1
"Last call!" The stage driver yelled out.
"Excuse me, sir." A young lady in her 30s called out. The stage driver looked down from his seat. She continued, "Are... Are yooouuu... sure this is Dodge City?" The woman looked around, "...and this is where Kitty Russell lives?" She was shaken.
"Yes, ma'am!" He smiled kindly. He pointed across the street, "You'll find her over at The Long Branch."
"Thank you so much kind sir." She smiled and reached for her son's hand. The driver tipped his hat. Sadie and her son, Patrick made their way across the busy street... to find her old friend.
"Patrick, honey, you sit out here. I'm going in to talk to my friend real quick. Don't talk to anyone! Don't move... please, sweetie." She smiled and little 5 year old Patrick smiled back.
Kitty was in her room getting ready to have lunch with Matt and Doc.
They sat at the bar downstairs, talking to Sam, while they waited.
Doc looked down at his pocket watch and shook his head, "This is why men die before women."
"What do ya mean, Doc?" Matt asked as he took a sip of beer.
"I mean, look at us... two healthy, middle aged men sitting here waitin' on a woman." Doc shook his head. Matt snorted and almost choked. Doc scoffed, "Don't choke... that's what they want you to do."
"No. Actually, Doc..." Kitty began descending down the staircase, "What we want is to have the time it takes us to get ready to be appreciated... and our presence to be welcomed." She smiled as they met her at the stairs.
"That it?" Doc swiped his mustache as he walked toward the batwing doors.
"And maybe some food and a compliment every now any then..." She looked up at Matt as she took his arm and winked.
Matt hadn't taken his eyes off her since she walked down the stairs, "Your new dress looks beautiful on you." He leaned in closer, "You look beautiful."
"This is nothing, Cowboy." She winked and playfully tipped his hat. Sam smiled. Matt flushed red.
"Come on you two!" Doc reached the doors. Matt and Kitty were still in their world when they reached the steps leading out. As Doc went to open the doors, Sadie pushed from the other side. Pushing Doc off balance and making Matt leave his world with Kitty to catch Doc as he feel backwards.
"Doc!" Kitty gasped as she grabbed his arm. She hurried to his side.
"You alright, Doc?" Matt asked as he helped him up.
"I'm fine! I'm fine!" Doc brushed off and pushed Matt and Kitty away, only to fall again.
Matt chuckled as he caught him, "We healthy middle aged men need to watch where we're going." Doc scoffed and swiped his mustache. Kitty looked over Doc to Matt and just smiled.
"Excuse me?" Sadie called out, "Are you all okay in there? Is it safe to open the door?" She was hopeful everyone was okay.
"Yes, honey." Kitty called out. Her back was still to the doors as she helped straighten Doc out.
"Oh, dear!" Sadie brought her hand over her mouth. "Is he alright?"
Matt waved her in, "He's fine."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Mister." Sadie rushed to his side.
Kitty chuckled, "It takes a lot to..." She looked up, "Sadie? Sadie Brochette?" Kitty let go of Doc and grabbed Sadie for a hug. Doc hit the ground before Matt could catch him this time. Kitty hugged her long lost friend.
"Please Samuel! Please don't!" Sadie's cries went unheard as the large fist of her husband's came in contact with her left cheek.
"I told you, woman! Me and the boys were coming in early today and lunch better be on the table." He grabbed her arm and flung her around to look at the table. "Where the hell is my food!" He back handed her, with his tight grip still on her arm.
I'm sorry, Samuel!" She whimpered through the tears. "Patrick was sick this morning, and I had to take him in to see the doctor."
With anger in voice and rage is his eyes, Samuel yelled for Patrick, "Son!"
"He's over at Jamie's." Sadie whispered. Never looking in his eyes.
"So he's fine!" He threw her across the room. "You're a sorry excuse for a woman, woman!" He walked toward the front door. "I'm going over to Thomas's house. When I get back there better damn well be some food on that table or you're going to be black and blue for days!" With that he slammed the door.
