PT.3
My Family, My Choice!
Standing for a brief moment, at the top landing of the stairs of his office, Doc looked around, with his hat in his hand, thinking in amazement to himself. "Look at them, look at them all, just rushing about without a care or a thought of, well, of yesterday or tomorrow. I probably have seen most of these folks through sickness, births and deaths, yet once it's over, that's that! Hummmmm. What a world. Well, maybe Kitty will be up for breakfast."
Putting his hat on his head, he made his slow trek down the long staircase and across the boardwalk toward the Long Branch.
Sam had already opened. He was sweeping out front. "Mornin', Doc!"
Shaking his head. "Mornin', Sam."
"There's hot coffee and…"
"Sam? Kitty down yet?"
"Well, no. That's what I was ready to say. Not yet. Wasn't down last night either."
"She wasn't?"
"No, Doc. I knocked but she said she was tired, so I left her be."
"Well, she just needed a good night's sleep. Matt will be back today, won't he?"
"I think so, Doc."
"Well, like I said, she just needed the sleep."
Later, Doc saw Matt come riding in and waited for him to stop at his office. As Matt dismounted, "Welcome home, Matt!"
"Well, thanks, Doc. It's good to be back. If I had to sit in that saddle…"
"How about I buy you a beer? I'm sure you wouldn't mind the company of a certain redhead while we enjoy a cold one, now would ya? I sure know she wouldn't mind."
"Yeah, Doc, but I think she might mind less if I get rid of just a bit of this trail dust, don't ya think?"
Doc shook his head and smiled. "Well, ok. Have it your way. I'll see ya in a bit." Walking away mumbling, "Kids!"
Matt took Buck to Moss and then headed to the Dodge house to clean up.
As Matt was cleaning up and changing there was a hard banging at his door followed by a voice. "Marshal! Marshal? You in there?"
Matt quickly opened the door. "Howie, what's the matter?"
With Howie was a farmer and two other men from town. "Marshal, we need your help. Our boys, Marshal."
"What about them?"
"They fell in the old abandoned well at the end of my farm. They're small boys and it's getting dark. We were hopin' you could get together enough men to help."
"Sure we can. Let's go."
They took off, headed for the farm. Matt ran into the Long Branch asking for every available man to help. It wasn't very busy but they all offered to go.
Sam started to say, "Marshal, I have a…"
But Matt stopped him and said, "Sam, not now. Whatever it is it will have to wait. I have to go now."
Everyone got together as many ropes, lanterns, shovels and whatever they thought they'd need, in a wagon, and headed out of town to the farm, determined to rescue these two small boys. Matt asked Doc to go along just in case he was needed. They weren't sure just how far down the boys fell.
Arriving out at the farm, they had a group of about 15 men. It was now getting dark.
The mother of the boys had laid herself down alongside the well opening and was trying to talk to them and keep them both calm. She couldn't see them but she could hear them. She figured if she could keep them talking, they wouldn't be scared.
This family was new, to not only this farm, but to the Dodge area as well. So they weren't aware of the abandoned well at all. But the boys, while playing, came across it. It was covered by just some old brush.
Matt, Festus and one of the other men looked around, trying to figure out a way to get something down to them. They figured if they could tie a rope to the wagon then to one of them, they could get to the small boys. At first attempt, the side walls started to collapse. So now they figured they'd have to find a different plan.
The boys were getting more scared tired and hungry and one was complaining of a hurt leg.
Festus looked at Matt. "Matthew, we just got ta git them lil' ones out'a that there well. You jest tell me what you need me ta do and I'll do er'."
The mother of the boys was standing nearby. She started to cry.
Festus walked over to her. "Oh, now, you don't need ta be a cryin' now. Missy. Matthew is a gonna git them youngin's out of that there well, directly. I gorantee it! I do!"
Matt just rolled his eyes at Festus and under his breath, he said, "Thanks Festus."
TBC
