Ballard
Claire and the whiskey drummer had come to a satisfactory deal. She hoped that things were going as well for Kitty, and expected her to be back soon. She stepped outside the Golden Nugget to get some air and saw Anna ride over to the Sheriff's office with one arm in a sling. She knew Anna had gone to the meeting and followed.
Walking into the office Claire saw Sheriff John Dawson reading a note. He looked up, "Claire that was no business meeting. It was a trick to get all the business owners in one place to take them hostage, and they want a ransom of $60,000. They say that they will generously, yep that's their word generously, give us 5 days to come up with the money, and it is to be left at the abandoned school house. They claim that 12 hours later they will release the hostages. If they don't get the money they will kill everyone."
Claire was horrified. She knew that she should be there instead of Kitty. Her thoughts also flew to Nick, "This is horrible John, what can be done?"
"Claire, I'm in over my head. First I'm going to wire Marshal Dillon. Then I'll have a town hall meeting to tell everyone what is happening."
Dodge City
Newly and Festus were in Matt's office. Festus was sitting with his leg elevated, "Matthew, this here ankle is feelin better n better. Don't tell Doc, but he did a right fine job tendin to it."
Matt smiled and nodded at Festus, "Newly how are you doing?"
"I'm fine Matt, Doc just says no long rides for a while.
Burke burst into the office, "Marshall I have two wire for you from Ballard. Matt took them, and read aloud.
From Sheriff John Dawson, "Business owners taken hostage by Johnson gang. Assistance needed."
From Claire Hollis, "Kitty is a hostage. Explain when you arrive."
"Festus, Newly you'll have to look after things, Burke they'll need your help. I'm leaving for Ballard right away."
The Hostages
They sat blindfolded in wagons riding for what seemed like forever, but was really about 4 hours. The blacksmith, Nick, made a real attempt to remember the directions and turns they were taking, but it was impossible. For all he knew they could be circling back to where they started.
The wagons stopped, and the hostages were told to remove their blindfolds. With guns pointed at them they climbed out of the wagons onto what looked like a big campground. They were told to sit on the ground. Milly and Kitty were the only women in the group, and they were both desperate to relieve themselves. They started to walk off to do so when Billy Johnson roughly grabbed them by the shoulders, "Where do you two think you're going? Get back."
Kitty looked him in they eye and said, "We have to do our business in private. Please turn away."
Billy just laughed, "Yeah you're a pushy one alright. Them skirts give you enough privacy. You got a minute to take care of that business."
Kitty and Milly turned their backs to him, did their best and finished up quickly. Then they went and sat on the ground with the others.
Just then Brad rode in, dismounted and walked over to his men, "OK, so far everything is going as planned. The the ransom note has been sent, now we just have to wait, and keep these hostages in line. Jim are things peaceful here?" Jim nodded, "All the hostages are right there. I figure there is no need to tie them up."
Brad agreed, "They are not going anywhere. The don't know even know where they are. Anyone who makes a move without permission gets shot. We'll take turns guarding them in 4 hours shifts. Billy, you and Doctor J watch first. Claybourne and Carl will go next, then me and Jim. Jim, right now let's you and me get some coffee going."
Jim and Brad started a fire and were setting up a pot of coffee when Jim remembered, "Brad I never told you that I ran into Will Stambridge, remember that gunslinger fellow you introduced me to a while back? He said to say hello to you."
Kitty was in hearing distance and her ears perked up.
Brad nodded, "Yep, he and I go back a ways. Smart fellow, always manages to keep within the law enough to stay off wanted posters. Of course we'll get richer than he'll ever be. When'd you see him?"
"A couple of weeks ago. I asked him how his love life was going. You know he was always the type the ladies went for. Anyway Will said he had spent some time in Dodge City because he met a woman he really liked, a pretty red head named Kitty. It didn't work out because she was sweet on the Marshal there, so he moved on. Said he's heading east.
Brad listened, then suddenly had a thought, "Did you say a red head named Kitty?"
"Yeah, what of it?"
Brad got up and walked over to where Kitty was sitting, "Where'd you say you were from?"
"I didn't say."
"Don't get smart with me. Where you from?"
She stared at him, "Dodge City."
"There's a US Marshal there right?"
"I suppose so."
"And I suppose you know his name?"
"Matt Dillon."
Brad laughed as we walked away calling to his men, "Looks like we have a special prize here boys. A US Marshal's woman. That gives us insurance that the law won't interfere"
Kitty said softly, thinking she couldn't be heard, "You don't know Matt Dillon."
