A Flicker of Light In The Darkness
Chapter 26
The Bank
"My goodness, don't you look pretty today." Matt leaned back against the kitchen sink, polishing off the last of his coffee. "Expecting visitors today?"
"No," with her sweetest smile, Kitty Dillon slid her arms as far around her husband as the baby would allow. "I have a couple of errands to run and I thought-"
"You're not going into town today." Matt set his coffee cup into the sink. He knew she was disappointed, but Doc had said no more traveling. Both doctors were already concerned that the size of the baby was going to cause complications. Doc in particular wasn't pleased with the fact that it hadn't dropped as of yet. Kitty's due date was now barely three weeks away.
She leaned back to look up at Matt, her sapphire blue eyes sparkling with tears. He took her firmly by the upper arms and set her away from himself, "Kitty! That's not fair AND it's not going to work."
He waited for the fireworks to start, and mentally braced himself for the fallout. Kitty had followed him out of the kitchen and watched as he put on his gunbelt and readied to go.
"I made a pie yesterday and I packed some of it for you to take to work." There was a tiny catch in her breath as she spoke. Matt caught the irregular breath and turned to look at her.
That was probably his biggest mistake. Matt saw the lunch bucket in her hand and he saw the crocodile tears rolling silently down her cheeks. "Kathleen Louise Dillon... You can't come today."
"I know." Her voice quivered; her tears so deliberate and Matt was so defeated.
With a sigh heavy enough to sink a ship, he pulled a handkerchief out of his back pocket and walked over to her. He put his hand under her chin and tilted her face up to him and began to wipe away the tears.
"You can stop the tears, I know when I'm beat. So help me, Kitty, if you don't do exactly as I say... I swear when this is all over, I am going to turn you over my knee!"
Kitty's facade transformed in a matter of seconds. Her spirited smile returned, along with those clear blue eyes, sans the tears.
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"What's on the schedule today, Poppy?"
"One of us should probably check on Chauncey Proper. He wouldn't stay off that leg and it's not healing right. Harriet Bodkin has been running a fever; I think it's just the flu, but we need to make sure. There's some new folks out past the Smithin's place, I think they've got a couple of small ones. Thought I would stop there and get acquainted."
"Poppy, why don't you take Harriet and I'll take the ones out of town? Make an easy day for you."
"Can I get in on this good idea?" Newly grinned, "I'm going out that way to check on some squatters for Matt. Why don't I go with you? I like the idea of spending more time with my wife."
Doc swiped his mustache and mustered up a shrug. "I don't know if I can trust you two alone." He could only maintain a look of annoyance for a few seconds, before a smile forced its way in, "I think it's a fine idea. Are you going out by your folk's too?"
"No, Newly and I are having dinner out there tonight. I'll see her then." Calleigh studied Doc's serious expression, "Still worried about the baby?"
Newly saw the apprehension on both faces. "Something wrong with the baby?"
Doc emitted a snort-like breath, "No, that's one big, healthy baby. Too big. Considering this is her first and she's what—thirty-two?"
Newly had studied enough medicine to understand their concern, "You expecting it to be a hard delivery?"
"At the very least," Calleigh offered. "We might be able to pull her through it, but I don't know if Matt will survive."
"Does he know any of this?" Newly already knew the answer to that. If Matt had known, he would have behaved twice as crazy as he had before. "Don't you think you should tell him? I mean, if it were Calleigh, I would want to know what we were facing." His comment caused them to look at each other in an uneasy moment.
Calleigh tried to explain, "It's just that he got so crazy a while back, I'm concerned that he might backslide. Our main objective is to not scare Kitty and to keep her as calm as possible. Now if he gets all worked up, then she's going to be tense as well."
"I hear what you're saying," Newly began, trying to be as considerate as the situation called for, "I was there; I saw how he was, but we all agree that was ...a very poor lapse in judgment. The Matt Dillon we all know and rely on is back. You both need to own up to the fact that if it means keeping her safe, Matt will do it—no matter how hard it is for him. You both know that."
