But even the best laid plans, such as "The Surgeon's" always were, can turn on a dime, as when the devil played with fate early the next morning.
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"Kitty, we've ridden further than I figured on, and these horses could use some water," Matt said, taking off his Stetson and wiping his brow with a light blue bandana. "The Camerons live just over that hill, and I've stopped there a few times before to use their trough and pump."
"That sounds fine, Matt. I could use a little time off this saddle," she said with a wry smile as she twisted, raising herself up a little. She wasn't used to two long rides in only a couple of days, but was overjoyed when Matt suggested they go out again this morning. This time he was dressed in his usual clothing, having promised to ride out to rancher Jack Wirth's later on in the day. Kitty wore her long black riding skirt with a pale yellow, high-collared blouse with tiny pale dots.
Shaking his head with a grin, Matt recalled how he had once remarked to a lawman friend that he had spent so much time in the saddle he felt like he had a "cast iron" seat by now. Raising his Stetson and running a hand through his sun-touched curly brown hair, he gave an admiring look at Kitty's fine figure. "No cast iron there! All soft sweetness."
At the crest of the hill, they stopped their horses and gazed down at the homey sight of a neat, clapboard house with a potted red geranium on the front porch, smoke curling from the stone chimney, and half-a-dozen chickens pecking in the dirt by the nearby barn. A wooden trough with a metal pump at one end was halfway between the two buildings. Nodding at Kitty, Matt led the way down the gently winding path through the grass and sunflowers. Halfway down, he stopped and twisted back towards her.
"Kitty. Evina Cameron loves company, doesn't get much way out here, so is sure to ply us with coffee and some of her baking. I sure could do with some coffee that isn't a 'Chester Concoction!' I think I swallowed half an egg's worth of shell with this morning's cupful!"
The young woman let out a laugh, tilting her head up, eyes closed and her glorious red hair reflecting the bright rays of the Kansas sun. "That sounds good to me, Matt!" Opening her eyes and looking down at the broad shouldered back of the handsome man on the sturdy Buckskin picking its way down the slope, she thought of loyal Chester and smiled. "He loves Matt as much as I do, in his own way, and would unhesitatingly risk his life to save him, but seems to be unable to make a pot of coffee that Matt likes!"
Before the two horses and riders reached the dirt and grass yard, Evina Cameron had come outside and was standing on the porch, wiping her hands on her apron and widely smiling in welcome. A sturdily-built, eternally cheerful woman of forty-eight with small, bright green eyes and thick, unruly light-brown hair, Evina loved company, cooking, and her husband Ned. She never regretted that no children had come along, content with Ned and their busy church and farm life.
"Mar-SHAL! Is that YOU?!" she called, squinting up at the backlit couple slowly approaching. "And MISS KITTY! Lands sake! I haven't seen you since Hector was a pup!" The excited woman's eyes danced in happy anticipation of feeding the young couple. "Ya'll come right in here for some hot coffee and freshly baked marble cake!"
"Yes Ma'am," Matt said, smiling down as he reined in his horse by the front porch, gracefully dismounted and helped Kitty down. "Miss Evina, we'd sure like to water our horses first."
"Well, of course! You go do that and I'll take your lovely companion inside. Hurry on now!" the stocky woman said, waving a hand towards the pump and trough before taking Kitty's arm and guiding her into the house. With a bemused expression, Kitty smiled at Matt over her shoulder as Evina hustled her in.
"Yes, MA'AM!" Matt said softly with a laugh, taking the reins of both horses and leading them across the yard. "Whoo—ee! If I ever need a posse, I'll sure stop here first for that woman!"
Once inside, Evina put out a bar of soap and two towels by her kitchen sink and pump, and as her guests washed their hands, she bustled about cutting large slices of her famous marble cake, and took the plates out to the small dining room table. "Now, you and Miss Kitty come out here and set yourselves down! I'll tend to the coffee. Too bad Ned won't be back in from the fields for a while yet." Hurrying back to her kitchen, she patted Kitty on the arm as she and Matt came into the dining room.
Matt pulled out a chair for Kitty, and as she glanced back towards the kitchen, he put a gentle, restraining hand on her shoulder. "Don't even think of trying to help her, Kitty. Evina Cameron is a force of nature, not to be interfered with! That woman loves company and doin' for them like a horse loves carrots!" Taking his hand from the young woman's shoulder, he grazed her soft face with his fingers before sitting down opposite her. They sat silently looking at each other, smiling, as they waited for their hostess.
"Sorry for the delay, folks," Evina said as she backed through the swinging door carrying a tray of three red-and-white china cups, and a matching coffee pot. After setting down the tray, she poured the coffee and handed a cup to each of her guests. "Our newest hired hand came in and I had to hustle up a quick sandwich for him. I told him to eat it right there beings how I got the U.S. Marshal and his lady as guests! Such a nice, educated man for farm work, but he said he needed a change! Hard worker so far for the short time he's been here," she added. She sat down in her usual chair at the table, watching her guests drink her oft-praised coffee before raising her own cup to her lips. "But you know something, Marshal, he's…well...a bit strange. Can't put my finger on it, though. He heads in to town every night to tend to something, but is always back bright and early for chores. And he seems to be setting up something over in the spring house, but I'm not one to pry. Saw him carrying a couple of long tables in. Might be his stuffy tack room in the barn got too hot for sleeping."
"Sure is good cake, Miss Evina," Matt said with a smile. He thought the coffee tasted a little bitter, but drank it politely. He knew Kitty well enough to see that she agreed, drinking the coffee dutifully but with a barely detectable wince with each swallow.
"Thank you Marshal, but something must be wrong with those coffee beans! Tastes off, don't it? Now, put those cups down and I'll go make a fresh pot right away!" Evina pushed back her chair before her guests could object and quickly stood up. "Oh MY!" she exclaimed as her green eyes opened wide, and after a slight swaying, she crumpled to the floor.
"KITTY! Don't drink any more!" Matt barked, reaching a long arm across the table to knock the cup from her hand. He could see he was too late, as her surprised eyes slowly shut and her head and outstretched right arm collapsed onto the table. Standing up, the last thing the big man saw before crumpling to the floor was the emotionless face of Luther W. Hawkins standing in the open doorway to the kitchen. He wore brand new jeans and a chambray shirt buttoned up to the neck. A small brown bottle was in his right hand.
To be continued