THREE
Festus woke early the next morning and smiled to himself when he noticed Matthew's cot hadn't been slept in. Unless an emergency had come up in the middle of the night, there was only one other place Matthew could be, and Festus was tickled pink.
Whistling a happy tune, Festus went about the business of making coffee for the day. He wanted to look busy when Matthew got back, real natural like.
He didn't have long to wait – minutes later Matthew walked through the door.
"Mornin', Matthew!"
"Festus." Matthew smiled and nodded a greeting and hung up his hat, moving toward his desk.
Festus shot him a sly look out of the corner of his eye from where he stood by the stove top. "Already make yer first round, didja?"
"Hmmm? Oh, yeah, something like that, Festus…."
Festus turned back to the coffee pot, hiding a grin. Sometimes poking fun at Matthew was almost as satisfying as needling ol' Doc.
"Say there," Matt cleared his throat, "is that coffee ready yet?"
"Just a minute more, Matthew, it's almost boilin'." One more for good measure. "I just got it goin'. Not all of us can be as early a riser as you are."
He heard Matt sigh – "alright, Festus" – and congratulated himself.
Festus was pouring them both cups of coffee when Matt heard someone running down the boardwalk and Barney burst through the door, startling Festus.
"Dad-blame it, Barney, watch where yer goin', scarin' folks! I almost burnt my hand clear off." Festus shoved a cup of coffee into Matt's hand and stuck his fingers in his mouth, trying to soothe the sore digits.
"Marshal, I've got a telegram for you." Barney panted, thrusting it in Matt's direction. "Hays City – urgent."
Matt set the coffee down and took the telegram. His brow furrowed, and he took one last look at Barney and then Festus before reading the message, dread already growing in the pit of his stomach. In his line of work, good news never came this early in the morning.
A grim silence filled the air, and he worked his jaw soundlessly as he read: "Attack in Hays STOP Two dead and three injured STOP Left you a warning STOP Request immediate reply STOP Sheriff Tucker"
"What's in that thar telegram, Matthew?"
Matt read it two more times, then folded it and put it in his breast pocket.
"Barney, send that reply. Tell them I'll be on my way in less than an hour."
A rushed "yessir," and Barney was out the door, quick as he'd come.
"Matthew?"
Matt looked down at his desk for a long moment, guilt coiling tightly in his gut. It was one thing to kill a man, but to have innocents murdered just to send him a message? And starting in Hays…. It was only a matter of time before the matter escalated and hit closer to home, he felt it in his bones. Matt pulled free of his musings and sprang into action.
"There was some kind of attack in Hays, Festus." Moving quickly, he grabbed his saddlebags and started packing for his journey – canteen, tins of beans, some jerky. Festus hovered nearby, waiting for further explanation. "Seems whoever did this left a warning. For me." Extra ammo, coffee, and matches went in next.
"A warning? Well what in tarnation is that s'posed to mean?"
"I'm not sure yet, Festus, but I intend to find out."
Matt slung his saddlebags over one shoulder, grabbed his hat and a rain slicker off the pegs by the door, and took one last look around the jail to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. He wasn't sure how long he would be gone, but he hoped it wouldn't be more than a few days. He didn't feel good about being away any longer than that. Not this time.
Festus swallowed nervously. "What do you want me to do, Matthew?"
"Keep an eye on the town for me while I'm gone, Festus. And get a couple men to help you if you run into trouble. I don't want us taking any chances."
"You think trouble's a comin', Matthew?"
Matt looked Festus square in the eye. "I think it is." He put his hand on the door to open it and then paused and turned back. He knew Festus was likely already planning on doing so, but he couldn't help but adding, "Keep a special eye on Kitty, Festus. Doc, too."
"I'll do 'er, Matthew. You can count on me." He nodded vigorously.
Matt clapped Festus on the shoulder. "Thanks, old friend. I've got a feelin' we may see a lot of trouble before this is all over. Somethin' in my gut…" he trailed off for a moment. "Would you mind getting Buck saddled for me? I want to let Kitty know what's going on before I head out."
