Kitty rushed from her room and ran down the back stairs of the Long Branch. Matt followed close behind, but remembering how cold it was had the presence of mind to grab a shawl. As Kitty walked rapidly down Front Street, Matt's long strides quickly brought him along side her, and he put the shawl over her shoulders as they walked.
"Kitty, do you think you know this woman?"
"I know I know her, there can't be more than one person with the name River Cassidy. I also know she wouldn't hurt a fly. In fact she'd help a fly."
"When was the last time you saw her, Kitty? People change you know"
"Let's see, I've been in Dodge for 10 years, and the last time I saw her was about 2 years before that."
Kitty saw Matt's expression and answered before he spoke, "Yes, it's been 12 years, but I know her, I know the parts of her that would never change."
They reached the marshal's office and went it. Festus was sitting in Matt's chair leaning back with his hands behind his head and his feet up on the desk. He scrambled to his feet and said a bit guiltily, "Evenin Miss Kitty. Matthew, I didn't reckon ta see ya til morning. Ya don't need to worry none, the prisoners been quiet."
Matt got the keys to the jail cells from the wall hook, "Sit down Festus, I know you're keeping a good eye on things. We're here to see to talk to the woman for a few minutes."
They went through the door that separated the office from the cells. In the front cell Jack Caton was asleep on his cot, snoring loudly.
In the back, River Cassidy was sitting on her cot, staring stonily into space. Her clothes and face were splattered with mud and trail dust from the long ride to Dodge and her tangled hair partly covered one eye.
Matt looked at her through the bars and it struck him that somehow she seemed to be made of both delicate glass and strong, strong steel.
"Miss Cassidy, there's someone here to see you."
River responded without moving, "It's Mrs. Cassidy, if you don't mind."
Kitty spoke softly, "Hello River."
River looked up and recognition filled her face. Her eyes softened, and something resembling a smile crossed her lips, "Kitty, oh Kitty it's – it's amazing that you're here. It's a gift."
Kitty smiled at her friend, "I live here in Dodge, and I'll do everything I can to help you.
She turned to Matt, "Please let me in, then wait in the other room."
Matt hesitated. Kitty threw him an annoyed look and whispered, "For Pete's sake, what are you afraid of? She can't get away."
Looking a bit sheepish Matt opened the door. Kitty slipped in and he relocked it behind her, "I'll be in the next room. Give a holler when you're ready to leave."
Once Matt was gone, Kitty sat down next to the prisoner and took in her appearance. She had always been small and slender, although her personality, joy and energy had made her seem larger than life. Now emaciated and unkempt she looked waiflike.
Before Kitty said a word, River looked into her eyes, "Kitty, do you think I did what those men say. That I planned all those crimes, and killed the 2 little boys?"
Kitty answered immediately, "No, I do not I remember how you treated me, how you treated everyone. You couldn't have done any of those things. I know you River, it's just not possible. That's why I want you to explain what really happened. River, talk to the marshal, you can trust him, he's a good man."
"You sound sure of that."
Kitty nodded, "As a matter of fact I am. Please, just tell Matt the truth. He'll listen to you, he'll help you."
River noted that Kitty called the marshal by his first name, and heard something in her tone of voice. She felt a sliver of hope having intuited in that instant, that Kitty and the marshal shared a strong personal connection.
River spoke quietly but firmly, "Kitty, the only thing that can help me is a chance to get out of here. Maybe someone who the marshal knows and trusts can come to visit me and make sure the cell door is left unlocked. Not tonight of course, but some day soon. Don't worry I River Cassidy will disappear. I'll go far away and become someone else. Kitty, you know what it feels like to want to be someone else, I know that for a fact."
Kitty was caught completely off guard. The last thing she expected was for River to ask for help to escape from jail. River saw the surprise and dismay on Kitty's face, "You know I'm innocent, but when those two men testify against me, I'll be convicted. They hang women for murder, just like they do men. Jack and Jerry will be sent to jail for robbery and kidnapping. They might get long sentences, but they'll get out eventually. They might even get out early if they behave themselves. I'll be executed. I won't have a chance to survive a sentence, or be paroled – I'll be dead."
Still stunned by River's request Kitty took her by the shoulders, "Listen to me River, it's the truth that will free you. Please say what really happened."
River shook herself free from Kitty's grip. "My way is the only way possible. Please think about it."
She turned her face from Kitty's and stared off into space, signaling that she had nothing else to say.
Kitty slowly stood and called out, "Matt, I'm ready."
Matt quickly appeared and opened the cell. Kitty slipped out and as Matt relocked the door he looked at Raven, "Mrs. Cassidy if you want some coffee just give a yell. My deputy, Festus is in the office."
River did not respond, and Kitty looked at her forlorn friend, "I'll be back tomorrow."
River lifted her eyes and whispered, "Tomorrow, what a nice word. I wonder how many tomorrows I have."
With a heart filled with sorrow, Kitty left with Matt, and after saying goodnight to Festus, they stepped out into the cold night air. The wind had picked up and the temperature was dropping. Matt put his arm around Kitty, and they went quickly down the street walking against the growing wind.
"Kitty, did she tell you her side of things?"
"No, she just asked if I thought she was innocent, and Matt I do. I'm sure of it."
"You being sure, won't help her in a court of law. She has to state her case. You were with her for a while, what else did she say?"
Keeping anything from Matt was totally foreign to Kitty. For almost 10 years she had shared absolutely everything with him, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him that Raven had asked for help to escape. She just couldn't, not while she was trying to convince Matt that River had to be innocent.
She answered simply, "She didn't say much at all."
They fell silent and walked up the back stairs of the Long Branch. Once inside, Kitty was about to resume talking about her certainty of River's innocence, when she watched Matt hang up his gun belt and was struck by how very tired he looked. She had almost forgotten about the tough two weeks he and been through, and it was now well after midnight. She pulled him down for a brief kiss, then lightly touched his cheek, "Let's get to bed Matt. You need sleep, and we're not going to solve anything tonight."
Matt stifled a yawn, "Unfortunately, that's true."
Matt climbed into bed while Kitty sat at her vanity brushing her hair. Overcome by fatigue he was asleep within seconds. Kitty climbed in next to him and snuggled against his chest, happy to feel his warmth and steady breathing. As the minutes ticked by, her mind was racing. As River had reminded her, she did indeed know what it felt like to want desperately to be someone else. She had had that terrible feeling the day they met. The day she learned so much about of acts of kindness.
TBC