I don't own the rights to the characters, but am just taking them off the dusty shelf for a bit. No beta so any mistakes are mine. I don't own the rights to the characters, nor do I make any profit just taking them off the dusty shelf for a bit of fun.
A/N: special thank you to Singerme for telling me to finish it.
**DO TO MATURE THEME READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.**
Kitty stood next to Bess, watching the feral child struggle with the fact that Kitty had left her, while the rest of the Roginer clan laughed and chatted as the carousel continued to spin.
Bess could see the apprehension come back across Kitty's face. Bess placed Elsie on the ground and told her to join her brothers and sisters, before taking Kitty by the elbow, "Why don't we have a seat on the porch and get out of this sun?"
Kitty smiled at Bess before nodding her head, "That would be nice, Bess." Kitty allowed Bess to usher her up to the porch and over to the bench. Bess sat waiting patiently for Kitty to take a seat, as she continued to observe the child. When the girl looked as if she wouldn't run off, Kitty finally took a seat next to Bess.
"Must be some adventure you had, Miss Kitty." Bess stated.
Kitty tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, "More like quite a feat."
"I'll say, since you're sitting here in your waste-shirt and petticoat," Bess replied.
Kitty looked down and attempted to brush off the dirt clinging to her petticoat, "I know I'm a mess."
Bess reached out and patted Kitty's arm, "Why don't you tell me what happened?"
Kitty explained the whole tale to Bess from the stage wreaked, finding the girl, their capture by the ruthless Mather family, and finally their rescue by Matt, Newley and Festus, which only left the reason she was here.
"Bess I can't take her to Dodge, she's been on her own for too long. I'm afraid all the people and noise would send running back to the wild. And, I won't put her in an orphanage." Kitty turned and faced Bess, "I - I know I have no right to ask, and you and Will already have such a full house-"
Bess put her hands on Kitty's shoulders, "Miss Kitty, we'll have to talk to Will first."
"No you won't."
Both women turned to see Will Roniger leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded across his chest. Kitty bit the inside of her cheek, hoping that Will's reply didn't mean that she would have to find someplace else for the girl.
"How long have you been standing there, Will Roniger!?" Bess scolded.
Will pushed away from the doorframe and stepped over to Bess, "long enough," he answered before kissing her on the forehead, and then turned and looked at Kitty. "Afternoon, Miss Kitty."
"Will," Kitty spoke softly.
Will propped himself up on the porch rail, "So Miss Kitty you'd like Bess and I to take the girl in and raise her?" Will saw that Bess was about to speak and held his hand up to stop her.
Kitty sifted in her seat. "Not exactly, Will. I was hoping you could take her in until I can find her family."
Will looked over at the children. They had gotten off the Merry-go-round and were trying to communicate with the girl. Will turned back to Bess and Kitty. "I think it's a wonderful idea to keep the girl here."
"You do!" both women clamored in unison causing Will to chuckle.
"Yes I do, just look at her." Will replied.
Kitty and Bess looked to where the girl and some of the Roniger children were standing together. The children were trying to teach her their names by patting their chests as they said their name. Kitty watched in amazement, as the lost girl didn't look quiet so lost anymore. "Will you look at that," Kitty whispered as she stood up.
Bess stood up next to Kitty, "She understands more then you think, Miss Kitty. After all she knew enough to get you to a place where people could help you."
Kitty smiled warmly at Bess, "Thank you both for doing this."
It was a few hours later that Kitty finally left the Roniger's after making sure the girl had warmed up to Bess, and a round of goodbye hugs from all the children, before she headed home. Twenty minutes later Kitty was pulling the buckboard into the side alley next to the Long Branch. All she could think about was having a hot bath, and a quick nightcap before crawling into her soft bed to sleep for a week as she trudged up the back stairs. While unlocking the door, she briefly thought about finding Matt to let him know she was back, but the idea of a hot bath and warm bed had a stronger hold on her.
Kitty entered her bedroom, walked over to her bed, sat on the edge and looked at the washroom door. The thought of getting water for the tub and heating it seemed suddenly overwhelming to her. In fact, she didn't even know if she had the strength to stand up at the moment. Kitty was about to strip down to her birthday suit and just crawl under the covers when she heard a loud thump come from the washroom. Without thinking Kitty jumped up, rushed over the to door and opened it to find Matt Dillon standing beside the tub about to pour a bucket of warm water into it.
"Matt?"
"I was hoping you'd be back soon, Kitty." Matt stated as he poured the bucket of water into the tub while flashing her a wide grin. "I have a nice warm bath all ready for you." Seeing Kitty's wrinkled brow Matt rushed over to her. "Are you alright, Honey?"
Hearing the worry in Matt voice, Kitty was quick to answer. "Oh! Yes, yes I'm fine. You just surprised me is all."
Matt chuckled softly, "That was the point." He kissed her on the top of head. "I think I have everything you need." He told her as he escorted her into the room. "I can get you something to eat if you're hungry."
"No, no I ate at Will and Bess's." She answered as her eyes surveyed the room. Matt had laid out her favorite nightgown, a couple of big soft towels, her slippers and robe, everything she would need. "Oh Matt, thank you. All I could think about on the way back here was taking a bath, and to come back to this…" She turned to look at him, her eyes moist, as her throat went tight with emotion.
Matt took ahold of her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead again. "You've done this countless times for me, Kitty. I figured it was about time I returned the favor." He motioned with his arm for Kitty to take a seat in the chair near the tub, and she did. He kneeled down in front of her, took her right foot in his hand, untied her shoelace and slipped the boot off her foot. Kitty let out a soft groan as Matt placed her foot back on the floor. Matt tipped his head towards the floor to hide the wide grin on this face, before picking up her other foot and giving it the same attention. He placed her shoes next to the chair before standing up. "Can I help you with removing anything else?"
