Chances

PT.3

Matt was exhausted. Once again he ended up stuck witnessing a hanging. This chilled him to the bone, although he knew the prisoner was found guilty of stealing horses and beating a man to near death in the process, he always tried to make his way clear of actually having to watch the deed.

This was one thing he was happy about that they never did in Dodge. It was usually carried out in Hayes or Topeka. But at least now, he was headed home.

He wasn't looking forward to the ride, but he was looking forward to coming up over the hill and looking for the beacon of light as he focused his eyes down Front street, to the second floor of the Long Branch. The small glow of light meant just for him.

And he'd follow it in, knowing at the end of the light, was his heart, enveloped in a warm beautiful body that he just wanted to wrap himself together with, and block out the rest of the world, even if it were just for a few hours. That was, she was his safe haven.

Maggie pushed the doors of the Long Branch open, scanning the room. Sam spotted her instantly. He couldn't help but stare. "Excuse me, Miss, can I help you?"

"Yes, I think so. I was told I might find a Miss Kitty Russell here?" She walked towards the bar.

"Oh," now smiling, "Yes, Miss…"

"It's Mrs. Mrs. Cassidy." She answered.

"Excuse me, I'll tell her you're here." Sam quickly knocked on the office door.

"It's Open!" Kitty called.

"Miss Kitty, there's a Mrs. Cassidy here. She asked to speak to you, ahhhh… Miss Kitty… she ahhhh…"

"What, Sam?" Kitty asked looking puzzled.

"Miss Kitty, you're gonna have to see this for yourself."

Kitty followed Sam out to the bar. As she was talking to Sam, she stopped in her tracks. "OH MY! Hello, Sam says you asked to speak to me? Mrs Cassidy, is it?"

"Yes, Maggie Cassidy."

"Please forgive me for staring, but…. you …." Now all the men in the room were staring as well. "Let's go in my office. It's a bit more private." Walking in her office, still stunned at the likeness of Maggie to herself.

"Miss Russell, I'm really not sure where to start. See, I was raised by my grandparents. They were wonderful people. They raised me well, gave me a good life. They died about a year ago."

"Oh, I'm awfully sorry. Losing someone so close is always difficult," Kitty said.

"I know you're probably wondering why I'm telling you all of this."

"Well, yeah sort'a." Kitty said, slightly nodding.

"Well, when I had to settle my grandparent papers, I had gone through them. Grandmother had always told me my mother was dead, but it seems that wasn't true. My mother was working in New Orleans in a gambling house. It turns out she was never married to my father. He was a gambler, con man, so I decided I'd go looking for them. So I went back to New Orleans. I didn't have a lot to go on. Grandmother never told me much. Just that I was as beautiful as my mother, had her hair…."

Kitty and Maggie just stared at one another.

"…..and that she was young. And all she told me about the man that was my father was that his name was Cole. She couldn't remember, or didn't care to."

Kitty was now feeling sick to her stomach. She knew Maggie was talking about Cole Yankton!

"Miss Russell, you're from New Orleans, am I right?" Maggie asked.

Nodding, Kitty looked at Maggie. "Yes, yes I am. But Maggie, before you go any further with this….." now leaning in placing her hand on her shoulder, "as to your next question. No, dear, I'm not your mother."

Quickly, Maggie started, "But people I spoke with there, they said that the woman this man Cole left with was now in Dodge City, Kansas. That's you, right?"

"Sweetheart, yes, when I was in New Orleans, I was a very young naïve girl. And I fell for Cole Yankton. He was the first real man I knew. I thought he loved me. But shortly after we left and went to San Francisco, he left me penniless. He took up with another gal I knew from …" Kitty hesitated.

"What? From where? Miss Russell, is something wrong?"

"Maggie, I think I know who your mother might be. There was a gal Kate, Kate Ramsey. She looked a lot like me. Well, about my height, she had red hair. She was the woman Cole went with after we split."

Maggie just sat quietly staring at the wall.

"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. I wish I didn't have to be the one to tell you all of this." Kitty felt for the girl.

"No, it's all right. I was just hoping that after all this time of searching, that I'd have found my mot….." Shaking her head, "Never mind, it's not important anymore."

"Maggie, if there's anything, anything at all I can do." Kitty touched her arm.

Maggie just shook her head. "I need to go collect my boys."

"Your boys," Kitty repeated.

"Oh, yes, I have twin boys. That nice mister Hagen was showing them around." Maggie smiled.

"How old?" Kitty asked.

"Five. And boy are they a handful!"

"Oh, well, I can assure you, Festus is just as much a handful." Kitty grinned.

"Thank you, Miss Russell." Maggie told her gratefully.

"Kitty, please."

"Ok. Thank you, Miss Kitty! Maybe we can talk more later?"

"Yes, of course." Kitty agreed.

Maggie left to find Festus and the boys and Kitty noticed the room filling up. "Sam, I'm going to go change. If you need anything, I'll be up in my room."

As she climbed the stairs, a few cowboys sitting playing cards, watched as she went by. "Whoa! Now that there is a lot of woman!"

One of the men looked up over his cards. "Don't bother, buddy. She's off limits!"

TBC