A Flicker of Light In The Darkness

Chapter 27

The Posse

The tall man known as Flagg, poked a stick into the fire, trying to get the last of the embers to catch hold. "Damn, I wanted some hot coffee!" He yelled back to the young boy who'd recently taken to riding with them, "Myers, get some brushwood; see if you can get this fire going."

"Yes sir, Flagg, I'll get it going for ya."

Flagg liked the kid; he wasn't too bright, but he was real obedient.

"Stokes," Flagg kicked at the third man in his little group. "Hey, you been quiet all night, what's wrong with you?"

Stokes jerked back, irritated by the tall man's actions. "Why aren't they coming after us? Where's the posse?"

Flagg threw his head back, letting a vicious laugh rip through his body. "Maybe it wasn't worth it. Maybe they don't know how to track. Who cares? We have five thousand dollars."

"How's that, Mr. Flagg?" Myers grinned as he pointed to the rising flames. Flagg gave him a nod of approval.

"Yeah. They're not going to come after that payroll? That's not enough for them! Even if they wouldn't come after the money," Stokes sat up, throwing the butt of his cigarette into the fire. "What cha have to shoot that pregnant woman for! That was Dillon's wife. You know what that means?"

"I know who Dillon is. I've heard the rumors."

"Yeah; well I saw for myself first hand. The plan was to injure them, to keep the town busy. Not to kill them and especially not the marshal's wife !"

"Eh, you worry too much. There's nobody coming. Not now, anyway."

Stokes laid back down, folded his arms under his head and stared up at the sky,"Oh, they're out there," he murmured, "They're out there."

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Festus slipped into Doc's office, quiet except for the jangling spurs. He sniffed the air for a scent of fresh coffee.

"Must be a cup 'round here some-...oh, here tis."

"What are you doing sneaking in here in the middle of the night!" Doc's tone was a hushed shout. "You better not wake those kids up back there."

"I'm not the one shoutin, you old scudder. And I'm here to meet up with Calleigh and Newly"

"It's not even daybreak yet."

"Well, I kin tell you don't know the first dad-blamed thing about trackin'."

"No; maybe you'd like to teach me."

"Funny you shud ask-"

"Hey you two," Matt stepped out of the back room, quietly closing the door behind him. "If you wake Kitty or the baby, I'll shoot you both."

"You heard the man," Doc growled, "Pour us a cup of that coffee too."

Heads turned when the door opened again, ushering in the O'Brians. Calleigh made her way across the room, greeting Matt with a hug. "How are they this morning?"

"Both doing fine, Sweet Pea. How are you?" Matt worried about how this was going to affect his daughter. She was once again dressed in jeans, shirt and a double holster. "You need two guns?"

"I'm all right. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." She moved toward the bedroom, "I want to take a quick peek at Kitty and my little brother." Within minutes she was slipping back out, "Kitty looks good, Poppy." She looked back to the others, "Are we ready?"

Newly and Festus nodded. Calleigh hugged Poppy and Matt and the three walked single file out the door.

"God be with them," Doc prayed. He refilled his cup and walked over to fill Matt's. "Festus and Newly will watch out for her."

"I know they will. It's this killing; I watched her kill those men a few years ago, when she ran off. Then, when those men attacked Kitty. And now..." he dropped his head. "I know what it does to you, to kill a man. I don't want that to become a part of who she is."

Doc settled into the chair opposite his friend. "I think you're too late for that, Matt. As sad as it sounds, she wanted that gun to be a link to you and that's exactly what is has become—a talent you both share."

"A talent." Matt uttered a contemptuous laugh. "What if Kitty's right and word gets out how good she is? You know there will be people willing to take her down, despite the fact that she's a woman."

"All we can do is pray and hope for the best." Doc turned toward the bedroom when he heard Kitty call his name. He shared a confused look with Matt, both wondering why she'd called for Doc, instead of Matt. Whatever the reason, Doc hurried into the room.

"What's wrong? Are you in pain?"

"No, just sore." There was a sadness in her eyes. "When did he leave?"

"When did who leave, sweetheart?"

"Matt." she looked frightened for a moment, "He didn't go alone, did he?"

