My Twisted Heritage
Chapter 4Gunsmoke
Spoilers: Twisted Heritage/Not really any spoilers, I really don't follow the original idea
too much.
It had been almost two days now since the woman had arrived at the Copperton Ranch. And still, the stranger slept in Blaine's bed. Two days, and the most he had heard from her were some mumbled names and some pleas for help.
Matt Dillon paced around the stage depot. Kitty's stage was due back 8:00 am and here it was 1:45 and no stage. Around 10:00 am he had been worried, but now he was down right anxious. The stage from Sioux Creek was never late. Something was definitely wrong here. Matt leaned his solid form against the post as he pulled his pocket watch out and checked the time, once more. Festus sat on the bench with his pocket knife in hand a piece of wood, he had been cutting on for the last five hours or so. He wasn't getting anywhere with it as it was, he was just trying to past the time. He noticed Doc Adams coming across the street with his black bag in hand. "What ya' got there, Doc?" Festus asked him as he came towards them.
Doc Adams looked at Festus as though he had a hole in his head. "What's it look like, Festus?" He shook his head. "It's my fishing pole, I'm going fishing, you dang blasted fool." He said rubbing his beard as he moved to sit next to him.
"I was just askin' a question you ole' scudder. You got an emergency, maybe some baby needs birthin' or sumptin." He said as he stood up and walked over to the railing where Matt now stood.
"Yeah, Doc, you got someplace you gotta be?" Matt said turning to face him.
"No!" He said sitting there staring up at the big man.
"Okay, then why are you walking around town with your black bag and all?" Matt said knowing that Doc was up to something.
"I thought I might need it. You're going to make yourself sick, by worrying so much." He pulled out his pocket watch and looked at it. "It's not like it's the first time, Kitty's missed her stage. She runs into one of her old friends and stays another day or two in St. Luis."
"Yes, I know that, Doc, but she's always wired us to let us know she was coming in later or whatever the case might be." He said leaning against the pole again, looking out down Front Street.
"Well did you bother to check the telegraph office today?" He asked Matt.
"Yeah, Doc, I did. I also sent one off to Sioux Creek to find out when the stage left, but they haven't replied back as of yet." He said reaching under the brim of his hat to nervously scratch his forehead. Before anyone could respond, Jakey Timmons came running across the street with a wire from the Telegraph office.
"Marshal! Marshal!" He yelled rushing over to the three men. "Marshal, Mr. Bellard gave me this telegram for ya." He said, now standing in front of the Marshal.
Matt smiled and took the telegram from the boy then reached into his pocket and pulled a two cent piece and gave it to him.
"Two bits! WOW! Thank you, Marshal." He said turning and running back to the Telegraph office.
"Thanks Jakey." He said as he began to open the telegram.
"Well?" Doc asked beginning to get nervous.
"The stage from St. Luis, never made it to Sioux Creek." He looks up at the two men. "They sent out a contingent, but they haven't found anything as of yet." He let out the breath he'd been holding. "Festus, let's get saddled and head on out."
"You going to St. Luis?" Doc asked him, as he folded the Telegram and placed it in his breast pocket.
"I reckon so, Doc. I'm gonna find out what happened to the stage and find Kitty." He said as he touched the brim of his hat with his pointer and then headed across the street and down, to the jail.
Doc Adams watched as Matt Dillon headed for the Jail. He let out the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Well, it's about time." He muttered to no one in particular.
Tracy sat at the supper table with her grandmother and father. She was quietly eating her food.
"Has there been any change in her condition?" Blaine asked his mother. He had been out working the ranch, the south end's fence needed mending.
"Well, her fever broke. She's still a bit feverish, but it's coming down." She said taking a bite of her steak.
"Papa?" She asked looking up from her glass of milk.
"Yes." He said looking at her. He had to smile, she looked so much like her mother, with those big brown eyes.
"Can I go up and see the Angel?" She asked then took a sip of milk.
"The Angel?" Jesse asked not sure as to what she was talking about.
"The woman upstairs." He said to her.
"I guess she does look like an angel sleeping peacefully." She looks up at Tracy. "Why don't you take her a cup of tea. She might be awake by now."
"May I?" She asked her Grandmother.
"Of course, girl, didn't I just say it." She smiled. Tracy got up quickly and rushed to her grandmother and hugged her. She then went into the kitchen for a cup of tea. Moments later, while her father and Jesse were still talking, she came out with a cup of tea and slowly headed towards the living area.
"I think Tracy is becoming attached to the stranger." Jesse stated to Blaine.
"I don't see how she can, she's bare been conscious enough to talk." They laugh at the thought of Tracy taking the tea. They were brought out of their reverie when suddenly, Blaine and Jesse heard the crashing of a china tea cup to the floor. Jumping up, they headed out towards the hallway. Tracy was standing there looking at the woman, who held onto the railing, wearing the shirt they had put on her. She had gotten out of bed and was quite disoriented. Blaine rushed up the stares and gently took her arm. Kitty looked up at Blaine, confused. She was weak and tired and had absolutely no idea of where she was.
"What are you trying to do, open that wound up?" Jesse said a bit angry as she stood next to Blaine.
"She's burning up with fever!" He said as Kitty looked up into his dark eyes. He took hold of her around the waist and pulled her one arm over his shoulder. Then lifted her into his arms. Kitty gently laid her head upon his shoulder as she allowed him to carry her back to bed. Lying her on the bed, Jesse took the rag, and rinsed it out. Blaine took the rag from her hands and gently began to wipe Kitty's face and neck. He rinses the rag again. Kitty looked up at him, dazed. Her blue eyes caught his dark ones and he held her gaze. "Thirsty." Came out as a raspy whisper. Jesse took a glass and filled it half way with water and handed it to Blaine who gently slipped his arm under Kitty and pulled her up slightly so she could drink it.
"Sip it!" She tried to gulp it. "Slowly." She sipped then he laid her back down as she fell back to sleep.
"Someone's gonna have to stay with her, Blaine. We can't have her wondering around. She'll open that wound again." Jesse stated.
"I'll stay with her." He said. He got up and moved to the chair near the bed.
To be continued…….