PT.6
Festus’ had spotted track marks in the alley between The
Long Branch and Doc’s Office… fresh in the new fallen Snow… looked as though a
wagon had been pulled in… He quickly , threw some things
together and jumped up on Ruth , figuring they couldn’t have had much of a lead on him, a few hours or so
.. but, if anyone could track them it was Festus’.
Later that Night , Front street was quiet and somber,… as
usual Matt’s first instinct was to fix
his gaze on the window in the second floor of the Long Branch…. Looking for his
beacon home , Home to Kitty! After the
last day or so, all he wanted to do now was wrap himself in the arms of the
Woman that after all this years,...makes his heart race. He knew Kitty was
upset and mostly concerned about him riding out to Fort Dodge , so soon after
Doc patched him up again for the um-teenth
time.
When he saw there was no light burning in the window ,… his
chest tightened. And a small knot rose
in his throat. Saying to himself , I
know she didn’t want me to go , but all in all ..she understood , I was in no
danger, and that I’d be back today.
He pulled Buck up to the front of the Long Branch…dismounted quickly,
dis-reguarding the discomfort, he was feeling.
Standing looking over the batwing doors,.. eyes scanning the
room… Most of the customers had gone ,due to the weather… Sam was washing glasses behind the
Bar….pushing thru the doors,…. Sam?
Ahhh Marshal am I glad to see you !
Marshal it’s Miss Kitty,… something happened here …What Happened
Sam? We’re not really sure ,… best we
can figure they took her ? Took Her ?
he repeated. Sam , Maybe you’d better
start from the beginning…. Yeah your right … Let me get you a drink… then sitting the glass down in
front of Matt, and pulling up a chair to sit down with him,… Sam, took a deep
breath,… than began…
Well Marshal,…. Doc came by this morning to join Miss Kitty
for breakfast,.. and she hadn’t come down as yet… so while he waited for her ,…
he decided to check on Miss Franny.. and found her at the top of the landing
just outside Miss Kitty’s room,.. and Miss Kitty’s door was open slightly… Doc
yelled for me and Miss Kitty,.. but when we looked into the room ,,, ah Marshal
it was a Mess! And all Miss Franny
could say to us is Help her , Please, I tried to …. Then she passed out! Festus’ found some tracks out in the alley..
and rode off to track them down….Wait , wait Who is they ?and Who is Miss
Franny? Matt asked , now very confused.
Well Marshal that’s just the thing,.. we’ Don’t know for sure.? Ok, Sam …back up here .. try starting with
this Miss Franny…. Who is she ? Oh,
sorry Marshal.. Miss Franny ..she’s a old friend of Miss Kitty .. she said from
her childhood…she came in on the stage just after you left…Miss kitty got a
surprise wire… Ok, Matt said . go on…
why do you think this is connected to Kitty being gone?…. Oh, because of the
note! The Note? Matt questioned. Yes I think I still have it …just a
minute,.. Sam went behind the Bar and pulled the Note that was left on Kitty’s
bed .. from a drawer. Then returned to the table and handed it to Matt… Matt
sat and read the words ….focusing on …
“The redheads Life depends on your Cooperation!” Then the Words “Trade , The redhead for
Francine”
Sam, where is this Franny or Francine now? Oh, she upstairs ,.. Doc’s tending to
her. Why? Miss Franny , was in a bad way… I don’t know
exactly what was wrong ,.. but Miss Kitty and Doc were pretty tight-lipped
about it. Matt had an uneasy feeling
about this,.. Doc still with her.?. Yes, yes Marshal… third door … Matt slowly
tried climbing the stairs.. till he reached the door Sam had pointed out. Looking back,… Sam?.. Yes Marshal? Thanks!
