NINETEEN
Luckily for Matt, the path he'd taken to the cabin was practically a straight shot back to Dodge on a well-worn road. He gave Buck his lead and let him go, only urging him on a little from time to time, trusting him to go the right way without too much guidance.
If there hadn't been a road, Matt wasn't sure he would have been able to make it. He was trying his best to stem the flow of blood, but it continued to seep between his fingers and down his arm at a steady pace, draining his strength and his ability to focus. He'd been played like a damn fool.
As the pain in his shoulder grew and he urged his horse to go faster, he cursed himself for letting his emotions get the best of him. He didn't need the extra complication of having a bullet wound. It was careless mistakes like this that could get Kitty killed. He couldn't focus on that now, though, he needed to move past it and get back to Dodge. There, Doc could patch him up, and then he could get the money from the bank and be back on the trail in less than an hour. If all went smoothly.
Convincing Botkin to give him such a large sum of money wouldn't be easy.
Matt looked ahead and knew he was close. He kicked Buck in his sides, grunting in pain at the extra effort, doing his best to stay balanced on his saddle as they reached a bend in the road. Only a couple more miles now and he would be back in Dodge. It was still early enough in the day that he hoped he could sneak into town and Doc's office without being noticed. He didn't want to cause a panic or have word get out that the marshal of Dodge City was wounded—that would only invite trouble.
Just a couple more miles.
Festus had thought he felt a good deal better upon waking up. His arm hurt and he head a slight headache, but that was to be expected. Then Doc had told him about Kitty. Now all he could do was stalk around Dodge, waiting for Matt to get back with her, his heart threatening to break with every step.
On his fifth trip down Front Street, halfway to Delmonico's, Festus passed an alley and caught a glimpse of Matthew hunched over his saddle in the very back.
"Matthew?" he all but shouted, rushing to his friend's side.
Matthew raised his head to look at Festus through glassy eyes and pulled himself together.
"Not so loud, Festus," he whispered. "I don't want people to know I'm here."
Festus reached up with his good arm and helped Matthew slide down off his horse.
"What happened, Matthew? Where's…where's Miss Kitty?" Festus could feel tears pricking at the backs of his eyes, and he almost didn't want to hear the answer. Not if….
"They still have her, Festus." Matthew swayed slightly, and Festus held onto his arm to support him. "Caleb stopped me in the woods, they want ten thousand for her."
"What're they playin' at? Why didn't they tell Doc that to begin with?"
"They're toying with me, Festus, but I need Doc to take care of this shoulder so I can get the money and get back out there."
Festus immediately wrapped his good arm around Matt's waist and started helping him down the alley, pushing back his confusion.
"If'n you wanna keep this quiet, Matthew, Miss Kitty's office is the best place for ya—there's no tellin' who might visit ol' Doc's office."
"Thanks, Festus." Matthews already sounded winded.
"We'll getcha settled, and I'll have Sam fetch Doc over at Delmonico's while I get his doctorin' stuff from his office."
Doc raced through the swinging batwing doors of the Long Branch and through the main room towards Kitty's office, Sam right on his heels. All Sam had said was that Matt had been shot and was hiding in the back room at the Long Branch. Or at least that's all Doc had heard before he rushed from Delmonico's, leaving behind a cup of coffee he hadn't even touched yet. All Doc knew was that if Matt was injured, then God only knew what had happened to Kitty.
The scene that greeted Doc when he entered Kitty's office stopped him cold. Matt sat slumped sideways in the chair at Kitty's desk. Blood soaked his shirt and stained his hands. And Kitty was nowhere to be seen.
Matt blinked deliberately up at Doc, as if he was having a hard time keeping his eyes open, and Doc jolted back into action. He hurried to Matt's side and took Matt's face in his hands. It was cool to the touch, but he was sweating, and his normally clear blue eyes were dull and glassy as he stared up at him. Doc smoothed back damp curls of hair from his forehead and gently said, "Matt, you're gonna be ok. You're gonna be just fine, you hear me, son?"
Doc glanced over his shoulder at Sam. "Where's Festus? We need to get Matt up to my office if I'm going to take this bullet out."
"No…."
Doc looked sharply at Matt.
"I need to—" he sucked in a pained breath "—stay hidden."
"Festus already went to get you what you'll need, Doc," Sam offered. "I'll be out front if you need me."
The bartender left the room, and Matt had Doc's full attention once again.
"What's going on, Matt? Where's Kitty?"
"They're holding her for ransom now…."
Doc bowed his head and swallowed past the lump in his throat.
Doc was probing Matt's shoulder, feeling for the bullet, his own hands slick with Matt's blood now, when Festus returned with his medical bag.
"How's he doin', Doc?"
"He'll be fine, but we need to get him laid out on that table there. The bullet didn't go through, and it needs to come out before he loses any more blood."
Festus set the bag down and moved to Matt's side, opposite Doc.
"Matthew? You need us to help you over there?" In Doc's opinion, Matt didn't look any stronger than a newborn kitten at the moment, but he knew Festus had to give him the option.