Sadie crawled to the counter. She sighed through the tears... Stood to her feet and steadied herself. Even running a hand over her forehead brought a tremor to her spine. After putting on the teakettle, she walked into the bathroom, dampened a washcloth, and wiped her face. The cool wetness helped refresh her. It eased the sting of his hand print and the bruises she knew would show by tomorrow. Catching sight of her face, she winced. Her porcelain skin that was once translucent. Flawlessly escaping Mother Nature's contract with gravity. That clause had been broken... now her face was pale. It seemed paper thin, transparent even. She looked terrible. A ghost that once was an angel. She closed her eyes, shocked at how far her health had sunk. How far she had let herself go. The control she lost and had given to someone else. It was time for the woman she had been force to hide behind to resurface. She was like a helpless little girl. She need her former self to resurrect. Her fire was still there... She knew she had it in her... The strength to take back control of her life. She just needed a little help... A little help from an old friend. A friend who had fire in her heart and eyes at all time. A friend who would instill that confidence back in her being. A friend with flames of red in her hair.
"Sadie!" Kitty exclaimed "What on earth are you doing here?!" Kitty grabbed and hugged her again. This time a little too hard. Sadie winced at the sharp pain of a broken rib. Kitty knew that grimace all too well. Kitty sent Sadie to arms length. "Sweetie, I'm so sorry. Are you ok?"
Sadie forced a smile as she held her side. "Can we talk, Kitty?"
Kitty turned to Matt and Doc... She gave them an apologetic look, "Can I catch up with you guys later on?" She smiled weakly.
Matt looked at Doc, of which was in the process of saying something about wasting all this time waiting and now Kitty wasn't going... but he held his tongue. He just swiped his mustache and walked out on the boardwalk. Matt looked back to Kitty, "Sure, Kitty. Spend some time with Mrs. Brochette here, and maybe we can try for dinner later."
Kitty smiled warmly, "Thanks, Matt."
"I'll see you later, Kitty." Matt tipped his hat and walked through the batwing doors.
"Come on over here and have a seat, Sadie." Kitty started to usher her to the nearest table.
"Mommy?" Patrick peeked through the batwing doors. Not walking in all the way, he looked around the room, "Mommy." He whispered.
Before she could sit, Sadie hurried to the door, "Patrick! I asked you not to come in here!" She noticed her voice had come off a little harsh as Patrick started to tear up, " Oh, honey, I'm so sorry." She brought him in for a mama bear hug. "I know you're tired. We both are." She kissed him on the forehead and wiped away his tears.
Kitty smiled warmly at Sadie, "Come with me. We can go upstairs and let little Patrick take a nap while we talk in the other room."
"That sounds like a great idea." She smiled, "Thanks, Kitty." With that Kitty lead them upstairs to her room.
"Just lay here, sweetie." Sadie covered Patrick up. "I'll just be in the next room with Miss Kitty."
"Mommy?" He asked as he snuggled into Kitty's big bed, "Will Daddy be here when I wake up?"
"Maybe, sweetie." She held back her tears. Not to let her voice crack, she cleared her throat, "Lets you get some rest and let me worry about your father. Okay?" He nodded in response as he closed his eyes. Sadie backed out of the bedroom, closing the door. She sniffled and caught a tear before she turned around. Kitty was standing right behind her. "Oh, Kitty!" She jumped and grabbed her chest, "You frightened me!" Sadie forced a smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, Sadie." Kitty offered her a drink, "I just thought you may want something to drink to calm your nerves."
Sadie tried to laugh it off, "Nerves?" SHe chuckled as she made her way to a chair, "Oh, Kitty you've always been a riot!"
Kitty furrowed her eyebrows as she turned around. She handed Sadie the glass, "I only have whiskey at the moment to offer you, but..."
Sadie put her hand up, "No thanks, Kitty. I don't drink anymore."
