The Visitor 4
I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.
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Matt stood at the foot of the stairs in the early morning quiet of the Long Branch, frustrated and worried. He had come home early, and stopped by his house first to see his wife and son, before heading to the jail. But instead of Kitty and Benjamin, he found Festus anxiously waiting on his front porch.
"Matthew, I sure am glad you've came home." He said.
"What's wrong?" Matt asked, his heart beginning to beat irregularly. "What's happened?"
"Well," Festus said. "I ain't xactly sure nothin's wrong but well…."
"Well what?" Matt snapped. Something was wrong or Festus wouldn't be there.
"Well, Benjamin stayed the night at Ol' Doc's and Miss Kitty was supposed to have came by early and got him, but she ain't showed up. Doc and Thad's a checking round town, see maybe if'n somebody saw her."
Matt wasted no more time. He climbed back on Buck and hurried to town, Festus close behind.
Quickly they had made their way down to the Long Branch, to find only Sam. Matt and Festus climbed the stairs to the now seldom used rooms above. They found nothing but the valise Kitty had packed with clothes for the night and the next day.
Festus picked up the lamp that had been sitting on a small table in the window. The now blackened globe was evidence that it had burned all night. He said nothing as he saw the expression on Matt's face when he looked at it. .
The two quickly made their way back down the stairs, just as Doc and Thad came in.
"Matt,we've talked to twenty five people, nobody's seen her. Nobody!" Doc said, exasperated and fearful at what could have happened.
Matt glanced over at Sam, who had walked up to stand beside him, his hands in his pockets to hide the trembling. "Sam, when's the last time you saw her?"
"Last night when I closed up." He answered. He wished now he had stayed longer.
"Bed hadn't been slept in, clothes are all still there….." Matt took a deep breath. "Festus." He didn't need to say more.
"I'll get the horses, Matthew." Festus didn't need to be told. He set the lamp, he still held, down and started for the livery.
Matt glanced at the faces around him. All of them as frightened as he was becoming. He headed for the doors. "Thad, keep an eye on things here in town." He told the young man.
"Right," Thad answered softly. He wished he could do more, but someone had to watch Dodge.
Doc watched as Matt started to leave. "Well, Matt." He stopped him, concerned. "Where in thunder are you going to look for her?"
Matt looked hard at the physician before pushing the doors open and walking out. He had no idea where to look. All he knew was that his wife was missing and he had to find her.
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Benjamin woke up to a chilly room and the warm gaze of the woman who had been staying at his house. "Hi," he said, sitting up in bed and stretching.
The woman looked lovingly at him and smiled. "Good morning, Mon Cher'. Did you sleep well?"
'Mon Cher', he had asked his mama what that word had meant the first time the lady had called him that. She had told him it meant beloved one or my dear in French.
Benjamin nodded. "Why are you here?" he asked. "I never seen you no where's else but home."
The woman smiled sadly. "I came because I need to tell you something." She said.
Benjamin looked at her curiously. "What?"
The woman reached over and took his hand in hers. Her hand was cold but Benjamin paid it no mind. He liked this woman, he trusted her for some reason.
"Remember what I said about your mama?" She asked, never releasing him from her grasp or her focus.
Benjamin nodded.
"Well it has happened, little one, but I do not want you to be afraid. Everything will be alright." The Lady continued.
"What do you mean?" Benjamin couldn't think of anything that he was afraid of, except spiders and mean old Mr. Wilson's bull….. or losing his parents. His eyes widened at the thought. "Will Mama be okay?"
The woman cocked her head slightly just then, and released Benjamin's hand. "I have to go," she told him. "But I will be back. Just remember what I said. Do not be frightened. And do not mention my visit here. I will explain it all to you later."
The door opened just then. Benjamin looked up to see his Grandpa come in. He looked back to the chair the woman was sitting in, and saw she was gone. He didn't question her sudden disappearance, as he had seen her do that before, but he did wonder about what she said.
"Well, good morning." Doc greeted with false cheer, absently noting the chilly room. He really didn't want to tell Benjamin about his mother. But Benjamin needed to know, and Doc felt he should be the one to tell him, since Matt was out searching for her.
"Mornin', Grandpa." Benjamin said, reaching out for a hug as his grandfather approached.
Doc hugged the boy tightly, and then sat down beside him on the bed. "Benjamin, I need to talk to you," Doc began.
Benjamin knew, just by the look on his grandfather's face, that he was going to tell him something scary, just like the lady had warned.
"Benjamin…" Doc hesitated.
How do you tell a five year old that his mother is missing?
"How would you like to spend a few days here with your grandmother and me?" Doc finished up.
He couldn't force himself to tell the boy the truth.
Benjamin nodded. "Can we go fishing?" he asked.
Doc nodded. "Sure can," Doc answered, grateful the boy accepted so easily.
Benjamin smiled for a moment then his smile faded. "What about Mama and Papa?" he asked. "Can they come?"
Doc shook his head. "No, Benjamin, they can't." He knew he should tell the child everything, but it was too hard.
"Are they hurt?" Benjamin asked solemnly. He hadn't forgotten what the Lady told him.
Doc shook his head and sighed deeply. "No, son, they're not hurt, but they are going to be gone for a while. I don't know how long, but I know they wouldn't want you to worry about them. Okay?"
Benjamin studied his grandfather's face for a moment and then nodded. The Lady's voice came back to him. "Everything will be alright." She had said. Benjamin clung to that and returned Doc's gentle smile. "Okay" he said.
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Matt slammed his way into the jail, weary and frustrated. He, Festus and others who had joined in, had searched every nook and cranny of Dodge as well a large portion of the surrounding countryside. They had found nothing. Coming back to town, Matt had only stopped into the jail to pick up a few more supplies, before he headed out again.
"You look a little tired, Marshal," he heard a whiny voice say from behind him. Turning around, he found a scruffy, dark haired man, with an impudent smirk on his face, staring at him.
In just a few minutes, the insolent jerk had produced Kitty's ruby and diamond ring and promised her death, if Matt and he weren't in a certain place in ten hours.
Matt angrily grabbed the man by the lapels, pulling him half way out of the chair. "Where is she?" he demanded, fully prepared to beat the information out of the punk if necessary.
But the scruffy little creep merely smirked. "You kill me, Marshal, and you ain't never gonna see her alive again. Is that what you want?"
For a brief moment, anger and need warred with each other, before Matt finally released the man and gave him his gun. "Take me to Kitty." He snapped.
TBC