PT.12

Walking into Harriman's office, "Where is he?"

"Oh, Mr. Harriman's not in, Sir." She was not paying much attention as he was pushing through the doors. "Sir! Please!"

Seeing the room empty, Lane looked at the young woman. "When will he be back?"

"I… I… don't... don't know. He left with those other men. They were quite angry. He just left."

Storming out, Lane slammed the door.

Lane search everywhere he could think, even Harriman's home. He knew this whole plan went south and he wanted Harriman to fix it. He wasn't going down alone.

Following the tracks, Festus followed, eventually, to where the carriage began having trouble. "Matthew? Looky here. It's lookin' like they be havin' wheel trouble."

As they moved closer they could see where the carriage flipped. Matt and Festus were first off their horses, spotting blood. "Matthew? Blood. Ya think it be Miz Kitty's?"

"Maybe, Festus. She might be hurt." As they looked around, Tom and Sam looked around. Then Joey grabbed Sam's arm. "SAM! Sam, look." As she moved over and pointed down on the ground, she covered her mouth. "Matt!"

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Matt, ya need ta come see this." As Matt and Festus walked over, "Matt, I'm sorry, Buddy."

When he moved aside, Matt looked down to see a fresh grave. The rest of them moved away, giving him space. Matt dropped to his knees.

He was numb. "KIT! Honey..." He just hung his head. "I'm so sorry, Honey."

Festus walked to the creek, hanging his head. He didn't want anyone to see him cry. "Aw, Miz Kitty, how this here happen to ya this here a way? Don'cha worry, Miz Kitty. Me and ol' Matthew, we'll git ya on home. But what am I gonna tell Gracie? I done failed. I done promised I'd bring her, her Momma home safe. Don'cha see?"

Walking up behind him, Joey gently tapped his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Festus, didn't mean to intrude."

"Nah. I jest don't know what to do. Ol' Matthew, he... he..."

"I know, Festus, he loves Kitty. Anyone who saw them together can see that."

"Yes'm. Ol' Matthew and Miz Kitty are sumpin' special."

"Yes, you're right. I saw that real fast."

"Matt? What can I do?" John asked.

Matt didn't answer.

"Matt?"

"How, John? How do I take her home and tell our girls their momma is... Damn it, John, I can't even say the words. It doesn't feel right. Something's wrong."

"Matt, you're in shock man."

Shaking his head, "NO! This isn't right!" He was running his hand in the fresh dirt. "Kit. Kitty honey, talk to me. She's cold, John. I can feel her; she's cold. She's calling me. I can feel her. Kitty needs me."

John looked around, worried about his friend, not knowing what to say. Suddenly, Festus bent down.

"Matthew, I hear ya. What'cha want to do?"

Tom, John, Joey and Sam looked on. "Huh? What are you saying?"

Lane made his way to the constable's office after questioning enough people. When he entered, Harriman looked surprised, wondering why he was there.

Quickly, Harriman spoke. "I guess my secretary sent you to handle my bail, if necessary."

"Well, Mr. Harriman," the constable said. "Until we know more and until Mr. Dillon returns, we don't have an actual charge. So you may leave but don't leave the city."

As he left with Lane, What are you doing here? What happened?"

"There was a problem but it's handled."

"How?"

Disposed of."

"How?"

"Buried. But this was your plan so I'm not going down alone. So, I hope you have a back-up plan. You messed with the wrong people."

"Buried, huh?"

"Yeah, you said if I had trouble, to take care of it and make sure I don't leave any traces. So that's what I did. The body's out in a wooded area. You'd have to be a tracker to find it. Heck, we were lost out there. Took a while to get back."

"Ok. I'll take care of the rest."

TBC