Matt climbed into his wagon, feeling the weight of the gun-belt he'd strapped on for the first time in over a year. The feel of the leather, and the motion of buckling at just the right angle and tightness felt natural and normal. When he pulled the gun from its holster to test the smoothness and grip, the muscles and nerves in his fingers and hand came to life. The gun became a part of him, as it had been for so many years. He set off, and drove at a clip until his came to a small wood building at the far end of Main Street. The sign on the door read: Matthew Dillon, Attorney at Law. He was proud of those words, as proud as he'd been of the badge he once wore. Moving quickly he climbed down from the wagon and unlocked the door. It wouldn't take long to gather the folders and law books he needed. He crossed the threshold into the small room, and spotted a piece of paper lying on the floor – a note slipped under the door. Thinking it another threat from Cunningham, he quickly picked it up:

Mr. Dillon, I need to talk to to you real bad. It has to do with the arson case you won for me. Come out to my place right away. Please hurry, Jebediah Sawyer.

Cunningham must be after Jeb too. Matt frowned. The Sawyer farm was a hour away. He could go there and be home well before dark, but Kitty and Doc were expecting him directly. Torn between going to Jeb's and hurrying home, he read the note again, and a third time. Something was off. Jeb always called him Matthew, why would he write Mr. Dillon? And he wouldn't sign his name Jebediah. He always went by Jeb. This note was a fake, written by someone who wanted to keep him from away from home. He swiftly swept up papers and books, thew them in a cardboard box, and carried it to his wagon. He was about to climb up to the driver's seat when he heard a moan and paused. A second moan was louder. He turned and squinted down a shadowy alleyway. It looked like a man or boy was on the ground, moaning and trying to crawl. Matt froze, it could be trap made by whoever wrote the note. Hand on his gun, all senses alert, he cautiously moved toward the body. He got closer and saw a young man bloodied, battered and beaten."Easy there." The pale youth pried open his swollen eyes and tried to focus.

"What happened son? Who are you?"

The young man whispered hoarsely. "Name's Calvin Cunningham. I don't know who beat me, but I figure my father, Raymond Cunningham, sent him."

"Let's get you in my wagon. I'll take you to my place. There's a doctor there."

Calvin groaned. "My father's gonna be mad at you for helping me."

"That's the least of it." Matt put an arm around Calvin's back and half dragged, half carried him out of the alleyway and into his wagon.

Billy

After leaving Calvin near unconscious, Billy Baines rode the long way around to the back of the Dillon property. He stopped in a small grove of apple trees, and rubbed his left palm across his red and swollen knuckles Those extra hard punches were worth it. The kid got a lesson he'd never forget. A grin spread across Billy's face. And the boss was gonna be real pleased to get his ring back. Best part of it all was the next job was gonna be just as easy. Dillon would be away for hours, thanks to the note slipped under his door. The only people around were women and a harmless old man. Snatching the kid will be easy as pie. Billy took a quick glance around, to make sure the coast was clear, and crouch-ran to the Dillon's back door. He had no idea a pair of bright blue eyes were watching.

Upstairs in the nursery, Jane McDuff tidied up while Kitty rubbed Gail's back, coaxing her into a late morning nap. Kitty looked up from the crib. "She's asleep Jane, I'll close the window in case the wind picks up." She crossed the room and pushed back the lace curtain to close the window. A movement caught her eye. A cowboy was running to the back door of the house. He was armed. She signaled Jane to join her. "Is that the cowboy who gave you and Mary the note the other day?" Janie quickly nodded. "I'm sure of it."

"Take Gail and go into my bedroom. Stay away from the windows." Kitty's voice was firm.

"But what are you going to do.? Jane looked panic stricken.

"Don't worry, just go."

Jane carefully lifted 6 month old Gail, trying not to wake her, and hurried across the hall to the Dillon's bedroom.. Kitty pulled her derringer from her pocket, eyes still fixed on the man. She watched as he jiggled the doorknob. The door was locked. He stepped back and pulled out his gun to shoot off the lock.

