Chp 2

Author's Note: SuzyQ, I'm glad you like my stories well enough to consider them a present cause I'm broke and sure couldn't buy you one.

And to "Guest". unless I'm mistaken, I do not recall begging you or anyone to read this story once and I certainly did not ask you to read it twice. If you do not wish to read it, then by all means DON'T. But please, DO NOT attempt to tell me how, where or when to post. If you feel that you can do a better job of writing and posting a story, by all means, please do so. But if you do, you will not be able to hide behind the name GUEST.

The days ride, much to the delight of the traveler's, went well. Earlier than expected, Matt and Kitty arrived at the Henderson ranch, late that afternoon. As they pulled into the yard, a small congregation of children surrounded the horses, heartily welcoming the new arrivals.

"Marshal Dillon, Miss Kitty," more than one voice cried as they dismounted.

"Hi, kids," Kitty called enthusiastically.

When the front door of the house opened, Bud, the oldest of eight, stepped out raising a hand in greeting. Tall and lanky with an unruly mop of white blond hair and intense green eyes, he was the spitting image of his father. His only inheritance from his mother had been a quick dimpled smile that always came easy. But not today. That smile was missing today.

"Hello, Marshal, Miss Kitty." He spoke solemnly. "I see you all made it alright."

Matt nodded, instantly alert to the fact that something was wrong. "What's going on here, Bud? Where's your parents?"

Bud nodded towards a small knoll some distance from the house. "They're over there," he said sadly. "Where they wanted to be."

Matt followed the boy's gaze and stiffened when he saw two mounds of dirt side by side on the slight rise of ground.

Kitty who had also turned to look, gasped. "Oh, no." She said. "Bud, what happened?"

"You all had best come in," he answered grimly as he backed out of the door and into the house. Exchanging uneasy glances, the two tied up their horses and walked into the house, the children following them in. "Now you all go on and go outside," Bud told them irritably. "Go on." He insisted.

All but one of the younger children unhappily complied and filed out of the house. Five year old Georgie declined to leave. Holding tightly to Kitty's side, he stood silently but stubbornly refusing to move.

"Georgie, I said go on outside." Bud gruffly ordered his younger brother.

Kitty bent down next to the child and gave him a small hug. "You go on outside, Georgie," she told him, "and I'll come out a few minutes and find you, okay?" Gerogie shook his head no. "It'll be alright," she assured him. "I promise, I'll come and get you as soon as I can."

For several minutes, the little boy stood immobile next to her, then finally turned and headed for the door. Taking one last mournful look at her, Georgie left and softly closed the door behind him.

'This has been hard on him." Bud said watching his brother leave. "He was awful close to mom."

"How'd it happen, Bud?" Matt asked seeing the stricken look on the youth's face.

"They were in an accident," Bud answered sadly. "They had gone to town and were on their way home. Something spooked the horses and they bolted. Pa tried to stop them but he couldn't. The wagon overturned and Ma was killed right away. Pa was dragged a ways before…before he…" Bud faltered desperately trying to keep from showing his anguish at the loss of his parents. "Jacob was with them when it happened. He was closer to town so he went back and got Mr. Zeeger. They brought Ma and Pa home and we buried them up there."

Kitty walked over to the boy and gently wrapped her arms around him. "I'm so sorry, Bud," she soothed.

For just a second Bud relaxed in her embrace, but just for a second. Stiffening, he pulled away and nodded to her. "Thank you, Miss Kitty." He said softly. "But I'm fine." The responsibility of his brothers and sisters and their home weighed heavily on his shoulders and he didn't want to appear weak in the face of it.

Looking back over at Matt, Kitty saw the same grief on his face, over the loss of their friends, as she felt.

Matt looked down for a long time, composing himself before raising his eyes back to the young man. "It wasn't an accident was it, Bud?"

The boy looked up in amazement that the Marshal would know that. "No, sir," he answered. "I don't have any proof of it, but no, I don't think it was. But how did you know?"

Matt shrugged. "Your dad was strong and very good with horses. He's handled spooked horses before. Besides he sent a letter asking me to come here and I had a feeling there was a serious reason behind that request."

Bud studied his father's friend for a moment before dropping his head and nodding. "You're right."

Matt started to ask more about the situation when the door opened and Georgie came back in, running straight to Kitty's side. "I'm hungry," he said, tugging at her sleeve.

"Georgie," Bud started to protest his brother's intrusion.

But Kitty put her hand up to stop him. "No, Bud, he's right. It is about time for supper. Tell you what. Why don't you and Matt take care of the horses and get me some firewood and I'll see what I can do about fixing some something to eat? What do you say, Georgie," she bent down close to the child, "you want to help me?"

Georgie happily nodded.

"Good idea," Matt agreed. "Come on, Bud. Let's get it done."

Bud started towards the door, but stopped and turned back to Matt and Kitty. "Marshal, Miss Kitty, I'm awful glad you're here."

Kitty stepped over and lightly kissed him on the cheek. "We are too," she smiled gently.

Matt nodded. "We were your parent's friends, Bud." He told the youth. "But we're your friends too, as well as the rest of the kids. And friends help friends. That's what we're here for."

The boy looked down, not trusting his voice to a reply.

"Now, come on," Matt restated. "Let's get our chores done so we can have some of Kitty's good cooking."

As Matt and Bud left, Kitty looked down at Georgie, her heart breaking for what the child had already gone through and still had yet to face without his parents strong guiding hands. Bending down she picked him up and cradled him close to her. "Don't you worry, little one." She told him. "We're here. We'll figure it all out."

TBC