Going Back

I don't own these characters. I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.

This is for my little sister who requested, conspired on and inspired this story.

AN: Places and names used in this fic are for the most part 'fictional'. So please do not chastise me for not being factual in a fictional story. And please, if you don't like my writing, then don't read. Instead, write one of your own. Thank you.

"Miss Russell?"

Kitty looked up and saw little Luke Townsend standing in the doorway of her small office. "Luke? Can I help you?"

"Uh, yes, Ma'am." He took another step into her office and extended his hand with a small envelope in it. "I got a wire for ya."

"Oh." Kitty smiled, reached out and accepted the missive. When the little boy turned to go, she called him back. Reaching into her desk, she pulled out two bits and extended it to him. "Here you go, Luke. Thank you."

"Thank you!" He grinned excitedly as he headed out the door.

Kitty smiled at his disappearing form before turning her attention to the wire in her hand. She hadn't been expecting any word from anyone but in her current business, you never knew when someone would wire, asking for her help. Maybe it was from James Willcox. He had seemed awfully interested in her work. Of course, he'd seemed awfully interested in more than her work. Quickly, Kitty opened the envelope and pulled out the small square of paper inside.

"Kitty Russell" It was addressed. "Sorry to inform you, Doctor Galen Adams has passed away this AM. Funeral in three days." It was signed simply, "Hannah."

Tears sprang to Kitty's eyes as she dropped the paper to the floor and then her head onto her desk, tears instantly flowing. "Oh, no, no." She cried. "Oh, God, no."

Her assistant, Louise, heard her cries and instantly appeared in her doorway. "Miss Kitty? You okay?"

Kitty took a ragged breath and managed to bring her head up, to turn to the young brunette woman in her doorway. "No. No, I'm not." Quickly swiping her face of as much moisture as possible, she reached down and picked up the paper. "Louise, I need you to make some reservations for me on the next train to Dodge City, Kansas. The earliest one they have."

"Dodge City?" The young woman questioned. "Do we have any clients there?"

"No." Kitty shook her head. "I have some personal business to attend to. Now go on, please."

Louise frowned but recognized the tone of her boss' voice and decided it wasn't the time to question her just then. "Yes, Ma'am." She nodded and quickly turned and left.

Kitty took in deep yet ragged breaths for a moment before finally leaving her office and hurrying up the stairs to her rooms up above. In normal times, she would have taken time deciding what to take and how much but not this time. This time she cared less about her wardrobe and more about the speed with which she could pack and be ready to go back.

She just closed her case when Louise returned. "I got your ticket." She said as she walked in. "The train leaves at 6 this evening. It was the earliest train out today and you got the last seat. I tried for a private room but…"

"That's alright." Kitty reached out, taking the ticket and placing it into her reticule. "It's not important where I sit."

Louise glanced at the clock and then at Kitty's already packed luggage. "I'll get someone to take your luggage to the train station. It's just now 2:30 so you have some time if you'd like to rest before you leave or perhaps get something to eat."

Kitty shook her head. "I don't think I could do either one. I guess I'll go back down to my office and see if I can get something done there before I leave."

"You think you can?" Louise may have been younger than Kitty but she was ever bit as astute at reading people and she could tell Kitty was highly upset and unlikely to be able to concentrate on too much of anything.

Kitty sighed and sat down heavily on the settee near the window. "No, I don't guess I could do that either."

Louise moved over to the settee and sat down next to the woman who was much her friend as her boss. "Want to tell me about it?"

Kitty dropped her head and closed her eyes, silently fighting the again threatening tears. When she did speak, her voice was soft and sad.

"I never really had a father." She began. "I mean, I had one but he was never really a part of my life. As a young girl, I was much more concerned with surviving and making my way in the world than whether I had a man to call father or not. When I did finally get to a place in my life where I needed a father, my real one wasn't there. But Doc was. And that wire I received said Doc died this morning."

"Doc?" Louise tilted her head, studying her employer.

"Yeah." Kitty nodded, her mind going back in time to the years she'd spent in Dodge City. "Doctor Galen Adams, the only doctor for a hundred miles or more around Dodge City. He was one of the finest men I've ever known and more like a father to me than my own. He not only saved my life a time or three but he also saved my heart more than once."

"I don't understand." Louise frowned. "Saved your heart?"

Kitty remained quiet for a moment, trying to decide whether to go further or leave it there. Finally she took a deep breath and got to her feet. "It's a long story, Louise, and right now I don't have the time or the inclination to tell it. Okay?"

"Sure." Louise got to her feet. "Look, I'll go on down to the office and rearrange your appointments and so forth. You stay up here til it's time to board the train and at least try to relax some. Okay?"

Kitty nodded with a slight smile. "Okay. Thanks, Louise. I appreciate it."

Louise just smiled sympathetically at her employer and left the room.

TBC