Chapter 2 "Taken"

The stranger put Ruby in an oversize potato sack and carried her to his wagon. Seeing a man walking with a potato sack would not have caught the attention of the townspeople. He reached his wagon and put her in the back of it. There were other supplies in the wagon. A potato sack among the supplies wouldn't look out of place. The bag was not tied shut, so Ruby could breathe. The man climbed up on the wagon seat next his wife. They drove out of Dodge City.

"With the material, needles, thread, ribbon, and buttons, the total is seven dollars and eighty cents," Mr. Jonas told Kitty.

Kitty opened her handbag and pulled out eight dollars. She gave the money to Jonas. He accepted the money and gave Kitty her twenty cents change. Kitty put the change in her handbag and closed it. As Kitty was putting her change away, Jonas put the needles, thread, ribbon, and buttons in a small bag. Kitty took the small bag off the counter.

"Ruby, come one. It's time to go," Kitty called to her daughter.

Ruby didn't come when Kitty called her, but Kitty was not concerned. She figured the little girl was so engrossed looking at the toys, that she didn't hear Kitty calling her. Kitty walked over to the toys to get her daughter. Upon arriving, she could see that Ruby wasn't there. "Ruby! Are you playing hide and seek? It's time to come out," Kitty frantically said as she looked for Ruby.

Mr. Jonas heard Kitty frantically call for her daughter. He came to see if he could help. "Is something wrong, Miss Kitty?"

"I can't find Ruby. She was looking at the toys, but now she's not there," said Kitty. "She usually comes when I call her. I told her the game is over. I know she didn't walk out the front door. The bell never dinged."

"Calm down, Miss Kitty. I'll check the supply room. Maybe she wanted to see if I had more toys back there," said Mr. Jonas as he went back to his supply room.

Mr. Jonas walked back to the supply room, but as he did, something under the toy shelf caught his eye. He pulled it out. It was a doll. He knew it wasn't a brand new doll. He could see that it had been loved by a child. Jonas quickly looked around the supply room for Ruby. He could see that she wasn't in there. Jonas took the doll to Kitty.

"Miss Kitty, does this doll belong to Miss Ruby?" he asked as he showed her the doll. "I found it on the floor under the toy shelf."

Kitty took the doll from Mr. Jonas. Panic set in. Ruby would not throw her beloved doll on the floor. She also noticed that Ruby wasn't with Mr. Jonas. It was obvious that Ruby hadn't been in the back supply room either.

"Ruby wasn't back there," stated Kitty. Mr. Jonas shook his head no. "Oh my! Oh my! My baby! My baby! Where's my baby!?"

Kitty had a hard time catching her breath. Darkness was enveloping her as she blacked out and fainted, falling to the ground. Mr. Jonas had no idea what to do. Miss Kitty had just fainted in his store and her little girl was missing. He knew he needed to get both Doc Adams and the Marshal. The only problem was that he didn't know if he should leave Miss Kitty alone. Salvation came when he heard Festus outside "whistling." Jonas quickly went to the door.

"Festus!" he yelled, getting Festus' attention.

Hearing Jonas call his name, Festus looked towards the general store. He could see Jonas motioning him to come to the store. Festus figured Jonas probably noticed a potato was missing and wanted to make a report. He strolled over to the store to see what it exactly was that Mr. Jonas wanted.

"Oh I'm so glad you're here, Festus. I need your help," said Mr. Jonas. His words were all jumbled together.

"Don't get yerself in a fret," said Festus. "Did someone steal one of yer tators?"

"It's Miss Kitty," said Mr. Jonas, pointing to Kitty. "She passed out after realizing Miss Ruby is missing."

"What the Sam hill?" asked Festus as he quickly went to Kitty. "Wait. Didja jest say Miss Ruby is missin'?"

"Yes, Festus," Mr. Jonas replied. "We need the Doc and the Marshal. I don't want to leave Miss Kitty alone."

"I'll git Doc," said Festus. "Matthew is at Fort Dodge. After I git Doc, I'll send Newly over here and I'll ride out to the Fort and git Matthew."

Festus left the store and went to get Doc. He knew Doc was up in his office. They had just left Delmonico's after eating lunch together. Festus hurriedly ran over to Doc's office. His spurs were jangling loudly. He climbed the steps of the office.

Doc heard Festus coming. 'I already bought him lunch. If that cheapskate thinks he's going to get a free beer out of me, he has another thing coming,' thought Doc.

Before Festus even had a chance to say anything, Doc was already speaking. "Now Festus, if you've come up here to swindle your way to a free beer, you can stop right now. I bought you lunch and I don't plan on buying you a beer."

"Oh shut up, you old scudder. That ain't why I'm up here," said Festus.

"Then why are you here?" asked Doc. "You don't look sick."

"I jest came from Jonas' store. Ruby is missing and Miss Kitty passed out," Festus replied.

"What!" Doc exclaimed. He grabbed his bag and went to the general store. Festus went back to the jail to get Newly.

When Doc arrived, Kitty was starting to come around. He went to her to assess her situation. Doc wanted to make sure Kitty didn't injure herself when she fainted. Seeing that Kitty was going to be alright, Doc knew he needed to get more information on his granddaughter.

"What's this that Festus said about Ruby missing?" Doc asked as he helped Kitty sit up. He didn't want her standing yet.

"Oh Doc! It's all my fault! Kitty cried. "I told her she could go and look at the toys. I never should have let her out of my sight." Tears were streaming down her face.