Then turned and tapped lightly on the door …. After a minute Doc opened
the Door ,… Oh, am I glad to see you !?Doc Sam filled me in a bit… This Franny
…. Can I talk to her….tugging on his ear and wiping his upper lip,… Now Matt,
she pretty weak, and sedated.. DOC! I need to talk to her … Oh Alright but go
easy.. she not well. Doc understood
Matt need to figure what the connection was between Franny and Kitty being missing. Matt gently sat in the chair beside Franny’s
Bed,… Miss Fran… she slowly opened her eyes…. Smiling lightly… you must be Matt
, Matt Dillon,… your just as Kitty described you…. Franny ,.. I understand your not well just
now but, I need to ask you some questions… do you think you can talk ..? nodding ..go on…. Now Sam tells me when they found you ,.. you
said something ..like Help Her Please?... You tried? Can you tell me more? Nodding again,… in a weak and strained voice, I
thought I’d heard a noise coming from Kitty’s room,…so I started to go and
check ,.. but then ..just as I knocked and entered… I saw this Man .. carrying
Kitty out the door … I yelled for him to stop,.. but then everything began to
swirl and then I don’t remember much till I woke here. Ok,… then,.. do you know who the Man was?
Couldn’t see his face she said. Now
Franny , is there any reason someone would be after you?... Franny’s eyes widened. The in a crackling voice,… with tears
trickling down her cheeks…. I’m afraid so !... But ,… What does that have to do
with Kitty? Well, Matt added. Seems
whoever took Kitty .. really wants you…
how do you know that? They left
a Note ,.. they took Kitty to trade for you.
Now in full fledge tears… OH NO!
what have I done? Matt… I think
that’s enough? Doc interrupted . Doc!..
it’s Kitty out there! You be Lug ,.. don’t you think I know
that…? But this is one sick young lady!
Just tell me this …Who is it?.. who’s after you?... through her tears ..
and sniffling… Victor!.... Matt now rolling his eyes ..at another name he
didn’t know. Victor ?..He repeated. Yes,..
Victor My Husband. But why
would he come here and take Kitty … and
leave you? If he’s using her for
trade? Oh, He doesn’t know I’m here. See ,..she wiped her cheeks., I came here to
get away from him… Doc jumped in , Matt this animal abused her ..very
much. See, Kitty and I have been
friends since … well Forever!... when I told her what had happened…. She agreed
to let me hide here till I could figure what to do…. I’m so sorry! Do you know where I can find your
Husband? Last I saw him was in New
Orleans. Then she went on to describe
him to Matt,.. when Sam ..happened to
over-hear her…He Remembered the Man Kitty threw out of the Long Branch… Excuse
me? Marshal ,Doc … Miss Franny… you
said your husband’s name was Victor,?... Yes Sam… Victor Bousselot’ Oh, Marshal …. He was here !…. He was here?
Franny asked. Yes,.. Marshal he’s the
Man Miss Kitty threw out of the Saloon. He was quite Obnoxious.. to her. He was berating.. and insulting… now shaking
his head,.. and puffing out a breath… Let me Guess … Kitty’s temper? Sam….
for a moment Smiled a bit at the thought. He always admired her spunk! Oh, Matt … I really am so sorry … but
I have to warn you …Victor can be…. Now she swallowed hard…. Then showed him
some of the bruises… she bared.
Matt, Please find her … before … she took another deep breath .. I’ll never forgive myself if anything…. If
he hurts …. Now she just covered her face with both hands and began crying
again…. Matt, not knowing how to handle a woman crying,… lightly patted her
arm… I will .. Thank You! Matt headed down the stairs,.. out the door …
Sam followed… NO! Sam… I’ll do
this .. But Marshal,.. I can help… I know Sam and I appreciate that , but … Doc
might need you here..?
Matt mounted back up on Buck ,… Sam, do you have an Idea
where Festus’ headed… Oh,.. North of town!
He has about a few hours on you….
He followed the track out from here … Most folks left town early before the
snow fall…. So tracks were fresh… to follow.
Nodding back… thanks Sam.. Oh Marshal ..Yeah, Sam,.. Be careful … I will
Sam... Oh and Bring Miss Kitty home… You Know it! Sam Then Matt carefully follow the Track as
Festus’ did straight out North of Dodge!
In a soft determined voice … Hang on Honey I’m Coming!
TBC
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