Chapter Five: Conversations and a Letter

Kitty Russell wandered outside the next day, to reflect on the dream Lillian told her. Seeing a lounge chair and table on the terrace, she walked over, placed her cup of tea on the table and sat down. Staring out onto the lands belonging to the Spenser's, she thought about the last ten years, since she first met the twins, along with the addition of the younger two children. How many conversations did she have with Matt, no arguments they had about bringing the twins home to Dodge. Shaking her head a bit, she spoke out loud to no one "And here I am, wanting to take all four home. Wonder how Matt is going to handle that".

"Then why don't you stay here" a startling rough voice came from behind her. Turning slightly to see who it was, although she knew it was Albert who now moved to stand in front of her.

"Albert, why are you sneaking up behind me." Kitty sat up straighter demanded.

"Ah, pretty lady. I happened to come outside and heard your dilemma." Albert smiled at her, moving to sit on the lounge chair beside Kittys legs. This move did not sit well with her, she moved her legs away from him as much as possible.

"I don't believe I asked you to sit down" distain sounding in her voice. This man appalled her to her core.

Albert broadened his smile, cigar stains on his teeth, as he stretched out his left arm placing in on the other side of her legs. His right hand quickly caught Kitty's hand before she could pull away. "Now red, I only have the children good will as my intentions. After all, what kind of father just abandons his children at a moment notice because things become a bit rough."

Kitty immediately pulled her hand away from his, then attempted to stand up. Seeing her move, Albert leaned in to stop her. "You and I would make a beautiful baby. Another boy perhaps? I can make you so happy, and the children would have the security of this home."

Looking at him with disbelief, Kitty glared at him. "What makes you think that I would want a child with you?"

"Red. Let's be real. Take Johnny, he needs a firm male hand and where has his daddy been? Everywhere but here. And Jessica, she's becoming a woman and needs a husband and a daddy to walk her down that aisle. We could find one of high standings that would secure her future. Can she get that in a dusty town like Dodge? And the two little ones, well my sister did not believe in doctors, so Matty's hearing is gone practically. As for Lilly, she needs a daddy to spoil her.

"I take it, you can provide all of that?" Kitty will attempt once again to remove herself from his grip.

"Better than their daddy did" sneered Albert

"What's going on out here?" demanded Johnny entering the terrace from the stable side. He had seen his uncle leaning over someone and decided to investigate.

Albert stood abruptly, moved towards the boy who had been nothing but a pain in his side since he arrived. Johnny needed to be put in his place for sure, but now wasn't the time.

"We were becoming better acquainted son. Didn't Aunt Penelope teach you not to listen in to other's conversations?" Albert's tone challenged the young man.

Stepping up onto the terrace and choosing to ignore his uncle for the moment, he extended his hand out to Kitty. Grateful, yet scared for Johnny, she accepted his hand. "I thought you might like to see our new foal that was born last week mother. He is beautiful, wild, and carefree. Running as though he had a thousand tomorrows. "

"I think I would very much like that 'son'", Kitty put emphasis on the word son for Albert's sake. The two of them left Albert on the terrace, fuming at the boy ignoring him and her dismal. Turning and mumbling, Albert Spenser was not quite sure how to fix this, but he knew something had to be done.

Using his key, Sam Nooman unlocked the doors to the Long Branch Saloon, entered, closed the doors, and locked them again. It was a couple of hours before opening time and Sam did not feel up to stragglers, cowboys, and townspeople. There were things that needed to be accomplished before opening time and with his boss gone, he was the one responsible for doing those things. The first thing would be to take last night's earnings and deposit them.

Sam went to the backroom where the safe was. He bent down, carefully used the tumbler to open the safe. Taking the money sack out of the safe, he looked at the letter to the marshal that was there. Sam pondered for a moment if he should take it now to the marshal, at least after the bank, or wait another day or two. Marshal Dillion was badly hurt and might not be able to read the letter. After a few moments, Sam decided to take the letter with him and give it to the marshal if he was awake. Miss Kitty trusted him with this task and well, he could also see how the marshal was doing. If it looked bad for the marshal, Sam decided to send a telegraph to her in St. Louis.

