Love's Final Embers

Chapter 10

Surprise

As usual, the supper table at the LadyK was abundant with delicious food, laughter and diverse topics of conversation. Doc had explained that Amelia had a lot of correspondence and several telegrams to send, so it was more convenient for her to stay at the Dodge House, at least for a couple of days.

Almost everyone accepted the reason for her absence. There was but one holdout. "So, Miz Amelia is goin' back to that New York right away, is she?"

"Soon." Doc responded.

"I 'magine ya gonna miss her, huh?"

"Uhm…yeah." Doc stared anxiously around the table, at the faces he loved. Cooper and Hadley were growing so quickly.

He remembered bringing each of them into the world: That terrifying day, when he thought he would surely lose not only the boy, but the mother as well. Hadley's birth had been less dramatic, but just as wonderful. Matt had been the one to deliver the tiny, red-faced bundle. She had looked even smaller than her five and half pounds in those giant hands.

"Ya gonna go there and visit, er ya Doc?"

A hint of irritation was clinging to the physician's words, as the hill man was bombarding him with questions. "I guess!"

Despite the constant interruptions, Doc felt as if he were no longer sitting at the table, but watching it from a distance. He could hear the voices and the laughter, but they were so far off.

His eyes fell on the man that carried the weight of this family, as well as the whole town, on his shoulders. Matt Dillon had landed a job as the marshal of a hellhole, at the ripe old age of twenty-two. The War Department had pretty much given up on Dodge City, as they had already lost nine of their men to the cowboys and gunslingers, just passing through.

His tired, gray eyes moved onto the redheaded lady that first owned his heart. There had never been two people more in love than Matt and Kitty. Their hearts had begun beating in unison, almost from that first rainy morning in Delmonico's.

…And Calleigh. Doc smiled, as the boisterous redhead was relaying something funny that had happened that day. He fondly recalled how the little girl—the one that came looking for her father—had certainly turned the lives of those she touched upside down. Her love for this family was unbounded. Like her father and mother, Calleigh had also, found the love of someone so special, it was beyond understanding. Doc had hoped someday to deliver a child, to this woman—and the man that adored her. Would the old physician ever see that day now?

Doc's gaze finally swept across the table toward the scruffy little man, who'd somehow wheedled his way into the crusty old physician's heart. How he would miss those senseless tales! Especially those outlandish records of Festus' exploits—although Adams would never admit to such a thing!

It took a moment, but finally Doc realized Newly was tugging at his arm. "Doc? Are you all right?" Still in a half-dazed state, the physician finally turned his attention to the man beside him.

It was time. Adams rose—slowly—from his chair and cleared his throat. "I have an announcement to make." It took a few seconds for the chatter to stop. "I have asked Amelia to marry me… and she said yes."

Stunned silence commanded the room, with the exception of one. Kitty pushed back her chair and rushed around the table, to hug the only father she had ever known. After that, the silence was completely shattered, by excited squeals and hurrahs.

Doc grinned, as he was surrounded by multiple loving arms and numerous kisses. But he couldn't ignore the suspicious eyes, peeking out from that fuzzy face.

There's a pot a brewin', the hill man thought, as he studied the old Doc. "Zat all the news, Doc?"

Once again, Doc rose to his feet and waited for everyone to quietly take a seat. "No Festus, it just so happens that was not all the news. As you know, the work that Amelia does is very important."

"Oh, my gosh!" Calleigh squealed with excitement, "Kitty, you and I will be working with Amelia Sanford. Oops, I meant Adams."

Doc offered a placating smile and waved his hands. "Not exactly. She can't accomplish what she needs to do from here." A cold, frightening stillness was creeping its way around the table, along with a bevy of sidelong glances. "I will…be …moving to New York."

"NO!" Calleigh jumped to her feet. The blood drained from her face, leaving only a trail of freckles on a white background. "NO" She cried again. "Poppy you can't go!"

" Calleigh, please...try to understand. Amelia can't do her work from here. I know it's a shock, but it makes more sense…

"It doesn't make any sense! You belong here; with us. I don't care about her job. I don't care about New York! The only thing I care about, is sitting around this table!"

Unlike his sister, Cooper had spoken softly, but his words were even more heartbreaking. "Don't you love us anymore, Poppy?"

"Of course I do…! I…" Doc was incapable of answering anymore questions. Nor was he able to look into the eyes of his heartbroken family. Without a word, he turned quietly and left the room.

