Chapter Two Tale of Two Journeys
Looking at Kitty Russell, Albert Spenser smiled. "You sure are a pretty one, I'll say that for sure." Taking a long drag on his fat cigar and letting out the smoke, Albert sneered at her "Why are you here, you can't do anything legal for them. Where is their papa? He is the one that has any legal influence about the twins."
Holding her head up high and walking with a purpose, Kitty Russel walked to the bottom of the stairs. "I really don't see what business it is of yours Albert. I am a successful businesswoman and can be great assistant to them."
It did not go past Albert that she did not mention the twin's father. Going down a couple of stairs, staring into her eyes attempting to intimidate her and failing to do so, "The twins are my responsibility with Penelope's passing. I am quite capable of taking care of them and the additional ones."
"Just the same, as the twin's stepmother, I am here and I will oversee the reading of her will and anything else that comes up" Kitty knew that this was a lie, however the situation warrants this lie. Hoping that the children will play along, and they all fool Albert.
"Stepmother?" Albert shouted aloud. "When in the hell did this happen? Or are you lying to me woman."
"Why would she lie about something like that?" Jessica questioned loudly, yet softly. "It was a secret, so we didn't say anything to Aunt Penelope." The younger children will nod as fast as they can, and Johnny crossed his arms over his chest.
Having a dumbfounded look on his face on hearing a confession from Jessica, Albert did not know what to think. Did the marshal and this woman get married or not? If Johnny had told that secret, he would not believe him. But his niece was not prone to lying and detested it when Johnny tells his whoppers.
Kitty taking this moment, "Albert, let us by. I would very much like to visit with my children. The trip was long, and I would like to freshen up." Turning to Johnny "Johnny, pick up my bag please and show me my room. Jessica the younger ones please," Slowly Kitty walked up the stairs, stopping at the step right above the one Albert, turned and waited for the four children.
Johnny picked up her bag and headed up the stairs; stopped on the stair step below Albert and motioned for Jessica to come up with Matthew and Lillian. When the three of them approached the step that he was on, Johnny motioned for only Lillian to move forward. Being the youngest of the four, Lillian, at six years of age, was very unsure of what was happening around her. Touching her back and guiding her past Albert, Kitty whispered into her ear to continue until she was at the top of the stairs. Matthew, being a bit braver than his sister, puffed out his chest as much as a ten-year-old boy could do and marched past Albert and Kitty. At the top of the stairs, taking Lillian's hand, Matthew stared down at Albert. Jessica slowly walked the last few stairs, and kept her eyes on Kitty, grabbed Johnny's hand and squeezed his hand for encouragement. Johnny understanding what his twin was feeling, squeezed it back, whispering to her that "everything is fine, and he is following her."
Kitty having a queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach and with the experience of many years with man, she watched as Albert looked Jessica over. Up and down, Albert surveyed the young girl and unconsciously licked his bottom lip. Johnny, pushing her forward towards the top of the stairs, "carelessly" swung the bag he was carrying. Albert shouted out in pain and raised a hand to Johnny. "You lousy mutt, you did that on purpose," he growled at Johnny.
"Albert," her voice raised with the tone she used many times in the Long Branch, "I am sure he did not mean to do that, however as his mother, I shall have a severe talk with him" turned and seeing the children minus Johnny, and still using her commanding voice. "Johnaton James Dillion, get your backside up these stairs now" Johnny remained behind her as they ascend the stairs until both are at the top. "Now Johnny, what room?" Pointing to the door on the right halfway down the hallway, and that is where she led them, to the safety of her room. At least that is what she had hoped for, a safe place where she could talk to all of them.
Deputy Festus Haggin and the young man Dakota Smith, waited with impatience, one starting to pace the floor, the other moving the swivel chair back and forth. They waited as they could for either doctor to say something, anything to them. When the sound of the bullet hit the metal kidney pan, both men sighed. "Well doc?" Festus asked with a bit of harshness in his voice.
"Well, what?" Doctor Adams grumbled back and the hillman, allowing for annoyance to be noticed in his voice.
"Whulp, Matthew of course. You got that there bullet out. He is going to live ain't he." Festus sounded both annoyed and scared at the same time. Looking up at Festus from where he was sitting, Dakota slightly shook his head back and forth trying to quiet the deputy.
Doctor Sam looking over to the men, her voice quiet, stern, and level, "Why don't you two get something to drink? It will be a bit; I am quite certain that the Marshal will survive. We have a bunch of patching up on the Marshal. Oh, and on your way back, bring a man or two to help move him to the back room."
"First take the youngster there to the jailhouse to clean up his face a bit, and then get your drink, find a couple strong cowboy types, and hightail it back here. I want to look at your nose and face." groused Doc placing a delicate stitch to Matt's shoulder.
"Yes, ma'am and sir" Dakota's voice sounded extremely tired. "I want to go to the bank. Is that permissible?"
"Golly bill boy, of course it is. I'se with you and you won't get into any trouble." Festus moved to the door motioning to Dakota, beckoning him to follow. Slowly getting up Dakota fetched his rifle and hat.
