DOUBLE DUTY: CHAPTER 12
"Mrs. Dillon, you did very well. I hope everyone you've interacted with here today has made you feel comfortable and cared for."
It was the same doctor who'd talked with her just before the chloroform. Seemed like a different doctor had given that to her. Kitty was groggy. She looked around the room until her eyes focused on Doc. Reassured, she turned back to the man who'd spoken to her.
"Yes, thank you. It's all over then?"
"It's all over," he said softly." We were successful. We completely removed the abnormal tissue that hadn't shed properly. Doctor Adams' diagnosis was spot-on."
He turned to Doc. "Galen, is there anything you'd like to add?"
"No, Charles. You go ahead and finish talking with my favorite patient, here. I'm grateful you let me sit in. I learned a lot this morning."
"Mrs. Dillon," the doctor turned back to Kitty with a smile. "Normally I keep patients an extra day after a dilation and curettage, just to rest. You're in excellent health, you handled the chloroform well, and there's no reason you can't go home tomorrow. After all, you're being escorted by your personal physician. That's a rare luxury. You're in good hands! I do want to warn you that you'll have some cramping over the next day or two, and possibly even some spotting. Doctor Adams can see to your comfort." He turned and nodded to Doc, then he went on.
"No marital relations for a week, then no further restrictions. You'll likely have a completely normal cycle next month. Pregnancy can occur any time starting the following month. Don't be alarmed if it takes a bit longer. Doctor Adams can guide you through any questions you may have. We won't need to see you here again at all."
"You agree with Doc, then. My age isn't a big problem?"
"It isn't a problem at all! Mrs. Dillon, you're only 32 years old. We've performed this procedure for women much older than you, and they've gone on to have healthy babies. You have nothing to do but look forward to your future with a big smile." He patted her hand. "Any other questions while I'm here?"
"Thank you, no." She'd already started practicing her smile.
Doc extended his hand for a warm shake. "Charles, thank you! It's been a treat meeting you after all I've read. Thanks for the tour, too. Your facility is more than I could have imagined. I run a very small general practice in Dodge, and I have to tell you, I'm envious of all this."
"Galen, the pleasure was all mine. Thanks for referring this lovely lady to us. You two have a safe trip home."
As soon as the specialist had left the room, Doc moved in and gave Kitty a soft hug. Then he pulled up a chair next to her bed and took her hand.
"You ready for a game of checkers yet?"
"No," she smiled softly.
"I was joking."
"I know that. Where are you staying? You don't have to leave, do you?"
"No, no! You're not going to get rid of me that easily, young lady. They gave me a guest room right down the hall. I don't even have to walk to a hotel. I'll bring you a light supper from the commissary after a bit and we'll make our plans for a quick getaway tomorrow. The train leaves at nine. We have a nice stateroom so you can be comfortable and not get jostled around. For now I'm going to sit over by the window and read, and you are going to lay right here and rest."
"I love you, Curly. Thank you so much. You're always right about just everything."
"I love you too, Sweetie. More than I can explain." And with that, he slid his chair to the sunny window and pulled out his medical journal.
XOXOXO
On the morning of the second day, the circuit judge arrived in Laramie. He met with Matt and Johnny, made a list of the people to be called, and set up his courtroom for a trial the next day. He had his choice of a meeting room at the largest hotel, or at Reverend Samples' invitation, the church. He chose the latter. Matt swore in three men so they could serve all the summonses and hang posters announcing the event. It wasn't time to let down his guard yet. A plan was a plan.
"Horrible, needless loss of a great lawman, Marshal Dillon." The judge commented as he wrote up paperwork. "Dan Troop was a dedicated guy. I liked him a lot. What you're saying here is this was all over a woman?"
Matt took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. It wasn't a trap question. It was a judge trying to make sense out of a horrible situation.
