Chapter 18

Doc had told Festus where he met up with Myles Saunders. Using that information, Festus easily traced Doc's buggy trail and found where Doc had stopped the buggy. The wheel marks sunk a bit deeper where Doc stopped his buggy. Festus immediately saw the hoofprints from Myles' horse. They were heading off in a southeasterly direction.

Festus and the posse had been on the trail of Myles Perkins ever since he found Doc's parked buggy wheel marks. They would follow the trail for a few miles in one direction, but then it would suddenly veer off in a different direction. It was obvious that Myles was trying to throw off anyone who was out looking for him. It was also visible where the horse changed speeds. The horse would trade off between a gallop and a trot.

None of that deterred Festus. He was bound and determined to get the man that had hurt Ruby Dillon. Festus did not care if he had to track Myles Saunders all over the prairie. He would get him.

The sun was beginning to set and darkness began to cover the Earth. Myles had thus far been able to elude the law. He had no doubt the law would be after him. After all, he had possibly killed the Marshal's daughter Figuring his pursuers would back off for the night, Myles decided to use the dark veil of night to his advantage. He found a thicket of trees near a creek and set up a makeshift camp.

Festus was the best tracker in Dodge City, probably Ford County, but even he had his limits. Right now the darkness of night was limiting him. With no moon out to offer some light, continuing to follow Myles' tacks was proving to be a difficult task. They would have to stop and bed down for the night.

"Alright fellas, we're gonna stop here for the night. It's gettin' too dark 'n I ain't gonna risk losing Myles' trail. We can water the horses down there." Festus and the posse were only a mile away from Myles Saunders.

Ruby had regained consciousness, but at cost. For the last two hours, the little girl had been violently ill. She was vomiting every fifteen minutes, with little relief between. Each time Ruby was sick, her little body shook as she would heave the contents out of her stomach. At one point she was vomiting out bile. It was as if some outside force had taken over her body. When she was at the end of a round of vomiting, she would gag and dry heave. Finally, when she was done, she would be full of sweat with tears streaming down her face.

Ruby's plight tore at the hearts of Matt, Kitty, and Doc. Seeing the little girl suffer was almost too much to handle. Each of them would have traded places with Ruby in a heartbeat. It was so unfair that she had to go through such an experience.

After Ruby's last round of sickness, Matt followed Doc out of the backroom. Doc had a basin of Ruby's stomach contents. He was going to go and empty the basin.

"Doc, isn't there anything you can do for her? Can't ya give her some sort of powders?" Seeing his little gemstone like that was almost too much for Matt to bear.

"Matt, I know how hard it is for you and Kitty to see Ruby like this. It's hard for me too," said Doc. "But I have to let her be sick. I want her to get that chloroform out of her little body."

"How much more can she take? How many more times is she gonna be sick? She's so little. She can't have anything else to vomit up."

"Right now she's vomiting bile. That means her stomach no longer has food in it," Doc explained.

"That can't be good, especially if she continues being sick." Matt's voice was full of anguish.

"It looks like Ruby's sickness is coming to an end, but I want to make sure. If she's not sick for at least the next couple of hours, we'll see about getting her some broth," Doc explained.

Kitty stayed in the room with Ruby and heard Matt and Doc's conversation. She was very concerned about her daughter. Taking a cloth, Kitty wiped off Ruby's mouth and then held a glass of water to Ruby lips so she could take a drink.

"Take small sips," Kitty gently instructed. She did not want Ruby to take large gulps of water and become sick again.

"Okay, Momma," Ruby weakly whispered. "I don't wanna be sick no more."

"I know, baby," Kitty soothed.

"Is Grandpa Doc gonna make me better?" Ruby finished with the water and lied back down.

"He's doing everything he can," Kitty promised.

Two hours passed and it looked as though Ruby's bout of vomiting had come to an end. Knowing that Ruby needed nourishment, Doc sent Matt to Delmonico's to get some broth for her. He also instructed Matt to bring back food for the three of them. Doc wanted to make sure Matt and Kitty kept up their strength.

Matt descended the steps of Doc's office and walked over to Delmonico's. During his short trip, he was stopped by several townsfolk who were concerned about Ruby. Not wanting to engage in long conversations, Matt quickly told them she was improving and that he had to get back. Happy with the news, they let Matt continue on his way.

Ruby was no longer sick, but now she faced another adversity, the sores in her mouth. Matt was not aware of the sores, until Ruby quickly spit her broth back into the bowl. The broth made the sores sting.

"Is it too hot, honey?" Matt watched Kitty check the broth. He was sure she made certain it wasn't too hot.

"It stings my mouth," Ruby cried.

Matt looked at Doc for an explanation. "The chloroform has created sores in her mouth." Doc looked at Ruby. "I know it stings, but we need you to sip on that broth. It will help you to get better faster. After you sip on some broth, you can sip on some water. It will help it not to sting so badly."

"Doc, what can we do about the sores?" Kitty asked.

"We need to keep the sores clean. To do that, she'll have to rinse with salt water several times a day," Doc answered. He noticed Kitty trying to stifle a yawn. "I think it's time for all of us to get a good night's sleep. I'll let the three of you stay here, while I sleep out in my office."

