RESCUED: CHAPTER 9

Like they'd done every morning, the hotel delivered the Daily Dramatic Chronicle to their door, along with complimentary hot coffee service. He was surprised that Kitty was still asleep with the big day at the races that afternoon, but all the same grateful that she was getting some rest after their long night. He carried the tray in and made sure the pot was carefully arranged over the candle, then tossed the newspaper on the other side of the table, well away from the flame. Sara was making soft baby sounds in her crib, so he took the opportunity to greet her.

"Beautiful Miss Sara, you're such a good girl." He smiled into her baby blue eyes, delighting at the toothless grin and flailing arms she returned to him. "I wish I could give you some breakfast, but that's not my department. How about I get you cleaned up for now?"

He carried her into the water closet and put her on the changing stand, one hand deftly steadying her so she didn't risk falling, the other removing the old diaper, then cleaning her with the tepid water left from the day before.

"I'm going to order bath water for you, young lady. We'll have you smelling sweet as a daisy for the big race this afternoon!" He expertly contained her on the stand while he fastened the new diaper, giving himself an imaginary pat on the back for all his new skills as a father. With baby in arms, he rang for hot water, and thanks to the riser, the staff had it to him in no more than five minutes. But their arrival woke Kitty, so as soon as the delivery was complete he brought both coffee and baby to her.

"Good morning, love!" Big day today! He gave her a soft kiss and nestled Sara into her warm breast.

She held the baby with one arm, then reached up with the other and pulled him in for a kiss.

"I love you," she smiled. "Such a night last night!"

"Mmmm. Indeed it was! Hot water's all ready for you and Sara when you're finished there. I'm gonna look at the paper. Probably want to save this one for our scrapbook. The race should be the feature story."

But when he unfolded the paper and opened it to the front page, his breath caught in his throat. Right there in huge bold print the headline read "KANSAS BANK FAILURE." And the whole story was right there on the front page, with not so much as a mention of the big race.

. . . . Associated Press

The Federal National Bank of Kansas City collapsed Thursday, apparently the result of investor panic over the soft price of beef, wheat, and corn.

In an apparent domino reaction, nearly every consumer bank in the State of Kansas has had to close its doors, leaving tens of thousands of depositors with no access to the very funds they trusted their hometown banks to protect. Officials attempted to solicit help from the Federal National Bank of St. Louis, but those efforts provided only marginal assistance.

Major Kansas banking centers normally funded by the Federal in Kansas City include Topeka, Wichita, Great Bend, and Dodge City.

"Misinformed customers in these cities have spread unnecessary rumors among rural citizens, who have been descending on the banks attempting to withdraw money that simply isn't there," said Webster Groves, President of First Topeka Bank. "We expect to have alternate funding in place within a month. No one's savings are in danger."

"No one's savings are in danger!" Matt puffed the line out loud enough that he startled Kitty, who was already headed for the bath with Sara.

"What?"

"Nothing. I'm sorry. I'll read it to you when you're out of the bath."

He motioned silently to her so she'd continue on her way while the water was hot, not wanting to start any panic of his own right here in the suite. But alarms were going off in his head as thought after thought raced through it. He read the article again, hoping to find something he'd missed. No such luck. He needed to be in Dodge, standing tall with Frank and Festus to protect Dodge City Bank, Mr. Bodkin, and all the loyal depositors. The only way was the train. Thank God for the Transcontinental, but still the trip was almost three days. And it only went East once daily at 2:00. He looked at the clock on the wall: Almost nine. They'd planned to have a late breakfast, then head over to the track for all the pre-race festivities. They'd told Ava she could sleep in. Kitty deserved to stand in the winner's circle after all she'd been through with Panacea and Jack Galt. Okay, so she could stay! Ava would want to stay too. After all, this was Tip's first big stakes race. The Transcontinental was luxurious and it was safe. Two ladies and a baby could travel in secure comfort in the parlor car, complete with full-service dining and comfortable sleepers. And Stacey Cole was going along to the race, so that'd be three of them in the buggy to and from the track. They'd be safe.

Last night Dodge was the place of security where he wanted to take refuge from San Francisco. This morning the tables were turned. He'd ask Kitty to stay here until the chaos was over. No way to tell how long that'd be. After all, the money didn't matter anymore. He'd insist on closing out their complimentary stay with Stacey and then check Kitty and Ava in again at full price. This was the last race of the season, so Tip would be more than glad to take them on any outings. He'd never been through a bank failure. His mind raced back and forth with the makeshift plan.

A sharp rap on the door jolted him from his thoughts. He walked quickly to the door.

"Who is it?"

"Stacey, Matt."

He opened the door quickly and ushered her in.

"Don't see the paper at your door. So you already saw it then?"

"Yeah, Stacey, I saw it. Kitty and Sara are in the bath. She hasn't seen it yet."

"It's horrible news. Just horrible. Matt, Daddy wired me this morning. He's on his way to Dodge to see if you need any help. He thought maybe you'd deputize him."

