Chapter 4 – Is It Worth It?
I enjoy my time with Doc. He's been showing me some of the things I'd need to know if I decide to give up the saloon business and become his nurse. I have a feeling nursing is a lot less dangerous, if less lucrative. I was reminded of what can happen to a girl working a saloon when Strom Bucklin briefly came back into my life yesterday. I reckon there's a trade-off for everything a woman might choose to do in a man's world. Like Bill Pence, Doc's a good man to work for plus he does a lot of good for folks around here. As I've come to know him better I find he's everything my father wasn't as I was growing up.
Chester joined us for supper and explained where Matt was going when we drove past him in Doc's buggy. Doc was called away to tend to a patient on the other end of town who'd slipped and broke her arm. A couple hours later Doc had returned but seemed in no hurry for his nightcap in the Long Branch. Chester was just about broke from the poker game he joined soon after supper and joined me for a beer. We both were waiting for Matt. Seeing him was the only way I could be sure he was all right and Chester wanted to ask for an advance on his next month's salary. That's when we heard the shouts for Doc from two riders for Emmet Bowers who'd just left to go home. So it goes on a typical night in Dodge City.
Chester and I raced outside to find Doc already kneeling beside Matt and telling the two cowboys to gently carry him upstairs. We followed behind. He was awfully quiet as they placed him face down on the examining table. Doc shooed everyone out except me. He set me to preparing what he'd need, including boiling water and pouring alcohol to sterilize his instruments. Matt had a lump on the back of his head, which seemed to worry our town physician more than the bullet in his shoulder. He'd been shot from behind.
While Doc removed the bullet from Matt's left shoulder with what assistance I could provide Chester took care of our marshal's horse and tack. He even unpacked his saddlebags and was surprised to find Matt's gun inside them rather than in his holster, which he was still wearing when he collapsed. Doc was tying the bandage over the shoulder wound when Chester returned. Neither Doc nor I could tell him anything except that Matt would live, but he wouldn't be awake until sometime in the morning.
Nothing Doc could say or do would prevent me from staying by Matt's side that first night especially after his patient cried out in his semi-conscious state. It wasn't in pain. It was the driving force that had kept him moving toward Dodge and to my surprise what he was calling out was about me.
"Must protect Kitty. Can't let them hurt her."
Throughout the rest of the night Matt slept peacefully except when he'd mumble about protecting me. Whenever that happened his heart would race, making Doc frown. Finally, with my help, we got enough laudanum in him so that he fell into a deep, healing sleep. He was still asleep by the time Chester returned with Bill and Moss. With their help we were able to transfer Matt to the back room where he'd be more comfortable and await his awakening. Then Chester took up a vigil in Doc's office, sitting in one of the chairs with a shotgun. None of us were aware that it had begun to snow outside.
When morning came I wanted to stay, but Doc insisted I take advantage of Matt sleeping to get some food and rest. I promised I'd return in an hour with a tray for him. Chester, for once in his life was forceful and insisted that Doc load his old Navy Colt while he escorted me across the road to the Long Branch. I couldn't understand why.
"Well, forevermore Miss Kitty. I'm only doin' what I know Mr. Dillon would want. I'd make sure Bill keeps an eye on you while I take a posse and go after them fellas what bushwhacked him, but I swarn enough snow's been dumped in the time we been in Doc's office that there ain't gonna be no tracks to follow."
"Chester, I don't need protection. There's no reason those stage robbers would want to hurt me and they won't be coming to town in this weather to finish off Matt. They probably think he's lying at the side of the road dying or already dead."
"I reckon you're right Miss Kitty, but they ain't actin' like ordinary outlaws. Still, it's mighty strange they put Mr. Dillon's six-gun in his saddlebags rather than keep it for themselves; or did Mr. Dillon do that? If he put it there, why'd he do it? I need to study on it."
Bill gave me all the time off I might want after Chester and I reported on Matt's condition. Doc wasn't even sure he'd live and wouldn't know until he saw some change one way or the other. I'm still just an employee, but ever since I started keeping the books for him at the start of this new year 1867 a couple of weeks ago, he's been hinting that I could become a partner as soon as I get the money together. Chester, like the dear sweet man he is, walked me back across to Doc's office after we ate breakfast carrying the tray and would have escorted me home had I asked. Instead, I told both him and Doc that I wasn't going anywhere until after Matt awoke or it was obvious he never would.
Chester walked to the jailhouse so folks would know there was someone who stood for the law that was able to do something about it. Of course, people didn't expect him to do as much as Matt, but even with it being winter and most of the folks in town being permanent residents, they wanted to know at least the assistant of the man the government provided to keep the peace was on duty. He'd do his best and that had to be enough. Still, despite what I'd told him, I had one of those uneasy feelings Matt is prone to get just before trouble strikes.