The Marshal stood listening from the doorway, "Matt didn't leave you," he announced, as he took Doc's place beside the bed. He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. "I'm right here."

"What are you doing here?"

He brushed the wayward curls from her face. "I'm watching over my wife and son, right where I belong."

Kitty stared at him, blinking slowly, her big blue eyes trying to process his words. "What about your job?"

"A certain curmudgeon we both know and love, reminded me that you come first in my life."

She looked up at him under hooded eyes, "Are you…all right with that?"

Matt let go of a heavy sigh, "It's a choice, Kitty. Do I want to find them and beat them to death? You'll never know how much I want that. But the other choice would have been to leave you to face this alone," he shrugged. "It took me a long time to learn, nothing comes before you. Never again."

Her eyes sparkled with tears as he leaned forward, placing a kiss on each lid. She graced him with that smile that melted his heart.

"Did anyone go after them?" her tone was suddenly curious.

"Festus, Newly and ...Calleigh."

She leaned forward so quickly, it pulled a sharp retreat and cry from the pain. "You let Calleigh go?"

"Kitty, you were shot down right in front of her. Do you think anything could have kept her from going after them? Her set of choices were different. I would have stopped her if I could, but at least she's with two people who would lay their lives down for her."

Both heads turned, when a cooing sound floated up from the makeshift bassinet, like a soft melody.

"He must be hungry," Kitty's face lit up, "bring him to me, please."

Matt quickly obliged, trying to find a place to settle him into that wasn't sore. The newborn began to fuss, when he decided they were taking too long. After maneuvering him around the pillows, Kitty finally found a position that allowed him to nurse. His fussing stopped and he settled into her arms, filling his tummy. She winced from his enthusiastic eating, but Matt knew—firsthand—it was the kind of pain she delighted in.

Matt brushed the silky curls covering his new son's head. He was a big boy. "Guess you do take after your old man," he whispered. A frown shadowed Matt's face as he looked at his son and then at the slender body of his wife. It was no wonder the delivery had gone wrong. He wondered if he would ever be able to rid his mind of the image of Kitty's body looking bloody and butchered. A sudden shiver ran down his spine, as he thought about how close he came to losing both his wife and his son. God had blessed him.

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Stokes stood at the batwing doors, letting his eyes sweep across the room. Finally, sensing no danger, he released the breath he had been holding and walked up to the bar. "Zeke, give me a bottle."

"Gotta have money, Stokes."

"I GOT MONEY!" he yelled as he retrieved a wad of money from his pocket. Zeke's brows shot up, displaying obvious surprise at the other man's windfall. "Who's that?' Stokes motioned toward a guy passed out on the back table.

"Wolf hunter. Although he seems more interested in drinking, than hunting hides. Spent most of yesterday drunk, and been passed out most of the day today."

"Hey, how about buying one for me," the guy sitting next to Stokes punched him in the rib, "I've sure carried you enough times."

Stokes eyed the man; his words were true, it was time to settle up. "Sure," He was beginning to relax, "pour one for Harlan and ...one for yourself while you're at it."

"Whoa," the bartender laughed, "You did hit it big, didn't you?"

"You could say that." Stokes downed the first drink and poured another. "Been anybody around?"

"Anybody specific?" The bartender shot a wary glance at the man, "Who's after you?"

Harlan had finished his drink as well and took the liberty to refill. "Where'd you get the money?" The glass was almost to his lips when he stopped and turned slowly to his benefactor. "You did that bank in Dodge!"

Zeke leaned down on the counter. "That who's after you? The Marshal; what's his name..." he looked to Harlan for help.

"Dillon," Stokes volunteered. "Yeah, that's the guy."

"So that's who you were looking around for. Marshal Dillon. Heard he was fast. Ya sure he's coming?"

Stokes downed still another drink. "Oh, he's coming. It's all that damned Flagg's doing."

Zeke pulled back, his face reflecting surprise. "Everybody knows that guy is crazy. Why'd you team up with the likes of him?"

"His plan to rob the bank was fine. He may be nuts, but he knows what he's doing. Then he decided to change the plan. We took these hostages out of the bank and the plan was to shoot them to slow down the posse; but Flagg..." he slammed down another whiskey, "One of the hostages he picked was a pregnant woman. Not just any woman," he blew out a long hopeless breath, "Dillon's wife."

