"Not Enough?" An MM/ATC for "Kitty Lost" (Season 3)

Part 1: This part has Matt's thoughts as he and Chester go searching for Kitty.

Kitty was lost, and Matt and Chester were out on the prairie looking for her. They questioned Mr. Dobbie, at the Dodge House, about a dude possibly staying there. It was after Matt went back to the Dodge House and spoke to Moss Grimmick, that Matt felt confident he had a lead in finding Kitty.

Matt and Chester were out on the prairie tracking the markings made by a horse and buggy. Matt could only hope this was the buggy that the stranger, the dude from out east, rented from Moss Grimmick. When Chester was adamant that they had to be following the right buggy, Matt had to be reasonable. He knew that farmers brought their wives into town using a horse and a buggy. After saying that, Chester pointed out the tracks were fresh. Matt was grateful for that. Fresh tracks were a good sign that they were following the right buggy.

While Matt and Chester followed the tracks, Matt used the silence to let his mind do some thinking. What was he thinking about? The obvious answer was Kitty. He wondered where she was and if she was alright. But other thoughts and questions occupied his mind.

Matt thought about Doc and how Doc felt about Kitty being missing. Matt knew that Doc considered Kitty to be a daughter he never had. He knew Doc would have a terrible time if something bad happened to Kitty. Matt wasn't even sure if Doc would be able to handle something bad happening to Kitty. He didn't even know if he could handle something bad happening to her.

While thinking about Doc, Matt remembered what Doc had said at the jail. He said that Kitty wouldn't just vanish off the face of the Earth. Kitty wouldn't do something like that, not if she could help it. Doc was right. Kitty wouldn't go off with some complete stranger, especially without saying anything. She had common sense not to go off with some stranger. There was a part of Matt that hoped Kitty did not leave with this dude on her own. Matt knew that was a terrible thing to hope for. He would never want someone to take Kitty against her will. So, why did part of him hope for that?

The answer to that question was simple, but at the same time it triggered more questions. If Kitty chose to go with the dude using her own free will, then there was a possibility she was telling Matt that he, Matt himself, was not enough for her. Maybe Kitty was telling him that she wanted more than what he could offer her. Maybe she felt this dude could give her a life that a lawman couldn't give her. That made Matt feel sick. He could not imagine not having Kitty as his girl. If she left on her own, would she want to come back? At least if Kitty was forced to leave against her will, Matt knew she would want to come back, once she was found. That is if they even found her. No, there wasn't any time for thoughts like that. Kitty would be found.

After tracking what seemed like forever, Matt and Chester saw an abandoned buggy ahead. The buggy looked damaged and there was no horse or any people around. Upon inspection, Matt could see this was Moss Grimmick's buggy. They had been tracking the correct buggy. Both Matt and Chester were grateful for that.

Matt didn't think there was room in his brain for more questions, but he had them. What caused the damage to the buggy? Why was the horse gone? Why were Kitty and the dude no longer here? Did one of them get hurt and the other one go for help? Did one get hurt and they both left on the horse? If just one of them went for help, then the other person should be here. And if one or both went for help, they would have gone back to Dodge City, and he and Chester would have met up with them.

Then again, maybe no one was injured. It could be that this dude's intentions were to take Kitty, and when the buggy hit the log, he forced her on the horse with him. Back at the Dodge House, Chester said he'd shoot the man himself if he did anything to Kitty. Chester would have to get in line because Matt planned on shooting the man first. Matt could feel his blood start to boil.

While investigating the scene, Matt and Chester came across a top hat and fancy coat. Matt picked up the coat. Of course he had more questions. Why were the hat and coat left behind? Furthermore, why were they even removed? Did this man try to have his way with Kitty? Was the man in too much of a hurry to put his hat and coat back on?

Matt showed the coat to Chester. "Have you ever seen these before?"

"No," Chester replied. "It looks like a fancy one to me."

"It looks like a dude's to me?" said Matt.

Matt continued to investigate the coat, hoping to find something that would tell him where Kitty and this so-called dude went. As he was going through the coat, Matt heard some rustling from a fallen tree about ten yards away. Matt dropped the coat and walked towards the tree. Chester followed him. Matt could tell someone was there. He waited to see who it was. When he saw Kitty, relief overtook him. She ran up to him, saying his name several times. Kitty held on to Matt as though he was her lifeline. Matt held on to her. She was safe. She was with him. Matt wasn't sure where the dude was, but right now that didn't matter. All that mattered was Kitty.

After knowing for sure that Kitty was alright, Matt's logic started taking over. He knew Kitty left the Long Branch last night around ten o'clock. It was now in the middle of the afternoon. Chances were Kitty did not have anything to eat or drink since eating supper last night. The poor girl was probably hungry and thirsty. Matt knew he had coffee in his saddle bags, and water in his canteen to make it. However, he mentally kicked himself for not having any food. Normally he carried jerky with him.

In order to make the coffee, there had to be a fire. Besides a match, which he had with him, kindling was also needed to build a fire. Matt decided to send Chester over to the fallen tree, so he could break off some sticks and small branches for the fire. While Chester was doing that, Matt would take the opportunity of having Kitty alone. He had questions for her, questions that he really did not want Chester to hear.

TBC