PT.4
"Lifeline Between The Hearts"
Matt had searched through the first camp of drovers, not much luck there. Just as he thought, the men had closed ranks.
This was a new group he didn't know and that made it harder to question them or get them to want to talk. Seeing how he was looking for a murderer, especially one who shot and killed a young woman and run. A coward of the worse kind!
Matt decided to move on, but would keep in mind some of the faces he saw there just in case he decided to double back after he went through the other camps. This was going to take some time and hopefully the familiar face of a trail boss or two.
A few days had passed. Doc hadn't seen much of Kitty. So when he noticed Sam sweeping out front early, while opening up the Long Branch he greeted him. "Morning, Sam."
"Well, morning, Doc." Sam said with a bright smile. "Just made a fresh pot of coffee inside for. Miss Kitty if your in the mind to."
Tugging on his ear, "Festus in there?"
Chuckling just a bit, "No, not yet." Sam answered.
"Well then in that case, Sam, sounds good to me. Kitty down yet?"
"Haven't seen her but I think I heard her moving round up there."
"Ok, thanks." After about his second cup, Doc realized Kitty still wasn't down yet. "Sam?"
"Yeah, Doc?"
"You say you heard her moving round up there?"
"Well yeah, Doc. About an hour before you came in."
"Well, now that's not like Kitty."
"Should I call her for you, Doc?"
"Maybe, Sam."
Sam went to the stairs, started up and yelled, "Miss Kitty? Doc's here. Wants to know if your coming down."
"Ah, Ah… Sam, tell him I… I…"
Doc looked at Sam. "Tell him nothing, Sam. I'll go see what is going on." And he headed up the stairs with Sam in tow just on his heels.
As they both got to the end of the landing just outside her door, Doc tapped on Kitty's door. "Kitty, honey, it's Doc. Are you alright? Can I come in?"
"Doc, I… I… it's open."
Doc quickly opened the door. He and Sam rushed in only to see Kitty trying to stand at the foot of her bed. Holding herself up and gripping onto the brass footboard.
Doc and Sam could both see she was weak in the knees and ready to faint. When Sam grabbed her before she hit the floor, he looked at Doc. "Heavens, Doc, she's burning up and she is drenched."
"Sam, here, lay her down. I need you to get me some cool water and can you go to my office and get my bag?"
"Sure, Doc, right away." Sam ran and brought back what Doc asked for then stood there. "Doc, what can I do?"
"Sam, get me as many rags as you can find. We need to cool her down. Oh, and Sam?"
"Yeah?"
"Has Kitty been feeling bad the last few days?"
"You know Miss Kitty, Doc, she don't complain. I have noticed she's been awful tired lately but I just figured she wasn't sleeping good. And then with the drovers and all the excitement… It's like that every time they're in town."
"Thanks, Sam." Doc kept placing cool wet rags on Kitty's face, neck and chest area then wiping her arms and legs, hoping to cool her down.
When Sam came back he asked, "Doc, can I get you anything? You've been up here with Miss Kitty a long while. Or, if you like, I can sit with her while you go and get something to eat. I'll send for you if anything changes."
Shaking his head. "No, thanks, Sam. I'm fine."
"Well, then how bout I send over and get you a tray? You gotta eat, Doc."
"Maybe later, Sam."
Kitty started to stir. "Ummmm, ammmm, Docccc?"
"I'm right here, honey."
"Ohhhh… What happened?"
"You fainted and you have a fever."
"Oh, is that all?"
"You listen here, young lady. Is that all? How long have you been feeling sick?"
"I wasn't, just tired. Well, till this morning. Then I just couldn't seem to get out of bed. I'm fine, really Curly. I'm fine." And she began trying to sit up.
"Whoa. Is that so, Dr. Russell? I'll be the judge of that."
"Now, Curly, I have a business down stairs to run and…"
"And nothing," he said in a scolding tone. "You are one very sick young lady and you are going to stay in this bed till I say otherwise. Do you hear me?"
"Now, Doc…"
"Was that a, 'Yes Doc', I heard?"
"Curly."
Holding his hand to his ear. "I can't hear you."
"Don't you get foxy with me, Curly."
"Well, I'll sit right hear till you agree."
She was looking at him with her face all scrunched up and arms crossed over her chest. He just stared her down. "You know, you're as stubborn as that big lug of a Marshal."
"OHHHHHH! Alright, I'll stay put, for now."
Doc giggled, patted her on the hands. "Now, that didn't hurt did it?"
"Ugh! You're mean."
"And you're acting like a child!"
TBC