Chapter 5 – Further Incidents
The Teasdale sisters were anything but unobservant. They discerned a connection existed between their new boss and the Circle T trail boss, ramrod and cook, but not what it was. All the drovers they sweet-talked seemed to know was that the Texans had been together since the war and the youngest wasn't just a hired hand even if he seemingly worked under their boss Curt Dryden. Laredo area rancher Ted Thompkins, the owner of the herd, hired all three, but Tom Conway was his son-in-law.
"It's been nice jawin' with you gals but we got to get back to work," one of the drovers they were with drawled. "We'll be back when we don't have to worry about keepin' an eye on the herd."
The two cowboys gave the girls a quick hug before heading out the saloon's batwing doors for a quick meal before work. Sally and Tilda looked about. Marshal Dillon was leaving the only occupied table, the one next to the stairs where Kitty Russell still sat chatting congenially with the same three Circle T men, on his way out of the saloon. When Kitty's soon to be former partner entered to spend the late afternoon tending bar until the new man Sam took over the two women saw their chance.
"Bill, can we take a slightly longer break starting now?" Sally asked. "We'll be back in plenty of time for whatever evening crowd there is," her sister Tilda added.
"Go on. Kitty and I can handle things until you get back when Sam starts his shift."
Kitty looked over at her partner just as the sisters exited. She motioned him over to the back table.
"Bill, I'd like you to meet some friends of mine from when I was working in Laredo. Can you handle things while we go over to Delmonico's for an early supper?"
"Sure Kitty," Bill Pence replied as he shook hands with the three Texans sitting at his partner's table. "We've only the one herd and it's Sunday so I'll be fine."
"I'll be back in time for you to enjoy your own late supper with Laura."
The restaurant, except for a couple of tables filled with Circle T riders, each with a Teasdale for the trail weary men to fawn over, was empty. Kitty, on Bud Peevy's arm, led her own male companions to a table about dead center. Bud pulled out a chair for her so she could be comfortably seated before they took their own seats. The conversation that began in the Long Branch resumed as if there was never a break once the waiter took their order.
"Kit, I mean Miss Kitty, for the life of me I don't know how you fooled me back in '62," the still amazed Tom Conway offered. "We spent almost as much time together as you spent with Bud, yet I never suspected you were anything but a shy guy. I just can't get over it. My Millie and Ted and his Cordy would love to know what happened to the girl they tried to help."
"Ted will be glad to learn how well you're doing. You know he asks if we've ever crossed paths with you. Until now there was nothing we could tell him, Kitty. When we get back home I'd like to let him know that the skinny, abused, scared yet determined girl he knew has become a beautiful, successful woman in Dodge City," Curt stated as if he felt he needed her permission to do it.
"Curt, I'd rather you left things with Ted just as they are. The fewer people in Laredo who know exactly where I am the better."
"All right, if that's the way you feel. "Bud and I have kept your secret all these years. I'm sure Tom can keep it as well."
"Then, I have your word of honor?" Kitty asked and all three nodded.
Kitty and her friends turned their attention back to their meal. They failed to notice the shift change as two groups of three Circle T drovers switched places with the two groups that were eating when the reunited friends entered the restaurant. The resulting rush of activity allowed Sally and Tilda to quietly leave.
Gradually the restaurant began to fill as the worthy citizens of Dodge and nearby folks remaining in town for supplies after attending church that morning sought to fill their bellies and prolong their Sabbath. Among those entering was Matt Dillon's assistant Chester Goode, who came right to their table.
"Hello, Miss Kitty. I'm just here to get my and Mr. Dillon's supper. Don't mind me. I can see you're busy."
"Chester, why don't you join us while you wait? I don't believe you've met some old friends of mine from Laredo yet."
"Thank you, Miss Kitty," the jailer replied as he pulled an empty chair from a nearby table and sat down between Kitty and Curt while motioning the waiter over.
Almost as soon as the introductions were complete so was the meal for Kitty and her companions. While the four original occupants ate their dessert Chester devoured a plate of that night's special, antelope stew. Everyone was taking a last sip of coffee when the waiter brought over two trays with the steak dinners with all the trimmings the jailer ordered for his boss and himself. The owner of the Long Branch smiled as the lanky man fumbled in his pockets for the coins to pay for all he'd requested.
"What you ate here is on me. I did ask you to join us after all."
A relieved Chester thanked Kitty and than exchanged the money Matt had given him for the two trays. She and her friends paid for their meals and left with Chester, splitting into two groups on the boardwalk. Bud escorted Kitty to her place of business while Curt and Tom walked along with Chester toward the jailhouse before turning toward the stockyards. Since a single paper wrapped rock hitting a dirt street makes only a soft thud, the larger group was unaware of the missile that glanced off Kitty's hat.
"Miss Kitty, are you okay?" Peevy asked as he looked around to see what it was and spotted the small stone with the paper still around it.
"I'm fine, Bud. I'm just glad it didn't come any closer. What's it say?"
"Texas haunts you. The reason is here," he read. "I'm sorry if seeing you again brought you trouble. Do you want me to report it?"
"No. I'll mention it to Matt when I see him. I'm sure it has nothing to do with you. Matt and I were the victims of some practical jokes. Maybe it's the same person who had so much fun on April first he wanted to see what would entertain him on other firsts like the first Sunday in the month."
Peevy let the matter drop, but kept his eye on the now grownup redhead until near closing time. He didn't want her to be angry so he kept his distance, even leaving the saloon to check out the other drinking establishments. However, he made sure she had people around he felt could be trusted like the marshal's assistant, her partner and the new barkeep. Bud sensed Sam Noonan cared as much about her as he did. He even spent time with Sally, a girl closer to his age than those girls of not quite 20 hired by saloons and dancehalls to entice the youngsters and unscrupulous older hands coming up the trail.
Somewhere around midnight the marshal stopped by on his final rounds. Bud saw him talk to the woman he still thought of as the vulnerable 15-year-old Kit who needed his protection from the men who'd exploit her. He knew that wasn't true anymore, but even so perhaps what he'd been told was right. Maybe the lawman, despite appearances, was one of those. He was sure big enough for her to be no match for him. Then again, perhaps it was just gossip spread by those who were jealous or simply had a grudge against the law and the man who represented it in Dodge City.
Sam was stacking chairs on tables when the Circle T trail cook stepped through the batwing doors and crossed the street to the Dodge House. When he turned to close the front door of the hotel he noticed out of the corner of his eye the marshal enter the saloon for a second time. However, he didn't have time to reflect on it because Curt greeted him.
"Hope your evening was uneventful. After Tom and I left Chester off at the jail and approached the stockyards a small rock flew between us. It brushed my hat so I was curious enough to look to see where it fell. There was a note wrapped around it that read, "You're not the only ones who left Texas. Some are living here and one of those is in danger." However, we needed to check the herd first. It's probably just someone's idea of a joke."
"Someone threw a rock with a similar note past me and Miss Kitty. She told me it might be the same person who was playing April Fools jokes on her and the marshal. It's probably nothing, but I'm not sure the law can do anything about it anyhow."
"Tom will watch the herd tonight. You and I might as well get some sleep. The Chicago slaughterhouse man is expected on the morning train. He'll join the two local buyers Kyle Terry and Enoch Miller at the stockyards to talk price as soon as he checks into his room. I'm sure nothing will happen before then, if anything happens at all."