Whatever it Takes
Chapter 1
Winter in Dodge City seemed colder than usual, at least for some. It had been almost a year since Kitty Russell left town. Life had slipped back into it's regular routine for the townsfolk. Adjustment was difficult for Doc and Festus, but at least Doc had gotten letters from her claiming to have a full and happy new life.
In reality adjustment didn't come so easily for Kitty Russell, but she'd never let on to that. Too proud to acknowledge she might have made a mistake, too protective of her heart that ached for the love of one man; she chose to walk away after nearly 20 years.
Matt Dillon adjusted to his loss by burying himself in his work. He never mentioned Kitty, which worried Doc some, but it didn't seem to effect Matt's work. What he couldn't adjust to were the circumstances around her departure; she just up and left. No note. No good-bye. No forwarding address. Matt had been crushed, but knew it was his own doing for not only missing Kitty's birthday again, but also not letting her know he had to leave town for a few days. Nights on the trail were the worst time for him now. Alone in the vast darkness of the plains, Kitty haunted his mind. It was torture that at times made him feel as if his heart would explode from the loss of what he'd come to know as a part of himself. That feeling always came over him as he made his way back into Dodge knowing there would be no light on for him at the Long Branch.
Burying herself in her new business venture was the perfect way to adjust to what was now missing in her life. Kitty was ready for the challenge of opening a new gambling establishment, but what posed itself as her most difficult challenge was finding herself awake before dawn every morning. When she knew hundreds of miles away, he would be getting up for work.. Remembering the dip of the bed as he sat back down to pull on his boots and kiss her shoulder good morning. Dawn... the beginning of a new day, and the time when Kitty died a little inside.
Business was booming at the Queen of Hearts Saloon. Kitty was at least truthful about in her letters to Doc. She wrote long letters bragging of the excitement, old friends and bright lights of the city. The truth was that many of her old friends were gone. Saloon life in a city like New Orleans could be unforgiving. The excitement and bright lights of the city just meant that Kitty worked longer hours while meeting a constant flux of men that weren't Matt Dillon.
Kitty bought into half the business from a couple of friends from the old days that not only managed to keep themselves afloat in the saloon business, but did it as husband and wife. Maisey had been a saloon girl like Kitty back then, bright witty and full of dreams. Butch was the young bar keep. He was a bit older than Maisey, but younger than most men behind the bar. They fell hopelessly in love, and sometime after Kitty left New Orleans they were married. Kitty kept in touch with Maisey as she moved west finally settling in Dodge. Good friends were hard to come by, Kitty thought and these were good people.
It was late in the afternoon that Doc received a telegram. Oddly enough he was partaking of some mid afternoon refreshment with Festus and Newly at the Long Branch when Barney swooped in from the telegraph office with the note. Doc's face paled as he read the telegram.
Incident at saloon stop Kitty in hospital stop Injured stop Need your help stop Please come stop Regards Butch Steedle
As Doc began to tell Newly that he'd be leaving town for a while, he thrust the telegram towards him to read. Doc was the only one that knew the whereabouts of Miss Kitty, but he could no longer hide the information from Newly, who would have to take over things for Doc while he was away. Festus not wanting to be left out, began his line of questioning.
"Wats wrong, Doc? Zar an emergency fer ya? Anythin' I kin do ta help ya?"
Newly immediately handed Festus the telegram. Doc tried to snatch it from Festus' hand as he methodically tried to decipher the note.
"Now jist wait a minute, Doc. I cun see this iz 'bout Miz Kitty, but cha know I caint read that fast. Does Matthew know or should I go tell 'em?"
"No you won't tell Matthew!" Doc barked as he snatched the note from the Deputy's hand. "Kitty has wanted to keep her new life and her whereabouts private, and I promised her I would. This might change things, but don't you go blabbin' your mouth off to anyone including Matt. Ya hear me?" Trying to look calmly at Newly, Doc somewhat regretfully pointed towards Festus. With a sigh of resignation he shook his head and tugged at his earlobe. "Go 'head an tell him. He'll make our lives a living hell if we don't... and I guess he ought'a know."
A very confused and dejected Festus reluctantly agreed to Doc's demands. Doc rubbed his mustache as he nodded to Festus and then patted him on the back. Telling the two men he'd be back, Doc whipped on his coat, mumbling to himself about the apparent downfalls of teaching Festus to read. He scurried out of the Saloon to the train station to book passage east, and then telegraph office to send off a reply to his telegram including a couple questions. He prayed for a quick response as he rushed down Front Street to make a quick stop at the Long Branch before heading to his office to pack. Doc, preoccupied with the telegram, his head bent and mind focused elsewhere crossed directly in front of Dillon. Matt's friendly greeting went unheard. Assuming Doc was focused on some emergency mission, he would catch up with the doctor afterward, and headed for his office.
A short while later Matt found himself needing some fresh air and stepped out onto the boardwalk. As he turned around after shutting the door, he very nearly knocked a hurried Barney out into the street. Matt caught Barney's shoulders before he careened in the dirt road.
"Whoa there Barney!" Matt chuckled and smiled warmly at the telegraph man.
"Hey, watch it!" Realizing who was standing before him, he recovered. "Oh, sorry Marshal. I gotta' get this over to Doc." Waving the telegram. "You're goin' with him, ain't ya? She, I mean Miss Kitty is in some place called Touro Infirmary, Marshal."
Barney didn't wait for an answer and was flying up the street, his scarf blowing like a flag behind him. Matt knew he wouldn't get the information he wanted from Doc, so he headed for the train station, then the telegraph office and finally to find Newly and Festus. He was going with Doc to be with Kitty and nothing was going to hold him back. This was a matter of life and death. Matt just wasn't sure whether the life at stake was Kitty's or his own.