Calleigh turned her wrath on Festus, as if this whole fiasco were his fault. "You knew! How did you know!?"

"I didn't at first, Calleigh girl. I jist… guessed. Fancy woman like Miz Amelia, with that 'portant work she's doin'. Only make sense she'd be goin' back home. And I tell ya, I seed that look in old Doc's eye. She dun snatched his heart."

"Well, she can't have him! I'll just go see Mrs. Amelia Sanford and-"

"Calleigh, sit down." Matt saw the look that passed from his daughter to his wife. "You don't need to look at Kitty. I'M telling you, to sit down and shut up!" Dillon paused only long enough for her to obey his command. "I know what a shock this is to all of us, but do we have the right to stop this man, who's always put others first, from enjoying love?"

Cooper had rushed from his seat, to his mother's arms. Amid the flowing tears, he peeked up at his daddy. "But… we love him, too."

"I know, Cooper; and he love's you. But, there are different kinds of love[, like that between a man and a woman… Like I have for your mother; and like Newly has for Calleigh. Is it fair for any of us to say that Poppy can't have that, too?"

"He ain't a gunna furget us, boy. Why, I'll bet he's back here vistin' so much, we'll get tired of 'im!"

"I don't know about you all, but I'm pretty ashamed of myself about now." Newly was as hurt as the rest, but he knew Matt's words were true. "I wouldn't let anything keep me from the woman I love." He turned to the woman beside him, gently taking her hand. "Calleigh?"

Calleigh jerked free of Newly's grasp. Angry blue eyes slowly made their way around the table, as the muscles along her delicate jaw grew tense. "All of you can do what you want, but I AM NOT going to sit by and lose someone that I love! I don't care whose friend she is, or – or was!"

It came as no surprise to anyone seated around her, when she bolted from the room.

(((((((~)))))))

It was Kitty's hand, lightly knocking on the door, but Matt stood beside her. They could hear Doc shuffling around in his room, but it was several minutes before he opened the door. He swiped at his mustache and turned away to hide red eyes.

As much as she wanted to ease Doc's pain, Kitty knew that a part of her wanted to react exactly the same as the headstrong younger redhead. Kitty's own broken heart was making it hard to defend his decision. Maybe a clearer head would make a better argument.

Kitty gave Matt a look that pushed him into speaking. "Come on Doc, you know how Calleigh is. She lives for her family and…well…you…I mean…she…" A frown stepped ahead of his failing words. The reproachful look he found on his wife's face confirmed he had not been helpful.

She shoved the marshal to one side. "Doc, you know she's just upset. She'll get over it." Kitty said the words, but she didn't put much faith in them.

Doc kept his head down as he occupied his hands with some papers on his desk. "Will she?" When he finally looked up, he looked as if his world had crashed down around his narrow shoulders. "Will any of you?"

Kitty rushed across the room, taking Doc into her arms. The two cried together, both hurting, both confused. Matt waited patiently, completely out of his element. Sometimes he wished he could cry too, to release the pain; but that would never do—not for the Marshal of Dodge City.

Doc reached into his pocket to retrieve a handkerchief. He offered it to Kitty, before wiping the tears from his own eyes. "Did she leave?" Kitty nodded and pulled Doc to the side of the bed to sit beside her.

Matt had pulled the chair from the oak desk, closer to the couple. "Are you sure this is what you want to do, Doc?"

"I will admit, I was a lot more sure, before I announced it tonight." How could love cause this much pain, he silently pondered, as he looked into the anguished faces. "I was so excited when she accepted my proposal, it didn't occur to me that we wouldn't build a home right here."

"At the top of your hill, by the crabapple tree." Kitty whispered.

It warmed Doc's heart, that she knew him so well. "Yes. We were standing on that very spot, when she told me she couldn't live here in Dodge. What she said made sense. In theory, I could practice anywhere."

But, you're needed here! Kitty kept that selfish thought to herself. "But, it's so fast. Aren't you rushing things just a little?"

"Would it make it any easier if I waited?"

Matt finally had the courage to speak again. "The fact is, we're pretty selfish and don't want to give you up—now or later. But, we don't want you to be unhappy, either." The marshal drew himself to his feet and reached down to pull Kitty up beside him. "One thing I know for sure, whether you live here in Dodge, or in New York, we will always be your family."

Doc rose to his feet. He leaned into the big man, needing a reassuring hug from his son.

TBC