Chapter 15
The Consequences of a Storm
Well, friends, I think there will be one more chapter after this. Sorry to have taken so long, but work and life get in the way.
KR
Matt stood up and stretched his arm slightly. He then walked over to the bolder where he has first spotted Rosebud and then back towards Doc. "If you're gonna start pacing again, I'm gonna go down to the stream and get me a little peace and quiet." Doc said as he continued to sip his coffee.
"Sorry, Doc, I'm just wondering what's taking so long." Matt said as he sat on the log and poured himself a fresh cup of coffee.
"Festus is a good tracker, Matt, if there's anything to find out there, he'll find it." He said as he watched the big Marshal sip nervously on the coffee. "You wanna tell me what's really wrong?" He said as blue eyes peered at him over the coffee cup.
"Doc, I'm fine, really." He said taking another sip.
"Matt, something is bothering you, what is it?" Doc said as he watched his friend fidget in his seat.
"It's a bad feeling I have, Doc. Just a gut feeling, but when Festus gets back, we're heading out." Doc looked at him to say something, but Matt interrupted him. "Now look, Doc, I know you said, one more day, but if I wait one more day, it's gonna be too late. I just know it will."
"Alright, Matt, but we ride out together." Doc pulled his watch from his pocket and checked it. "It's nearly two, Festus should be returning soon. You could do with some rest." Doc said looking at him.
"Alright, Doc, I'm not going to argue. I'll try to get some rest." He said as he got up and went back over to his bedding. Lying down, he pulled the blanket up over him and within a matter of minutes he was fast asleep.
Doc smiled, he knew that Matt was exhausted, but he also knew how stubborn the man could be. Especially where Kitty was concerned. He had watched the two of them for twenty years. He had seen things that no one else had seen. Like a gentle caress of her hand as he left the saloon, or the way his hand moved to the small of her back when he lead her to a table. Most of the people in Dodge didn't pay any attention to their Marshal's infatuation with the little redhead, but Doc knew it was much more than that. Doc thought back to the night, 12 years ago, when he had quietly slipped down the alley, taking the back route to the saloon from Ma' Smalley's. He caught glimpse of a couple in the shadows, the woman's knees were tight around the man's hips, and the sounds coming from them could not be mistaken for anything but the sounds of ones in the throes of passion. Slipping into the darkness, he knew he couldn't go by them without them knowing he was there so he waited for the couple to finish. He had seen the frilly shoes the woman wore and the shortness of her skirt told him it was one of the girls from the Long Branch. And then he heard a familiar voice.
"Oh, Matt, Oh yessssss!" She moaned as she reached the ledge and fell over.
"Kitty," He moaned quietly. "I love you, Kitty." That voice was definitely the voice of the young Marshal and he had just opened his heart to the young woman.
"I love you too, Matt." She said gently kissing him. He could barely see them but he new that Matt was helping her with her dress and then he finished with his own clothing.
As she took his hand, she had led the young Marshal up the back stairs of the Long Branch. Doc watched as Matt stopped on the steps and held her hand.
"What is it, Matt?" She said looking straight into his dark blue eyes.
"I want you to be my woman, Kitty. I want you to be mine and mine alone." He said as he stared into her pale blue eyes. "I know that I was your first. From this moment on, I wanna be the only man."
Doc watched as her trembling hand reached up and caressed his cheek. "Matt, there's never been anyone else. It's always been just you. You are the only man I want to be with, the only man I have ever been with, I swear." She said as her forearm rested on his shoulder.
"I knew that, but I just wanted to make things clear. I've never loved anyone the way that I love you, Kitty." He said sliding his arms around her waist. Kitty leaned forward and lowered her mouth to his. The kiss was long and passion filled. And it took both of them by surprise.
Smiling, Doc leaned back on the log as the big Marshal began to snore lightly. Festus would be returning to camp soon. At least, for Matt's sanity, he was hoping Festus would be back soon.
It was almost five o'clock when Festus came riding back into camp. Matt was sitting on the log, trying to drink his cup of coffee, with little success. Standing up, he gave Festus a few moments to dismount and grab a cup of coffee.
