Festus ambled down the boardwalk, intent on stopping by the Long Branch before making his way to the stage station. The stage was late getting in and he wanted to see if there'd been any word as to why. Though it wasn't an uncommon occurrence, it was still troubling to the deputy, considering who was on that stage.

"Festus!"

Festus looked up to see Kitty coming down the street on a horse, calling his name. "Miss Kitty!" Quickly Festus darted out into the street and rushed to the horse just as Kitty reached him. "Miss Kitty, what…"

Before he could finish the question, Kitty moaned and practically fell off the horse into his arms.

"I need help, Festus. Matt needs help." She gasped and recoiled in pain when Festus grabbed her around the waist.

"You alright?" Festus asked, seeing her expression. "Where's Matthew?"

"Get me to the Long Branch, Festus." She leaned heavily on him. "Then get Doc and the rest of the town over there. I'll tell everyone at once."

"Yes'm." Festus nodded as he took her arm, careful not grab her waist again.

Once they reached the Long Branch, Kitty refused to go up to her rooms. Instead, she sat down on her stairs and sent Festus off after Doc.

"Miss Kitty?" Sam hustled to her side. "What happened?"

"I'll tell you in a minute, Sam." Kitty answered. "Could you get me a shot of whiskey?"

"Yes Ma'am." Sam nodded and turned back to the bar just as Doc came hurrying in.

"Kitty?! What in thunder's going on here? Where's Matt?" Doc's question's stopped when he saw the grimace on her face. "How bad are you hurt?"

"It's nothing." Kitty bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out in pain as her ribs protested when she shifted on the stairs. "Matt's in trouble, Doc." She blinked back a tear. "Tate Crocker has him and is holding him for ransom."

Just then, Sam approached at the same time as Festus came back, with several of the town's people in tow.

"Alright, Kitty." Doc offered her a reassuring smile. "It's going to be okay. We'll take care of it."

After Doc had rallied the town and got them to agree to give what they had to save Matt, he took Kitty upstairs to her room and had her take her blouse off so he could examine her.

"There's an awful lot of bruising here." Doc said, almost talking to himself as he gently ran a hand down her side. "You definitely have a broken rib, honey. Maybe two." He said as he stood back. "I'll wrap them for you but there's not much else I can do. I still think you ought to let Festus take that ransom out there."

"You know better than that." Kitty shook her head at him. "I have to go, Doc. I am the only one that can."

Doc took a scrub of his mustache, giving her a long look before turning to his bag. "I'll get your ribs wrapped up."

An hour later, as he and Festus watched her drive off in the buggy, Festus looked over at the physician. "You think she'll be alright?"

"I don't know." Doc shook his head with a sigh. "I don't know."

"I still think I orta go after her." Festus said as he watched her ride out of sight.

"You'll do no such thing." Doc scowled at him. "Right now, Matt's life is in Kitty's hands and I can't think of a soul who would do more to save him than she would. If Matt and Kitty survive this, it'll be up to her and no one else."

"Then you jes expect me to sit here and hope..."

"I do." Doc nodded as he turned for his office. "That and pray."

END