Slow Train to Dodge

PT.8

Kitty stood scanning the large room as she entered the saloon. As she approached the bar, the rather small yet robust and balding barkeep stood looking at her, unsure of her.

"Let me have a glass of your rye whiskey, please."

He didn't budge. Now the men at the bar all turned and stared.

Tilting her head, "You do have rye whiskey, don't you?"

Now snapping out of his stare, "Oh yes, ma'am, but are you sure you want…"

Raising her brow., "YES! I want rye whiskey."

Then a voice came from the end of the bar. "Hey, Burt. Don't you know who that is? Why this here is Miss Kitty Russell, owner of the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City."

Burt placed the glass in front of Kitty. Kitty turned. "Yes, I am, and you would be?"

"Just a cowboy, Ma'am." He answered, tipping his hat.

But Kitty wasn't comfortable with his tone or the way he was looking at her. Raymond made his way down the bar.

"Miss Russell, maybe you'll be wantin' to head out." He said in a low tone.

Kitty swallowed the brown liquid, turned and walked out only to hear several laughs. Raymond followed behind as she headed for the wagon. "Miss Russell? I'm sorry for…"

Waving her hand, "Mister Morely, I deal with cowboys like that all the time. Just forget it."

As they started out, Carver headed for the saloon, looking to enlist as many men as he could to deputize to go out to where Kitty had told him the train would be. But he was interrupted by a short man walking up the boardwalk. "Sheriff? Sheriff? Wait a minute. I needs ta' jaw wit ya!"

Quickly Kitty turned, surprised at what she thought she'd heard. Pulling on Morely's reins, she cried out. "Wait!" Turning quickly, she saw him. "FESTUS! FESTUS! Festus Hagen!"

"Miz Kitty? What in plum tarnation… Miz Kitty, if'n you ain't a sight fur sore eyeballs!"

Jumping down off the wagon, Kitty smiled happily. "Oh, Festus, am I ever so glad to see you." Hugging him.

"Miz Kitty, ere you alright ur ownself? Doc and everybody's been a wondering when you was a coming back. Ol' Matthew is just plum ailing and, Miz Kitty, you know ol' Matthew. He… well, he…"

Cupping his face in her hands, "Festus, I know and I want to get back to Dodge. Festus, what are you doing here?"

"Miz Kitty, I be following them two yahoos that ambushed Matthew."

Furrowing her brow and you think they're here?"

"Well now, I'm not shore, Miz Kitty. What'cha doing here?"

"Ahhh, Festus, it's gonna take a lot of telling. Long story short, the train I was on was held hostage and I escaped with a young girl to save her. I came here to get to the sheriff, but Festus…" She sniffled.

"Awwww." He said, wrapping his arms around her. "Don't you worry ur ownself, Miz Kitty. I'll git you home to Dodge."

She just rested her head on his shoulder. Then she remembered Tracy. "Oh, Festus, Tracy. I need to get Tracy."

"Tracy?" He repeated

"Tracy Copperton. She is the young girl I helped off the train, Festus. I don't have time to explain right now."

Morely looked at Kitty. "Ma'am?"

"I'm coming." And she looked at Festus. "I need to go get her. I'll see you back here in a while." Kissing his cheek, she hopped back up on the wagon.

The eyes watching earlier, once again, were still watching closely.

TBC