Chapter 7
Matt had stopped by the telegraph office, the bank, the post office. He did his afternoon rounds as he made his way to his office. It was still early afternoon, but he was already tired. He tipped his hat at a few passing citizens. Mr. Jonas waved from across the street. Matt waved back. He opened the door to the jail. Doc and Festus were playing checkers. Matt removed his hat and placed his gun belt on the hook.
Matt sat at his desk and began to rub his temples. Doc and Festus sat in silence and watched him, "Festus," He started.
"Yeah, Matthew?" Festus stood.
Matt looked up, "I want you to ride out to Elmer Lowe's place and help Newly track that heard of horses for me."
"Sure thing, Matthew." Festus tipped his hat, "I'll get there quicker than a…"
"Can't you see his head is hurting, Festus?" Doc interrupted him.
"Oh, hush up, you old scutter." Festus made a face and walked out the door.
Doc swiped his mustache, "Everything okay, Matt?"
"I think that cowboy you were worried about is coming to Dodge tonight." Matt ran his fingers through his hair.
"The one that wants to rent out The Long Branch?" Doc asked.
Matt shook his head, "No. The one that you said was asking around for me." He stood to look out the window, "Paul Harrison's gang is here, Doc."
Doc swiped his hand over his mustache, "What makes you think that?"
"Mitch Malone just rode back in to tell me he saw them out on the prairie." Matt stuck his hands in his pockets.
"Who's Mitch Malone?" Doc asked.
"That's the cowboy who wants The Long Branch tonight…" Matt answered dryly.
"Oh." Doc shook his head, "I remember that now. Kitty told me his name the other day." He looked at Matt again, "How do you know he's not with them?"
Matt shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, Doc." He sighed, "I don't care for him that much, but he doesn't fit their type either."
Doc watched Matt for a moment, "What are you going to do about it?"
Matt looked to Doc, "That's why I wanted Festus to track the Lowe horses. If the prints lead to Malone's camp, that's one thing…" He looked out the window once more, "But I have a feeling they're not."
"You think he's telling the truth?" Doc furrowed his brows.
"I don't know, but..." Matt answered. He turned and sat in his chair, "He knew about Kitty."
Doc took a chair across from him, "About her being sick?" Matt nodded. Doc sat back and scoffed, "Oh, that's just a case of some under cooked eggs, Matt. She'll be back to her old feisty self by tonight."
"I think it was intentional, Doc." Matt's face changed to a worry one.
"Who would want to hurt, Kitty?" Doc asked.
Matt sat, perplexed, "Maybe they were meant for me, Doc."
"You think someone tampered with your breakfast?" Doc wondered.
Matt thought back to this morning, "Joe hired a new cook."
Doc picked at his finger, "Yeah, two days ago. Joe said his cook was sick and was…" He stopped, "That's when they killed your witness, wasn't it?" Matt nodded. Doc sat up, "That cook… Joe said he was vomiting and…" Doc looked at Matt.
"Just like Kitty." Matt finished. They both sat and thought about what was going on. Matt stood, "Will you go check on Kitty for me?"
"Sure." Doc caught his eye, "What are you going to do?"
Matt buckled his gun belt, "I'm going to go find Mitch Malone." He placed his hat on his head, "And then I'm going to find Paul Harrison's boys before they get to Dodge."
Doc nodded, "Be safe, Matt." Matt grunted as he walked out the door. Doc watched him as he made his way down the boardwalk to the stables. He could tell Matt's leg was bothering him as he limped slightly across the road… after being on horseback for almost three weeks, the poor boy needed to rest. Outlaws don't rest, he'd say. Doc smiled and swiped his hand across his face. He looked across the street at The Long Branch. He shut the door of the jail behind him and made his way to check on Kitty.
Matt rode out of town. He found Mitch and his outfit easily. They were practically in plain view.
Mitch saw him ride up, "I see you found our hiding spot, Marshal." He smiled.
Matt climbed off Buck, "I need to talk to you for a minute."
"Sure thing, Marshal." Mitch called, "Riley, come here." He motioned for his right-hand man. A scrawny young man, barely twenty-five, jumped down from the wagon and ran over, "Riley, this is Marshal Dillon from Dodge."
The young cowboy wiped his hand on his dusty pants and offered his hand, "Nice to meet you, Marshal."
Matt shook his hand, "Nice to meet you, son." Matt turned back to Mitch, "Just a few questions."
"Anything, Marshal." Mitch smiled. He turned to Riley, "Why don't you take the Marshal's horse to the creek for some water."
"It's okay." Matt answered.
"It's no problem. Riley's great with any horse." Mitch smiled proudly.
