GUNSMOKE

"Tarnished"

Festus shrugged his heavy coat on, and tugged his hat down over his left eye with a sharp yank of his hand. He opened the door to the jail and stepped outside onto the quiet street, softly closing the door behind him. He shoved his hands in his pockets and took in a deep breath of crisp air. He looked up the snow-covered street, and then down the other way, but few people were out so early on a cold morning. His eyes shifted across the street to the doors of the Long Branch, and he wondered if Miss Kitty had a pot of coffee on yet. He pressed down further into his coat as he stepped off the boardwalk, but the sounds of an oncoming horse and buggy stopped him short.

He recognized Doc Adams and waved to him. "Doc! Hey Doc...where're ya goin'?"

The doctor waved back, but didn't so much as slow down. Haggen watched as the buggy sped past him down Front Street, heading north out of town, leaving its unmistakable tracks in the soft snow.

Festus shook his head to himself. "Wull if that don't jes' beat all...ornery ol' scudder..."

Haggen crossed the street, and tried the tall doors of the Long Branch. Finding them unlocked, he opened one, and walked in. Sam was setting up the bar, and Kitty Russell was balancing a ledger at a table; Festus smiled when he spotted the pot of coffee next to her. He pulled the hat off his head as he walked over.

"Mornin' Miss Kitty," he looked back at the bartender, "Sam..."

"Mornin' Festus," Sam acknowledged.

Kitty smiled at the deputy. "Good morning, Festus. Have a seat."

Haggen nodded, "Much obliged, Miss Kitty." He looked at her coffee cup and the pot, and took in a large sniff of the aroma. "Coffee sure smells good..."

Kitty grinned at the conspicuous hint. "Sam...can you bring Festus a cup?"

Smiling widely the bartender responded, "Sure thing, Miss Kitty."

Sam set a cup in front of Haggen, unsuccessfully trying to cover his amusement. Apparently oblivious to the joke, Festus poured himself a cup of the dark liquid and took a long sip.

"Now that there is the bestest coffee I ever drunk, Miss Kitty..." He grinned at her, "'Ceptin' fer my own, of course..."

Kitty laughed. "I would have thought that this was just a tad on the weak side for you, Festus."

"Wull...it is a mite shy on stoutness next ta Haggen-style coffee, but I'm thankful ta have some with ya anyways..." He took another long sip. "Coffee jes' hits the spot on a cold mornin' like this, don't it?"

"It sure does, Festus."

"'Specially on a mornin' when a-ornery ol' sawbones almost run me off the street with his buggy..."

"What are you talkin' about, Festus?"

"Doc almost run me over jes' now, out on Front Street." Haggen shook his head. "I don't know whar he wuz a-goin' in such a dag-blamed hurry at this hour..." He scrunched up an eyeball at her. "He weren't goin' fishin' ner nothin' wuz he?"

"Fishin' in this cold weather? Festus, honestly..." Kitty pat his arm lightly. "Ed Waters came lookin' for Doc while he was in here havin' some coffee with me."

"Ed Waters? Ain't his wife Lucy about to have a youngun?"

"You bet she is..." Kitty took a sip of coffee, her voice suddenly colored with concern, "I sure hope everything turns out all right."

Haggen grinned. "Why Miss Kitty, havin' younguns is the most naturalest thang they is."

"Doc's been pretty worried about Lucy. She's lost three other ones about halfway through her time, ya know."

"That's a derned shame, Miss Kitty. Them two's real sweet on havin' a whole parcel of kids."

Kitty took a contemplative sip from her coffee. "I just hope it'll be okay... Ed was a nervous wreck when he was in here. I don't know how he'd take it if somethin' happened."

"Don'tchu worry none Miss Kitty, ol' Doc'll see to it. Ain't nobody better'n him at bringing younguns inta the world."

Doc placed another cool cloth on the woman's brow, his voice low and soft, "Easy now, Lucy. You just try and breathe like I showed ya."

The woman panted in short breaths, gritting her teeth. "It...hurts...so...bad, Doc..."

He brushed a gentle hand over her forehead. "I know it does. But I want you to concentrate on that little baby yer gonna bring into the world, Lucy. You just think on that, and when I tell ya, I want you to start pushin'..." Adams moved to the foot of the bed, and lifted the covers up over her knees. He began rolling his sleeves up over his elbows. "Now I want you to relax fer me; I'm gonna check and see how far along ya are."

Lucy whimpered in discomfort as Adams felt for the baby's crown. He placed a gentle hand on her tummy, pressing down slightly as he continued his examination. She writhed in pain, crying out, and Doc frowned.

"D-doc...what's...wrong...with...me?"

Adams carefully pulled his hand free, and covered her once again with the bedclothes. "There's nothing for you to worry about, Lucy." He walked over to the basin with water and began washing his hands. "You just try and stay calm, and keep breathing the way I taught ya..."

He dried his hands with a towel, and walked back over to the bed. He changed the compress on her head and ran a caring hand through her hair. Lucy could see the worry in his pale blue eyes, and she felt a cold fear begin to spread over her chest.

"D-don't...let...me...lose...this...one, Doc...p-please..."

He sat on the edge of the bed, putting his comforting hands on her shoulders. "Shhhh, I want you to just stay calm, and not worry." He pat her lightly, then stood. "I'm gonna have a quick word with Ed, and I'll be right back."

Adams walked out into the main room of the house, closing the bedroom door behind him. Ed Waters was pacing in the middle of the floor when he heard the door. He turned to see Doc's face, and he swallowed hard. He walked over to Adams, grabbing the smaller man by the shoulders.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"Calm down, Ed."

"Don't tell me ta calm down, Doc, just tell me what's wrong."

"It's gonna be a little more complicated than we thought." The homesteader stared hard into Doc's eyes, and the physician continued, "Lucy's carryin' twins--"

"--Twins?"

"Yes, but one of them is breached and tangled up a little."

"That why Lucy's in so much pain?"

Adams nodded. "I'm gonna need some help with the delivery, Ed, so I want you to ride back into town and get Kitty Russell fer me. Will ya do that?"

Ed swallowed hard, his voice betraying his fear, "I'll git her, Doc. But you gotta promise me ain't nothin' gonna happen to Lucy or the twins..."

Adams gently patted the man's arm. "I'll do the best I can, Ed."

Waters gripped Adams hard by the collar of his shirt. "You gotta promise me, Doc..."

"Take it easy, Ed." Doc loosened the large, rough hands around his neck. "I need you to fetch Kitty. Now get goin'..."

Adams watched as the rattled man grabbed his hat and coat and stepped out the front door. Doc let out the breath of air he was holding against the slight burning in his stomach; he wasn't at all sure he could save Lucy, much less the two children inside of her. Swiping a worried hand across his mustache and chin, Doc walked back into the bedroom, unsure of any influence his medical skill would have against the will of the Almighty.