Before Matt and Kitty could argue with Doc, he left the room and shut the door. He would sleep on his examination table. It wasn't the most comfortable thing to sleep on, but Doc wasn't concerned with that. His granddaughter was worth the sacrifice of a comfortable bed.

Kitty took off her shoes and crawled into bed next to Ruby. At the same time, Matt sat down in the chair next to the bed. He took off his boots and stretched out his legs. Ruby looked at her daddy. She wanted him to join her and momma in the bed.

"Daddy, why are you over there?" she asked. "I want you ta come by me 'n Momma." Unable to say no to his daughter's request, Matt joined his girls in the bed.

The morning sun started to peak above the horizon. Wanting to get started as quickly as possible, Festus and the group of men quickly ate some biscuits and jerky. There was no time for coffee. Water would have to suffice. With vittles in their stomachs, they set off to continue tracking down Myles Saunders.

They had not been tracking for long, when Festus noticed that the trail from Myles' horse was heading towards the thicket of trees. Observing more closely, Festus could see Myles' horse tethered to a branch of one of the trees. Festus held up his hand, signaling the men to stop. He pointed up ahead.

"Do ya think he's in there?" Sam quietly asked.

"I can't be certain, but I don't know why he'd leave his horse," Festus replied. "Now remember, we want this yayhoo brought back alive."

Myles had slept longer than he intended. He wanted to be up and out of there before sunrise. The ride on the prairie wore him out. Now that the sun had provided light, Myles cautiously moved to the edge of the thicket.

Festus noticed the movement and drew his rifle, aiming it towards the thicket of trees. "Ya best jest come on outta there. There ain't no chance of you escaping."

"Ya might as well shoot me!" Myles shouted. "It would save a hanging!" Myles was certain the little redhead had died.

"She's alive!" Festus shouted back, not knowing for sure. "Now you come on out of there."

Myles reluctantly stepped out with his hands up. Festus kept his rifle on Myles as he approached him. The posse also had their guns drawn. When Festus was within reaching distance, he put down his rifle and handcuffed Myles Saunders.

"Don't even think about tryin' nothin' on the way back to Dodge," Festus warned. "I ain't aimin' ta bring ya back as fodder fer the turkey buzzards."

Ruby had a peaceful night, much to Matt, Kitty, and Doc's relief. Doc wanted to see if her stomach could handle some solid food. This time he went to Delmonico's to get some food. He ordered a bowl of mush for Ruby, Kitty, and himself. Doc also ordered some toast for Kitty and himself. For Matt he ordered ham and eggs. Fortunately the mush didn't bother Ruby's sores as much as the broth did, and she was able to keep it down.

While the four of them were eating, they could hear the familiar sound of Festus' jangling spurs as he climbed the stairs up to Doc's office. Matt excused himself from the small group and went out to Doc's office. He knew Festus would not have returned empty handed. Festus quietly opened the door and saw Matthew standing there.

"We brought him back, Matthew," Festus announced.

"Dead or alive?" Matt questioned.

"Alive. He's over at the jail," Festus replied.

"Thank you Festus, I'm obliged to you," said Matt.

"Ain't no problem, Matthew. How's Miss Ruby?" Festus was concerned about the little girl.

"She's doing fine. Doc thinks she'll make a full recover," Matt answered.

"Mighty glad ta hear that," Festus smiled. "I'm gonna get back to the jail. I'll see ya directly."

Matt watched Festus leave Doc's office. The events of last evening kept playing over and over in his mind. The man who caused his daughter such agony was being housed over at the jail. Matt looked down at his badge and slowly rubbed his index finger up and down on it as he was contemplating his next move.

His motion stopped as he unpinned the badge from his shirt. Matt held the badge in his hand before tossing it on the table. It made a thunk as it landed. Grabbing his hat off the hook and placing it on his head, Matt left Doc's office.

Kitty and Doc were with Ruby when Festus had returned with the news of Myles Saunders' capture. Both were relieved that he would face justice for his actions, but now it looked as though Matt was going to take justice into his own hands. They heard the thunking sound of the badge as it landed on the table. Kitty looked at Doc with pleading eyes. Wordlessly Doc gave Kitty a quick and reassuring squeeze of her hand. He left the room and went after Matt.

"Matt!" Doc descended down the steps. Matt stopped and turned when he heard his voice. "Don't do it, Matt. Don't go taking the law into your own hands. You let the law handle it within the law, the way it should be."

"If it were anything else, Doc, anything else." Matt slowly shook his head side to side.

"Kitty was afraid that this would happen. I promised her I wouldn't let it."

"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep, Doc."

"Matt you go and get vengeance on Myles Saunders, then you're no better than he is. His actions weren't justified and neither will yours. Think, Matt. You will face justice for your actions, possibly a hanging. And then who is going to be there for Kitty and Ruby? Who's going ta protect them and keep them safe? No one can do that like you, Matt."

Doc hoped his little speech would deter Matt from making a big mistake. It did not appear to do so. Matt turned around and continued on towards his destination. Doc looked at the receding figure of Matt as he walked away and back up at his office. He had failed Kitty. He could not keep his promise.

TBC

*Author's Note: There is one more chapter. I want to thank all of you for your patience with me and the delay of the posting of the chapters. It's a good thing I didn't give myself a due date. Otherwise, I'd have to take points off my grade for turning things in late. Since I do that to my students, I'd have to do it to myself.