Closing the safe and standing, Sam went out the back door of the saloon and headed over to the bank to make the deposit. After the deposit, Sam knew he needed to get supplies for the bar. Heading towards Jonas General Store, he would place the order and charge it to the Long Branch. When the supplies were deposited behind the bar, Sam would have the time to go up to Doc's and see Matt Dillion. Like all good intentions, Sam had planned to accomplish all that he set out to. Everyday life can just get in the way. The line at the bank moved slowly, Jonas had a customer before him and seemed to be in no hurry. Mrs. Wittman attempted to get information from him about Miss Kitty, while Jonas listened in instead of retrieving the goods. Once he left the general store, several residents of Dodge City stopped him to inquire about her. When he finally got back to the Long Branch, Louie was standing by the door waiting for him to open, requesting a shot of whiskey. Sam realized the time and the salon needed to be open anyway, so he entered the saloon with Louie behind him and proceeded to open. Clem would be in at noon, Sam decided that would be the time to go and check up on the marshal and to give him the letter.

Doctor Samantha McTavish convinced Dakota Smith to take a bath and wash his hair. At first, he was reluctant to do so but her quiet and calm manner won him over. After a warm bath which felt better to him than he expected, he put on the night shirt that she had provided him. Doctor Sam had his clothes sent out to be cleaned and asked Louie to bring over some clothes from his room at the Dodge House. Stepping out of the water closet, he pushed back his long-tangled hair and then smiled at the site he witnessed. A slight chuckle came out of his lips as he watched the sponge bath that the marshal was receiving much to the marshal's chagrin.

"I do not know what you are chuckling about young man. I want you to sit in that chair as I exam your nose and eye. And that hair! I suppose talking you into cutting it would be a waste of time. I will just have to comb it out once I am done with the marshal" Doc Sam's voice was soft yet commanding.

"Yes ma'am" Dakota replied sheepishly. He proceeded to sit on the chair as a chuckle would escape Matt's lips.

"Hard to say no isn't it son" Matt will smile at Dakota.

"Guess not sir. How are you feeling?" Dakota inquired as Doc Sam finished up with the marshal and then proceeded to exam his face.

"Tired, and sore" would be Matt's quiet response.

Doc Sam finished replacing the tape on his nose. Pleased as to the healing the nose and eye was doing, she stepped behind Dakota and began to comb his hair. He flinched at first and then settled down, realizing that it had been sometime that his hair was truly combed out. Doc Sam will finish combing and braiding his hair. "Would you like for me to shave your face?" she asked.

"No, I can do it. Just need the equipment and a mirror." He responded.

They will hear the door to the office open, and Doc's voice speaking to Louie, thanking him for bringing the clothes. He will enter the room and look at his two patients. "Here son, go get change. I still would like you to remain for another day."

"Thank you, Doc; I just might do that." He will take the clothes and head to the water closet. A few minutes later, dressed in a blue shirt with black pants, he will exit the water closet and sit back down on the chair.

Matt Dillion looked at him wondering what Dakota wanted or needed. "I thought since your stuck here and I am stuck here if you would be interested in either a game of chess or checkers."

Not expecting that, Matt Dillion studied the young man. "Checkers would be fine." Struggling a bit to sit up, Dakota came to his side and helped him as he could. Once the marshal was sitting up and settled, Dakota retrieved the checkerboard and pieces, set it up and they began the game.

"Do you know where she is at?" Dakota making a move on the board inquired.

Looking up at the young man, Matt shook his head no. "You seem awfully interested in her. Why is that?

"I plan on staying here for a while marshal. You're the first person I met and figured that the way you called out her name, she should be at your side. That she would want that and maybe someone should fetch her." Dakota frowned as Matt jumped two of his pieces.

"You're a bounty hunter, and a gun for hire?"

"Yep, a bounty hunter. Figure I can help the law by bringing the men on wanted posters in. As for a gun for hire, not to assassinate anyone. Nor to participate in a shootout. But don't mine helping people out in times of need."

Matt Dillion moved another piece, thinking hard on what Dakota said. He hated bounty hunters, but this boy seemed different. "I guess you charge quite a bit to help someone out?" watching Dakota's reaction to the question.