Holding her gun with both hands, Kitty carefully took aim. Matt taught her to shoot, and she was an apt student, but the angle from the nursery window was too steep for a clear, clean shot She'd do her best. She held her breath and slowly squeezed the trigger. The shot resounded. She ducked away from the window.

Billy felt a bullet whizz by, missing him by inches. Panic struck. He fired again and again at the house, spraying bullets at windows while backing up. Matt Dillon must be home, which meant taking the kid was too risky right now. He rounded the corner and pressed his back against the side of the house to think. He had to do damage to Dillon somehow, but he sure as heck wasn't gonna be a sitting duck. His eyes rested on the small building that stood a few yards from the house. A self satisfied grin crossed his face. The store the Dillon woman ran. It was closed today. He'd break in and destroy it. That would scare Matt Dillon and that wife of his.

Kitty stood off the side of the window until the gunshots stops. She waited a second and careful peeked through the side of the window. The cowboy was gone. She'd scared him off, at least for now. Good thing Matt would be home soon.

"What happened? I heard a shots."

She turned and saw Doc in the doorway, breathless and holding a rifle. He must have run up the stairs. "Everyone's fine. Someone was trying to break in the back door. I scared him off with a shot. He fired back, but I don't think he hit anything. Jane's in my bedroom with Gail. Could you let her know everything's fine, but to stay clear of windows. I need to sit a minute."

Doc eyed Kitty carefully, she seemed fine, if a bit shaken. "I'll talk to Jane, then I'll be downstairs with my eyes glued to the front door, and this rifle in hand." Doc squeezed Kitty's shoulder. "Take some time to calm yourself."

Going as fast as his aging legs would carry him, Doc crossed the hallway and went in the bedroom to speak to Jane. Her sister Mary had already joined her and was holding Gail in her arms. They looked up with alarm when Doc rushed in. "You're carrying a rifle." Jane's voice was shaking. Doc took her hand and used his well practiced, comforting tone. "Everything's fine. Kitty scared off whoever was trying to break in. Matt will be back any minute. Just stay here with the baby, and don't go near any windows, just in case." He hurried off and got downstairs in time to hear the door open. He raised his rifle, but quickly set it aside. It was Matt, with a beaten and bloodied young man. Matt eyed Doc's rifle. They they both blurted out, "What happened?" Matt got Calvin to the couch. "Doc, you first."

"Someone tried to get in the back door. Kitty scared him off with a shot. Who's this?" Doc was already at Calvin's side.

"Raymond Cunningham's son, Calvin. Cunningham had him beaten. Where's Kitty?" Matt was already moving towards the stairs.

"Upstairs. She's fine – everyone's fine." Matt nodded. "I'll let her know I'm back." Doc turned his attention to his patient, with the rifle close at hand.

Billy Baines cautiously made his way to other side of the Sweetwater Too, to find an easy way in. He never did understand why Matt Dillon allowed his wife to run a store. No wife of his would do such a thing. Female minds were not cut out for running things and figuring. He came to the side door and smiled. It didn't look too sturdy. He took a step back and kicked the door hard. It flew open. Inside the small, attractive store, he glanced around. Boxes were neatly lined up on shelves. The cash register sat on a gleaming glass counter, with shelves underneath. A large blackboard hung overhead, with prices for fudge, fruitcake and candy corn in different size boxes. Billy grinned, it all looked kinda pretty, and had to be worth a good bit of cash. It was gonna be fun to mess it all up. He spied a hammer on a shelf, and his grin grew wider. This was his lucky day.

Upstairs in the house, still sitting in the nursery, Kitty tried to focus her mind. She'd spent her adult life with the best lawman in the country, hearing him puzzle things out, wrap his mind about problems. She had to try and think like Matt, and figure out what the man she'd frighted off was going to do. She bit her lower lip. He was a tough guy cowboy, who threatened a baby and tried to break into a house, yet he got scared off with one shot. Bottom line he was a coward. He'd keep trying to scare them, but find a cowardly way. Her eyes widened. She jumped to her feet – the store. He'd damage her store, maybe burn it down. No one was there, there'd be no risk. She took off down back stairs to get to the Sweetwater Too.

