Chapter 2 "On To Fort Wallace"
Matt took in Sarah's words. He did not know what to say to Sarah without upsetting her. Matt knew he did not love Sarah, nor could he ever fall in love with her. His soulmate, the love of his life, was waiting for him back in Dodge City. Matt had every intention of going back to Dodge to be with Kitty.
Matt even questioned Sarah's love for him. Traumatic situations can make you feel different things. Maybe it wasn't love she was feeling, but infatuation. How could Sarah say she was in love with him? She didn't really even know him. They may have been through a lot this last week, but that didn't mean that she knew him. He and Kitty had known each other for over six years. In those six years, they had grown to love and respect one another. Matt expected his and Kitty's love and respect to keep on growing.
"Sarah, I don't know what to say, but I," Matt started to say.
"You don't have to say anything," Sarah interrupted.
Realizing he was still holding Sarah, Matt sat her up. "You know what, I do know what to say, and I need to say it. Sarah, I don't feel for you what you feel for me. I don't love you. I like you and respect you, but that's it"
"Matt, how can you say that?" Sarah asked. "Look at all we've been through during this last week. You made sure I survived that prairie fire. You even killed a man in my honor. If that's not love, then I don't know what is."
"Sarah, we did face traumatic situations, but that doesn't mean I've fallen in love with you. If someone else had been with me, I would have done what I could to make sure that person survived the fire. It would have been the same thing with the killing. That man was a threat that had to be stopped. I think you're confusing infatuation with love," said Matt.
"What about what Gody said?" Sarah questioned.
It dawned on Matt that Gody must have also spoken to Sarah. "I'm guessing that she talked to you too," he said. "What did she say to you?"
"She told me that she felt a pull between us," Sarah responded. "Gody said that there was a chemistry between us and that I should forget having you take me to Fort Wallace. She said I should go back to Dodge City with you. You just said 'she talked to me too'. That means she talked to you. What did she say to you?"
Matt was not going to lie. He would answer Sarah honestly. "Gody pretty much said the same thing to me. She told me she felt a connection and chemistry between us."
"There you go," said Sarah. "Someone who has never been around us felt something between us. How can you deny it?"
"Sarah, Gody is a lonely woman that has been out on the prairie too long," said Matt. "Who knows how long she's alone before she has people stop by. When people do stop by, I have a feeling very few, if any, are women." said Matt.
"Speaking of women, Gody said that I'm the only woman that you've ever brought out to her and that you've never spoken of a woman during the other times you've stopped there. Plus, you never mentioned a woman when we were in Dodge," Sarah stated.
"First of all, when I'm going on that trail, it's usually work related. I wouldn't bring a woman with me. You're the only woman that has asked to be taken to Fort Wallace," said Matt. "Second, just because I've never mentioned a woman, doesn't mean there isn't one. I'm a very private person when it comes to relationships."
Sarah just was not buying into what Matt was saying. This wasn't infatuation she was feeling for Matt. It was love. She didn't understand why he didn't feel the same way. Sarah still believed that Matt needed more time. With time, he would love her like she loved him.
"Matt, I said it before and I'll say it again," Sarah told him. "You just need more time."
"No Sarah. I don't need more time," Matt sighed. "When a man takes a woman to be with him forever, it's because they love each other, because life wouldn't be any good for them if they were apart. (From "Take Her, She's Cheap" season 10) I believe that's what you and Jamie have, and that's why I'm going to take you to Fort Wallace."
"Fine," said Sarah, resignation in her voice. "I think you're making a big mistake."
Matt decided to change the subject. "I won't be ready to ride for at least a day. In the meantime, let's get some sleep tonight. We'll have to bury the body tomorrow. Tomorrow we'll drink the rest of the soup and then use that pail and the cup to dig the grave. It'll take a while, but the burying has to be done."
Matt made sure the fire still had kindling to burn, and then he and Sarah settled down for the night. Sarah slept close to Matt, but not right next to him. She wanted him to feel her presence. Maybe if he got used to her being near, then he wouldn't want to take her to Fort Wallace, but would want to take her back to Dodge with him.
The next morning arrived and Matt felt better than he did the previous night. He could feel his strength continue to return. Matt knew he would need his strength to bury the man he had to kill and for the rest of the ride to Fort Wallace. Food was the answer to that. Matt took the remaining soup and poured it into two cups for both him and Sarah to drink. After they finished their soup, the next task was digging the hole for the grave.
Matt was right. The digging did take a while. It would have been faster if Matt wasn't limited to using just one arm. It also didn't help that they weren't using an actual shovel. All they had available was the pail the soup had been in. At first when one was using the pail, the other one would use the cups. But after a while, they both came to the conclusion that the cups weren't helping. Finally the hole was dug and the body was rolled into it. Matt and Sarah covered the body with the dirt.