"That's why you split from him."

"Had to. He thinks he's too smart to get caught. But I know from experience, Dillon won't give up and he sure as hell isn't going to give up when it's personal. For what good it's going to do me, I'm headed down to Mexico."

"You might have more problems than you think." Harlan turned to face Stokes as he leaned on the bar. "Remember Nye Toliver? Him and Gib Nasaan were gunned down a year or so ago. That happened in Dodge; but the thing is, Dillon's got a kid. Apparently, his son is even faster than him. You better hope they're not coming after you as a team."

Stokes sighed, "You're only half right. He's got a kid all right, but it's a girl. There was another guy with Nasaan, named Wylie Robes. I rode with Robes for a while in Texas. I was there when Dillon caught up to him. Bonnie Robes drew on him and Dillon killed him. Then I watched him take on all three men and practically beat them to death. He told Robes, Mexico wasn't far enough; he would follow him into hell. And I could tell by the look on his face, he would have too."

"Why do you think he won't come after you in Mexico?"

"I'm just hoping that by splitting up, they'll go after Flagg—and that half wit kid, instead of me."

"So are the rumors true? That Dillon's kid is even faster than him?"

Stokes took another drink, "Robes said the kid took both of 'em down and before they could even get their guns out of their holsters. Damn, give me another bottle, Zeke. I gotta get out of here." He quickly paid for the extra bottle, then slapped a hundred dollar bill onto the counter. "That's to steer 'em away from me, if they come asking questions." He snatched up his bottle and all but ran for the door.

The two men looked at the door, then at the hundred dollar bill and then to each other. "What do you think?" Zeke asked, while picking up the money and stuffing it in a pocket.

"I think he's a dead man and you just made a hundred dollars." The room erupted with laughter, loud enough to wake the drunken wolf hunter. He staggered to his feet, scowling at the two men as he headed to the door, his spurs jangling as he walked.

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Calleigh sat with her knees pulled up to her chest and her arms wrapped tightly around them. She stared into the fire, mesmerized by the dancing flames. "Honey. Calleigh, are you all right?" Newly touched her lightly on the shoulder. She jerked back, startled from her reverie.

"What?"

Newly sat down next to her, slipping his arm around her shoulder. "You were a million miles away. Are you sure you're up for this?"

Calleigh turned to him, the crystal clear blue eyes he so loved, had turned dark and menacing; eyes that did not belong to that innocent face. "Hold me," she said simply.

Newly pulled her into his arms, praying that God would give him the strength to be the man she needed.

The moment was over when they sprang to their feet at the sound of horses. Newly heard the familiar whistle and recognized it to be Festus. As he rode closer into the campsite, they could see he was leading another horse with a body thrown over it. Upon closer inspection, Newly discovered the man to be bound and gagged.

Festus got down off his horse and walked around to his riding companion. Grabbing him by the back of his belt, he gave it a jerk and the man fell to the ground with a thud. The only sound that followed was that of the air leaving his lungs. He gasped for a breath as he struggled to sit up.

Calleigh circled around the man. "Shooter?"

"Don't think so." Festus watched her study the prisoner. "From the story he waz a tellin in that bar, a guy named Flagg waz the one that picked Miss Kitty as a hostage."

Calleigh squatted down to look him straight in the eyes and pulled the gag from his mouth. For the first time since his abduction, Stokes managed to get a good look at Festus.

"Calleigh." She turned back when she heard Festus call her name, "I knowd this un. He was at that there bar in Texas, when me en Matthew founded that polecat what backshot you."

"Do you know who we are?" Calleigh asked the man. Stokes' eyes were big as saucers, emanating fear; yet he was unable to take them from the hill man. "These two men are U.S Deputies; and me...well, I'm a doctor."

"I know him!" He pointed a shaky, bony finger toward Festus. "Is Dillon with you?" His voice quivered so much the words were almost unintelligible. "He… He's not here...is he?"

Calleigh erupted in a laugh that sent chills down not only Stokes' back, but Newly's and Festus' as well.

