PT.12

His Heart Beating in Mine

Tess had contacted the local constable and filled him in on what little she knew, hoping she could get him to go and help Matt. Tess and Jackson Hamilton had become very close ever since he became constable and after her husband had passed. Tess had told him briefly about Kitty and Matt's story. She told him how Matt was believed to be dead but that Kitty herself refused to believe that. And she told him a little about their history with Jude Bonner.

Jackson had recalled the stories in the newspapers about the horrid tales of the Dog Soldiers and the havoc they reined across the west. And his heartfelt sorrows went out to Kitty and Matt when he learned what these two went through at the hands of those animals. And when he first met Kitty, when she came to New Orleans, he was amazed that she survived such an ordeal.

Jackson Hamilton rushed to the waterfront with a few of his men. Just in time, he found Matt and Kitty on the docks, drenched. Matt was holding Kitty tightly in his arms. As he approached them , he said, "Marshal Dillon? I'm Jackson Hamilton, Constable of New Orleans. Miss Warren filled me in on what is going on with this Bonner fella'. My men and I…"

Matt quickly interrupted, saying, "Well, Hamilton, your men may have to fish Bonner out of the river if they can find him. I got here just in time to stop him from drowning Kitty."

"Is that so?" Jackson asked. "Well, I'm happy to see, Ma'am, that you are ok." Looking to his men, he said, "Scour the banks." Reaching out his hand, "May I give you a hand? Let's get the lady up off this hard ground, shall we, Marshal?"

Hamilton and Matt together got Kitty up on her feet, brushing her hair back off her face. "Excuse me gents, but I must look a fright."

Smiling and shaking his head. "Kit, you look beautiful to me."

"Matt, I… I need to find Grace. You said she was alright? How do you know that?"

Grabbing her by the shoulders, "Relax, Kit. I saw Grace. She's with Marcy."

Now the heat was rising in her face. "MARCY? Matt, Marcy has Grace? That girl took my baby and…"

"Now, Kitty…"

"Oh, don't you dare…"

"Ok. Ok. We'll go get Grace. Hamilton? We're gonna go get our daughter. I'll catch up with you in your office later."

Nodding, "Sure thing, Marshal."

Kitty was about ten steps ahead of Matt. "Kitty? Wait up. Where you going?"

"Matt, I want my baby."

"Yes, Honey, I know ."

Suddenly, she stopped. "Cowboy?" Now staring at him, her crystal blue, tear filled eyes looking sadly at him. "Where is my baby?"

He realized she didn't know where he found Marcy with Grace. "Come on, let's go get our daughter." Wrapping their arms around one another, they held tight and headed to the south end of the docks.

Jackson Hamilton and his men combed the river banks in search of Jude Bonner's body or any sign of him for hours. But no sign of him at all was found . So it was either not enough light or he was well hidden.

Back at Kitty's house, Tess and Maggie sat vigil, waiting for word from Jackson, Matt or Kitty. Anyone. They just wanted to hear something. When they heard footstep on the front porch, they both ran to the door. And as Tess opened it, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, whenstanding before the two women, was a soaking wet, bleeding and filthy Bonner with a gun pointed right at them.

He was wearing a seedy, sinister smile. "Hello, Ladies. Ain't you gonna invite us in?"

Tess looked at Maggie then back at Bonner. "US?" She repeated.

He turned slightly, reaching out and grabbing Marcy by the hair, pulling her forward. "Yeah, US. Me and the ladies." Marcy stood there silently holding a blanket bundle, which Tess could only figure was Grace.

Swallowing hard and nodding, "Yes, come in. Come in." Tess stared hard at Marcy, motioning for her to put Grace down in her cradle.

Tess was now thinking just how angry she was with Marcy. After all, she took this girl in off the street, gave her a home, a job, food and clothes. She had treated her like family. Damn, she was good to her and didn't ask anything in return but to just be an honest and good person. And when Kitty came to the Velvet Lady, she was good to all Tess's girls. And Marcy knew very well what Kitty went through.

How dare she help this animal? How dare she hurt her friend like this? Grace was just a baby, an innocent little girl. And she put her in the hands of a killer, an animal. Tess was now seething inside.

Marcy could barely look Tess in the eye. As Marcy placed Grace in the cradle, she looked at Tess. "Tess, I know you don't understand what I did and I know you're probably angry with me, but…"

"Angry with you?" Tess said cutting her off. "Marcy Darlin', it's not me you need to worry about facing being angry with you. And angry is not really the word that covers it."

"Oh, I know. You mean Miss Kitty. That's what that Marshal said too."

"You saw Marshal Dillon?"

"Yeah. He came lookin' for Miss Kitty."

"Enough of the whispering over there." Bonner growled. "Marcy girl, git me somethin' to eat while we wait for the guests of honor!"

As Matt and Kitty reached the shack, it all seemed too quiet. Entering slowly, Matt called out. "Marcy? It's just me, Marshal Dillon. I'm coming in." Entering, he lit a lantern. But as they looked around, all they saw were signs that someone had been there.

Kitty's facial expression dropped. "Cowboy? Where is…" Then she went quiet.

Turning to face her, "Kitty, we'll find them." Matt could feel her trembling.

"My baby, Cowboy. My baby." Tears began to form.

"No, now, Kitty. We'll find her, I promise you. We'll find Grace."

As she looked off in the corner, she spotted a small blanket Grace liked to hold, with a small bunny stitched on it. Bending to pick it up, then holding it to her face, choking back tears. Her bunny blanket. Tears were trickling down her cheeks. "My baby, Matt!" Dropping to her knees.

TBC