"Sure thing, Matthew. I'll have him ready for ya quicker'n you can say 'rat run over the roof with a piece o' raw liver in 'is mouth.' Meet ya over at the Long Branch." Then he was out the door like a shot, and Matt cracked a small grin, shaking his head.
As he headed over to the Long Branch, though, his mood quickly turned sour again, and he hoped he was reading more into the situation than it actually warranted. He was afraid he wasn't.
Doc eased into a chair at the table closest to the stove near the back of the Long Branch and removed his hat, setting it in the chair next to him. Early April mornings were still a bit nippy, and the warmth of the fire seeped into his bones while he waited for Kitty to finish making the coffee.
Every now and then Kitty would make the extra effort to rise with the sun so they could have a coffee, and sometimes breakfast, together before his work day started. He secretly suspected the task was easier on nights Matt stayed over – he imagined she woke up to say goodbye when he left in the mornings. Among other things, Doc snickered to himself.
But Doc relished quite mornings like this, peaceful and spent in the company of his girl. He cherished them and the beautiful gift Kitty was in his life. As she approached the table with a tray carrying a carafe of coffee and two mugs, fresh-faced and smiling and still in her dressing gown, he silently thanked God for her presence in his life. He had no children, but he loved Kitty as much as he ever could have loved a daughter of his own flesh and blood. He sent up an extra measure of thanks for her safety – it wasn't too bad, but up close he noticed the bruise on her cheek again.
"Here you go, Doc, just like you like it." Kitty set the tray down and poured them both some coffee before seating herself next to Doc and scooting her chair closer.
The heavenly aroma of strong, fresh-brewed coffee wafted up from Doc's mug.
"Well now, that smells mighty good, Kitty. Thank you." He threw her a wink and took his first sip. "Mmm, tastes as good, too." He grinned at Kitty's laugh and settled back into his chair.
"You know, you could teach Festus a thing or two about making coffee – he pretty near killed me with the last pot I had."
"Oh, now, Doc." She protested, but he saw the way her eyes crinkled at the edges and the corner of her mouth twitched upward. This was a well-worn conversation.
"No, now I'm serious, Kitty. Almost burned a hole clear through the lining of my stomach!"
"You poor baby," she laughed, shaking her head. "If it bothers you so much, why don't you stop drinking it, hmm? Tell me that."
"Well…." He swiped his hand across his mustache, racking his brain for a comeback. "I'll tell you –"
Just then Matt came through the batwing doors, providing an easier target.
"Actually, I'll let Matt tell you. Tell her, Matt."
Matt approached their table, and Doc grinned impishly at Matt's bemused expression as Kitty's full-throated laugh rang out across the room.
"What is it that I'm supposed to be tellin' her, exactly?"
"Nevermind, Cowboy." Kitty smiled up at Matt. "Want some coffee?"
"No thanks, Kitty."
"He's just jealous he found you on a date with me." Doc nodded seriously, hiding a smile when Matt crossed his arms in mock annoyance.
"Ah, well, he's just going to have to get used to it today. You are the birthday boy, after all." She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek and ruffled his salt-and-pepper hair. He was grinning like a fool, and he knew it.
Matt shook his head with a small smile on his face that didn't reach his eyes, and Doc took a moment to notice Matt's saddlebags slung across his shoulder and the tightness of his expression. He'd wager this wasn't just a social call.
"Goin' somewhere, Matt?"
"Yeah," Matt sighed, looking troubled. "Actually, I'm glad you're both here. I wanted to fill you in before I headed out."
"What's wrong?" Kitty didn't sound too worried, but the lighthearted atmosphere of the previous few minutes had dissipated.
Doc looked from Kitty to Matt as they awaited an explanation. They must have seen each other not half an hour ago, and already so much had changed.
"I got a telegram from the sheriff in Hays this morning." Matt reached inside his breast pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to Kitty. Doc leaned closer, and they read it together as Matt finished his account. "I'm not sure what it means yet, but I'm going to Hays, and I'm hoping to find out."
The wording of the telegram was vague, but even so, a sense of strange foreboding crept up Doc's spine, and he suppressed a shiver. It sure as hell wasn't the first time Matt's life had been threatened, but this somehow sounded more ominous. To send a warning in advance implied planning and forethought, or, at the very least, arrogance or even psychosis – none of those options sat well with Doc. Until Matt could get some answers in Hays, Doc had a feeling they would all need to be wary. It sounded like more than just Matt's life was at stake here.