Again, there was silence. Finally, Doc found his voice. "Newly, you're a very wise young man. Looks like both of my girls found good men." Doc looked over at Calleigh, "Who gets to tell him?" The question was asked and both men looked to Calleigh.
"I'll talk to him today. Probably should do it before we go on rounds. I won't be able to tonight, when Kitty's there. Newly, do you have time to wait for me?"
"Sure, Matt still hasn't come in yet. He must be running late."
"Well, I think I know why." Doc looked at Calleigh and then nodded toward the window. She and Newly looked out just in time to see Matt getting out of the buggy and walking around to the other side for Kitty. The threesome walked outside to meet up with the couple.
In his gruffest tone, Doc pointed at the lady, "I could have sworn I told you, 'no more traveling!' Matt, she may not have the sense to listen, but I thought you did."
Matt flashed an annoyed look at his wife. "You did tell us, Doc and… I caved. I drove as careful as I could. That's why I'm late."
Newly looked over at Matt, "Tears?" The bigger man just dropped his eyes as confirmation.
"Yeah," Newly cast a glance at his own wife, "I know what you mean. They're a more valuable asset than gold."
"For heaven sake, you all act like we've committed a mortal sin! I came into town; it's not the end of the world. I wanted to pick up some things at Jonas' and maybe say 'hi' to Sam."
"And then what? Were you planning on just sitting at the jail until it's time to go home?" Doc was truly annoyed. He swiped a finger across his mustache, "Calleigh, I've changed my mind. You stay in town, go see Harriet and then babysit this..this...brat. I'll go out on the country rounds." Doc turned back and headed toward his office.
"Excuse me," from the end of the boardwalk, a dirty young man called to the men, "One of you the Marshal?"
Matt stepped forward, "I am. What can I do for you?"
"A funny little guy down at the jail said he needed for you to come straight away."
"Thanks. Newly, let's head down there see what Festus has gotten us into." Matt stepped across the boardwalk until he stood beside Kitty. He leaned down and whispered, "You behave, remember what I said about turning you over my knee." Placing a kiss to her cheek, he turned back to Calleigh before leaving. "I'm handing her off to you. Good luck."
"See you at home later," Newly said, as he kissed Calleigh good-bye and started after Matt.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Matt tuned to his deputy, "Have you talked to Festus today?"
"I was in the office with him a couple of hours ago. Nothing was happening then. I don't have any idea what this is about."
"This day sure isn't going smoothly so far, I hope Festus hasn't gotten into something serious."
Matt stepped inside the office, with Newly on his heels. He felt something wrong before he knew it to be a fact. The door slammed behind them and Matt felt the business end of a gun in his back.
"Move back to the cells," the Marshal was given a push as incentive. Both men walked toward the back, both spying Festus tied up and gagged in one of the cells. "Sorry again, little fella, couldn't have you hollerin' out to warn the Marshal." The outlaw motioned to the other cell, "Inside."
"Mind telling me what this is all about?"
"This is about money, Marshal. Lot's of money."
Matt glanced over at Newly, knowing that all three lawmen knew of the payroll shipment that was being kept in the bank until tomorrow morning. They were hoping to keep it quiet, until it had come and gone, but it looked like it was too late for that.
"We just figured things would go a lot easier with you all locked up," the bandit motioned for them to step away from the door, as he pushed it shut. He was just about to turn the key when the sound of gunfire caused four heads to turn toward the street.
"Looks like they've started without me." The criminal tossed the keys onto the desk and disappeared out the door.
Matt gripped the cell bars, praying that both of his girls would stay at Jonas' store and away from the bank. He could see the same fear in Newly's eyes.
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"You said you wanted to pick up some stuff at Jonas'?" Calleigh was not as annoyed as Doc, but her tone did reflect some disapproval.
