Molly led Daniel outside the cabin knowing that what she had was a delaying tactic, but what she needed was a plan. Even though Daniel was stupid with desire, he was still armed and dangerous, and would be violent if provoked.
He let go of her hand, hurried over to Dillon's horse, yanked off the bedroll and quickly unfurled it on the ground. Molly watched, wondering if Kitty and the marshal had ever had sex on that bedroll. She ruefully realized that if they had, it would have been the kind of real lovemaking she'd never experienced, and never expected to.
"DAMN, DAMN, DAMN."
Daniel's curses made Molly look up. He'd set his rifle down and was frantically fumbling with his belt buckle. Molly suppressed a laugh and ambled over, "Here honey, let me help you with that." She undid the belt and then the button of his pants with easy expertise. He un-zippered his fly and his pants slipped down to his boots, showing his pale and pudgy legs. He suddenly looked like a very oversized and hugely unattractive child. He fell onto the bedroll, somehow got his boots off and pulled her down on top of him. She pressed against him, and managed to smoothly unbutton her blouse and then his shirt. His breathing quickened, his eyes closed and he groaned with desire and pleasure. His head was ready to explode. She made the right moves and noises, but her head was clear and cool. She had two goals to consider. The first was freeing Kitty and Dillon so they could get away. The second was getting away herself. She had to escape both Daniel and the marshal. Daniel would never believe that Dillon didn't know where the money was, and he'd kill her for freeing the couple. Dillon would want to arrest her.
Daniel clumsily yanked at her undergarments, clawing her soft skin as he tugged. She skillfully used one hand to remove her clothes and the other to knead his chest. He was getting more and more desperate, and she matched him groan for groan with the skill of an opera singer. Part one of the plan was obvious. Satisfy and exhaust him so he'd collapse into a drunk-like stupor. When he was in a deep sleep, she'd have time to free Kitty and Dillon. Then, while the marshal was busy arresting Daniel, she'd get on her horse and keep riding. As soon as she reached a town with a train station, she'd travel to a city and find work in a saloon. She had a few good years left in her to find a rich man and try to entice him to marry her. This could all work out just fine.
She felt an unpleasant sensation and looked down. Daniel was licking her breasts and his droll was running down her chest. Ignoring the revulsion she felt, she continued doing what she had to do, with the skills she'd honed since she was a teenager.
Kitty
Kitty stirred and lifted her head from Matt's shoulder. His eyes were wide open, staring straight ahead.
"Maybe you should shut your eyes for a few minutes and try to sleep, Matt."
"I need to watch the door. You never know when opportunity will strike. Close your eyes and sleep some more, it's good for you." He looked at her and pulled at his handcuffs. "I'd give anything to be able to put my arms around you."
She blinked back tears. She knew he blamed himself for this, for Bonner and for so many other things that had happened to her over the years.
"I can feel your arms around me, and I feel loved. I am a lucky woman." She laid her head on his shoulder and thought about their baby. If in the end, she was tortured and killed by Daniel, it was good that Matt didn't know about their baby. She drifted into an uneasy sleep.
Dawn - Outside the Cabin
Molly finally heard loud and steady snores. Daniel had had way more stamina than she expected. She ran a palm across her lips; sex with Liam had been bad but not nearly as revolting as sex with his son.
After watching Daniel for another few seconds she was satisfied that he would be out for quite a while. She dressed quickly and picked up Daniel's shirt and pants to search the pockets for the key to Dillon's handcuffs. She found some coins, a comb and a gold pocket watch, but no key. She slipped the gold watch into her skirt pocket and looked around. A glimmer of silver sticking up out of the dirt caught her eye. She smiled crookedly. It reminded her of the earring she'd buried outside the marshal's office to buy time to unlock a cell. She took a closer look and saw it was a key. It must have fallen out of Daniel's pocket. With another glance at Daniel's sleeping form she quietly went to the cabin and opened the door. What she saw moved her more that she would admit. The two chairs were side by side and Kitty was asleep with her head on Dillon's shoulder.
