"Kitty, I don't think you should allow that boy to come with his mother anymore. What's a young boy want with watching his mother sew, anyway? Now you know I never interfere with what you choose to do, but you asked my opinion and here it is." Matt put his big hand on Kitty's forearm resting on the table as they sat together down in the saloon, two half-full mugs of beer in front of them.
The lovely red-haired woman smiled and looked into his intense blue eyes. "I know, Matt, and I appreciate it. I DO agree with you and will tell Christine that a boy, even a young one, shouldn't be around when I'm being fitted with the dress parts."
The big lawman slightly nodded his head in relief and satisfaction. There was something about that "perfect" youngster that made his skin crawl. And especially now when he suspected Ronny was responsible for his missing badge and Kitty's missing medal, but he had no legitimate reason to search the boy's room.
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The small, neatly-dressed blond boy sat on his bed, his cigar box holding his treasures open on his lap. As he carefully picked up each medal and examined it, his four-year-old sister silently watched from her bed across the room. When her big brother picked up his latest treasure, little Rhoda slipped out of bed and crept close.
"A real U.S. Marshal's badge, Rhoda!" he crowed, holding the silver object out towards her, allowing her to run a small forefinger over the lettering before yanking it back and rubbing it on the piece of flannel he kept for that purpose.
"I bet no one else has one of those, Ronny," the little girl said, looking at him with large, adoring eyes. "That's the bestest one yet, huh?"
"Yep, that's right! The boy preened, proudly holding the badge up to admire it. "But THIS one is very special, too!" he said, picking up the old medal from the Mexican War. As he held it close to the little girl's wide, admiring eyes, Ronny knew he would never be satisfied with his collection until he possessed the penmanship medal Miss Landers had foolishly awarded to skinny Claude Daigel on the last day of school yesterday. He would always want more and more, but that was the only gold medal the school awarded and it should have been his. "That medal was MINE! MINE!" he suddenly yelled, his eyes two frightening pieces of blue ice. Even though Rhoda was used to her big brother's temper outbursts, she flinched back, out of his reach. She waited, and as expected, Ronny calmed down as a plan formed in his fertile mind.
"Rhoda, I need your help," the boy said slowly as his eyes met hers. He could see the sparkle of excitement now in her large dark brown eyes as she leaned forward, closely listening. She was only a little girl, but now he would test her loyalty and determine her worth as an assistant.
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That next Saturday, Christine Penmark went over to the back stairs of the Long Branch, holding her small daughter's hand. The seamstress was happily thinking of the fitting of the pattern pieces she had carefully cut out and pinned together. "The satiny, pale pink material sets off Kitty's coloring so well!" She appreciated the extra money, but was also glad of the distraction from missing her soldier husband. She had been relieved when her son had suddenly told her he didn't want to come with her anymore, and would be playing with his friends. "FRIENDS!" she thought with a smile, never having seen her wonderful son playing with any other children. "He must be shy, or just too advanced for most children."
Meanwhile, the tense, scheming boy was waiting in the alley beside the Long Branch, knowing Claude Daigel would be arriving soon. Ronny had slipped a note for Claude through his window the night before, telling him to come to the alley to meet with the club of boys that the meek boy so wanted to join. Crouching behind a barrel, Ronny clutched a long, heavy iron rod he had taken from a barrel behind the blacksmith's shop, his stomach tight in anticipation. The note he had carefully printed told Claude to bring it along, to wear the shiny medal, and to be in the alley precisely at 10AM. A few minutes before 10AM, Ronny glanced up to ensure his young sister was being his lookout from the top of the back stairs leading to the upstairs rooms. Rhoda smiled and nodded her head.
A few moments later, skinny Claude Daigel appeared at the end of the alley leading into Front Street, and hesitantly searched for the boys he so wanted to be around. Slowly walking into the alley, he sighed in disappointment, shoving his lanky dark hair from his eyes, certain that once again he was the butt of a cruel joke. Then he heard a soft "Claude! Oh, Claude! Come on back here!" and he excitedly hurried past the back steps to the saloon.
Suddenly, the beautiful red-haired saloon owner walked out onto the landing at the top of the stairs as small Rhoda darted back into the shadows. Kitty was looking for the small girl who had slipped away from her mother, and frowned at seeing Claude Daigel happily scurrying by into the alley. The sun glinted off the shiny gold medal pinned to his shirt above his heart. "Wonder what that boy is doing here? I know his mother wouldn't approve." As she opened her mouth to call the boy, the young woman felt two small hands on the small of her back give her a hard shove, and before she could grab at the handrail or even scream, she started tumbling down the hard steps. As she rolled and bounced painfully towards the hard-packed dirt, she caught a glimpse of a small boy with gleaming fair hair swiftly swinging a long rod at Claude's head. Then darkness enveloped her.
To be continued…