"It all depends on the person, the job and how I feel that day." Smiled Dakota as he jumped one of Matt's pieces.

The door to the room opened and Sam Nooman stepped through the door. "Marshal, Smith." He greeted each man.

"Sam" both men greeted back. Dakota stood up and moved aside. "I should go and shave this face before she does." He picked up the checkerboard and left.

"Marshal, I have a letter here for you from Miss Kitty. I was to give it to you when you came home." Sam will hand over the letter to him.

Matt turned the letter over in his hand, looking at the flowery writing of his name on the front. "Sam, do you know where she is at?"

"Yes Marshal, I do. She received a telegram from St. Louis. Some company called 'J and J' according to Barney. She seemed somewhat upset, and angry. Miss Kitty left in a hurry, only packed one carpetbag. I was to tell no one. I hope this letter will explain it all. The telegraph is in there." Realizing that the marshal was having a hard time getting the telegram out, Sam quietly reached over and pulled it out of the envelope and handed it to him. Matt will read the telegram and a worried look will come over his face.

"Sam, will you do me a favor. Please tell Dakota to come here and then find Newly and Festus. Have them come here also, and you to. I know what is going on with Kitty and I have a lot to explain."

Sam nodded and headed out the door. Before leaving he looked at the marshal who was now reading the letter. Whatever was in the letter was big and very important. Stopping just inside the office he will spot Dakota shaving by the mirror that hangs in the corner. Dakota looked up at Sam. Sam informed the young man that that marshal wanted to see him, and then the big man left to find the two the marshal requested. Dakota wiped his face off and headed into the room. Doc witnesses all of this, followed.

"You wanted to talk to me marshal?" Dakota sat down in the chair that Matt pointed to, spotted the letter on Matt's lap.

"Doc, if you don't mind. Could you please leave us and shut the door." Matt asked of the older man. Doc will sputter and pull on his ear. "As long as you two aren't making a break for it." Doc closed the door and shook his head.

Watching the older man leave, Dakota turned his head back to the marshal. "I don't think he is happy about that request."

"He'll survive" Matt stated with a gruff in his voice. "I want to hire your gun."

This took Dakota back some and in response "You have my gun marshal. What do you want me to do?"

Looking very serious, Matt Dillion quietly spoke to him. "I need you to go with Newly to St. Louis and bring back Kitty Russell and four children. Newly is great, and he is smart and calm, however he doesn't have the grit I see in you. I need Festus to stay here and take care of the town. There is a possibility you might need to shoot someone but try not to. "

"I see. Well, you can count on me marshal. Will Newly be alright with me tagging along? And who might I have to shoot?"

"Newly will be fine, suspicious, but fine. And the name is Albert Spenser. Just make it legal, don't get into trouble over him."

Fifteen minutes later, a knock on the door will sound. Matt calling out to enter, Dakota rose and moved to the corner. Not sure what to really think about the scene, he wanted a good position to watch. Newly, Festus, Sam and both doctors entered. Doctor Sam took the chair with Doc standing behind her. The other three men stood around the bed, Festus noticed the position that Dakota took.

"I have a letter from Kitty here and I wish to read it to all of you. Afterwards, I will have quite a bit of explaining to do."

"Matt, if that is a private letter from Kitty, we don't need to hear it" stated Doc rubbing his right hand across his mustache and placed a hand on his wife's shoulder.

"Galen" Doctor Samantha, patting his hand, "let the man finish. Go ahead Matt, what does Kitty have to say."

Matt will clear his throat and begin.

MY Love.

I received the telegram that is with this letter. The twins sent it as you can see, and their Aunt Penelope has died. You were not here, and I had no way of knowing when you would be arriving back in Dodge. I was unsure what to do, so I made the decision to go and fetch the children. All four of them Matt.

I know we have argued about bringing them to Dodge, it seems now that decision has been taking our of our hands. I have asked Sam to fix up the rooms above the Long Branch, I am sure that it is done, but let him know the reason why.

Oh Matt, how much I wanted to bring them home to us. Our lives will change now. Please come to St. Louis and help me with the estate, Albert and getting the four of them home.

Please remember that I love you and the quiet talks we had about a family. This must be God's way of saying that he is listening.

