Robert looked from Doc to the stage coach outside before putting a hand on the older man's shoulder. "Correction," he said with determination as he stared into his mentor's eyes. "You will be an old fool if you don't stop her!"
"You're right," Doc said reaching for the door as the driver of the stage climbed onto his seat.
"Hold it!" Doc yelled racing toward the stage. The driver tipped his hat back as the physician looked up at him. "I have to talk to one of your passengers."
"You better make it quick, Doc," he said harshly. "I got a schedule to keep!"
"Yes, yes," Doc said going for the door. "This will only take a minute."
Julie sat forward when Doc peered into the darkened coach before meeting her intense gaze. "Doc," she said in surprise. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," he said putting out his hand. "I just have something to say and I hope you'll hear me out."
"Well, of course I will," she replied taking his hand. Helping her out of the coach, he then lead her toward the front of the hospital where Robert had made it a point to suddenly become scarce.
"Julie," Doc said taking a deep breath once they were inside the front door. "I made a terrible mistake the last time you were here!"
"You did?" Julie asked in confusion as the physician continued.
"Yes," Doc replied taking her hands in his. "I let you leave but I'll be damned, if I'm going to be an old fool and let you go again! I want you to stay here in Dodge with me. Please say... you'll stay!"
"Doc," Julie said with a wan smile. "We talked about this already and it just wouldn't be proper. You've got your reputation to think about!"
"I am thinking about that," Doc said squeezing her hand. "That's why, I'm asking, not for you to stay here with me but if you'll stay here with me, as my wife!"
"Oh, Galin," she said, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Will you marry me, Julie Blane?" Doc asked, meeting her with open arms.
"Oh, yes," Julie said, her eyes glistening with tears. "Yes, I will!"
The kiss they shared was long and loving, erasing the hurt and loneliness of the past and making a commitment to the future.
Kitty looked up from her sewing when Matt put the book down that he had been reading and got up to pace the floor in agitation.
"Matt," Kitty said, the exasperation in her voice evident. "It wasn't your fault. Please stop blaming yourself!"
Matt opened his mouth to reply but a knock on the door silenced any reply he may have made.
"I don't know who'd be at our door this time of night," Kitty said starting to get up before Matt waved her back down.
"I'll get it," he said with a frustrated sigh before leaving the room to answer the door. "Maybe it's Doc!"
Doc put a finger to his lips to silence Julie's giggle as Matt opened the door. "Doc," he said looking from the physician to the blushed woman beside him. "Anything wrong?"
"Wrong?" Doc said shaking his head before he looked at Julie. "No, Matt! By golly, everything's right!"
"Doc, Julie," Kitty said coming up behind her husband. "What's going on? Where have you two been?"
"We've been ridding around the countryside together, why?" Doc asked looking from Matt's frustrated expression to Kitty's confused look. "What's happened?"
"Festus and Abelia left town," Matt said stepping aside to let them inside.
"Left town?" Doc replied following Kitty into the parlor. "When, why?"
"They told us, it was to get back to where they came from," Kitty said crossing her arms as Matt nodded.
"Festus said, Abelia just needed time away to heal as he put it," Matt said looking from the physician to Julie. "So, where have you two been! Don't you know everyone was worried about you. I almost sent Newly out to look for you!"
"Yes," Kitty said just as concerned as Matt felt. "Robert told us, you took Julie off the stage, Doc. Afterward, no one knew where you'd gone!"
"Well," Doc said, his anger rising. "I'm not a child you two! I don't have anyone to answer to! And if I want to take a lady for a ride, then that's my business!"
"Galin," Julie said putting a hand on his arm. The gesture didn't go unnoticed by Kitty as Doc smiled at woman.
"I wanted you two to be the first to hear our news," Doc said wrapping an arm around Julie and drawing her closer to him. "I asked, Julie to be my wife!"
Julie smiled as Kitty and Matt exchanged a glance. "I said, yes!"
"I don't know what to say," Kitty said meeting the older man's eyes. "I'm really happy for you."
"So am I," Matt said taking Doc's hand. "I can't believe this!"
"Of course, we'll need a judge to officiate it," Doc said as Matt nodded.
"Just tell me when," Matt replied as Doc's face fell.
"Well, I kinda wanted to do it right away but with Festus and Abelia leaving town, it just isn't going to be the same without em," he said as Kitty nodded.
"Abelia did tell me it wouldn't be forever," she said looking at Matt. "Isn't that what Festus told you?"
"Yeah, he sure did," Matt said thoughtfully. "But of course, no one but them can decided exactly how long they'll be away!"
Marianne moved the iron skillet of fried chicken off the stove before fixing a plate for herself and Robert.
"The school offered me a teaching job," she said taking a seat across from her brother.
"That's great," Robert replied as he started in on his dinner. "Did you accept it?"
"Yes," Marianne said brushing back her blonde hair. "What else have I got to do?"
Robert smirked. "There's always marriage!"
"Honestly," she said flashing him an angry look. "Ma and Pa would have a fit! Besides, there's no one I'd even think about courting here!"
"I don't know about that," Robert said with a wink. "I've seen the way Cory Willard looks at you!"
"He ain't nothing but a farm hand," Marianne said quietly. "If I was interested in someone, it'd at least be a boy that had a good job and lived in town!"
"Well," Robert said clearing away his plate. "You're not which is a good thing right now."
"I suppose so," Marianne sighed.
"I'm going to the hospital tonight," Robert said putting a hand on her shoulder. "I don't know when Johnny will be back so keep that door locked, will you?"
"Yes, big brother," Marianne replied before rolling her eyes.