PT.12
Franny slowly made her way across the street from her dress shop to Doctor Martin's office, with her cloak pulled tightly up, with one hand tucked under her chin and one pulled across her face to block the cold crisp breeze. Quickly she opened the door and closed it behind her.
"Well, good morning, Mrs. Farmer. Please come in. Bring yourself over here by the fire. It is quite cold out there this morning. What brings you out so early?" The young Doctor asked.
"Well, I always open this early, not that I can imagine anyone in their right mind will be shopping for a new dress today. But I have orders to finish up and I did want to check up on Kitty, this morning, and see if there has been any change and maybe spell Matt. I know he hasn't left her side."
"Oh, you're right. I was just going to check in. I don't believe he's budged from her side all night. He's been quite devoted, sitting vigil at her side."
Franny smiled. "Doctor, I can't begin to tell you the devotion that exists between those two."
Matt was still sitting holding her hand, leaning his head on the bed, as Doc Martin and Franny entered the room. Franny gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "Marshal," she said softly. "Marshal." As he began to wake, "Shhhh, it's me, Fran. It's morning. I thought you'd maybe want to freshen up. Maybe go have something to eat? I'll stay with Kitty till you get back. Why don't you get some real rest? I promise, I'll come get you if there's any change."
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he said, "No, I want to stay till she wakes up."
"Look, Marshal," the Doc added. "It could be awhile. She lost a lot of blood. The best thing for her right now is rest. Mrs. Farmer is right. You should go freshen up, eat, get some rest, then when you come back, maybe there'll be better news."
"Matt, here. Go to my place. It's just at the edge of town. Make yourself at home. No one's there." She said handing him her key.
Nodding his head, "Ok, but I won't be long and If anything…"
Throwing up her hands, "Matt, I promise. I'll come get you myself."
At the edge of town, the train whistle sounded, announcing the arrival of the morning train. As passengers began departing, the conductor had his helper pay special attention to getting the bags for the Governor and getting him a carriage.
"Welcome, Governor, to Emporia. I do hope you enjoy your stay, Sir."
"Thank you. I'm sure I will. Which way to the hotel, my good man?"
"Just down Main Street, Governor. You can't miss it." He loaded his bags and St. John and his man drove off.
Susan and Hope, along with the girls, had risen early, planning to have breakfast in the café', when they saw John entering the hotel.
"Father!" Lula yelled out, running to him wrapping her arms him.
Susan looked up quickly. "John? I wasn't expecting you here."
"Well, my dear, when I heard what had happened, I figured it best, I come and escort you both home and check out this situation myself, firsthand."
"Oh, John, we're fine. Yes, things did get a bit scary but thanks to Miss…"
Stopping her mid- sentence, "Now, Susan. I will be the judge of what is to be thankful for and who is to be thanked for anything."
"John…?"
"Susan, this is hardly the time nor place to discuss this."
Taking a deep breath, "Well, we were just taking the girls to the café for breakfast."
"Alright then. Shall we?" And he waved out his arm for them to walk ahead of him.
As they all sat down in the café, the waiter came and took their order then noticed St. John. "Oh, excuse me, Governor. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir, and a pleasure to have you here in our place of business."
St. John just nodded.
A few minutes later, Doctor Martin entered, spotting them all sitting together. Quietly approaching the table, "Excuse me, Folks. Miss Farmer." Now directing his conversation to Hope. "I just wanted to deliver a message from your mother. She wanted you to know, she will be up in my office for a while. She will be with Miss Russell. She spelled the Marshal for a bit, to let him freshen up, eat and rest."
"Oh, thank you, Doctor. Doctor Martin? Is there any change?"
Tightening his lips, "I was able to remove the bullet but she's still unconscious. It's up to her now, I'm afraid."
Hope just dropped her head. "Thank you, Doctor Martin." He turned and walked away.
Lula, in her soft tone, "I wish there was something we could do for her."
St. John just stared at his daughter. "Lula, that man is a doctor. Whatever needs to be done…"
And without even a thought, Lula burst out saying, "Father, I'm sitting here with you, having a family breakfast, because Miss Russell is lying up there with a man's bullet in her. She stopped that man. She stopped that man's friend from abusing me! Doesn't that mean anything to you? She stood between all of us and those men with guns and got us out of there alive! I, for one, am grateful to her." She slid back her chair and stormed out of the room.
St. John yelled for her to come back.
"John, let her go." Susan said.
"Susan, I won't have her speak to me in that tone."
"John, I'll speak to her. But she's right, you know? Miss Russell saved all of us in that bank. She risked her own life and safety for us and now she is fighting for her own life."
Now, even Hope and Miranda left, leaving Susan and John to their conversation.
John and Susan walked back to the hotel, still talking about what had happened.
"Susan, do you know who this woman is? What she is? What she does?"
"Yes, John, I know Miss Kitty Russell is a business owner. She owns the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City. Yes, they sell alcohol there and they have gambling and women entertain men there. But they are all adults and they all make their own decisions. John, you met the Marshal. You told me, you liked him and that he was a good and decent and honorable man, right?"
"Well, yes, I did."
"And you trust his judgment?"
"Well, yes."
"And you said he was of good moral character?"
"Yes, yes, I did."
"Well then, if he sees fit to keep company with a woman such as Miss Russell, then she can't be all that bad, now can she?"
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"Well, I've been talking with Hope and her mother, Fran. And they have known both the Marshal and Miss Russell for many years and well, from what they've told me, the Marshal and Miss Russell are well..."
"Susan? Are you telling me she's his woman?"
Smiling a smirky smile, "Yes, I am, Dear. Twenty some years, now."
"Well, I'll be. So, it's true after all."
TBC
