Chapter 9

"Mrs. Peters. This way!" Saylor skipped along in place as Peyton ran ahead, toward the barn. Peyton peered around the barn to make sure Ralph, Gabe, and Mr. Jim were out still out feeding the cows. He motioned Saylor to continue pulling Lorraine toward the barn.

"No need to pull youngin'!" Lorraine reminded. "Is Mr. Edwar... I mean Jimmy... Is my Jimmy behind there."

Peyton shook his head. "Shhhhh. It's a surprise remember?" Peyton placed his finger over his lips.

"Oh yes! Shhhh." Lorraine whispered and did the same.

"He's in here." Peyton slowly pulled the barn doors open and Saylor pushed Lorraine slightly to encourage her to walk in the lightly dimmed barn.

Horses rattled their stalls doors and neighed in an effort to get food or treats. Pigs snorted as they root around in their pin connected to the barn. Chickens sat quietly on their perches, watching as the three made their way through the barn. The sheep stayed hovered in a counter, hidden deep in the dark shadows.

"I don't see him." Lorraine squinted her eyes to try and adjust to the lighting. "Are you sure he's in here? I can't really see anything..."

"It's because you're old, nag." Peyton sighed under his breath.

"What was that, boy?" Lorraine whipped around.

Saylor shot him a look, "Peyton's gonna show you Old Nag. An old mare Mr. Edwards tends to. He may be feeding her." Peyton nodded. Saylor added, "I'm going to go check the tack room."

Peyton took Lorraine's hand and led her to the back stalls. Lorraine checked her dress pocket...the small hand gun was still there... Saylor checked out the tack room to make sure the latch still worked. She figured they could just keep her locked in there. A tack room would be a suitable jail until daddy got home.

Kitty stood holding Katie until she calmed down. After a few moments, Kitty raised her tear soak face and wiped away hair from it. Kitty smiled warmly, "Sweetie... You feel up to talking?"

Katie nodded and straightened up. She smiled shyly at Kitty. Then quickly wiped her face in embarrassment, "Oh, Miss Kitty! You must think I'm such a fool! You don't have time for this." She dropped her head.

"It's okay." Kitty smiled. "If I'm any judge of character... I know who did this... and you are no fool." Kitty raised Katie's chin to look her in the eye, "Believe me, I know what it's like."

"How could you possibly know?" Katie got defensive and walked toward the door, around Kitty. "You have a nice house, land, great kids..." She smiled and scoffed, "and loving husband that gives complete strangers jobs." Kitty let a smile cross her lips at the acknowledged of Matt. Katie continued, "So..." She started crying again...

Kitty walked over and took her hands in hers. Kitty paused, "It hasn't always been like this, sweetie... I know what's it's like to feel like you have nothing to offer... and then by some miracle a glisten of hope comes your way... In our cases that hope was in the form of patient love. I know what it feels like to feel unworthy and feel like you'll never amount to anything... but it's a wonderful feeling... That hope." Kitty grinned and let a thankful tear escape. "True love is a beautiful thing. I wouldn't be here today if it was for my husband, for my best friend. He made me feel worthy and makes me feel like his everything... always has... and he better always will, or I'll kill em." Kitty laughed through her tears.

Katie joined in and smiled. Katie started to confess about her mother, "My mother..."

Kitty looked at Katie's bruises and finished her statement, "is an evil woman. I knew when I heard Charlie, or Jimmy telling his story about you... it wasn't you... it was coming from another source... So since my husband has brought Charlie in..."

Katie laughed, "You make him sound like a lost dog."

"Well," Kitty laughed, "All men are lost dogs, but sometimes you find a good one and don't mind bringing em home for a couple 40, 50 years." Kitty smiled. Katie nodded. Kitty straightened up, "So let's go see what my kids..."

"Oh my, Miss Kitty!" Katie gasped, "Your precious angels are alone with Mama!"

Kitty snorted and shook her head, "They aren't the precious angels you think they are. They..."

"You don't know her! Or what she's capable of!" Katie grabbed Kitty's hand and started to pull her out of the wash room.

Kitty grabbed her arm, "Whoa!" Kitty smirked, "On the contrary, you don't know my kids... or what they're capable of." Kitty winked and put her arm around Katie's shoulders.

Matt, Doc, Festus, and Charlie all were finishing up breakfast and sipping on their coffee, laughing and cuttin up.

An eery feeling crossed. Matt stood up and grabbed his hat, "We gotta go!"

"Whoa, Matthew!" Festus clicked, "Imma almost finished with my story."

Matt slammed his hat on his head, "Kitty and the kids are in trouble!"

Kitty and Katie headed down the hallway. They were rounding the corner of the kitchen, both still laughing and grinning. Katie stopped, "Where is...?" Katie looked at Kitty.

Kitty whipped around and looked at the back door, slightly opened. Worry sank in as a gun shot, out back, went off...

TBC