"Well no, he's not," Calleigh explained, while sporting a vicious smile, "But I'm his daughter." With that bit of news, she pulled back her boot and made contact with his mouth, sending him rolling across the ground.

Festus went around and shoved the man back into a sitting position. "Now yur gonna give us sum answers. Where'd that Flagg fella git to?"

"I don't know. I broke away from him to go to Mexico."

"Now, I'm gonna give ya one more chance at tellen us the truth."

"That is the truth I swear." Festus shrugged and stepped back, letting Calleigh take his place. Again, her boot made contact with his face. Only this time after he rolled across the ground, she followed him kicking him again. When he landed this time, she jerked him up into a sitting position.

"Beating a man that's tied up is unfair. And I really do want to be fair with you." Calleigh's calm tone and polite manner were unnerving to all of them. "What I'm going to do, is cut you loose." Festus made a move, but Newly grabbed his arm, silently asking him to give her a little latitude. "I'm not only going to do that for you, I'm going to give you, a gun. Then you and I-"

"You're… Dillon's kid?" Stokes swallowed hard, remembering—Dillon didn't have a son, he had daughter. "You're the one that... shot Nasaan and Toliver."

"Well I'll be," Calleigh glanced over her shoulder to Newly and Festus, "He's heard of me. I'm flattered." Her attention circled back around to Stokes. "Hold your hands above your head." His eyes seemed to dart from face to face, as if anyone was going to help him, "HOLD. YOUR . HANDS. ABOVE. YOUR. HEAD!"

Every word was emphasized, every word commanding. Clearly stuck between a rock and a hard place, Stokes had no choice but to obey. He couldn't stop the shaking as his hands lifted above his head, fearing what was going to come next.

Faster than he could fully grasp, Calleigh had pulled her gun; shot the ropes loose between his wrists and with a little twirl put the gun back into its scabbard. She locked onto his eyes, refusing to let him look away. "Where's his gun?"

Festus walked back to his horse and returned with a gun. He dropped it at Stokes' feet.

"Pick it up" Calleigh demanded.

"You can't let her do this!" Stokes nervously shifted attention between Newly and Festus, "You're the law. This is murder!"

Newly finally spoke up, "No, sir, it looks like a fair fight. She's calling you out. She'll even let you draw first."

"Pick up the gun!" Calleigh screamed.

Stokes stiffened, fervently refusing. "No, you can't make me. I'm not gonna pick it up."

Calleigh walked over and picked up the gun. She shoved it into his holster. "Right here," she touched her index finger to the center of his forehead. "Yeah, this is where I'm putting my bullet." She began to back away, "Come on, draw."

In a high-pitched scream, Stokes began to rattle off anything and everything he thought might save his life. "He's headed down to Alturnea, down near the Oklahoma border! He stays at a place called the Water Barrel. It's a bar and flop house. He's traveling with a half wit kid! Now you make her leave me alone! Take this gun!"

Newly complied with his request and took the gun, just as he turned around four shots rang out. Calleigh had already put her gun to rest, when Stokes' holster hit the ground. Four bullets, two on each side, split the gunbelt. Stokes looked at the damage done so closely to him, and reacted the way any coward would. He peed himself.

"Oh, fer hevins sakes!" Festus made a scrunched up face and waved an annoyed hand toward Stokes. "I'm gonna git some coffee goin. We could all use some."

Newly handcuffed Stokes to the nearest tree and walked over to his wife. He pulled her into his arms and placed a kiss to her forehead. Pulling back he tilted her face up to his. "What was that little trick there at the end?"

She shrugged and offered a precocious smile. "Just wanted to scare him. You don't begrudge me that much do you?"

"No, you did good," he held her tightly to him.

"She shur did," Festus overheard Newly, as he stepped up beside the couple. "I was kinda scart for a minute, but ol' Newly here wanted to give you sum rope. Miss Calleigh, you held yur anger in reel good. I'm proud. Tomorry we'll drop that lil buzzard in Garner City. Let them hold him 'til we git back with the other two."

"Sounds good to me. How's that coffee coming?" Newly took Calleigh's hand and led her over to the campfire.

She stopped suddenly, turning to bury her face in his chest. "I wanted to kill him," she whispered.