Kitty gave him a saucy grin, "I would love nothing more, but…" she looked pointedly at the tub. "I'm afraid I'd never make it into that tub," she looked back at Matt. "Another time?"
Matt gave her a warm smile. "You bet."
Kitty returned Matt's smile before reaching down and lifting her petticoat above her knees. Matt's eyebrows crinkled in concern when he saw the scraps and bruises on Kitty's legs as she removed her stockings. He was so happy to have her back safe and sound that he had almost forgotten that she had been in a bad stagecoach crash. He needed to get Doc over here to check her over.
"Kitty I'll be back in a bit."
Kitty looked up at him, "Rounds?"
"No. I'm going to take care of your horse and buckboard. I won't be long."
Kitty stood up and gave him a quick kiss. "Thank you for preparing the bath for me, Matt."
Matt gave her a boyish grin, "It was my pleasure, honey."
Matt walked back into Kitty's bedroom and over to the side table, grabbed the Brandy decanter, poured a generous amount into a glass and then put the glass on the bedside table. He then turned the bed covers down before leaving the room. Matt quickly descended the back stairs, crossed the alley and climbed the stairs to Doc's office. When he reached the landing Doc opened the door before Matt had a chance to knock.
"Eve'n Matt."
"Doc."
"Kitty back from the Roniger's yet?"
Matt nodded his head, "That's why I'm here."
Doc took a swipe at his chin, "I'll get my bag and head over to her place."
"No need to rush, Doc. She's getting cleaned up right now."
"You want a cup of coffee then?"
"No thanks, Doc. I'm headed over to stable to take care of the horse and buckboard we brought back with us. I'll see you later."
~MK~
Kitty finished tying the sash on her robe when she heard someone knocking on the door. Knowing it was too soon to be Matt, Kitty figured it was Sam checking on her, but when she opened the door there stood Doc with his bag in hand. "I should have known it would be you, Curly." Kitty stated flatly, knowing full well Matt had sent him over.
"Well now is that any way to greet your personal physician, young lady?"
Kitty rolled her eyes as Doc walked past her into the room. Kitty followed Doc over to the settee and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm sorry Curly."
Doc patted her arm. "You're forgiven Honey. Now, Matt told me that was a pretty bad wreck you were in, and that you had some injuries."
"Mostly cuts and bruises." Kitty sat down on the settee and lifted the hem of her robe and nightgown so Doc could look at her scrapped knees.
Doc sat his bag on the floor and then knelt down to get a closer look at Kitty's injured knees. "You did a fine job of cleaning those up, Kitty. Any other cuts or abrasions?"
Kitty nodded her head as she dropped the hem of her gown and pulled the left sleeve of her robe up so Doc could look at her elbow.
"No sign of infection there either. Any other injuries?"
Kitty lowered her sleeve, "Just some bruises."
"Any of them sizable?"
Kitty lowered her head a bit, and nodded her head slightly in the affirmative.
"Where at?" Doc prodded.
Kitty wrinkled her nose a bit before scowling.
"Oh for heaven sake, Kitty. You can't be embarrassed to say!"
"Well…"
Doc swiped his chin and then pointed his finger at Kitty. "Kathleen Russell you either tell me where this bruise is or by goodness I'm going to make you dis-robe down to your birthday suit so I can find it myself!"
Kitty pressed her lips together firmly before finally blurting out, "Fine! It's my right butt cheek. Are you happy now?!"
"How big is it?"
Kitty gave him a pointed look. It took a moment for Doc to realize that the said injury was Kitty's entire right posterior cheek.
Doc's eyebrows shot up, "Oh!"
"Exactly." Kitty stated a bit exasperated.
Doc got serious. "What color is it? It isn't black is it?"
"No." Kitty assured him. "It's bluish-purple."
"Is it painful?"
"Only when I sit down to hard."
"It isn't hard, or feel like there's a lump, or hot to the touch?"
"No." Kitty started to give him a worried look.
Seeing the look on her face Doc softened his features. "Don't worry it's just a normal bruise, but if you have any of those symptoms let me know."
"I will."
"Matt told me that you were knocked out during the crash."
"Yes, but there are no cuts or bumps on my head."
"Did you have a headache or blurred vision when you came too?"
"No."
"Any since the crash?"
Kitty smiled, "No, not once."
"Good, good. If you-"
"I'll let you know, Curly."
Doc padded her lightly on the knee. "That's my girl."
Kitty put the back of her hand up to her mouth to cover the yawn that escaped. Seeing how tired Kitty looked, Doc picked up his bag and placed it on the settee next to Kitty. He opened it up, and took out a small tin. "I want you to put this salve on your knees and elbow before you go to bed."
Kitty took the tin from Doc and stood up. "I will." She walked Doc to the door and opened it for him, "What do I owe you, Doc?"
"Oh peshaw, having you back safe and sound is all the payment I need, Kitty."
"Then stop by the bar and have a drink, and tell Sam it's on the house."
"By golly I just might do that. I'll see you tomorrow for coffee. Good night, Kitty."
"Good night Doc."
She closed the door and leaned against it and looked over at her bed. She smiled noticing that Matt had turned the bed down for her. As Kitty approached the bed she saw the drink Matt had left her on the bedside table. She shook her head slightly and smiled as she picked up the glass, thinking how lucky she was to have Matt in her life.
TBC