In the silence that followed, Doc watched Kitty's eyes move across the page, reading the missive again, perhaps searching for clues or further context. Her expression grew more concerned by the second, and Doc decided to break the silence.
"Sounds serious, Matt." He couldn't have made a more obvious statement, but it served its purpose. Kitty looked up, her concentration broken, as Matt responded.
"It is, Doc. Whoever killed those people in Hays was sending a message to me through people I'm not even connected to. They –" he broke off abruptly, studying his boots.
"You can't blame yourself for that, Matt." Doc knew Matt assumed the blame far more often than he should, but he also suspected there was more to it than that this time. He hoped Matt would come right out and say it, get it off his chest.
"Hell, I know that, Doc," he sighed in frustration, removing his hat and fiddling with the brim. "But, well," Matt shoved his Stetson back on his head and looked at Doc and Kitty with an earnest expression, "there's easier ways to send me a message, ya know?"
That was what he'd been waiting to hear.
Doc swiped at his mustache and swallowed hard, looking at Kitty. She still hadn't said anything since reading the telegram.
"Look, I just wanted to let you two know I'd be back in a few days – Festus is watching the town while I'm gone. Just…just look out for yourselves, too, alright? Stay where people can see you if you can."
Kitty nodded absently and spoke up, her voice just above a whisper. "You're really worried this time, aren't you, Matt?"
He nodded once.
"I'll be back in a few days."
Kitty stood, and Matt walked around the table to kiss her sweetly on the cheek. Doc looked away from their display of affection as Kitty pulled Matt in for another kiss, trying to give them some semblance of privacy. He'd seen more than probably anyone else in Dodge, but even so….
After a moment, Matt stepped back and cleared his throat – Doc almost smiled at his apparent shyness – and nodded in Doc's direction, a genuine grin on his face. "Happy birthday, ya old codger. Sorry I'm missin' your party."
"What – Old?" Doc sputtered. "Who are you callin' old, Marshal?" Matt chuckled and Doc continued, getting his own jibe in. "At least I'll be out with a beautiful young lady tonight." He winked at Kitty, coaxing a smile out of her. "All you'll have is your horse."
"You've got me there, Doc."
Kitty watched Matt leave the saloon and sank back down into her chair, the smile fading from her face. Presumably, Matt wasn't in any immediate danger – he was headed toward Hays, and the danger wasn't likely to return there – but the threat that hung over their heads, oppressive and clawing, was frightening in its ambiguity. In this instance, the vagueness of the threat only made it worse. How were you supposed to prepare yourself for the unexpected?
Still staring out the door, she flinched when Doc covered her shaking hands with his own larger, stronger ones.
"Kitty, look at me," he coaxed. She obeyed, turning in her chair to face him. "I know you're worried, honey, but you just listen to me. Matt will find out all there is to know in Hays, and he'll figure this out in no time. We'll just keep an eye on each other in the meanwhile, hmm? Festus, too."
Kitty took a deep breath and pushed her fears to the back of her mind. Normally she held herself together better than this. It wasn't like her to react so badly to an invisible threat. She silently chastised herself and straightened her shoulders, giving Doc a small smile, hoping to reassure them both.
"I'm alright, Doc. Really." Kitty moved one hand from his grasp to cover his and squeezed tightly, grateful for his steadying presence. She held his gaze and added, "Promise me you won't go anywhere alone for the next few days? At least until we hear from Matt."
"And here I thought that was my line," Doc scoffed.
Kitty took the bait for what it was, grinning. "Oh, I just meant you were stuck with me, Curly."
"Oh, you did, didja?"
"Mm-hmm. Until Matt gets back you won't be able to get rid of me. You got a problem with that?" She arched an eyebrow, fighting a smile, but Doc's expression turned impossibly sincere and her breath hitched, a warmth suffusing her chest.
He reached out and gently brushed the back of his hand across her cheek, his gaze locked with hers, his smile full of tenderness.
"I think that'll be fine, honey. Just fine."