PT.11
Old
Flame Revisited
Hurrying to Doc’s office, Matt push
the door aside for Kitty,…. Doc?, Sam says you wanted me?.. said Jake is awake… Well, Yeah, he is and he was babbling on
and saying your name ….can I see him.
go on but, not too long ,.. he’s lost a lot of blood,.. need lots of
rest… sure Doc… Matt said.
Opening the door to the back room,... seeing his good friend
Jake lying in the bed ,… pale and worn looking,… this was a place he can recall
being one too many times. Sitting
quietly next to him… Jake?... touching lightly on his arm,.. Jake
it’s me Matt,… slowly his eyes fluttered, Ma-ttt? Yeah Jake it’s me,… Jake tried to move,… but
Matt placed his hands on both shoulders,,.. Whoa, not so fast,.. you stay
still…. Matt?... I had to warn ya…
they run me down… want to Rob … Jake ‘s voice dwindled … then he shut his eyes…
Doc, standing along with Kitty, in the doorway… OK, that’s enough, he said. Matt he’s a mighty sick man .. Yeah Doc, I know but I need to find who did
this ….! And you will,… but, not right now … he needs rest. Doc restated. Standing to walk into the outer
room… Kitty handed Matt a cup of
Coffee.,,, Matt , did he tell you anything ,… anything at’ll? Kitty all I could make out was that he was
coming to warn me … and I think something about a robbery? Then he passed out.. shaking his head, and wiping his upper
lip,..No, Matt I gave him a good dose of Laudenum ..he’ll sleep for a while .. and that’s
good! Doc, Jake was in an awful hurry
to get to me… and got back shot for it… then tilting her head, Matt ,.. what is it you think he was trying
to warn you about? There isn’t anything
coming in… there’s no payrole is there?,.. all the Drover’s are gone….! Kitty,.. I’m not sure …then thinking for a
Moment…, There is Gold that is supposed to come through Dodge and put into the
Bank ,. Till’ it can be transported. I
arranged it with Mr. Botkin .. but nobody knows about it…? Well, Matt it looks like somebody
does. But how did Jake know what this
person or persons, were planning?, Kitty asked. I guess we won’t know until Jake can tell
us… But, I can’t take the chance…..
The two men still sitting at The Long Branch ,… watched Sam
as he cleaned up ,. Then Ned asked.
Hey ! barkeep another bottle,..
and …what’a you know about That Marshal running out of here ..like he was on
fire fur? Heard they drug a dead man
into town,….? The Marshal and Deputy
brought in a Man alright … The Marshal’s friend… he’s been back Shot! Sam said
as he finished . Takes a real
coward to Back Shoot a man, Sam
continued. Ned , jump , Hey! … quickly
Marv grabbed him by the arm,.. sit down
.. relax.. you want to give us away?
Ned sat back down,.. so barkeep !… Sam turned and looked at the two
…saying , Fella’s We’ll be closing here right shortly…. Weather’s pretty
bad… Sam was getting a bad feeling from
these two….
As Ned and Marv were
pushing thru the batwing door , and Matt a Kitty were leaving Doc’s office,..
Kitty I’ll walk you back to the Long Branch then I want to take a look at Jake’s
things,… Festus’ came from the stable,.. Matthew ?… ya see them there horses..
they have Jake’s brand on’um… what’a
they be in Dodge fur? Matt now looked
in the direction of the Horses tied up in front of the Long Branch… and started
towards them … Marv realized Matt was … curious about the horses. As he headed off the stairs towards the
Saloon,…Two shots rang out….. Matt
quickly grabbed his arm.. and Festus’ scanned the street… then, Festus’ yelled out…. MIZ
KITTY!.... a bullet grazed Matt’s arm
,.. Kitty had be hit,… dropping her to the ground.… as Matt and Festus’ ran and
crouched by her side… another shot rang out … and Festus’ turned and returned
fire… only to see that it was Dolly .. he shot….now Doc, was out and down the
stairs…. Matt!, Matt.. what
happened…? She’s Hit Doc… Festus’ still
stunned …, he was beside him that he
shot a woman…. Matt can you get her
upstairs?… sure Doc… Doc is she alright?
