Rescue or Recovery?
PT.15
William had contacted the local constable, filling them in on what had happened. He now knew Matt was going to need help if he found Shaw and whoever he had working with him. Besides, now he knew Hilda went to follow Matt.
Constable Morrow and his men made their way to the docks, unsure just what they would find.
Matt and Hilda weren't sure just what they had just seen but they didn't want to let their imaginations get the best of them.
"Marshal? What do you think that was?"
"Hilda, I'm not sure but we need to hurry. Now when we catch up to the boat, I want you to promise me you will stay in this boat. You hear me?"
Shaking her head, "Un huh. I'm going with you. If Miss Kitty is on this boat…"
"Now listen to me. I can't find Kitty and worry about you too."
"Marshal, you don't need to worry about me. Louis isn't going to hurt me. He needs me, or needs my money and he can't get that till we're married. So let's just get to the boat."
As they got closer, it seemed quiet.
Matt climbed on, helping Hilda up. "Ok now, stay quiet and please be careful."
Matt snuck around and down below, finding Kassick, grabbing him from behind. "Hold it right there. Where's Kitty Russell?"
Startled. "Who?" Kassick asked.
"Kitty Russell. I'm not going to ask you again."
"Oh, you mean Red? Oh, she's not here. You're too late, big man."
Matt leaned back then threw a punch, knocking him across the small area. "Where is she?"
Seeing stars, shaking off the punch. "Whoa. Told ya, too late, she's gone. Shaw's orders."
Matt jerked him up by his collar, dragging him up to the top deck and hanging him over the side of the boat. "You're gonna tell me or I'm gonna…"
Kassick's eyes shifted to the water. "Alright man, alright. In there. She's in there."
"Where?" Matt yelled.
"Let me up and I'll tell ya."
Pulling him up, "Where?"
Just then Hilda came walking up with the Boat Captain and Carter. "Who's this?" Carter asked.
"Marshal Dillon." Hilda answered.
Still holding Kassick by the throat, Matt growled. "Where is she?"
Tossing his head towards the river, "In there."
Hilda's eyes widened. "Oh, Marshal. That's what we saw them throwing overboard."
Matt threw another punch, forcing him overboard. Without saying a word, he tossed his hat, pulled off his boots and jumped in.
Hilda hung over the side trying to see if she could see anything.
Kitty had been in the water for a few minutes. She was struggling with her arms tied. It was difficult. Also being blindfolded, she couldn't tell where she was. She just continued to kick her feet and squirm and try and keep herself moving. Once or twice she'd surface and get a gasp of air, calling out for help. But it was getting harder and harder. She was getting exhausted. She tried to let herself float but the water was so rough and cold. Suddenly, she felt herself hit something hard and everything went dark.
Constable Morrow made his way out to Shaw's boat. Hilda told him what happened when she and Matt arrived there. Morrow had more of his men join in the search with Matt to find Kitty. Hilda filled him in on the rest of the backstory so he'd understand everything. No one, at this point, was sure where Louis Shaw was.
"Constable Morrow, I know Louis is probably aware we know about what he has done. So, I'm sure that is why he's not here right now. But you can't let him get away with this." Hilda said.
"Miss Hilda, don't you worry. We'll find him. Let's just concentrate on locating Miss Russell first. We have his cohorts. We'll see what they have to say. Louis Shaw is very well known in this town. We'll find him. We can put out an all-points bulletin."
Matt continued searching through the murky water, popping up, yelling out for Kitty. The rough waters carried him along but he dove again and again. After about thirty minutes, he was getting short of breath. Grabbing on to a large rock and catching his breath, he spotted a reflection. When focusing on it again, he made his way closer, wiping his eyes. "KITTY?"
He was forcing his way through the rough water. As he made it closer, he could see it was Kitty, tangled in bushes along the riverbank. "Kitty! Kitty honey?"
She was unconscious and cold. Her breathing was shallow and her skin was bluish gray. Quickly he untied her, scooping her up, enveloping her in his arms. "Honey, I've got you, Honey. Hold on!"
Matt could see the boat from the River bank. He began trying to yell to them. "She's here! Hurry! Over here!"
TBC
