Chapter 6 – Matt's Life and the Trial's Outcome Hang in the Balance

Lionel Walker followed the surgery resident into Kitty Russell's hospital room. The nurse and doctor tried to calm their patient while the police detective stood in the background. She finally accepted the fact she'd have to wait until Matt Dillon was out of surgery and in his own hospital room. Lionel Walker dismissed the medically trained man and woman as soon as their patient agreed to cooperate. He stood at her bedside and waited until her attention was turned toward him.

"Miss Russell, I'll use my influence to see you are reunited with the marshal as soon as possible. I've already arranged for his room to be next to yours. I can only hope the surgery is successful. I've come to admire the man just from reading his reports on this investigation and would be flattered if he would be willing to allow me to learn from his experience in law enforcement. I've told the nurse to have Dr. Hickman come here as soon as the surgery's over to update us."

"Thank you Mr. Walker. I appreciate all you've done since Matt was shot on the train. Since it appears we'll be spending a lot of time together, perhaps we can dispense with formality. Please call me Kitty."

"I'd be proud to call you Miss Kitty if you'll agree to address me as Lionel. I can't help but feel a simple Kitty without the title would be disrespectful on my part."

"Deal. Do you have any further information on Matt, Lionel? The longer your Dr. Hickman takes, the more worried I am about Matt's chances."

Lionel was about to tell Kitty what little he knew when Dr. Wesley Hickman strolled through the open door. He gave the young detective a withering stare, but didn't tell the young man to leave the room. He knew Detective Walker was there to protect his patient and the man in the adjoining room, where two uniformed policemen were stationed even before the injured man was brought into it. On the other hand, as annoyed with Walker's presence as he was, he was pleased with the job his resident had done on Miss Russell's leg. The lad showed real promise as a surgeon.

Kitty began talking as soon as the doctor came up to her bedside to check on how well his assistant had done. She had to find out about Matt.

"Doctor, before you say anything else, tell me, is Matt still alive? If he is, I need to get to him immediately and stay with him."

"Young woman. I don't know who this man is to you other than you were brought in from the train together but I can only tell immediate relatives about a patient's condition and only a spouse may stay in the room with a patient. When he's awake, and if he agrees to it, you may visit with him for a few minutes. As I'm sure you're aware, he was very seriously wounded."

"At least I know he's alive. Your answer told me that much. Matt and I may not be married, but we've sure talked about it enough. I'm the closest person to him here or anywhere. He has no family other than me, and our close friends. If he's to survive, he's got to know I'm ok and the only way to do that is for me to be with him. Otherwise, he might never awake."

Dr. Hickman was still unwilling to grant Kitty permission to go immediately to Matt's side. He pointed out her need to remain in her bed to speed the healing process and then repeated his objection on the grounds they weren't a married couple. Lionel finally was able to dictate a solution to the two stubborn people. He merely pointed out the importance of the trial and that anything that might help the key witness his father the District Attorney was counting on to be available, however slim, was something worth doing. In addition, protecting both witnesses would be simpler, requiring less manpower, if they were in the same room.

The doctor knew he was licked. He summoned a wheelchair to bring Kitty into Matt's room and also arranged for an extra bed to be placed in there so both patients could get the necessary rest.

Once Dr. Hickman left, Lionel wheeled Kitty into Matt's room. The orderlies were just finishing setting up her bed as they entered. He placed the wheelchair between her bed and Matt's and helped her find the best way to transfer from one to the other without putting pressure on her injured right leg. During the entire time, Matt never stirred. The only indication that he was alive was the very slight rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

As soon as he saw Kitty had the hang of moving from one spot to another, Lionel left the room, closing the door behind him. Without Dillon's testimony their case against Dean Littlefield would be that much weaker. He was sure the marshal had told Miss Kitty a good deal of what he'd learned during his investigation and questioning of his prisoners, but his reports couldn't be reinforced during cross examination and her testimony, other than what she had to say about what occurred in the Long Branch would be dismissed by Judge Stephen Walden as hearsay. Still, all he could do was leave her alone in hopes her love for the stricken man would result in a miracle.

Kitty moved her chair next to Matt's bed and hauled herself onto it so that she sat beside his inert form and gaze at him. His head, swathed in a bandage, was held nearly immobile by a series of straps, which in effect made it nearly impossible for him to move the rest of his body. This was just as well judging from the bandage over the wound in his side. She hoped the doctor would return at some point and give her some idea as to his chances of living, let alone a full recovery. Meanwhile, her left hand took hold of his right one. There was no answering squeeze.

"Cowboy, if you love me, you can't die on me now," she said, speaking her thoughts out loud. "You always said any day might be your last, but it would be just like you to do it at the start of one of our rare vacations. It seems that badge always gets in the way even when it seemingly gave us the chance for this trip."