Chapter 5

Doc had visited the jail multiple times to see if there was any word on Kitty. He just couldn't sit around in his office. He had been in the jail with Chester when Matt came walking through the door. They were both shocked and relieved to see him.

"Oh thank goodness! How is Kitty? Is she hurt? Do I need to examine her? Doc's questions ran one after the other.

"I didn't find her," Matt grumbled.

"What do you mean that you didn't find her? I thought you said you weren't coming back until you did. What happened?" asked Doc. You could hear the anxiety in his voice.

"I know what I said," Matt snapped. "A storm was brewing and I wasn't prepared. I knew I had to get back here," Matt said, this time more calmly.

"Aw forever more Mr Dillon. What are your plans now?" asked Chester.

"I really don't know what I'm going to do. The rain is for sure going to wash the trail away. I made a mental note of where I was before I came back. The only thing I can think of doing is head back there and continue south," Matt answered.

"How do you know they kept going south?" asked Doc as tugged on his ear.

"That's the problem. I don't know." Matt was annoyed with himself. He felt helpless and he hated that feeling, especially when he felt helpless when Kitty was involved.

Back at the cabin nightfall took over. So far Cope had not been violent with Kitty or tried to take advantage of her. However, Kitty was not about to let her guard down. She was not exactly sure what Cope had in mind with her, but she was going to be ready to do battle if necessary. Kitty Russell would not go down without a fight.

Cope did have a plan. He knew exactly what he was doing. He had to gain her trust. To him, gaining her trust was the most important thing. Once he had her trust, he figured getting her to love him would be easier.

Supper, stew, had been eaten, and it was time to go to sleep. There was only one bed and Kitty just knew Cope would sleep in the same bed as her. Oh how she dreaded it. She would much rather sleep in the rocking chair or even at the kitchen table, but she knew Cope would not allow that. With trepidation, Kitty layed down on the bed. She didn't get under the covers. Somehow being under the covers made her feel more vulnerable.

Cope noticed that Kitty was on top of the covers. "Don't you want to get under the covers? You'd probably be warmer."

"I'm fine. I don't even want to be in this bed with you. I'd rather sleep in the rocking chair or even at the kitchen table."

"Well, we both know that's not going to happen. I can't have my girl sleeping in a rocking chair or at a kitchen table. I need my girl next to me. If you're worried about me trying something with me, don't be worried. Right now I'm not going to force you to share your body with me. Of course when I am ready for you to share your body, I expect you not to give up a fight," said Cope.

"First of all, I am not your girl and I never will be. Second of all, I'd rather die before sharing my body with you," Kitty responded.

"You feel that way now, but you'll change your mind. Like I said before, it won't be long until you start craving some male attention."

That being said, Cope closed his eyes and went to sleep. Kitty liked to wait until he was asleep before she fell asleep. It was another one of those things that made her feel as if she had some control in her situation. She also wanted to learn his sleep patterns. Was he a light sleeper or a deep sleeper? If he was a deep sleeper, that would be a perfect time for her to escape. If he was a light sleeper, she wouldn't dare try to escape.

Before Kitty knew it, morning had arrived. Just like yesterday, Cope was up and out of bed before she was. That was probably due to the fact that he had fallen asleep before her. By the aroma, it looked like it was oatmeal for breakfast again.

"Good morning, beautiful. Why don't you set the table and we'll get to eating," said Cope as he removed the oatmeal from the fire.

Hearing Cope call her beautiful made Kitty feel sick to her stomach. He made her feel uncomfortable in a way she couldn't describe. Kitty did as she was told, and just as she did yesterday, she waited for Cope to take the first bite.

She took a few more spoonfuls of oatmeal before Cope spoke again. "I guess I didn't plan this out as well as I thought."

"What are you talking about?" asked Kitty.

"You've been wearing the same dress for the last couple days. You're going to need more than one dress. You'll also need some other essentials. I'll have to make a trip back to Dodge and get what's needed. Luckily my hair is a little longer and my beard fuller. I don't anyone would recognize me," said Cope

Cope got ready to leave right after breakfast. He didn't plan on being gone long. It was still morning and he planned on being back before early afternoon. Before he left he grabbed two pieces of rope, and told Kitty to sit in the rocking chair.

"I love you, but I don't trust you. Since I can't take you with me, I'm going to have to tie your wrists to this chair. I can't have you escaping. You've had breakfast. You should be fine until lunch. I'll be back then," Cope told Kitty. He then tied her wrists to the arms of the rocking chair.

Riding faster than he normally would, it took Cope just over an hour to reach Dodge. Upon arriving he went to Jonas' General Store. He walked up to the counter to tell Jonas what he needed.

"How can I help you?" Jonas asked.

"My wife and I are staying in a cabin and I need some stuff for her," answered Cope. At that time Chester walked in the store.

"I'll be right with you, Chester," Jonas told him.

"What does your wife need?" Jonas asked Cope.

"She had been feeling under the weather, so I thought I would buy her a new dress. I also need some good smelling soap for a lady and maybe a hair brush," Cope told Jonas.

"Do you know what size dress?" asked Jonas.

"I'm not sure. She's about this tall and slender," said Cope, holding his hand up indicating how tall Kitty was.

"It sounds like a smaller size would fit her. I'll go get a dress that size, a bar of lavender soap, and a hair brush." Jonas went to retrieve the items.

Meanwhile Chester had been listening to the man talking to Jonas. The voice sounded familiar to Chester. He knew he had heard it before. Chester was also sure he had seen that face before. While Chester was trying to place the voice and face, Jonas returned with the items. Cope had Jonas wrap the items up, thanked him, and walked out of the store to mount his horse.

Suddenly it dawned on Chester who it was in the store. It was Cope Borden, the man the Marshall told to get out of Dodge. What was he doing back in Dodge? Chester quickly went outside and saw Cope heading south. Seeing Cope heading south, Chester was sure he had his answer. As fast as he could, Chester went to tell Matt.

"Mr. Dillon! Mr. Dillon! Cope Borden is in town. He was at Jonas' store buying things for a lady. When he left, he headed south," Chester said, completely out of breath.

That was the break Matt was looking for. He could feel it in his gut that Cope was the one who took Kitty.

TBC