Abelia cleared the kitchen table before turning to the sink. "Sally," she said finishing up the breakfast dishes. "I'm going into town to meet Kitty for some shopping. Do you want to go."
"Sure," Sally replied coming out of the bedroom she shared with Abelia's oldest daughter, Marianne. "I want to check the mail anyway."
"I see," Abelia replied with a giggle. "Robert does owe us a letter, doesn't he?"
"Yes ma'am," Sally said with a sigh. "I still can't believe he's been away at medical school for more than two years already."
"Yes," Abelia said evenly. "Time sure does go by, doesn't it?"
"I'll be glad when he's home and we can get married," Sally said wistfully.
"Don't rush it it," Abelia replied taking off her apron. "There's plenty of time for husband's and kids."
Festus, on his way to see Matt at the jail, stopped in front of the General Store when he seen Doc climb wearily out of his buggy.
"Doc," he said taking the physician's case. "You ain't been out all night again, have ya?"
"Yes I have!" Doc said swiping his mustache. "Not just one but two babies came last night! And Harold Harper passed away."
"Awe, Doc," Festus said following the doctor up his stairs. "You got ta think bout gettin some help. Wal, Dodge is a getting to big fer just one Doctor."
"Your telling me," Doc said stifling a yawn. "I'll sure be glad when Robert's done with school."
"Wal, you go ta bed ya old scudder and I'll make sure no one disturbs you, " Festus said pulling the door to Doc's office closed.
"Festus," Abelia said stopping him at the bottom of the stairs. "Everything alright?"
"No, it ain't, Bee," Festus said taking his wife's arm. "That poor old scudder's gonna work himself ta death one day!"
"Busy night?" Abelia asked as Festus nodded. She knew better than anyone how the hill man fretted over Doc's safety especially at his age. "Robert will be out of school before we know it and then Doc will finally have some full time help."
"Speaking of Robert," Festus said as Sally bounded across the street from the post office.
"We got a letter!" she said handing Abelia the one address to her and Festus.
"Wal," Festus said impatiently watching as Abelia scanned the letter. "What's the boy say?"
Abelia ignored her husband for a moment as she met Sally's eyes. "What did he say?"
"I don't understand," Sally said looking up at them both. "He said, he's leaving school!"
"That's what ours says as well," Abelia replied quietly.
"Does it say why," Festus asked his wife.
"No," Abelia said folding the letter. "It only says that he's coming home sooner than expected!"
"Well," Doc said as he sipped a beer at the Long Branch later that evening. "I wouldn't be to angry, Festus. I've known several men who left school early. Men that had much better upbringings and opportunities that Robert didn't have. To have gone as far as he did, is quite an accomplishment and we need to be proud of him for it."
"I guess yer right, Doc," Festus said evenly. "I just hopped the boy would go all the way and be here for you."
"So did I," Doc replied the disappointment in his voice evident. "In any case, I'll look into getting a helper when I have the time."
"Doc, Festus," Kitty said stepping up to the table. "Can I get you another beer?"
"No thank you, Kitty," Doc said standing up. "I'm going to turn in. I got another busy day tomorrow."
Festus just shook his head in slow disappointment as Doc slowly made his way out of the Saloon. He could only wonder as to why Robert had given up on school but he'd have to wait until the boy arrived to find out the real reason.
Robert grinned appreciatively across the isle from his seat on the train as a young woman threw him a sideways glance but his heart strictly beat for another.
Sally had been prompt with her letters to him about her and his family in Dodge while he was away in Boston but it wasn't the same. He had missed them all terribly which helped fuel his reason for returning to Dodge early.
As the train pulled into the station, he smiled when he saw no one there to greet him. Half of the reason why he didn't tell anyone when he would be returning was for the surprise and the other half was just him wanting to walk the dusty streets of Dodge alone. Even if it was just a short walk into town, there was something special about coming home again after being gone and he wanted to cherish that moment by himself.
Bounding off the train, Robert who wore the latest styles of men's attire, seemed out of place with the men and woman who headed in different directions on Dodge's boardwalks. But the town was just as he remembered it.
Passing the jail, he stopped a moment to take a peek inside but no one was around and Matt's desk sat empty. Perhaps, the lawman was at the saloon having a beer with Doc and his Pa.
Only one way to find out, Robert thought as he headed across the street to the Saloon. Stepping though the double doors just as Doc was leaving, Robert smiled as the physician mumbled an apology from having bumped him with the doors.
"Now," Robert said crossing his arms. "I know, I haven't been gone so long that you don't recognize me!"
"By thunder," Doc said with a wiry grin. "You're here!"