Chapter 7

Kitty walked downstairs when she heard a knock at the door. She watched Matt and Charlie making their way to the barn. She opened the door.

"Morning ma'am. My name is Lor... Lori and this is my daughter... uhhh." Lorraine looked to Katie. Kitty could tell she was still drunk for the night before.

Katie looked sternly at her mother. "My name is Kaitlyn." She smiled a sweet smile at Kitty... a sincere one.

Kitty returned with a warm smile, "Nice to meet you Miss Kaitlyn. My name is Kathleen, but everyone calls me Kitty." Katie felt the warmth.

"Yeah, Kaitlyn." Lorraine returned the look and Katie dropped her head.

Kitty turned a cold glare back to Lorraine, "How can I help you ladies?"

"Well my son has went missin after his father passed, and we caught wind he may be workin here... Mrs.?" Lorraine tried trickin.

"Just, Miss Kitty, will be sufficient." Kitty reminded. She could hear Matt and Charlie picking up speed, "Why don't you ladies come in for some coffee. I'm sure we can figure something out."

"That awful sweet of you, Miss Kitty." Katie thanked as Lorraine scoffed. Kitty closed the door and rolled her eyes. As she heard Matt and Charlie run past the house she turned and smiled her charming smile, "Cream and Sugar?" They followed her into the kitchen and she sat them at the table.

"Mommy!" Peyton yelled from upstairs.

"I'll be there in a second." Kitty yelled up and faked a smile to Lorraine, "children..." Kitty walked over to the coffee pot and poured each a cup, "If you'll excuse me. I'm going to make sure my children aren't killing one another. I'll be back in just a minute." Katie and Lorraine both grinned over their cups.

Matt and Charlie arrived in Dodge minutes later. Doc walked out of the post office, "Morning, Matt." He turned to Charlie, "Mr. Edwards wasn't it?"

"Yessir. Good to see you again." Charlie tipped his hat.

"Morning, Doc." Matt returned as he and Charlie climbed off their horses.

"I was heading over to Delmonico's if you wanna join me." Doc asked.

Matt weighed his options, "Maybe a quick cup of coffee." Matt tipped his hat back, "Let me check on new wires or anything." They claimed the boardwalk in front of the post office.

"Morning, Marshal." Burke greeted Matt when he walked through the door. Matt nodded. Burke turned to Charlie, "Morning, Mr. Edwards. I got a wire that your shipment got to Mississippi safely."

"Thank you, Mr. Burke." Charlie smiled.

"And you mother and sister stopped by the station to see if your stage had come in..." Burke smiled.

"My mother and sister?" Charlie had a look of confusion on his face, "I'm an only..."

"Yeah." Burke paused, "What were their names?" He snapped his fingers, "Miss Lorri..."

Charlie interrupted him, "Lorraine and Katie?!"

"That's them!" Burke exclaimed, "They were so excited when I told them you were working at Marshal Dillon's ranch."

"Burke!" Matt grabbed him, "Where are they now?"

"Well they left the station early this morning and started out there." Burke shrugged his shoulders.

"Burke..." Matt shook his head and straightened up, "Why hasn't someone killed you yet?" Matt looked down at Burke, "How did you know he was working for me?"

"Festus." Burke answered innocently.

Matt let out a sigh. Doc chuckled and swiped his mustache, "I was wondering the same about Festus." Doc looked at Matt, "Well, let's go get that coffee."

"Mr. Adams we gotta get back out to the ranch. This means they may have Miss Kitty and the children. They could be in danger." Charlie worried.

Matt chuckled, "I'm not worried about Kitty and my kids. Especially when it comes to women. Kitty can handle herself, I assure you." Matt patted Charlie on the back, "Let her have some fun... then we'll head back to collect the prisoners." Matt smiled.

Kitty quickly made her way up the stairs. She closed the door to the kids room behind her. Saylor had Peyton pinned to the floor. "Give it back!"

"Kids... Kids!" Kitty ran over and whispered.

"Mommy, he won't give me my Dolly's brush back!" Saylor slapped him in the stomach.

Peyton chocked the dolls brush out so he didn't swallow it. "Ouch!"

"Ha!" Saylor grabbed the brush and stuck her tongue out.

"Mommy!" Peyton whined.

"Not now you two!" Kitty knelt down, "We have to make daddy proud."

The kids got really close. Peyton asked, "Who is it this time mommy? Are there bad guys like before?" Having done this a time or two. It had become a family game.

Kitty chose her words carefully, "You remember Mr. Randy that tried to trick daddy?"

The kids both smiled and nodded, "He's the one we pushed in the cow dung!" Peyton laughed.

"No that was Mr. Smith. Mr. Randy is the one the crazy ol mare ran into the pig pin." Saylor corrected.

"Oh yeah!" Peyton rolled with laughter, "We tricked him into going in her stall. We told him daddy was in there."

Kitty chuckled at her witty children, "Yes. These women are trying to hurt daddy's friend Mr. Edwards." Kitty stood, "It's up to us to make sure they're comfortable until Daddy and Charlie get back. You two up for the adventure?"

The kids looked at one another and then smiled at Kitty. They headed downstairs.

Katie didn't want to be here. She didn't want to hurt Jimmy. She loved him. She looked over the brim of her coffee at her wicked mother. She had to be stopped. Lorraine thought to herself his easy this red head was. This was going to be easy. Problem is she's never been to Dodge... never heard of the legend of Marshal Dillon and Kitty Russell... and the power they create when they work together.

TBC