Flame Series #18: Physician Heal Thy Self

Chapter 6

Homecoming

Dodge City Train Station

Matt stood behind Kitty at the station. He held Hadley on his chest, her little arm wrapped around his neck, while she rested on his forearm. "Coopie come home?"

"Yes baby. Cooper's coming home. Did you miss him?"

"Uh-huh. And Sissy and Newie. They comed home too?"

Matt jostled his daughter a little higher. "Yep. Everybody is coming home." Matt turned at the sound of someone calling his name. "Look. Here comes Poppy."

The older man shuffled up the boardwalk. Bracing his hand against the rail, he stepped up onto the landing. "Aren't you a little early? The train isn't due for another half hour." Matt rolled his eyes in the direction of his wife. Doc watched Kitty stretch out to try and catch a glimpse of the approaching train. The old physician silently mouthed an, "Oh" with raised brows.

"I know you two are talking about me! I just want all of my family home." Kitty turned her attention from the track, long enough to glance behind her. "Calleigh's bringing company. Some doctor and his wife that she met at the conference. They stayed at Chester's bed and breakfast too."

Doc brushed his hand across his moustache. "That girl is getting to be as bad as you. Now she's going to be bringing home strays. At least these are educated ones. Might be interesting, talking shop with a third party. I was looking forward to Calleigh updating me on the new procedures." Doc leaned forward for a better look down the track. "Are they coming to my surprise party tonight?"

Kitty flashed him a sarcastic scowl. "It would have been a surprise, if you weren't so nosey. But to answer your question, tonight is just family." She started to tell him about Calleigh's invitation to the Cannons, but the sharp sound of steel-on-steel pierced the air, alerting her to the oncoming train. There were no more words, as she turned back around.

Newly and Calleigh each placed a hand to the anxious little boy's shoulders. Neither of them thought he would actually bolt from the train before it stopped, but they weren't taking any chances. The Santa Fe came to a stop, they released their hold and he was off. Cooper shot straight into his mother's arms.

Kitty heard the phrase "We had so much fun…" but after that, it was just a series of words, all scrambled together. Everything from giant bluegill, to Chester's rope tricks, to 'speckledee' gravy. Cooper wasn't the only excited little voice, as Hadley continued to bounce in her daddy's arms, yelling to anyone within earshot that, Coopie, Newie and Sissy were home! All-in-all, it was quite the riotous homecoming.

"Whoa, little cowboy!" Matt had waited patiently for a place to interrupt. "Save some of this for when we get home. In the meantime, is she the only one you missed?"

Cooper offered a shy smile as he stepped away from his momma. Matt handed off the littlest Dillon to her sister and reached down to pick up his son. "So, you caught some fish?"

"Oh, we did Daddy! Great big ones, like this!" His arms might have stretched a little farther than the truth, but Matt was sure that Chester's version would have been even bigger.

Amid the greetings and laughter, Newly stuck two fingers in his mouth emitting a shrill whistle, that pulled the attention of everyone around him. He nodded to the Cannons. "Honey, would you like to introduce them to your folks?"

Calleigh didn't blush often, but when she did, Newly found it endearing. "I am so sorry." With Hadley still hanging on her hip, she stepped back to the couple. Pointing to the elder couple first, "My folks, Kitty and Matt Dillon." Then, with a slight turn, she introduced her guests. "This is Phoebe and Darcy Cannon. Darcy attended the conference with me." Calleigh stepped through the small crowd to pull the older physician forward. "And this - is Poppy." She slipped her free arm around his shoulders. "Darcy is wanting to pick your brain."

The visiting physician stepped forward, eager to shake the older man's hand. "Calleigh has told us so much about you." As he pumped the older man's hand, he heard his wife softly clear her throat. Darcy quickly realized his social faux pas and took a step back. "Mr. and Mrs. Dillon, I hope you will forgive me. I was just so excited to meet Dr. Adams."

Doc flashed his, it's about time somebody appreciated me, look at the marshal, before turning his attention to his newest admirer. "I was looking forward to talking with Calleigh about the conference. Having both of you should make for an interesting discussion."

Cooper had begun another tale, as Matt guided the small crowd toward the buggy. He motioned to Newly, pointing out that they had brought both buggies into town. "I figured you would want to settle them in at the Dodge House."

Newly glanced back at his guests. "Yeah. Thanks for bringing the buggy in."

"Sure thing. You want me to take Hadley with us?"

A brief peek at the two redheads behind them, quickly revealed the answer. Hadley was clinging to her sister like a drowning man to a life preserver. From all appearances, Calleigh was in no hurry to part with her tiny sibling. Two weeks was a long time for them to have been apart.

Newly turned back to the marshal with an easygoing smile. "Nah, I think we'll keep her with us. Tell Kitty we'll be along real soon."

HappyBirthdayHappyBirthday

Calleigh and Kitty stood back, watching Doc open his presents. To be more precise, they were watching Hadley help her Poppy rip through the brightly colored paper. The typical, ooh's and ahh's, hovered over the small gathering. Two new shirts were revealed, as well as a beautifully decorated box, filled with Doc's favorite caramels.

Festus had taken a lot of time and care to carve the word 'Doctor' into a generous piece of walnut. Cooper had drawn the letters on a piece of paper for him to use as a model. Even though Doc was never comfortable being the center of attention, he tried to make his appreciation known for each present.

Cooper had glanced back at Calleigh several times, waiting for her to give him the signal. Finally, she gave him the nod. The boy bounced to his feet. "Here Poppy." Cooper carefully sidetracked his little sister's grabbing fingers, to place the package safely in his grandpa's hands.

Doc could tell by the way Cooper nervously chewed at his lip, that this gift was wrapped in more than just pretty paper. It represented all the hopes and love of a small boy.

Speaking in a language where words were never needed, Kitty looked at her husband and then her youngest daughter. Matt acknowledged with a smile, as he leaned over Doc's shoulder, plucking the tiny redhead up into his arms. "Let's give Cooper a chance to see Poppy open his present." Hadley didn't offer any objections, since she was already tiring of the chore of tearing away the wrappings.

Doc studied the pale blue paper. The crooked folds and slightly torn edges told him that Cooper had wrapped it by himself. Under his mom and sister's supervision, no doubt. Once the paper was removed it revealed a small cardboard box. Lydia had found the tiny container in one of her many drawers and baskets of craft supplies. Neatly tucked inside the box was a small, white satin pouch with the word, "Poppy" stitched in tiny, dark blue thread.

"It's the only one like it in the whole world, Poppy. And the toothpicks are just like the ones they sell in New York." The old man's stillness caused the boy to fear he had made a bad choice, but that fear was short lived.

"Cooper, you had someone make this, just for me?" Doc made no attempt to hide the tear that escaped from his tired old eyes. "I was just thinking the other day that I needed something to carry them in, because they poke little holes in my pocket." He ran his finger over the finely crafted stitched lettering. "But I never thought of anything as special as this. This present is only missing one thing."

The blue eyes grew big in the small face. "What did I forget, Poppy?"

"Shouldn't I get a hug to go with it?" He didn't need to ask twice, as the boy flung himself into his arms.

Matt wandered over to his wife. He leaned in for a private word and whispered. "Not just beautiful babies, but sweet ones too." Just as he was ready to kiss his wife, Calleigh shouted 'cake' and started for the kitchen. The littlest redhead still in her daddy's arms responded to her sisters words with shouts of her own.

On her way out of the room, one noisy redhead snatched up a smaller, but equally loud, one. Matt looked back at his wife. "Well, one out of three. That's not bad."

TBC