKeeney and been done with it.

"Kitty?" Martha looked concerned. Kitty turned quickly back to her friend."

"Sorry. I was . . ."

"I know. I understand. I've been where you are. Just come inside. You need to eat. We'll have breakfast and wait. They have a great restaurant here."

Kitty was back to picking at her breakfast, something she hadn't done for two months. Normally ravenous in the morning these days, she was worried about Matt.

"You're still out there on the platform, aren't you?" Martha smiled at her between bites. "They'll be along. Stop fretting and tell me about it."

"Oh Martha, it was awful! Matt and Frank had a plan . . ."

"Slow down. Who's Frank?"

At that moment, Kitty realized there was much more to the story than she'd ever be able to tell, and it would just have to wait until Matt was with her. The abrupt interruption saved her from explaining.

"Mrs. Cole?" They were startled when the formally dressed man approached their table.

"Yes?" Martha looked up.

"Mrs. Cole, I'm Sherman, a carriage man. Mr. Cole shares with you the word "forever" and asks me to drive you and your friend to your home. He has been detained on business with a Mr. Dillon."

"Of course, Sherman. Thank you," she smiled. We need to pick up some luggage, and we'll go with you right now."

"Mr. Cole has already loaded luggage in my carriage, if you would like to inspect it. He has also paid my fare and provided a generous gratuity."

Martha turned to Kitty.

"Charlie and I use the code word "Forever," Kitty. It means we're safe to go with this man. Let's go home where we can talk, I'll explain it all when we get there. Let's get the rest of our food wrapped up and Sherman can take us home. The guys have some lawman stuff going on, you can bet on it."

XOXOXO

In the cool and quiet of Martha and Charlie's beautiful home, Kitty's appetite finally returned. She warmed her flapjacks and bacon on the stove, then sat at the table while she watched Martha fresh squeeze orange juice.

"Real, honest-to-goodness oranges!" Kitty was wide-eyed.

"They're a special treat for us. Thought I'd have them on hand for your visit. You like orange juice?"

"Oh, Martha! I love it! Haven't had any in a very long time. Any kind of citrus is a rarity in Dodge."

"We have a train all the way to California now, Kitty. They ship wonderful treats in. It's still too expensive to have these for more than special occasions, but it's such a delight! When Charlie first went to work in Denver this was all a dream. There was no way to get through the high country without risking your life, and now we can get fresh oranges from California. Can you imagine that? The train has opened the west, Kitty, all the way to the ocean."

"Matt talks about that sometimes. He thinks they'll be able to ship cattle soon. Might really change Dodge."

"One step at a time. But I agree. Change is inevitable."

"Martha, tell me about your code word. That was so slick."

Kitty sensed Martha's hesitation. She watched her pour two glasses of the fresh juice, then sit pensively at the table for a minute before she spoke.

"It was a long time ago, Kitty. I had two very small children. Charlie was always gone on some sort of duty and that day was just like all the others. I needed to take Stacey to the doctor, so naturally Cord had to come along too. When I came out of the building carrying Stacey and pulling Cord along by the hand, a guy in a carriage stopped and said I needed to come with him because Marshal Cole had been hurt. I didn't hesitate a minute getting in that carriage, babies and all. I was so scared for Charlie!"

She paused for a minute, studying her glass of juice, her eyes starting to mist. Kitty knew the worst was coming next, but she sat quietly while Martha composed herself.

"He took us to a warehouse on the edge of town. Charlie wasn't there, but two other men were, and they sure weren't nice people. They held us for two days before they finally got a ransom note to Charlie. The kids were cold and hungry and cried for their daddy the whole time, and I knew I was the worst mother ever allowed to have a family. It was agonizing! I prayed the whole time, asking God to punish me but spare my innocent babies. Kitty, something changes when you have little ones to take care of! You're just crazy with love for them!"

"I can't even imagine," Kitty said softly. Her eyes misting right along with Martha's. Five months pregnant, she hadn't needed to hear this. All of Matt's newfound fears about being somebody's Pa played in her head.

Martha took a deep breath, and a cleansing sip of the sweet liquid. Both women were quiet for a moment.

"Did Charlie pay the ransom?"

"Lawmen don't pay ransom, Kitty, you know that. He tricked them. He beat the leader to death with his bare hands at the drop point, then he broke into the warehouse and shot the other two right in front of me and the kids. It was the scariest day of my life, Kitty! He was all alone, three to one, and he still got them all. We never got to see him being a marshal like that. To us, he was just our sweet daddy who came home to supper and read stories to us. Stacey buried her face in my skirt during the whole thing. And there was little Cord jumping up and down with delight, screaming "Daddy's home! Daddy's home!" while we watched Charlie blow bloody holes in two human beings. My God, it was horrific!"

