PT.8
The Trade!
Cold and exhausted, but trying to forge on,... following
what track that were still visible… Buck was having difficulty, trotting thru….
Even more so with the weight of his large rider… The Pain, in his upper chest, and side..
from his wounds ,.. were becoming strong.. and The whipping cold winds ..added
to his task at hand … but he refused to stop!
Festus’ had come upon a farm house , small but he could see
smoke from the chimney …Maybe a chance to get out of the cold … and
regroup? As he approached , the door
opened ,.. and standing in the opening was a rather big man … yielding a double
barreled shot gun… Who’s there? This
here is private property!... as Festus’ came closer,… now able to get a full
view at the man holding the Gun… Howdy Mister!
Names Festus’ ,… Festus’ Hagen,.. I’m a U-nited States Dep-idy.. from
Dodge ….I’d be mighty oblidged,.. for the chance to warm up a bit …ya’ see Im’a
out searching fur a Lady friend …..some ya-hoo’s done kidnapped her… Deputy you
say?... the man looked suspiciously.
Thats ‘a right … then, showed his Badge, on his cost. Ok, get on down from there… some hot
coffee on inside … Festus’ dismounted from Ruth…Taking him to their barn,… that
the man pointed to ….just this way… some feed in there if you’re in need….
Sitting in front of the fire warming himself,… a rather
small woman ,.. handed him a hot cup of coffee… I thank ya’ Ma’am,.. your’a welcome…. Names
Betsy… and this here is my husband,…
Caleb,.. Caleb Froman…. Glad ta’
know ya’ folks…. Still leary, Caleb
Froman found a seat next to Festus’…. Friend was kidnapped you say? Sur de’ was …. Miz Kitty is a real good
friend,… like my own family..ya’
see… know who you be lookin ‘ fur? Do
ya’? I be followin’ them Yahoos’ track
… they left behind in the snow… Sam…
thinks it be sum husband of Miss Franny’s … She be a friend to Miz Kitty… But
Miz Franny is ailing sum awful! This
yahoo done beat on her lik’ a whipping post… and now that poor lil’ bitty baby
Doc’ says Might die …Ya’ see…? Not
sure I understand Mister Hagen?... Betsy
asked. As she refilled Festus’ cup… well Ma’am ,.. this here fancy feller’,..
wants to drag this here Miss Franny off .. and Miz Kitty was’a tryin’ ta’ help her… I’a figur’ they only had mebe,.. a few hours on
me … so I figur’ they mebe be hidin’ on out this here’a a way… listening
intently,.. rubbing his thumb and forefinger along his chin… Hummmmm ,… well
they be a ol’ cabin,.. up over the hill a few miles… no body’s been there for oh, 5 years or so …
! This woman,.. this Miz Kitty you
speak of … she someone important is she?
Why , I done told ya’ Mister,.. Miz Kitty’s my friend…. When Ol’ Matthew git’s Back from Fort Dodge
.. before he could finish,.. caleb . said, Ol’ Matthew?...Fort Dodge? Ahh shhheese, Matthew is the Marshal in
Dodge! And Miz Kitty is real portant to
him… she his woman? Now caleb!.. that’s
none of our affair…. Well...you can bed
down if ya’ like .. I can make you a mat .. by the fire if ya ‘ like Mister
Hagen…. Then you can head out first light… Betsy Froman ,.. offered. Much oblidged Ma’am,.. but don’t want them Yahoos git more
time… as you wish !.. Betsy answered.
Well ya’ stay as long as ya’ need… can’t havin’ ya freeze ta’ your death….
Matt, decided he had to stop briefly,… needing to stretch
his legs and find water for Buck…..
Kitty was exhausted,… but didn’t want to take her eyes off
her captor…. Besides he was now working on his second bottle of whiskey… Kitty
knew Men,… and deffinately Men who drank this heavily… it
wouldn’t be long before he’d be passed out….
It was late,.. darker then ,. .. without the lamp on Front
Street,.. usually shining thru her window…
when she peered out the small window of the cabin,.. the Moon was only
crescent,.. but it was beginning to make the snow on the ground glow,… this was
a plus….. after about another hour … she watch his head hit the table….. Just as I thought,… she thought to herself…
Finally! She grabbed the wool blanket
that was in the box by the fireplace,..
wrapping it around her shoulders,.. then , slowly ,.. practically on her
toes…made her way to the front door … trying it to see if she could open it
without any noise….turning the knob,… she found it to be unlocked…. Relieved…
she slid out quietly… the wind was whipping so that it stung her face .. it was
hard to walk … the snow was getting deeper…. She shivered… realizing …how difficult
this would be knowing the wool blanket was all she had to keep her warm….but,
decided to make a run for it …… she noticed what looked like a trail… and
headed for it … struggling to stand ,never mind run…? the Moon wasn’t as much
light as she thought it be…..but she continued to look for which way to go
….she didn’t even know if she was still in Kansas…
After a short rest,..
Matt remounted Buck … with difficulty… Buck was a good strong and loyal Horse…
as Matt rode,… he was remembering what
Franny had told him,.. and wondering .. if Kitty was safe.. if this Bousselot’
character, would just hold her as trade to get to Franny or ……… He didn’t want
to think of the Or!
Just as he rode up over the hill before him…. He could see
smoke coming from a chimney , up ahead… but, not much else! Figuring at least maybe, who ever lived
here would extend him the hospitality of a warm spot by the fire ... and maybe
coffee? But, out of the silence…
came a scream!... Matt tried to listen,… to follow the direction from which it
came… it was off in the distance ………
TBC
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