"Two People One Heart"

This is a Bit of a Sequel to "The Marshal's Woman".

Usual Disclaimer: Just taking them out to play, will put them back when done.

PT.1

It was early morning. Sam had already opened the Long Branch doors. Fresh coffee was brewed. He had already taken down the chairs from atop the tables. The sound of the fresh milk cart was passing the front. Sam figured he would get some before the usual commotion started.

He knew before long, descending the stairs, would be the woman he couldn't help but engage in watching every day since he came to work there. She was a picture of elegance. In his mind even if it was only for those few precious few moments, he could dream of attaining such a woman. But he knew her heart belonged to only one man.

And just while in the moment of thought the door upstairs opened and closed and footsteps could be heard across the landing, then the familiar voice. "Morning, Sam!" And the ascension began.

Suddenly, the spell was broken. "Morning, Sam, Kitty." It was Doc's voice as he walked through the batwing doors.

Kitty smiling brightly. "Morning, Curly!"

"Oh, good morning, Doc. Coffee's hot."

"Now that sounds terrific. I really need some." Doc grumbled.

"Is that so?" Kitty said followed by a chuckle. "Tough morning?"

"Is it?"

"What?" Kitty asked.

"Doc, tugged on his ear. "Is it morning?"

Kitty puckering up her lips, trying not to laugh. "Does that mean you were out all night?"

"Let me tell you something, young lady." Kitty was trying her darnedest not to laugh. "I delivered two babies
and took care of a broken leg and someone had the nerve to expect me to take care of a sick cow!"

With that, Kitty couldn't contain the laughter.

"Oh, that's funny is it?"

"Well, Curly, you have to admit…"

"I have to admit no such thing!" Doc yelled. "And to think I thought you'd be the one to understand."

"Oh, now, Curly, come on. I'm sorry. Really I am. Please, sit."

"I'd expect that from Festus."

"I said I'm sorry."

Just then Festus walked in behind Doc. "What'd you expect from me, Doc?"

"Nothing! Nothing at all!"

Kitty looked at Festus, then at Sam. "Sam, can we have another cup here please? Festus, Doc just had a long hard night. That's all."

"What'cha do, Doc?" Festus asked.

Doc just shook his head.

Kitty continued. "He delivered two babies, fixed a broken leg and…"

Doc jumped in and said, "Kitty, please…"

Festus looking confused said to Doc, "Please, Miz Kitty, what?"

"Oh, Festus, Doc took care of a sick cow." Kitty finished.

All three looked at one another, then Festus squinted at Doc and with a smirk on his face he said, "See you ol' scudder. I a figured you was good fur tending sick animals."

With that, Doc just stood and said, "You just had to, didn't you, Kitty? You just had to. I'm going to bed."

Sam and Kitty were laughing. Festus was just looking at them all not sure what Doc was talking about. "Oh, Miz Kitty, I almost forgot. I picked up Matthew's mail and got yur's too."

"Why, thank you, Festus. Saved me a trip."

"Miz Kitty, Matthew be back today?"

"Yeah, that's right. Late today or tonight."

"That letter important, is it?"

"Festus, I haven't read it yet. Well, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do."

"Sure, Miz Kitty. And you be want'in to read yur letter."

"Yes, Festus, I'll see you later."

Kitty walked back to her office and began sorting her mail, noticing one, the letter that Festus was so anxious for her to read. It was a fancy envelope and fancy writing even though he couldn't read it. She was fairly sure Barney had told him it looked important. It read as follows:

Miss Kitty Russell
Long Branch Saloon
Dodge City, Kansas

Dearest Kitty,
I hope this letter finds you well. Rutherford and I did so enjoy Matt and your company when you both were here at the Gala Ball. We have both been so busy since but with the new construction project on the horizon, I have thought a lot about the two of you. I know there will be many of meetings and discussions and Rutherford will be visiting Kansas. And I would love to accompany him in hopes that I could visit your great state. I will be sure to let you know. And I'm looking forward to spending time together. So until then, be well.

Sincerely,
Your Friend,
Lucy Ware Hays

It was a normally quiet day in Dodge. After getting some sleep Doc was back to his usual self, when he stopped by the Long Branch to see if Kitty was available to have lunch with him at Delmonico's.