She thought of what Newly had said; maybe if she and Doc had been more honest with Kitty about the dangers, she would have followed their instructions more closely. It wasn't fair to lay all the blame on Kitty. Gently slipping her arm in Kitty's, Calleigh guided them both toward the mercantile. "More baby things?"
"I suppose I could have waited, or had you, or Matt, pick them up." Kitty was regretting her choice to come to town. "Why is everyone so upset?"
Calleigh tightened her arm in Kitty's, "We just worry about you. Come on; let's go see if those things are in."
They had just started across the street, when Doc called to Calleigh. He was standing on the landing outside his office. "Calleigh, can you come up here for a minute? I can't find that order that came in last week."
She started to tell him where to look, but decided that yelling at the top of her lungs on Front Street probably wasn't the most professional thing to do. "Can you give me a minute? I need to run up and get that for him."
Kitty smiled. "Sure, I need to go to the bank anyway. I'll meet you at Jonas'."
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"Marshal?" Louie peered around the door to the jail, "You in here, Marshal?"
"Louie!" Even though all three men yelled his name, Matt's voice was the loudest and the most urgent. "Louie, get those keys from the desk and unlock these doors!"
"I heard gunshots. Wondered where you were." The old man shuffled as fast as his wobbly legs would take him, back to the cells. His bony fingers fumbled with the keys until Matt reached through the bars snatching them away. "Thanks Louie," the Marshal shoved past the old man, as he tossed the keys for Newly to free Festus.
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Doc and Calleigh were halfway down the staircase when the sound of gunshots ripped through town. Their gait slowed, as each tried to identify the source and direction of the noise.
Calleigh beat Doc by a hair. "The bank. Oh, God, the bank! Poppy, Kitty's there." She had taken the last group of stairs three at time, finally jumping to the ground running. As she reached the street, the sight in front of her caused her feet to hold ground. Her arms flew out to keep her balanced. Her eyes wide, fear gripped her soul.
Two men had obviously just robbed the bank. It wasn't the act of robbery that had her frozen in place; it was the hostages the men had lined up in front of them: A young boy, possibly fifteen; an old man, nearing seventy; ...and Kitty. Doc had caught up to Calleigh by this time and stood motionless behind her. Calleigh's blue eyes were locked on Kitty's—both sets filled with terror.
The same man who had just locked up Matt and the others, was now riding up to join his two companions. "Don't worry about the law. They're all locked up," he let loose a course laugh, enjoying the irony of the situation.
The tallest of the three grinned and then turned to the crowd gathering in the street. He spotted Barton Quigley's hand growing nervously close to his gun.
"Now, let's not do anything rash. Why don't you just toss that gun on the ground? Left hand!" the bandit yelled.
Quigley looked around and knew he didn't stand a chance. He obeyed the man's orders.
"That's a good boy. Not to worry, folks. The good news is, we're not taking these hostages." He climbed up on his horse. "The bad news? We need a distraction to keep you from following us." Before Calleigh or Doc could register his meaning, three shots rang out and all three hostages fell to the ground. The tall man and his sidekicks took off at a hard gallop.
Calleigh could hear someone screaming as she ran, but didn't recognize it to be her own voice. She reached Kitty and fell to the ground, checking for life. "Poppy," she screamed, "she's alive. You take her; I'll check the other two."
"But…"
"Poppy!" she screamed at him, "she needs you!"
Doc nodded, knowing Calleigh was right. She was a brilliant young doctor, but she deferred to his year's of experience. He dropped down to his knees, peeling back the shredded material on Kitty's shoulder where the bullet had torn through.
"Doc...my...baby…" Kitty's speech was strained, mingled with tiny gasps of air.
"Everything is going to be just fine. The bullet is nowhere near the baby."
Matt; please get Matt." Her voice had become raspy and she had started to cry, "I'm sorry...ah... I know you're...mad... mad at me!"