"We all did, Calleigh."

Newly delivered Stokes to the sheriff in Garner City, while Festus and Calleigh gathered more supplies. Figuring they were a day behind Flagg, they stopped in the telegraph office to send a wire to Matt.

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"Well, how's my favorite patient today?" Doc retrieved the baby from its bassinet.

"I thought I was your favorite patient."

Doc cradled the boy in his arms, "He behaves better than you." Out of the corner of his eye, Doc saw Kitty throw back the covers to start toward the edge of the bed. "You! ...get back in bed! See, I have to watch you every minute!"

Kitty crawled back under the covers. "Sorry. I was just coming to see him."

"You two arguing again?" Matt walked across the room and leaned down to kiss his wife. "And what are you doing halfway out of bed?"

"That's what we're arguing about. I swear, Matt, we're never going to get her trained! She just won't listen."

"Trained! I ...ouch!" She pulled herself upright, but the pain from her sudden movement caused her to cry out.

"Okay, that's enough fooling around." Matt was at her side instantly, easing her back down on the bed. "See what happens when you refuse to listen? You end up hurting yourself." The mask of concern seldom left his face these days. "Kitty ...please."

With downcast eyes, she mumbled an apology. As usual, he ended his reprimand with a stroke of her cheek and a kiss. "I'm sorry baby, you just need to listen to Doc." Matt turned to the older man, "Tired of the boy yet?"

Matt held his arms out for his son, "How's my boy doing today?" The tiny bundle reduced the big man to making strange little sounds. It wasn't long though, before sounds weren't enough and that familiar hungry cry sounded. He gently placed the baby in his mother's arms and soon he was contentedly feeding. Matt thought he would never tire of watching them.

Doc, too, smiled at the scene. The son and daughter he never had, finally happy with a child of their own. Doc chuckled softly and tugged at his ear. Would Matt have ever come to his senses without another pushy little redhead? Life would be perfect now, if only Calleigh, Newly and Festus would come home safely. Matt had received a telegram four days ago, that they had caught one of the men and were heading to Alturnea. He knew it was driving Matt crazy, not to be with them. Several times, Doc had caught Dillon pacing the floor after Kitty was asleep. This was probably the hardest thing he had ever had to do. Doc was pulled from his musing, by a knock at the door.

"Doc? Doc you in there?" Nathan Burke was persistent if nothing else and his pounding was equal to his yelling.

Doc jerked the door open with an angry greeting, "Damn it, Burke! Stop yelling and pounding on my door. I've got a sleeping baby and a sick mother in here. What do you want!"

"Well doggone it Doc, I got good news," the nosy man seemed genuinely hurt. "Telegram for the Marshal. It's from Newly."

"How do you know it's good news? And how do you know who it's from?" Doc snapped as he grabbed the message from the other man's hand. "Did ya read it already?"

"Well...uh…it sort… Yeah, but...sorry." No longer hurt, now he was just flat embarrassed.

Doc was too interested in the telegram to chastise Burke any further. "Thanks," it sounded more like a reprimand than a show of gratitude, but it made it easier to slam the door in the nosy man's face. Like Burke, Doc wanted to read it too, but that would make him just like Burke.

He rapped softly on the bedroom door, before sticking his head in. Kitty had fallen asleep and as usual, Matt was guarding over her, with the baby in his arms. Doc whispered to Matt and motioned for him to come out. The Marshal gently laid the baby back in his bassinet before following the old man.

"What is it Doc?" Without a word he handed Matt the telegram. Doc watched Matt's eyes scanning quickly across the page. Finally, with a sigh of relief, it seemed as if ten years of worry fell from Matt Dillon's face. "They're on their way home. They're all okay." The relieved lawman reached out, giving Doc's arm a squeeze, "They're coming home."

"What about Flagg and the other man?"

"Flagg is dead. They're taking Stokes and Myers to Hays for trial. Seems they don't think they can get a fair shake here in Dodge." Matt added scornfully.

"When will they be home?"

"According to this, tomorrow. I need to go down to the office for a little while. If Kitty wakes up, I promise I won't be long." Doc acknowledged his friend with a nod.

