A Flicker of Light In The Darkness

Chapter 11

Barlow Madson Attorney-at-Law

Matt heard someone step onto the porch and looked outside the office window. A trim man, in a fancy eastern suit, stepped into his office. "Marshal Dillon?"

"Yeah" Matt rose from his chair, "Can I help you with something?"

"My name is Barlow Madson," he handed Matt his card, "I'm from Boston."

Matt read the card, Barlow Madson Attorney-at-Law. He tossed the card on the desk and hooked his thumbs in his vest. "Mr. Madson, what can I do for you?"

"I'm trying to locate a Miss Kathleen Russell."

"Well, I can help you with that. Come with me and I'll take you to her."

He motioned for the younger man to step outside before taking the lead. "Is this your first time out west, Mr. Madson?"

"It is, sir. I have heard all the stories and was very curious."

"So, what do you think so far?"

"Well, I don't think I have the tenacity to survive, but I am surely impressed with those that do."

Matt was pleasantly surprised to find Barlow Madson to be a decent sort of fellow. "This is the Long Branch and Miss Russell is the proprietor."

"Quite an accomplishment for a woman in this part of the country, wouldn't you say?"

"I would. She's no ordinary woman."

Matt waited for Madson to step through the batwing doors. They spotted Kitty at a table in the corner. She had her nose buried in paperwork. Matt nodded in her direction and walked over with the attorney in tow.

"Kitty, there is a gentleman here to see you."

She looked up, flashing the smile that always melted Matt's heart. "To see me?"

Madson was taken aback by the stunning redhead staring up at him. She definitely was notordinary. In a polite gesture, he removed his derby and offered his hand. "Barlow Madson." Again, he reached into his vest pocket and produced a card.

Kitty pursed her lips and read the card. "Why don't we all sit down and then you can tell me what your business is here in Dodge. How about a beer?"

"That would really go down good after such a long trip."

"Sam, could you bring these gentlemen a beer? Okay, Mr. Madson, what can I do for you?"

Madson pulled an envelope from his inside pocket. "It's my understanding that you have a legal ward, one Calleigh Reign Russell?"

Kitty glanced at Matt, his confusion matching hers. "That's right." She felt a twinge of fear. Was someone going to take her away?

"I'm here on behalf of her family."

"Matt?" The tone of her voice matched the fearful look on her face. Matt stretched his hand across the table, closing it over hers.

"Please," Madson attempted to calm them both, "I don't know what you are concerned about, but I assure you, this is not bad news. May I go on?" Kitty swallowed hard, then nodded.

I am here on behalf of one Calleigh Reign Strothers, of the Clayton Penn Strothers, of Boston, Massachusetts."

This time it was Matt that pulled back, looking as though the wind had been knocked out of him.

"Strothers? Calleigh... Is… Clayton Strothers'..."

"Granddaughter," Madson volunteered. As though he suddenly remembered an earlier conversation, he took a longer look at the big man sitting across from him. "Are you...Matthew Dillon?"

Matt nodded; then turned to Kitty, and uttered a significant name, "Cassandra Strothers." It looked as though who ever knocked the wind out of Matt earlier, was now taking it out of Kitty.

Madson downed the beer; he had a feeling he was going to need it. "I gather that you did not know the girl was your daughter?"

"No." Matt continued to tell a story that Kitty already knew, "I met her mother when she was only sixteen. I was almost twenty. She was going to a fancy school where I was doing odd jobs. Cassie was a sweet girl, kind of sad all the time; but she said I made her laugh. We just kind of hit it off. We were supposed to go for a ride one afternoon, but when I went to pick her up, she was gone.

"One of the teachers told me that her family had taken her out of their school and were sending her to a fancy boarding school in New York. I'm ashamed to say, that probably would have been the end of it, but rumors got back to me that she was pregnant. I knew I had to do the right thing, so I went looking for her. I finally found out that her folks had moved Cassie back to Boston. I showed up, ready to take Cassie away, but was told she had died in childbirth. They told me the baby had died as well. Then Strothers threatened to have me arrested if I ever came back again."

"I must confess, I'm a little confused here." Barlow Madson looked to Kitty for clarification, "You have been raising…his daughter? Even gave her your last name; but neither of you knew she was his?"

Kitty nodded and motioned to Sam; they all needed another drink. "Apparently, I have been." She gave her head a faint shake, as if to clear it out. "You've dropped quite a bombshell on us, Mr. Madson. But you still haven't said what brought you here."

"Yes, well; let me explain. I can well understand your description of Clayton Strothers. Client or not, he was a hateful, arrogant, self righteous man. How he managed to find a woman that was a perfect match for him always surprised me. That supposedly pious woman bordered on evil." Madson's brows furrowed again, "Exactly how is it that you came to have the child?"

Matt began the tale, "She ran away at the age of eight; and from what you say, no one went looking for her. A short time later, she met up with Carter Harlan, a one-time gunslinger. He continued to teach her about guns and turned her into a side show performer." Matt looked at Kitty and she picked up the story.

