Chapter 11

Kitty seemed to remember everything else, but she couldn't remember the actual attack. Doc had remembered reading about this type of amnesia. Most often the patient usually didn't get that part of his or her memory back. Doc wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing that Kitty didn't remember the attack. A part of him didn't want Kitty remembering getting attacked. He didn't want her to relive that moment. However, he wasn't sure if it would be crucial for her to remember, if she would have to testify in court.

"Doc, why can't I remember getting hurt?" Kitty asked softly.

"It's a form of amnesia. That's when a person has a head injury and can't remember things," Doc answered.

"Will I get better?" asked Kitty.

"I honestly don't know, but I don't want you to worry about that right now," said Doc.

"Doc, how did I get injured?" asked Kitty. If she couldn't remember herself, she at least wanted someone to tell her.

"Honey, you'll have to let Matt talk to you," said Doc. "He knows more than I do." Kitty nodded her head.

Matt rode out to the Humphrey farm first. Mrs. Humphrey was at the clothesline, hanging up laundry. Mr. Humphrey was out in the field, tilling up the soil. He didn't see Susanna anywhere. He figured she was in the house. Mrs. Humphrey saw the Marshal ride up and greeted him with a wave and a smile.

"Hello, Marshal. What brings you out here?" asked Mrs. Humphrey as Matt rode up to her.

"Mrs. Humphrey," Matt said, tipping his hat. "I'm here to see Miss Susanna. Is she here?"

"Yes, she is. She's inside. Please come on in." said Mrs. Humphrey.

Matt got off his horse. "Mrs. Humphrey, if you could please ask Susanna to come out here, I'd appreciate it."

"Sure thing, Marshal. I'll go and get her," said Mrs. Humphrey as she went inside.

"Susanna! Susanna!" Mrs. Humphrey yelled.

Susanna came out of her bedroom. "Yes, mother."

"The Marshal is outside. He wants to see you," said Mrs. Humphrey.

Susanna's eyes became as big as saucers. What was the Marshal doing here? Why did he want to see her? "Tell him I'm not here."

"I already told him you were here," said Mrs. Humphrey.

"Then tell him I'm sick." Susanna was doing anything she could to avoid seeing the Marshal.

"Susanna, I don't know what's gotten into you. Now you go outside and see what the Marshal wants," demanded Mrs. Humphrey.

While Matt was waiting for Susanna to come outside, Mr. Humphrey finished the tilling and walked up to Matt. "Hello Marshal. I'm sorry I didn't greet you when you first arrived, but I wanted to finish that field. What can I do for you?"

"Hello Mr. Humphrey. I'm here to see Susanna. Mrs. Humphrey went inside to get her," answered Matt.

Mr. Humphrey was about to ask Matt why he wanted to see his daughter, but then he saw her coming out of the house. He figured he would find out soon enough. His wife was following his daughter. Susanna tried to hide her nervousness as she walked up to Matt.

"Hi, Marshal!" exclaimed Susanna.

"Susanna, are you aware that Miss Russell was attacked yesterday?" asked Matt.

Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey looked at each other. They weren't expecting the Marshal to ask their daughter that question. They waited for their daughter's answer, but she hesitated.

"Marshal, why would Susanna know anything about that?" asked Mr. Humphrey.

"I have a witness that puts her at the scene of the crime," Matt answered. "I want to make it clear that I'm not placing you under arrest. I just want you to ride back into town with me, so I can question you."

"Can't you question her here?" asked Mrs. Humphrey.

"Sorry, but it would be best if I questioned her in town," Matt answered.

"Susanna, you better go with the Marshal. I'll saddle the mare for you," said her father. He was a mild-mannered man and didn't want to start any trouble.

Once the mare was saddled, Susanna and Matt left the Humphrey farm. Instead of traveling west, towards town, Susanna noticed they were traveling south. She questioned Matt about this. "Dodge is west of here. Why are we going south?"

"We're going to get Jo Ellen. I'm bringing her in for questioning too,' Matt replied.

"Do you plan on getting Lucinda too?" asked Susanna.

"Nope, she's already at the jail," said Matt.

Matt and Susanna arrived at the Meers' homestead. Jo Ellen was sitting on the porch. She saw the Marshal and Susanna riding up, and butterflies filled her stomach. Seeing those two, Jo Ellen had a sinking feeling this wasn't a social call.

"Miss Meers, I need you to saddle one of your horses and come with us," said Matt.

"What's this all about, Marshal?" asked Jo Ellen, trying to sound as innocent as possible.

"Miss Russell was attacked yesterday, and I have a witness that places you at the scene. Like I told Susanna, you're not under arrest. I just want to question you," said Matt.

Jo Ellen went to the stable to get a horse ready. Her horse saddled, she mounted it and joined Susanna and Matt. Suddenly remembering that her folks weren't home, Jo Ellen turned to Matt. "My folks are in town. Can I leave them a note telling them where I am? I wouldn't want them to worry."

Matt agreed. He didn't want the Meers to worry either. "Fine. Go write the note and come right back out here."

"Thanks," said Jo Ellen as she got off her horse and went back inside to write the letter.

She considered sneaking out the back door, but then thought better of it. She wasn't under arrest and trying to escape wouldn't make her look good. Jo Ellen finished writing the note to her parents and then rejoined Matt and Susanna.

