A Flicker Of Light In The Darkness

Chapter 21

In Search of the Shooter

"Kitty leaned back in Matt's arms, their eyes met, each feeling the pain of the other. "Honey, you know I have to go." He felt like his heart was splitting in two. She was trying so hard not to cry, but he knew she wasn't going to keep the tears at bay much longer.

"I know and I want you to catch him. He almost took our daughter." Kitty stopped short, choking back the tears. "We'll be fine." She tried to force a smile, but it scarcely made it to her lips and never to her eyes. "Doc and Newly will be here if I need anything. Don't worry."

"Don't worry," he repeated under his breath, as he pulled her to himself, as if that were ever a possibility. His mouth claimed hers with such force she could barely breathe. "I want you to listen to Doc while I'm gone. You take it easy, you promise?" He wouldn't accept a silent nod. "Say it."

"I will listen to Doc. I promise." Matt kissed her again, this time gentler. "Are the kids settled?" He slid his arm around her, guiding her toward the front door.

"Newly brought some more stuff over this morning. Doc has got Calleigh all settled into the bedroom across from ours."

Everyone had agreed that it would be easier to take care of both women, if they moved Calleigh into Matt and Kitty's house temporarily.

It had been a little over a week since the shooting, which meant the shooter had already covered a lot of miles. Matt was concerned that the coward was heading for the Mexican border. He knew how badly Newly wanted to come, but Calleigh needed him more. Festus had promised Newly that neither he nor Matt would give up until they caught up with the outlaw.

Festus threw Ruth's reins over the post and climbed the steps to the front door. He knocked on the wooden screen door, then proceeded to stick his head inside. "Matthew?"

Matt turned at the sound of his name "Festus, we're in the living room. Come on in. Honey, I'm going up to get Doc and Newly." He turned to find both men already coming down the stairs. "Is she settled in?"

Doc made a swipe at his mustache, as he took the bottom step. "I gave her something to make her sleep." Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Festus and heard the familiar jangling of spurs. This was not a time for their usual bickering banter; he simply greeted the hill man with a nod.

Newly watched both the men, torn between needing to stay with Calleigh and wanting desperately to find the coward that did this to his wife. "Matt." There were so many things he wanted to say but couldn't find the words.

"I know son; we won't give up 'til we find him. You just take care of Calleigh." He turned to Doc, "I told Kitty to listen to you, make sure she does."

"Ya 'bout ready, Matthew?"

Matt nodded and slipped his arm abound Kitty, guiding her out onto the porch. He brought her around, pulling her up full into his arms. A couple of years ago, he would never have considered such an overt act; but now, it was as natural as breathing. His lips found hers with a hunger, a need for the strength he could draw from her and she from him. When his lips left hers, they traveled along her cheek. "I love you," he whispered.

She drew her arms tighter around his neck. "Come back to me." She cried softly.

Newly and Doc joined her on the front porch, and they watched the pair ride away.

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It had been five days since he had kissed his wife good-bye and started the search. Matt readjusted himself in the saddle, taking notice of the stiffness. He glanced over at Festus and could see the same weariness reflected on his friend's face. They had made pretty good time, all-in-all; and even more progress on their manhunt. Through his contacts, Matt had learned that Gib Nasaan, had just recently been released from jail, along with another young man named Wylie Robes.

Robes was the name Sam remembered. He had been the quiet one that sat on the bar the during the entire episode. Whether he was avenging the death of his companions, or just scared, he apparently felt the need to shoot a woman in the back. After losing both Nasaan and Toliver, Festus had tracked the coward Robes to Cherokee, Oklahoma, where he met up with his older brother, Bonnie Robes—and his gang.

Bonnie Robes was a face that Matt was familiar with—from several posters. A pretty ruthless bunch, wanted in two states for holding up a stagecoach and three states for murder. It made the job more dangerous, knowing they were now after a gang, as opposed to one man; but like Festus said, it just made them easier to track.

"Ere we stopping tonight, Matthew? Up to you a course; we kin keep on ridin, liken last night ifn you want."

"No, I'm sorry Festus. I've been pushing you really hard and...I'm sorry." The Marshal studied his companion, knowing in his heart how much this scruffy little man from the hill country meant to him.

Matt Dillon would not only trust his own life with this man, but he would trust Kitty's and Calleigh's lives as well. Matt couldn't offer a higher praise to any man. He knew that Festus would follow him to the ends of the earth, if that's what it took to find this excuse of a man. "Let's pull camp up the road there, by those trees. We should make Copper Cove by early morning. If they're still holed up in town, we're gonna need to be rested."

They reached the trees and both climbed down, relishing the feel of hard ground under their feet. "I'll get a fire goin. I shur cud go fur sum coffee. I smelt water over there; be rite back."

