Chapter 10

*Author's Note: My spring break is over, and I'm back to teaching middle school science. Chapters now will be posted late afternoon eastern time. I'm currently working on chapter 12

Matt mounted his horse and rode off in the direction of the Glidden ranch. As much as he wanted to stay with Kitty, Matt knew he had to go and arrest Lucinda. Matt also knew that Doc wanted him out of Doc's office, so he wouldn't get in the way. Riding out to the ranch, Matt was able to do some thinking. He couldn't believe Lucinda would do such a thing. Matt thought she was a nice girl. How wrong he had been.

During Matt's time of thinking, a thought suddenly came to him. He remembered what Adeline had said about Lucinda wanting to marry him so her father would give her his Kansas ranch. Did Lucinda really think that he was going to ask her to marry him? Did he show her in any way that his feelings were that strong that he would even consider marriage. He didn't think so. Sure, he was kind and friendly to her, but that's no reason to think that marriage would soon follow. Matt knew women weren't his strongest subject, but he didn't think he was that bad at reading them.

Before Matt knew it, he had arrived at the Glidden ranch. Andrew Glidden was at the water pump, washing the day's dirt off his hands and face. It was close to suppertime. He was probably getting washed up so he could go and eat. Andrew saw Matt ride up. He finished washing at the pump and then went to go and greet him.

"Evening, Marshal. I wasn't expecting to see you out here. We were just getting ready to eat. Why don't you join us?" said Andrew.

"Thank you for the invite. I do appreciate it, but I'm afraid this isn't a social call. Is Lucinda home?" asked Matt, dismounting his horse.

"She's inside. What's this all about?" asked Andrew.

"I think it would be best to explain after she came out here. Would you please go and bring her out here," Matt replied.

Andrew Glidden was genuinely confused. He had no idea what was going on or why the Marshal even wanted him to bring Lucinda outside. However, he figured he would find out as soon as he brought Lucinda outside. When Andrew walked into the house, Lucinda was in the dining room, finishing setting the table.

"Lucinda, the Marshal is here to see you," said her father.

"Well, invite him. He can have dinner with us," she said.

"I did invite him in, but he said he wanted you to come outside," Mr. Glidden said.

It didn't even occur to Lucinda that Matt knew about Kitty and was there to arrest her. Afterall, who would say anything? She just knew that Matt was at the ranch, and that made her very happy. Lucinda quickly straightened her dress and her hair before going outside. She wanted to make sure she looked presentable. Opening the front door, she greeted Matt with a smile.

"Matt, what a pleasant surprise! I wasn't expecting to see you. Father said he invited you to supper, but you turned him down. Maybe I can change your mind," Lucinda said in a sickenly sweet voice.

When Matt saw Lucinda, it took all of his will power not to go up to her and deliver an iron fist into her stomach, and possibly her face. 'You're mighty lucky you're a woman, Lucinda. If you were a man, you wouldn't be standing right now,' thought Matt.

Matt walked up to Lucinda. "Lucinda, this isn't a social call. I'm placing you under arrest for the attack on Miss Kitty Russell. You're going to have to come with me."

Andrew Glidden had followed his daughter outside. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. First he couldn't believe that Miss Russell had been attacked. He didn't know her personally, but he never heard anything bad about her. Most importantly, he couldn't believe that the Marshal would think that his daughter had anything to do with Miss Russell's attack. Lucinda was his daughter and he couldn't let the Marshal take her. Andrew slowly started to walk back to the house.

Matt noticed Andrew walking back towards the house and had a feeling he knew why. "Mr. Glidden, I don't know what your intentions are, but I strongly advise you not to do them. Don't make things worse than they already are"

Hearing Matt's voice, Andrew turned around and looked at Matt. He walked over to him. "Marshal, I'm sorry about Miss Russell. But what makes you think that Lucinda had anything to do with the attack?

"Yes, Marshal. What makes you think I would attack Kitty? She and I are becoming friends. I wouldn't have any reason to attack her," lied Lucinda.

"I have a witness that places you at the scene of the crime. Now if this witness is lying, we'll get everything straightened out. I just need you to come with me," responded Matt.

