The Rescue 4

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The next morning, Matt rose early. He had a few things he needed to accomplish and a short time to get them done. First thing on his list was Kitty.

Though the men guarding her were under strict orders to watch and listen every second he was with her, they knew Matt Dillon and they trusted him. Despite their orders, they backed away and allowed them a few minutes of privacy.

Matt told Kitty very little as he got her to sign a blank check to be drawn on her bank account. When he presented the check at the bank, Matt also drew out what little he had in his own account.

After leaving the bank, Matt quickly crossed the street and went up to Doc's office, giving him a portion of the money. Few words were exchanged and Matt was once again on his way. After leaving Doc's office, he swiftly walked down the street to the stable, leaving a few minutes later.

His next stop was the Long Branch. After a short and very private conversation with Sam, he finished the beer he'd ordered and finally made his way over to the tonsorial parlor where he got a bath, shave and haircut, before donning fresh clean clothes and heading out once again.

His next stop that morning, was back at his room. Going inside, he shut the door firmly behind him, only to reemerge a half hour later with his jacket on and a carpetbag in his hands.

Once back out onto the street, he made his way over to the jail one last time. As before, the men inside, respectfully backed away allowing this one last time with her. The deputy from Hays was due in on the stage in a couple of hours and he would be taking her away the next morning. The Marshal would be given no other time after this to ever see her again.

As the men backed off, Matt reached in the bars when Kitty approached and took her small cold hands into his. "How are you doing?" He asked, knowing all too well how she must be doing.

Forcing a smile to her trembling lips, she avoided his gaze, knowing he could read her too well. Instead she focused on their clasped hands. "I… I'm alright." She answered with no real conviction in her voice. "Did… did you get my fune… everything taken care of for… for after?" Matt had told her, and the men listening, that the check she'd signed was for the purpose of arranging her funeral after the hanging.

"Everything's arranged, Kitty." He answered softly. He wanted more than anything to tell her his real reasons for the money and what he'd been up to this day, but he didn't dare. "I've taken care of…" he looked at the man lingering near the door, "things." He finished.

Kitty nodded, finally risking a look at his face. The last look she was ever likely to have. What she saw, though, was not the pain and anger she expected. Instead she saw, aside from his love for her, a calmness, a peaceful look of someone who'd just accomplished a long held goal. "Matt?" She wanted to ask why the look, but a guard stopped her.

"Times about up, Marshal." He said, not unkindly.

Matt nodded then looked back at Kitty. "I… uh… I don't know what to say, Kitty." He told her. "Don't guess there's anything I can say that you don't already know."

Kitty looked back down at their entwined fingers and nodded. "I know, Matt." She whispered. "You… you take care of yourself, now. You hear? Don't… don't let this…"

"I won't." He tugged at her hand until she raised her eyes to his one last time. "You remember Pruitt Dover?"

Again Kitty saw that look in his eyes that confused her almost as much as the question. But she did remember the young man that had hanged for murder and nodded. "Yeah, I remember him."

"Good." Matt smiled gently at her. "Just hang on to that." Bringing her hand through the bars, he softly kissed the knuckles before releasing her and stepping back. With one last loving glance and no further words, Matt turned and left the jail.

Kitty stood for several minutes looking at the door he had walked through. Her mind went over and over the few words he had spoken. Surely he couldn't mean… 'No.' She told herself. Matt would never do that. He had nearly been eaten alive by guilt when he had tried the one time. He would never do it again.

Would he?

Shaking her head, she sat back down. 'No.' She told herself again. Matt was simply trying to tell her that as he had been there at the end for Pruitt, he would be there for her when she hung. The thought, though sad, was in a way comforting.

Matt left the jail, easier of heart than he had since this nightmare had started. He hadn't intended on telling Kitty anything. But seeing the hopeless look on her tearstained face, he couldn't help himself. He needed her to know that he wasn't going to let her down. That she would not have to die for something she didn't do. He hoped she got the message.

Retracing his steps back down the streets, Matt made it to the Dodge House just as Hank walked up, leading his horse.

"You going to Hays, Marshal?" The stableman asked curiously, eyeing the carpetbag in Matt's hand and the missing badge on his chest.

"Nope, I'm not, Hank." Matt answered. "I've done all I can here. I'm gonna take off and ride south. Been meaning to go down there anyway and I think now's the time to do it. And I'm not Marshal anymore, Hank. I sent in my resignation."

"You coming back?" Hank asked knowing the answer already.

"Don't plan on it." Matt answered.

Hank nodded in understanding. "Best that way, I reckon. Who's gonna handle her… will take care of her after…" He didn't want to say it.

"Doc." Matt answered. "I gave him money and he's going to arrange everything."

Hank nodded again. "That's best too, I guess." Turning he started to walk away when a thought struck him. "Is Festus gonna be in charge now?"

"Naw, I ain't." Festus answered as he walked up behind the stableman leading Ruth. "I got me some family bidness east of chere. I was just gonna leave my ownself. I ain't quite sure who's gonna be in charge, but it don't matter none, I don't reckon. Any town that'd let something happen like what's done happened, ain't no town I want'a be in no how."

Hank saw the anger and pain in the hill man's eyes as well as the now former law man's and understood. He had felt the same sense of injustice at the verdict. But unlike Festus and Matt Dillon, he wasn't free to just pick up and leave when he wanted to. "Well…" He sighed as he turned once again towards the stable. "You fellers take it easy and be careful. Hope your rides are easy ones."

"Thanks, Hank." Matt replied and watched Hank walk off before looking over at Festus. "Everything ready?" He asked quietly.

"Yep." Was the deputy's quiet reply.

"Good." Matt nodded. "Then I guess I'd better be on my way."

"Alright." Festus answered as he studied the people around them. "Take care of yerself, Matthew." He said in a louder voice. "Don't you go down there in Texas and get in no trouble I got to come get ya out of, ya hear?"

Matt nodded with a slight grin. "I won't Festus." He said as he mounted his horse and rode out of town. 'I ain't going to Texas.' He thought.

TBC