Chapter Four: It's 3:00 A.M. Somewhere
With metal against metal the sound rang out, clank, clank, clank, clank. Clank, clank, clank, clank. Over and over it slowly awoken two sleeping deputies who slumbered out in the main office in matching bunks. Darkness filled the room, blinding both Festus Haggin and Newly O'Brien. Festus sleeping on his stomach raised himself up on his elbows, Newly sleeping on his back lowered his arm that laid across his eyes. Both shook the cobwebs out of their heads, Festus muttered under his breath "What in tarnation is that numbskull doing?"
"I believe he is running his cup across the bars of his cell" Newly sat up, turned, and placed his stocking feet on the ground.
Festus did the same, and fumbling a bit, lit the lantern on the table between them. The light of the lantern lit the room and Newly looked at his pocket watch. "It is barely 3 am Festus. What in the name of anything could Colbert want." Not really needing an answer, Newly stood, and put on his gun belt. "I can get this, stay in bed."
"Not on your grandma's last breath I will. That there boy needs to learn himself some manners." Festus stood also and placed his gun belt around his waist. Grabbing the keys that were hanging up and slamming open the door, Festus entered the room with the cells and headed straight to a smiling Colbert. Newly was right behind him, hoping that Festus would not do something wrong.
Smiling, Colbert looked to both men "Well it's about time deputies. I was calling and calling your names, and no one came in. A prisoner could just piss himself crazy here."
"Is that what all the ruckus was about Colbert. You had to relieve yourself and could not wait a few more hours?" Newly shook his head. "How should we do this Festus? Chains? Ropes?"
Festus moved to the cell door "Well, back up and put that tin cup down." Newly drawing his pistol and covering Festus watched as the hill man opened the door and tossed down a pair of handcuffs. "Wells, don't stand there gawking, put them on. You need to go or not?"
Colbert looking at the handcuffs on the floor, and for a split-second thought about tackling the deputy, changed his mind and picked them up. Placing them on his wrist and moved towards the door. Festus moved towards the backdoor, opened it and carefully looked around. In not seeing anyone out there will motion for Newly to move Colbert onward.
"All right Colbert, move outside and let's get this over with" pointing his pistol at Colbert, indicating for him to move to the back. Colbert took his time and moved outside heading over towards the outhouse. "Leave the door open." Colbert gave both men dirty looks and yet complied.
"Watch him Newly" stated Festus as he went back into the building, coming back out a few minutes later. Colbert finished, stepped back out and looked both ways, as though he was figuring which way would be best to run. "Go on Colbert, run. I like nothing better than to plug you with a bullet as you did Matthew. Onliest, I make sure you would not see daylight."
Colbert looked from one man to the other. Festus looked as though he would make good on his word and Newly just shrugged his shoulders at him. He would just have to wait for his brothers to come looking for him. Slowly and deliberately Colbert walked back inside the jailhouse. Festus done with him, shoved him in hard and Colbert stumbled, cursing at the deputy.
When Colbert came to his cell, he saw that only a mattress and blanket was on the floor and the cup that he annoyed the deputies with was gone. "What the hell is this?" he demanded as Festus shoved him into the cell.
"You will live until morning" grumbled Festus as the cell door closed. He and Newly will head back to the office while a course of "YOU CANT DO THIS" could be heard.
"Really Festus?" inquired Newly.
"Want me to give back his cup?"
"Nope, not that much longer till morning." Newly removing his gun belt, plopped back onto his cot. Festus, doing the same thing, snored before his head hit the pillow. Newly smiling shook his head and wondered how the marshal was doing. Hopefully better news will be in the morning.
The door separating her bedroom and the joint wash closet opened slowly, letting in the small light from the candle that burned throughout the night. Kitty Russel was not asleep, wondering if Matt returned home and read her letter. She missed him horribly for the last few weeks and wanted, no. needed him here. Looking at the door Kitty noticed the small girl with tousled red hair like hers peering into the room. Without saying a word, she pulled back the covers and Lillian ran over immediately, climbing into bed with Kitty.
Facing each other, with covers pulled up around Lilly, Kitty stroked her hair, pushed back a few loose strands, and asked, "Did you have a bad dream?" Lilly nodded her head and tucked down closer to Kitty. Kitty smiled. "Want to tell me about it"
"I was really scared" Lillian whispered into the covers hiding her head. Kitty carefully pulled the covers back a bit, exposing Lillian's head. Stoking the little girl's head and placing a kiss on her forehead, "When I am scared because of a dream, I talk to the Marshal about it."
"Does he make it all better", large wide-eyed blue eyes looked up into Kitty's blue eyes, seeking comfort there.
"He most certainly does and when I tell him, it makes the dream not so scary."
"I think Johnny was mean to me, but I don't know. We were outside. Jessy and Matty were on the ground, covered in red stuff. Thunder, Johnny's horse was there also. He threw me on his horse and slapped it. I was holding onto the mane real tight. Thunder is the fastest horse alive, and he galloped and galloped faster and faster. I couldn't breathe. Behind me, Uncle Albert was running after me, and he became a giant. Even though he was so tall, he could not catch Thunder. Then Thunder and me fell into a river and floated away. That's when I woke up and wanted to come in here." Lillian trembled a bit, then snuggled down into Kitty.
