A Promise/A favor/A savior,Pt.4

                                                                                    Pt.4
                                                                  A promise/A favor/A savior

Doc had taking care to see that Mary was settled, and Kitty had calmed Molly down, enough.. they walked back to the house together, with the pretence she was telling her about the horses.  Kitty motioned to Doc,
maybe we should get started back, you know you promised to stop by the Ronniger’s ?  Doc now watching Kitty tilting her head away from Sean and the house…Oh, yes Kitty you are right I did ..well, Now Mrs. Kinkade, be sure to eat something and rest for the rest of the night…nodding, Oh, Yes Doctor I will…

Doc, helped Kitty up into the buggy, then as they pulled away, “Promised to stop by The Ronniger’s?”
What in thunder was that about?   Huffing out a Breath… Oh Doc , I needed to get you away from that boy..
I needed to talk to you alone… Doc!….We have to do something!   That poor child….she’s being hurt ..abused..!  What in thunder are you saying Kitty…when you were talking with Mrs. Kinkade, and the boy..
Molly got my attention at the barn, she asked me to help them ?   When I pressed her as to why?   Oh, Doc it was awful! ..she turned around and let me see her back… Curly the bruises!… That child is being Beaten!
I promised her I’d help her…well, now Kitty, what are you going to do?  What? She asked.  What are you going to do? I don’t know !  But I have to do something, I promised!…your really getting yourself into something here…What are you saying Doc?   Now Kitty listen to me for a Minute ,…I understand how you feel, and that you want to help, but, …now getting her back up…But nothing!…. I thought you of all people would be willing to help me?… Now Kitty I am…but we have to think this through.. we have to keep a clear head about this.. Matt will be back soon and we can see what he think we should do about this..? so maybe you should just take a deep breath!……….And in the Mean time? What happens to that little girl Doc? She blurted out.

Things were quiet , Matt was still not back in town yet….it was  Friday night, the usual crowd, was filing into the saloon,…Down at the edge of town,…where a few houses stand…a few woman noticed ..a young girl alone,… making her way down Front St. They noticed the child was disheveled … one older woman asked ”child, where are you headed at this time of night?” I need to find her ,the lady.. Doctor’s friend…
You mean Miss Russell? The woman asked her.   She has Red hair…The Doctors friend.   But, child you can’t go in the saloon.   The woman walked her down the street , then said” here go up the side stairs…
Then asked one of the men sitting outside to give Kitty a message” that she had a visitor, in her room…
There was no way she would deliver the message herself. .. No self-respecting proper lady would enter a saloon.   …the Cowboy just laughed…Yes Ma’am… he said mocking!  Ol’ Prude…
Then he went inside …Hey Miss Kitty, got a message for ya!…some ol’ bitty out here says you have a visitor in your room waitin for ya!…hahaha…  Ok, Reb’ enough , with the jokes…go get a beer.. and stop!
No, Miss Kitty I’m not joshin’ with ya… …then she looked him square in the face.. and realized he wasn’t playin a game.  Sam,  I’ll be right back ,.. She headed up to her room,…when she entered,…she didn’t see anyone…who here?…, Cowboy!? Is this your idea of a Joke?  Did you come back early?  Then she heard a light tapping on the side door…as she opened it,… Molly was curled up against the door,….Ma’am?
Help…Me? Please?    You said you wou…ld he..lp me… Oh my Molly  quickly she picked her up…
Molly squeeling in pain, sweetheart, what?…Pop..pa he came home from hunting… he knows you and the Doc ..ca..me ..Oh Honey I am so sorry… Ma’ and Maura, ..he …their hurt…poppa said he ’d learn us good…he said he teach Maura and me to be good Women… by now Molly was losing consciousness ….  Oh sweetheart!   I’m gonna go get Doc,…you lay right here in My Bed……..
But , as she opened the door, she saw Patrick standing in front of her, what do you want?…pushing his way in,   where is my daughter?.. where is Molly?  She’s not here.  Lies !Lies!   He reached out grabbing Kitty by the throat,…struggling to breath and release herself from his grip …she was trying to make her way towards the night stand, where she kept her derringer… she also kept another handgun , that Matt gave her ,
In the dressing table.  His grip was getting tighter…as she pulled the trigger, she felt herself get light-headed, ..heard the shot … and things went black…….


                                                                                  TBC