Chapter 13 Searching For Answers

Matt mounted Buck, and Festus mounted Ruth. They rode the animals to the area where James was discovered. It was the most logical place to start. Festus could easily see where James' horse threw him off.

"Looky here, Matthew." Festus pointed to the ground. "These here tracks head off to the west."

"Alright, that's head that way," said Matt.

Both Matt and Festus rode in a westerly direction. They were easily able to follow Coal's hoof prints from the Dillon property. The set of tracks led them towards the road, but then stopped once they reached the road. Matt and Festus looked down the road to the west and to the east. There were wheel tracks from wagons and buggies and tracks from other horses, but Matt and Festus could clearly see that none of those horses' tracks belonged to James' horse. Festus dismounted Ruth and Matt followed suit. Matt watched as Festus got down on his knees to further investigate the ground.

Festus stood up, removed his hat, and scratched his head. "It ain't makin' no sense. The tracks continue west, but not on the road."

"It makes sense," Matt responded. "James didn't want ta leave obvious tracks on the road. That makes me think he was runnin' from someone. Let's keep following these tracks."

After following the tracks for several miles, the tracks suddenly cut across the road, but continued west. This further confirmed Matt's suspicion that James was trying not to leave an easy trail that could be followed. James was showing that he had smarts and common sense. Matt didn't know how many boys James age would think of riding the way James did, so an obvious trail wouldn't be left behind. One thing Matt and Festus did know was that the trail didn't journey too far from the road. Another mile and the tracks crossed the road and continued west, but only for a little ways. The tracks were veering off to the north, away from the road.

Festus brought Ruth to a halt and looked at Matt. "The tracks ain't headin' west anymore. Them tracks be movin' towards the north."

"Yeah, towards that grove of trees," Matt pointed out. "Let's go." Matt and Festus rode out the grove of trees where James had spent the previous night. "You can see someone, along with a horse was recently here. That someone was a young person. Look at the size of the prints." Matt took his boots and scraped them over James' boot prints.

"Whatcha doin' that fer, Matthew?" asked Festus as he watched Matt.

"We don't know who or where James is running from. We don't know if this man is good at tracking. It's plain ta see that James is the only one that's been here. If James' pursuer comes to this grove, I don't want him to see James' prints. I'd rather him see our prints." Matt continued to scrape his boot across the ground.

"I guess that didn't cross my mind," said Festus. "He'll also be thrown off seein' our tracks. We best sees if these tracks go back to the road." The tracks did, but once again not on the road. "Matthew, me 'n you knows the pattern of them there tracks. I say we stay on the road. We're bound ta see the tracks cross again."

"I reckon yer right, Festus," Matt agreed. "Yer the tracker. You know what yer doing."

Lewis left Garden City and headed east the morning he realized that Lenny had successfully managed to make a run for it. He had no idea where the boy was. He figured if Lenny traveled east, he would've run into him by now. Lenny would've been traveling in a strange place at night. Not knowing where he was going would have slowed Lenny down, especially traveling in the dark. Lewis had been staying away from the road to avoid meeting up with people, specifically any lawmen. He wanted to avoid the law at all costs. Remembering he still had Lenny's clothes, Lewis knew it was best if he stopped, built a fire, and burned them.

Matt and Festus had been riding for several more miles, when Matt noticed smoke from a fire. "Whoa." Matt pulled on Buck's reins.

Festus pulled on Ruth's reins. "Ya fixin' ta stop 'n turn around?"

"No. Do ya see the smoke up there and that man?" asked Matt.

"Shore do," said Festus. "Why? Ya thinkin' he's got somethin' ta do with James?"

"I can't be certain," Matt replied as he kept his eyes fixed on Lewis. "What I am certain about is that it's too dry for that fire. If he's not careful he's likely to set the prairie on fire. Come on. Let's go talk ta him."

"Whatcha aimin' ta say to the fellar?" asked Festus.

"I'm not quite sure. Just follow my lead. Remove yer badge," Matt instructed as he removed his own and put it in his vest pocket. Festus removed his badge and put it in his pocket.

Lewis had a decent fire going and had thrown Lenny's last article of clothing in, when he saw Matt and Festus approaching. Fearing they might see the burning clothes, Lewis stepped in front of the fire to block it from their view. Lewis had no clue why the two men were approaching, but he did his best to be nonchalant. As they came closer, Lewis' heart began to beat faster. He swore it was about to beat out of his chest. Lewis prayed that it wasn't beating as loud as he thought it was. Lewis took a few collective breaths before the two men approached.

