Again, Slight Story Change,…

PT.10

Return To Dodge

Entwined Hearts

Matt continued riding further into the high country, knowing the places he could find Jake all the while sensing the presence of someone following him. He hung back.

As nightfall approached, the young soldier made camp, tied up his horse and made a fire, figuring on getting an early start at first light. The night was quiet, silent. Then he heard the sound of his horse snorting. Quickly pulling his pistol and firing, he heard a yelp, then a thud!

When investigating, he found a young Indian girl, unconscious on the ground. "OH! Oh My!" Kneeling beside her, seeing blood trickling from her head. "Miss? Miss?" Taking a cloth from his jacket, wiping her head. "I'm sorry. I… I…"

Then hearing a noise coming from the trees. Three small Indian children were staring at him. Calling to them he asked, "She yours?" Pulling some crackers from his pouch, he called to them. "Hungry? Go on, take it."

Just then a slight moan. The young soldier focused his attention on the young girl. "Don't move."

When she looked at him, she said, "You shoot me"

"Well, you were stealing my horse. Hey! You speak English?"

"Yes!" She answered.

"Why 'd you try to steal my horse?"

She wouldn't answer. Then she said, "Need to stop you. Need to warn my father."

"Warn your father? What are you talking about?" He asked.

"You want to hurt my father." She answered.

"You're crazy!"

Then a shot rang out and he quickly dove to cover her. The children ran into the bushes. "What was that?"

"Told you, you want to hurt my father!"

The young soldier realized there was someone or some people out there and she thought he was part of them. "No! No! I don't know who that is out there. I'm with the United States Army."

"I know you soldier. I won't let you hurt my father."

"I don't know your father!" He just let out a big exhale.

Matt was nearby enough to hear the shot guns go off. Following the sounds, they led him to where young Bright Water had led the young soldier to an Indian camp. When she got him there, she hit him over the head and some of the woman tied him up.

But the men shooting at them in the woods also followed. "Well, look what we have here?" They began roughly handling the women. Most of the men folk were off hunting. "Where is he?"

Bright Water wouldn't answer. Just as the buffalo hunter was about to cut her with a knife, a shot rang out. She screamed out, "Uncle Matt! Uncle Matt!," and ran to him.

"You have one minute to get going." Matt told them.

"We'll git him, Dillon! We'll git' him." And they rode off.

"Bright Water, what is going on here." Matt asked.

"I have to save my father. Soldier boy came lookin' for my father."

"Bright Water, I'll find Jake." Matt told her. "Where is this soldier boy?"

"In teepee."

Matt furrowed his brow, "Bright Water?"

"He alive, Uncle Matt." And she smiled. "My father not kill anyone."

Hugging her close, "I know, Bright Water, I know."

When he went into the teepee, the young soldier was furious. "Mr. Dillon, I'm going to report this to my superiors."

"Son, you do that! Bright Water, leave him there till…..ah, morning."

"MR. DIL-LONNNNNN!" The soldier screamed.

Matt just left.

"Uncle Matt, I want to come with you."

"No. I'll Find Jake. It's better this way."

"I love you, Uncle Matt."

"Bright Water," Matt just nodded, then winked as he rode off.

He rode off higher into the mountains. He now had a better idea of where to find Jake. He figured he was headed closer to the boarder, especially if he knew he was being hunted. Jake was hiding up in the Rocks.

Jake noticed a rider coming in and fired a few warning shots. "Jake! Jake Flagg! It's me, Matt. Matt Dillon!"

When Jake heard his voice, he put down his gun. "Well, why didn't you say so man? Come on in."

When Matt reached the location, "Wow! What a site for sore eyes. Come up to the ol' huntin' ground, Jake?"

"Matt, had to find you buddy. Had to. You're in danger."

"What kind of danger, Jake?"

"But how'd you know I was up here?"

"Jake, there's a bounty on you."

"For what? Ya I know I escaped, but I'm gonna go back I swear. I just had to warn ya, Matt."

"Jake, why? Why'd ya…" Matt started.

"What?" Jake asked.

"The warden…"

"Ah, he'll be fine, Matt, it's just his ankle." Jake shrugged.

"Jake he's dead. Shot!"

"Ahhh, no, Matt. That wasn't me. It had to be him, it had to be. He said he was gonna make you pay."

"Who, Jake?"

You and… and Miss Kitty."

"Jake?" Matt was confused.

"Mannon! Mannon's free, Matt. He's been paroled. But he swore he'd get ya, Matt.".

Just then again, shots rang out. Several. It was the three bounty hunters. For several hours, Matt and Jake fought them off. Jake was hit, injured bad.

But they had killed all three of the bounty hunters.

Matt noticed that they had visitors. Bright Water, Little Doe and the young soldier. Matt had convinced the young soldier of Jake's innocence, and he agreed to help them make it to the Canadian border. There was an Indian camp there that would help Little Doe care for him.

Matt headed back towards Kansas. He decided to stop at Jake's cabin to rest along the way.

Dodge City

Kitty sat vigil at Doc's bed side. He was seemingly getting a bit stronger. Just when she started to close her eyes she heard a grumbling sound. "Hey young lady. I must be pretty sick to warrant a visit all the way from New Orleans."

Quickly she opened her eyes. "Curly? You're going to be just fine. I promise."

"How long have I been in this bed?" He asked as he tried to get up.

Shaking her head, "Oh, no you don't. You're staying right where you are, if I have to sit on you!"

A slight smile came across his face. "Pleasant thought." He mumbled.

Gaping at him, "Oh, you. You're not that sick! Really, how you feel?"

"Ok, just tired."

"Well, you just rest. I'll be here, we all will." She sat on the side of the bed holding his hand between hers. "I love you, Curly." He slowly drifted off to sleep.

Bess, came to relieve Kitty. "Miss Kitty, please go have supper. I'll stay with Doctor Adams."

"Ok, Bess, I won't be long. I'm gonna help Hannah close up."

"No problem, Miss Kitty!" Bess smiled at her friend.

Hannah and Kitty finished up with all the final customers and cleaning up and sent Al home. Then Hannah poured them both a brandy. "Kitty, it's been quite a night."

"Ummmm , it sure has." Kitty agreed.

"Kitty? That man. He really scared you."

"Uh huh. Hannah when I said he was the devil, I wasn't joking. He came to Dodge with so much evil in his… UGH! He came here with every intention of killing Matt! He terrorized this town." Kitty told her.

"But, I'm seeing something else, Kitty."

"Yes, you are. He wanted to talk away everything from Matt, including me, in every way."

Hannah looked horrified. "You mean…?"

Kitty shivered with the fear of the memory! "Yes!"

"Oh, Kitty."

"He beat me and…."

"Oh, honey, you don't have to…."

Just then, there he was, darkening the door frame. "Good evening, Ladies!"

TBC