Chapter 3 "A Tough Choice"

Matt swiftly went to get Buck, while Festus got Ruth. After mounting the horse and the mule, they took off in the direction of Dodge City. Festus hadn't seen Matthew ride Buck as fast as he was riding him at that moment. Festus and Ruth were having trouble keeping him up. Festus knew he had to get Matthew to slow down before Matthew killed Buck and he killed Ruth.

"Matthew, we gotta slow down. We're gonna kill these poor animals," said Festus.

"Festus, someone took my little girl. I've got to get back to Dodge," said Matt.

"We won't be gittin' back to Dodge anytime soon if we run these animals to their deaths," Festus replied.

Matt hated to admit it, but he knew Festus was right. He slowed to a gallop that was slower than he had been going. Matt wanted to get back to Dodge as quickly as he could, but also wanted to make sure he actually got there. As he and Festus continued to ride, Matt suddenly thought of Kitty. He had no idea how she was doing. Matt knew she had to be full of distress and worry.

"How's Kitty doing?" Matt asked Festus.

"She passed out after she realized what happened, but she's fine now. She and Doc walked over to his office. She's waiting there," Festus replied.

Matt hated to hear that Kitty had fainted, but at the same time he was glad that she had recovered. He hated it even more that he wasn't there for her or his daughter. His girls needed him and he wasn't there.

"Is anything being done to find Ruby?" Matt asked.

Festus better tell him yes. Matt hoped they weren't waiting back in Dodge for his return before they started looking. If they were doing that, then precious time was being wasted. Whoever took his daughter was gaining that much more distance.

"Newly organized a posse. They're gonna split up and take each direction," said Festus.

"There aren't any clues as to which direction to look?" Matt questioned.

"No, that's why the posse is splittin' up to cover each direction," answered Festus.

Continuing to ride back towards Dodge, Matt and Festus could see one group of the posse. Newly was with this group. Newly saw Matt and Festus coming towards them. He and his men met up with Matt and Festus.

"Newly, have you come across anything or anyone that would lead you to my daughter?" Matt asked. He had a feeling the answer was going to be no, but he asked anyway.

"Sorry Matt. We haven't seen anyone or anything so far," said Newly. "I've organized a posse. The other men have gone out in the other directions. I told them to investigate anything or anyone that looks suspicious."

"I'm going with you," said Matt with determination in his voice.

"Matt, I don't think that's wise," said Newly. It was difficult for him to say that to the Marshal.

"What do you mean that you don't think it's wise I go with you?" Matt asked. "My baby girl has been taken. You can bet your life I'm going with you."

"That's exactly why you shouldn't go with us. You're personally involved. What are you going to do if this group finds the person responsible for taking Ruby?"

Matt didn't answer. He couldn't answer. He knew he would probably kill the person who took his daughter. Newly knew that too. "That's why I can't have you go. Go back to Dodge with Festus. Go be with Kitty. I'm sure she needs you."

It was a tough decision for Matt to make. His daughter needed him. He wanted to go out and look for her. His wife also needed him. He wanted to go and comfort her. Knowing Newly was right, Matt rode with Festus back to Dodge.

Matt and Festus arrived in town. They rode straight to Doc's office. By now the whole town knew about Ruby's ordeal. They could see the emotion all over their Marshal's face. They knew they didn't want to be in the shoes of those that were responsible for the kidnapping. The townsfolk watched as Matt went up the stairs to Doc's office to be with his wife. Festus followed. Both men walked inside.

Matt saw Kitty sitting in one of the chairs. She immediately went to Matt when she saw him. Matt took her in his arms and offered all the support and love he could give her. He knew she was silently sobbing and he let her do so before he said anything.

"Matt, I'm so sorry." Kitty continued to cry. "Please don't hate me."

Matt gently pushed Kitty away from him and looked into her eyes. "Hate you? Why on Earth would I hate you?

" How can you not hate me? Our little girl has been taken and it's all my fault," Kitty said. "I should've never let her go and look at the toys. I should've kept a better eye on her. I blame myself for this."

Matt firmly, but gently took hold of Kitty's upper arms. He spoke in a firm, but soft voice. He needed her to listen to him and to believe what he was saying. "Kitty, this is not your fault. You are not to blame. The only person to blame is the one that took our little girl. I don't need you wasting your strength blaming yourself. I need you to focus your strength on knowing our little girl is going to be found. Do you understand?"

"Oh Matt, it'll be hard, but I'll try. All these what if's pop in my head. What if we went to town earlier? What if we went to town later? What if we didn't go into town today? The worst one is what if I just told her no," said Kitty.

"Kitty, honey, don't let those what if's consume you," said Doc. "It's not healthy. Like Matt said, we need you to focus your strength on knowing Ruby will be found. Speaking of strength, you need to keep yours up physically. I'm going to get some food from Delmonico's."

"Food," said Kitty. "Oh Matt, Ruby and I were going to eat lunch after we left Jonas'. If she hasn't eaten, she'll be so hungry. I don't think I can eat knowing Ruby might not have eaten."

"Kit, Doc's right. You need to eat to keep up your strength physically," said Matt. "We're both worried about our little gemstone. Please don't make me have to worry about you."

During the time that Newly had gotten a posse together and Festus went out to get Matt, Ruby's abductors were heading back to their home with Ruby still unconscious in the back of their wagon. The cloth that had been put over her mouth and nose had chloroform on it. The amount of chloroform she breathed in was enough to keep her in an unconscious state for at least a couple of hours. The couple hoped she would stay that way until they got to their home.

"Can I see her?" the wife asked her husband. She was eager to see the child in the potato sack.

"I'll stop the wagon and let you get down and check. We have time for that," the husband answered.

After the wagon stopped, the woman jumped down from the seat and walked to the back of the wagon. She looked inside the potato bag and saw Ruby. The woman checked to make sure Ruby was still breathing. Realizing she was, a huge grin spread across her face. The little girl in the back of the wagon was going to replace the one they lost to pneumonia last year.

TBC