Counterfeit

Chapter 18

Colter began to think the train would never get to St. Louis. In actual fact his men had told him they would meet him at Miller's Crossroads – a small community just east of the main city. It was just a local stop, not many people boarded or left the train there, but it was the closest to the spot where his men had shot the Marshal. They told him they had been combing the town but hadn't seen any trace of him or the girl. What worried Colter was that they did not find a body either, so presumably the man was still alive and maybe he still had the counterfeit plates with him. He hated to close down the operation in Richmond. The location had been ideal, the old mansion he had purchased was far enough out of town that very few people even knew of it's existence and finding the stone building where he could house the printing press had been an added bonus. Everything had run smoothly for at least two years and now this Marshal had to stick his nose in and destroy everything. As for the ungrateful girl, he had done so much for her – given her a decent place to live and nice clothes to wear, and now she had run off with Dillon. He planned to find both of them.

Two of his men were waiting there with horses. He saw them as he climbed down from the train. He was hoping they had some news for him, but apparently not. They rode to a small campsite they had set up a couple of miles east of town. The glow of a small camp fire was all he could see as they pulled into the clearing, they told him it was near where Weeks had left the train and they would take him to the exact location in the morning.

-XX-

Colter looked around the area by the train tracks. It was still barely light but Colter always believed in an early start. His men had found the place where the lawman had fallen. There was dried blood still visible on the grass. Other than that there was very little to be found, too many days had passed for any tracks to remain. Colter was an intelligent man, he gave himself time to think. Most likely Dillon would have followed the rail lines towards St Louis.

"That place where you met me last night, tell me about it."

The two men who worked for him looked at each other. Finally one of them spoke.

"Not much to tell Mr. Colter, just a wide place in the road really. A relay station for the local stage company, none of the big lines come through here. There's a livery and a general store but not much else."

"Let's go take another look."

They rode on in to the town and by he time they got there it was daylight and the few businesses were opening up for the day. He immediately spotted the rail yard with several big warehouses in various states of disrepair.

"Did you search back there?" he asked pointing in the general direction.

"We rode around a time or two but never saw nothin'."

Colter knew that if he wanted a place to hide out for a few days, this would make perfect sense. It had access to the rail. There was a pump for water for the trains and although the buildings were run down anyone of them would provide shelter. If Dillon was around here still, this was where he would likely be.

-XX-

Somehow they had managed to get Matt into the back of the small wagon. Doc had wrapped the man's leg with every bandage he could find and was very particular about protecting it.

It had not been easy, the big lawman was fevered and only semi conscious, he couldn't help them much, in fact the few movements he did manage made their job more difficult. Any movement caused pain to shoot through his leg like shards of flame and in his confused state he would move his arm and hand to protect it.

They were there by the back door of the warehouse when Ginny suddenly remembered the printing plates Dillon was guarding. She ran back inside to get them and as she did so caught sight of three men on horseback riding down the row of disused buildings. With a gasp of horror she saw that the man leading them was Colter. Grabbing the plates she ran back to the others. The men where working their way down the line of buildings searching as they went. Doc and Kitty were sitting up in the front of the wagon when she arrived breathless. She threw the plates into the back of the wagon as she whispered hoarsely, "They're here, Colter and two of his men, they are bound to see us if we pullout now."

"They'll surely find us if we don't." Kitty was already plunging her hands into the small carpet bag she had under the seat, thankful now that she had brought Matt's pistol.

"Can you fire a gun Ginny?"

"I've never tried."

"Well you are going to get a crash course. Doc get Matt out of here." She said as she climbed down from the wagon."
"Kitty what do you think you are doing? I can't let you stay here, get back in this wagon."

"Don't argue Doc, if they find Matt it's all over, same goes for Ginny. Matt needs your skills right now so go, find some help or something. We'll keep them busy."

She had got the small Derringer from her reticule and handed it to Ginny.

"Here take this and hold it so." Kitty showed her how to hold the gun and point it, it was lucky it was only a small pistol because the girls hands were too small to have held anything larger.

Ginny was half afraid of the cold weapon placed in her hand, but called upon all her acting skills to stay calm and follow this red headed lady's lead.

Kitty took the Colt that belonged to Matt. It was a heavy gun for her to use, but several times out on the prairie during some of those rare moments they had gotten out of town together, he had taught her to fire it and as it turned out she was not a bad shot.

Doc reluctantly pulled the wagon away, every instinct told him to let the women go with Matt and stay and fight this man Colter by himself. But Kitty was right, if Matt was to have any chance at all it was his hands that would save him. He wouldn't go far, maybe wind between the buildings and get to that stage office where they had met Ginny. From there he would send a telegram to the Marshal's office in St Louis, maybe they could get help here before it was too late.

He heard gunfire in the distance, then all was quiet.

-XX-

Kitty and Ginny were looking out through a gap in the rusty door to the warehouse they had been occupying. Kitty knew they needed to get the men's attention so Doc could get away safely. The men were headed towards them. Kitty pushed open the door and stepped outside, colt pistol drawn and ready.

"Looking for someone?" she asked. Ginny stepped out behind her, she had removed her hat so that her long dark heir fell loosely around her shoulders. The effect on Colter was immediate. He focused totally on the two women standing there, aiming pistols at him. He came riding towards them, hired hands in tow. There was no way they would notice the wagon leaving now.

Kitty was surprised she was not more afraid of the men as they approached.

Colter looked at his "niece" with such evil intent that Kitty could feel it.

"You have led me a merry dance young lady – just wait till I get you home."

He continued moving towards them, he was now about ten feet away.

"That's far enough, Mister." Kitty was standing her ground.

"What you gonna do lady, fire that thing?"

"Don't give me an excuse, because believe me I will enjoy it. Now throw down your weapon and have your men do the same.

Colter couldn't believe this, two women thnking they could get the better of him.

"Take the pair of them boys," he ordered his men and they started to get down from their horses.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." She was squeezing on trigger of Matt's gun and Colter was close enough to see the hammer moving back."

"Whoa now lady, don't let that thing go off by mistake." Who was this crazy woman anyway? He thought. She might just fire that thing.

Kitty spoke again, her voice clear and commanding.

"Believe me, if this goes off it will not be a mistake. Now I'm not going to tell you again, drop your guns."

"You can't get all of us, you know."

"I can see to it that I get you Colter."

The man was surprised by her tenacity.

"I guess you better drop your guns boys," he said with a half smile. As he pulled his own from its holster, Kitty watched. Instead of dropping it, he was lining up to fire. She pulled the trigger the rest of the way and in less than a second Colter was on the ground. His men turned tail and spurred their horses away from there.

Kitty was shaking now that the action was over. She really hadn't wanted to kill the man, but she sure wasn't going to let him get to Ginny or Matt.

Ginny came up to her and threw her arms around this strong red headed lady that had come into her life. Tears were running down the girls face. They stood there together for several minutes. Then footsteps were running towards them. Ginny looked up

"It's all right, that's the old man who runs the stage depot."
He looked at the girl, surprised to recognize her as Jimmie, the boy who had been hanging around the depot for the last few days.

"Don't shoot ladies," he called. As he got closer he continued, "Doc told me what was going on and I have sent a wire to the Marshal's office in St Louis. Someone should be here in a few hours. Your friend Doctor Adams is getting ready to do surgery on Marshal Dillon – he said if you were finished firing guns he could do with your help.

"What about him?" Ginny pointed to the body of Josiah Colter.

"We'll let the Marshals take care of him when they arrive. Come on now, I've got some coffee on."

TBC