"Marshal, where did this attack take place?" asked Andrew.

"On that land you own, north of here," Matt answered.

Andrew wasn't prepared for that answer. Not too many people knew about that piece of land that he owned. He went to look at his daughter, but she wouldn't look at him. Could she possibly be involved in the attack of Miss Russell? He didn't want to think it was possible.

"Mr. Glidden, would you mind saddling a horse for your daughter to ride into town?" asked Matt.

"Sure thing, Marshal," said Andrew as walked to the horse barn.

Lucinda couldn't believe her ears. Her father was actually helping the Marshal. Why would he do that? She was his daughter. Certainly he believed her.

When Andrew returned with a horse, his daughter spoke to him. "Daddy, I can't believe you are actually helping Matt take me into town."

Andrew took a deep breath. "Lucinda, just go with him. We'll get this all taken care of."

Matt helped Lucinda mount the horse. "If I can trust you, I won't tie your hands to the saddle horn," he said.

"You can trust her, Marshal," said Andrew.

Matt and Lucinda rode off towards town. Lucinda was silent during the ride. She was trying to think of who the witness could be. Matt said she was being brought in for the attack of Kitty Russell, not the murder. That meant Kitty was alive. Did she somehow make it back into town? Lucinda didn't think so, but wasn't one hundred percent sure. Did one of the girls rat her out? If that were the case, she would make sure they faced the same fate that she was possibly facing. Lucinda Glidden wasn't going down alone.

Matt and Lucinda arrived at the jail. Matt helped Lucinda dismount and then brought her into the jail. When they walked in, Lucinda saw Adeline sitting at the table with Chester Goode. Lucinda wasn't sure if Adeline was the witness or if Matt also brought her in.

"What are you doing here?" she asked Adeline.

Before Adeline could say anything, Matt spoke. "Lucinda, come on." Matt had grabbed the jail keys off the hook and walked back to the cells.

Seeing that Matt wanted to lock her up and Adeline was just sitting at the table, made Lucinda realize that Adeline must be the witness. Linda was fuming. How dare Adeline betray her?

"Why aren't you locking her up?" asked Lucinda pointing to Adeline.

"Nevermind that. Just get in there," said Matt, his head nodding towards the cell. Lucinda walked into the cell. Once she was inside, Matt shut the door and locked her in. He walked back out into the office and placed the keys on the peg, shutting the door behind him.

"Adeline! You traitor!" Lucinda yelled.

"Chester, make sure you keep those two separate. I'm going to go and bring Jo Ellen Meers and Susanna Humphrey in for questioning," said Matt.

"Will do, Mr. Dillon."

Back at Doc's office, Kitty started to regain consciousness. Doc was in his office counting pills when he heard Kitty moan and start to stir. He immediately stopped what he was doing and went to her. Arriving in the bedroom, he could see Kitty was trying to sit up. Doc went over to her.

"Whoa, easy there. You just lie back down. You have a nasty bump on the back of your head," said Doc, easing Kitty back down on the bed.

That would explain the pounding headache, but Kitty wasn't sure how she got a bump on her head. "Where am I?" she asked, putting her hand to her head.

Doc noticed Kitty's gesture and knew she was probably suffering from a headache. "You're in the back bedroom of my office. I'm going to give you some powders for your headache."

Doc went up to his front office to mix some water and powders for Kitty. "Here," he said, returning to the back room and handing Kitty the glass. "Drink this."

Kitty took the glass and slowly drank the liquid from it. "That should help with the pain. I'm pretty sure you have a concussion, but I want to make sure your brain isn't injured any further. I'm going to have you answer a couple of questions. What's your name?"

"Kitty Russell."

"Good. What city are you in?" asked Doc.

"Dodge City, Kansas," Kitty answered.

"That's correct. Who's the current President of the United States?" Doc asked.

"Andrew Johnson," Kitty replied.

"Correct again. It doesn't look like there's any brain injury, but I still want you to stay here and rest," said Doc.

"Doc, how did I end up with a nasty bump on my head? Did I fall?" asked Kitty.

"You don't remember?" asked Doc.

"No," said Kitty.

TBC