Matt Dillon pulled hat down to block the sun, as he turned onto a familiar road. His big buckskin's walk grew brisker, and Matt smiled to himself. The horse knew as well as he did they were getting close to home. It was a bit past noon, and Dodge was only 20 minutes away, which meant he had plenty of time to make his dinner date with Kitty. They'd both been trying extra hard to keep things smooth between them, after having a year that tested them, their commitment and their love. 10 months ago, after being missing for some weeks, he rode into Dodge wearing the remains of a serious head-wound, and carrying a heavy heart. He considered not telling Kitty that the person named Mike, who rescued him and nursed him back to health, was a kind, attractive widow. But the minute he saw the woman he loved, he knew he owed her the truth. It was the hardest thing he'd ever done, but he told her the whole story, even confessing that when he had amnesia, he slept with Mike one time. Lucky for him, Kitty was willing to listen, and with Doc's help came to understand that, at the time, amnesia had robbed him of his past and everyone in it. Soon after that Will Stambridge came along, courted Kitty and offered her family and home. Then there was baby Mary, the foundling he dumped into Kitty's arms, not thinking of the impact a small baby could have on her heart. They got through all of it, and grew even closer than they'd ever been. Still, getting home in plenty of time for the date they planned, was a another small step towards keeping things that way.
"AAAH" "NOT NOW" "AAAH"
Matt tugged the reins and listened – it was a woman's voice, a woman in pain. He followed the cries and moans through a grove of trees. A dark haired woman was sprawled on the ground beside a creek, belly swollen, sweat pouring down her face. Her legs were twitching, and body convulsing. She turned her head when she heard Matt approached, "DAMN, I was hoping a woman would come by." Quickly realizing the woman was alone and giving birth, Matt jumped off his horse and hurried over. AAH" Another scream exploded from her lips, her body jerked. Matt knelt by her feet. He was no mid-wife or doctor, but in his time as a lawman, he'd been present at some births. If things went well, most of the work was done by a woman's body. He put his hands on the woman's thighs, and focused on her flushed face. "I'm here for you and the baby. What's your name?" The woman gritted her teeth. "Lorna – seems like you been around births. Guess that's somethin'. AAAAA." She let out a scream and bore down. Matt saw the baby's head, then shoulders, and a tiny, wet, red-faced boy slid into his large hands. He held the baby steady, with a pounding heart and a smile on his face. "It's a boy. You have son." Matt pulled a knife from his back pocket, and cut the umbilical cord. "Lorna, you did it. Here's your baby." With the infant in his mother's arms, Matt got to his feet. "I'll get you and your baby to Dodge." The young woman nodded weakly. "That's where I was heading. I hear there's a marshal there who…" She shuttered. Her body contracted in pain. "I was gittin' away from my husband. He beat me bad. I couldn't have a man like that around a child. His name's Wes Chapman." Matt's eyes widened. Chapman was a wanted man. The woman shivered, Matt took her hand to reassure her, and for the first time noticed the ugly, purple bruises on her face and arms. "Just hold your fine son. I'm gonna get a blanket from by gear, then we'll get you to Dodge." She lifted her head. The effort made her dizzy. She felt a pool of blood growing rapidly between her legs. Her strength was failing. "Keep my boy safe." Her head dropped back. Those words were her last.
4 Miles Away
Wes Chapman rubbed the back of his head and stepped outside his cabin. Damn that Lorna. Who woulda thought a woman so far along towards givin' birth, would have the strength to wack a man with a heavy frying pan while he was sleeping, and then ride off. He rubbed his head again and sighed. In one way he was lucky. She coulda got a kitchen knife and stabbed him in his sleep, but she didn't have that killer instinct. Lorna was a beauty though. That's why winning her in that poker game last year, seemed real, real lucky. Marriage was another matter – he was awful drunk when he said them "I do" words. Still it didn't seem a bad idea to have a wife to cook and clean, and bare him a parcel of sons. Problem was, Lorna turned out to be stubborn, so he had to beat her to keep her in line. Now just when she was gonna give him the son he deserved, she whacked his head and took off. Damn her.
He saddled his sturdy mustang, and climbed on. He had to find Lorna and his son. The baby would be a boy, of course, not a useless girl. Lorna wouldn't dare give birth to a girl, she was in enough trouble with him already. He kicked his horse to a trot while staring at the ground, a wicked smile touched his lips. He'd hammered an x into the right, front shoe of Lorna's horse in case she ran away. He always figured he might have to track her down.
Dodge City
Holding a tiny infant with one arm, Matt slid off his horse with his eyes fixed on the limp body of the young, dark-haired woman draped over the horse beside him. His jaw clenched, he would carry out Lorna's dying wish to keep the child safe. He'd also make sure she got a decent burial, and he'd bring her no-good husband to justice. Those were his vows, and he didn't take vows lightly. He climbed the stairs to Doc's with the infant tucked in the crook of one arm. The door opened before he knocked. "Matt, I heard your footsteps, what…." Doc stared at the small, squirming, bundle the lawman was carrying. "What in tarnation?" He gently took the infant. "By golly this is a newborn." Matt stepped inside. "Yep, he entered this world 'bout an hour ago. It was just me with the mother Doc, I did my best. The mother – she didn't make it. After you see to the baby, I want you to examine the mother's body for cause of death." Doc already had the infant on the examination table, and was using a cotton ball to wash him with warm water. "Matt, it's awful sad, but a lot of women die in childbirth. Probably not more to it that that. Hand me that blanket." Matt got a cotton cover from the shelf. "Doc, this woman has bad bruises on her face and body. Her husband beat her something fierce. He's a wanted man already, but I want to know if her death goes on his list of crimes." Doc wrapped the baby snuggly. "All right. I'll see to it, but first I want to try and get a few drops of sugar water into this little boy. Then I'll bring him to Maggie Cooper. She has a regular room at Ma Smalley's now, where she sells her wet-nurse services. I'll tell you, she has no trouble getting customers." Doc shook his head. "Some of the farm women around here are so overworked and undernourished, they can't nurse well enough for their babies to thrive. Maggie Cooper provides that service for a price." Matt nodded. "I'll pay for this one." Doc looked up and rubbed his mustache. "Got a lot of spare cash all of a sudden?" "Nope." Matt shook his head "Neither do you, and I know you've paid Maggie for poor folks, who couldn't spare the money. Besides, the baby's mother, Lorna, asked me to make sure he was safe. Those were her dying words. I – I feel it's my responsibility." Doc picked up the baby, now well wrapped in a blanket. "All right Matt, then let's go." Matt pushed the door open, and Doc stepped outside holding his small, precious bundle. He looked back at friend. "You gonna tell Kitty about this baby? It's been less than 6 months since she came close to keeping baby Mary. That situation was hard on her." Matt met Doc's eyes "I have to tell her. Me and Kitty trying to have secrets from each other is never good."
Outside of Town
Wes Chapman pushed his horse hard under the blazing sun, and following Lorna's trail. He entered a grove of trees and saw bloodied grass and dark, wet clumps of dirt. He jumped off his horse and stomped around. Damn, she likely gave birth right here. That stupid woman. How could she do that to his son – birth him outside like an animal. He spotted a second set of tracks. A horse and rider, seems to have ridden side-by-side with Lorna. Wes mounted and followed the trail. It quickly became clear the tracks were headed to Dodge City. He didn't like the idea of going there. He'd made it a rule to keep out of Matt Dillon's town, and do his robbing outside of Kansas territory. He flicked the reins with a sigh. There was no way to avoid Dillon's town now. He had to find his baby son, and get his wife back. A man has rights.
TBC