Matt pulled his saddle and bedroll off, tossing them to the ground and then began to gather wood for the fire. He had it going when Festus came back with water and a hat full of berries. "Found these'n growin by the crik. Thot theyd go good with sum jerky an' a good hot cup o coffee. I'll get the coffee goin."

Matt leaned back, using his saddle to pillow his head. It wasn't the best supper he had ever had, but the berries were sweet and the jerky was filling. The coffee...it was hot, that's about all he could say about it.

Festus settled down into a restful position as well. "I got a good feelin we'll be a catchen up to em tomorry. That feller in Durant said Robes got four guys riden wid him. Ere you ready?"

"Yeah," the muscle in Matt's jaw tightened. "We already know one of 'em is a coward, if he'll shoot a girl in the back. Don't think we'll have to worry much about him. That brings it down to four-to-two."

"Golly bill, the onliest way they cud ever taken that lil girl wud be in the back. Nobody gon beaten her face to face." A wary smile tipped the corner of Festus' lips, "ifn push cum to shove, not even you Matthew."

"Remind me not to make her angry." Matt smiled for the first time since this ride began."I'm a pretty lucky man, that's for sure."

Few people knew the truth about Calleigh being his daughter, but Festus was one who did. "It scares me sometimes to think if she hadn't come looking for me. I never would have known she existed." He fell into a moment of silence, reflecting on his own words. "Real lucky."

"Whal, lookin at how dense ya can be, I'd say you's real lucky."

"Excuse me?"

Festus filled his cup and held out the pot offering a refill. Matt shook his head, more interested in his friend's comment. "Let's face it Matthew, yore pretty slow on figurin things out. Lookit how long it took ya to finally marry up wit that fine shemale a yourn. The rest of us all knowd what was what, but foot," he made a sucking sound with his tongue, showing a touch of irritation, "it took ya all these here years... Slow, Matthew, real slow. Doc and me, we's about ta just give up on ya!"

Matt's brows arched and he flashed a crooked smile, "Well, I'm glad you were there to watch out for me."

"Sure glad ta do it, Matthew." Festus accepted Matt's words as a compliment. "I was a wonderin, er ya hankerin for a boy this time? Probly be a might easier for Miss Kitty."

"Easier?"

"I don't knowd ifn she could ever lov anuther girl as much as she does this'en. She got a powerful lot of lov for that girl."

"She does, Festus, she surely does." Matt slid down until he was stretched restfully on the ground. "We'd best get some sleep. It's gonna be a big day tomorrow."

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Matt paced anxiously as he waited for Festus to return. It was decided that the Deputy would be less conspicuous in town than a 6'7" U.S. Marshal. It probably hadn't been much more than a couple of hours, but it seemed like ten times that. Finally, Matt heard the familiar sound of Ruth coming back. It seemed like forever before he closed the gap of those last few hundred feet. At last, Festus stopped just short of Matt and climbed down.

"They's in a lil bar off the main street. All five of em, ifn you count the coward. He's doin lots of braggin bout killin that..." Festus stopped, knowing those were words Matthew didn't need to hear, "says he outdrawd her. Makin no mention of shootin her in the back. Worst one of the lot gots to be his brother. They knowd she's yer kid and they knowd you willt be comin for em. One of em said you got no power down here n Texas. Guess we'll just hav to show em wrong, huh Matthew? How d'ya want to handle it?"

"When we go in, I'll wait for you to get in the back door, then I'll go in the front. You keep 'em from shooting me in the back. Probably be best if we ride in on one of the back streets of town." The two men exchanged a look and a nod.

Festus could see the rage already starting to bubble up in his friend. Please, Matthew, he pleaded silently, keep a cool head.

Festus followed the plan and slipped in through the back door of the bar. Besides the bartender, Robes' men were the only ones in there. Festus hunkered down, gun drawn, waiting for Matthew. The wait was short; Matt stepped through the batwings, stretched up to every inch of his 6'7" frame and called out that familiar phrase. "Drop your guns!"

Bonnie Robes was the first one to refuse the order and the first one to lie dead on the floor. "Now, drop the guns." Matt Dillon watched all four guns hit the floor, then slid his own gun back into the holster.

"My fight is only with Wylie Robes, the rest of you have nothing to do with this. Why don't you just go on your way."

"You guys can't leave me here." Wylie looked at the remainder of his brother's crew, silently pleading with each of them not to leave him alone. One man held back, hiding himself in the corner. The other two exchanged a furtive glance and started for the door. "Sorry Wylie, this is your fight."

Matt stared at the man that shot his daughter. He watched him begin to cry and heard him plead for his life. He was so absorbed in the coward, he failed to notice that the two men stopped short of exiting the door. One of them grabbed Dillon's arm, knocking him off balance, while the other brought his fist up and into Matt's jaw.

Before Festus could step out of the shadows, Matt came to his feet like an angry grizzly. A sound came out of him that sent chills down the spine of Wylie Robes. Dillon tore through the two men, as all of his pent up rage burst through to the surface.