"Oh, hush now." Doc was desperately regretting the way he had treated her earlier. He quickly prayed for a chance to make it up. Before he even saw Matt, he could feel his presence coming up behind him. The big man slipped past Doc and fell to his knees beside Kitty. "I'm right here, sweetheart," he tried to reconcile in his mind that someone had done this horrible thing to his beautiful, pregnant wife.
"Matt, bring her up to my office. Take her right on into the side room."
Kitty cried out when he slid his arms under her and Matt thought his heart would break. "Kitty, please baby, just hang on." He watched her wince in pain as he carried her up the steps and was grateful when she lost consciousness.
Doc yelled out to Calleigh as he followed Matt. The girl knew what he wanted. "Old man Peters is gone Poppy. The Robbins boy's going to be all right..." She turned to Newly and Festus, who had just arrived on the scene. "Newly can you take the boy up to the office? Festus-"
Festus waved her off with his hand. "I know, I'll take care of Mr. Peters. Calleigh girl, is Miss Kitty gonna be all right; and that there baby?"
Calleigh stopped long enough to place her hand on his and give it hopeful squeeze, "As soon as I know." She hurried to catch up to Newly and helped him get the Robbins boy on the table. "The bullet hit the fleshy part of his leg; Newly can you handle this so I can help Poppy?"
"I got it, you go ahead."
Calleigh slipped into the next room and was not surprised to see Matt still by Kitty's side. His face wore an expression of pain. She leaned down next to him. "Matt, you need to go, so that Poppy and I can help her."
"No, no I can't do that. She needs me."
"I know; but please Matt. Let us do our job."
He looked down at the small hand in his. She looked so pale, so deathly still. Matt kissed her cheek and went back into the front office.
"What are you going to do when she comes to; you know she'll be calling for him?"
"I guess we'll deal with that when the time comes. What are we looking at, Poppy?"
"The bullet tore through her shoulder; we were lucky, it missed anything vital. I'm more worried about the blood loss than the wound. Let's try to get this cleaned out and bandaged while she's still out. I don't want to give her anything stronger than a local because of the baby." Calleigh concurred with his plan. Doc began to dig for the bullet, while Calleigh took a back seat as his assistant.
"Can you tie off for me?" Doc stepped back and stretched his body to ward off the stiffness that was coming. Calleigh stepped in and finished the job.
"Let me check the baby's heart..." Calleigh murmured a word not usually spoken by ladies. "Poppy, we got problems," she said aloud. She saw him instantly glance over at the fresh wound. "No, not that. Her water broke."
"I was afraid the trauma would do this. Let's get her undressed and get ready for a baby."
Kitty was beginning to pull out of an oblivious fog and just as Doc had predicted, Matt's name was the first thing to leave her lips… And just as they both knew, he was through that door and by her side straightaway.
Again, he was unable to reconcile what he saw. Lying in a heap in the corner, was the lovely outfit she had looked so pretty in that morning. Now, it lay wadded up and stained in blood.
"What's happening? What are you doing?" Before his questions could be answered, Kitty unleashed a primitive cry. Her eyes flew open and she wrapped her fingers around Matt's hand in a vise-like grip.
Matt questioned Calleigh without words.
"She's in labor." The young woman informed him.
"But… it's too soon." Matt winced at the pressure Kitty was applying to his hand. He was shocked at the level of strength she had acquired. She took in a deep breath and held on to it. After a few seconds, it left her body in a slow groan.
"The baby says otherwise." Doc lay his hand on Matt's shoulder, "You know we'll do our best for her."
Kitty cried out again, this time seemed to last longer. When the pain passed, she forced a weak smile toward Matt. "I don't know if I'm ready for this, Cowboy." She closed her eyes and waited for her breathing to return to normal.
Calleigh sat down on the edge of the bed, across from Matt. She took a damp cloth and wiped the beads of sweat from Kitty's forehead. She watched Matt agonize over the woman he loved. Part of it, she knew, was the helplessness he was feeling and the other part, guilt for bringing her into town.
