Pt.7
Mother of the Heart
Matt and Doc met up with Kitty. "Kitty? What in thunder is wrong with Mary?"
Kitty stood silent. She began to say she didn't know, but suddenly she thought about Mary coming from her office. Without a word, she turned and headed back for the Long Branch, with Matt and Doc following behind her.
"Kitty? Where are you going?"
Still saying nothing, she headed directly for her office right past Sam. "Miss Kitty? Is everything alright? I told Mary she could go in your office and have some fresh sweet rolls Ellie brought a little while ago. They were still warm." His voice trailed off as she blew passed him saying nothing.
Sam looked at Matt and Doc. "Is everything okay?"
Shaking their heads. "Not sure, Sam." Doc said. "Kitty hasn't said anything yet. Mary ran past me on the street."
"Well, Doc, can't imagine what it could be. She was in Miss Kitty's office but just a few minutes."
As the three men spoke, Kitty appeared in the doorway holding a handful of papers and on the top, the letter from Maylee Bains. Kitty's face was now pale. "Oh, Matt. I… I…"
"Kit? What is it?"
Dropping her head. "She must have found this on my desk." She said, handing him the letter.
Matt quickly scanned the letter then handed it to Doc. Doc scrubbed his chin. "HOLY THUNDER! I was never sure if Maylee told little Mary anything about her birth. You know she asked me questions once about two years ago just general things about you know, did I bring her into the world like most of the babies in Dodge. Was she a big baby? I think she was curious as to Maylee being an older mother. But you both know little Mary and how she is. Sweet girl, proper and very polite."
Kitty stood looking at Matt, Doc and Sam. Suddenly, Sam, still not fully understanding said. "Miss Kitty, did I do something wrong?" Sam asked.
Suddenly looking up. "Oh, no, Sam. No it's alright. You had no way of knowing. Matt, we need to find her. I need to talk to her and explain. Where could she be? Matt, she's just a child." Her voice began to crack.
"Now, Kitty, we'll find her. Don't worry. I'll get Festus and we'll find her. She couldn't have gone far."
"Matt, so much has happened and she's been so upset and now…"
Taking her by the shoulders, "Kit, I promise you, I'll find Mary and bring her back safe."
Matt quickly headed for his office to find Festus. Kitty decided to check with Ma Smalley.
Doc looked at Sam who was least a little still confused. "Sam. Sam, pour us some coffee and I'll clear this up." As the two men sat down at a table in the empty saloon, Doc rubbed his upper lip. "Sam, I'm sure you remember back when Matt first found little Mary Bains and brought her back to town."
"Sure, Doc. He brought her here to Miss Kitty late at night. She was an infant."
Nodding, "Yep, that's right and it broke Kitty's heart when she had to give her up after getting attached to that little one, once she had her awhile and had been caring for her and loving her."
"Sure, Doc. Miss Kitty loved that little girl, still does."
"Well turns out Maylee Bains had it set up that since Eli Bains was already gone that in the event of her death, she wanted Miss Kitty to take custody of little Mary and raise her. So she had legal papers drawn up, but also wrote Miss Kitty a letter and apparently, Mary found the letter on Kitty's desk in her office. Before Kitty had the chance to sit her down and tell her about it all."
Sam, covering his face with his hands, said, "Oh, good heavens, Doc. I had no idea. "I would never have allowed Mary to go in."
Doc quickly stopped him. "No, no, Sam. Like Kitty said, you had no way of knowing so don't beat yourself up over this. Matt will find her and Kitty will talk to her."
"Doc, Mary will be in good hands with Miss Kitty. I believed that before and I believe it now. Miss Kitty has an abundance of love to give."
Smiling, Doc nodded. "She damned sure does, Sam."
Kitty knocked at Ma Smalley's. As she entered, Ma greeted her. "Why, Miss Kitty. What can I do for you?"
"Oh, Ma, it's Mary."
"She is quite a girl, Miss Kitty. Why she was up and dressed bright and early looking forward to her day shopping with you." Now noticing the expression on Kitty's face. "Is something wrong?"
"Ma, she's gone." Kitty sighed.
"Well, I guess I should explain. After Maylee Bains died, I found out that Taylor Breckinridge had papers she'd drawn up that in the event of her death she named me as Mary's guardian."
"Well, Miss Kitty, I think she made a good choice. After all, it was you who…"
Stopping her, "Ma, thank you. The point is, I hadn't gotten the chance to talk to Mary about this yet but she found the papers and a letter to me from Maylee on my desk, in my office. And now she is very upset."
"Well, Miss Kitty, her mother just died and…"
Shaking her head, "No, Ma, it was the letter…"
Now looking confused. "I don't understand?"
Kitty handed Ma the Letter. As she read it, she now saw what Kitty was talking about. Ma's eyes focused on the words, 'Thank you and the Marshal for the gift, beautiful baby girl.' Then her eyes scanned down to, 'After all you were Mary's mother before I, however short the time.'
Ma inhaled. "Oh my, Miss Kitty. What are you going to do?"
With her hands partially covering her face, "Ma, we have to find her."
Ma just hugged Kitty. "I'll look everywhere I can think of."
They both checked her room and realized all her things were gone. Kitty looked at Ma with tears in her eyes. "Ma, she's out there somewhere all alone. She's just a child."
"Now, now, Kitty. "You'll find her I know you will." Suddenly Ma stopped Kitty as she was about to leave. "Miss Kitty, wait! Just the other night, Mary sat here with me we were having tea and she just kept talking about home."
"Home." Kitty repeated.
"Yes, home. Her home."
"Ma, you might have something. Thank you." And Kitty rushed out, headed for Moss Grimmick's
TBC
