Grace Through The Years
PT.12
Matt took the stairs of Doc's office two at a time, rushing through the door. "Kitty?"
As he entered he saw Kitty laying on the table. In his mind, when he saw Kitty laying there, it took him back twenty years to when she lay on that very table unconscious. His insides shook. "Doc?"
"Relax, Matt. She has a fever. I think her wound may be infected. Have you noticed anything?"
"Well, she has been tender still but she was shot, Doc."
When he uncovered her wound he noticed some sign of infection. "Yeah, Matt, Kitty's not a young girl anymore."
Turning her head, mumbling, "I… I heard that, Curly."
"Good! Maybe now you'll listen to your doctor."
"And your husband." Matt added.
"Stop ganging up on me! Ouch!"
"Hold still. Look, I'm gonna have to give you some Laudanum so I can clean this out again. Then, young lady, you're going to DO WHAT I SAY. GOT IT?"
Closing her eyes and nodding. "Alright. You win."
Grace leaned in. "It's not about winning, Momma." Kissing her on the cheek. "Pap, can I help?"
"You know what to get. Matt, go on. Get out of here."
"But, Doc…"
"Just till we're done. Say, Matt, you may want to take care of that Munro woman. She seems to be poking around town asking questions about you and Kitty. She's already ruffled Kitty's feathers."
Matt just rolled his eyes. "Oh, boy."
"Yeah, Gracie's too."
"Ok. I left Kendrick at the Dodge House. See ya later."
After Doc and Grace took care of Kitty, Grace went to Delmonico's to get Kitty some broth and fresh bread for when she woke up. Sitting at a table eating, was Julia.
Grace put her order in with Emma, Joe's wife, then she walked up to Julia. "Look, Miss Munro. I understand you think you have a job to do but you need to respect my family's privacy. My Poppa and Momma have both told you they didn't want to talk to you about their lives. I'm not going to talk to you. Then you go to my Pap and who knows who else. Momma and Poppa are good people. I want you to go away. Go away and leave us alone. We are happy. We have a good life. I saw you come here with that man, your friend. Whoever he is. Just get back on the stage and go back to New York and back to your life there and let us just live ours. Please? Yes, Poppa is a Marshal. A damn good one. And me and Momma love him. We're happy." Grace now looked at her with pleading eyes.
Julia sat silent, as Grace took the tray of food from Emma and left.
Minutes later, Matt entered Delmonico's. Julia looked up. "Miss Munro?"
"Marshal..."
"Let me just say this. I understand you're interested in a story about Dodge City, me and my Life here as Marshal."
"Well, Marshal, yes, that was the idea. But since I've been here not many people want to tell me much except for a few ladies."
Matt rolled his eyes. "Let me guess."
"Not important, Marshal Dillon. Gracie cleared that up."
"She did?" He asked.
"Oh, yes. You have one very loyal daughter."
"That's my Gracie. As I was saying, Miss Munro, neither Kitty nor Myself are interested in having any story of our lives in print of any sort. So I'm sorry, you've wasted a trip. Now, if you will excuse me, I do have a job to do and as you know my wife is not well."
Now sitting in serious thought. "Yes, I understand. I do hope Mrs. Dillon gets well soon."
Grace sat feeding Kitty, playing nursemaid, being as attentive as could be to her every need. "Momma, Pap says you need to eat all of this soup. Miss Emma says it's fresh and the bread just came from the oven."
"Oh, I see."
"And when you're done, he says these powders will help."
"You've learned a lot from Pap, huh?"
"Yep. I've been watching and learning everything I can and reading Pap's books."
"Is this the same girl of mine who didn't want to go to school anymore?"
"Oh, Momma! This is different. Momma, I've been thinking a lot about something and I want to tell you about it."
"Ok, what?"
"Do you think women can be just as good a doctor as a man?"
Kitty burst in laughter.
"Momma? Why's that funny?"
"Oh, sweetheart, it's not. Yes, they can. It just made me remember something from a long time ago. Many years ago, Pap-Pap had a doctor come to Dodge to take his place when he had to go away for a trip. A Dr. Sam McTavish, who was a very good doctor."
"Why was that funny?"
"Well, Honey, that was a time when people weren't ready to accept a women."
"Momma, I don't understand."
"Grace, Dr. Sam McTavish was a woman."
Now Grace's face dropped. "Really? But… SAM?"
"Her name was Samara McTavish. Her father always wanted a son."
"So, did Pap like her?"
"Well, not at first. But eventually, he realized she was a very good doctor and a very good woman." Now Kitty had a smirk.
"Momma?"
"Pap fell in love with Dr. Sam."
"Momma? Did they get married?"
Kitty's face saddened.
"Momma? What happened?"
"Well, Honey, Pap and Dr. Sam were treating a few families that developed a disease caused by fleas in animal furs. Dr. Sam became sick and didn't survive."
Grace's eyes teared up. "Aw, poor Pap-Pap."
"Yes, Sweetheart, it was awful. After that, he just devoted himself to his practice."
"Momma, I want to be a doctor like Pap-Pap."
"Gracie, Sweetheart, Pap-Pap would be proud. As much as Poppa and Me. And you're already doing a wonderful job taking care of your Momma."
"I love you, Momma."
"I love you, Baby Girl."
"Hey! What am I? Chopped liver over here?"
"Oh, Poppa, you know I love you."
"Well, I haven't had a hug from my girls all day."
Grace jumped in his arms. Kitty raised her brow. "Is that a fact, Cowboy?"
TBC
