TIME FOR REDEMPTION
PT.13
The room was all a blur. The outline of two bodies across the room, close together was all she could make out. But the pain was overwhelming and she began moaning once again.
Matt quickly broke away from Susan, rushing to Kitty's side. "Kitty? Kitty, it's me, Matt. Lie still. Don't try to move."
Opening her eyes once again, she said in a raspy voice, "Cow… boy?"
"Yeah, Kit. It's me. I'm right here." He held her hand tight to his chest.
"What… what happened?" Her eyes were scanning around the room.
Matt realized what she was doing. "Yeah, Honey, this is your room. You fainted. Doc said you probably have some injury from the twister. He thinks some broken ribs and maybe a concussion."
"Is that why I feel like I've been kicked in the head by Buck?"
Smiling at her, "Yeah, I guess that's why."
She was trying to get up. "Here, give me a hand, will ya, Cowboy?"
"Whoa! Just wait a minute. I guess you didn't hear me. You have broken ribs and a concussion. You're not going anywhere."
"Oh, is that a fact, Marshal Dillon?"
Before Matt could answer, Doc, who was now standing in the door way, said, "Yes, Young Lady, that is definitely a fact. Doctor's orders."
Doc ushered Matt aside. "Now, Young lady, can you tell me some of what happened out there?"
"Well, those hoodlums had us in that cabin much of the time. They had Carrie, Jerry and I in the back room. Jerry was sick for quite a bit then after I shot Sheppard, the twister was headed our way. I hurried and got Lowell and the children into the storm cellar just in time, just as it hit the cabin. The last thing I remember was feeling the cellar door hit me in the side of the head. The next thing I remember was Carrie and Jerry brushing me off and calling my name. It seems I never quite made it into the cellar with them. But I'm ok, Doc. I have a few cuts, scraps and bruises but I'm none the worse for wear."
Sniffing and swiping his mustache, "Oh, so that's what you think Doctor Russell? Is that your medical opinion?"
Now with a smirky grin, "Don't you get foxy with me, Curly."
"Well, I'm going to wrap those ribs up good and tight and I want to keep a good close eye on them and make sure they didn't puncture your lung at all like I first thought. I also want to watch that concussion and I want no arguments. Understood?"
"Oh, alright."
"Matt, Susan, I'll kindly ask you two to give us some privacy for a few minutes."
Susan looked to Matt. "Buy you a cup of coffee?" Pointing to Doc's pot of coffee.
Matt rolled his eyes. "Sure."
After they went into the next room, Doc closed the door behind them. "Now, young lady, let's remove the shirt waist." He helped her sit up and help her slip out of the sleeves.
As he was beginning to wrap her ribs, "Curly? Can I get your opinion on something?"
"Sure, Honey."
"Do you think Susan has changed?"
"Well, she's older."
"Oh, I know that. I mean… Well, you know how she used to be with…"
He quickly tugged on his ear. "You mean with that big lug out there?"
Biting her bottom lip, nodding. "Yeah, that."
"Is there a reason you're asking me this?"
"Well, when I woke up just now, maybe I imagined it but I thought I saw them in an embrace. I couldn't hear clearly what she was saying but…"
Doc stopped what he was doing and with one hand cupped her chin. "Now, I want you to look at me and listen to me and really listen. That big lug over grown civil servant loves you, Kitty Russell. And no one, I mean, no one is going to come along and change that. Oh, they might try but I can promise you this. It will not happen. Now you believe that." Then he leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. "Now, I want you to take some of this." He said, opening a bottle of laudanum. "And I want you to get some rest."
After Doc was finished, Matt peeked in. "Is it safe to come in?"
"Come on in, Cowboy. Matt, what's gonna happen to Lowell?"
"Well, Kitty, I wired Judge Brookings, but I'm still waiting for an answer. Kitty, I don't want you to worry about any of this."
"It's just…" exhaling, "well, I was just thinking about Susan and the children. Matt, Sheppard 's dead and the other two are too. And you have the forth one. Lowell was actually as much a victim as we were. Matt, I think he realized he made a mistake and just didn't know how to stop it. Isn't there something you can do?"
"I don't know, Kitty."
Just then Doc reentered. "Okay, Matt, that's enough. Kitty needs her rest."
"Ah, Curly. I want him to stay."
"And I want you to rest. Let the laudanum work."
"Oh, alright, ya ol'goat!"
Matt chuckled. "I'll stop back later, Kit. I promise." As Doc turned his back, Matt leaned in and kissed her. "Get some rest. Make the ol' goat happy." They both let out a laugh.
TBC