Kitty sighed contently as she looked around her newly renovated and freshly painted kitchen. She and Matt were married six months and finally the house was finished.
"More coffee?"
Matt nodded as Kitty poured the black liquid into Matt's cup.
"It's so nice to have breakfast in our own kitchen," Kitty said putting the pot back on the stove.
"I'm just happy the house is done and it only took six months," Matt replied finishing his breakfast. "I got to be going."
"So soon," Kitty said wrapping her arms around Matt's waist as he stood up.
Matt smiled as he put his arms around his wife. "Wish I didn't have to but I got a town to look after," Matt said looking up at the sound of a light knock on their back door.
"C'mon in Festus!" Kitty said smiling as she broke the embrace.
"Miss Kitty," Festus said nodding at Kitty. "Matthew, ya ready ta go?"
"Yeah," Matt said grabbing his hat and coat.
"Where's Abelia?" Kitty said clearing the table of dishes.
"She's at home with Katt," Festus replied nervously. "Youngin woke up with a fever."
"Fever," Kitty said wiping her hands on dish towel. "Is it high?"
"High enough that Bee wants me ta fetch Doc," Festus said with a nod.
"She got Festus Jr. as well?" Kitty asked as the hill man nodded. "I'll go over and see if I can help."
"Much obliged, Miss Kitty," Festus said as he followed Matt out the door.
While Matt headed directly to the jail, Festus poked his head into the Long Branch. "Doc," he said pushing though the double doors.
"What are you doing here so early," the physician said looking beyond the hill man. "And where's Kitty?"
"Aren't you in a fine mood," Festus said while Doc sipped his coffee.
"Are you saying, I'm grouchy," Doc said swiping his mustache.
"That exactly what I'm a saying," Festus replied scrunching up one eye. "Yer getting so ornery in yer old age, wal a person can't hardly ask ya ta do anything no more with out a wonderin if yer gonna bite a person's head off!"
"And what did you want me to do?" Doc said suspiciously.
"All I wanted ya ta do is go ta ma house and see Katt," Festus said waving his hands.
"Why?" Doc said tugging at his ear. "What's wrong?"
"The youngin woke up with a fever," Festus said worriedly.
"Fever huh," Doc said standing up. "Probably nothing but I'll go see her any way."
"Thanks, Doc," Festus said following the physician outside. "I'll be over at the jail."
Kitty tried the front door of Festus and Abelia's house and walked in when it opened.
"Abelia!"
"In here, Kitty," Abelia said as Kitty walked into the twins bedroom.
"How's she doing?" Kitty asked watching Abelia ring out a cloth and place on Kathryn's head.
"Still feverish," Abelia said looking up as the baby started to fuss.
"I'll get the baby," Kitty said moving toward the cradle while Abelia tended to her youngest daughter. "Festus said, he was going to send Doc back."
"Sounds like him now," Abelia said as Kathryn coughed.
"Well," Doc said shuffling into the room. "I hear we got ourselves a sick little girl?"
"Not sick, Mama told me I had ta stay in bed," Kathryn said shaking her head no as Doc smiled.
"Now," Doc said sitting beside the girl. "Don't be telling me you don't feel poorly."
"Maybe a little," Kathryn said as Doc felt her forehead. When she coughed, Doc turned around to where Kitty was standing by the window with the baby.
"Kitty," Doc said evenly. "Take the baby into the other room, will you."
"Sure, Doc," Kitty said hurrying out the door as Doc stood up.
"I'm going to mix up some medicine that I want you to put in some water and have her drink it," he said looking at Abelia before turning back to Kathryn. "You be a big girl now and drink what your mama gives you, alright?"
Kathryn nodded as Doc stepped out of the room with Abelia.
"What's she got, Doc?" Abelia asked as the physician felt the baby's forehead.
"I'm not certain, but the Jacob's oldest boy, Luke has influenza," Doc said tugging on his ear. "I just got back this morning from their farm. And she's got the same symptoms."
"Is it dangerousness?" Kitty asked concerned.
"Not so much to healthy adults but it can be for children, especially the younger ones," Doc replied thoughtfully. "I'd feel a lot better if you'd take the baby to your place for a few days, just in case any of the other children comes down with it."
"Well," Kitty said looking at Abelia. "Of course I will."
"I think that's a good idea," she said with a nod.
"Matthew," Festus said entering the jail. "I sent ol Doc out ta ma place."
"Alright," Matt said with a nod while picking up his hat and coat.
"What's going on," Festus asked.
"Old man Whiter says, someone's been rustling his cattle," Matt replied taking a rifle from the wall and handing one to Festus. "I want to ride out that way and see if we can find any tracks. I don't want any rustlers here in Dodge."
"Why them mangy no good fer nothins can heat up a town quicker than a lit match," Festus said knowingly.
"That's why, we need to find them and run them off," Matt said clinching his jaw as the door opened and Doc walked in.
"Doc," Festus said eagerly. "You saw Katt?"
"Yes, I saw her," Doc said noticing the coats and guns. "Where you two going?"
"Check up on some cattle rustlers," Matt replied. "Why?"
"Well," Doc said swiping his mustache. "I've got two cases of influenza on my hands. I'm not going to say it's an epidemic but that's how these things usually start."
"Katt's got influeenzia? Festus asked slowly.
"Yes, and so does the Jacobs boy Luke," Doc replied gently. "I sent junior over to Kitty and Matt's, an illness is harder on the younger children."
"When will you know if it's an epidemic," Matt asked hesitantly.
"If I confirm another case, Matt," Doc said shoving his hands into his pockets. "You can say them it's an epidemic."