"You know about the law. He risked his job, he risked going to prison for life over losing his mind like that. A United States marshal is held to the standard of the law, it's sure no mystery to you. He didn't care about any of that. He had that same blind love for me and the babies that I had for him. As it turned out, all three of them had done prison time and were wanted again for escape and two robberies with murdered victims. Now I have two wonderful, happy, adult children, off enjoying their lives in California, and Charlie is retired from the service with full honors."

"Martha, I'm so sorry this came up. It's all my fault over this deal with Matt taking a prisoner in Pueblo and riding in the baggage car, and Charlie . . ."

Martha put her hand softly on top of Kitty's.

"Stop now! Just stop! It was hard to tell that story, but it ended up being a good thing. I got to teach you one more trick about being a lawman's wife and the mother of his children. You carry a revolver, and so do I. And now you know about having a code word. It will serve you and Matt for a lifetime. As the years go by, you'll face all sorts of challenges, and you'll come up with even more new tricks to share with other young couples, just like Charlie and I did."

"Forever." Kitty smiled softly.

"Forever, Kitty. It means a lot."

XOXOXO

"Ladies!" It was Charlie's voice, but both Martha and Kitty jumped up from their chairs in the parlor and hurried to the door.

Charlie pulled Martha in for a hug and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. A larger-than-life U.S. marshal was right behind him, pulling Kitty in for the same greeting. All four were quiet for a few moments, relishing the joy of being reunited.

"Sorry to leave you like that this morning." It was actually Matt talking to Martha, his tone more than apologetic. "All my fault. Charlie has so many connections here. We delivered Powers to Marshal Barnes downtown and did all the paperwork. Would have taken me an extra day to figure it all out without Charlie. Then, well, again my fault because since Charlie has all the connections, we spent the rest of the day tracking down Peter Duncan."

"Matt!" Kitty was wide-eyed. "Did you arrest Duncan?"

"Quite the contrary, Sweetheart. You'll meet him tomorrow. We're having dinner with him at the Windsor."

"But Matt, . . ." Kitty got a familiar tap on the nose, her signal to stop. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Martha just beaming.

"You two need to get settled into the guest room and rest up just a bit before supper. I have a real nice one planned."

"Martha, I won't hear of it. Let me help you!"

"Thought I told you this is a special occasion, Kitty. My helper Phyllis will be here in just a few minutes. She comes in and cooks when we have guests. I don't need one single bit of help. Charlie can fill the tub for you. Kitty and I already put your luggage in there, Matt. Just relax and spend some time together. Last night wasn't exactly special for either of you."

Matt just grinned. "Take you up on that, Martha. And thank you."

The door to their room closed at last, Matt took Kitty into his arms and covered her neck with kisses. He could hear Charlie filling the tub across the hall, and just couldn't wait to get her in there.

"I love you, Kitten," he whispered in her ear. "You were amazing!"

"What?"

"You know, in Pueblo, at the depot."

She smiled up into his eyes. "Seems like that was a month ago. You were the amazing one, Marshal. I didn't know you could move so fast!"

"That creep had my best girl. Had to kick it up a notch."

"Matt, Frank saved both of us. You know that and so do I. If he hadn't stopped you, you'd have killed that weasel."

"Yeah, don't remind me how that could have turned out." Matt took one hand and touched the back of his neck. "Frankie sure knows how to deck a guy."

"He'll be okay, then, four days riding home without so much as a thanks?"

"I thanked him."

"And he'll be okay?"

"He'll be jealous as hell that I'm here lovin' on you while he's sleepin' on the ground by himself, but he'll grin about that and get over it. What? You wanted me to switch places with him?"

Kitty pulled him in for a deep kiss.

"Not a chance, Cowboy. Not a chance!"

XOXOXO

Charlie Cole stood from the table and raised his glass.

"To Matt and Kitty Dillon. One year ago this week we celebrated your marriage. Today we join you in celebrating your first anniversary, and the expectation of your first child! There's nothing more special. Congratulations, Matt and Kitty! Another United States marshal becomes a family man!"

Everyone clinked glasses and laughed.

"There really are a lot of guys with families now?" Matt was interested.

"Don't you read those bulletins Lincoln's office sends out? Seems like there's a couple of new marriages or births every month in the service."

"That mushy stuff goes in the trash, Charlie. I get enough mail from Washington to choke a horse."

"Matt, I wouldn't mind reading it if you'd bring it home." Kitty's eyes twinkled with the news.

