The sweat trickled down Matt's face and his heart rammed against his ribs as he rode back to the Kelk's, but there was no mistaking the fact he was grateful to have run into Doc.
His old friend was returning home after pulling an all nighter with a whooping cough case but was alert enough to notice a particular man on the prairie who'd been plying Dodge's citizenry with drinks and chatty conversation just days before. Somehow, the man's profile had jostled an almost forgotten memory and he was all too happy to pass his thoughts on when the Marshal appeared.
Hiding Buck at some distance, the big lawman circled his friends' farm on foot at a wide arch, viewing Horace's unmoving position on the porch and no other actively as highly suspicious. His sixth sense proved alarmingly correct when he saw a horse loosely tied to the back fence and he promptly shooed the animal away.
Did Farrin really think he and Horace would be so stupid as to speak with each other? he thought grimly, as he cautiously made his way back towards the house. If so, the outlaw had really lost his touch! But he couldn't rely on that continuing and he only hoped his friends would be alright in the end.
oooooo
Horace's mouth flinched with a tiny smile when he saw the Marshal creeping out of a stand of trees on foot and was quick to credit the beautiful redhead inside the house. Truly, before he'd married his own wife, he would've swore that there couldn't be such a strong connection between two human beings that one would instinctively know when the other was in trouble. But, without a doubt, the bond between Marshal Dillon and Miss Russell was what brought the tall lawman back in time.
Neither man acknowledged the other as Matt headed towards the barn in a very roundabout way and Horace tensely waited for what would happen next; He was just sorry that he couldn't do anything to help!
Trying to focus his mind on something else, he became aware of the smell of breakfast cooking and wondered what the women and Thad were enduring. He decided it was too quiet in the house.
Then he saw the outlaw's horse take off across the prairie and his whole body quivered in a moment of panic. Expecting gunshots, screams, and death to come, he held his breath, but nothing happened.
oooooo
Kitty's heart fluttered, signaling intuitive knowledge that her big beau was on his way. He had to be! There was no way their story would end like this. She eyed the oven again. Should she risk it now?
"Don't you turn away from me, Kitty." Farrin jerked her chin back; a tiny smile appeared as he studied her face, "Hey, I've got an idea. You want that boy, don't you? Well, I want him too." His grin broadened. "So maybe you should come with us." he chuckled, "Yes, sir, I bet you'd like that."
"You're stupider than I thought," Kitty growled, her blood heating up again, "if you think you're gonna leave this house in one piece."
"You think that Marshal is gonna save ya?" Farrin challenged, his nails digging into her cheeks, "He's miles away from here, honey. You that. I know that. Stop fooling yourself, Kitty. It's time to let me win. Lord knows, I deserve to win after the hell you've put me through."
"You wouldn't know what the Lord wanted if He came up and told ya to your face!" Kitty coiled up like a rattlesnake.
"You let her go!" Mattie couldn't stand it anymore. "and get outta this house!"
"If I leave this house before I'm good and ready, woman," Farrin's hand connected with her face, "then your ole man will leave this world." He watched unblinking as she reeled back into a chair, "Shut your trap and mind the breakfast! If anything gets burned, you'll be the first to go."
"You leave Mrs. Kelk alone!" Thad cried out; eyes wide, he looked like he wanted to cry, "I'll go with you, Pa. I will. Just don't hurt Aunt Kitty or the Kelks. I'll go with ya if ya promise to leave 'em be. Please Pa, just don't hurt 'em and I'll go with ya."
"Aunt Kitty?" Farrin's eyebrows shot up, "Naw, boy, this little lady is gonna be your new Ma." He leered at Kitty, "You'll make a nice one too, I'll bet."
oooooo
Matt blocked out all other thoughts as voices rose in the house. Having made a headlong dash to the best vantage point he could find in a split second, he raised his gun and took aim. Then Mattie turned towards the window. They locked eyes as he sent a silent plea to get Kitty out of the way. She seemed to understand.
"Let her go, Farrin." The older woman's voice came to him as if she was far away, "Breakfast is heated through. We need to get it on the table."
"You mean, in my saddle packs." Farrin snapped, loosening his hold on his beautiful hostage, "I'm gonna be needin' two extra—"
The gunshot's report nearly knocked Kitty on her bottom and Mattie yanked her back as Farrin's body toppled over.
"Aunt Kitty!" Thad was out of his chair in a moment. He collided with her just as the front and back doors ripped open and the two men appeared.
"Well…" Matt took a couple deep breaths to steady himself. "I'm awfully glad that worked out like it did." He nodded at Mattie, who was already in her husband's arms. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it…" she answered shakily. Horace grinned and kissed her.
"Kitty?" the Marshal turned to his lover. "You alright?"
"Yes, Matt." she swallowed hard, still on her knees with a good grip on the youngster. "Thad?"
"I'm okay, Aunt Kitty."
"Well, it looks like everybody's alive who needs to be." Horace sighed. "Thank you again, Marshal."
"We've got Doc to thank, actually." Matt spoke sagely, "I meant him on the road into town and he told me about a man who'd been plying Dodge with a lot of drinks and asking some pretty peculiar questions a few days ago. He fit Farrin's description to a tee. Once I heard that, I knew he wasn't in town anymore so I hightailed it back out here."
"Um, Marshal Dillon?" Thad looked pensive. "What's gonna happen to my Pa now?"
"Well, son," the Marshal knelt down. "Horace and I are gonna get him buried, then…if y'all are ready, we'll head back into town and get some papers signed."