The trip into town was quiet, but tense. Both girls had no idea what to say. The girls rode slightly in front of Matt. Every once in a while they would take a glance back to look at him. They were trying to read his face, his emotions, but they couldn't. They arrived into town and rode past the jail. This surprised both girls.

"Why aren't you taking us to the jail?" asked Jo Ellen.

"Because I feel it's best if I question you at the Dodge House," answered Matt.

All three arrived at the Dodge House and dismounted their horses. Matt opened the door and ushered the two women inside. Matt followed and then walked up to the front desk. Susanna and Jo Ellen stayed back in the lobby.

"Ah, Marshal, so nice to see you. How can I help you?" asked Mr. Dobie.

"Mr. Dobie, I want to use your hotel to question these girls. Is there a room, without any windows, that one girl can stay in while I question the other girl out here?" Matt asked. He wanted to question each girl separately, but wanted to make sure the girl not being questioned wouldn't try to escape.

"The back supply room has a very small window, too small for a person to fit through. You could use that room," replied Mr. Dobie. He knew why the Marshal wanted a room with no windows.

"I'll use that room. Jo Ellen, I'm going to have you go in the supply room, while I question Susanna. When I'm done questioning Susanna, I'll have her go in the supply room, and I'll question you," said Matt.

Jo Ellen went into the supply room and Susanna followed Matt to a corner of the lobby. Matt chose that corner because he could see the front door and it was out of earshot from the rest of the lobby and the supply room.

"Alright Susanna, I want to hear how Kitty became injured. I want you to tell me the truth," said Matt.

Taking a deep breath, Susanna began telling her version of the story. "Lucinda had this plan to invite Kitty to a piece of her father's land. She was upset with Kitty because she felt Kitty was spoiling the relationship between you and Lucinda. She wanted Kitty to know that she was your girl, not Kitty. Lucinda planned on getting you to marry her, but Kitty was getting in the way. The plan was just to let Kitty know to stay away from you. It seemed to work. Kitty told Lucinda she wasn't the kind of girl to break up relationships. Lucinda thought everything was fine, but Kitty spoke again. She told Lucinda that you said that you didn't feel for Lucinda what she felt for you, that there wasn't a relationship between the two of you. That's when things took a turn. Kitty was getting ready to mount her horse. But before she could, Lucinda picked up a branch and swung it into the back of Kitty's head. Kitty fell to the ground immediately. Adeline, Jo Ellen, and I were shocked. That wasn't part of the plan."

"Was Lucinda the only one who hit Kitty? Did anyone give her the branch or hold Kitty down?" asked Matt.

"Lucinda was solo in the attack. No one helped her," Susanna responded.

"You knew Kitty was hurt. Why didn't you go and get help?" Matt asked.

"Lucinda said if Kitty died, we would also be to blame because we lured her out there. I guess I panicked. I didn't want to be charged with murder."

Matt had heard what he wanted to hear from Susanna. It was now Jo Ellen's turn to tell her side of the story. Jo Ellen came out of the supply room and Susanna walked in. Jo Ellen joined Matt in the corner of the lobby.

"I've heard Susanna's story. Now tell me yours," Matt said to Jo Ellen.

Jo Ellen shared her story. As Matt listened, he realized that Jo Ellen's story matched Susanna's and Adeline's stories. Even though all four girls lured Kitty out to the place she was attacked, it was Lucinda who did the attacking and she acted solo. Matt also determined that Adeline, Susanna, and Jo Ellen had no intention of attacking Kitty and had no idea Lucinda was going to attack Kitty.

Matt now had Jo Ellen and Susanna in the lobby with him. "After hearing your stories, I'm not going to place you under arrest, but I need you to stay here. I'll be right back."

"Sure Marshal. We won't go anywhere," said Susanna.

Matt went back to the jail to get Adeline. He wanted to bring her to the Dodge House. He wanted all three girls to stay in town, but not at the jail. He didn't think that was necessary. Matt got Adeline from the jail and returned to the Dodge House with her.

"I've heard all three of your stories, and they all match. From what I've heard, Lucinda was Kitty's sole attacker. I'm not going to place you girls under arrest. However, I would like you girls to stay around Dodge. Don't plan on taking any vacations. I'm going to wire the judge so we can get a trial against Lucinda started, and I'll need you there to testify," said Matt.

All three girls gave Matt their word that they wouldn't leave town. They would testify against Lucinda, if that met they would not see any jail time.

"Marshal, how did you know where Kitty was?" asked Susanna.

"Luckily one of you had a conscience to do the right thing," Matt said looking at Adeline. "Because of that Kitty is alive and probably saved you jail time."

Matt went to the telegraph office to send a wire to Judge Brooker.

He told the telegraph operator to send the reply to his office. The telegraph officer agreed.

Telegraph sent, Matt wanted to do one more thing. He wanted to go to Doc's office and see Kitty. He had been thinking about her all day. He walked up the stairs and into Doc's office. Matt knew Kitty was in the back bedroom, so he walked to the door. When he opened the door, he was surprised, but happy to see that Kitty was awake.

"Hello, Matt," Kitty softly said when she saw him.

"Hello, Kitty," Matt said with the same soft voice.

TBC