Matt hesitated for a minute. He looked at the small frame of this young cowboy standing next to him, eyes beaming. Matt handed him his reins, "Don't let him drag you."
"Yessir." Riley smiled and patted Buck on the neck and pulled an apple slice from his pocket, "Here ya are boy." Buck neighed as he followed Riley a few feet away.
Mitch watched Matt looking after his horse, "Don't worry, Marshal. Your horse is in good hands."
"I'm not worried about my horse." Matt nodded toward Riley and jutted his chin, "That young man has no business dealing with an animal that outweighs him by at least 1200 pounds."
"Riley can put a 1200-pound animal anywhere he wants it." Mitch assured Matt, "He puts my horsemanship to shame." He smiled.
Matt finally turned to him, "How did you know about Kitty being sick?"
Mitch's smiled faulter. He looked down at the ground, "I overheard those boys talking about contaminating your food to make you sick." He looked up, "I guess, they got your plates mixed up."
"What else did you hear?" Matt squared his shoulders. Mitch filled him in on everything he had heard and all about their plan to come to Dodge… kidnapping him and forcing him to hand over Harrison. Matt sighed, "I see." He sucked his teeth and looked around, "You think they've moved the herd yet?"
Mitch thought back to what the cowboys has said, "The way they talked, they were going to use the cover of night to move them." He watched Matt's face fill with frustration, "I'll help anyway I can, Marshal. My boys can help with the horses."
"Okay." Matt pushed his hat back, "You go let your boys know they may have a side job. I'm going to go find my deputies, bring them back here, and arrest Harrison's group."
"Yessir." Mitch smiled. He called for Riley, "Bring the Marshal's horse back, Riley."
"Mr. Malone." Matt began. He paused before continuing. He looked Mitch in the eye, "Thanks."
Mitch smiled. He knew it took a lot of this man to admit he was wrong… or wasn't completely right. As Riley handed Matt the reins, Mitch held his hand out, "Don't think me yet, Marshal. Let's get these scumbags first."
Matt nodded, climbed on Buck, and tipped his hat, "I'll be back shortly." Mitch nodded as Matt rode away.
Matt made his way East, toward Lowe's farm. He wanted this to be over before the birthday party tonight. He wanted to enjoy something for a change… plus, he wanted to make sure Kitty was okay and not over doing it… since this was again, his fault. He sighed and push Buck into a faster gait. He was about a mile away from Lowe's farm, when he saw Festus and Newly in the distance. He rode up to them, "You find anything?"
"Well, Matthew…" Festus wiped his brow with his forearm. He pointed West, "They're definitely heading West."
Matt looked back from the direction he came, "I figured as much."
"Something wrong, Marshal." Newly asked.
"I know where Harrison's group is," Matt pushed up on the horn of his saddle. He was hurting and tired, "They're back that way, near a creek. In the woods."
"You sure, Matthew?" Festus tighten his saddle on Ruth.
"Yeah." Matt pushed his hat back, "That's why I come looking for you two." He wiped his forehead, "Mr. Malone says there's about 10 of 'em… I think we can go ahead and take 'em in before they start any trouble."
"Malone?" Festus and Newly look at one another, "Who's Malone, Matthew?"
Matt sighed, "Long story." He looked up at the sky, "Let's get this over with before it gets too late." Matt turned Buck around, Festus and Newly followed. When they arrived back at Mitch Malone's camp, Matt climbed off Buck once more, "Mitch," He pointed at Festus and Newly, "These are my Deputies, Festus and Newly."
Mitch tipped his hat, "Nice to know ya." They returned the gesture.
Matt looked at the readied cowboys, all different in their own ways, each having their own unique talent. All sitting on their horses ready to go. He turned to Mitch, "They up to the job?"
Mitch looked his boys up and down. He turned to Matt and smiled, "They all have their histories, Marshal. They can handle themselves." Mitch winked.
Matt nodded, "Okay." Matt climbed back on Buck, "I'm going to go in and attempt to talk these boys down. I want your boys to keep an eye on the horses, make sure they don't go anywhere." Mitch nodded. He climbed on his gelding as Matt continued, "There may be gunfire. You okay with that?"
Mitch pulled his hat down. Green eyes glowing, black hair shinning, "We no how to use a gun, Marshal. Don't worry about us. We live for the excitement."
Matt rolled his eyes, "I'm not looking for excitement. I'm looking to bring these guys in and get those horses back home."
Mitch nodded, "Understood?" He turned to his boys. They all agreed. Mitch turned back to Matt, "We've got your back, Marshal."
Matt straighten himself in his saddle, "You lead the way, Malone."
TBC