"Hey," he responded to Calleigh with a blank look. "Want to be helpful?" Calleigh handed him the cloth and retrieved a pan of cool water, setting it on the table beside the bed. She couldn't resist kissing his cheek before she stood up.
"You look tired." Kitty raised her hand, stroking Matt's face. He took her hand from his face and put it to his lips. She looked down and realized her blouse was gone and she was wearing some sort of gown. She started to move her shoulder but the pain made her stop with a quick breath. "What happened?"
"You were shot. Do you remember anything?"
"I just remember telling Calleigh I would meet her at Jonas'. Everything after that gets- ahhh!." She grabbed Matt's hand again, bracing herself for the pain. The contraction passed and again she was exhausted. Matt dipped the cloth in the water and squeezed it out. He studied her face as he gently applied the cool cloth.
There had been no need for heavy make-up, since she no longer worked at the Long Branch. Her face always looked so freshly scrubbed, with just that smattering of freckles. Freckles that she hated, but he loved, because of the look of innocence they gave her. Her hair was almost always worn down now—loose curls floating down her back, sometimes tied with a ribbon. He looked at his wife, amazed that she seemed to be getting younger with time. And right now, he felt as though he were getting older by the minute.
The minutes turned into one hour and then two; and the contractions continued. Each one taking a little more out of Kitty; each one eliciting more groans, more cries and more fear to those around her. Calleigh checked her progress before going up to Doc. "It looked like it was getting into position, but it stopped. It doesn't feel right."
"Yeah, I thought the same thing, but I don't think we can wait on nature much longer." He checked his watch noting the time of the last contraction. "Why don't you step out for a minute and give Newly and Festus an update. They must be going crazy."
Calleigh could hear the jangle of Festus spurs as he paced back and forth in the front office. She slipped through the door, closing it quietly behind her and the jangling stopped. Newly jumped to his feet, his face full of hope and questions.
She shook her head, signifying the time had still not come. "Nothing yet. The baby...it's not falling into position."
Festus didn't have the medical training that Newly had, but he knew enough to know what she was telling them. "Caint ya do sumpthin? It's been nigh on four hours since this started. How much longer do ye think she kin do this?"
"We're doing everything we can, Festus." her eyes searched out Newly for support. He crossed the room, opening his arms to her, and she accepted the offer instantly. He held her close while she cried, releasing hours of tension and fear. While he held her to his chest, he shared a look of dread with Festus. Cries from the back room brought Calleigh back to her duties. She pushed herself out of Newly's arms and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I have to get back." She took a deep breath and drew what courage she could from both men.
Doc was waiting for her as she entered the room. "We can't wait any longer. That baby is going to kill her."
"What!" Matt whirled around, taking his eyes from his wife for the first time since he sat down. "What are you saying?" Doc swiped his mustache nervously, and looked up at Calleigh under heavy lids. He had tried to whisper, but failed in his attempt to keep Matt from hearing.
What he didn't expect was Matt's reaction. Before he could step back, Matt had bolted from the chair sending it flying across the room. He grabbed the smaller man by the lapels of his vest, pulling him almost off the ground. "DO SOMETHING! IF SHE DIES..." Words failed him as his face colored red with rage and fear.
Calleigh wasted no time, screaming for help, "Newly! Festus!"
She attempted to pull Doc free, but Matt tossed her back as easy as rag doll. Newly stepped in, just as his wife was thrown back against the wall. His emotions were torn, as anger vied with fear. It took both himself and Festus to pull Matt off Doc. Then it took Calleigh and one of Doc's heaviest books to render Matt unconscious.
"Get him out of here." She ordered, her voice was rife with pain, as the already tense situation was reeling out of control.
"Calleigh, it's time. We need to take it." Doc brought her back to the crisis at hand. "You get her prepped; I'll get the equipment ready."
