Rescue or Recovery

PT.12

Kitty could hear voices above deck. She recognized two as the men that brought her there and the third… Um, he sounded familiar but she just couldn't quite place it. She now was getting a chill, figuring being on the water and just being tired and hungry.

But she wanted to stay awake. She didn't trust them enough to go to sleep. Plus she didn't want to miss anything that might happen or anything she might hear. She just wanted to stay alert to try and figure a way out of this God-forsaken place.

She had no idea what their next move was going to be. She still wasn't sure their full reasoning behind all of this. Resting her head back against the hard surface, exhaling, thinking to herself, "Oh, Cowboy. Why couldn't you have made this trip with me? Now I have no way of letting you know… letting you know I need your help. Oh… UGH!"

William and Matt entered the plant. Matt stood scanning the large floor space. "Wow, impressive, Lemp. This is the last place you saw Kitty?"

"Well, yes. We were standing right about here talking about, well, business. I'm sure that wouldn't interest you, Marshal. But anyway, Hilda called me to the office and Kitty said she wanted to take a look around, look at some of the new changes.

"Ok, then what?" Matt asked.

"Well, while we were up in the office, my office woman, Miss Jennings, mentioned I had a visitor waiting for me on the floor. But before I could go back down… Well, anyway, he was gone."

"And Kitty?" Matt continued.

"Well, she was nowhere to be found." William answered.

Matt was now walking around, checking all the nooks and crannies, when he saw a small walkway. "Where's this lead to?"

"Oh, just an old storage room. We don't use it anymore." Matt quickly headed in that direction. "Marshal? We don't use it…" His words now fell on deaf ears.

Matt spotted the slightly ajar barrels in front of a wood door. He rushed to move them, forcing open the door. The lighting was dim, but as he looked around… "You said you don't use this room?"

"No, that's why it's blocked." William said.

Matt started to turn to leave, when he glanced down on the dirt floor. Stopping, reaching and scooping up a small white piece of cloth, he spread it out noticing the lace edges then the initials, KAR. His jaws tightened. "She was here! Kitty was here!"

"Are you sure, Marshal?" William asked.

Waving the kerchief, "Yes, this is Kitty's."

Matt also notice several footprints in the dirt. There were two large sets, which convinced him she wasn't alone, then a small set that had to be hers. They looked to be dragging. He now ran his hand through his hair then plopped his hat back on his head. "Ah, Kitty, hang on, honey. I'll find you. I promise you, I'll find you."

Now, he pushed passed William. Matt headed out of the plant looking for signs of a struggle. He figured Kitty dropped the kerchief purposely. He knew she would try her best to leave signs, a trail, anything she could if possible, with the hope that someone would be looking for her. Now he was just wishing he had agreed to go with her when she'd asked.

As he made his way down the street from the plant, he randomly stopped people asking if they had seen a woman and one or two men, giving a description of Kitty. Most people said no. Some just didn't want to get involved. Then a small boy overheard him, saying, "Hey, Mister. I think I saw them."

"You did, Son?" Matt now looked at this boy. This young boy was a street kid. Matt could see he was homeless, probably had been for some time. "Son, what's your name?"

"Ah, Lucas, Sir."

"Well, Lucas, you live around here?"

"Kind'a, Sir."

"Lucas, you say you saw these two men and the woman?"

"Did they do something wrong, Sir? Break the law? You a lawman? You are, ain't ya?"

"Yeah, Lucas, I am but I'm trying to help the lady, she's a friend."

"Ah, she was real pretty."

Matt nodded. "So where did you see them? Do you know where they went?"

"Well, they came out of the beer plant. She didn't look like she wanted to go with them. They was holding her arms real tight, ya know what I mean?"

"Yeah, Son, did you see where they took her?"

"Uh huh, they headed down by the river, the docks. She was fighting them something awful. She sure has a temper."

Matt smiled at his comment. "Yeah, she does at that." Matt reached in his pocket, handing the boy fifty cents. "Here, Lucas. You go and get yourself something to eat, hear me?"

Lucas' eyes widened. "Yes, Sir! Thank you. Hope you find your friend."

Lemp House

William returned home. Louis was waiting for him in the Library. Louis sat very impatiently. "Do you have any idea how long I've been sitting here?"

"No, but I do have a business to run and I have other issues to tend to."

"Such as?" Louis Inquired.

"Well, for one, Kitty Russell's where abouts."

"Ah, William, I told you…"

Cutting him off, "Yes, I know what you told me and I now know it was a lie. What have you done with her, to her?"

Now laughing, "What makes you think I've done anything?"

"Because I know you." William answered.

"Alright, that woman was in our… my way. And I won't stand for anything or anyone, least of all a woman, that woman, standing in the way of what I want."

"Louis, are you a complete fool?" William now shouted.

"Look, you're panicking over nothing, Lemp. In a few days, Hilda and I will be married. I will have control of the business and as far as anyone is concerned Kitty Russell went back to Dodge City and we will have control of her shares."

"But, she hasn't gone back to Dodge City and someone will be looking for her?"

"William, how much do you know about Kitty Russell?"

"Obviously more then you, Louis."

"William, she's a saloon woman in a cattle town. So for all anyone knows, she ran off with some cowpoke that flashed the right amount of cash at her. That is her business isn't it. The woman ran a brothel!"

"Louis, you're wrong. You don't know Kitty. Kitty isn't like that at all. Yes, Kitty owns and operates the Long Branch saloon but she has a very good reputation. She operates one of the best businesses out there. She is very well known and respected. And if you did your homework as you said you did, you'd realize Kitty also casts one rather large shadow. Marshal Matt Dillon. Oh, and he's in St. Louis."

Shaw's face dropped. "WHAT? Dillon is here? How? Why?"

"I told you, Kitty is his woman. He's looking for her and believe me, he's not going to stop till he finds her. He will turn this town upside down if he has to."

Shaw was pacing. He now had to step up his plan. He'd heard about Matt Dillon and his reputation. But he wasn't ready to deal with him himself. Grabbing his hat and heading out the door he looked at William. "I'll deal with you later."

TBC