Not wanting to believe this nightmare was actually happening, Doc questioned if they looked everywhere for her. "Are you sure she didn't go and see her daddy at the jail?"

"I'm sure," said Kitty. "Ruby knew her daddy wouldn't be at the jail today. He told us at breakfast he would be at Ford Dodge. She and I came into town to get the material for her big girl curtains. She's so excited for new curtains. We have to find her."

At that moment Festus walked in with Newly. Festus had told Newly about the ordeal. Newly wasted no time in getting over to the general store. With Matt out of town, Newly was in charge. Right now he needed to take charge of the situation. Kitty got to her feet when Festus and Newly walked inside.

"Kitty, Festus told me about Ruby. We're going to do everything we can," said Newly. "Did either of you see anyone in the store?" He was asking Kitty and Mr. Jonas.

"No, it was only Ruby and me. That's why I let her go and look at the toys while I paid the bill," Kitty replied.

"That's true. Miss Kitty and Miss Ruby were my only customers," said Mr. Jonas. "Besides, we would've heard the front bell ding if some walked in."

"We all know she just wouldn't leave. I would say beyond doubt that someone came in through the back and took her. The entry to the supply room is right next to the toys," said Newly. "Festus, let's see if we can pick up on any sort of clue."

Festus and Newly walked to the supply room to see if they could locate any clues, but nothing stood out. There were footprints leading to and from the back exit, but unfortunately there were way too many sets. It was almost impossible to pick which ones to follow. They returned to the front of the store.

"What are we going to do?" asked Kitty. She wanted her little girl back safe and sound in her arms.

"Festus, you ride out to Fort Dodge and get Matt. I'll stay here and get a posse started," said Newly. "The posse and I will split up and head in each direction."

"That's what I was fixin' to do," said Festus.

"Do you even know what to look for?" asked Doc.

Newly took a deep breath. "It's going to be like the blind leading the blind. We have no idea who took her or why." Newly suspected it may be revenge towards the Marshal, but didn't want to upset Kitty. So he kept that to himself.

"I'll go git Ruth and ride out to git Matthew. I'll see ya all directly," said Festus.

"Kitty, there's nothing you can do here," said Doc. "Why don't you come with me to my office? When Festus gets back, Jonas can tell Matt where you are."

Kitty knew Doc was right. Taking Ruby's doll and her purchased items, she took his arm and let him lead her back to his office. The streets of Dodge were bustling with people, but Kitty didn't notice. The only thing on her mind was her missing daughter. Kitty really didn't remember the walk to Doc's office. The next thing she knew she was sitting in one of his chairs. He wanted to know if she wanted to rest in the back bedroom, but she refused.

Newly gathered men from around town and told them of the situation. They were all more than willing to help out. Sam too had heard what happened and wanted to join the posse. Newly told him that Festus was out of town getting Matt and that he and the other men would be leaving to search. Newly needed Sam to stay in town to help keep an eye on things. Sam really wanted to help in the search, but knew it would be best if he stayed behind.

Meanwhile Festus was pushing Ruth as much as he dared to so he could get Matthew. Festus knew the importance of getting Matthew. He also knew if his riding caused injury to Ruth, there would be a huge delay in getting Matthew. That was the last thing Festus needed. Riding at a normal pace, it would take an hour and a half to get out to the Fort. Festus wasn't riding Ruth at a normal pace. Festus managed to get out to the Fort in an hour.

Reaching the Fort, Festus quickly dismounted Ruth and loosely tied the reins around a hitching post. Festus knew Matthew went to Fort Dodge because of some meeting with Colonel Dixon. Festus walked over to the building that housed Colonel Dixon's office. He ascended the stairs and walked inside. There he met the company clerk.

"Is Marshal Dillon in there?" Festus asked the clerk behind the desk.

"He is, but he's in a meeting with Colonel Dixon. You're gonna have to wait," the clerk informed Festus. "Take a seat over there."

"I don't have no time to wait. I need ta see Marshal Dillon now," said Festus. His patience was thinning as he spoke.

"Well that's too bad," said the company clerk. "You don't have a choice. You're going to have to wait."

"Listen you yay hoo! I rode all the way from Dodge City. This here's an emergency," said Festus as he grabbed the clerk from behind the desk. "Now, go and take yerself and fetch me Marshal Dillon."

Colonel Dixon and Matt had been in the Colonel's office when they heard the commotion. Matt immediately recognized Festus' unique voice. He was instantly concerned. Something was wrong. Festus would not ride all the way out here to get him if something wasn't wrong. Matt stood up from his seat.

"Excuse me, Colonel. I recognize that voice. It's one of my deputies. He wouldn't come out here if something wasn't wrong. I need to see what's going on," Matt said, walking out of the office.

Festus heard a door open and saw Matthew. "Thank goodness yer here, Matthew. This tinhorn wouldn't let me get you."

"Festus, what's wrong?" Matt asked.

"It's Ruby," said Festus.

Matt felt a huge lump in his throat. "What about her?" he asked. He was afraid to hear Festus' answer.

"We're positive she's been stolen," Festus answered.

"Let's go." Matt's voice was low, full of anger and worry. He didn't even take the time to say goodbye to the Colonel. His daughter had been kidnapped. All Matt could see was red. Some damn fool had made the mistake of taking his precious little gemstone. That fool would pay.

TBC