Matt

Matt continued to feel for the latch on his penknife, well aware of how simple it would be if his hands were free or at least in front of him.

He finally felt the small bump with a callused thumb and pushed. The blade sprang open. Relief washed over him but he kept his excitement in check. He had to work quickly; Daniel could reappear at any moment. He rotated the knife until he felt the blade touch the rope. Gripping as best he could, he worked the small blade across the thick rope.

Dodge

Kitty walked down the stairs into the Long Branch trying to keep her jittery nerves in check. It was almost time to open and there was a lot to do.

Sam was already working. "Miss Kitty, I have the eggs boiling. Should I get make some sandwiches?"

"That would be perfect Sam. I'll wipe down the bar."

She grabbed a towel. The batwing doors opened with a bang. Kitty's jaw dropped

"Molly, what happened?" Her friend staggered in covered in mud, dress torn, wide-eyed with shock.

"I-I-I was attacked, but I'm all right. I'm all right." Molly moved closer, faking a slight limp.

Kitty hurried over and took Molly's arm, "You don't look all right, let's get you to Doc."

Molly shook her head and sunk into a chair, "I'm just muddy and a bit bruised. I have to tell you what happened, it's important." She closed her eyes for dramatic effect.

"I was on Front Street looking in shop windows, just to pass the time, when out of nowhere a man came up behind me and whispered, "Are you Kitty Russell?"

"I could tell he was up to no good and I didn't want him going after you, so I said yes." Molly pushed a muddy strand of hair out of her eyes.

Kitty shook her head, "Oh, Molly you shouldn't have done that."

Molly lifted her chin. "He was up to no good and I protect my friends. Anyway, he got closer and pushed a gun into my back. Then he forced me into the alley and said he had Marshal Dillon, and if I wanted to see him alive I had to go where he was being held."

Molly bit a trembling lip, "Then he shoved me to the ground and smacked me. I struggled, I'll tell you that, but he laughed and said he was just proving he meant business. Then he threw 2 things on the ground and walked off."

Molly pulled out the items Daniel had given her, a map and a badge. "I figure the map leads to where the marshal is being held and the badge proves he's really there.

Kitty picked up the familiar star and struggled to keep her voice even. "Who is this man?"

"I don't know, but he's serious, so I have to follow the map and see this through. It could be the marshal's only chance."

"No, Molly I'm the one who has to go."

"Kitty he thinks I'm you, I'm the one who should go. He won't recognize you."

"But you're not me. I can't let you risk you're life for me, and I can't risk what will happen to Matt when that man discovers you're not Kitty Russell."

Molly frowned. "I see your point about the man discovering I'm not you. We both should go."

Kitty hesitated but slowly nodded. "All right, I guess that makes sense, but promise that at the first sign of danger you'll ride away."

"All right, I promise."

"Now, let's get you to Doc's."

"I'm fine Kitty, and we shouldn't waste time. I'll go get cleaned up and you go get two horses. I'll meet you at the stable."

Seeing the redhead hesitate Molly put a hand on her shoulder, "A few bruises, some dirt and a torn dress – that's it. Let's get moving. We have to make sure your marshal comes out of this alive."

Kitty nodded and hurried off to the stable. She'd been right all along. Something had gone terribly wrong.

Molly smiled to herself. Kitty had behaved as expected, things were proceeding nicely.

Matt

Matt pressed the small blade against the thick rope and carefully moved it up and down. It was slow going, but he could feel strands of rope fall away. The sound of a trotting horse made him look up. The rider was too far away to make out clearly, but it had to be Daniel. He moved the knife faster. More strands fell away, but the rope was thick and he had a ways to go. The rider was getting closer. Matt sped up and pressed harder. More strands broke off. The knife started slipping. He twisted his hands get a better grip. It slipped through his fingers and fell to the ground with a thud. Matt looked up. He could see the rider's face. It was Daniel.

Kitty

Kitty was outside the stable with two saddled horses when Molly arrived, cleaned up and in fresh clothes.

"Let's get going, Kitty." Molly glanced at the map and led the way out of town. An hour later she checked the map again, frowned, turned it around and frowned again. Seeing Molly's puzzlement, Kitty gently took the map from her hands. "Maybe I can help." She turned it right side up and nodded. "We keep heading southwest for another hour or so." She tapped the map. "This is body of water. It's not labeled but it has to be Crystal Lake. We go halfway around it and head west." Kitty folded the map and started to hand it back but changed her mind and shoved it into her skirt pocket.

