Gunsmoke
Nineteen Years, Seven Months and Fourteen Days
Chapter 1
Okay, here is a new story, but be aware that my internet service is wishy washy 'cause I have wireless, kind of sort of. I will not go into explaining it. Needless to say, once again, I am having problems with it and problems never stop. So, please read on and enjoy. And there will be lots of angst, lots of joy and so on. My muse is working overtime, she's trying to catch up for lost time.
KR
It Isn't True
Kitty watched as the casket moved passed her in slow motion. She knew that she wouldn't be able to hold on much longer, her legs were weak and felt as though they would give out beneath her. She felt a familiar tightening in her chest, one which she had experienced many times, usually when Matt had been injured and she had waited to see if he would live or die. There was a constant pounding in her head as she could not get her mind to believe what was going on. Matt, after all these years, was dead. No matter how hard she tried, she was unable to comprehend that he would never come back to her. Nineteen years, seven months and fourteen days. That would be her only comfort at night, to know that she had nearly twenty years with him and that was all she had to show for their relationship. No ring, no home, no children, she had nothing of his, but his heart, which in this cold world it would not be enough. Nineteen years, seven months and fourteen days, would be all that their lives together had amounted to. Her heart broke in two, there was nothing left for her. How would she live without him? How could she live without him? He was her entire world. She lived and breathed for him, would she now die without him? She wanted Matt back, she wanted him in her arms and wanted to beg him forgiveness for their last argument. She didn't mean it, any of it. She just wanted her life back. The tears streamed freely down her face as she watched the soldiers place the large wooden casket into the buckboard, where Percy Crump sat in the seat waiting, quietly watching the four men and the woman as they gathered to appropriate the body of a longtime friend and marshal. Sitting in his perch, he watched the beautiful redhead, whose smile could usually light up the valley, desperately hold onto to any semblance of composure possible. He could see, even from his seat on the buckboard that she was trembling, her
Festus stayed close to her. His arm was wrapped tightly around her waist, trying to keep her from falling. He could feel her body trembling in his arms. Newly was on the other side of her, taking her arm. Newly too, could feel her trembling. Doc wiped the tears from his eyes, and turned from the casket in time to see the color drain from Kitty's face. He watched as she fell to the ground, Newly holding onto her tightly. He slid his arms under her legs and picked her up.
"Newly, get her up to my office. Festus, would you tend to things here. I'm gonna go up and make sure she is alright." Doc said looking at Newly who headed to Doc's buggy where he gently laid Kitty down on the seat. He had kept her sitting in the corner and climbed onto the back as Doc climbed into the seat and they headed for Doc's office.
"Sure thang, Doc." He said softly as Doc quickly followed after Newly. Festus watched as they loaded the casket onto the buckboard. He felt his heart fall into his belly. His best-friend was dead. He had been shot down in the street by a young buck trying to make a name for himself, but shooting an unarmed man only got him the end of a rope. Festus didn't want to believe it was true, that is why he had to ride out to Hayes to see for himself. He then wired Doc and told him that Mathew was dead and that he would make arrangements to have Mathew's body sent home. He had not taken the train, instead he opted to ride Buck home. He would get there before the train and be able to help with other arrangements. As he climbed up into the buckboard with Percy, he thought back to the day they had gotten the wire.
Kitty sat at the table as Doc came into the saloon. She had gotten a wire and sat there staring at it. She had a shot of whiskey sitting in front of her that she did not touch. Festus was sitting to her left and Newly to her right. Festus held her hand and she continued to stare into thin air. Doc walked over to the three of them.
"Sam came to my office, told me about the wire and told me to get over here right quick." He said sitting his bag on the table. He looked at Kitty, then signaled Festus to step away and speak with him in private. "Has she said anything?" Doc asked Festus.
"She keeps saying it isn't true. Other than that she ain't said nary a word." He said looking over at Kitty.
Doc shook his head and headed back towards Kitty. By this time the tears were falling down her cheeks. Doc reached into his bag and pulled out some Laudenum. He knew that it wasn't what he wanted to give her, but it would be the quickiest way to get her to sleep. She needed to get some rest now, she looked as though she were ready to drop. Doc took the glass of whiskey and drank it down, then filled it with laudanum and handed it to her. "I want you to drink this down." He said as she took the proffered cup from his hands. "Go ahead, drink it all." He said as she sipped at the glass. She then drank down the rest of the medicine. Doc walked over to the bar and asked Sam for a bottle and four glasses. He then went back over to their table. He could see in her eyes the medicine was already having an effect on her. Just then, Thad Greenwood pulled up on his horse. He too had heard about the Marshal's death and left Texas immediately heading back to Dodge. He saw his friends gathered at the table and one look at Miss Kitty told him that it was true. After quick pleasantries with the other men, he sat down across from Festus, next to Kitty and Newly make excuses to return to the Jail. By this time, she was having trouble keeping her eyes opened.
"Doc?" Thad said looking at Kitty.
"I gave her something to sleep. Why don't you help her upstairs to her room and I'll be right behind you." Doc told Thad.
Thad stood up and gently pulled Kitty's chair out for her and she slowly stood up. She felt light headed and he gently took her about the waist. "Come on, Miss Kitty, let me get you upstairs to your room." He said as he led her up the stairs. About halfway there, her legs gave way, Thad gently leaned down and lifted her into his arms.
Festus and Percy drove past Doc's and Festus looked up remembering the three days that followed Matt's death and Kitty's telegram were the worst three days of his life. He hadn't had much of a chance to speak with Kitty, and when he had gotten a moment, she just sat there staring blankly into the air. He wanted to go over to her, shake her, slap her, something to get her to react. But instead, he sat beside her and would hold her hand if she needed it or just sit and quietly wait. She was having a very hard time believing that Matt was dead, even when Festus had seen the Marshal's body, she didn't believe him. And he could not do anything to change the way she felt. He had given her Matt's badge and his pocket watch which held a single picture of his one true love, her. Kitty had taken them from his hands, and clutched them to her breast when she was informed of the dead man's true identity. But watching Newly carry her up to Doc's made his heart break for her. He felt helpless and unable to help her deal with her pain. He prayed that Newly would be able to help them help her.
TBC