Slow Train to Dodge

PT.6

As the train car door opened, with one quick swoop, Kitty brushed Tracy down behind her into the seat. Tracy, being scared, complied. Kitty came face to face with the same man who earlier had cocked the gun and aimed right at her. Tracy laid quietly on the seat, trying to muffle her cries.

The other passengers were just staring, watching in fear. "Red, Reb says you all should be up here in the front car. Let's get a move on."

Now smirking at him. "Do you really want this sick child in with all those folks?"

"But Reb says…"

Now with her hands propped on her hips. "Do you do everything Reb says? Even if it will get you sick? Or can you think for yourself? You can, can't you?" She asked, now knowing she was attacking his pride.

"Why sure I can!" He replied, now looking at the others. "Go on, move on out of here. You keep that kid here. I'll be checking on ya later. Don't be tryin' any funny stuff."

Shaking her head. "Oh, of course not." She said in a sarcastic tone.

Once the door closed, she said, "Tracy. Tracy we need to find a way out of here. If my calculation is right, we should be just about near Spearville. We just need to get off this train."

Watching out the window, Tracy noticed one of the men riding off. "Miss Russell,this isn't going to be good. If they report back to grandmother that they haven't found me, that they didn't stop me from getting on the train, I don't know what she'll do."

Back in Dodge, Festus sat going over the posters in Matt's office with Newly, trying to connect the partially burnt poster to any associated with the trial Matt testified at in Hayes.

Coming up with two, as a start. There were two that looked to be possibly brothers. Festus figured they sat in wait for Matt on his return ride to Dodge and set up his ambush. Now he at least knew who he was looking for and where to start. "Newly, look out for things here fur ol' Matthew. I'm a gonna go look and find these here yahoos." And he packed up and was off.

Matt was stirring once again, and Doc was trying to calm him.

"Where'd she go, Doc?"

"Sssshhhh! Relax," Doc tried to quieten him.

"No. Where'd she go!?"

"Who, Matt?" Doc asked.

"Kit… Kitty... where…"

"Just relax, Matt. She'll be here real soon."

Shaking his head side to side, "NO! She was here!"

"You're dreaming, Son." Smiling at him.

Now Matt was getting angry. "NO! NO! Kit was here!"

Doc began wiping his face with a cool cloth. "Matt, Son, you've been out of it for days. Kitty's been out of town on business but she's on her way."

Matt was now trying to move. "Doc, I'm telling you, she was here." He now was feeling weak and closed his eyes, losing consciousness.

Kitty quietly peaked out of the car, checking the surroundings and seeing no one around. She figured she had to find a way for her and Tracy to get off this train. She needed to find a way to find help.

Ducking back inside, she looked at the girl. "Ok, Tracy. Do you think you are feeling strong enough to walk?"

Now staring at Kitty. "WALK? Where?"

"Tracy, honey, I don't know but anywhere that gets us out of here."

"Sounds good to me."

"We need to find help. Like I said, I know we're near Spearville but there should be a farm or ranch or something around here. It's worth a try."

Scared but nodding, "Ok, I'll try."

Again Kitty checked to make sure no one was watching then jumped down alongside the train. Then she coaxed Tracy to follow.

Once on the ground, Tracy looked at Kitty. "Ok, Miss Russell, now what?"

"Well, Tracy, I say we get away from this train and find help." Grabbing her by the hand, she said, "Come on. Let's go this way." Kitty led her down an embankment towards a stream, remembering what Matt had always taught her to always follow downstream.

TBC