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Chapter 2

Roy felt like a fool. He should have tried to stop the outlaws from taking the young woman, but his hands were tied. They might have hurt his wife or Miss Russell. Annie tried to reassure him by telling him he'd done all he could. Not quite ten minutes later they heard a horse off in the distance. A big man, riding a buckskin large enough to accommodate him appeared, closing the distance between him and the stagecoach in a matter of seconds. Roy watched the man wearing a US Marshal's badge dismount and walk over to him and Annie. He tipped his hat before turning to Roy.

"Anyone hurt besides the driver?"

Roy shook his head before replying. "No Marshal, my wife and I are fine. Besides killing the driver they took the young woman traveling with us."

Matt Dillon sighed. He'd been hoping to make it home today. So much for that, he mused. When duty called he always answered – no matter what. He swung back on the horse he called Buck. "How long ago did this happen?"

"Ten minutes ago. If you hurry, you might be able to catch them," Roy replied pointing in the direction the outlaws took. Matt swung Buck south.

"You two wait here," he said, nodding his head. "I'll see what I can find. If there's nothing, I'll take you into Dodge then form a posse."

"Sure thing, Marshal," Roy replied with yet another nod that sent Matt on his way.

"Oh Lord," he prayed. "You know I'm tired from the long ride from Hays. Please help me find this girl."

Silently repeating the prayer, he followed the outlaw's trail. Perhaps God was letting him see the trail so clearly or the two men were just plain sloppy. Still, he thanked his Maker when he found their horses tied to a tree by the entrance to an abandoned mine. He could hear talking inside.

"Well, lookie here. Wouldn't this go nicely about your pretty little neck," a man called Jess said waving a pearl necklace in the face of a beautiful redhead.

"Leave me alone," she demanded, glaring at him. The outlaw with the face of a boy laughed, producing a grumble from the other man.

"Let her be, Jess! I told you before, she belongs to me!"

"Oh cone on Jake, I'm just having a little fun with her, that's all," causing Jake to grumbled again before walking over to smack Jess across the face.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"You've got a lot to learn yet, young pup!"

Jake grumbled again. It wasn't long before Jess threw a punch and the two were fighting. With the commotion Kitty thought about sneaking out, but instead found herself trying to scream when a big hand covered her mouth. Matt had hidden in the shadows until the time was right.

"Shh," he said squatting beside her & pressing his finger to his lips. "I'm a US Marshal," he continued in a whisper.

Kitty saw the badge and relaxed. The lawman quickly untied her and got her to the entrance before Jake and Jess realized she was missing. When they did, a bullet flew past Matt's head. He urged the young woman to run behind the rocks near the horses.

"Stay there," Matt told her, to which Kitty could only nod. She'd never been in this kind of situation before.

Matt crept back into the mine, even more cautiously than before. He called out to the outlaws, "Jake! Jess! If you two come back with me, I'll see that…"

Their response was a bullet whizzing past him that ricocheted nearby. He'd hoped it wouldn't come to this, but the outlaws gave him no choice. In a few minutes the two outlaws lay lifeless on the ground. Matt found an old shovel to dig their graves.

Kitty remained sitting on the rock the marshal had indicated. She was almost too scared to move. She watched the marshal dig. When he finished he walked over to her and sat down.

"You alright, Miss?" he asked, wiping the sweat from his neck.

Kitty only blinked. She could hardly believe what had happened in such a relatively short time. Matt got his canteen from where it was looped over his saddle horn and knelt in front of her as he offered her some water.

"There's no one here to hurt you, Miss," he said in a kind, gentle tone.

"I-I just," Kitty began, swallowing hard. "I never saw anyone killed before, that's all."

Matt nodded in understanding. "Sorry you had to see that, but that's how life is out here. A man puts his life in the good Lord's hands every time he saddles up or walks out on the street."

"What an awful way to live," she murmured, handing him back the canteen.

Matt took a swig of water than looked up at the sky. "Looks like rain clouds moving in."

Kitty nodded. The marshal sighed. He was never really one to talk with women, especially a pretty one like this young lady he'd just rescued. Matt scratched his neck.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Matt Dillon, the Marshal in Dodge City."

Kitty again nodded to him. "I'm Kitty Russell."

Matt tipped his hat in a gentlemanly manner. "Pleased to meet you, Miss Russell," he said before standing up and dusting himself off.

Kitty looked at him for a moment. "You're the famous marshal I've heard so much about ever since I entered Kansas."

"I'm afraid those are just stories, Miss Russell."

"Really! You could have fooled me," she said as Matt helped her stand up. He only smiled at her. "Your wife must worry about you every time you go after outlaws," Kitty continued as they walked over to the horses.

Matt chuckled. "I'm sure she would if I had a wife," he replied, holding the reins of a black mare. "Are you able to ride?" he asked, handing them to her.

"Yes," Kitty nodded as she responded.

"Well Miss Russell, we better get you back to the stage before the rain hits," he said, helping her onto the mare before he mounted his horse. He then took the reins of the remaining horse to lead it back to where he'd left the Smiths.