Doc urged Kitty to keep moving, although now he was certain that he had gotten them lost. He didn't openly admit it either. Kitty, however, read the look on his face as clearly as if it were the written word - she said nothing. She watched his eyes searching for something and finally they locked on to whatever it was and indicated which direction to move. Doc and Kitty worked their way through another wooded area and then found a field. Doc glanced around and then looked at the grasses that grew. "This isn't a pasture...just a field."
Kitty steadied him as he began to limp forward. "Doc where are you going?" she looked deep into his tired blue eyes. He stopped and looked at her then looked around while stating, "Anywhere but back to those woods. I think we have a better chance out here."
Kitty pushed her hair back into place and then ran the back of her hand over her brow in thought. "How will we keep warm tonight, if we don't find help?"
Doc sighed. "I'd rather be cold than eaten alive..."
Kitty made a face and shrugged. "I guess you're right. Maybe now's the time you popped that question."
Doc looked quizzically at Kitty. "What question?" he looked over to his travel companion.
Kitty smiled and then almost laughed and placed her hands on her hips. "The same one you've been asking me all these years! Have you forgotten or do I have to ask you instead!"
"Oh...that question..." Doc chuckled and almost blushed then continued with the play acting as he and Kitty had done time and time again over their so called marriage proposals. "Well, I guess we should talk about gettin' married to start with...that is before we make any plans..." he said wiping his moustache and then gave her a wink.
She scoffed and laughed. "Well, we certainly should!" Kitty continued, "We may have to snuggle tonight to keep warm..." she said slyly with a smirk on her face.
Doc only shook his head in bemusement before returning his attention to the wooded area they had just left behind. Again he heard noises that alarmed him. "Let's keep moving..." his voice filled with concern as he gently took Kitty by the elbow and started to move further out into the field. Kitty sighed then placed her hand over Doc's as their eyes met, "I'm really scared now, Doc." Kitty said softly. Doc nodded in agreement. "Me too, Honey."
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Festus lead Ruth through the tall grass, followed by Matt and his horse, Buck. Festus' keen eyes watched for signs that there had been people walking and he found just that. The grass was broken at the root. He came across at patchy spot and could clearly see both Kitty's and Doc's foot prints. Slowly he knelt down and looked closer. "Matthew. You might want to have a look at this..." the hill man said while looking at the dry earth.
Matt moved beside his friend and adjusted his hat while bending closer. His steel blue eyes locked on to the track that Festus was pointing to. "How long ago?"
Festus slowly stood and looked toward the woods off in the distance. "That cougar is following them, if that's what you mean. And my guess it has the scent of blood - which ever one of them was hurt back in that stagecoach." His eyes squinted hoping to catch sight of the old doctor and Miss Kitty. He then turned to the marshal. "We only have another hour or so of daylight, we'd better make the best of it." he said before climbing up onto Ruth's saddle and nudged the mule forward.
Matt quickly mounted his horse and followed suit. "Damn." he muttered under his breath.