William Johnstone - Snake River Slaughter

“Good plan,” Matt said.

When Matt and Kitty returned to the house, they saw a carriage parked in the driveway.

“Looks like you have company,” Matt said.

“That carriage belongs to Marcus Kincaid,” Kitty replied. “I wonder what he wants.”

“Only one way to find out,” Matt said.

Kitty urged her horse into a trot and Matt kept up with her. As they rode into the drive, the door to the carriage opened and a well-dressed man stepped out.

“Hello, Kitty,” the man said.

“What are you doing here, Marcus?”

“Now, is that anyway to greet your own stepson? Who is this?” he asked, looking at Matt.

“This is Matt Jensen. He is a friend of mine. In fact, he has been a friend since we were children together.”

Marcus extended his hand. “It’s good to meet an old friend of Kitty’s.” he said. “I hope you find your visit to Idaho pleasant.”

“I’m enjoying it so far,” Matt replied. He was still mounted, so he was able to refuse the offered hand without it being too obvious. He nodded instead.

“You didn’t answer my question, Marcus. What are you doing here?” Kitty repeated.

“I’ve been concerned about you,” Marcus said. “I just came out here to see how you are getting along.”

“You go to court to try and take everything away from me, and now you say you are concerned about me? Am I supposed to believe that?”

“I was wrong, taking you to court the way I did,” Marcus said. “I guess I was hurt, and maybe a little angry, that Papa Tom left me out of his will. I mean, after all the years I was a part of his family, for him to just forget about me the way he did—well, it hurt my feelings. But I had no right to take it out on you. And now that I look back at it, I can see that what I did might be taken as an act against you, personally, and I don’t want you thinking that.”

“What are you saying to me, Marcus? That you will make no more attempts to take over Coventry?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Marcus said. “The issue was settled in court, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s over.”

“Well, I appreciate that. Does that also mean that I don’t have to worry about Poke Terrell killing any more of my hands?”

“Now, Kitty, that isn’t fair. You know I don’t have anything to do with Poke Terrell. I have no idea why he suddenly showed up here.”

“What about Madison and Jernigan? They worked for you at one time, didn’t they?”

“Yes, they worked for me once, a long time ago. But they quit last year. As far as I know, they are out in California by now.”

“They’re dead,” Kitty said.

“Dead? How do you know?”

“Because I killed them,” Matt said. “Just like I killed Sam Logan.”

“Logan, yes, he was a real bad sort. He tried to come to work for me once, but when I found out he had served some time in prison, I said thanks, but no thanks. And you say you killed Sam Logan?”

“And Madison and Jernigan.”

“I suppose you had good reason to kill them?”

“They were trying to kill me,” Matt replied.

Marcus nodded. “That’s reason enough, I would say.”

“But you knew nothing about it?” Kitty asked.

“No, how could I know anything about it? I told you, none of those men work for me. I have no way of keeping up with them.”

“Yes, so you said,” Kitty replied, the tone of her voice clearly challenging.

“Kitty, I wonder if your friend would excuse us, so we could talk alone for a few minutes?” Marcus asked.

“Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of Mr. Jensen,” Kitty said.

“Please, Kitty,” Marcus said. “There are some things that are just too personal.”

Kitty looked over at Matt.

“I’ll put the horses away,” Matt offered.

“Thank you, Matt,” Kitty replied, offering him the reins to her horse. She watched as Matt led both animals toward the barn.

“May we step inside?” Kincaid asked.

“If you wish.”

Kincaid made a motion with his hand, offering Kitty the lead. When they reached the top of the steps, Kincaid hurried ahead of her, then opened the door and held it.

“Ah, the suits of armor,” he said, smiling, as they stepped into the hall. “Do you know that when my mother first married Papa Tom, and we came out here to live, I was frightened by these suits of armor? I was convinced they were all occupied by ghosts from Papa Tom’s past.”

“Kincaid, I know you didn’t come out here to talk about ghosts and suits of armor.”

“No, I didn’t,” Kincaid admitted. “Look, this is—well, it is rather awkward, but I don’t know any way to say it, other than to come right out and say it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you and me. Us, actually,” Kincaid said.

“Us?”

“Kitty, you can’t possibly be blind to the fact that I have long been an admirer of yours.”

Kitty laughed out loud. “You, an admirer? Well I must say, Kincaid, you certainly have a strange way of showing it.”

“But it’s true, Kitty. I’ve known it, from the moment Papa Tom brought you home. You have to know that you are a beautiful woman. Any man would admire you. I had to keep quiet about it of course. After all, you were my stepfather’s wife. How would it look if I showed any romantic interest in you? It would have been, at best, shocking.”

“It couldn’t possibly be any more shocking than the conversation we are having now,” Kitty said.

“I know this must come as a shock to you,” Kincaid said. “After all, I have held my feelings in check for a long time now. First, there was the fact that I—well, as I said, I felt hurt and resentful over the fact that Papa Tom left everything to you. Then—foolishly I now know—I attempted to use the court to subvert Papa Tom’s wishes. I had no right to do that. I can only hope that, by my foolishness, I haven’t completely destroyed any possibility of paying court to you.”

“Marcus, after all you have done, I can’t believe that you would possibly say such a thing to me and expect any kind of a response,” Kitty said.

“Don’t say anything now,” Marcus said. “All I ask is that you just think about it for a while. You are going to need a husband to help you run this place. You have a very good business head on your shoulders, I will give you that. But there are times when you will need a man around, and I’m willing to be that man.”

“Marcus, I—I don’t want to sound rude, but there is no way I could possibly have any feeling for you. What you asking is impossible.”

“Why is it impossible? You can’t tell me you actually loved Papa Tom. You know you married him just to—uh get out your situation. Well, you are in another situation now and I’m available. That’s all I’m saying.”

“You are wrong, Marcus. I did love Tommy. Oh, maybe not in some young, girlish romantic way. But I did love him. And there is no way I could say the same thing about you.”

For a moment, Marcus looked angry, then, inexplicably, he smiled. “All right, Kitty, if you say so,” he said. “But you can’t blame a man for trying.”

Matt came back in to the house before Kitty could respond. Noticing a pregnant silence and sense of awkwardness, he stopped just inside the door. “Have I returned too soon?” he asked. “Should I leave and come back?”

“No, I was just leaving myself,” Marcus said. He smiled at Matt as he started toward the door. “Do enjoy your visit here,” he said. “And if you get up toward Medbury, stop by and pay me a visit.”

“Thanks, maybe I will,” Matt said.

Marcus took Kitty’s hand, then raised it to his lips and kissed it. “Until we meet again,” he said.