Brad did hear her her and walked over, "Kitty, it seems to me you are in a habit of mouthing off, a habit I don't care fore. You see my mama always told me that women shouldn't be mouthing off all the time." With that he smacked Kitty sending her flying off to the side.
Nick, seeing that all eyes were on Brad and Kitty, stood suddenly and ran head first into Brad, knocking him over. Then he starting hitting Jim with his powerful arms and fists. The other hostages, taking hope jumped up and started fighting their captors.
A gun rang out. Big Billy Johnson shot into the air. His other arm was around Milly's neck. He was a big man who looked like he could easily break her neck, "The next bullet goes into her head."
The other hostages froze. Brad Johnson, was now on his feet again. "Tie everyone's hands behind their backs and sit them down. No food tonight, just water."
Kitty now remembered why Brad Johnson's name rang a bell, Matt's telegram.
Town Hall Meeting
Sheriff Dawson was at the front of the hall. "Everyone settle down. I'm sure you know that the business owners of Ballard have not returned from that meeting. It turns out that the meeting was a kidnapping organized by the Johnson gang. They are demanding a ransom of $60,000 to be delivered in a week."
Voices shouted simultaneously, "$60,000, that's impossible." "What's the law doing?" "If we give the they the money the hostages will be killed anyway." "Let's just raise the money."
Sheriff Dawson raised his hand and quieted the crowd. "Look I know what you are all saying. Everybody has a point. I think we should try to raise the money. I know a bank can raise more than a dress shop or a blacksmith, but let's all try to get the money together."
Gerald Smythe, the assistant manager at the bank responded, "Sheriff, you and I know that even if we deliver the money, those people are dead."
"I didn't say deliver the money, I said get the money together. Having the money won't hurt anything and then we have options.
A vote was taken and it was agreed that an attempt would be made to come up with $60,000 quickly, but any further action would take another vote.
Matt in Ballard
Matt rode overnight without stopping. He reached Ballard in the late afternoon and immediately went to Sheriff John Dawson's office. John and Claire were both there.
Without wasting time on niceties, "John, Claire what's going on here?"
The Sheriff spoke first, "The Johnson gang managed to collect most of our business owners and hold them for ransom. At this point we have 3 days to leave $60,000 for them at an abandoned school house."
Claire spoke before Matt had a chance to ask, "Matt, Kitty is there because I asked her to represent me at a meeting, but it wasn't a meeting, it was a trick to get the business owners all in one place away from town."
Matt saw the look of guilt on Claire's face, "We'll get them back Claire."
Matt turned to the Sheriff, "John, are they being held at the schoolhouse?"
"No, Matt. I checked. They were there, but moved out. They covered their tracks real well. No way to follow."
"If you don't mind, I'd like to have a look myself. Let's ride out there."
John and Matt rode out to the schoolhouse. They dismounted and walked around.
"John, you're right. The covered their tracks and left a bunch of confusing ones. We won't be able to follow them, so we'll have to make our best guess. They won't want to be too far from the schoolhouse. Is there another building or ranch somewhere near here that is at least somewhat hidden?"
"Matt, I've been thinking about that. No. In fact there were some raging fires around here a year ago that took down just about all of the nearby structures."
"Alright then how about a clearing or camp site where it would be easy to keep watch over a group of hostages, but wouldn't be easily seen – somewhat hidden away?"
John thought for a minute, "Say there is an abandoned campsite where the Indians used to stop when they came through hunting. They haven't been using it for the past couple of years, at least I haven't seen any of them."
"How far is it from here?"
"About 2 miles. Do you think we should ride out there."
Matt mounted his horse, "Seems like our best chance, since we can't track them. The sooner we go, the sooner we find out if we are right,"
The Hostages
It was nightfall. The hostages were still sitting with their hands tied behind their backs. Claybourne and Carl were given the task of giving each hostage a few sips of water.
Claybourne seemed to think it was a game, or his version of a game. He poured a few drops of water slowly and carefully on Nick's head, grinning broadly before bringing the cup to Nick's lips. When he got to Kitty he threw the water at her before going nose to nose with her and laughing loudly. She recoiled. Carl walked over.
"Come on Claybourne don't fool around."
"Carl, I'm not fooling around. I just like to do it this way."
Carl sighed, "I know. I'll tell you what. I'll finish giving them water. You go ahead and look at that watch you took, the one that you like so much. When I'm finished I'll come and get you. It's our turn to stand guard."
Claybourne nodded and smiled. "I like that watch. I hope Brad lets me keep it. I bet he will if I do a good job standing guard. You come and get me like you said. I'm going to do a good job standing guard with you."
Claybourne walked away as Carl went to refill the cup to finish letting the hostages drink.