Sam was reading the paper. "Hi Doc. Can I get you a drink?"

"I'll have a beer. What's so interesting, Sam?" Doc pick up the paper Sam had been reading.

I was just reading about the railroad, Doc. You remember when the Marshal and Miss Kitty went to Washington? And they had the meeting about the railroad east-west bound that they wanted to bring through Kansas? Well, it's finally gonna happen, or so it seems. This eastern reporter says some General William Jackson Palmer, he has Civil War fame, has some plan to save costs. Says there will be more information to come."

"Well, Sam, I'm sure when Matt gets back he'll know something about this. After all if this has anything to do with the meetings he had in Washington…" He started to rub his mustache, then finished. "Well, we'll see. Sam, where's Kitty? I'm hungry."

"She's in her room. I'll call her for you."

"No need, Sam, I'm right here and I can hear his stomach from up here." Laughing as she ascended .

"Oh, Ha Ha, young lady!"

"Come on, Curly, let's get lunch. Sam, we'll be back."

"Sure thing, Miss Kitty."

Kitty and Doc were finishing up at Delmonico's and when they were leaving they bumped into two young ladies that had just gotten off the stage.

Doc looked up. "Well, excuse me."

The first young lady grabbed his arm and said, "Oh, no, Sir, please I'm so sorry. It was my fault. We weren't paying attention. We were…"

Just then Kitty looked over and said, "Maryellen? Hilda?"

Then in tandem both girls said, "Miss Kitty!"

Doc now looking shocked. "Does someone want to tell me what is going on here?"

Both girls are now hugging Kitty. "What are you two doing here? And together?"

Both started trying to talk at once. "Well, we… we were at school…"

Putting her hand up, Kitty said, "Wait! Wait! First, Doctor Adams, these young ladies are Maryellen Barlow and Hilda Lemp."

Hilda said, "Oh, Miss Kitty told us all about you Doctor."

"Oh, she did, did she? Don't believe any of it."

They all laughed.

"How long are you here? Why are you here? Well, ok, ok, come with me." Kitty said. "You can tell me and we can get out of the street. You both look wonderful!"

Doc excused himself and Kitty took the girls to her rooms so she could hear why they were in Dodge and together.

When they got upstairs, the girls looked around. Both looking in amazement. "Wow! This is beautiful! This is where you live?"

Kitty smiled. "Yeah, it's home. So, ok, now first things first. Maryellen, I know you told me you live outside of Dodge, but you said you were going to go to school, maybe in St. Louis?"

"Well, that was the plan, Miss Kitty, but things changed."

"Ok, but Hilda, I thought you wanted to go into your father's business?"

"Oh, Miss Kitty, I do and thanks to you, I'm going too. But Daddy and Granddad put a stipulation on it."

"Ok, now. What am I missing here?"

Well, they said if I wanted to learn the business I had to go to business school, so they sent me to the Wharton School of Business. And that is where I met Maryellen. See I met a woman, Miss Kitty, on my way to St. Louis, who told me I could do anything I set my mind too." Then she just smiled and winked at Kitty. "And I always wanted to be a business woman. And when you told me that day that you were there on business, that was it! My mind was made up. I wrote to Mama and papa that I was going to apply for business school. So, since we had a break from school. I wanted Hilda to see Kansas. And now it's even better. We found you! Our inspiration!"

"Well, Miss Kitty, can we come see you again while we're here?"

"Oh, of course. You'd better. We'll have supper. It's so wonderful to see you both!"

Maryellen and Hilda jumped up and hugged Kitty to the point of knocking her over onto the settee. "Ok, ok. Now I think I had better get back to work and I'll see both of you later."

Kitty and Sam began to close up the bar. It wasn't a very busy night. Sam was flipping up chairs.

"Sam," Kitty said. "Leave em. We can clean things up in the morning. Go on. Go get some sleep. You were here early. I'll lock up."

"Are you sure Miss Kitty?"

"I'm sure, Sam. Go. Go on."

"Ok, Miss Kitty. Good night."

"Good night, Sam."

TBC