"Well, that certainly was a dream. Why don't you spend the night here and we can talk tomorrow about it again if you want. As you can see, you are not in a river and quite dry." Kitty's smooth voice will settle down the young girl.
"Are you and the marshal going to be our new mama and papa?" Lillian questioned, stifling a yawn.
"If everything goes as it should, then yes."
"Uncle Albert says you and the marshal don't want me and Matty", her eyes starting to close.
"You close those eyes and sleep young lady. And don't worry about Uncle Albert. Matt and I have no intention of splitting the four of you up." In hearing a soft snore from Lillian, Kitty will look up at the ceiling, taking a deep breath. A whisper will escape from her lips "Please Matt, we need you here."
The sound of a deep groan and the sound of bedsprings woke up Dakota. Not sure what time it was, or where the sound was coming from, he slowly sat up and then stood. At least the room wasn't spinning, he thought. Another groan came from the back room where the doc's had bedded down the marshal, Dakota headed to the door. Seeing Doc Adams pocket watch on the desk, he picked it up, snapping open the front of it and looked at the time. Turning his attention to the room with the marshal, he opened the door a bit and peered in. A smile crossed his lips as he watched the marshal attempt to stand up.
"Don't think you should do that", Dakota stated now entering the room. "They put quite a bit of work into you, so you should just lay back and rest." Lighting a lantern so that he could assess that the marshal had not undone the several hours of work the doctors put in, he stepped closer to the bed looking at the marshal. "Are you in pain. Should I go and wake them up?"
"No, no need to do that. Just help me up and over to the water closet." Matt again attempted to stand up. "Doc will give me Laudanum, and that makes me very fuzzy headed." Dakota moved closer to the marshal, placing one hand under Matt's good arm, and lifting him up out of bed. He will hang onto him until they reach the water closet.
"I will be right here if you need me." Dakota leaned up against the wall, crossing his arms on his chest and one foot placed on the wall. "Don't rush on my account" he said with a smile in his voice. Looking at the young man Matt smirked commenting that he wouldn't.
Doctor Adams was generally a light sleeper and tonight was no different. He heard some groaning, a couple of voices and his named mentioned as he padded into the exam room. His wife Samantha was sleeping soundly, and he saw no cause to wake her. If he needed her, he would call out to her. It sounded like his two patients instead of sleeping, gabbing like two hens in a hen house.
When Matt exited the water closet, Dakota pushed himself off the wall. Falling into the slow step of the marshal, he guided Matt to the bed. Helping him down onto the mattress of the bed, Dakota took to the chair beside the bed. Noticing the far off look on the marshal's face, offered him a glass of water which Matt accepted.
"So, who is Kitty?" Dakota inquired. Doc stopped just outside the door, cranking his head to hear the conversation. Matt wouldn't answer right away and when he did, it was more a question than an answer.
"Why are you so interested?" suspicion will drip in the tone that Matt used.
"Well," smoothing out his beard with his right hand "You called out to her numerous times out there. And when I asked about her here, everybody sidestepped the whole subject." Dakota will gauge once again the marshal's reaction to this line of questioning.
"She is a friend" would be Matt's only reply.
"Hum. I am a betting man marshal. I think she is your love. Don't think you two are married, maybe you should be, but you're not. Badge gets in the way, doesn't it?"
"What do you know about such things? Studying the young man with his intense blue eyes to Dakota's dark black eyes.
"Being a bounty hunter doesn't allow for me to have anything but one-night stands with bar girls. Take Colbert there, his brothers aren't wanted but still, it's their brother that is locked up and stands to die by the rope. Unless they really hate him, the likelihood of them gunning for me is up there. Guess it would be the same for U.S. Marshals. Number of enemies you have must be very high." Dakota will stretch out, lacing his fingers behind his head. "So, she is your love?"
Doc smiling, waiting to see how Matt was going to worm his way out of this one with a clever answer, was shocked by Matt's response.
"She is. She is the best thing that has happened to me. I won't risk her life because of my job, so we haven't said anything."
Looking at the marshal with serious eyes and a serious tone. "Your secret is safe marshal. I do side work at times, hunting for lost children, runaway wives, and other tasks. If you need my gun to find her, you let me know." Matt will reflect on Dakota's words, worry starting to swell up in his chest. From outside the room, a thud sounded out and the sharp words of Doc's echoed through the rooms.
"Where in the devil are you son? You are supposed to sleep until morning, or at least laying down." Opening the door and looking at both men. "Both of you should be resting." He will scold.
Dakota winked at Matt and turned to Doc "Head injury Doc. I don't remember such instructions. You Marshal?"
Matt tried to hide his smile, "Don't know how since I have been out cold?"
Rubbing his mustache and then pulled his ear. "Alright wise guys. You" pointed to Dakota. "out there and in bed. Matt, since your awake and probably in pain, I will give you something to help you sleep." Doc picked up a bottle and a spoon, pouring a spoonful for Matt. Dakota scampered out to the front room and laid down. Man, Doc can be stern, and the marshal, he was a complicated man. And where was this lady Kitty that seemed to hold the marshal's heart. Pondering all of this, Dakota Smith and Matt Dillion will both drift off to sleep, thinking about the same woman, just for different reasons.
TBC