PT.14
Old
Flame revisited
Judge Brookings,... bundled up in a high collared Coat,..
slowly stepped out of the Stage,… Carl, releasing the bags tied on the
top,… Careful there Judge!,…don’t want ya ta’ fall… Thank You Son!.. I’ll be
just fine ,.just as soon as I get out of this God forsaken, Snow!... oh, I’m
getting to old for this …
Matt came from his office, … Judge Brookings,… Good Morning…
, Matt How are you ? Matt was still favoring his arm from the
shot…. Ahh, it’s nothing , just a graze!.. Say , let me get you Breakfast ,.. and
I can fill you in … Sounds Great !.. the two headed for Delmonico’s ….
Joe greeted them as they entered,.. Be right out with coffee ,.. just sit… Thanks Joe! ..Matt said. How’ve ya been
Matt?... haven’t been out this way in some time …, Good Judge …. And Miss
Russell? Well , Kitty’s recuperating
from a Gun shot ,.. Matt are you telling me that .. that poor woman has been
shot ? Ahh, Doc says she’ll be fine
with proper rest,.. broke a few rib…
Kitty’s strong.. the strongest woman I know!
Shaking his head,…Matt I’m an old Man,.. seriously thinking about
putting down the gavel..? is that
right? Matt said surprised,... Matt never saw him as an old Man. Ok, Matt will discuss that another time
,.. now fill me in… I’m not sure where
to start?... let’s see … appearently,
these two I have in the Jail,.. Planned to rob the gold that was coming in on
the train ... that I was going to have put into the Bank here in Dodge ,till it
could be transported… to Fort Dodge ,.. The Colonial,. Was sending his men to
pick it up … but with the storm .. there was a delay…. But on their way into town they…. hit Jake
Worth’s place and stole some horses,.. and shot Jake down when he tried to ride
to town to warn me… Back Shot ‘um. Rubbing his chin with his thumb and
forfinger,.. hummmmm Matt … did Miss Russell , get caught in the Middle ? Matt twisting his Mouth,… Ahhh, Yeah, but not how you think…. I’m listening Matt? Now frowning at Matt. Ok, let me back this up a bit… There’s a
woman in town,… Now curious, Yes, Go On… Brookings said. well Dolly .. was a woman friend from many
years ago,… she came to town a few days ago.. on the stage … Judge Brookings ,from the look on Matt’s face
he knew this was gonna be some story here..
Matt This Dolly?... an Old Friend?
An old Flame? Nodding
his head, in acknowledgement.
Yeah way back when …. Uh… we were kids. And Miss Russell… was …. Oh , Kitty was in San Francisco.. on
business, Matt said. OH I See! Brookings said continuing to rub his
chin. No, Now that’s not it at
all!... Ok, How is it ?,.. The Judge was
now smiling. Ok, Dolly , Dolly Winters
… yes she wants what I can’t give her … but just refuses to understand. Oh, Women. ..! what it is to be Young Matt! Anyway Judge ,.. it turns out that ,..
Dolly Winters is mixed up with these two I have in my Jail… Don’t quite have all the pieces to that yet
, but , a few days ago .. when Kitty and I were coming out of Doc’s office ..
these two ..were in the Long Branch ,we had seen them earlier… and Dolly was at
the Hotel .. where she still is locked in her room…. Festus’ , called out to me
.. that the horses in front of the saloon ,.. had Jake’s markings on them… and
as we walked towards them … Two Shots
rang out .. one grazing my arm… the other Hitting Kitty. Festus’ and I were tending to her when
another shot rang out .. but that is when Festus’ returned fire.. Hitting what
turned out to be Dolly winters…. I
think I see now … Matt this Dolly Winters … she was the second shot you first
heard? Looks that way ... but She was
aiming for Kitty … unbeknownst to the two
men…. Who were shooting at me … thinking I now was coming for
them…. And you say Miss Russell is
going to be fine? Doc Adams thinks so.
Matt answered. Well, Matt … those two will hang for Horse Theft … as for the Woman,… Is Miss Russell pressing
charges? Ahh, we haven’t discussed that
just yet…. Well Matt that is attempted Murder… Yeah I know that . Matt
said. Look Judge Brookings… I’d like to
clear all this up before Christmas…
well Matt let’s go see Miss Russell… and they headed out for the Long
Branch…
Pushing thru the doors of the Saloon… Morning Marshal, Judge Brookings… together , they both
returned the greeting… Sam, is Kitty still up stairs… or…then dropping his eyes… She’s in the office , but
I didn’t tell you … Matt and Brookings laughed … That’s Kitty… can’t keep her
still… I’ll tell her you’re here Marshal…
go on Sit down,.. Sam said. Sam
knocked on the office door ,.. Miss Kitty?... Marshal wants to see you…. Ok Sam
, I’ll be right out…. Sam returned to the Bar… Coffee’s hot .. Thanks Sam
… he brought a tray ,.. with a fresh pot
of Hot coffee ,.. and three cups to the table… she’ll be right with you… Thanks .. Matt nodded.
As the office door opened … walking gingerly…. Well now to
what do I owe this visit..? then nodding
Judge Brookings, she smiled at him… so glad you made your way thru this
awful storm…. Miss Russell looking
Lovely as ever … Smiling at him… why Thank You ! then Matt began,.. Kitty, Judge Brookings
needs to know … she was now ,.. looking
on with a raised brow… What ? about Dolly … and if you want to press
charges? Oh, I see!....shaking her
head,… She could have killed me …. But, Miss Russell… this makes
the difference , to whether she goes to
prison for attempted murder or , just conspiracy, to Robbery….. Now Kitty had
to think… she wanted Dolly out of their lives ... but then she also knew she
wouldn’t survive in prison. Well,
Judge Brookings …. I just want her gone… Matt you two deal with this … well, Kitty if you chose not to … she’ll
be charged with assault by the court, …
and the conspiracy… Kitty just shook
her head.. and sipped her coffee.
The trail took place two days later ,.. Marv and Ned were
sentence to hang for stealing Jake’s
horses, and attempted Murder of Jake … Dolly was sentence for assault,.. and
conspiracy,… but only two years in a woman work house …. Jake recuperated ,.. slowly but … he joked
about needing the rest anyway… but
promised Kitty he wouldn’t miss her Christmas party for the world … he wanted a
dance with her …. He always made it a
point to bring the children of his ranch hands … to enjoy in the festivities ..
Judge Brookings agreed to stay for the party also ….. he remembered … how Kitty
went to great lengths for the Children…. As well as everyone in Dodge…..!
TBC
No comments:
Post a Comment