"Anything?" Matt asked him.
"Nothin' Mathew, not a sign of the little girl or a wagon train, nothing for miles." He said before taking a big gulp of coffee. Festus sat down on the log and breathed deeply.
"As soon as you get rested, we're heading out." Matt said to him.
"But Mathew, it's getting dark." He said standing up.
"You can see better 'en anyone I know, Festus. I know you can track at night. We have to go as soon as you are rested." He said as he began to roll up his bed and gather his things up.
Festus could hear the desperation in his voice. Sitting back down, he looked over at Doc who handed him a plate of beans. Doc only nodded in agreement to Festus, no words were necessary. Both men had learned a long time ago, that when it came to Kitty, you didn't get in his way.
Nekuma had lost a great deal of blood. The only good thing was that the bullet had gone straight through, which meant Kitty didn't have to go digging for it. The head was wrapped up, and the arm was as well, but he had lost a great deal of blood before it had finally stopped bleeding. As she knelt down beside Nekuma, she gently pulled the bandage up, checking it. It was somewhat soiled by the blood so she gently unwrapped it. Once the bandage was off, she dipped the rag in the warm water and gently cleansed the wound once again. Getting to her feet, Kitty walked over to the cabinet. The whole time she was helping Nekuma, Ebb had been watching her. She looks over at him, there was a look in his eyes, one she had seen on other men before, one she had seen not so long ago, when she had been in Jude Bonner's possession. Her heart lurched as a lump rose in her throat. Looking in the cabinet, she spots the full bottle of whiskey and grabs a hold of it. The bottle was dusty, it was obvious that it had been there for some time. Closing the cabinet, she headed back towards Nekuma to sterilize the wound. As she walked past Ebb, he watched the movement of her hips. He had finally had enough of watching her, now he wanted her. Grabbing her by the wrist, he pulled her around to face him, pulling her tight against his body.
"Why would such a pretty lady be with a dirty Indian?" He said, his face too close to her own, for comfort.
"He's not the one that's dirty." She said as she suddenly pulled her arm from his grasp. She then headed back towards Nekuma. Kneeling down, she opened the bottle and poured some on the rag.
But Ebb wasn't ready to let it go. Angrily he stalked after her, grabbing her by the hair and pulling her to her feet. Nekuma tried to get to his feet, but Ebb hit him in the head again, knocking him to the ground.
"You prefer getting dirty, then you're gonna get dirty." He said dragging her struggling form over to the bed. He shoved her to the bed slapping her hard across the face as she fell. His body was suddenly on top of hers, heavy and sweaty. Her mind swam with fear, and memories of what Jude and his men had done to her. The scene unfolded in her mind. Her nude body prone on the cold dirt, on her belly, she tried to crawl away from the man now approaching her. It was too dark to see his face, but she felt his hands on her legs pulling her under him. Screaming, she swung out at her attacker, not realizing she was now reacting to the present. She struck him twice in the jaw before he struck her one last time. She was barely conscious and barely aware of him tearing away her slips. She felt it more than heard it, as the front door was kicked in. Ebb stood up to face the intruder. "Burke!" He said standing there looking at the big man.
"Matt!" She cried as she tried to pull her blouse closed. Ebb looked at the redhead, confused.
"Who's Matt?" He asked her.
"I am. Matt Dillon. US Marshal." He said glaring at Ebb. Looking back down at Kitty, he realized who the man at the door was. Than that meant the redhead was the Saloon Owner from Dodge.
His reaction was quick as he pulled his gun from the holster and turned, aiming at the big man, but not quick enough. As he turned towards, he saw out of the corner of his eye, the speed with which the Marshal had drawn his gun. Everything seemed to move along slowly, as the bullet left a trail of smoke before killing its intended target. It was one moment, one long moment of clarity, that Ebb came to a grave realization, the Marshal from Dodge, was faster. In disbelief, he fell to his knees and drew his last breath. Matt could not wait any longer, he rushed over to Kitty and helped her sit up. As Doc and Festus entered the cabin, they saw Kitty safely in Matt's arms.
TBC