PT.3
After seeing that
Maylee got back to her Farm house.. Matt , Festus’ and Newly headed out to try
and find Kitty and Mary..
Festus ‘ had noticed some horse tracks behind the Long
Branch, leading from the ally between
Doc’s office and the saloon… taking Festus’ along, Matt figured it would be
easier to follow anyone who was trying
to sneak out into the prairie...Matt had come to depend on Festus’ tracking
skills.. and knew how much he cared about Kitty and her safety . As they rode out of Dodge, Festus’ ,turned to Matt… Matthew, I jest
can’t’a figer,.. how some yahoos could slip on out ‘a Dodge wit
Miz Kitty and that there Lil’ biddy Baby…?
Festus’ I don’t know either….
And Matthew ,.. some them there outlaws.. been gone after Miz Kitty
befur.. but why that Baby? Festus…I
guess we’ll find out when we find them…
But, Matthew you’a was a right here in Dodge…. Newly added .. That’s
right !.. Look Fella’s I don’t have the answer… It had to be someone watching
our every move . Mrs. Bains and I left
Mary with Kitty while I walked her over to Church to speak with Reverend
English,.. so best I can figure is they
have about an hour maybe more on us…
Marshal ?.. Miss Kitty … she’s strong,..
and Smart…Newly said. Matt just
Nodded.
After some long hard riding, Kitty yelled out … Look, ..
! your
gonna have to stop and let me handle the baby’s needs…. Riding rough like this isn’t exactly good for
her…. Well, Now isn’t that just like a
good lil’ Momma… remarked the smaller man , the one Matt had bumped into at the
church… What? Kitty said looking at him
inquisitively …Now snickering at her… Dillon would have come easy nough…jest
grabbing you up Red,… but now we got the both of you…Jest all the better…now
laughing harder…. Kitty continued to hold Mary close to
her, but the rough ride cause her to begin Crying…Look there see… this is too
much for her.. she’s just an infant… then exhausted herself…PLEASE? Looking at one another, the sinister looking
man,… slowed down… pulling himself close to Kitty’s Horse…Ten Minutes…ya here
Ten Minutes … and you better shut it up!....
stopping by a small rock … they had found a stream… The smaller man ,.. reached up and pulled Kitty from the
Horse… plopping her to the ground,… nearly knocking her over.. but she held
tight to Mary… catching her balance…
walking off away from them slightly,… Kitty tore part of her petticoat to
use as a Diaper cloth,… and some to wipe her off with… then after quieting her down… sat holding her
to her breast…. Whispering ,… Oh, Sweet Baby girl,.. I’m so sorry you are
caught up in this. But don’t you worry
,.. now smiling down on Mary’s precious little face,.. I promise I won’t
let anything happen to you… and I tell you a secret…Mary now snuggling up to
the side of Kitty’s neck,… just as soon
as Matt,.. and Your mo,….exhaling,.. Your Momma realize we’re gone… He will
come and find us…. Then suddenly, Hey !.. you finish up over there… we need to
make tracks… git back up here on this horse.. and keep that ..ahhh , Kid of yours quiet! Kitty was wondering why they kept referring
to Mary as hers…? He forced her back
onto the horse ,.. along with Mary, Un-beknowns’t to either of these men .. she had left the cloth diaper by the rock where she and
Mary were sitting.. hoping if Matt came across
it ...he would know they were there…. Then, riding along she asked
again,.. Look who are you ? and what do
you want with us? You’ll find all that
out soon enough RED! You know when Matt
Dillon find you ,.. he’ll kill you both!
They both just laughed. Well
then, maybe you could tell me where your taking us?… that would be nice of you,
she said very sarcastic . Oh don’t you worry Red ,.. it’ll be nice
and cozy,… and we just might have ourselves a party.. Understand you know how
to have a Party? Kitty felt sick to her
stomach. then she spotted a wagon riding towards them…. Hoping it would be
someone she knew… as they rode
closer,.. Ya say a word to them …and they die…! Kitty just swallowed hard. Just as the
wagon came up to them… excuse me folks … Need a Doctor real bad .. da’ya know
bout’ how far to the nearest town… and if’n they have a doctor….Kitty looked at
the folks in the wagon,.. they were a fairly older couple,.. with two teen
Boys,.. one lying covered in the back… Kitty unsure what would happen,… spoke
up ,… Dodge City is just back that’s
way… ohhhh ,.. half a day or so…. Yes they have a Doctor … Doctor Adams… What’s
wrong with your Boy Mister? She asked …
ah, ma’am think he snake bit?
Fevered too. Kitty knew what a snake bite would do to the
boy… Looking at the two she was riding with,.. Look give me a minute… let me
take a look at ‘um? Ain’t got time to
play Doctor…sides… Damn it ..the Boy
could die,.. I know a little about Snake Bites… she snapped back… they the older man,.. spoke up.. Ahh sure
would ppreciate it Ma’am .. you know somethin’
to help my boy? Again looking at
the two… swallowing hard again.. Please!