The two men, drug the giant man back out into the front office and dumped him in a chair. "Think we should tie him up?" Newly threw the question out to see if Festus might be of the same mind.
"Nah, I think we just need to watch em reel close when he cumz to. That waznt Matthew, not the one we know. He'z jes scardt, thatz all." Festus then said a silent prayer that their Matthew would be the one to come to.
Newly was the first to notice that the back room was completely silent. Kitty hadn't made a sound for several minutes and both men were scared to ask why. To add to the problem, Matt was beginning to wake up. He sat up in the chair, looking dazed and lost. He shook his head in an attempt to clear out the dizziness. Newly and Festus exchanged a cautious look and readied themselves for the worst. Gratefully, the worst had passed. Matt looked at his friends, shame shadowing his face.
Pulling himself up, he headed back into the other room. He stood silent with his hand on the knob, afraid to go in. As much as it had pained him to hear Kitty cry out in pain, the silence from the other side of the door scared him more. Gingerly taking the knob as though it were red hot, he turned it in his fingers and let the door swing open.
He had passed the point of rage, or shock—or even fear. What he saw before him destroyed whatever hope he still possessed. He heard Doc scream to shut the door, as Matt staggered back into the chair.
Newly jumped to his feet in response to Doc's orders. As he closed the door, he got a glimpse of what was happening inside that room and he knew what Matt must be thinking. "Matt," Newly knelt down beside the Marshal's chair. "It's not what you think. I know how horrible it looks, but Doc is taking the baby in what they call caesarean. She's not dead, Matt. Don't give up-" the sudden sound of a baby crying, stopped Newly short and all three faces turned toward the door. It was several minutes before Calleigh opened that door, holding a newborn baby in her arms.
"Matt," she stepped closer, "would you like to meet your son?" She held the child out to his father and with trembling hands, Matt took his child. The brand new Dillon stared up at his father, blue eyes meeting blue eyes for the first time. Matt felt his heart tearing in two. What he held in his arms was the creation of his and Kitty's love, but he knew he wasn't strong enough to go on without her.
"Calleigh," he looked at his daughter and lifted his son for her to take. "Kitty?" he asked fearfully.
She was about to lay his worries to rest, when Doc finally appeared in the doorway. "Matt, your wife would like to see you."
"My wife?" The words were no more than a breath in a whisper, but strong enough to bring the big man to tears. As he passed through the doorway, he heard Doc tell him that she was heavily sedated, but wouldn't give up and sleep until she saw him.
"Make it short," Doc ordered. "She needs to rest."
Heavy lids covered her sapphire blues, as she struggled to keep them open. "Did you see him?" the weakness in her voice matched that of her smile. "He looks just like you, he's beautiful."
"You're both beautiful." Matt struggled not to cry, knowing how much it would upset her. "Close your eyes now and rest." Matt leaned down, brushing his lips lightly across hers. Kitty finally surrendered to the drugs and slipped into a much-needed sleep.
Matt let the tears flow and offered up a prayer of thanks. He knew Doc was standing behind him, but he was too ashamed to turn around. He felt the old man's hand on his shoulder and rested his own hand on top of it. "Doc, I'm… I'm so sorry-and ashamed."
"I love this girl like a daughter; but I know my feelings don't come anywhere near what you just went through. I know that wasn't you." Doc chuckled softly "Listen, do you hear those two grown men out there making baby sounds? I think they are quite fond of that little fella already." Doc turned toward the front office. "Why don't we go see what all the fuss is about." Doc noted Matt's reluctance to leave Kitty. "She'll sleep for quite a while."
Matt stood up, staring down at her as though if he looked away for a second, she would be gone. "Matt," Doc softly urged the closest thing he had to a son, to come with him. Matt finally allowed Doc to lead him into the front office.
Calleigh held the boy up while Festus made strange noises and even stranger faces. Even Newly felt obligated to make cooing sounds.
"Festus, stop terrorizing that little fella!"