"I'm not an invalid, Festus. Just shot it all," Matt grunted, but then tried to give them a grin.
Doc wasn't exactly reassured.
Matt slowly stood up, and his legs practically gave out on him, sitting him back in the chair, hard.
"Maybe a little more than 'just shot,' huh, Matt?" Doc groused.
Matt made a face, but when Festus offered to help him over to the table again he let him.
Doc started the task of sterilizing the tools he would need to extract the bullet while Matt got settled on the table and gave instructions to Festus.
"Go make sure Buck is out of the way for me, where no one will find him, and make sure he gets some feed and water. Then go down to the bank and get the money from Botkin—I don't care what he says. I need to be ready to go when Doc's finished patching me up."
Doc finished laying his instruments out and glared down at Matt.
"We'll see about that."
Festus paused, looking back and forth between Matt and Doc.
"The hell with 'we'll see about that'! Festus, go do what I asked."
Doc watched Festus give both him and Matt a dubious look before hurrying out the door, his spurs jangling noisily. Then he turned on Matt.
"What the hell are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking that I'm not going to let anything or anyone stop me from going after those men as soon as possible, Doc," Matt growled—less impressive to Doc when he was laid out on a table trying to bleed to death.
"How on earth do you expect to take them on when you're so weak, huh? Tell me that, Mister Marshal." Doc already knew this was a pointless fight, that Matt would do whatever he damn well pleased, but he couldn't help his fear from making him lash out at the closest target. And regardless, he wanted Matt to go after Kitty just as badly as Matt himself wanted to. Events had already spiraled out of their control.
"I don't know, Doc, but I have to try! I need to get to Kitty before…." Matt quickly ran out of steam, turning pleading eyes on Doc that pierced his heart. "Caleb gave me the ransom demands, Doc, and the things he said about Kitty…. I have to get to her before it's too late."
Doc nodded slowly, his heart breaking.
"Alright, son. Alright."
He pat Matt's hand and took a bottle out of his bag. Nothing about this was ideal, but he'd help Matt do what he had to. They'd all do what they had to for Kitty.
"Here, take some of this laudanum. It's not enough to put you under, but it'll help with the pain while I'm digging the bullet out."
"Thanks…." Matt swallowed the medicine in one gulp, and Doc set about extracting the bullet.
"Got it." Doc dropped his forceps with the bullet into the basin of alcohol sitting on the table next to Matt.
Matt sighed in relief and watched Doc reach for his sutures. "Just wrap it. I don't have time for you to sew me up."
"Yeah, well, you don't have time to bleed to death, either! You've already lost too much blood—the bullet nicked a rather important artery, and you're lucky you got your stubborn hide back to town at all." Doc moved towards Matt with the sutures.
"I said just wrap it!"
The tension in the air was palpable as the two men stared each other down, a contest of wills.
Matt finally opened his mouth to speak, but Doc held up a hand, silencing him. He ran a hand through his tousled, greying hair.
"Matt, please. Trust me on this. Festus isn't even back with the money yet."
"Doc—"
"And you're no good to Kitty dead."
Matt flinched, but Doc held his gaze, not seeming to regret his harsh words.
Matt remained silent then while Doc sewed him up and then covered the wound with a bandage. Doc was right. He needed to give himself every advantage he could, give Kitty every advantage.
Doc's voice cut through his thoughts. "Just make sure you have Kitty bring you to my office when you get back so I can check on this. I know you'll likely end up busting the stitches," he grumbled.
The implications of Doc's request were not lost on Matt, and he nodded gratefully. It was reassuring to hear his hope affirmed by someone else, even if they were two fools lying to each other. He would find Kitty and bring her back, and she would be alive and well and whole.
After taking care of Buck—and getting Ruth ready to go, as well—and getting the money from the bank, Festus made his way back to the Long Branch. He hadn't told anyone yet, but he was planning on riding out with Matthew this time. His head felt better, he could get around well enough with just one arm, and he couldn't sit around Dodge anymore, twiddling his thumbs. He'd never be able to forgive himself if Matthew or Miss Kitty got killed while he did nothing.
Festus was at the back door to the Long Branch when he saw Doc hurrying towards him with a tray of food—most likely for Matthew, to get his strength back up, Festus figured. He decided to wait for Doc and ask about Matthew where they couldn't be overheard by him. Ask if he'd said anything else about Miss Kitty. They all loved her, each in their own ways.
Doc got closer, and Festus could tell his mind was somewhere else. He was only a couple of yards away, but he didn't seem to have noticed Festus waiting for him.
"Doc?" he called out, hoping not to startle him.
Doc looked up to see who had called his name, and Festus caught him in an unguarded moment, the emotions on his battered face so conflicted. Anger, sadness, relief, frustration. It was unsettling how easily he could read Doc.
"Festus." Doc's voice was matter-of-fact, despite what Festus saw in his eyes. "Have you done what Matt asked?" He pulled up just short of the back door.