When they were done, Matt and Sarah were exhausted and hungry. They had worked up quite an appetite. The soup broth they drank several hours earlier, no longer filled their bellies. Matt noticed a bag lying where the man must have been sleeping before he decided to take advantage of Sarah. He walked over to the bag, picked it up, and looked inside. To his surprise, Matt found a few potatoes sitting on the bottom of the bag. He reached inside and took them out. Matt also found some cloth to make a sling out of for his arm.
"Look at what I found," Matt said, showing Sarah the potatoes. "We can wash them in the creek and eat them raw. There are four in here, two for you and two for me. We can eat one now, get some rest, and eat the other one later. That will have to hold us off until we get to Fort Wallace."
"Raw?" Sarah questioned. "I've never eaten a potato raw. Most often I eat them baked or mashed."
"We don't have the luxuries of a house or a restaurant to have baked or mashed potatoes," Matt told Sarah. "Out on the prairie, you make do with what you have, and right now we have raw potatoes."
Matt and Sarah walked down to the creek and washed all four of the potatoes. They would eat two of them and let the other two dry, before putting them back in the bag. Matt took the first bite of his potato, eating it like it was an apple. Sarah watched Matt take a couple more bites before she decided to take her first bite. There was no flavor and it was very starchy, but she had to admit it wasn't too bad. Although a hot potato with some butter and salt would have tasted much better.
Matt waited for Sarah to finish her potato and then he spoke. "I think it's best if we pack up and get going. If we leave now, we should make it to Fort Wallace by early evening. I'll have you wash the pail and cups in the creek and then pack them in the bag, along with the potatoes. I'll go fill the canteens and saddle the horses."
"Alright," Sarah agreed.
Both Matt and Sarah walked to the creek. Sarah brought the soup pail and cups, and Matt brought the canteens. Once they completed their tasks at the creek, Sarah packed the bag and Matt saddled the horses. Sarah handed Matt the bag and he secured it and the canteens to his horse. Matt took both horses to the creek to make sure they drank some water before the journey. When he finished with that, he helped Sarah mount her horse and then mounted his own. The two of them rode off towards Fort Wallace.
The ride back to Fort Wallace had been a quiet one. Few words were spoken between Matt and Sarah. When words were spoken, they were in regards to the weather or how much longer they would have to ride. Riding for a few hours, Matt decided to give the horses a rest.
Matt dismounted his buckskin and then helped Sarah down. "We'll walk for a couple of miles to give the horses a break." He loosened the cinch on his horse and did the same on Sarah's horse.
"We have been riding for a while," said Sarah. "The walk will do some good. Would you hand me a canteen? The dusty ride has made my mouth dry."
"Of course. Here ya go," said Matt, handing Sarah one of the canteens.
Sarah accepted the canteen and took a swig of water. Matt did the same thing with his canteen. The water was refreshing. After quenching their thirst, Matt and Sarah started walking. Sarah didn't mind walking for two reasons. The first one was because she was tired of riding. The second one was because walking would slow down their trip and that meant more time with Matt. They walked for a couple of miles and then Matt decided they could ride again.
They rode for another hour. "That's Fort Wallace up ahead," said Matt. "We should be there in about ten minutes." Sarah could only nod.
Ten minutes later Matt and Sarah arrived at the fort. Matt went to headquarters to tell them who they were and why they were there. Once the company clerk had the information, he went and got Lieutenant Jamie Warren. Jamie emerged from his barracks and was beyond happy to see Sarah.
"Sarah, honey, it's so good to finally have you here," said Jamie as he took Sarah in his arms. He then noticed Matt's arm in the sling. "What happened to your arm?"
"It's a long story that Sarah can share with you," said Matt. "I best be going. I have to get to Hays City."
"Marshal, I want to thank you for bringing Sarah to the fort. I really appreciate it. I know the prairie isn't the best place for a woman to travel alone," said Jamie. "You said that you were going to Hays City. That's about at least a day's ride from here. It'll be nightfall soon. Why don't you bed down at the fort and then leave first thing in the morning?"
"I think I'll take you up on that offer," said Matt. He was grateful to have a chance to sleep in a bed and not on the hard, unforgiving ground.
"Sounds good," said Jamie. "I need to take Sarah to the hotel in Wallace, about two miles from here. Army wives are allowed to stay at the fort, but Sarah isn't a wife yet. So that's why she stays at the hotel. Luckily for me I'll be able to make trips to the hotel to see Sarah. Even luckier for me, our wedding is next week."
"Well congratulations to both of you," said Matt. "Sarah, it was nice meeting you."
"Same here, Matt," Sarah responded.
"I'll be back later, Marshal," said Jamie. "After I get Sarah checked into the hotel, I want to take her out to dinner. You can go to the mess hall. They'll fix you up a plate of food."
"Take your time, Lieutenant," said Matt. "I'm sure you two will have plenty to talk about."
Jamie prepared a wagon and left Fort Wallace with Sarah. As Sarah rode away with Jame, one thing was on her mind.
'You haven't seen the last of me, Matt Dillon. I'll be back in your life again,' she thought.'
TBC