She caught Dillon's eye, put a finger on her lips and held up the key as she closed the door behind her. He nodded. She raced over and unlocked his handcuffs. Kitty stirred and Molly gently put a hand over mouth.
Kitty's eyes sprang open but she didn't make a sound.
With his hands free, Matt untied the rope holding his ankles. Molly untied Kitty whispering softly, "I'm sorry, so sorry."
Sunlight flooded the cabin. "Isn't this cozy?" Daniel stood in the doorway pointing his rifle into the room, face filled with fury. Matt's eyes followed Daniel as he waved the rifle around with his finger on the trigger. He was crazed with anger. His wild eyes settled on Molly, and he pointed the rifle straight at her.
"You stinking whore, you're in cahoots with these two. You all had a big laugh at my expense, but I'll laugh last." He took aim at her head.
Horrified, she stepped back. "No, Danny boy, it wasn't like that."
Matt saw that Daniel was fully focused on Molly. There was no time to hesitate. He hurled himself at Daniel. They both fell. The rifle fired upwards hitting no one.
Matt grabbed Daniel's shoulders. The rifle dropped to the ground. Daniel punched Matt in the jaw but Matt managed kept hold of Daniel's arms. They rolled across the muddy floor gripping each other.
Kitty had her eyes on the rifle Daniel had dropped. The men rolled away. She got on the floor and crawled to the rifle. Matt saw her, and with all the force he could muster, shoved Daniel off his body to give Kitty space to shoot.
She saw her opening, aimed and squeezed the trigger. Daniel feel back, a red splotch spread across his chest. No one could survive a bullet to the heart.
Molly looked at Kitty with relief and admiration, "Kitty, like you said, when the chips are down you can aim and fire." She smiled and expected a smile in return. Instead Kitty's eyes widened and she grew pale. She dropped the rifle, groaned and wrapped her arms around her middle.
Matt scrambled from the floor and hurried over. Molly noticed a small but growing splotch of blood on Kitty's skirt.
Matt put an arm around Kitty waist; he'd seen the blood too. "Kitty, the baby?"
She looked up at him with pain and surprise. Molly rushed over, "Kitty, I heard the marshal say baby, are you with child?"
Kitty nodded, biting her bottom lip in pain.
Molly shook her head. "We both know you shouldn't be bleeding like this. Marshal, have her lie down but not in this filthy place. She's better off on your bedroll outside."
Matt gently helped Kitty outside. She curled up in pain on the bedroll.
"Molly we could use some water. There's a small creek a couple of yards behind the house. Can you go fill a couple of canteens?"
She nodded and hurried off.
Kitty felt more blood between her legs, and the cramping worsened. She squeezed Matt's hand. He stroked her face. "Matt, you knew? You knew about the baby?"
"I was pretty sure."
"How?"
"Kitty, I know your body. When we got back to Dodge and were in bed together, your breasts felt different and even your belly felt – well – a little softer. I figured - well, I figured we were having a baby. It seemed kinda like a miracle because of what Doc said after Bonner."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I figured it was something a woman likes to tell a man when and how she wants to say it."
Kitty nodded, lips pressed together and tears forming in her eyes. "I love you Matt."
"I love you Kitty."
Molly easily found the creek and filled the canteens. She looked around to see if there was any mint was growing nearby. She'd seen a number of saloon girls in Kitty's situation, and chewing mint seemed to ease the pain. She spied the familiar plant and grabbed some leaves, while thinking thought about her next move. If she went back to Dodge with Dillon and Kitty, the marshal would arrest her for sure because of her part in the whole mess. She couldn't let that happen.
Her plan was simple. She'd bring Dillon the water and give Kitty the mint leaves. While they were occupied, she'd get on her horse and be gone. Surely the marshal wouldn't leave Kitty and follow. Surely he wouldn't do that.
TBC