Slow Train to Dodge

PT.14

Jessie Copperton was annoyed at the response she was getting from Newly, Matt and then Doc. She decided to ask around town. As she made her way down the boardwalk she looked across the street. Seeing Sam outside the Long Branch she was thinking to herself. "Hum. Kitty said she ran a saloon. Those others look a little shabby. This has got to be the one."

Approaching Sam, she called out. "Good morning my dear man."

Looking up, Sam nodded. "Well, good morning, Ma'am. We're not open yet." Smiling at her.

"For heaven's sake, I'm not here to drink. I'm here to see Kitty Russell."

"Oh, well, Ma'am…"

"Not, Ma'am. Mrs. Copperton. Jessie Copperton. She'll know the name. You just tell her I'm here. Go on."

But Mrs. Copperton, Miss Kitty's not here. Why, she's not even in town."

"She's not?" Jessie said surprised. "But she must be. Why my granddaughter came…" Then she quickly stopped. "Oh, I see. You're covering too. You work for her so you were told what to say that, if I came looking. Is that it?"

Mrs. Copperton, I don't know what you mean." Sam answered with an inquisitive look.

"Well, she won't get away with this."

The train pulled into Spearville. As the whistle blew, Kitty was drifting in a semi- sleep. It was the first sound she had heard since being held in that dreadful place. Shaking her head, she thought, "Whistle? Train? I must be near the train tracks." Seeing small beams of light creeping through the cracks, "Well, I guess it's morning." She thought to herself .

Looking over, seeing Sam Cates sleeping against a post. "Hey! Hey, Mister. Wake up."

Stirring slightly. "What is it, Red?"

"I need to... Well… I need a place to… Someplace a little private, if you don't mind." Now smirking at him.

Finally, when he realized what she was getting at, "Oh. Oh, yeah. Okay, wait right there a minute." He checked outside to see it if was clear then walked her down behind some buildings. "Now, Red, you even think of trying anything funny and I won't hesitate to shoot you."

Twisting her lip. "Oh, I wouldn't think of it!" Kitty quickly scanned her surroundings and did what she had to do.

"Come on, Red, I don't have all day."

"Alright, alright, I'm coming." As she was walking back up to the warehouse, she could see movement. Realizing the road to town was just up ahead.

Once back inside, Cates tied her to the post. "Now look, Red, I'm going to get food. You try and keep quiet. I won't be long. I'm gonna go see if Dillon did as he was told."

"You, fool. Matt's in no condition to do anything with your brother even if he wanted to." She yelled out.

"Well, for your sake, you better hope he is." He snapped as he left.

Festus and Carver were coming out of the café just as Matt and Doc made their way down Main Street. "Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle. Matthew? Doc? What'cha all doing here? Matthew, you should be in bed."

"Festus, I don't need to hear it from you too. Heard enough from Doc all the way here." Matt grumped. "Festus, what can you tell me about Kitty? Any idea where…"

"Aw, Matthew. Miss Tracy telled us she just disappeared from the hotel lobby then this here note shows up sayin' this here feller has Miz Kitty and wants to trade her fer his brother. That there yahoo you testified against in Hayes. That Ben Cates feller, Matthew. But there's not nearly a clue where he's a keepin' Miz Kitty."

Jessie Copperton entered the telegraph office. Barney, Louie and Burke were standing around talking about how Doc blasted him for telling them what was in his wire. Suddenly she spoke up. "Excuse me, Gentlemen. If you don't mind."

Quickly, Barney stepped up. "Oh, yes, Ma'am. What can I do for you?"

"I'd like to send a wire."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Here. I'll write it out. I want it to go to Webb Conley at the Copperton ranch. Have it sent by messenger from Sioux Creek."

No sign of Tracy here in Dodge or the woman. Need back up. Send Cates. ASAP!

Jessie Copperton

Sitting in Carvers office, Festus was filling Matt in on all he had been doing then he remembered the night before after supper with Tracy and the suspicious man with the tray, walking off into the dark. "Matthew, there was this feller walkin' late with a tray off in ta the dark. But when I follered him, he just disappeared."

"He did? Where, Festus?"

"Just in the dark at the edge of town."

Carver looked at Festus."

"Well, Deputy, there's nothing out there but a few abandoned buildings. Been that way for years now. Supposed to have been torn down. We can ride out there and look around but I doubt you'll find anything never mind anyone."

A few hours later, Barney came to the hotel asking Howie to deliver a message to Jessie Copperton. "Barney, she's not in her room. She left a while ago. I believe she went to Delmonico's."

Just then, she entered behind them, overhearing their conversation. "I'm right here. Is that for me?"

"Yes. Yes, Ma'am."

Quickly, she read it.

Mrs. Copperton,

Cates gone. Nowhere on property. Left note. Went to take care of personal business, family business.

Webb Conley

"OHHHHH! If I want something done, I just need to do it myself!" She crumbled the paper in her hands!

TBC