Dodging distracted pedestrians, men on horseback and wagons coming and going, Matt crossed the street diagonally from the sheriff's office, to the three story building that bore the sign, WK Hotel. He was surprised that John Mannix had questioned Kitty's kidnapping but, on the other hand, suspicion was part of a lawman's job and Mannix had witnessed a lot over his long career.
Matt stomped his feet on the welcome mat outside hotel, and pulled open the heavy door. The lobby was small, but the seating looked comfortable, and in general was way more tastefully decorated than the Dodge House. There seemed to be no one around, but as soon as he went to the desk, a woman in a long sleeved, high button dress emerged from behind a black curtain. "Good day. My name's Martha Smyth welcome to my hotel. Most folks find it clean and comfortable. What can I do for you?"
Although her clothes were dark and unadorned, and her brown hair pulled into a tight bun, Martha Smyth's her full lips and rosy-smooth complexion betrayed her youth. Matt was taken aback. She seemed awfully young to be running a business like this. With the type of clients that came and went in this part of the country, running a hotel was no walk in the park. He smiled crookedly and thought of Kitty's rise as a business owner. Obviously some young women, managed to accomplish unusual things. "I'm Matt Dillon, US Marshal of Kansas Territory. I'd like a room with a good view of First Street."
"Of course Marshal. Room 114 has two big windows that allow you to see just about the whole street." She handed him the key and pointed upstairs, "Last door on the left."
"Marshal Dillon, Marshal Dillon." A thin voice sailed across the lobby.
Matt turned and saw a freckle faced boy running over, clutching a slip of paper in his fist. "Marshal Dillon, Mr. Sands, over at the depot, gave me a penny to get this note to you quick. He said you might give me a penny too." Matt lifted an eyebrow and handed over a coin. As the boy skipped off, Matt read the message. Joshua Sharpe just bought train tickets to New York for himself and Kitty Sharpe. Matt's jaw clenched at the words Kitty Sharpe. He shoved the note in his pocket. The train didn't board for a couple of hours, so Sharpe must be taking Kitty somewhere to wait. He bounded the stairs to room 114 to keep an eye on First Street. Sharpe just bought those tickets, so he had to be around. With the drapes pulled aside, Matt peered out the windows, trying to keep the length of First Street in his line of vision. A movement caught his eye. A slender man was crossing the street to the hotel, carrying a woman – a woman with red hair, who was unmistakably Kitty. Her head drooped over Sharpe's arm. She was sick or hurt or maybe even dead. Matt's heart flew to his throat – no – surely Sharpe wouldn't be carrying a dead woman to a hotel. Matt's heart pounded. He wanted to tear Sharpe's head off, but making a move with Kitty in the man's arms would put her in danger. He commanded his body to stay put. Blood roared in his ears. He had to give Sharpe time to get to a room, then he'd take him. He forced himself to let a minute go by and then another. He tore out of the door – they must be checked in by now. He raced down the stairs to the front desk. "Miss Smyth, what room did you give that man who just came in carrying the woman?"
Martha frowned, "Mr. Sharpe and his sick wife? Room 210, but why on earth do you…"
Matt was halfway up the stairs before the words left Martha's mouth. The image of Kitty's limp body fired a fury in him, he could no longer keep at bay. He got to room 210, pulled out his gun, and with one swift move, kicked the door in. Kitty lay motionless in bed. Joshua was sitting by her head. He turned sharply. "What on earth – who… Ohhh I get it – I see the badge. You're that US Marshal from Dodge. Marshal Dillon I presume."
"You presume right." Matt gestured with his gun. "Move over there."
