Too Close To The Flame

Chapter 7

How Did You Know?

Betsy had left Kitty momentarily in Bess's competent hands. She walked over to the klatch of men that had gathered by the tree and knelt down to whisper into Barlow's ear. His brows furrowed and he leaned back to look into her eyes.

She nodded her head, confirming what she had whispered to him. Barlow turned his focus toward the young widower and blew out a deep breath. "Okay," he murmured under his breath. "I'll try."

She then turned her attention to Matt. "Kitty's getting pretty tired. What I would like to do is give her a bath and get her into some clean things, then put her to bed. This time, not to hide, but to actually rest. The ladies have prepared the water, so if you will just carry her up…"

"Of course." Matt pulled himself up from the ground. He ran his hand lovingly through Cooper's hair and caught the boy's eyes with his. Cooper reached up and squeezed his daddy's hand, before returning his full attention to Newly. The Marshal followed the brunette woman back toward his wife.

He knelt down in front of his wife and ran his hand down her damp cheek. "Ready to go upstairs?" She nodded and he slipped his arms under her, lifting her tenderly into his embrace. Kitty wrapped her arms around Matt's neck and rested her head against his chest.

Matt was amazed at the progress Betsy had made. He carried Kitty up the stairs, helped to get her undressed, then gently lowered her into the warm, fragrant water.

The broth had helped, but Kitty was still too weak to put up any objections, or to offer any assistance in the bath. Betsy continued talking to her friend, while she bathed her and washed out her fiery locks.

When finished, Betsy called for Matt to help; and together, they managed to get Kitty dried, dressed, and tucked between a set of clean, cool sheets. By the time they had Kitty settled in, she was already asleep. Matt noticed that, for the first time in days, her sleep actually appeared to be peaceful.

Matt returned to his place of vigil, in the overstuffed chair by the window. His voice, though weary, was overflowing with gratitude. "How did you know to do this?"

Betsy took a seat on the matching hassock. Their eyes stayed fixed on the slumbering woman. "My father passed away when I was twelve. My mother adored him." There was a bittersweet smile in her voice. "We all did.

"Anyway, family, friends—all kinds of people—came to the house, but they all did the same thing. Every time my mother would start to talk about him, they would shush her. They tried to steer her into other subjects to take her mind off of my father being gone."

Matt looked at Betsy with an insight into death that he did not have four days ago. "That's not possible."

"I know. And my mother knew. One night, after everyone was asleep, I went downstairs for a drink and I saw her standing out in the backyard all alone. I went out there and she was staring up into the sky. She started to tell me about the first time she and my dad kissed." Betsy looked over at the Marshal. "We talked all night." A hint of a laugh escaped. "Actually, she talked, I listened. Years later, she told me that the only thing that got her through those first few days, was being able to just talk about him to someone."

"Betsy, I think I might have lost her if you hadn't come." The gratitude in Matt's voice was drowning in the fear and pain threatening to take him over. "I don't know what to do now."

Betsy rose quickly, going into the water closet and reappearing with a cool cloth. "Close your eyes for a minute."Pushing his hands aside and ignoring his objections, she began to wash his face with the cool cloth. "Now, just stay still 'til I wet this rag again."

Betsy hurried in to rinse out the cloth, but when she returned, she was delighted to find her other patient also asleep.

She heard a noise in the doorway and looked up to find Ma. Placing her finger to her mouth to signal for quiet, Betsy motioned to the sleeping pair as she tiptoed out. "She's finally resting peacefully, but I didn't expect to get him asleep so easily."

Ma looked at Kitty, then Matt. "He always tends to her needs first. Only when she's finally peaceful, will he allow himself that luxury as well. They are a strange pair. Always have been." She pulled the door shut after Betsy stepped into the hall. "We all want to thank you for what you've done."

Betsy put her arm around the matronly woman. "You are all hurting so much, it's hard to see clearly what to do for each other. I'm just grateful that you let Barlow and me help out."

"Oh… that's why I came looking for you. Mr. Madson did what you said and finally got Newly to talking about Calleigh. But your husband doesn't want Newly to go back home, where he'll be alone again. Do you think you can talk him into going in to one of the bedrooms here and getting some rest?"

Betsy, had a determined gleam in her eyes."Let's give it a try." The two women linked arms and headed for the backyard.

TBC