Chp 4

Matt wasn't sure what it was that woke him, except a vague feeling of unease. Something just felt wrong. Kitty was still sound asleep and snuggled close into his side, so he knew it wasn't her that stirred him from sleep. But something had and it didn't feel right at all.

Jeff and Ann's passing had, of course, disturbed him more than he cared to admit. At one time he and Jeff had been as close as brothers and once, Jeff had done something for Matt that he didn't think he'd ever be able to repay him for. That's why he had been so willing to come when he had received Jeff's letter and why he was determined to help the kids. He owed Jeff.

Carefully getting up, so as not to wake Kitty, Matt crawled out of the bed and walked over to the small window which overlooked the back of the house and barn. One look outside, told him what had awakened him.

"Fire!" Matt yelled as he grabbed his pants and boots. "Kitty, get up."

Kitty was instantly awake at Matt's call but her sleep confused mind wasn't quite sure what was going on till Matt yelled again. "Hurry, honey, get up. Their barn's on fire."

Kitty jumped up and grabbed her robe and swiftly left the room, padding down the hall to Bud's room. However, before she could knock, the door opened and Bud practically knocked her down in his rush to get outside and to the flaming building behind the house.

Matt joined him on the stairs and together the two rushed frantically to the disintegrating structure, intent to save the animals inside. Neither one knew of the tiny child that had snuck down to the barn earlier, to visit the newborn kittens that were sheltering there, with their mother.

Matt, who was working on the opposite side of the barn from Bud to pull animals out, heard a squeaky little voice. "Help," came a strangled cry from his left.

Choking on the smoke and ash which was hotly swirling around him, Matt covered his nose and mouth with his arm and he strained burning eyes to see the boy who had called so pitifully for help.

There! Just up a little, Matt found Georgie sprawled on the floor of one of the stalls, with two kittens in his hands, harshly coughing while trying to protect the tiny animals he had cradled to his chest.

Fitfully coughing, Matt rushed to the boy, while calling for Georgie's brother. "Bud! Over here! It's Georgie."

Bud, who had just released the last of the horses to go madly racing outside, heard Matt's cry and stumbled to his side. "Georgie," He called. "Come on, we gotta get out of here." The child, too overcome by the elements in the disappearing air, tried but couldn't get up on his own.

Matt reached down and grabbed the boy by the arms to pick him up just as a beam overhead cracked and began to fall. Raining cinders and burning wood all around them, the crumbling structure was beginning to obstruct their only way to safety.

Outside, Kitty hovered with the children; watching in horror as the building began to collapse in on its self. Once they had reached the front of the barn, they set up a line to throw water on the enraged fire but realized quickly, their efforts would be futile.

"Oh, God, Miss Kitty, what are we going to do?" Martha cried. "Bud and the Marshal are in there."

Kitty, seeing the animals running wildly out of the burning edifice, made sure the kids were back and out of harm's way. "Stay here," Kitty yelled over the cracking and groaning of the building as it started to collapse. "I'm going to try and find them."

Taking off her robe, Kitty doused it in water, before covering her mouth and nose and making an effort to enter. Screaming Matt's name she opened the door and tried valiantly to go in. But she was turned back by the biting flames and searing smoke making entry impossible and an exit for those inside improbable.

Stumbling back beside the frightened children, Kitty coughed raggedly as her terrified eyes watched the building groaningly crumble towards the ground.

"Matt," she screamed as heedless of the danger, she once again rushed towards the fiery hell to save the man she loved. But just before the structure collapsed completely, three smoke blackened figures emerged, falling to the ground outside.

Kitty, along with the bigger kids managed to pull the three survivors further away to safety, just as the last of the burning structure gave way.

Kneeling down beside Matt, she helped him to sit up, taking Georgie from him. As he desperately tried to expel the smoke from his lungs, she checked the little boy and found him scared but not physically hurt. "Matt, you okay?"

"I'm… al… right, Kitty." He managed between fits of choking coughs. Turning his head, he saw Martha helping her older brother to sit and sending Jane for a bucket of water.

"Here," eight year Eliza said, as she materialized beside them and handed a dipperful of water to Kitty.

Kitty smiled at her and gave it to Georgie first then Matt. "Thank you, sweetheart." She said as the little girl returned the smile and ran back to her brother and sister.

Looking back at Matt, Kitty gently patted him on the back during another round of racking coughs. "Take it easy, Matt. Just take it easy." Georgie snuggled his head into her shoulder, clinging to her neck with both arms.

Matt took another sip of the water, relishing the cool liquid on his seared tonsils. At that moment he thought nothing had ever tasted that good.

Bud struggled to his feet and stepped over to where Matt still sat on the ground. "You okay?"

Matt nodded again. "You?"

Bud nodded, "We will be." Gesturing to the two small kittens now resting securely in Martha's hands, he smiled. "All of us."

"I don't think that fire was an accident, Bud." Matt said; slowly getting to his feet and helping Kitty and Georgie up.

"Me neither, Marshal." Bud agreed. "I guess Ma and Pa dying, wasn't enough for Mr. Graham."

'Well, maybe not." Matt agreed. "But it's enough for us. Let's all go inside and talk."

TBC