Molly didn't bother asking for it. In truth, figuring out the direction to start in had been hard enough.

"You're good at map reading." Molly looked at Kitty with genuine admiration.

Kitty shrugged, "It's not something I grew up doing, but Matt made sure I got pretty good at it." She gave a slight smile, "That, building a campfire and handling a gun. Out here those things can be life saving."

"Handling a gun, really?"

"Well, I'm no gunfighter." Kitty chuckled, "Far from it. But, when the chips are down I can keep my head and shoot straight."

"Sounds like you've learned quite a bit from Matt Dillon."

"I have. I believe we've learned quite a bit from each other." Kitty thought about Matt and out of nowhere an image of his long, muscular body, naked in bed, rose up in her mind. Her smile broadened.

Molly saw the expression on Kitty's face and laughed, "I believe that if you're thinking about handling a gun, it's the kind that's part of a man's anatomy!"

Kitty's cheeks grew pink. "Molly, you've been working in saloons too long."

Molly tilted her head coyly, "Just long enough to read minds when it comes to certain matters."

They laughed together before falling silent. Molly was the first to speak. "Kitty, I know you and Marshal Dillon are more than good friends. You haven't spelled it out, but I know how to interpret things. Why haven't you married?"

"It's complicated." Kitty shrugged. "Matt's job is dangerous. He never wanted to risk leaving a widow and children behind. He was just boy when his father, a Texas Ranger, was killed on the job. His mother was left destitute. They suffered and lived in dire poverty. Matt's mother died young and left him an orphan. Matt never totally got over that." Kitty paused, "The other reason is, he thought if we kept our relationship quiet, I'd be protected from spoilers who'd hurt me to get to him."

Molly shook her head, "Well from what I heard about Bonner and his gang, that didn't work out." She looked at Kitty expecting a response, but she was so deep thought she'd barely heard Molly's words. She whispered softly, "Matt and I are more married than most. No preacher's words were spoken or papers signed, but our vows are real and written on our hearts."

Kitty came out of her reverie not realizing she'd spoken aloud. "Molly, it seems we talk about me an awful lot, what about you? Have you ever married?"

Molly paused deciding how much to reveal. "Yes, I was married. My husband was killed last year."

"I'm so sorry Molly. How terrible for you."

Molly nodded without speaking. She knew her husband's death didn't mean what Kitty imagined. It wasn't the loss of a soul mate, close friend or even a fantastic lover. She loved his money and the security of being married. He loved the pleasure she brought him in bed and having a well-dressed beauty to show off in town.

Kitty interpreted Molly's silence as suffering and responded quickly, "I shouldn't have brought it up, but if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here."

Molly nodded mutely. She felt uncomfortable with Kitty's heartfelt reaction, and didn't like that feeling. She shut down that part of her mind and tried to picture her future.

Matt

Daniel was getting closer. Matt cursed himself for dropping the knife. Angry at his own incompetence he tried to yank his wrists apart. The ropes dig into his already raw wrists. He growled and yanked harder. His hands flew apart. He froze in shock. He'd cut away enough of the rope to weaken it. He looked up. Daniel was close enough to see him, but wasn't looking his way. He seemed to be in his own world. Daniel was a novice and it showed.

Hands free, Matt swiftly untied his legs and got stiffly to his feet. He saw Buck tethered to a tree and grinned. His rifle was still in the scabbard. Daniel really was a novice. Matt hurried to his horse, grabbed the rifle and hid behind a rock.

Daniel rode into the campsite as if he had no care in the world. "Well Dillon, you are in for a big surpr…" He stopped mid-sentence and jumped off his horse. He'd left Dillon tied up in front of a huge boulder. He couldn't be gone, but he was.

"Hold it right there." Matt stepped out, his voice commanding.

Daniel stood stunned.

"Get your rifle from your horse and toss it over here, nice an easy."

Daniel did as he was told. He could think of no alternative, but he wasn't worried. Molly was coming. She was clever and ambitious. She'd get him out of this.

TBC