"I sure would if I was there. I'm not gonna be able to go to the race today, Stacey. I'll be on the two o'clock back East. Your dad's gonna beat me there."

"He's good at finding his way around."

"Stacey, will you wire Doctor Adams in Dodge City and tell him I'm on my way?"

"You know I will."

"You and Kitty and Ava can go to the race. I'll wire Kitty here at the hotel when it's safe for her and Sara to come home."

"Oh! Goodness! Hello Stacey!" Kitty had just popped out of the water closet all bundled up in her blue robe, with Sara in her arms. "What's this visit about?"

"Kit, let me hold Sara." Matt directed her attention from an already distraught Stacey. "Sit down at the table and read the front page of the newspaper."

It was an eerie scene to watch. Kitty carefully took the carafe of coffee from the candle, poured herself a cup, then sat down at the table and took a slow sip while she let her eyes fall on the paper. It took only seconds for her to push the coffee away, but her eyes never left the page. Matt knew she was reading it a second time.

"Oh my GOD, Matt! This is TERRIBLE!" Oh, poor Mr. Bodkin and Festus and Frank . . . and . . . Oh, this is just HORRIBLE!"

"Kit, I'm catching the two o'clock eastbound. You and Ava can come home another day, after it's safe in Dodge."

"IN A PIG'S EYE I'M STAYING HERE!" She unleased her fury at him with a powerful voice that left no doubt about her intentions.

Stacey did a double-take and made the quick decision to get out of the middle of what was certain to be a family fight. "I'll see you at the front desk, Matt," she said as she let herself out the door and closed it behind her.

"LISTEN TO ME KITTY!" Matt wasn't above a little fury of his own. "Dodge is gonna be pure chaos! Every depositor in Ford County is gonna be trying to tear the bank's doors down! You know very well how mob rule gets out of control. I don't want you or Sara anywhere near that mess!"

His booming baritone may have backed Kitty down, but little Sara wasn't the least bit pleased. Right there in her father's arms, she not only heard it, but she felt the vibration clear through his body. Her tears came quickly. Instead of reaching for her mother, she buried her face in his chest and wailed.

"I'm sorry, little one." He stroked her hair and rocked her. "My fault. I'm sorry."

The power of their crying baby quieted both of them. This little girl rarely whimpered and almost never cried.

"We're wasting time arguing, Matt." Kitty said softly. "I'll wake Ava. Then I'll start packing."

Matt stroked his little girl softly, watching her tears dwindle with each soft touch.

"Kitty," he said softly. "Please stay here."

She put her hand on his arm, her eyes moving from Sara to his face.

"I'm your wife, Matt. I go where you go. Dodge is our home. Our friends need us. And more than ever, I need to be with you."

There wasn't an "all right," not even an "okay." He just nodded slowly and took one last look at the baby in his arms, who was now cooing softly, playing with the button on his shirt, hunting for something to suckle.

"While you're packing, I'll check us out of the hotel and reserve the space on the Transcontinental. Can you explain all this to Ava?"

"You know I can, Matt. She'll want to stay to see Tip race, and I'm sure he'll see to it that she gets on another train safely."

"Okay. Let's all meet at the Grill for breakfast, say 11:00? Then we can hire a carriage, drop Ava off at the track, and head for the depot." He handed Sara to Kitty, who took her in her arms and gave her a soft kiss.

"Matt?" Kitty put her hand on his arm again. "Tell Stacey I'm SO sorry for raising my voice. Please, if you can just take the time to . . ."

"I will, baby girl." She got one quick kiss to confirm the plan, and he was out the door.

XOXOXO

"Sorry I'm late, ladies." Matt slid into his chair at the Grill. "Thought of a couple extra things I needed to do."

"French toast with bacon is on special. It's fast. We ordered a plate for you."

"Good." He smiled at Kitty, then turned to Ava. "We'll drop you off at the track right after this."

"Marshal," she said gently. "May I please travel with you?"

"We talked it over upstairs, Matt." Kitty interrupted, confident she could soften Matt's mood. "Ava wants to be with us. Dodge is her home."

"And miss Tip's big race?" Matt didn't believe what he was hearing.

It was Ava's turn to do the convincing.

"I thought it all out, Marshal. Tip will understand if I explain it to him. I love my home just like he loves his. He'll be far too busy tomorrow to spend any time with me. I don't know anybody else at the track."

"Don't be scared, Ava," he said. "Stacey and her brother are going to sit in the owner's box. They'll be glad to take you. You won't be alone."

The entire table was silent while Ava treated herself to a bite of her food, then seemed to study the plate for a bit, deep in thought. When she looked up at Matt again, she didn't falter.

"That's not it. I'm not scared at all. I miss Dierdre Smalley, I miss Festus too. He'll be needing a good home-cooked meal, and so will Louie. I'll be perfectly fine in my room at the boarding house no matter what happens in Dodge. Nobody riots on a boarding house. It's my turn to help others. Please don't turn me away."

"Ava, the last thing I'd ever do is turn you away. Finish your breakfast and we'll go tell Tip you're headed home with us. I've got some things I need to explain to him myself."

tbc