I own no part of Gunsmoke

The town Doctor shivered against the blowing snow as he descended the ice covered stairs from his office. The Doc was in a hurry. He wanted to get to the Long Branch before Festus. He had what Kitty wanted most for Christmas - word that Matt would be back in Dodge by the day's end. Matt had sent word yesterday, but there was a house fire out at the Boots farm. Festus and the Doc spent the night out there. Festus fought the fire while Doc tended to burn victims. The Long Branch closed early, as every able bodied man was out fighting the fire. Doc had not had the chance to tell her. He regretted telling Festus, that busy buddy would tell Kitty before he had the chance to.

Sam was unlocking the front doors as Festus and Doc pushed in. Both men were in awe as they stepped through the door. The felt green table cloths had been washed. The brass was polished so it reflected the red in the ribbon bows that adorned the pine branches that hung on the staircase. Kitty was busy decorating a huge pine tree. The tree was larger than most of the trees that found their place of honor in the Long Branch. It towered high to take in both floors. The owner of the Long Branch was trying to figure out how to decorate the top. Using a candle lighter she managed all but the angel. After telling her their news and watching her eyes light up,the two friends headed out to find some hot coffee. Kitty and the girls finished off the first pot. Sam was too busy bring in supplies to put on a second pot.

Matt Dillon, returning from a long cold ride, stuck his head over the bat-wing doors of the Long Branch in time to see Kitty Russell climb upon the balcony to place an angel on the large Christmas tree. The angel was a peace offering. Matt had it made last summer, during a unsuccessful vacation. The ornament made of blown glass stubbornly would not go on the high branch on top. Miss Kitty had one of the girls hold her feet as she stretched to place it. Matt shook his head. He marveled at the bravery of this women. He watched as Kitty held onto a branch and pulled the tree toward her. Placing the angel, she let go of the tree which sprung back. Then as if in slow motion, the tree rocked back hitting Kitty and knocking her off the balcony. She dangled high above the floor. Matt ran to help the girl holding Kitty by her lace-up shoes. He got to the landing in time to see Kitty fall. She grabbed the tree and held there for a while. The tree toppled, sending Kitty crashing through the tables below. Down went the tree, landing on top of her. Matt froze for a moment, as his life with Miss Russell flashed before his eyes. Then Matt started running down the stairs, yelling for Sam.

Doc and Festus, having eaten, were headed back towards Doc's office when they heard the commotion. Entering the Long Branch, they heard Matt yell for help to remove the huge tree. His voice had the sound of panic and helplessness not often heard in the U.S. Marshal's voice. Doc yelled for them not to remove the tree until he had a chance to check for injury to Miss Kitty. He said they could injure her further. Matt shrugged to keep his emotions under control, as Doc. climbed through the mountainous tree.

Doc was pleased to find Kitty under the huge branches and not the trunk of the tree. She seemed relieved when she saw him. "Can you get this off of me?" she asked.

Doc told her not to try to get up. He wanted to check her out. It did not seem that Kitty was impaled on the tree so Doc thought it was ok to have it removed. By this time the saloon was full of on-lookers. Matt enlisted their help to lift the tree straight up and sit it beside Kitty. Kitty did not move as the tree was removed. Matt bent over Kitty. "Are you all right?" he asked. Kitty responded, "Matt, get this thing off me. I am fine. I just can't get up." Matt looked at Doc in a panic.

Doc pushed on Kitty's shoulders and legs. "Can you feel this?" he asked checking her neck. Doc started barking orders. "I don't want her carried upstairs. Sam, can you set a bed up in the back room? I needblankets. Festus, go up to my office and bring the big bag. Kitty, lay still."

Kitty blinked her eyes. The reality of her injury was now hitting her. Doc with the assistance of several cowhands was able to get Kitty to the storage room. After getting settled in and having been checked over, Doc told her to get some rest and try not to move. She had trauma to her spinal cord. He would tell her more after the swelling went down. He motioned for the men to leave. Putting his hand on Matt's back he said, "Matt, keep her calm. Call me if anything changes or if you need me."

Matt thought, "Keep her calm? How am I suppose to do that!"

Matt, looking very sad, winked at Kitty. "Guess what I got you for Christmas?"

Kitty: "A new hat?"

Matt: "No, don't you already have 50 of them?"

Kitty: "No, I don't have 50 of them. A new pin?"

Matt: "No."

Kitty: "I give up."

Matt: "You know how you close the Long Branch for inventory the day after Christmas?"

Kitty: "Yeah. we don't do too much business that day. No one has any money after Christmas."