"All the same Deputy, I should have a room over at the Dodge House. Like to stop there and shed this duster, clean up a bit and then the bank. "
"Dodge house it is." Festus nodded and then added "Stay in the buggy Matthew" his words sounding much like a prayer. Both doctors and Newly watched them leave returned to their patient.
"Amen to that" Newly quietly said looking down at the marshal, checking Matt's breathing and pulse.
It was a quiet walk to the Dodge House for Dakota, blocking out the noises of the town and the ramblings of Deputy Festus. He had a headache; he was tired and relieved that the marshal was going to be alright according to the doctor. Festus' non-stop rambling intensified the headache he was experiencing and really wished Festus would stop with whatever family story he was yammering on about. Entering the Dodge House, Dakota noticed the quiet quaintness of the place, elegant in its own way with a couch, couple of sitting chairs, a table with two additional chairs and the counter. Approaching the counter knowing he looked like a mess from the several days travels, no bath in days, and the blood stains from the fight. "My name is Dakota Smith. An old man was to come and secure a room for me."
"Oh yes, Mr. Smith" stated Howie, the hotel clerk. "Louie came in and explained everything. I told him that I would hold onto your key until you arrived. I was informed you were up at the doctor's office. Your items are in the room. Would you like to take a bath? I can have hot water brought up to you. Please sign here and this is your key. Room 201, just up the stairs and too the right" handed Dakota a key and pointed to the ledger.
Dakota nodded and signed the ledger, thanked the clerk while taking the key, informed him that no, he did not want to take a bath now, but a bucket of hot water to wash up with would be fine, headed up the stairs. Finding his room, he entered and took stock of its furnishings, a bed, small table and two chairs, vanity with mirror and basin/pitcher set-up and a small cabinet to hang clothing. This will do Dakota thought as he tossed his blood stain and dusty duster on the chair and placed his rifle under the bed. Festus took a chair and watched the young man with one eye. Dakota slowly took off his vest and shirt, checked his pants and what condition the pants were in. Taking a washcloth and dipping into the cold water already there, Dakota cleaned his duster, looked up when a knock at the door happens. "Come in" are the only words he says and a young boy with a bucket of hot water enters. "Set it down there" tossing a two-bit at the boy. The young boy looked at the coin, nodded and took off down the hallway and stairs.
Dumping some of the hot water into the basin, placed a cloth into the water, removed the cloth and placed it carefully on his face. Turning slightly, Festus will see the marks on his back, taking note to talk about it later with him instead, handing him a towel to dry off. Dakota splashed water in his hair, ran fingers through the top part, left the braid in and carefully wiped his chest, arms, and ribs down. Once dry and a clean shirt acquired and put on, Dakota picked up his duster and put it on. "Take me to the bank now Deputy."
Standing, Festus questioned him about the bank "Whatja doing with the bank?" following the young man out, closing the door behind him. Dakota continued onward down the steps, handing Howie back his key. "Banking stuff" replied to Festus looking around for the bank.
Festus Haggin huffed at that and pointed to the Dodge City Bank. Heading over there Dakota, inquired to opening an account came back out 30 minutes later, concluding his business with the bank president Mr. Bodkin. A bank draft from Hays City and additional cash he had on hand, made him uncomfortable walking around town. Now that his money was secured and his thirst was overtaking him, looked at Festus. "Where's the best place in town to get a beer."
"Long Branch is the best saloon here in Dodge City. Beer sounds good to me, need to talk to Sam anyway." Festus pick up some speed heading to the Long Branch, Dakota trailing behind him, looked left and right, getting his bearings, and noticing places evil men could hide.
The Long Branch was busy, and Sam a large man, almost as big as the marshal was behind the bar, tending to customers. In seeing both Festus and Dakota, he drafted two beers and set them on the bar for the men. "How is he" referring to the marshal.
"Whelp, Doc Sam says Matthew be alright, and Doc being Doc rambled on about nothing and threw us out." Taking a long draw of his beer and continuing. "Sam, this here be Dakota, he done saved Matthew out there."
Sam extended his hand, "Thank you for saving him."
Dakota shook his hand, "Was nothing." Tending to his beer and ignoring the big man's stare it was not the first time that he had been looked over, how young his really was, how hard he really became.
"Sam," Festus interrupted "Doc needs a man or two to help move Matthew to the backroom. I'se figure between you, me, Newly and the kid here, we could move Matthew without shaking him too much."
"Sure Festus", Sam motioned to Clem, the other bartender over. "I need to help Doc move the marshal; I will be gone for a while. Can you handle things here?"
"I can Sam, I have the girls here. Take your time" Clem responded to the question, taking over the bar duties.
Sam removed his apron, stopped by the cash box, and removed what looked like a letter, at least that is what Dakota figured it was. Dakota watched the big barkeep place that letter into the inside of his vest and rounding the bar, will file that piece of information away. The letter must have some meaning, maybe from that woman name "Kitty". Filing out of the Long Branch, the three men headed up to Doc's office and praying that the marshal was still "in the buggy" as Festus would put it. Quietly entering, all three men breathed a sigh of relief and looked to Doc Adams for instructions.