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Most of the town was asleep when the three exhausted riders came into town. The three soon congregated in front of Doc's office. The one on the mule and the one on the brown quarter horse, both climbed down wearily; but the remaining one had to be pulled off and carried up the steps.

Doc and Matt were still awake when the faint knock sounded at the door. Doc felt like he wanted to cry when he opened the door to his weary trio. Matt's excitement waned slightly when he saw why.

Newly was carrying Calleigh. Her jeans had been ripped open to make room for the bandage on her thigh.

"What happened?"

The answer was not quickly forthcoming. The two men exchanged cagey looks and Calleigh stared at the floor.

"I got shot," she answered finally. "How are Kitty and the baby?"

"They're both doing fine. Newly, set her up here on the table so I can take a look at it." Doc stepped aside, while Newly abruptly sat his wife down with a thud.

Now it was Matt and Doc exchanging looks. Both Newly and Festus seemed aggravated. It seemed that Calleigh was at the crux of the problem.

"Did you get Stokes and Myers to Hayes?"

"We surely did, Matthew. That Flagg is dead. He done tried to trick us and lure us inta a trap."

"Is that how you got shot?" Matt looked again to his daughter. Instead of an answer, he watched the threesome pass a guilty look, like it was a hot potato. "What is going on with you three? And why is Newly mad at you?"

There were a few seconds of tense silence, then all hell broke loose. All three were trying to explain at the same time, all three seemed to be pointing fingers at the others.

"HOLD IT!" Matt grimaced as soon as the words hit the air, and glanced toward the bedroom that held his sleeping wife and child. "If I woke them up, I'm going to shoot all three of you myself. Now, what happened!"

"Festus shot me." Calleigh blurted, with a tattling sort of tone. "On purpose, I might add."

"Why did Festus shoot you?"

"Because he's a better shot than Newly," she snapped back.

"All right! That's enough. I want to know what happened and I want to know now. Newly!"

Newly stepped forward, casting an angry glance at his wife. "Flagg had us chasing him into the bluffs. Festus knew the terrain and knew what he was doing. We were going to pull back and head around east, to come up behind him." Newly paused; this time the anger was gone, replaced with remorse. "She wouldn't listen, Matt. All she could see was, Flagg getting away. Festus kept yelling at her to stop, but she was running toward her horse and we knew if she got to it, she'd be gone. The only way to keep her off of it… was to shoot her."

"I can out-shoot anyone in this room and you stopped me?"

"Damn it Calleigh, there's more to catching killers than shootouts! I didn't want my wife out there in the first place, running around the country like some kind of hotshot gunslinger; but I knew how much this meant to you. I thought Festus and I could watch you but... you wouldn't listen! I could have lost you. You put yourself in danger and didn't even stop to think about me; or Matt, or Kitty-or anybody else. Just revenge, that's all you could see. And you still can't see it." Newly blew out a long breath, trying to release some anger, "Doc, could you fix her up so I can take her home? She needs a real bed and some rest."

The room fell silent again. A few minutes went by before finally Calleigh spoke, her voice faint, unsure. "Do you still want to take me home?"

It was all the invitation Newly needed. He was at her side instantly, taking her into his arms. It was the first time they had kissed in days. Newly finally pulled away and looked up at Doc. "Can I take her home?"

Doc looked at the young couple, knowing how rough this whole ordeal had been on them, "I think that would be a good idea."

Newly gathered her up from the examining table. "Matt. Doc. We'll see you tomorrow." He paused at his riding companion, "Festus... Thank you."

"I think I'm a gonna go back to the jail and get me some sleep too. Matthew, I'll be back tomorry to see that tyke and Miss Kitty. Night Doc."

Doc gave Festus a nod, then tossed his glasses on the desk. "Matt, you got two of the most bullheaded women I have ever seen. You need to say a prayer of thanks that you had a boy. I don't think you could survive one more female." Doc had begun to dim the lanterns, when he heard a familiar jangle outside the door. There was a faint knock, then Festus poked his head in again.

"Matthew, with alla this here hoo-rahen, nobody never did say… whatcha callin the little fella?"

Matt smiled, as he glanced at Doc and then Festus. "His name is Cooper. Cooper Reign Dillon."

TBC