Chapter 4

"Cope Borden," Kitty said with disbelief in her voice. She could not believe that he was her captor.

"So, you remember me. I can't tell you how happy that makes me," Cope told Kitty.

"I don't understand. Why on Earth would you kidnap me? " Kitty asked.

"Revenge," Cope answered.

"Revenge? Why would you want to get revenge on me? I didn't do anything to you."

"Not on you, my dear. I'm getting revenge on the Marshal. It looks like the oatmeal is ready. Have a seat." Cope carried the oatmeal to the table.

Not wanting to make Cope angry, Kitty did as she was told. "I don't understand what you have against the Marshal that would make you want to get revenge on him. He saved your life. You could have easily been lynched, if Matt didn't happen to be in the area."

"That's the reason I decided not to just kill him. You see I'm getting revenge for running me out of Dodge. I did not do anything wrong. I didn't break any laws, yet he still told me to leave. He had no right. Since killing him was out of the question, I decided to do the next best thing, take his girl," said Cope as he scooped oatmeal in both of their bowls.

"What makes you think that I'm the Marshal's girl?" asked Kitty. She watched Cope dish the oatmeal into the bowls. She was hungry, but would wait until Cope took the first bite. If he ate it, then she figured it was safe for her to eat.

"My first indication was when you came to the jail and asked the Marshal how his trip was. I could see how he looked at you. When you asked him if he was going to introduce us, he said no. Guys usually don't like to introduce their girls to other men. And when you walked away, he watched you for a bit. I asked him if you were his girl. He didn't answer, but I already knew," Cope replied and then took a spoonful of the oatmeal.

"All it took was that brief encounter? How do you know we weren't just good friends?" Kitty asked. She too took a spoonful of oatmeal.

"You're right. I couldn't be too sure after that brief encounter. It was after he had to release me from jail. I told him I was going to buy a drink and offered him one. He refused, so then I told him I was going to buy you a drink. You should have seen the angry look on his face. If that wasn't enough, after he came to the Long Branch, he stood by you as if he were protecting you. That pretty much was the nail in the coffin. At that moment I knew for sure you were his girl."

"That was two years ago. What makes you think I'm still his girl?" Kitty asked. For some reason she felt it was best to keep him talking.

"The Marshal is a smart man. He's not going to let a beautiful girl like you go. He'd be a fool if he did. I have no doubt you're still his girl."

"What do you plan on doing with me? Kill me, so Matt can have me anymore?" Kitty asked, afraid to hear Cope's answer.

"Of course not. I plan on having you for my girl. I knew I wanted you for my girl the moment I saw you outside of the jail. You were a vision to behold, with your breast glistening with sweat. So you see, I don't plan on killing you. I don't even plan on hurting you. You don't hurt the ones you love," said Code, sipping his coffee.

"You don't love me. You don't even know me. It's just infatuation," Kitty replied. She too took a sip of her coffee.

"Nope, I love you and in time you will love me," Cope spoke as if he had done nothing wrong.

"You know the Marshal will not let you get away with this. He's going to be looking for me. When he finds me, you will pay for your crime."

"It's not when he finds you. It's if he finds you, and that's a big if. He won't find us and in time you will crave male companionship and fall in love with me" Cope's face held an evil smirk.

Kitty quickly lost her appetite. She knew exactly what he meant when Cope said male companionship. How long would it be before he wanted her female companionship? She wouldn't give it to him freely. How would he respond to that? Would he get violent with her?

"Finish your oatmeal and then you can wash up the dishes. I'll go outside and get some water," Cope told Kitty.

She finished her oatmeal and carried the dishes to the wash tub. Kitty's plan was to try and stay on his good side. As long as it was within reason, she would do as he told her. She wanted to gain his trust. Maybe if he thought she trusted him, escaping would be the last thing he would expect her to do.

Matt was still slowly and carefully following the trail. As he was riding, he could not help but blame himself for Kitty's plight. If anything happened to her, he didn't think he could ever forgive himself. Of course Kitty would never blame him. She would tell him that he was being irrational and that he had nothing to do with her kidnapping. Realizing he was letting his mind wander from the task at hand, Matt regained his focus and continued on.

Drip. Matt felt the first rain drop. Drip. Drip. Two more raindrops followed.

'Oh no. It can't rain. The rain will wash the trail away,' thought Matt. Panic was coursing through him.

Before he knew it, the skies opened up and it was pouring. Rain was the last thing that Matt expected. This time of the year was usually dry in Kansas. You would get a nice soaking rain and then it wouldn't rain for a couple of weeks. It just rained a few days ago. Looking at the sky, it looked like the rain could last a while. Matt wasn't prepared for this.

The pouring rain was bad enough, but then Matt heard the crackling of thunder. Matt took a glance to the west and saw how threatening the sky looked. He knew that a big storm was coming, and that he couldn't stay out in it. Being out in the prairie during a Kansas thunderstorm was the last place you wanted to be. He had no choice. He would have to quickly return to Dodge. Before he turned back, he took in his surroundings. He wanted to memorize landmarks, so he knew exactly where he was when he returned. The only problem was that he knew when he returned, the trail would be gone.

Feeling defeated, Matt turned back towards Dodge. 'Forgive me, Kitty.'

TBC

Author's Note: Cope Borden is from "Hot Spell" (season 1)