Stella and Matt
Stella was pale and trembling with nervousness as she walked out of the hotel with Matt by her side. A group of police officers immediately surrounded her for the 4-block walk to the courthouse.
As they approached the domed building, the tallest in the state, Matt inched even closer to her. They went up the stairs, entered the foyer without incident and paused for a moment. Matt's eyes passed over the murals and three tall statues that decorated the area. The group turned right to go down the corridor to the courtroom, when out of the corner of his eye Matt saw one of the statues wobble slightly. He pushed Stella to the floor just as gunfire rang out from behind all three statues. Matt threw himself backwards onto Stella as he and the police officers fired back. Minutes later there was silence. The three shooters were as lifeless as the statues they had hidden behind, 2 police officers were grazed and Matt had three bullets in him.
An officer hurried over to Matt as Stella struggled to get out from under him. When she was on her feet, she saw the blood pouring out of his body and stood frozen with horror. As one policeman bent over him, applying pressure to try to stem the bleeding, two others took Stella by the arms saying, "Let's get to court."
She shook her head, and pulled her arms from their grasp as she continued to stare down at Matt.
Stella felt a hand on her back and looked up. Her father was standing beside her. He had been waiting in the courtroom when the gunfire began. He saw the look on his daughter's face and nodded towards Matt, "That man is lying there so you could testify. Do it."
Stella watched Matt be lifted on to a stretcher and taken away, then she took her father's arm and walked down the hall with tears in her eyes and determination on her face.
Kitty
Kitty had settled into the Majestic Hotel. After getting cleaned up and changing her clothes she felt like a new woman. She had considered taking a nap, not having slept much on the train, but decided that she wanted to be out and about in the pleasant afternoon air. She had seen an advertisement for a new boutique that interested her, and decided to go to the information desk in the hotel to ask for directions. She was determined to avoid seeing or being seen by Matt, and wanted to make sure the boutique was no where near the court house. As she neared the lobby she saw it was crowded with people talking excitedly, voices overlapping - "The trial" - "A shooting" – "He got shot protecting her," "She's testifying." "He's dead."- "No one knows."
Kitty's heart was pounding, she knew instantly they were talking about Matt. Hurrying over to the desk clerk, she asked as calmly as she could, "What hospital is the nearest to the court house?"
The clerk answered in his typically pleasant, but unhurried manner, "There is only one hospital in St. Louis, hard to believe, isn't it? You'd think a place like St. Louis would have more than one hospital. There's more than one of just about everything else here."
Kitty cut him short, "Can I please have directions?"
The clerk nodded slowly, "I was just getting to it. I'll write all out for you. It's not very far."
A long 5 minutes later, Kitty was clutching the written directions in her hand, as she hurried to the hospital. When she got there she saw a crowd of people milling around outside – a combinations of the curious, the concerned and newspaper reporters. Rumors were flying rampant. All Kitty knew was that she had to get to Matt. She pushed her way through and managed to make her way inside the hospital, to the information desk.
A pretty young nurse was on duty at the desk. Kitty stood there, and after being ignored for few seconds spoke to the nurse, "Excuse me."
The nurse looked up and said coolly, "Oh – Did you have a question?"
Kitty couldn't help but think that going to an information desk usually meant you had a question. She answered the nurse, "Yes, I'd like information about Matt Dillon's condition."
The nurse responded with sarcasm in her voice, "You and everyone else. Get in line, a lot of people want information about that shooting."
Kitty looked at the nurse thinking that someone so young and pretty couldn't really be that callous. She tried again, "I understand that you may not have any details yet, but do you know if he is … Do you know anything, anything at all?"
The nurse looked at Kitty dismissively, "Even if I knew something, why would I tell you. You could be anyone, can you me give me proof that you have a connection to him?"
Kitty stood there trying to think of something to say, when the nurse waved her hand dismissively, "Move aside. I'm busy."
Kitty knew further talk was useless and moved aside. The man who had been standing behind her moved forward. He was young and good-looking and it was obvious he was a newspaper reporter. Kitty heard the young nurse whisper to him as she batted her eyelashes, "Honey, I'd tell you anything, I just don't know."
Kitty sighed and moved to the side of the room to sit and wait. She didn't know what else to do.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw an elderly, distinguished looking nurse walking directly towards her. Kitty steeled herself for a scene. She was not leaving unless carried out, and if carried out she'd find a way back in.
The nurse sat down next to her, "Excuse me."
Kitty turned and found herself looking into kind, grey eyes. The nurse said quietly, "I heard your exchange with what's her name." She nodded towards the young nurse at the information desk, "Funny, I can never remember the names of the young, heartless ones. The ones I hope get some lessons from life."
Kitty smiled a little as the nurse continued, "You are Kitty aren't you?"
Kitty was surprised but nodded. The nurse smiled, "I saw the look on your face when you were asking about Marshal Dillon. I know that look, I've had that look." The nurse seemed lost in her own memories for a second before continuing, "I was the nurse who got the marshal ready for surgery and even though he was barely conscious, he called for someone named Kitty. When I saw you asking about him, and saw the expression on your face, I knew that you were Kitty." The nurse paused, but spoke frankly, "I'm not a surgeon, but I've had an awful lot of experience, so I'll tell you my opinion. He was hit three times. I think the one to the right arm is a graze, but the ones to his chest and abdomen could be serious. He is still in surgery. That's all I know. If I find out anything else, I'll let you know."
Kitty looked at the nurse, "That means he's not dead."
The nurse nodded, "That means there's hope."
Kitty gave the nurse's hand a squeeze, "Thank you."
The nurse smiled as she stood to leave, "Like I said. If I hear anything, I'll let you know."
TBC