Make it quick ...were losing light…
letting out a breath… she got down off the horse … the older man ,..
took Mary from her arms… I’ll hold ‘er fur ya Ma’am… THANK YA’ then climbed into the back of the wagon
remembering helping Doc with one of Jake Worth’s cowhands that had been bitten
by a snake… now seeing the Boys leg
with the snake teeth marks…. I
need a knife… and some water… and you!. looking up at the sinister looking man…
let me have some of your Whiskey?... you ain’t wasting my whiskey on that there
boy…. Now discussed,.. Damn it .. I need the whiskey… he could see she was no
longer asking… and tossed her the flask..
looking up at the other young boy… what’s your name ? Artie Ma’am ,..ok Artie,.. I’m gonna need you
to help me...ok? Yes Ma’am what ya want
me to do? Go up there by your brothers
head and hold him firm by the shoulders… got that ?… real tight like..ok? yes’ Ma’am… and moved to do what she
asked. The young boy looked at Kitty,
what’cha gonna do Ma’am well Artie .. I
need to try to get some of this poison out of his leg… ya said ya need a
knife.. I have a pocket knife… good that will have to do… and he handed it to
her… pouring some of the whiskey over the knife… she took a deep breath,… then Cut an X over the bite mark…, and bent
down to suck out the blood and poison,from the young boys leg… after a few
minutes… she reached down tore off another piece of her petticoat, for a
bandage… pouring more of the whiskey over the wound. And wrapping it tightly. Exhaling, she looked at the older man… Look
, your gonna need to get him into Dodge…
let Doc know ,.. what happened!
when the two Men on the horses,.. weren’t looking.. she slipped her
broach into Artie’s hand .. and whispered… Give this to Doc… what is it Ma’am…
he’ll know …shhhh,.. please? then she
straightened up and reclaimed Mary from the old man…Keep him warm .. and get
into town as fast as you can ya hear?... Ohhh, Thank Ya Ma’am we will … I’m sorry Ma’am ..we’re the Graham’s
didn’t even ask ya your name?...smiling at him…ohhh… Kit… then she thought for
a moment… Name’s Kathleen ,.. Kathleen…
Ru… LaRouge… well we sure do thank ya.. Miss LaRouge… let’s go now we done wasted enough time …Kath…Leen!.. the small man said with sarcasm in his
voice…. Kitty realized they didn’t know what she was doing….
As the Graham’s pulled away,,, Mrs. Graham,.. looked to her husband… Art,..
what ya think she be doing riding with that little baby?... it looked to be a
might lil’ … don’t know Alice,… just mighty thankful she was…. And continued to
ride on….
Matt, Festus’ and Newly … now not sure if they were still on
the right trail… stopped to water the horses at the small stream ,… after dismounting,.. Newly spotted a white cloth… lying by a rock…
Marshal!... Marshal...over here… Look is that what I think it is? Bending down
to lift up the cloth ...realizing it was soiled … Newly that must be Mary’s…
Marshal do ya think Miss Kitty left it as a sign? Yeah, Newly I ‘m sure she
did… let get moving ... we’re losing light soon….
After riding for some time … Festus had rode up ahead of
Matt and Newly ..to see if he could still find tracks.. he had been following
track of three horses riding close together…. In the distance he noticed a wagon approaching…hurrying to get
closer,… Howdy there Folks….! Festus’
said as he approached the Graham wagon… travel far did ya? Mr. Graham could see Festus’ badge ,..yep,
some ways we have Marshal. ahh fiddle ..
I ain’t a marshal,.. I’m Deputy Festus’ Hagen, from Dodge City. Who you folks be? Art Graham ,and pointing to his wife, this is
My wife Alice.. and our boys Artie Jr. and Will back there.. the Boy been snake
bit… then Alice spoke up .. we were
awful lucky to come up on some folks . to help us… Festus’ looking puzzled ,..
Ya did , Did ya? Then Young Artie spit
out ,.. yes Sir!.. a pretty redhead lady.. she help my brother…! Did ya jest say a Pretty redhead lady?….
Yeah, !.. Ma’ what was that name again ,.. oh… I think she said Kathleen! Kath…leen…ummmm La … something French I
think? Where ya folks a headed? Festus’
asked. .. wel l Mister Hagen,.. Dodge
City .. to find a doctor Adams.. she told us to git the boy there quickly and
The Doctor would take good care of him.
She fixed him up as best she could… being out here with them two.
.. and a Lil’ one. Them two she was wit wasn’t very
obliging…but she help best she could.
Then Festus’ asked. Bout’s how
long ago? Oh, sometime I’d say.. few
hours? Thank Ya Mister Graham...much
obliged to ya Folks. As Festus’ was
pulling away,.. Artie Graham,.. yelled out Wait mister deputy! Mister Graham looked at his boy… Artie what
‘s wrong ?... Pa’ that there Nice lady she gave me this.. and handed his Pa’
Kitty’s Broach. She done tucked it in
my hand ..and said ta’ be sur ta’ give it to the doctor.. in Dodge . Mister graham looking at it… Ya sur boy? Yes Sir Pa’ .. she said he would know what it
was. Festus’ rode back after hearing
the boy yell out to him…. Somtin the matter
Mister.. wit ur boy here? Well
Deputy,.. and he held out his hand.. with the Broach in it… My boy wanted to
show ya this here bobble thingy… he said the lady gave it to him and said to be
sur to show it to the doctor in Dodge….looking surprised,.. That there is Miz
Kitty’s ... who? Graham repeated. Festus’ knew he had to get back to Matt and
show it to him… I thank Ya Kindly .. ya folks hurry on into Dodge ya here? I’ll be showing this here to Marshal Dillon..
and Festus’ rode off.. back in Matt’s direction….
TBC
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