With love, Kitty

Silence filled the room, mouths dropped a bit, confusion could be seen on most of their faces except for Sam and Dakota. Nothing surprises Dakota and Sam suspected something like with Miss Kitty's request.

"Well, I be" started Festus, "Matthew, I didn't know you and Miss Kitty had some tater bugs."

Doc coughed a bit and looked sternly at Matt. "You have some explaining to do there marshal. What twins? And four children? When was all this supposed to have happened?"

"Before I become a U. S. Marshal, I was married to one Charlotte Spenser. We had a small ranch outside of St. Louis. We were married for a year when she died three days after giving birth to a set of twins. A girl named Jessica and a boy named Johnaton. I couldn't function then, and in talking with her older sister Penelope, a decision was made to have them stay with her. When I became a marshal, she changed their last name to Spenser to protect them from my enemies. Six years ago, two young children came to live with them, Matty who is 10 and Lilly who is six. Kitty is planning to bring them here."

Doc humph "All those vacations you took to St Louis."

"Was to visit the children. And Kitty has known them for a long time Doc. She would visit them when she went to St. Louis without me.

Doc humph again "Well you could have told your physician you know." He looked genuinely hurt.

"We will talk later Doc. Sam, are the rooms ready?" Matt knew the answer but decided to move things forward. "Yes marshal, they are." Sam replied. "I need to get back to the Long Branch. Now that I know who is coming, I will make sure everything is ready." Sam nodded his goodbyes to everyone and left the office.

"Newly, I need a favor from you."

"Anything you need marshal" The young gunsmith, part-time deputy stated.

"I need for you to go to St. Louis for me. Go as my deputy in case there are problems. Take Dakota with you." Newly hearing the request and nodding to it, looked over to Dakota. Dakota raised his index finger to his forehead in a salute to Newly.

"Matthew. You want that yahoo to go to St. Louie and fetch your youngens and Miss Kitty?" Festus' voice sounded hurt.

"I need you here Festus. To watch over our town for me. Smith knows that Newly is in charge and what needs to be done. Give him a badge also. Newly, get two tickets and charge them to the marshal office. The sooner you two leave the better. "

"Yes marshal, I will take care of it. Smith, the next train leaves for St. Louis in four hours. I will have your ticket. Also, there is a check at the office for the bounty on Colbert. Thought you might want it before we leave. Marshal, I will also send a telegram to Miss Kitty letting her know I am coming. And I will send one when we get there." Newly placed his hat upon his head, left the office to arrange things.

Festus will pat Matthew on his good shoulder "Don't you fret none Matthew, Newly is a good man and he will get them home" Matthew smiled up to his old friend and nodded in agreement. Festus left the room, headed over to the marshal's office.

Dakota slowly moved to the other office, walked over to the mirror, deciding that he really needed to finish his shave. Lathering and shaving he heard the marshal and doc having a heated discussion. Doctor Samantha left the room and saw a half shaven Dakota smiled at him. "I noticed you had not finished earlier" she teased him.

"No ma'am I did not." He turned to face the mirror and finished. "Doc seems really upset. Guess the news was shocking to him." Dakota looked at her in the mirror. Her eyes looked back at him, her head tilted to the right, and she smiled at him. "Not the kind of news to drop on someone at the last minute. Especially if the person that dropped the news seems worried and the person that the news is about, either someone special to you, or unknown." She commented.

Dakota wiped his face and turned "No, guess that is somewhat rude. I do have a request for you and Doc. Not knowing how long we are going to be gone, could I store my gear here? I am willing to pay for storage", giving her a crooked smile.

Chuckling at the boyish look, "I do not see a problem with that. I will let Galen know. You need to be taking care of business, young man. And don't mess up the work Galen and I have done. Mind your manners and mind Newly now."

Dakota's mouth gapped open and then closed. "Yes ma'am. Could you please get an address in St. Louis from the marshal? I am not brave enough to go in there" as he looked to the door and the loud noise that came out of the room. Voices were high, words were being exchanged and Dakota was not going to set foot in the room. He picked up his duster, hat, and rifle, exited the office into the mid-afternoon sun, and headed over to the marshal's office for his check.

TBC