"Matt was out of town at a trial when the show came through Dodge. Carter brought Calleigh in here; sat her up on that bar—on that very spot—and said that she wanted to stay. Dodge was her destination. He just left her. Matt was gone for a little over two months and by the time he got back… I couldn't let her go."

She and I had problems in the beginning. I knew she was hiding something," Matt picked up the conversation again. "I never suspected this! We finally called a truce; she said, if I would give her a chance and get to know her, just for herself, then maybe she would tell me about her past." Matt's eyes met Kitty's again. "She wanted me to love her for her. That was over three years ago, and to be honest, we finally just accepted each other—no questions asked."

Madson could not hide his look of contempt. "Strothers' story was that she was away at boarding school. I finally located a woman that had been a cook in his house. She was barely more than a girl at the time, but she remembered the little girl. She also remembered the young mother being beaten and wasn't surprised that she didn't survive the birth. An illegitimate child was more than old man Strothers, or his sanctimonious wife, could bear. Apparently, they continued to serve up punishment for the baby girl; beating and starving her also. The cook remembers how defiant the little girl was. No matter what Clayton did to her, she would not back down. Drove him crazy."

"Why didn't someone stop them?" Kitty was so angry, she was visibly shaking.

"He kept her hidden; and like I said, he told everyone she was at boarding school." Madson took another drink, knowing he had to continue, "The fact that there was no boarding school, is what brings me here. Strothers' will left everything to his—quote—family. It sounds preposterous, I know, not to name specifics. I'm guessing that he didn't write up a new will because he was too cheap. His daughter was dead; and he was probably certain that his granddaughter was dead also, so he didn't bother making a new one. He and his wife were killed a month ago in an accident. I went to the boarding school looking for the girl and that's when things started to...unravel. I hired a private detective and he brought me to you, Miss Russell. I guess what I'm going to say now will be good news. The Strothers estate is worth… 2.5 million dollars."

The table fell silent again. Madson wasn't sure how he expected them to react, but he was certain that the money wouldn't be a major part of the story for these people.

Matt reached across the table, taking Kitty's hand in his again. Madson saw the look of love that passed between them, making him suddenly anxious to get home to his own wife and daughter.

Madson stood up from the table. "I have some paperwork for you to sign and then the money will be deposited wherever you designate. Can we meet later tonight?"

Matt stood up to shake hands with Madson. "There's a restaurant up the street called Delmonico's. Why don't we meet there for dinner? I'd like for you to meet Calleigh."

Madson released Matt's hand and nodded politely to Kitty, "I would like that very much. About 7:00?"

"7:00 will be fine."

Matt dropped back down onto the chair after Madson left. "Kitty? Are you alright."

She rose from her chair, her body trembling, and headed for the back room. Matt was close enough to be her shadow. She tried to maintain control, but one single tear escaped, causing the floodgates to break loose. Kitty turned, burying her face in Matt's chest. "They beat her Matt. How could they beat a little girl? How could they not go looking for her? My God, what kind of people were they?!"

"Kitty, honey, it doesn't matter now. She's ours now; no one's going to hurt her again."

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Together, they walked down Front Street toward Doc's office. Calleigh would be there. She was always there after school. She had shown an interest in medicine and Doc had begun taking her on rounds. Matt took Kitty's hand, letting her take the steps in front of him.

They could hear laughter coming from inside the office, and braced each other before going inside. "It's going to be all right." They held one another close for a moment and then kissed, allowing them to draw strength from each other.

Calleigh looked up as soon as they walked in, her eyes shining with laughter, and her smile big as ever. "Hi, what brings you guys up here?"

Matt held a chair for Kitty to sit down. "Sweet Pea, Kitty and I need to talk to you. Doc, you need to hear this too." The physician sat back down, and pushed a chair out for Matt.

"Is everybody all right?" Calleigh's confusion was obvious. If someone were hurt, they would be at Doc's.

"Everyone's fine." Matt assured her, "We need to talk to you about... Clayton Strothers."

Calleigh went white, as though every ounce of blood had been drained. She was on her feet instantly, her face resembling that of a trapped animal. "Is he here?" The door was the only thing in her line of sight and she bolted for it "I've got to get out of here."

Matt had seen the panic on her face and recognized her need to escape. On his feet in a heartbeat, he was quick to intercede. He grabbed her up to him and held her close. "Strothers is dead, baby, so is his wife. Even if he wasn't, you don't ever have to worry about anyone hurting you again. They would have to go through everyone in this room to get to you."

Her body continued to tremble, but he could tell it was lessening some. Calleigh pulled away from her father, enough to meet the reassuring gazes of both Kitty and Doc. "Are they really dead?" She asked, looking back up at Matt.

"Yes." Matt ushered her back to the table and eased her into the chair.

"How do you know this?"

"His attorney was here. Apparently, you are the only heir to his estate."

"I don't want his estate."

"That doesn't surprise me," Matt looked over at Kitty, who didn't appear to be surprised either. "We can discuss that later; right now we have more important things. He told me about Cassie."

