Slow Train To Dodge

PT.16

The sound of the gun shot ringing out stopped all outside the warehouse in their tracks.

"Matthew? Miz Kitty?" Rushing towards the closed door, Matt yelled out. "Kitty! Kitty! Cates, I'm coming in!"

Festus, Carver and even Jay followed behind Matt spanning out. Suddening, they heard, "Matt? Matt, I can't open the door from this side. It's stuck."

Festus, Jay and Carver rushed to force the large doors open, and as it fell open, Kitty came through, exhausted, unable to speak and tears in her eyes. Falling into Matt's arms and resting her head against his chest gently, she cried, "Oh, Cowboy. What on earth are you doing here? You… you should be…"

Stopping her, "Ssshhh, Kit. Are you alright?"

Nodding her head, "I am now. I am now."

Festus looked at Kitty, "Miz Kitty? The shot?"

Shrugging her shoulders, he turned his back and pulled his gun to fire and I saw a board so I…"

Now Doc just laughed, swiping his mustache, mumbling, "Gun went off?"

"Yeah." She answered as she looked at Matt. "Cowboy? Let's get you out of here. Doc, why'd you let him come here?"

"Oh, now, young lady, did you think there was anything I could have done to stop him?"

"Well, maybe not but Doc, he's… he's…"

"He's right here, you two!" Matt shouted standing between them both.

Smiling, "Oh of course you are and we're going to get you into bed and get you some rest and, Doc? I'm going see to it he stays there."

Smiling to himself, he thought, 'Young Lady, I believe you will."

As they made their way back towards town, Festus and Carver took Cates to the jail. Tracy ran out when she saw them all.

"Miss Russell! You're alright!" She cried, hugging her."

"Yes, Tracy, I'll be just fine with a nice hot bath and a bed."

Jay walked up behind Tracy. "Oh, Miss Russell I want you to meet someone. "Jay Conley. This is Miss Russell, the woman I told you about. She saved Daddy's life and mine a few years ago and this is her special friend, Marshal Dillon." She just shifted her eyes looking at Matt.

"Tracy, I believe your friend and I met earlier." Kitty told the girl.

Jay nodded, "Yes, Ma'am, we did. Sorry I couldn't help faster."

"It's alright."

Tracy leaned closer to Kitty. "Remember when you asked me on the train if there was a special someone?" Now smiling, "Well, yes. Jay and I… well, Miss Russell…"

'Et et. Tracy, I think I get the point."

"Well, Miss Russell? If Grandmother finds out about…"

Raising her brow, "Oh, I see. Yes, Jessie."

"Hummmm." just then Matt added, "Are we talking about Jessie Copperton?"

Furrowing her brow, "Yes, cowboy. Why?"

"Well, before I left Dodge, she was there asking for you, Kitty."

"And?"

"And nothing. I didn't have time to talk to her."

Chuckling, "Of course, you didn't. Tracy, we'll all meet for breakfast. Now, Cowboy, let's see about getting you taken care of and no arguments!"

Doc just snickered. "And you thought I was tough."

Kitty checked Matt into the hotel and ordered plenty of hot water. After being in that warehouse, she couldn't wait to peel off those clothes. She was surprised but yet very glad that Festus and Carver had brought back her things from the train as well as Tracy's. Once cleaned up, and having Matt settled., she curled up beside him, resting her head on his shoulder careful of his chest wound.

Lying quiet, rubbing her hand lightly across his wounded chest. "Matt? Cowboy, I… I… when Doc wrote me that you were shot, I… well, I was so scared. I dropped everything. I wanted nothing more than to be home, home in Dodge with you. To be here by your side, I wanted, needed, you to know I was there with you and would do anything, anything, Cowboy. I was actually willing you to…"

Gently he reached down, turning her face to face him. "I know, Kitty. I heard you and you were here, or there with me. You were there holding my hand and telling me to fight and to hold on."

"Matt, I tried. I was trying everything, everything I could."

"Sssshhh, Kit. I know. Kit, we're here together."

"Cowboy, I couldn't live without you. You know that?"

"Yeah, Kit and you're not going to have to, not just yet." Kissing the top of her head.

Tracy sat talking to Jay. "Maybe we should have told your father. Maybe he would have helped us."

"Nah, he'd never go against your grandmother."

"Oh, I don't know. Webb and Daddy got pretty close before he died."

"Tracy, you'll be 18 in another week then this will all not matter."

Carver had Kitty sit and write out a statement as to what took place at the warehouse as well as the train, even though she had already told him. Sitting there, Sam Cates, in the next room behind bars, yelled out to Matt that he wasn't through with him. He yelled that Kitty might have out smarted him but that she just got lucky. But that if he got another chance, he'd make Matt pay and her too.

Just as he was yelling, the door to Carver's office swung open. "There you are, Kitty Russell! And your Marshal friend. Now, where are you hiding my granddaughter?"

TBC