Lawman

Chapter 13

Howie told them that Mrs. Gina Hamilton was in room twelve.

"That poor young woman," he added, "having a murderer for a husband." That made Matt wonder if she wasn't the one who had started the rumors in Dodge.

"Did she tell you that?" he asked, wondering how Howie had come by that piece of information.

"Well not in so many words Marshal, but I heard…"

Matt leaned across the counter and grabbed the clerk's tie before he could finish the sentence.

"Remember Howie, all you heard were rumors, and usually rumors are untrue, so if I were you I'd keep quiet about what you heard and leave the business of the law to me." Kitty had taken a step back. In some ways she felt sorry for the little mouse of a man who ran the front desk of the hotel, but by now he should know better than to cross her cowboy.

xxx

Matt knocked on the door to room number twelve.

"Gina it's Marshal Dillon, I need to talk to you."

He heard some movement inside the room before the answer came.

"Oh! just a minute Matt, I'll be right there." Kitty looked at Dillon and raised her eyebrows in question. "Matt?" she mouthed. He just shook his head in bewilderment. Again more sounds from the other side of the door then in another minute it was thrown open. Kitty was instantly aware of the dark cascading hair that descended to shoulders barely covered by a low cut dress. That and the flashing dark eyes would be almost guaranteed to attract the attention of any man around. She noted how the woman's eyes darkened when she saw that Dillon was not alone.

"Mrs. Gina Hamilton, Miss Kitty Russell," he introduced them, all the while trying to read the shadow of emotions crossing the younger woman's face. He went on to explain that Kitty would be happy to show her around the town and help her find anything she needed. He also explained that he had Doug safely at his office and she was welcome to come visit him any time.

While he was talking he couldn't help but notice that the window, which opened onto the back of the hotel, was pushed way up. He went to look outside into the alley and noticed the small roof covering the back entrance just a few feet below. From there it would be an easy jump down to the ground.

Kitty started talking to Gina, telling her about Delmonico's and several other places in town. She had picked up on his need to look around the room and was trying her best to provide a distraction.

Matt thought he had gained all the information he was likely to find here and turned back to Kitty giving the slightest nod in her direction. It was amazing how the red headed saloon owner could read his mind.

"I just wanted to come and meet you Gina, and if there is anything I can do to help, you can usually find me at the Long Branch," Kitty was saying.

"We'll leave you now Gina," Matt added, "My office is just across the street, you can't miss it." He smiled at her and held the door while Kitty bid the dark haired Gina goodbye.

"Well Kitty what do you think?" he asked once they were safely outside on the boardwalk once more.

"Well for a start she didn't like it that you hadn't come alone, but fortunately I did get the feeling that the dress and hair were not intended for your benefit."

"I did wonder if there had been someone else in the room." Dillon commented.

xxx

Even though she had some doubts about Gina, Kitty inevitably tried to befriend the young woman. She remembered how she had felt when Matt was accused of murder about two years ago. Bill Hickock had been sent from Abilene to arrest her cowboy and take him in for trial. Although she had done her best to put on a brave face at the time, her insides had been in turmoil. Fortunately at the last minute Matt and the Sheriff had managed to get a confession from the drifter who had been paid to say he saw the murder. It began to look like there would be no such last minute reprieve for Doug Hamilton.

xxx

Matt spent many hours talking to the City Marshal, going over and over his version of the events leading up to the present situation and trying to find some ready explanation for what could have happened to Dirk Williams the bounty hunter.

"Are you sure no one knew you were riding out to hand over the reward money."

"Matt I told you, I purposely kept quiet about it. I hardly ever discuss my business with anyone." Somehow he never thought to mention that he had discussed it with Gina. It always seemed so natural to tell her everything.

"I even took fishing gear with me when I rode out of town so folks would just think I was taking the afternoon off. And then I checked several times that I wasn't being followed."

"And you handed over the money there by the river?"

"Yes right there where I usually fish."

"You never rode on to the place where Halstead told you he found the body."

"No Matt, I never went near there."

"Maybe you were there a few days earlier?"

"No Matt, I can't prove it to you but I was never there."

Matt stood up and walked across the cell and back, how many times had he been through these same questions, always the same answers. Nothing.

"Doug, I hate to say this but you may need to find an attorney. The state is sending Josiah Benton to run the prosecution."

"You know I don't have money for an attorney. Is there no way out of this Matt? I didn't kill Williams, don't you believe me?"

"I believe you but it is the court that matters. Let me see what I can do."

"I know you've been trying to solve this for the least week now, you've hardly taken time out to sleep, but so far what have you accomplished?"

"I know Doug, but I'm going to find the answer," he took a breath before continuing "I promise."

Matt knew better than to make a promise he had no idea how to keep, but he hated to see his friend in such distress or think about the reality of a possible hangman's noose in the man's future.

His thoughts were interrupted by a gentle knock on the door leading back to the cells. Gina was there with a food basket in hand.

"Good evening Marshal Dillon," she smiled sweetly. "Kitty was good enough to introduce me to Joe at Delmonico's and he packed supper for Doug and I. Is it all right if I come in?"

Matt looked up from where he had been sitting on the small stool in the jail cell. Gina was now wearing a pale yellow dress that fitted her to perfection. Her hair was in a twist and skillfully arranged under a complementing hat. The bare shoulders he had seen earlier were now covered demurely so that here and now she was the sweet devoted wife. He blinked his eyes trying to clear the confusion in his head as he stood up and opened the cell door.

"Come on in Gina." Doug was already on his feet waiting to take his wife in his arms. Matt knew it was time to leave them alone.

He returned to the front office, closing the door to the cells to give the young couple some privacy, and telling Chester to let Gina out when she was ready to leave.

In the Long Branch Saloon, the evening business was well underway. Dillon walked through the swing doors and took a seat at the table that most of the regular customers avoided, knowing it was "reserved"

He sat down, placed his hat on the table and wearily pushed his fingers through his hair. It wasn't long before Kitty came to join him with two mugs of beer in hand.

"You look tired Cowboy," she told him

"Kitty I just made a promise I'm not sure how I'm going to keep. I'm thinking I may need to go back to Garden City and look for this Johnny Halstead. Maybe he is the key piece in this puzzle. I have another problem, the state has appointed a prosecuting attorney for the case against Doug and he cannot afford legal council for his defense.

Kitty thought a while. "Maybe I can help Matt, I have a friend in St. Louis. Let me see what I can do. Meantime you look like you need a good night's sleep."

TBC