"No, I will remain where I am. Next to my poor sick wife, protecting her from an obviously crazed lawman. Marshal, Kitty and I are married, and happy together. Our only sadness is her sudden illness. I'm taking her to New York for the best possible medical care. I don't know what you've been told or what you've made up in your head, but we are in love and going to New York City. You can't stop us." Josh inched even closer to Kitty' s head, and clasped her pale, limp hand. "Just what do you think you're going to do with that gun? You can't shoot me without hitting her, and I have no intention of leaving my darling wife's side. You, sir, are a sad specimen of a lawman. Do the right thing and leave quietly." Josh stroked Kitty's hand, with an infuriating smile on his face. Matt hesitated. For one of the few times in his life, he was unsure of what to do.
"Drop the gun, Matt." Matt stiffened. Sheriff Mannix had a gun shoved into his back. "I said, drop it. I heard what the man just said. Turns out you are fooling yourself. You're intruding on this couple for your own personal reasons. Throw that gun down."
Matt glanced over his shoulder at Mannix, and knew he had no choice, the stony faced sheriff would tolerate no argument. He tossed his gun on the floor. Sharpe smiled and rose from the bed. "You must be the sheriff of this fine town. I thank you very much. Tell you what, go ahead and take Dillon into custody, and after I get cleaned up and changed, I'll stop by your office to give a statement and press charges."
Mannix nodded. "Sounds good." He gripped Matt's arm with one hand, while holding the gun to his back with the other. Josh cross the room to the water closet, shaking his head. "Sad way to end a career, Marshal, but you brought it on yourself." He looked at Mannix. "Sheriff, if you will excuse me..."
Mannix shoved Matt aside, and swung around to aim at Josh. "Not so fast Sharpe. Hands up." Josh froze. He'd been tricked into moving from Kitty. He grabbed a lamp and hurled it at the sheriff's head. Mannix ducked and dropped his gun. Matt dove for his. Josh bent and pulled a pistol from his leg strap. Two shots rang out. Matt's shoulder was bleeding. Josh was on the floor, blood pouring from his chest.
"Matt – Matt" Kitty's voice was weak. He ran to her. Mannix hurried to Sharpe and knelt beside him on the rug.
Matt pushed back a damp, stray hair from Kitty's pale face. "Matt, how did you know, how..."
"Shss, we'll talk later"
"He drugged me – the water. Matt – I think's he's selling girls he.. ."
"Sharpe's dead." Mannix got to his feet. "He won't be selling anything to anybody." The sheriff shook his head. "Not that I don't think he deserved what he got, but I have to admit I'm sorry it ended this way. I like seeing his kind stand trial and go to prison. For a man like him, prison is worse than dying."
"Can't disagree with that." Matt smiled crookedly, "John, that sure was well played. You even had me fooled. Thanks for your help."
"Matt you're one of the greatest lawman this country has seen, but even the great ones make mistakes when their emotions are involved. I figured if you went bursting in without much of a plan, I'd better be ready. Now, let's get your lady to the doctor. That shoulder of yours could use some fixing too." John glanced around. "I'll send someone up to deal with the body and clean the mess. Martha Smyth hates blood stains. She says they're bad for business.
Dodge
Sam reached up to grip the sign hanging above the batwing doors. The ladder swayed beneath him. He crouched and grabbed the sides to keep from falling. "Festus, can't you keep this ladder steady, I have to pull the nails out of the Long Branch sign"
Half bent over, Festus was holding the ladder with one hand and scratching his leg with the other. "Sam, it jus' wiggled a teeny, itty-bitty bit. Iffin' a body's got a itch, it's gotta be scratched. Now this here leg a mine it…"
"You know what I think, Festus?" Sam sat on the top step of the ladder. "I think you're sabotaging this effort because you don't want to see this sign come down."
"I ain't saba anyting. I'll tell ya somethin' tho. I bet you and Doc ain't cleared out Miss Kitty's rooms yet. Don't ya think that hasta come afore this here sign?"
Sam sighed and climbed down from the ladder. "I guess you're right Festus. Anyway, except for Miss Kitty's rooms and this sign, everything is taken care of. These two last things are the hardest, but we still have a couple of days. Let's go have some coffee."
TBC