Kitty sat back, "You don't drink anymore?" She took a sip, "Sadie B! You've always have shared a drink with me! Even after you got married." Sadie lost some light in her eyes when Kitty mentioned marriage. Not everyone would catch when that sparkle die, but Kitty had been reading people far too long not to pickup on it. Kitty cleared her throat, "Speaking of marriage... how's old Samuel?" Kitty watched Sadie's confidence recede further.
"He's good." Sadie looked down. Pausing a moment, she looked back to Kitty, "Let's not talk about me! Let's talk about you!" Sadie smiled.
Kitty was getting a little confused, "But Sadie, you wanted to talk to me. That's what you said before Matt and Doc left."
"Yeah, we've got plenty of time for that!" Sadie scooted closer, "So tell me about how things are going with you and your Marshal friend..."
Kitty scoffed, "Are you sure you don't have something to talk about?" Kitty tilted her head a bit, " I mean if there's something you need help with or something..."
Sadie waved her away, "No, no. We'll get to that." She removed her hat, "Let's just have a girls.."
"Miss Kitty?" Sam knocked at the door.
"What is it Sam?" Kitty still looking at Sadie.
"Delivery's here." Sam answered.
"I'll be down in a minute, Sam." Kitty sighed. Placing her glass on the table, "I don't get much time for girl time." Kitty smiled. She stood, "This won't take long. Why don't you go take a bath or take a nap for awhile. I have a few errands to run after I do inventory, but you're more than welcomed to take it easy up here." Kitty walked to the door.
"I may take you up on that bath, Kitty." Sadie admitted, "That would do me good, I think. Where is the closet parlor around Dodge?"
Kitty smiled, "I have my own bathtub. It's big enough for two people." She winked. "I'll send some girls up with some hot water."
"Thanks, Kitty." Sadie feeling a little embarrassed. Kitty nodded and shut the door.
"No problem! Make yourself at home." Kitty shut the door. Sadie walked to the bathroom. She began to hum a little tune so she didn't here Kitty come back in. Kitty had forgotten to tell her about a change of clothes. The bathroom door was slightly cracked. Kitty was going to walk in but then saw Sadie's back. It was covered in bruises. Kitty looked down and knocked before Sadie removed her whole dress, "It's me. I just wanted to tell you I have some extra clothes and there's a bathrobe hanging on the door."
"Oh, okay." Sadie answered, "I see it. Thanks again, Kitty."
"No problem, sweetie." Kitty called out before shutting the bedroom door, "I'll be downstairs if you need anything. The girls will be in shortly."
Sadie turned to look in the mirror. She traced the bruises and handprints that had taken over a good portion of her body. She began to cry. How did she let herself get to this point? Why didn't she stand up to Samuel? What changed in him? He wasn't the same man she married almost 10 years ago. She heard another knock on the bathroom door, "Just a minute." She grabbed the robe from the door, "Okay."
"Hi Miss Sadie, I'm Delta." She smiled, "And this is Becky." Becky walked in. Delta walked in further, "Miss Kitty asked us to bring you some hot water."
"Thank you girls." Sadie smiled. "I don't mean for you to go through all this trouble."
Becky, Delta, and 4 other girls brought in buckets of steaming hot water. Delta looked at Sadie, "This is nothing! This is just one round." The girls left the bathroom, Delta leaned in, "You should see when Miss Kitty has to take two baths..." She wiped her forehead, "It takes a lot to moved that much water up the stairs."
Knowing the second bath wasn't just for her, Sadie smiled. "Well, I wont be needing two baths, but thanks again." Sadie said as she shut the bathroom door. She shook her head. She thought back to when she and Samuel were young and still in love. She sank down into the hot water, letting it wash away all the heartache and dirt that followed from Texas. She was hoping she could be honest with her friend and in someway learn to live again... not for herself but for what she was living for. Patrick deserved the best and that's what she intended to give him.
TBC