"Dagnabit, Doc, don't you start on me! And I wouldn't zactly call em a little fella. Calleigh sez he weighed almost 14 pounds. Land sakes, Matthew, he almost cumed out full growd!"
"He does seem to take after his papa." Newly grinned.
Calleigh crossed the room to stand by Matt, "Are you ready to take him?"
Matt again took the baby from her, settling him into his arms. "I wish I had been there when you were this size."
Calleigh laughed softly, "Matt, I probably wasn't that size until I was six months old."
A smile actually worked its way onto his face, something he wasn't sure he would ever do again. "If I had it to do all over again, I would do it differently." He looked up from his son into the eyes of his daughter. "I love you, Calleigh."
"I never doubted it. And, about doing it differently... If you did, Kitty and this little guy might not ever have been in your life. Definitely wouldn't be in mine. I think things worked out well for both of us." She paused to let him think about what she'd said. "Just for the record, I love you too...Pa."
Doc pulled his glasses off and rubbed vigorously at his eyes. "It's been a mighty long day. I don't know about you all, but I could use a couple of hours sleep."
Newly put his arm around his wife, "You must be bushed. Let's go home."
Calleigh nodded, and looked at each of the men around her. "What time are we leaving?" The question passed from one man to the next, each clearly understanding her meaning.
"Before you go on this manhunt," Doc sniffled and tugged at his ear in an irritable fashion, "We were lucky here; Mr. Peters was the only fatality and we've got us a fine, healthy baby boy."
"What cha sayin, Doc, we shood jist let em go?"
"No, Festus, I want them caught the same as you. But, I see that look on all your faces. The fear has passed and is being replaced with hate and vengeance. I just don't want you doing it in a way that you'll regret." Doc turned to the new papa, "Matt, I suppose you're going to head up this posse?"
"I'm the Marshal and they tried to kill my wife and son, so...yes I expect I will." He didn't even try to hide his rage.
Oh, I see," Doc brushed his mustache and shook his head, signifying his disbelief at Matt's continual lack of understanding. "And what do you want me to tell that little girl in there? When she wakes up, you're going to be the one person she wants by her side. She's still not out of the woods, you know?" He pursed his lips in a cavalier manner. "Guess it might not matter; I mean, she could be gone when you get back."
"Damn it, Doc!" Matt growled.
"Just asking… are you running off again like you did last time?" Doc paused to let that comment fully sink in, "Or are you going to be there for her?"
"Doc, I'm the Marshal!" Matt's anger was slipping away though, as he thought about Doc's words.
"Yes, you are, but you've got a couple of fine deputies. Don't you think they can't bring them in?"
"It's my job."
Doc arched his brows and pursed his lips, "So, she's still coming in second to your job."
"That's not fair!"
"No," Doc shook his head sadly, "It's not. Hasn't been fair to her for a lot of years."
"Matt, he's right. She's been through so much; she needs you more than we do. Festus is the best tracker around and we can handle this. Believe me, I know firsthand how hard this choice is for you to make." Newly knew his points were valid.
From the other room the Marshal heard a voice calling his name, a voice so faint, it was barely more than a breath-but it was enough to bring him running. He took the baby back from Calleigh. "Your momma is calling us."
"Looks like Matthew is makin tha right decision." Festus felt a bit of relief.
Now Doc turned to the girl, "Calleigh, I look into your eyes and I see someone who wants her pound of flesh. What you're about to do... this job is no place for a woman."
"Poppy, don't even try. I know what you told Matt is true; and I thank you for setting him straight. You're right about me-I do want my pound of flesh and I'll be honest, I don't care what I have to do to get it. But I will get it."
Newly passed a look from his wife, to Doc. Doc saw the fear in the young man's eyes, as he knew Calleigh meant what she'd said and nothing was going to stop her. These men had tried to take someone precious from her; and she was merciless when it came to that. There was no forgiveness and no remorse when it came to the ones she loved.
TBC