"Yes Sir. I'd like to read more into it but I can't. Ewing wanted Miss Merrill available for courting. As long as Marshal Troop was around, he knew that would never happen. I guess the best I can compare it to is the young buck that has to kill the herd buck so he can have the does. We're supposed to be a lot more civilized than that."
"I'm assuming there's not a man here in town who will represent the defendant."
"No, Judge. That's not going to postpone the trial, is it?" Matt hadn't thought of that. Now he had a new concern.
"Not at all, Marshal. I will traipse across the river to the new prison later today. They have a barrister on staff who can see that the accused is treated fairly."
It wasn't that Matt had forgotten about the Wyoming Territorial Prison just opened across the river. He knew he couldn't send a guy to prison who hadn't been convicted of something. The only thing the prison meant was a real short trip after the trial. And for that, especially in the dead of winter in Wyoming, Matt Dillon was grateful. He was coming down from a two-day adrenaline rush. Matt was ready to go home, ready to be home. But he'd have to wait at least four more days for Bullock. Maybe more. It was going to seem like an eternity. What better way to spend an hour sitting at his desk at the jail than to finally get a letter off to Kitty.
"Hello Beautiful Wife,
Pour a whiskey. Take a deep breath. Sit down. Read the enclosed telegram. I'll wait.
Well, I see you smiling! All our hard work with Propter and the Governor and the Senator and everyone else finally paid off. I'll leave here as soon as I get Seth settled in. Probably take a day or two. More good news: The deputy here arrested Troop's killer. The trial is tomorrow. The guy is going to hang. I always know how these things are going to turn out.
Laramie is a tough place in the winter. It's very cold and the snow is always deep. The only way in and out is the train. Kitty, the train is the future of the West. We need to pay attention to that. Sorry to hear Dodge has gotten rowdy. I'll fix that when I get home. And I'll find a deputy, too.
There's a woman at a saloon up here you should interview, Lily Merrill. You would like her. She wants out of Laramie. I'll have her wire you. Think about it! Ten thousand steers will be in Dodge at one time.
Enough business. I'll be home in a week. Please plan a PRIVATE celebration in our beautiful house! Start with your best Napoleon. Then the big tub and our bath oil. Maybe we could think of something to do after that? Can't wait to wrap my body around yours. I love you, Red. Can't wait!
Will wire you my arrival.
Love for a lifetime,
Matt"
XOXOXO
The trial started at 2 p.m. in a packed church. All four of the saloons were closed for the afternoon so the employees could attend, and the frustrated gamblers who'd stayed in town decided they'd just head for the church and see what was causing all the commotion. The judge called Lily Merrill, Matt Dillon, Johnny McKay, and Reverend Samples. Each testified eloquently to the terror of William Ewing. Lily, Johnny and Samples added glowing testimony about how fair and honorable a man Dan Troop had been during all of his years in Laramie. Matt listened attentively, learning even more than he already knew about the respected marshal. The court appointed barrister had little to do but ensure the proceedings were fair. Ewing sat silently in his chair, looking up only to stare at Lily when she took the stand. She didn't waver. Not once. Matt put his head in his hands while she talked, remembering how he'd seen the drummer in the Long Branch with Kitty. It made him shudder. Lily could have been Kitty, clearly describing how she'd found him shot in the back. He was startled from his thoughts when the judge banged his gavel.
"Mister Ewing, how do you plead?"
"I shot Troop, Judge. But this woman, Lily Merrill, she flirted with me! She's just as guilty as I am!"
The church erupted in shouts and chants. Most of the men stood up, many of them waving their fists. It took the judge several minutes to restore order. Finally, the judge was able to speak.
"Mister Ewing, it was Miss Merrill's job to be warm and hospitable to all of the drummers who called on her establishment. You've already heard all that testimony. And yes, it was her job to take dinner with you when asked. She's already testified that her interest in you was purely one of business. Do you deny that?"
Ewing hung his head. "No Judge. I wanted it to be more. I ran out of time."
