PT.7

His Heart Beating in Mine

Note: I'd like to take a minute to say thank you to all the readers who I am unable to thank for the very kind reviews ( the guest's that I can't respond to ) I do appreciate you taking the time to read and review. They do not go unnoticed so Thank You so much!

Marcy Foster, a rather small framed girl, about late twenties in age, but a little rough around the edges, worked mostly in some of the small town seedy saloons. She was orphaned very young, homeless, slept in side allies, did whatever she had to do just to eat, went from town to town, latched on to one man after another. The last one dumped her down along the waterfront, beaten and hungry. That's where Tess found her, brought her home a little over a year ago, cleaned her up and gave her a job.

This being Maggie's day off, Kitty brought Grace along with her to Tess's club just for a few hours. She had a few orders she wanted to double check on. It was early, the place was usually fairly quiet, she had time to nurse her and lay her down in one of the rooms. Tess's girls loved fussing over Grace.

Kitty was engrossed in the orders, but couldn't help but feel a gnawing in her stomach. That feeling that told her something just wasn't right. She stopped for a moment to refill her coffee cup and noticed Marcy standing in the doorway of the office, watching her.

Furrowing her brow, she asked., "Marcy? Is there something you need?"

"Oh, no, Ma'am. I… I was just thinking about the…"

Now tilting her head. "Thinking about what, Dear?"

"Well, what you were saying yesterday. About that poster and what happened to you. You say Jude Bonner did all those awful things to you cause that Marshal done got his brother hanged."

Taking a deep breath and exhaling, quickly recalling that horrid memory. "Yes, Marcy. Jude Bonner and his Dog Soldiers. They are nothing but animals."

"And the little brother?" Marcy asked.

"Marcy, they were cold blooded killers. They killed people, innocent families, women and children, for sport. Marshal Dillon did his duty in bringing in Virgil Bonner. The government gave him a trial and he was convicted. Matt had nothing to do with that. It was out of his hands."

Marcy was just cringing. "But hanging a man? It's so… so… Miss Kitty?"

"Yes?"

"What do you think they will do now? I mean since they say this one, Jude, they say he killed your hus…" Suddenly Marcy stopped.

"First of all, Marcy. I don't believe my husband is dead. And secondly, if given the chance, I'd kill Jude Bonner with my own bare hands. Now if you'll excuse me, I really need to finish these orders."

Marcy looked horrified, turned and left.

It was just after noon. There was a small lunch time crowd. Kitty decided to check in on Grace. She was awake and fussing, ready for a feeding. Sitting in a rocking chair with her, holding her close, letting her nurse, she began brushing back the deep reddish brown curls off her face and looking into her crystal blue eyes.

Looking at this little face, all she could think about was the man whom she loved and the love that was so strong that created this beautiful little baby.

"Oh, Grace Maria. Oh, how I wish your papa could be here to see you and hold you. You, little one, are a perfect reflection of our love. After everything you and I went through and survived. I know now this was meant to be and I know your papa is out there somewhere. I feel it, Sweetheart. I feel it with every fiber of my being! His heart beats in mine. I just know I would know if he was no longer with us. I promise you, I will never give up."

Suddenly Kitty heard a voice yell out for her, then saw Marcy at the door.

"Miss Kitty?"

"Yes, Marcy?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you but Tess is looking for you. She needed to talk to you. One of the vendors is here."

"Oh, alright. I'll be right down."

"I can stay with Gracie if you like, till she falls off to sleep."

"Ok, thanks, Marcy."

As Kitty left, she stopped, turned and looked back, not sure why. Then she kept going down to the saloon floor.

Several hours later, Kitty headed home with Grace. She was exhausted, she had an uneasy feeling she was being watched, but then again, with all this talk about the wanted poster for Jude Bonner, she thought she might be just…

The streets were now dark. In a small, low lit bar down by the river front, a muscular built man sat at a table in the back of the room with a bottle of whiskey. Sweaty and dirty, he was sitting with two working gals. He allowed them to keep him company, not that he was really very interested.

Then he was approached by another party. Quickly, he pushed the two gals away. "Well? Speak!"

"Well, ok. I did what you said. You were right. She's here and it looks like she's been here about, oh, a year or so, right after, you know."

The man just let out a loud laugh. "Yeah, I do know. So it looks like the big man was right. She lived after all. Gotta say, the lady is made of some strong stuff." Now laughing aloud again. "Maybe, I just gotta see how strong. You know what I mean? GOTTA? This time, we'll do it right and this time I'm gonna draw Dillon out first and make him watch. HAHAHAHA!"

TBC