"Watch his right shoulder, it was rough going. And once in the back room, strip him of his clothes and put the night shirt on him. Newly, you know where I keep it." Referring to an oversize night shirt he keeps in a drawer just for the marshal.
Sam and Festus took off the marshal's boots before moving him into the back room. Dakota and Newly eased Matt up into their arms, Newly tending to the marshal's right shoulder, and Dakota the left. Sam and Festus cradled Matt's legs and the four men slowly and carefully place Matt on the bed.
"Newly you done git me that shirt Doc wants on him, Sam and I can change Matthew's clothing."
"Alright Festus" fetching the night shirt out of the drawer and handed it to him. Realizing that all four of them don't need to be in the room and would most likely be in each other's way, Newly motioned to Dakota "Let's you and I get some coffee. I can sure use a strong cup about now" Newly turned as he spoke those words seeing Dakota looking a bit pale and Dakota looking at his hand that now held blood, looked up to Newly "I don't think I feel quite well."
Newly grabbed the young man and practically shoved him out into the outer office. "Doc," referring to either of them "Smith is bleeding good again." Both doctors will come over to Dakota "Here young fellow, you sit on the table here. We need to look at this." Doctor Galen Adams will take some cloth and wipe once again under Dakota's nose.
Opening the bedroom door, after letting Kitty and the others in, Johnny entered. Looking down the hallway for Albert and not seeing the man, closed the door. Placing the carpetbag on the end of the bed, plopped down on the larger chair in the room "He is not out there. Figured he would go and drink some whiskey and maybe bother Maria."
"Who is Maria" inquired Kitty, watching the way each child is reacting. Young Matthew went over to Jessica and sat with her on the small couch; Lillian crawled up into Johnny's lap, snuggling down.
"She is our cook. Rolf and Claria still work here. Aunt Penelope hired Maria a few months ago. Maria is an excellent cook and has been teaching Lilly and myself how to cook. I think that is why Aunt Penelope hired her." Jessica answered Kitty's question.
"I see. So, tell me what happened with your aunt. I want to know everything."
Johnny and Jessica looked at each other, nodded a bit, the tilt of Jessica's head, and shrugging of Johnny's shoulders; yet no words spoken caused Kitty to sit a bit back on the bed. It was as though the twins could talk and use no words in their communication.
Johnny looked at Kitty and started the conversation "Two weeks ago, Uncle Albert came to the house carrying a suitcase."
"He said that his wife kicked him out for no reason, and he had no place to go." Jessica continued.
"There was a huge fight between him and Aunt Penelope, over money, over his lifestyle, room here at the house, and how ungrateful Aunt Penelope was" added Johnny. Matthew covered his ears, while leaning into Jessica, Lillian closed her eyes and buried her head in Johnny's shoulder.
"Pretty loud fight was it" Kitty asked the younger children. Both will nod their heads.
"I heard it all" whimpered Matthew, his young voice quiet and monotoned. "And I don't hear so well" referring to his partial deafness. Rubbing his back to comfort him, Jessica eyes pleaded silently to Kitty.
"It was very loud. Lillian and Matthew could not stop crying for long while" Jessica continued to tell the events that had happened.
"In all fairness, it was after he screamed at her that he was staying, and he was going to make her life hell." Johnny spatted out.
Jessica nodded "and then he took a spare room, a small one that I thought was funny of him since there were several larger ones like this room."
"He smelled most of the time, like sour grapes or horse manure" pipped up Lillian holding her nose.
"He stayed drunk is what he did. I would find him on the stairs, in the kitchen on the floor or in the study with open books around him. Drunk as all get out", stated Johnny. "I always had to take him back to his room, which he never cleaned and smelled much like a pig's pen."
"His manners were bad, especially at the table. Aunt Penelope was always correcting him, and he would always call her names." Added Matthew
"Did they continue to fight?" Kitty wanted to know.
"All the time" both Matthew and Lillian piped up.
"It became violent, he slapped her, hard once. It was then I decided to be a pain to him. Tormenting him, doing things to frustrate him." Johnny shrugged again.
"Alright, none of that while I am here. I want it to be quick and painless to get you children out of here. So, lets not make it hard while I am here to accomplish that. Do not make him mad or upset." Kitty spoke directly to Johnny. Johnny mumbled a "yes ma'am" to her, obviously disappointed that he could no longer torment the man. "Now, how did Aunt Penelope die? Did the medical examiner tell you?"
The children looked at each other, and Matthew pointed to Johnny. "You tell her". Jessica nodded to him "Yes, Johnny, you tell her". Lillian patted his check. "You tell it better."
Kitty looked towards Johnny, arching her eyebrow at him "Johnny?" she encouraged him.
"It was murder, Miss Kitty. He killed her," and with anger in his voice "The bastard killed his sister."
TBC