"Mister Ewing, it is against the law to murder a man in order to court favor of his woman. You have committed a most heinous crime in the name of physical attraction. Therefore, having heard all the evidence and all the testimony in this matter, I hereby order you to be transferred to the Wyoming Territorial Prison, where you are sentenced to be hanged by the neck until dead!"
Deputy Johnny McKay let out an audible gasp. Hanging was the only possible retaliation for his mentor's death. Still, it wasn't enough. Matt squeezed his arm.
Matt and Johnny stepped up immediately to surround the hand and leg chained man in a room of celebratory observers. The room was alive with cheers. Matt knew that more than half of them were gamblers who had nothing better to do, and they'd disperse quickly to get back to the saloons. But he didn't want to take any chances with the locals, who might love to put a bullet in the man right then and there. His luck held. He and Johnny were able to escort their prisoner out of the church, down the street, and back to the jail. They returned him to his cell and sat down together to talk.
"As soon as the saloons are going full on again, let's take him over there, John. I'd like to have the night off. How about you?"
"You're reading my mind, Marshal. If you'd like to watch him, I'll go saddle three horses. You think Lily's all right?"
"She's going to have to be until we get back, Johnny. She's safe. She's probably hurting a lot, but she's safe. I'll go talk to her when we get back. Get the horses, okay?"
XOXOXO
It was dusk when Matt and Johnny got back and got the horses into the barn. Light snow had started to fall again, adding to the somber mood.
"John, I'll take rounds tonight," Matt announced. "You get a good night's sleep. You sure have earned it."
"I'll take you up on that. Don't know if I can sleep though. Maybe. It's been quite a day. Thanks for everything you did to make this happen. Marshal Troop was real special to me. Now maybe you'll have time to start teaching me stuff. Sure would like to shoot with you some. That deal with the bible was pretty impressive."
"We'll sure enough plan on that, starting tomorrow. I think I need to go find Lily right now and make sure she's doing okay." Johnny nodded in agreement, and watched Matt pull his collar up tight, venturing back out into the wind.
When Matt walked into the boarding house, his landlady met him in the lobby.
"Marshal, we're all real proud of what you did. We're sure glad to have you in Laramie. Miss Lily asked me to give you this key. She's not up there."
"Thank you," Matt said softly. "Did she say where she went?"
"No but she said there's a note upstairs."
When Matt got to the room, all of Lily's things were gone. Everything was sparkling clean, and sure enough there was a note carefully laid out on the bed.
"Dear Matt,
I know you want to answer all my questions. I know we planned to be together for a long talk. But after today I find I need some time to myself. Your life is none of my business. I need to get on with my own. I went back to my rooms to pack. I'm going to try to get on a train to Billings tomorrow. Thank you for what you did for Dan. For me and Dan. There is nothing more that I can say. Matt, you will always be in my heart!
Lily"
Matt read it a second time, widening his eyes and pausing after each sentence to get rid of the tears he had welling up. Lily had been a rock at the trial. But even though she didn't let it show, it rekindled all her memories of the man she loved. The healing would only come slowly if it ever did. He tapped the note in his hand, thinking about what to do. Lily was a special girl. She deserved much more than loneliness and a ticket to Billings. He pulled his coat back on, snugged his collar down, and headed back out in the snow.
He stopped in and briefly checked the tables at all four saloons before his final stop at the Bird Cage. The games were quiet, as was just about everything else in town this night. No more stakeouts. No more pretend dates. And when he got to the Bird Cage, there was no Lily. The night crew was already on, so he asked one of the girls.
"I don't know, Marshal. I haven't seen her. Hasn't been here yet today."
It was only a hunch. But all of his hunches had paid off so far. Why not check? He walked quietly around the back of the building. There, on the stairs, sat Lily, right where Dan Troop had fallen. She was leaning against the railing, stroking it with her hand, crying. She had no idea Matt was near. He thought about the tragic situation for a minute and decided to just let her have the time she needed. So he leaned back against the next building and just waited. The cold was biting.
