Little Girl Lost

By Singerme and Leighann

Chapter Nine

Kitty sat quietly in the chair next to the bed in Doc's backroom watching Brenda sleep. Doc had cleaned and treated Brenda's knee, and much to Kitty's relief, he was fairly certain that she would not lose the leg. Kitty had volunteered to sit with Brenda and tend to her fever while Doc saw his other patients. Kitty leaned back in the chair and stretched. Brenda had been resting quietly for the last half hour. She was about to get up and get some coffee when Doc came in the room with a steaming mug in his hand, and handed it to her. "Oh thank you, Doc. This is just what I needed."

"I thought you might." Doc replied as he put on his stethoscope and listened to Brenda's chest. He checked her forehead, and adjusted the covers before turning to Kitty. "How long has she been sleeping?"

Kitty finished sipping her coffee. "About a half hour."

"She's one lucky little girl. If Louie hadn't found her…" Doc let the sentence hang.

"She's lucky to have such a fine physician." Kitty countered.

"Hum. Well, she's not out of the woods yet. We still need to get that fever under better control."

Kitty stood up. "I'll get some fresh water."

Doc went to reach for the bowl. "I can do that Kitty."

Kitty took the bowl from Doc. "I don't mind, besides I need to stretch my legs."

Doc relinquished the bowl to Kitty and sat down on the bed beside Brenda. In a very soft voice he started talking to her. "I should be upset with you, young lady, for not following my directions, but then how can I be upset with someone as sweet as you." Brenda never stirred. "I am going to keep you right here were I can keep a watchful eye on you, and before you know it, you'll be up and around playing again. I'm going to make sure of that."

Kitty stood just outside the door listening to Doc and fighting back tears. Doc liked to talk a tough game with everyone to make people think he was a gruff old bird, but Kitty always knew the truth. Beneath that rough shell was a marshmallow.

"Where is she? Where is my niece!?"

Kitty jumped at the brusque demand coming from the front door. She turned to see Robert Warren coming into the office. "Mr. Warren, please keep your voice down." Kitty instructed.

"I have come for my niece."

"What is all this ruckus?" Doc questioned as he entered the room shutting the door behind him. "Mr. Warren, keep your voice down. I'll not have you disturbing my patient."

"Your patient indeed. When were you planning on informing me that my niece was here, Doctor?"

Doc's back became ramrod straight, "I have been busy saving your niece's life, Mr. Warren. I didn't have time to stop and find you to tell you anything."

Robert gave Doc a skeptical look. "What is wrong with her."

"Brenda's had a cut on her leg that became very badly infected, gangrenous in fact."

"What kind of backward town is this to let a little girl become so ill? I will be taking my niece now, so she can get civilized care."

Kitty started getting steamed. "Mr. Warren, Doctor Adams is an excellent physician."

"I am not taking the word of a prostitute. I'm leaving here with my niece this minute and getting her proper medical care."

Doc's voice was very calm in a scary way. "Mr. Warren I want you to apologize to Miss Russell and then leave my office right now, or I am sending for the Marshal."

"I am not leaving here without my niece." Robert stood his ground. "I am her legal guardian and I have every right to take my niece with me."

"That very well may be, but Brenda is a very ill little girl and can not be moved so we'll just see what Marshal Dillon has to say before I let you take my patient out of this office." Doc turned to Kitty. "Go get Matt."

"Yes, go running to the Marshal, and while you do that I will be getting a court order stating that I have every legal right to take my niece and it will not matter what you or your Marshal has to say about it."

LGL*LGL*LGL

Matt sat leaning against Doc's desk, listening to the entire story. He had just returned to Dodge after testifying in Hayes when Chester had told him that Miss Kitty said he was needed in Doc's office. So Matt had Chester stable his horse for him while Matt went straight to Doc's office. "Doc, you know that I have no authority to keep Robert Warren from getting a second opinion."

Doc was about to reply when Robert Warren came into the office. He walked straight to Doc and handed him a folded piece of paper. "I'll be taking my niece now."

Doc quickly put his glasses on and unfolded the paper Warren handed him. As Doc read the document Robert started walking towards the back room where Brenda was still recovering. Kitty was standing next to Matt and realized where Warren was heading quickly stepping in front of the door stopping Warren in his tracks. "You're not going into that room without Doc's permission." Kitty directed as she stood her ground.

"Matt, read this." Doc requested as he handed him the document. Matt took the document and started reading.

Robert Warren gave Kitty a snide look before turning to look at Matt. "As you can see, Marshal Dillon, that court order states that Dr. Adams is to turn my niece over to me." Robert turned and looked at Kitty. "Now, Miss Russell," you could hear his distaste of Kitty drip off his words, "if you will kindly remove yourself from the doorway, I will be taking my niece out of this charlatan's care."

Matt stood up to his full height. "Now wait just a minute, Mr. Warren." The authority in Matt's voice filled the room. "Dr. Adams has given your niece excellent care, while she has been in Dodge."

"Your darn right she has." Doc interrupted.

Matt gave Doc a stern look.

"Be that as it may, I have an order signed by Judge Henry that gives me the right to remove my niece from Dr. Adams care and take her to a more civilized facility where she will have a team of doctors to care for her. And it is your job, Marshal Dillon, to carry out that order."

Doc's face became red. "Matt, I've already told you how harmful traveling back East will be to Brenda's recovery."

Kitty walked up and placed her hand on Matt's arm. "Matt, please, isn't there something you can do?"

Matt looked into Kitty's soft blue eyes as they silently pleaded with him. "I think Judge Henry should hear from Doc before I enforce this order. Mr. Warren, if you and Dr. Adams will come with me, we're going to see Judge Henry."

TBC