"Can I help ya fellas?" Lewis swallowed.

His palms were sweaty. He looked the men over and did not see any badges. That was a good sign. They weren't the law. Now Lewis was worried they came to rob him. Well, they wouldn't get much if they did. Lewis knew he would have to find work when he made it to St. Louis.

"No," Matt answered. "We saw yer fire 'n wanted ta tell ya that the prairie is awful dry right now for a fire."

"Oh, well I started it in hopes to roast me a rabbit over it. Problem is I ain't had too much luck huntin'" Lewis lied.

"You from around these parts?" asked Matt, studying Lewis' face. He was trying to seer it into his memory. "Me 'n my friend do some huntin' in this area, n' we haven't seen you around."

"No, I'm just a hungry drifter," Lewis lied again. "I'm making my way ta St. Louis."

"If yer hungry, Dodge City is the next town. You can get a meal there 'n a place ta sleep," Matt suggested. "I would also put that fire out." He turned around and reached into his saddle bags. He pulled out some jerky. "Here's some jerky to hold ya over."

Lewis accepted the jerky. "Thanks." He turned around and looked at the fire. Any evidence of Lenny's clothes were among the ashes. "I'll make sure ta put the fire out."

"Good," said Matt. He and Festus turned around and headed back towards Dodge City.

Lewis let out a sigh of relief. He hadn't been arrested or robbed. Using his teeth, Lewis ripped off a piece of the salty, leathery jerky. Lewis was hungry enough to eat all the jerky that was given to him, but knew he had to save some. Who knew when his next meal would be? He wasn't quite sure he wanted to go to Dodge City, not with that Marshal being there.

"What didja think, Matthew?" Festus asked after they were out of earshot

"I'm not sure. He could be a drifter" Matt replied. "If he did plan on doing any cooking on that fire, I don't know he planned on doin' so. There was no spit to cook on."

"I noticed the same thing," said Festus. "I take it we're headin' back ta yer place."

"Yeah," Matt answered. "We're really not equipped to make a multiple day journey. Tonight you 'n Newly can make yer rounds around the saloons. See if that man makes it inta town and visits any of the saloons. See if he does any talkin'."

"Will do, Matthew," said Festus.

The Dillon House

"It's getting close to suppertime," Kitty observed. "I'll go get something started."

"I'll help," Doc offered as he got up to follow Kitty into the kitchen.

"Shouldn't you stay out here?" questioned Kitty.

"No, I think these two will be fine," Doc answered. "James, stay on the couch 'til we come get you. Ruby, why don't you show James some of your toys?"

"Okay," said the children in unison. Ruby skipped off towards her bedroom.

Kitty and Doc entered the kitchen, and Kitty turned around. "You'd rather be in here helping me than in there? What gives?"

"You know your choice of names didn't go past me," Doc declared. "I remember James was the name you were gonna use if Ruby had been a boy."

"What are you getting at?" Kitty slowly asked, even though she had an idea where this conversation was headed.

"The boy has been here for less than twelve hours, 'n yer already becoming attached," Doc replied.

Kitty wanted to get angry and deny Doc's accusations, but she couldn't. She knew he was correct. "I'm really trying not to, Doc."

"Why not? He seems like a great kid," Doc stated.

"Exactly, but he could be someone else's great kid," Kitty sighed. "I remember how Matt and I felt when Ruby was taken from us. It was the worst time of our lives. There could be a mother and father out there missing their son as much as we missed Ruby. Until we find out who that boy in the other room is, I have to tell myself this is temporary.

Doc swiped at his mustache and looked at his surrogate daughter. "I understand, but I know one thing for sure. If it turns out he has no family, he's found one here. You have no plans on sending him to some orphanage."

Once again, Kitty could not deny what Doc had just said. She smiled at him. "You know me so well. Now, do you want to help me with supper?"

"And you know me well enough to know that I'd rather go back in the parlor 'n be with my granddaughter and our new friend."

Kitty laughed out loud. "Before you go, would you mind setting the table? I assume James can join us. I'm not sure if Matt or Festus will be back in time, but we can set a place for them. So that would be six place settings."

Kitty set the the needed amount of plates, cups, and silverware on the table. After Matt and Kitty had gotten married, they purchased a kitchen table and chairs. The table was big enough to sit six people. When they purchased the table and chairs, Matt and Kitty thought they would be having several children. Doc set the table and went back to the parlor.

TBC

Author's Note: Lewis had heard about Marshal Dillon, he never saw him.