Chapter 3
"Bill, I am certain without a doubt that Kitty has been taken. I'm sure that these sets of prints belong to Kitty and whoever took her," Matt said.
"What do you want me to do?" Bill couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"The best thing would be for you to stay here. I'm going to the jail to tell Chester what's going on. Bill, don't let anyone know what's happened. I don't want anyone trying to be a hero and end up getting killed." Matt replied.
"Yes, Marshal." Bill watched Matt leave the Long Branch.
"Awright you two, here are yer guns. Yer free to go. Next time don't let alcohol get in the way of yer friendship," Chester said to Arliss and Jake.
"Don't we get breakfast?" asked Jake.
"We don't feed breakfast to those who are just sleeping off a drunk," Chester replied.
Matt returned to the jail in time to see Jake and Arliss leave. "Good morning, Mr. Dillon. I'm gonna meet Doc at Delmonico's for breakfast . Do ya wanna join us?"
"There's no time for breakfast. Kitty's been taken and I have to go and find her," Matt said, frantically getting his gear and rifle ready.
"Oh forever more, sir. I'll get my gear ready and head out with you," said Chester.
"Chester, wait. Any other time I would have you come with me, but not this time. Judge Booker is stopping by on his way back to Topeka, and I need you to be here when he does."
"Sure thing, Mr. Dillon. I shore do wish I could go with ya."
"I know, Chester. I know." Matt responded.
Matt was finishing packing up, when the door to the jail opened. Both Matt and Chester looked over to the door to see Doc walk in, looking at his pocket watch. He looked at Chester. "Either my watch isn't working, or you forgot how to tell time. I hear my watch ticking, so I'm going to go with the latter," Doc said. He then noticed Matt had his saddle bags and rifle. "It looks like you're heading out to track down an outlaw."
"Oh Doc, I'll have you know I can tell time just fine. Mr. Dillon is getting ready to go out and find Miss Kitty. Someone's taken her. That's why I wasn't at Delmonico's." Chester sighed.
Doc's face blanched. He was not expecting that news this morning. "Matt, are you sure?"
"I'm afraid so. Bill and I figure she was taken just after closing last night. There were two sets of fresh footprints that led away from the back alley of the Long Branch. One set was that of a lady's, and I can only assume they belonged to Kitty. The other set was from a man, more than likely her captor. I followed them and then they stopped, which tells me they mounted a horse. There was only one horse track. It headed south. I'm gonna follow that. I told Bill not to say anything to anybody. I need you two to do the same. Like I told Bill, I don't need anyone trying to be a hero and getting themselves killed," Matt said as he got ready to leave.
"Of course Matt. Just bring that girl back," Doc said, his voice heavy with worry,
"I won't be back until I do." Matt's voice was full of determination. He walked outside, loaded his gear, mounted Buck and took off.
Matt was easily able to pick up the trail that he was sure belonged to the horse that held Kitty and her captor. He carefully followed it. Making a mistake was the last thing he wanted to do. Kitty's life was possibly at stake. He had no idea why she was taken. Wait. He did know. There was no doubt in his mind that an enemy of his was responsible. This was someone trying to get back at him. She didn't have any enemies. Now that he was certain that he knew why she was kidnapped, he didn't know what the kidnapper planned to do with her. The only thing he was sure of was that it wasn't anything good. Those thoughts filled him with angst, but he couldn't let his angst get in the way of his mission to find Kitty. Kitty needed him and he would be there for her.
Morning light seeped into the windows and onto KItty's face. She started to stir, not realizing where she was. Then the events of last night all came flooding back. She had hoped that last night was a terrible nightmare, but she knew that wasn't the case. This nightmare was actually happening. Kitty could hear noise coming from within the cabin, which told her that her captor was no longer in bed with her.
Kitty was afraid to meet her captor face to face, but wanted to know who took her. She also wanted to get off of the bed. She felt vulnerable laying on that bed. Kitty walked out of the small room she was in and into the main room of the cabin. The stranger who had taken her was stirring something in a pot, hanging in the fireplace. He must've sensed her behind him because he turned around and looked at her.
"Good morning, Kitty. I'm glad to see you're finally awake. I'm making us some oatmeal. Coffee's on the stove. Why don't you get some bowls, cups, and spoons, and set the table. It's almost ready."
Kitty could not believe her eyes. The man who grabbed her last night was not a stranger. It may have been over two years since she last saw him, but she knew that face, even though it was covered with a thicker beard than it had been two years ago. Kitty was frozen to where she was standing. This was the last man she would have thought to be her imprisoner.
TBC