Molly shut the door behind Kitty and Matt, and leaned back against it deep in thought. She'd known Dillon would come knocking when he discovered Daniel was gone, and had taken her sweet time answering just for fun. When she opened the door with her sleepy act, seeing Kitty there had stunned her. It was all too obvious that Kitty was there out of friendship, genuine friendship.

Molly walked to her cabinet and took out a bottle of whiskey. Life had taught her that things like trust, affection, loyalty and caring were just words. Her father ran off when she was a baby, her mother was distant and disapproving, her early saloon work taught her to trust no one and her marriage to Liam had been a useful arrangement.

She poured herself a shot and tossed it back. Damn, Kitty showed up with trust and friendship lighting her eyes, but those eyes had darkened with disappointment before she left. Molly's stomach churned.

She started to pour a second shot but stopped herself and sat on the side of her bed. Maybe she shouldn't have lied to Dillon. Maybe she should go fess up and turned Daniel in. But it wasn't so simple. It could backfire. Daniel would testify against her, implicate her in the whole thing.

She took a deep breath and firmly pushed her emotions aside. She had to stick to the plan. If she didn't, she was doomed to saloon work until she was too old, and then what? On top of that, she had to act fast. Seeing Kitty outside the door had thrown her off, and she'd blathered things to Dillon that contradicted what Kitty knew about her.

Energized by her decision she stood and glanced around. There was no time to take anything. She had to get to Daniel as soon as possible. No matter, she'd have plenty of money to buy new clothes.

Daniel in the cabin

Daniel McLaughlin woke from an uncomfortable sleep. He turned up his nose, disgusted by the smell of mud and mold smothering him. He brushed dirt from his clothes and remembered why he was on the floor of a filthy and dilapidated cabin. Molly had picked this horrible spot as a meeting place. He sat up stiffly and looked around. Off in the corner was the filthy mattress he'd deemed too disgusting to sleep on. The only other things in the room were two rickety chairs and a rusty shovel leaning against the wall. He rubbed the back of his neck. He was hungry and tired, and starting wondering why Molly always seemed to be left sitting pretty. He'd been handcuffed on the ride to Dodge, while Molly rode beside the Russell woman as happy as a clam. Then, when he was in jail, Molly took her sweet time doing anything about it. When she finally unlocked his cell, she demanded that he wait to escape so she wouldn't get into trouble. Now he'd spent the night in a filthy moldy cabin while she, no doubt, slept in a comfortable bed. For all he knew she was in cahoots with the Russell woman. The two of them were in a good position to get information from Dillon. Fact was, Molly didn't deserve the money. She wasn't married to Liam for long, and he was Liam's only son. The money was rightfully his. Of course, he had a generous nature like his dad, so he was willing to share it with Molly as long as she kept coming up with smart plans.

He slowly got to his feet. Molly would either show up with a great plan or reveal that she was out for herself. He'd wait to find out which, before deciding on his next move.

He walked outside and looked around. There was a grove of trees near the house. It would serve his purposes perfectly. He'd sit up in a tree unseen and watch until the luck o' the Irish revealed what he should do.

Dodge - Kitty and Matt

Matt and Kitty reached the back of the stable just in time to see Molly get on a horse and head south.

"I'll follow."

"You mean we."

"Kitty..."

"I said I was coming Matt, and you agreed."

"I know, I guess I was hoping – Kitty…"

"Matt, I'm not worried about how you'll treat Molly. You'll be professional, more that that, you'll be fair. It's just that I see something in her that I believe in. I think life has taught her to trust and love no one. Life taught me that having someone on your side makes all the difference in the world. It brings out the best in you. I want to bring out the best in her. I truly believe she is worth it.

"Kitty, she doesn't deserve a friend like you, riding out where when you should be home…."

"Why should I be home? Are you still insisting that I'm not well? Because Matt, I'm fine."

He sighed. Her mind was made up. All he could do was hope she really was fine, and that she would indeed bring out the good that was inside Molly, that is if it existed.

"You know Kitty." He smiled to lighten the mood. "This is just like you being a lady deputy."

She laughed. "Not a job I'd ever apply for."

They'd gone a couple of miles when Matt stopped and pointed ahead, "She's heading straight south. There's nothing that way for miles but the Gleason cabin. You remember old man Gleason?"

"Sure. For years he came into the Long Branch once a month like clockwork. He paid good money to go upstairs to drink whiskey and talk to one of the girls. He didn't even care which girl. He passed away 5 or 6 years ago with no relatives, that cabin of his must be in bad shape by now."

"Kitty, do you think Molly knew about that cabin?"

"Matter of fact yes, we were talking about strange customers and old man Gleason's name up."

"Here's what I think, Kitty. Molly unlocked Daniel's cell while Festus was looking for her earring but told Daniel to stay put until Festus did a late night check. The Gleason cabin was the meeting place she set."

She raised an eyebrow, "You lawmen make a lot of assumptions."

"Maybe, but a lot of times we're right."

They laughed. "Kitty, the Gleason place is less than a mile away, let's see if she keeps heading towards it."

The continued following Molly, and as they neared the Gleason cabin Kitty felt Matt's level of alertness rise. "Kitty, there's a grove of trees over there. I want you to wait there while I go to the cabin."

"Matt, I…"

"Kitty, please. Wait where I know you'll be safe."

She saw the concern in his eyes and nodded reluctantly. "All right, cowboy. You be careful. She rode off under the trees.

Relieved that Kitty was out of harm's way, Matt rode a closer to the house. When he got within a few yards he dismounted, tied his horse to a tree and continued on foot.

Daniel McLaughlin sat up in a tree and watched. Luck o' the Irish, Kitty was coming his way, and Dillon was continuing on.

Kitty rode into the grove of trees. She heard some leaves rustle and turned around.

"Hello, Miss Russell." Daniel stood inches away, pointing a rifle at her.

TBC