Peter Brooks left Kitty's office quite pleased with himself. She hadn't jumped at his offer, but that was to be expected of a woman of intelligence and pride. While no two women were exactly alike, every woman was a whore. Some were more expensive than others, a few needed a more imaginative approach, but they all had a price. Kitty would come around, just as Lorraine had before her. The marshal would be thrown into an absolute tizzy when it happened.

He stepped into the barroom and looked around for Gus Stringer. The gunslinger was supposed to have arrived that morning, and the sooner he arranged for the demise of that Felix kid the better. He spotted Stringer leaning over the bar, and casually ambled over. Before Gus could speak, Peter bumped into him, knocking a beer from his hand.

Stringer turned "What the…." Brooks stepped back, "I'm so sorry. My name is Peter Brooks. Please allow me to buy you a drink to make up for my clumsiness."

Stringer immediately picked up on Brooks' clue that they were pretending not to know one another and put his hands down. "It sure was clumsy of you, but if you buy me that drink we're even." Stringer turned to Sam, "Your best whiskey."

Brooks smiled at Stringer's choice of drink when someone else was buying, "Make that two."

Sam stepped away to get the expensive whisky from the top shelf.

While Sam's back was turned Brooks shoved an envelope into Stringer's hand. "I have another job for you. The instructions and payment are here. Do it right away. Then hang around Dodge. Beckenworth should be here in a couple of days."

Sam returned with a bottle of first-rate whisky and filled two shot glass. The two men lifted their glasses in a quiet toast and tossed back their drinks. Brooks set his glass down, "Nice to meet you Mr. Stringer." He put a gold coin on the counter and left. He was eager to move things along with Kitty, and would need 5 or 6 cowboys who were down on their luck. Such men wouldn't be hard to find.

Stringer left the saloon minutes later. He went to the boardinghouse to open the envelope in the privacy of his room. His eye widened. $1,000 and a note. Half dead boy named Felix is in the doctor's office. Finish him off immediately.

Gus tore the note up. $1,000 to add to the $10,000 he'd get when Beckenworth got safely set up in Mexico.

He quickly came up with a plan, there's no time like the present.

Kitty

Kitty sat in her office going over the conversation she'd had with Brooks. Her impulse was to find Matt to tell him about it, but upon reflection convinced herself not to. There was nothing to be done. Nothing happened really. A very rich man had made an offer, and she turned him down. She'd mention it to Matt the next time she saw him. He had enough on his mind, looking for the man who attached Felix.

Gus Stringer

Stringer walked calmly down the street to Doc's office carrying a bag that contained a cloth mask, two balls he'd fashioned out of straw and paper, and some matches. He trod lightly up the stairs and looked around. The street was empty, except for a horse tied up across the way. He listened carefully with a gunslinger's sense of awareness – nothing, no footsteps, no voices. Moving quickly he pulled the mask over his head, struck a match against the building and lit a ball. He kicked the door open, tossed in a flaming ball, lit a second and tossed it in.

Inside there was instant panic and cries of shock and fear, but reactions were fast. Seeing flames and smoke, Rita immediately drew Molly closer and put a protective arm around Felix, who was lying unconscious in bed. Doc hurried to grab a pitcher of water, and Chester dropped his rifle to yank a blanket from the bed to start beating down the flames. In the midst of the panic Gus jumped into the room, gun drawn and fired at Felix. Rita saw the gun a split second before Gus fired and threw herself on her son's body. The bullet hit her. Out of the corner of his eye, Gus saw Chester reach for his rifle and turned to fire. Doc threw himself side long into Gus, making him stagger. His shot went astray. Knowing his plan had turned sour Gus raced out the door, and jumped over the railing. Chester fired after him, but the gunslinger zigzagged as he ran, and got away. By that time Doc had drenched the flames, ashes floated through the air.

Matt heard the shots and came running. He burst into Doc's office. The smell of fire was strong and the floor covered with wet ashes. Chester was taking a last futile shot out the window. Little Molly was screaming hysterically and Doc was moving Rita off of Felix, as blood streamed down her body.

Chester stopped shooting, "Mr. Dillon, he got away. I'm sorry."

Matt lifted Rita for Doc, "Did you see who he was Chester?"

"No, Mr. Dillon, he had his head all covered with just eye holes cut out."

"Well I have a feeling who it was, and who's behind it. Chester, go get Kitty. We need her help with Molly and Rita."

Minutes later Matt heard Kitty racing up the stairs followed by the uneven sound of Chester's steps. Matt had Molly in his arms. She had calmed some but was whimpering. When the toddler saw Kitty she held out her arms. Kitty took her from Matt and made soothing noises in her ear.

Matt looked at Kitty, "I don't have time to explain it all, but someone tried to finish Felix off. Rita took a bullet that was intended for her son. Doc's in the back with her now."

Kitty's heart was in her throat. She held Molly even closer, "Oh no. Matt, please tell me she'll be all right?"

Matt put a hand on Kitty's arm, "She will Kitty. She was hit in the shoulder. Doc got the bullet out and says she'll be fine. It's a good thing that bullet didn't go through her. It would have hit Felix. Kitty, the person who did this is going to try again. I need to get Felix and his family to a safer place. I have a feeling that Mabel Johnson would welcome them. It's pretty far out of town. I'll leave Chester there to stand guard."

Kitty nodded, "Sounds like a good plan Matt, how can I help?"

"Could you go to Rita's and pack clothes for her and Molly? I don't know how long they'll have to stay away. I'll come by once I get a wagon and everyone's ready to go. I want to move fast and take them through the back alley, so no one notices they're leaving.

A half hour later Kitty was in Rita's apartment pacing back and forth. It hadn't taken long to gather clothes for the woman and toddler. They owned very little. She packed Rita's spare set of undergarments, threadbare nightgown, and the one dress that hung in her closet. Gracie had two little dresses and a knit sweater. Kitty folded each item lovingly, put them in a bag and tucked the rag doll Molly slept with on top.

She heard Matt's footsteps and opened the door, "I have everything ready. Just this one bag."

He took it and quickly kissed her. "I'll be back early tomorrow."

"Stay safe Cowboy, and keep them safe."

"I'll do my best." He gave her another kiss before he stepped out the door and started down the stairs. He was halfway down when she called to him, "Oh Matt. I never asked. Do you know who wants Felix dead?"

"Yep, Peter Brooks. I just can't prove it yet." He hurried down the stairs leaving a very surprised Kitty watching him go. Peter Brooks, the wealthy man who propositioned her was obviously was after a lot more than a mistress.

TBC