Wylie stood stone still, too terrified to move, as he watched as his friends were being pummeled nearly to death. The sound of bones breaking and blood flying engulfed the room. The fourth man slowly squatted down, keeping his eyes on Matt, while his fingers stretched out toward his gun.

"All right, holt it right there." Festus stepped out of the shadows, gun drawn. "You don't wanna do that."

The man pulled back his hand like a turtle retreating into his shell. Festus kicked the gun across the room, just to be safe. Both of Matt's challengers lay on floor, alive; but no doubt, they were going to be hurting for a long time. Matt Dillon's blue eyes blazed with hate as he focused in on his real target.

Wylie fell to his knees, still begging. Matt's face was bloated with rage, his hands visibly shaking. When he spoke, even Festus didn't recognize the black guttural voice. "You shot my daughter in the back! GET UP!"

"I didn't mean to, I... I was scared. If you just let me go, I'll go… I'll go to Mexico, you'll never see me again!"

Matt grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and pulled him up and off his feet. "YOU THINK YOU COULD HIDE IN MEXICO!? I WOULD FOLLOW YOU INTO HELL!" Matt could not contain himself. The beating began. Festus waited as long as he could, but finally, he knew it was time to step in.

"Matthew! MATTHEW! STOP! MATTHEW YOU'RE GONNA KILL HIM!" Festus grabbed Matt's arm as he pulled back for one more punch. "Matthew, think of Miss Kitty, Miss Kitty, Matthew! That youngin what's comin. Please, Matthew!"

A deadly near-silence fell over the room, the only sounds were Wylie's whimpering and Matt's ragged breathing. Matt looked down at the bloody-faced man in his hand. He opened his grip and let the man's body crumple to the floor. Matt staggered back, dropping into an empty chair. The rage was spent and it left him empty. His breathing was gradually returning to normal.

Festus had, for a moment, forgotten about the fourth man still hiding in the corner. "You wanta live?" Festus asked him. The man's head bobbed up and down. "Then get on outa here!" the man disappeared out the back door, running as fast and as far as possible. Festus whirled around when he heard someone coming through the front door. He quickly recognized the bartender and from the badge, the local sheriff.

Sheriff Braymer held his hand up in a calming motion. "Hold on. Fred here as been telling me what's been going on here." The Sheriff turned to the man behind him. "Do you think you could get these guys a drink, Fred?" The heavyset, bald man nodded and slipped behind the bar. Braymer kicked at the two men in front of the door. "Dead?"

"Nah, just beat kinda bad is all." Festus answered honestly, "They gonna be pritty sore, but all right."

Braymer studied the two and then walked over to Bonnie Robes. "How about this one?"

"The Marshal shot that one," the bartender volunteered, "but the dead man drew first." Fred came out from behind the bar, handing Matt and Festus each a shot of whiskey.

The Sheriff finally came to the end of his short journey, "Are you Marshal Dillon?" before Dillon could respond, Braymer spotted Wylie. "Ooh, he looks mighty bad. Is he alive?"

Matt leaned back wearily in the chair. "Yeah, I'm Dillon and ...he's alive."

"Well, you certainly don't look any the worse for wear. Are you all right?" Matt wiped a trace of blood from his lip and nodded.

"I heard rumors about Wylie and what he did. He was bragging gunfight, but… we know him in these parts. He's never had the stomach for a fair fight. Did he really shoot your daughter in the back?"

"Four times, to be exact and we damned near lost her."

"She's going to be okay then?"

Matt was beginning to relax under Braymer's quiet ways. He took a deep breath, "It looks like it. She just got married last week to my other deputy. He's with her now."

Braymer gave his Stetson a shove, pushing it back on his forehead, "Well, I've heard a lot about you, Marshal and must admit, I'm honored to meet you. I guess I need to thank you, too, for cleaning up this scum from my town."

Braymer looked at the carnage around him, "See, I have a girl at home right about the same age as yours. I'm guessing you're wanting to get back to your family, as soon as possible?" Again, Matt nodded. "Well, he's definitely going to need medical attention before they can hang him. If you will leave him in my custody, I'll see he gets it and then deliver him to...?" the Sheriff looked to Matt for an answer.

"Hays; the trial will be in Hays, Kansas."

"I'll have him delivered there as soon as he can travel."

Matt looked from Braymer to Festus. "It'd probly be a dandy idea, Matthew; you don't wanna take a chance on hurtin him on the way home."

Matt nodded, wondering if he could trust himself with the prisoner, "Sheriff I'd like to accept your offer. Thank you for your help."

"How about a hot meal and a bed before you start back? We can be real hospitable here in Texas."

The spent rage had left the Marshal's body exhausted. Matt glanced at Festus and saw that he was probably eager for both the meal and bed, but especially the food.

"I would be honored to accept. Thank you, Sheriff."

TBC