Surprising Detour at Whispering Winds PT.21

A small beam of light made its way through the curtains as the air lifted it in the upstairs bedroom of the house at Whispering Winds ranch. Doc, lying quietly, as not to wake the sleeping beauty curled in the chair at the foot of his bed. He could not fathom how this big lug could not claim this woman as his own. "Sheehhhh, if only I was twenty years younger and if she would even entertain the Idea of having me… It's not like I haven't asked? But no, this heart loves her like my very own daughter and that heart is breaking, seeing her hurting and in so much pain.

Slowly, she began to stir.

"Well, good morning there, Young Lady."

Stretching from her curled up position, "Oh, Curly, you're awake?"

"Yes, I am." He said with a slight smile. "And I woke to a splendid view."

"Oh, Curly. How are you feeling?" She asked, as she leaned in to feel his head and face.

"Just fine, Doctor Russell. Fine enough to get up and out of this place."

"Sounds good to me. I'll go check on getting us something to eat then see about getting the buggy hitched and get us back to town. My Bags are still there, so are yours, I guess. Then we can get a ticket out of this hell."

Waiting for a moment, he watched her as she went on a roll about what had to be done then asked, "Honey? Have you talked to…?"

Before he finished she stopped him. "NO. And I don't care to. Curly, if he wants to act like a child, so be it. I'm going home. Are you with me or not?"

Doc just nodded. At this point, he wasn't about to argue with her.

Kitty went about laying out Doc's things, which she had brushed out while he was in bed, then went to the kitchen. Mac was already making breakfast. "Well, good morning, Mac. Ummm, something smells real good."

"That'd be eggs, potatoes and slab bacon and steak, Ma'am."

"Well like I said, smells wonderful."

"Be ready directly."

She quickly looked around, pretending not to care, but scanning out the window for one large cowboy. But no luck.

"Well, good morning, Kitty." Lucy said as she walked up behind her. "Mac, smells wonderful in here."

"Be ready directly, Miss Lucy."

"Kitty? Sleep well?"

"Sorta. I fell asleep in the chair in Doc's room."

"Awww, Kitty." Lucy was scanning the room trying not to be obvious.

With a raised brow, "He's not here, Lucy."

"Who, Kitty?"

"Matt, that is who you're looking for."

"Oh, I… I… well, I was just… I thought maybe you and he…"

"No, I still haven't seen him."

Now dropping her eyes, "Oh, I'm sorry. I was hoping after…"

Now furrowing her brow, "After what?"

"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."

"LUCY?"

"It wasn't anything, Kitty. I just had a conversation last night with the marshal. Actually, I apologized for, well, for sending that wire the way I did. But…"

"But what?"

"But I told him, in a way I was glad I did it, because… Oh, you two need to stop being so… so stubborn and talk. Anyone with eyes in their head, can see you two love each other."

"Oh, Lucy!" She turned and headed back up the stairs.

After breakfast, Kitty and Doc said their good byes and climbed into the buggy and headed back into town, still not knowing where Matt had gone. On the ride, Kitty was quiet.

"Honey?"

"HUH?"

"You alright?"

"Yeah."

"You're awfully quiet."

"Just thinking."

"Honey, he'll come around. He always does, you know that."

"Doc, yeah, I know that. But this time, I don't really get what's wrong. I didn't do anything. Did I? Was I wrong to come out to Whispering Winds? I didn't know it was Frank Cameron's place. I didn't want him to do those things to me or John Emerson."

"Honey, now you listen to me. I'm gonna tell you like I told that big lug. You may not be that same little girl that got off that stage back in Dodge a life time ago, but By God, you are a stunningly beautiful woman and men still find you breathtaking. And I even told him, if I were twenty years younger…"

Now smiling, and leaning in kissing his cheek, "I do love you, Curly."

"You think I'm kidding? I can count the times I proposed to you and you never answered me."

Smiling still, "Well, I'll tell you what, you just keep asking. I just might surprise you one of these days."

Sniffing and rubbing his mustache. "See, don't take an ol' man serious."

"I do, Curly. I do and I love you for it." Laughing a deep barrel laugh.

Glenwood Springs

Matt had been in town overnight. He took it upon himself to go to the depot and check the train schedules. Just as Doc and Kitty pulled down Main Street, he was coming out of the Depot. He was headed for the hotel. He was going to collect their bags that Benjamin the clerk was holding in his office when he spotted them. He walked towards them, seeing them stop just outside the stable.

As they pulled up, the stable man came out. "Hello, Mister Jackson. I'm awfully sorry to be returning this buggy late but I will pay you whatever is owed. I was detained out at the Whispering Winds ranch."

Then Mister Jackson looked at Doc. "Say, aren't you the Doc that took care of Cameron's boy?"

Tugging his ear, "Yeah, that's me."

"Oh, well then, don't worry bout any extra's. I hear you saved that boy's life. Shame bout his leg though."

Kitty looked at Jackson, but then turned her gaze to Matt. "Well, sometimes, a choice has to be made. And sometimes, those choices are difficult. But a man does what he has to DO!" Then she turned. "Gentlemen, if you'll excuse me?" Brushing past them she headed for the hotel.

As she entered the hotel, "Hello, Benjamin. I need a room and some hot water."

"But, Ma'am, your bags… they're… I mean…"

Exhaling, "They're what, Benjamin?"

Shaking his head, "I'll bring them back up, Ma'am."

"Thank you." And she ascended the stairs slowly.

Matt stared at Doc. "Doc?"

"Oh, this ones on you, Marshal." Smiling and shaking his head as he headed for the café'. "This one is on you!"

TBC