"Dan! Please come back, Dan!" She was sobbing, stroking the railing that was still stained with her lover's blood. It would be there until it weathered away. "I love you so much!" She gasped for breath between sobs. "Please, Dan! Come and hold me! I don't want to go on without you! Just come back and wrap your arms around me! Please!"
Matt Dillon had never been a particularly emotional man, but this was gut-wrenching. Maybe it was because Kitty had taught him so much about how deep love could be. Maybe it was because he'd learned to understand how special it could be between a man and a woman. All he knew for sure was that he had to find a way to save her from this despair. He owed it to Dan Troop.
Finally, he approached the stairs.
"Lily," he spoke softly. And again, just as softly, "Lily."
"Go away, Matt. You can't help me." Her face was red with tears and pain and cold.
"Lily." He reached for her and lifted her up into his arms, holding her close and rocking her like a baby to try to stop the tears. They were both covered in snow.
"Lily, let me try. Please let me try. Let's go upstairs. You're freezing cold."
Thankfully, she nodded and didn't resist, allowing Matt to put his arm around her waist and help her climb the stairs to the door. He held her on the landing for a minute. Then she fumbled for her key and opened it. The room was cold, clothing and other belongings scattered around by a person who had tried to pack and given up.
"Please will you stay this time?" She looked into his eyes.
"Yes. Yes I will, Lily. I came here to be with you."
The despair of the moment finally broken, Matt set about building a fire in the stove and piling it with wood. Then he took his heavy coat off, shook it out, and hung it on a chair to dry. After so many nights sitting up here on their pretend dates he knew where the whiskey was kept, so he poured two generous glasses and set them on the small table. Then he moved back to Lily and gently unbuttoned her coat and slid it off. She stood stiffly while he did.
"Get over by the fire now and get warm."
Silently, she complied. "Matt, I . . ."
"Nope. No talking right now. No explaining. Just drink this." He handed her the glass. He was wishing beyond wishing that he had some of Doc's powders. The whiskey would have to suffice.
"Have you had anything to eat?"
"No." She was working on the whiskey, still shaking.
"Me neither. What's in the kitchen?"
"Not much."
"Perfect! That's my specialty in the kitchen! I'll get to work. You drink that and get warm."
He found beans, salted side meat, a few hard-boiled eggs and some leftover biscuits. There were even some apples. The stash was a trailhand's dream. He was determined to change the mood.
"Lily, we're as good as fed here. I know how to make all this work! It'll be great, just like a night on the trail. You'll love it!"
Lily smiled softly at his cowboy antics. "I've never spent a night on the trail." Matt didn't care. The smile meant he'd changed the mood. He smiled right back at her and downed his whiskey. Then he set up the table and they ate by the soft light of the lantern.
"Is this how it is on the trail?" Her eyes were still swollen, her face streaked with dried tears, but she smiled. It was all in the world Matt Dillon wanted at that moment.
"Nope," he smiled back. "The food's better, the room's warm, and there's a beautiful woman here with me. Trail's nothing like this."
The meal and two more glasses of whiskey were polished off.
"You get changed for bed. Won't look, I promise. I'll clean up."
Too exhausted to suggest that he could look, she complied and crawled into her warm bed. He kicked off his boots, pulled off his shirt, and crawled in next to her, cradling her head on his chest.
"You're not under the covers."
"Nope. But I'm right here. Told Johnny I'd do rounds tonight."
"You're leaving, then?"
"Nope. I'm gonna skip my rounds tonight. Laramie will survive."
"Matt?" She stroked his face. He took her hand in his so she couldn't.
"Sleep. I'm right here. Just sleep."
The exhaustion, the food, the warm room and the whiskey had all done their job. She was sound asleep with her head on his chest in five minutes. He laid there wishing for the same sleep to take him. Dan Troop. Damn! It was all over a woman. This woman. The love of this special woman.
TBC