Unshown Moments (ATC) to Kiowa

This is for Gunsmoke Fan

"Good morning, Miss Kitty." Sam greeted her when she descended the stairs and walked towards the bar.

"Morning, Sam." Kitty answered as she quietly poured herself a cup of coffee and headed to her office. "I'm going to get cracking on my books this morning." Kitty paused at her office door. "Call if you need me."

"Yes, Ma'am." Sam watched her go into her office and close the door behind her before he turned with a sad shake of his head. Though his boss had continued with the party the night before and had done her best not to show any distress to the people who'd gathered to celebrate her birthday, he could tell just how much it bothered her for the Marshal to ride out in the middle of the party.

It wasn't anything new, of course, for him to do such a thing and Miss Kitty's behavior afterwards wasn't a surprise. Sam hadn't known them for as long as they'd been together but he had a feeling it'd always been like this and Miss Kitty was used to it. It didn't make it right, but he knew that didn't matter either.

"Sam!" Doc walked in just then. "Kitty up yet?"

"Sure is, Doc." Sam nodded towards her office. "She went in to her office to work on her books."

"Thanks." Doc headed into Kitty's office without knocking. "Kitty. Come on. You're going with me today."

Kitty looked up at him in confusion. "With you? Why?"

"Cause I need the company and the help." He answered. "I've got a couple of visits to make and I need you to go with me on them."

Kitty shook her head and looked back down at her books. "Sorry, Doc. But I've got a lot of work to do and…"

"And you're plan on staying in this airless little office and burying yourself in work in order not to think about Matt and last night and everything." Doc moved forward and grasped her arm. "Come on. You need out of this saloon and I'm taking you."

"But, Doc…"

"No, 'buts', young lady. Come on." Though he held her arm gently, Doc didn't release it until she relented and got to her feet. "Good girl. Come on."

They drove for a couple of hours after leaving Dodge and Kitty had said nothing. Sitting silently by his side, she simply looked around them at the passing scenery keeping her thoughts to herself. She didn't really want to talk. There was nothing to talk about.

She'd come to terms long ago with Matt's taking off in the blink of an eye regardless of whatever plans they may have. She still didn't like it and it didn't lessen her worry about him while he was out there but she'd learned to bury herself in work in work in order to deal with the worry and fear and plain irritation.

"Want to talk about it?" Doc slid his eyes over to her, seeing her stiffen slightly.

"Words are kinda useless sometimes." She answered without returning his gaze.

"Not if they help." Doc answered.

"They wouldn't." Her tone of voice let Doc know she wasn't ready to talk so he simply let it drop and drove on.

They arrived at the Coleman place an hour later. Seth Coleman and his wife Lydia had 3 kids and another on the way. Their small farm, though well-tended and thriving, barely kept up with the growing family's demands and Seth spent most of his time working, trying hard to keep things going.

But lately he was having a harder time than normal and that was the reason of Doc's visit. Seth, a hard-working farmer who seldom did anything more dangerous than climb up into his hayloft, was seriously wounded about a week prior when two men came onto the farm wanting more than a handout. Doc had managed to save his life and Matt had quickly found the two drifters but the damage they caused was major.

While Kitty helped Lydia with the kids, Doc examined Seth, changed his bandages and then gave Lydia instructions for Seth's care until he returned. When they left the farm, Doc looked over at Kitty and saw the look on her face. He knew where her mind was.

"Seth's going to be alright, you know." He said conversationally. "It'll take some time but he'll be fine. Or at least, he will until next time."

"Next time?" Kitty turned and looked at him quizzically.

"Um hum." Doc nodded. "You see, being a farmer is hard and can sometimes be dangerous work. I mean its seldom a farmer gets shot but, as in Seth's case, it can happen or he can get bit by a rattler or fall out of the hay loft or well, just any number of things."

Kitty rolled her eyes and crossed arms against her chest. "It's not the same thing, Doc and you know it. Seth doesn't go out looking for trouble like Matt does."

"True." Doc nodded. "But the point is, whether looking for it or not, trouble still came. You can't prevent that, Kitty. You can only deal with it and go on."

"I've been doing that, Doc." Kitty's voice had taken on a huskiness that Doc knew meant she was fighting back tears. "I've sat back time after time and watched him ride out knowing he might never come back. It's hard enough as it is but when he rides out on a holiday or…"

"Or on your birthday, it makes it just a little worse." Doc finished for her.

Kitty dropped her head but didn't reply.

Doc pulled the buggy to a stop and reached over taking Kitty's hand. "Honey, I know it's hard on you what Matt does. I know you'd love to have him here on every special occasion but you and I both know Matt's job won't allow that and Matt won't quit his job."

"I know." She sighed. "But knowing doesn't make it any easier."

"No, don't guess it does." Doc agreed as he snapped the reins and started the buggy going again. "But you can't expect the worst. You're going to have to just sit back and expect that he'll be home and safe."

"I pray for it, Doc." She answered. "And I guess I always will."

"I do too." Doc slid a look in her direction. "And so far, both our prayers have been answered."

"I hope that continues." She sighed.

"Me too." Doc answered.

END