Matt: "Christmas Eve is on a Sunday, so Sam said you will be closed that day. You will be closed Monday because it is Christmas. Your present is a trip. I am going to pick you up Saturday after your Christmas party. We will take some blankets so you can lay your head in my lap and sleep as we ride the train. When you wake up, we will have dinner in one of those fancy dining cars. The train has a layover in Wichita. We can stay in the Southern hotel and do a little shopping. Then on to Vicksburg were we will board a riverboat to new Orleans. We will stand on the deck all night just looking at the stars. While watching the city drift by, I will let you talk me in to a dance in the moon light. In new Orleans we will stay in the French Quarter. I will protect you as we walk through Lafayette Cemetery, the City of the Dead. You can hold my hand as we view the oak alit and dine at oak plantation. We will go down and look at that ocean, then have a warm walk through the city lights. We will think of something to do back in the hotel room," he said will a shy smile. "Then we'll catch the early train back to Dodge."

Kitty closed her eye's. She could almost feel the ocean air. "We're going to do all that in three days?"

Matt: "Maybe we will have to take a few extra days."

Kitty: "Matt, even by rail it takes a week to get to New Orleans. The railroad does not come the whole way. We will have to go east by stage. That will take two days. So what you did you get me for Christmas?"

Matt: "Ok we can't go to New Orleans. That does not mean we cannot go away."

Kitty: "Where would we go?"

Matt: "How about up in to the mountains, rent a cabin. We will ride high up into the hills where the air is clean and crisp, go ice skating on a pond, then build a fire and cuddle under the stars. I will dance with you as snow flakes dance in the moon light."

Kitty: "You want to go up in the mountains in the winter? I hear they get snow 4 feet deep. Come on, what you get me?" She got a disappointed look in her eyes. "You didn't get me anything. You forget about me as soon as you get out of town."

Matt: "I did, but Doc did not think you would like it. Festus just laughed at it. I was going to get you something better when I go to Hays."

Kitty: "Matt, you got to go to Hays. It's Christmas, and you just got back."

Matt: "If I leave tomorrow morning, I will get back early Saturday."

Matt told her every cowboy story he could think of. Slowly Matt succumbed to exhaustion. Kitty watched him sleep. He looked so rugged with a two day beard embedded with dust. He was leaning up against the wall sitting on a whiskey barrel. His legs were crossed, exposing a small hole in his boots. Looking at the size of his large feet, she worried if the boots she had ordered were the right size.

Doc entered the room. "How are you doing?"

Kitty: "I hurt all over."

Doc: "Good."

Kitty: "Good?"

Doc looked at Matt fast asleep in the corner. "Well he is doing a good job of looking after you."

Kitty: "Don't wake him. He is awful tired, and is planing to ride out tomorrow. I am enjoying watching him sleep."

Doc was sticking pins in her feet with no response. "Did he tell you what he got you for Christmas?"

Kitty: "No, he said something about a trip. I don't think he got me anything. He just forgets me as soon as he leaves town."

Doc was now sticking her hand - no response. "Yes he did. I have a bet that he can't wait till Christmas to show it to you. I guess I lost. I had till midnight."

Kitty: "Hey, that hurts!"

Doc stopped. He wondered if she had seen him or if she really felt it? "Well about three months ago he ordered you a hat. Before it arrived, you showed up wearing the same hat. So he traded the hat for a pin. It must have been the largest pin I ever saw. Festus just started laughing when he saw and it said you could use it to scare the mice out of the Long Branch."

Kitty: "Stop that Doc! It hurts!"

Doc: "I am testing the extent of your injury. The swelling is going down. That is why you are experiencing pain. But you do not seem to be showing any signs of reflexes."

Kitty's eyes watched him with the plea of a child in a candy store.

Doc: "I an sorry, but I cannot give you anything for the pain. It is going to get a lot worse, but it is a good indication that your nerve ends are not severed. I am going to send the marshal to bed and haveone of the girls attend to you. Wake up!"

Kitty: "Go get some sleep Matt. You've got a long ride tomorrow. I need to have some personal things taken care of and I think I want one of the girls to help me."

Matt came to her make-shift bed. "Are you sure? I can help you."

Kitty's hand slowly moved to touch his coat. "Yes. You get some rest, I will be all right."

Doc's heart missed a beat. If it had not been for years of training not showing emotion, he would have been jumping for joy. The movement came so natural neither Matt nor Kitty seemed to be aware of it. An act of love so unselfish and pure brought a big smile to the old man's face. The smile faded when he saw Kitty's fingers pinch a small part of the jacket as Matt moved away.

Kitty: "Send Sam in first. We will have to make changes in the schedule."

As midnight came around, Kitty was wondering how she could get someone to replace her in

the Long Branch.

Matt, walking down the street, wondered what can I get Kitty for Christmas?

Doc was in his office praying for a Christmas miracle.

Festus was scurrying around like a good little elf getting things ready.