Kitty's eyes popped open. She blinked several times. Why was she was stiff, cold and hungry, and staring at bushes. Rubbing her eyes she sat up, and the events of the past two days flooded back - the note in her room, the Taylor camp, Matt's fake collapse, running away, sneaking back and hiding in the bushes. She rubbed her hands up and down her thighs, and groaned under her breath. Every muscle her body ached, but the sky was growing light, she had to get a move on. It was essential that she get to Matt before the Taylors were up and around. She slid off the rock and brushed leaves and dirt from the front of her clothes, as if appearances still mattered. Barely daring to breath she silently picked her way through bushes, over rocks and in between trees. SNAP. She froze. She hadn't seen the fallen branch, and stepped right on it, breaking it in two. The sound echoed in the quiet morning air. She held her breath and thought good thoughts. No one could have heard the branch. Even if they did, they'd think it was an animal. Everything was fine. She took another step, and another and another. It was all right, no one heard that branch snap.
"Honey, you sure are noisy." John Taylor's quiet voice came from behind her, his gun shoved into her back. "Let's get you back to camp."
Festus
Festus slowed his horse to a stop and took a swig of water. Sam, Newley and young Tommy, grabbed their canteens and did the same. Doc, in his wagon a little ways back, pulled up beside the deputy. "Festus, how far are we from Willow Creek?" Festus wiped his sleeve across his mouth. "To tell ya the honest truth, Doc. I don't know this here area as clear as I know some others. I'm thinkin' a mile or so. I reckon we ought ta continue this way fur a bit. then go on foot, so nobody hears us comin'. I jus' hope - well – I jus ain't sure I..." Doc saw uncertainty in the deputy's eyes. "Festus, I'm going to admit something to you, right here and right now. Matt wouldn't have you wearing that deputy's badge if you didn't meet his standards, and Matt Dillon has the highest standards. Just make the best decisions you can, and we'll all be fine."
Eyes smiling, Festus looked at Doc. "I knew you'd git to admittin' that thar ain't no better deputy than me."
Doc sighed. "Festus, just don't go throwing my words back at me when we're all having drink's at the Long Branch, once everyone is safe and sound."
"We'll see, Doc, we'll see. Let's get movin'."
Taylor Camp
Matt heard the branch snap as clear as a church bell on a quiet Sunday morning. He hoped it wasn't Kitty, but feared it was. His heart dropped when saw her emerge from the brush with John's gun held to her back.
John pushed Kitty into the center of camp."GATHER ROUND EVERYBODY."
Still half asleep, 4 men rolled out of their sleeping bags and hurried over. The man on watch left his post by the horses to joined them, and Marlene quickly followed. Matt saw that everyone's attention was firmly on Kitty and John. He slowly and painfully struggled to his feet, to take stock of his condition. His twisted knee felt better, his back was raw but less tender than it had been. His left shoulder was painful and stiff, he couldn't use that arm, but he was mobile and his right arm was fine. He'd be ready for anything that lady luck decided to throw his way.
John proudly grinned at his wife. "I found Kitty Russell, now we'll continue with our plan." He waved Spike over. "We'll pick up right where we left off. Spike, she's yours for the taking." Kitty looked at Spike defiantly, Red hair a mess, clothes wrinkled, face smeared with dirt – she lifted her chin as if daring him to make a move. Spike shook his head and stepped closer to John. "First off, this don't make up for the mistake you made by putting your gun near Dillon. Cousin Craig is dead 'cause of that. Second thing is, I don't want the red head. I got myself all the woman I need." He put an arm around Marlene.
"Marlene's MY wife." John's face twisted with rage."
Spike shrugged. "That's about to change. You see, from what she told me this morning she don't think you're much of a man."
John puffed out his chest "I'll show you who's a man." His fist flew into Spike's jaw. The big man staggered back, but he quickly regained his footing. "You're gonna be sorry for that." Spike smashed his meaty fist into John's gut. John grunted and folded in two, but kneed Spike in the groin. Spike fell forward. Both men landed on the ground gripping each other's shoulders. Dust flew up. The other four men started shouting, "Get him, get him." A good brawl was mighty entertaining, no matter who won. Marlene watched with interest, a smile tugging at her lips. Having two men fighting over her was mighty flattering, and she didn't care all that much who won. She'd developed a preference for Spike of late, and if he won she'd declare her love and become his woman. If John won, that would be fine too, she had him wrapped around her finger.
In the midst of the excitement Kitty looked across the camp and spotted Matt, standing shakily on his feet. Their eyes locked. He nodded at her and tilted his head towards the edge of camp. She immediately got the message. With everyone's attention on the fight, they could sneak off to the spot where the horses were kept, and were at the moment, unattended. They had to do it carefully so's not to draw attention to themselves, and they had to hope the fight went on a while. Kitty inched backwards into the cover of trees and bushes, so she could make her way to the horses unseen. Matt saw her disappear into the dense foliage, and fixed his eyes on the fight. Moving slowly, he started making his way around the edge of camp to meet her. The trick was to do it without sudden movements. that might attract attention
Festus
Festus put up a hand and dismounted. "This here area's called Willow Creek. We'll go on foot from here an' look fur signs of Matthew and Miss Kitty." Sam glanced around with a puzzled expression. "Where's the creek?"
"There ain't one, Sam, at least not now. Folks say it dried up some time back. Name just stuck." Festus tied his reins to a tree branch. "Everybody got their gun? Now we gotta be quiet an' keep our eyes peeled. If a gang is camped 'round here, they'll be hidden pretty good. Let's go." He turned to look at Doc. "Be sure ya got ya doctorin' bag, and all like that."
Camp
Spike and John rolled in the dirt, punching and kicking. The men cheered wildly. Marlene watched quietly. She was ready to declare eternal love to whoever won, but mostly she wanted the foolishness done with. More than anything she wanted to get back to punishing Dillon. Her dear brothers, Virgil and Jude were dead because of him, and the whole matter of revenge was taking way too long. She turned towards Kitty, to see her reactions to the fight – her eyes widened – the redhead was gone. DAMN. Marlene plunged into the bushes sure that's where Kitty must have gone Stomping through brambles, leaves and shrubs she caught a glimpse of red hair, and took off like a bat out of hell. Kitty heard foot steps and started to run but her tired legs were slow to react. Marlene closed the gap between them and with a giant leap, landed on Kitty's back. Both women hit the ground, Marlene on top. Kitty reached back and yanked Marlene's braid. "Yow" Marlene's hands went up. Kitty tried to crawl away, but the sturdy brunette shoved her down and held tight. Kitty kicked, Marlene scratched. Nails dug into arms, they rolled into a pile of leaves.
The Men
Spike's heft was an advantage. He managed to get on top of John and stay there, one hand on the smaller man's chest, the other around his throat. Spike glanced up from the fight, to take a breath before striking a triumphant blow. "DARN IT ALL. DILLON AND KITTY ARE GONE." He looked down at John, "They got away, and it's all because of you." He punched John on the side of his head, the man blacked out. Spike got to his feet and looked at the other 4 men. "Let's find Dillon and the woman." He frowned, "And where the heck is Marlene?"
Matt reached the horses, tied up near a cluster of trees. The sound of the fight had just died out, it was time to get moving. But was Kitty? She should have gotten to the horses before he did. Now that the fight was over, the Taylors would come looking, and they'd check their horses first.
TBC