"Yessir." Festus nodded but then stopped Doc before he could continue inside. "Matthew's alright to go after Miss Kitty, is he?" His voice was soft, almost pleading, but still firm.
Doc swiped a hand over his mustache, and Festus looked away, afraid of what Doc's hesitation meant.
"Festus, look at me."
Festus didn't think he could bear to.
"Festus, please." He had spoken softly, but Festus felt the weight of his words. He looked up at Doc uncertainly.
"Matt's going to be alright, but whatever he says, I want you to go with him this time."
Relief swelled in Festus' chest.
"He's in no condition to face those men on his own, and with Kitty in their hands—I wish it wasn't true. I wish to God it wasn't true, but it's too risky for him on his own. For both their sakes."
Festus nodded enthusiastically. "I was already fixin' to do it, Doc. Don't you worry none."
Doc gently clasped the back of Festus' neck and looked him straight in the eye.
"Bring our girl home, Festus."
Walking out the back door of the Long Branch with Festus and Doc, Matt jammed his hat onto his head and headed toward Buck, tethered to a post at the back of the alley. He'd readily agreed to Festus' plan to come with him, recognizing the wisdom in having backup, and he hefted himself onto his horse, trying to only use his good arm as much as possible, while Festus mounted his mule. They probably looked a sight, only having two good arms between them. Doc's eyes were drilling holes into his back the entire time – Matt could feel the weight of his stare.
Matt made sure Festus was ready to go and then looked to Doc one last time.
"Go, son. I'll follow along with a buckboard just as soon as I can." Something else Matt had agreed to, albeit with some unease. It implied one of them might not be able to sit a horse on the journey back, too injured to ride, or….
Matt nodded brusquely and then he and Festus left, pounding hooves leaving a cloud of dust in their wake.
Doc bustled around his office, trying not to think the worst as he gathered all the supplies he might need, but he was only fooling himself. Thoughts of Kitty filled his head, and he let them come. Would Matt and Festus make it in time? Would they be able to save Kitty and themselves? What if the brothers killed her? Or what if…what if they didn't but…. Doc had seen and heard of too many situations where women had been abused and raped, and although they'd come through it with their lives, they never lived again. They were back at home with their families, or in a new life, safe—but not really. There was too much of a stigma around the subject of rape, and not enough understanding and love and support for the women who survived.
Just the thought of it made Doc sick. Whatever happened, Kitty would always have him.
Doc looked around his office one last time to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. Grabbing his jacket and hat, he shoved his arms into the sleeves, wincing slightly and the lingering soreness in his body, jammed the hat onto his head, and left his office without a backward glance. Dark clouds threatened overhead. He rushed down the staircase as quickly as he could and strode purposefully down the boardwalk, headed for the livery. Hank should have the buckboard hitched up by now. He hoped the fresh air would do something to calm his mind—his thoughts were going to drive him mad. He needed…he needed—his steps faltered.
My God, Kitty….
He looked up and down the street. Life was continuing without a hitch for most of the citizens of Dodge. They rushed from task to task, hoping to avoid the rain Doc could smell coming on the air. They either didn't know Kitty had been taken, with Matt and Festus going after her, or they just didn't care all that much.
Doc couldn't begrudge the people who didn't know about the kidnapping, the threats made against Matt and the entire town. Ignorance was bliss, and the less people who knew, the better—those bastards wanted to destroy Matt's life, but his reputation was one thing Doc could help keep them from taking.
Damage control.
Doc was just about to almost to Hank's when he heard two men talking in the alley just around the corner from where he stood.
"You don't say? Burke, are you sure?"
"As sure as you're standin' there, I'm sure. And I bet you can't guess how much money they asked for her, either." There was a pause and then Burke continued in a quieter voice, like he was telling a scandalous secret. "Botkin told me the marshal had Festus take ten thousand dollars cash. Demanded it. And it might not even be worth it. If he doesn't get that money back, it could ruin Dodge, and for what?"
"Huh?"
"Oh, come on, you know what men like that do to women like Miss Kitty."
Doc clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms.
"Well, isn't that something…." The second man whose voice Doc didn't recognize sounded oddly pleased. "I guess that'll serve her right. She'll get what's comin' to her—always paradin' around but gettin' tetchy if someone tries to be friendly with her."
Doc's body literally shook with rage and the effort it was taking him to not round the corner and lay into the two gossip-mongerers.
"Oh, now, I don't know about that," Burke tried to backtrack, sounding uneasy, the stupid coward. "Miss Kitty's an awful nice lady." He chuckled nervously. "I wouldn't want to be on the marshal's bad side if anything happened to her."
"One thing's for sure, the marshal won't want her anymore after those men get through with her. Mark my words."
The two voices faded as they continued their conversation, moving farther away from the entrance to the alley.
Doc continued on his way before he thought better of it and took a strip out of Burke's hide. Burke was an idiot, and Doc knew it, but it still killed him inside to hear someone talking so flippantly about Kitty's life.
Thunder rolled overhead.
Matt and Festus would get there in time, and then he'd be there with her, too.