Matt left Doc tending to Calvin, and went upstairs to the bedroom hr shared with Kitty. He found Jane and Mary nervously watching Gail. Jane saw the worry on Matt's face "The baby is safe. Doc said everything's fine, but Mrs. Dillon will be glad to see you're back. She's still in the nursery." Matt nodded and crossed the hall to the bright yellow room. It was empty. "Damn it Kitty. Where'd you go?"

Inside the Sweetwater Too, Billy gleefully crashed a hammer down on a big box of fudge. Bits of chocolate flew all over. He smiled and hammered another box and another. Merchandise worth hundred of dollars totally destroyed. He raised the hammer with two hands and slammed it hard on the glass counter. A crack spread across the top like a spider web. The fun was just beginning. He yanked a shelf from the wall, boxes flew in all directions.

"Stop right there and put your hands up." Billy frowned with disbelief. That was a woman's voice. He turned and saw Kitty Dillon pointing a derringer straight at him. He shook his head. "Whatcha gonna do with that itty bitty thing. Ya might as well hand it over." He lunged toward her and grabbed her hand. She tightened her grip on her the gun, and struggled fiercely against the taller heavier cowboy. He laughed and forced her arm away from him, pushing it towards her chest. Her hand shook. The gun went off.

Matt heard the gunshot. It came from the store. He ran down the back stairs heart racing. The door to the Sweetwater Two was wide open. Gun drawn he ran inside, and froze at what he saw. Kitty was there, hair a mess, breathing hard, gun pointed at a cowboy, sitting on the flaw his hands wrapped around the font of his leg. "Well, I should have known you'd have things under control. You did see the Long Branch through a lot of rough years."

Relief washed over Kitty at the sound of Matt's voice. A small smile tugged at lips. "That's where I learned that a carefully timed kick to a shin can do wonders. But there's a bulled hole in the wall there. It will need repair." She glanced around and sighed heavily., "Not to mention everything else that's been destroyed." Adrenaline rush gone, she found her strength ebbing away. "Matt…."

"I've got it." He grabbed Billy's gun, and pulled the man to his feet. "Hands behind your back." Matt grabbed a length of rope, used for tying packages, and roped Billy's wrists together."

Kitty lowered her gun, and blinked back tears. "Matt, I have to – I want to go hold Gail."

"I know Kitty. Your heart has to make sure she's safe."

She caressed him with her eyes. He always understood. "I love you Matt." She hurried from the store to be with her child.

Matt shoved his gun into his prisoner's back. "Let's go."

"Where?"

"Inside the house to see Calvin Cunningham, the man you beat up." Billy shrugged, "OK with me. You oughta know it won't matter. Raymond Cunningham won't stop 'til he gets his way.

Topeka

Raymond Cunningham drummed his thick fingers on his desk, and looked at his pocket watch. It was 5:00, Billy was an hour late. Something must have gone wrong in the Dillon matter. It was a safe bet Billy took care of Calvin, maybe scarred him for life – ruined his looks. The damn boy looked more like his mother with each passing year, and she was a beautiful woman. That witch – he fell for her bad. She pretended to be all goodness and light, and she knew how to please a man. Too bad she wasn't clever enough to figure out he was infertile, left that way by a bad case of mumps. She announced that she was pregnant with glowing happiness on her face, expecting him to be overjoyed. She betrayed him, cheated on him, bewitched another man. It was a blessing she died in childbirth, too bad the boy lived.

Cunningham glanced at his watch again, he shouldn't let him mind wonder like this. It was clear Billy failed to kidnap the Dillon child. If he had he'd be back by now. It was time to send for the Morris brothers to get to Dillon. If he wired them now, they'd be here by morning. They charged a hefty price for their services, but sometimes you get what you pay for.

TBC