"Wait till you're retired, big guy. You'll read it. Keeps us old guys connected with the job we always loved."

The banter was interrupted when Phyllis came in the room carrying a big tray.

"The first course this evening is wild rice soup. I hope you enjoy it!" She placed a steaming bowl in front of each of them and went on. "The entrée will be ruffled grouse served with cilantro lime sauce. There are no liquors in my sauce to tempt the expectant mother." She smiled politely toward Kitty. "But the steamed fresh asparagus will be served with butter, straight from the cow. And I've made cinnamon apple pie, directly from from Missus Martha's back yard. Save room," she smiled. "It is sure to warm your hearts!"

"Amazing, Phyllis!" Kitty looked up at the woman. "Thank you. This is such a treat!"

"Matt, Martha and I want to see your new house. And you told me so much about Frank today, I can't wait to meet him. It's been a long time since we two took a real vacation. How about we come and visit after your baby's born? Dodge has grown so much, I'd love to see it. And there must be more than one good hotel now where we could stay for a few days. If it wouldn't be an imposition, that is. Martha just loves little babies!"

"Hotel?" Matt jumped right in. "No way, Charlie! We have a brand new guest bedroom. It's warm and comfortable and it opens right into the kitchen. We have an icehouse and a caldron right in the yard. It'd be great to have you stay with us. As long as you don't mind a two day train ride, that is."

"Downright enjoyable if you're not shackled to some guy in the baggage car, Matt."

Their laughter was infectious. By the time they'd all settled down, picturing themselves together in Dodge, Phyllis had the grouse in front of them.

"Excuse me for just a few minutes." Kitty smiled.

Mindful of his new responsibilities, Matt slid her chair back and watched her leave the table.

"She'll be right back. I'm getting used to it. You know about that, right Martha?"

"Sure do. Another small price of motherhood. Let's all dig into this grouse. She doesn't expect us to wait."

"You're sure?"

"Trust me, Daddy. Do you study her? This is the thrill of her life!"

XOXOXO

"You promised to tell me the story of Mister Duncan." Kitty was carving on her grouse.

"Kitty," Charlie began. "We've known Peter Duncan since he bought into the Union Pacific. He owns three businesses here in Denver, and he's a principal investor in the Windsor Hotel where you and Matt danced the night away at the cattlemen's last year. When I sent that telegram back to Matt a month ago, I knew Pete couldn't possibly have had anything to do with any shady deals in Kansas."

"And Matt knew he could trust you. I feel like an idiot." Kitty said.

"No, don't. All you two had to go on was a name somehow connected to a crime. I just knew a little more, that's all."

"Kitty," Matt explained. "Charlie and I spent two hours with Duncan today. He's working hard on the Kansas Pacific line so it can connect up to the Union Pacific because he plans to buy it out. He thought George Powers was a great salesman. And he had been for a while. But when the guy got to Kansas everything seemed to collapse. He had no idea George had turned into an ogre."

Charlie couldn't jump back into the conversation fast enough.

"He never gave Powers the authority to hire a bodyguard. He was paying Bing Ross's salary all along thinking he was a guard. He never knew George ordered those German settlers killed, or that Matt had to ride up to WaKeeney to arrest that guard. He's been so busy here with the connection to the Transcontinental Railroad he hasn't been to Kansas in three months. The Transcontinental is his life right now. And he's mighty contrite about the whole mess in Kansas."

"Wow. Then you gave his buggy back to him?"

"We did. We hauled it over to him. That's part of the reason we were gone all day. Turns out he'd let George Powers take it from Denver to WaKeeney so he'd have it to make all his sales calls in Kansas. He had no idea George used it for such nefarious reasons. He wants to meet you, Sweetheart. He wants to apologize to you in person."

"We're not going to Morrison then?" Kitty was trying to absorb all the information about a man she had thought to be a criminal but was now to be a key contact for Matt.

"I didn't say that." Matt put his hand on top of Kitty's to reassure her. "In fact, Charlie and Martha are going to join us up there for a couple of days. But we'll be staying right here in Denver tomorrow so we can keep our date with Peter Duncan. We owe all of this to Charlie."

"Maybe you and I could go shopping Kitty?" Martha's smile was intentionally coy when she broke in, trying to change the subject to one of Kitty's favorites.

"Me? Denver? Shopping?" It wasn't an answer, but Kitty's bright smile told the whole story.

"Perfect! It's settled then." Charlie was back in control. "Matt and I have a little shopping of our own planned for tomorrow."

"Matt's not much for shopping, Charlie."

"I'll keep him interested. We like the same things, young lady."

tbc