Gunsmoke and Spies 12

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"Kitty," Amanda called her for the fourth time but so far, Kitty hadn't responded and Amanda, hands tied behind her, couldn't reach her to see if she was okay or not. "Oh my gosh, Kitty, please wake up."

"Ummm," Kitty moaned, finally coming to. "Oh, heavens. What happened?"

"That man shot you." Amanda answered with near panic. "He was pretending to be out but he wasn't out and when I threw down the slat of wood I had, he pulled the gun from your hand and fired. You were hit, but I don't know how bad and he wouldn't let me check on you. He tied me up and locked us back in here and I've calling you but you didn't answer."

Kitty winced at the pain in her shoulder, but struggled to keep her voice calm in contrast to the fear she heard in Amanda's. "Well, don't worry." She said as she forced her self to a sitting position, stifling the groan that wanted to escape her lips. "I'm not dead and he didn't tie me up, so I can at least untie you and we can try again to get out of here."

"But you were shot." Amanda protested. "You're hurt."

"Yeah, but I'm not dead." Kitty gritted her teeth as she crawled in the near total darkness over to where Amanda was sitting against the wall of the shed. Her shoulder was aching more than she would admit and her left arm was nearly useless, but she would not allow herself to quit. She and Amanda had to get out of there. "Do you know where he is, or the other one?" She asked as she reached behind Amanda with her good arm and began to untie her.

"Not exactly," Amanda answered wriggling her arms as the rope finally gave way. Pushing herself away from the wall, she gently grasped Kitty by the waist and helped her to sit fully on the floor. Hayworth had taken the cot out of the room, along with the wooden slats. "When that man locked us up in here, he left. But I heard him saying something about finding Saldez and then I heard someone riding off. I haven't heard anything else since."

Kitty took several deep breaths as the pain in her shoulder flared. "Alright." She said finally. "That's good." Her breath was coming in gasps and she could feel the edge of unconsciousness trying to claim her. "That means we have a little time to figure something out." She said, weakly trying to get up again.

"Kitty, I don't think that's a good idea, it's not a good idea, you really shouldn't try to move, it's not a good idea at all." Amanda couldn't seem to stop herself from rambling as she placed her arm around Kitty and pushed her back against the wall. "Please, just sit there. Please? Just sit, sit, please just sit."

Kitty realized Amanda was right. Even could she gain her feet, she'd not be able to go far. "Alright." Kitty nodded. "I'll just sit back here for a little while. Just a little… while…" Slowly her head rolled to the right and the darkness claimed her again.

Though Amanda could see little more than Kitty's outline in the dark, she knew she'd lost consciousness again. "Oh my gosh." She exclaimed.

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Though it chafed him to take so much time in getting there, Lee kept his mouth clamped tight and temper in tight control as they seemingly took their time in going the rest of the way to the ranch. When Matt silently pulled to a stop, Lee followed his lead and dismounted, following the tall lawman and the scruffy deputy down a deep draw.

Holding his hand up to stop them, Matt drew his gun and cautiously peered over the edge of the draw onto the ranch grounds. Nothing stirred and there were no lights coming from any of the three visible buildings. "Let's go." Matt whispered to his two companions.

Climbing out of the draw, they crept quietly into the yard, taking advantage of any cover they could find. Tapping Festus on the arm, Matt pointed to the house and nodded. Festus moved off to the left and then around to the back. Matt turned to Lee pointed to the right. Lee nodded his understanding.

Counting to three, both men jumped up and ran to the front of the house. Pausing only briefly at the door, they both brought their guns up, as they reached for the knob, prepared to enter. But the door opened on them and Festus appeared.

"They ain't here, Matthew." Festus told him. "I ckd that there barn and ain't no horses nowhere and nobodies in the house or no where's else."

"What do you mean, they're not here?" Lee's voice rose in anger. "You said this was the only place they could be. Now, dammit, where is my wife."

"I'm here!" A frightened raspy voice suddenly called out. "Lee! We're in here. We're locked in." Amanda had heard Lee's voice and could only think of one thing. He was there and she and Kitty would now be safe.

Lee turned towards the sound and saw a small nearby shed with a shiny lock on the door. He and Matt ran over and Lee rammed the door with his shoulder to get it open. But it wouldn't budge.

Stepping back, he pulled his gun to shoot off the lock but Matt grabbed his arm pulled him back. "You might hit one of them." Matt shook his head.

With little effort, Matt raised his leg and kicked the door as hard as he could. With a resounding crash, the door flew open to reveal Amanda on the floor of the shed cradling Kitty in her arms to protect her. "Kitty!" He rushed in and reached for her.

"She's been shot, Marshal." Amanda was close to crying. "I don't know how bad. I pulled off some of her petticoat and tried to bandage her as best I could but it's too dark." Amanda trembled as Lee wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. "She needs help, Lee." She cried.

"I know," he crooned into her ear. "I know. But it's gonna be alright now. We'll get her back to town. Are you alright? You weren't hurt?" Amanda shook her head but Lee knew he'd not be satisfied of that until they got back to town.

Matt crouched down by Kitty and pulled her into his arms. She was unconscious but she was still breathing. Gingerly picking her up, he stood and swiftly carried her out. "Let's get back to town." He said stonily as he looked down at Kitty, his heart pounding furiously at the sight of her once again hurt.

Handing her, only temporarily, to Festus so that he could get mounted, Matt pulled her back into his arms and turned, heading quickly for Dodge. Without a word Lee mounted and pulled Amanda onto his horse in front of him. Festus followed suit and soon they were all racing across the prairie back to Dodge.

TBC