The Wee Hours of the Morning
Molly
Molly yanked herself from her dream and ran a palm across her lips. Dreaming of sex with Liam was as bad the real thing – she could smell his liquored breath, taste his slobbering lips, and feel his budging belly as he frantically satisfied himself.
She sat up and pushed her hair away from her sweaty face. Sex with Liam had been a job before and during marriage. Marriage, however, was a better deal. It meant a fine home and a constant flow of money. She never asked where that money came from. It was of no concern of hers. She was set for life, so she thought. Then one day, after Liam had been gone for a few days, she got that letter from the state of Kansas. The one that started with: We regret to inform you… The letter didn't mention Dillon by name, but the newspapers did. The stories were scant on details about the Liam and his crimes, but made it clear that it was the brave US Marshal Matt Dillon that had rid the territory of another criminal. Maybe the marshal was just doing a job, but her life style and security were snatched away by him. Things had to be set right.
She heard a sound from Kitty's room and pressed her ear against their adjoining walls.
"Matt, oh Matt."
The deep-throated pleasure in Kitty's voice disturbed Molly, but she wasn't sure why. She got out of bed, poured herself a shot of whiskey, tossed it back and poured another.
Kitty
Kitty moaned as she felt Matt lips linger on the sweet spot above her collarbone. His hand moved up her thigh, gently massaging her tender flesh until he felt her wetness. "Matt, oh Matt."
Her eyes flew open. Matt wasn't here, it was a dream. A glance out the window told her it wasn't yet dawn, but going back to sleep was impossible. She shoved her feet into the pink slippers waiting at the side of the bed and set her hand on the crumbled telegram on her night table. Something was wrong. Matt was in trouble. She had to talk to someone, and that someone had to be Doc. When the sun came up she'd go see him.
Matt
"Kitty." Matt softly murmured her name and moved to wrap an arm around her. The pain in his head jerked him awake. He blinked bleary eyes and remembered where he was. Daniel McLaughlin had bound his wrists behind him and tied his legs together. His head was throbbing. He couldn't reach up to feel the gash, but the taste of blood in his mouth suggested it was pretty bad. There seemed no way out of the situation, but he had to find one. Kitty was expecting him, and after what she'd been through with Bonner, he couldn't allow more pain and grief to come to her.
Kitty
Just after dawn Kitty hurried up the stairs and burst into Doc's office. "Doc, I have a terrible feeling about Matt. You can say it's nonsense but I know it isn't."
Startled, Doc turned from the medical journal he was reading. He saw the look on Kitty's face, calmly took her arm and led her to a chair, "Good morning to you too. Have a seat." Kitty sat and looked up at Doc with anxious eyes.
"Now Kitty, the telegram Matt sent said he'd be back last night or some time today. He's not even late returning. Let's wait through today and see what happens. There's nothing we can do about it anyway."
She nodded grimly and looked down at her hands. Doc knew she was collecting her thoughts and waited. Finally she looked up, "Doc, I think I'm pregnant. I know you thought I couldn't – well – after Bonner and his men – you thought I couldn't get with child. Matt and I have been…" She blushed deeply suddenly regretting that she'd started the conversation.
"I am a doctor Kitty. I can and will separate my personal feelings from my professional considerations and opinions, so continue."
Kitty pressed her lips together and nodded. Her voice was a whisper, "At first after the – well after – I couldn't be touched by a man, even a man I loved – I was afraid. Matt was – he never pushed. Two months ago I was ready for him to – for us to…" She blushed again.
Doc put a hand on her shoulder, "I understand Kitty. Now I need you to tell me why you think you're with child. I don't have a test to give; I have to rely on what a woman tells me about her body.
"Doc, my monthly was always regular, even after Bonner. Last month I skipped. At first I thought it was just late, but it isn't coming. And, I'm having morning sickness." She shook her head and let out a harsh laugh "Doc, in my business I know the symptoms, let's not kid ourselves. My girls have it happen, and before I met Matt I had it happen too. With Matt, well we've been careful. That is until now."
"Oh Kitty." Doc was horrified. Suddenly everything Kitty said registered. "This is my fault. I told you I didn't think you could have a child after what happened with Bonner and his gang, so you didn't take precautions like usual."
"You're not to blame, Doc. This has been a crazy, difficult, emotional time for me and Matt. We were both so happy to have that part of our relationship back that we weren't thinking. But, now I'm pregnant and I think something bad has happened to Matt."
"Does Matt know about the pregnancy?"
"No, when he left I thought my period was just late, the morning sickness started a few days later.
Molly
The streets of Dodge were empty when Daniel rode in under the early morning sun. He tied his horse outside the Long Branch and leaned against the building with his hat pulled down to shadow his face. After a few minutes Molly emerged, greeted him with a half smile and nodded towards a building across the street, "Let's have coffee."
She chose a small table off in the corner. There were no other customers but she kept her voice low.
"How are things Daniel?"
"Great, I have an important guest who is all tied up."
"I'm assuming that he didn't cooperate and needs encouragement."
"Just like you predicted Molly. We know my dad must have told Dillon about the money, but he won't talk." Daniel shook his head with a smile, "You're amazing Molly. You predicted Dillon's stubbornness and came up with a plan to force him to talk. When we're done you'll have your own saloon as well as a big share of my dad's money. You are a quite a woman."
Molly ignored the compliment and stayed focused on the matter at hand. "What do you have to help me get my friend to Dillon?"
He slid a piece of paper across the table.
She looked at it, "This map better be clear. I'm not so good at reading maps."
"It's real clear. It's about a 4 hour ride, so start out by 2:00 this afternoon to get there before dark."
"You have something else for me?"
He grinned and pushed an object across the table.
She closed her fingers around it and whispered. "Wonderful Daniel. I'll make sure this badge gets put to good use. Great work."
His eyes lit up with pleasure and pride at the compliment. Molly had never shown an interest in him, nor had any other woman for that matter. Her approval made him glow.
"Is everything set up on your end, Daniel?"
"It will be. I'll have everything ready for a hanging. When you and your friend arrive I'll put the noose around my guest's neck. It will tighten and he'll be on his way to swinging from a tree unless the lady signs her saloon over to you."
Molly nodded, "It won't take long. Even if she's not convinced she can save him, she'll try anything."
"Good, then we'll cut him down and put noose around her neck. He'll tell us where the money is, to save her. Like you said, even if he doesn't believe we'll really let her go he'll do it. Once we have that information, we'll kill them both. We'll allow them a good bye kiss, to show we're not heartless."
Molly frowned a bit. "Do we really have to kill her?"
"Are you crazy, of course. We can't have a witness, and how can you take over her saloon with her around?" Daniel was stunned by Molly's question. She was typically so practical and calculating. "Molly, the beauty of it is that folks in town know you and know that you and Russell became fast friends. You'll make up some story about what happened to her and everything will go smoothly."
"You're right." Molly nodded, "And we'll share Liam's money. Like we agreed, 55% for you 45% for me, because I'm also getting a business."
Glad to see Molly back to her practical self, Daniel got to his feet, "Remember, leave by 2PM so you don't have to ride in the dark. I don't want you getting lost."
"We'll be on our way well before then." She tucked the badge into her skirt pocket and left the restaurant.
Daniel returned to his horse and headed back to Matt.
Molly sat in her room figuring out the best and most dramatic way for Matt Dillon's badge to make an appearance
TBC
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