"Told you what? Dagnabit! What is going on here?" Doc's frustration level had been reached.

"Calleigh is Matt's daughter." Kitty's announcement prompted a sudden gasp from Doc. "You have known all this time? Why didn't you tell us?"

"I didn't plan it this way, I swear Kitty." Crying was not something that ranked very high in Calleigh's emotional reserve, but she felt a good one coming on. This was the thing she feared: That Kitty and the others would think she had used them. "I love all of you, you have to believe me."

Kitty reached out for the girl's hands, taking them in hers. "Do you think I don't know that? Look at Poppy and tell me there's any doubt there. I don't know whether you started out to capture our hearts, or it just happened—but it did happen. We know that you love us, we just don't understand why you didn't say something."

Calleigh released a long held breath. "I wasn't allowed to speak your name. Strothers hated you; said you took off when you found out my mother was pregnant. They told me you were nothing but a worthless gunslinger."

"Calleigh, that's not true. I never knew. When I found out, I went back after you and your mom."

She reached across the table and took his hand, "I know that. There was a young girl named Molly that worked in the kitchen. She always tried to protect me, if possible. She's also the one who told me that my father had come looking for me; and that Strothers told him I was dead. I think part of the reason I practiced with the gun so much is because it drove him crazy. The more he tried to stop me, the more he beat me, the more determined I was to learn how to shoot."

Kitty interrupted, "Is that where the scars came from?" Calleigh responded with a nod.

"Finally, I knew I had to leave, to try to find you. I've never seen anyone so filled with hate—unless it was his wife. Talk about a matched set." A bitter laugh echoed in the silence, "I did tell you the truth, Matt. No one was going to be looking for me. I was just afraid if you went digging, you would find out who I was."

"Did you not want me to know you're my daughter?"

"What I have with Kitty came easy; and Poppy, too. Easier than it would have been if they had known I was yours. That would have made everything awkward. But it wasn't easy between you and me. You pushed; and I pushed back. What we have now, we worked for. There was no sense of obligation. Just two people fighting, against each other at first—and then for each other—to build a relationship. Would you have felt the same about me if I'd just said, hi, I'm the mistake you made twelve years ago, now you have to love me?"

Matt shook his head, only his daughter would phrase it quite like that.

Calleigh looked at both Kitty and Doc, knowing they had a right to the truth. "My plan...was to learn about my father. Who better to tell me, than the woman that loved him and his best friend? I didn't realize we would get so involved.

"I'd been virtually on my own for three years and never got tangled up with anyone before. You saw how easy it was for Carter to leave me behind. I figured, I would get to know you, learn what I could and then wait to meet my dad. But you-" Calleigh cast an accusing glance at Matt, "of course, didn't come home as soon as you were supposed to. I tried to tell you that night when you came after me—if you had let me go, Kitty would have forgotten all about me."

Matt looked at the two redheads, "No, it was too late for that. Kitty isn't Carter and she won't abandon anything she loves." The room grew still.

It was Doc that finally rose from his seat. He swiped his hand across his mustache, as was his habit. "Well, I'd say this is pretty easy to figure. We can let this discovery make a big change in who we are, or we can just go on loving each other the way we have been for years. Matt, Kitty you know how I feel about you both. Calleigh, I'll be your Poppy for as long as you want me to be."

The girl ran to him, slipping so easily into his arms where she felt at home.

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Madson had already been seated at a table, when Matt and his family arrived. He was stunned by the strong resemblance between the girl and Miss Russell.

"Mr. Madson, this is our daughter, Calleigh Reign Russell."

She smiled her sweetest smile and offered her hand, "Pleasure to meet you."

His mouth was still slightly open, as he took her hand. His gaze went from one redhead to the other. "You look…alike… Are you her ...no, of course not! I'm sorry," he laughed softly "This case just seems to be one surprise after another!"

Calleigh looked at the others and began to laugh. "You should have been here for the whole trip, Mr. Madson. It's had more twists and turns than a bag of snakes." Only Calleigh could break the ice in that manner. Laughter spread among them as they took their seats. The conversation was lively and full, as both women brought a certain sparkle to the evening.

Madson took stock of the family surrounding the table. Despite the girl's horrible beginnings and unbelievable odyssey, she was very happy. He was amazed at the love shared by these three people.

He would never ask, but did not understand why Dillon and Miss Russell weren't married. The love they shared was so obvious; as was the love they had for the girl and she for them. This was a case that he would tell his grandchildren about some day. Finally, the subject of the money had to come up. Madson brought out the paperwork for Kitty to sign.

"As her legal guardian, I need your signature on these papers."

Kitty did not take the pen offered to her, but instead looked to Calleigh, "Sweet Pea? What do you want me to do?"

"I've been thinking about it and as much as it abhors me to take anything from him, it is a part of my mother and I think she would want me to have it. Molly told me that she wanted me very much." Calleigh looked over at Matt, "Besides, he'll probably roll over in his grave knowing that I have his money!"

TBC