Well now .. I guess I’ll have to see. But not here in the street…. Howie was now leaning over Dolly .. on the
porch of the hotel… she wassitting , whinning … she was hurt. Marv now confused where the shot were all
coming from… he knew he only shot once.. he walked across the street to the
Dodge house…. And as he looked down … Well Well? If it ain’t … before he could finish,.. Dolly
still in tears,… Marv? How’d you find
me? Reaching down to help Howie pick
her up ,… Howie looked at Marv and said,.. do you think you can get her up to
Doc? Oh, Sure I can….Marv replied…with
a snicker.. Marv carried her up the stairs,… Doctor?... this one needs your
help as well… he sat Dolly in the chair. she sat quietly .
Doc, how is she ?… Doc was digging into kitty’s side trying
to remove the bullet … Lucky it caught her rib…Matt hand me that alcohol.. Doc
cleansed the wound and bandaged her side… she’s gonna feel this later…. But,
Doc?.. will she be ok? Matt, Kitty Russell is a strong woman … and has
servived a lot…worse. then both Doc
and Matt glanced over at Dolly,… and Doc, said in a harsh voice ,.. now Young
lady,.. let me see that shoulder….. Festus’ shot went clean thru… your lucky,.. it’s a thru and thru…. Let me
clean it up and bandage this … and make you a sling….? Then Matt, blurted out… What were you
thinking ? lowering her eyes, Oh, Matt
Darlin’ I could lose you to …. Stop ! Dolly just Stop!... let me make this
clear… You can’t lose me ,you didn’t have me… !
and never will!.... then they heard Kitty moan… and Matt rushed to her
side…. Kit,.. You’re alright I’m right
here Honey… sitting down close to her … Not paying any attention to anyone that
was in the room… Dolly thought she was
just going to leave,… and as she went for the door… Festus’ opened it ,…
squinting his eyes…. You’a stayin’ put … Matthew what’cha think we gonna do wit ur’? Festus’ saw the way he sat by Kitty’s side….
Matthew? Take her over to the
jail…! Matt ?.. you can’t put her in
the jail, Doc said. thinking for a
minute, then without looking up… Lock her in her room… I’ll deal with her
later… then looked at Doc,… Festus’
agreed to lock her in her room ,.. and then said Matthew?... them two yahoo’s
that was shooting .. I’a lock them in the jail…. What ya think they was shootin
at ya ’ fur? Matt just waved him off ,
saying … Later Festus’
Doc agreed to let Matt take Kitty to the Long Branch,… since
Jake was still in his office,… Sam agreed to keep a watch on her ,.. till they
could get Ma’ Smalley to come over. Then , Matt went to question Marv and
Ned. Matt had put together his
theory that .. these two must have been
headed to Dodge , and stopped at Jake’s … left their horses ,.. and took two of
his,… but Jake overheard their plans to wait for the Gold to come through Dodge
… and when Jake went to ride into Dodge
to warn Matt, they stopped him by shooting him.. leaving him for Dead! As Matt pressed for details… they fought amongst ..themselves…. finally
Ned blurted out,… If you weren’t so side tracked with Blondie…. Shut Up Ned.
Marv, I done told ya that Dolly … was trouble from the git go! Matt stood ..in front of them , What’s
Dolly Winters got to do with this…. Ned
waved a hand,, Ahhhhh , she’s his woman!.. or was? Matt furrowing his brows…. What do you
mean? Dolly was with us up till about
two weeks ago,… Shut Up you idiot! Marv yelled.
Ned now had enough to drink that he was just talking… she knew what you two were up to ?…. Matt
now lookin’ face to face with Ned… Sure
she knew,.. till she got greedy,.. and stole all Marv’s Money … ! Matt was seeing Red! We tracked her down ,we did! And just our luck ,.. this is where the
train was bringin’ the gold we was after…
Matt, Lock them back in the cells and headed out the
door….headed straight for the Dodge House!
TBC
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