Late that Night

San Francisco

Kitty slipped into Dr. Miller's office without knocking. The examination room was dim but for a circle of light mid-room, created by two lanterns. Joanne sat in the center of that light, next to Edward's bed, clasping his hand in both of hers. His pale, unconscious form was still, his breaths were faint. Kitty's heart squeezed in her chest. How many times had she sat beside Matt like that, hoping, praying, willing him to heal. Moving as quietly as she could on crutches, Kitty made her way into the room. "Has Mrs. Fairweather been by?"

"No, not yet." Joanne looked over at Kitty and tried to smile. "I see you made it to your hotel and got into fresh clothes. That must feel good." Kitty nodded and held out a bag. "I also got some dinner for you. The owner of the Cliff House packed it himself. I'm sure you haven't eaten since breakfast."

"Thanks, just put it on the table. I'm not hungry right now."

Edward moaned, and forced his eyes to open. He slowly turned his head and looked at Joanne." She saw the effort behind his slightest movement, and stroked his cheek. "Shh, just rest." He shook his head and whispered hoarsely, "Jo, I love you. I-I made – no one was happy. I was wrong, I should have ..." His eyes drifted shut, he groaned with pain. Joanne felt his forehead and lifted the sheet to check his wound. "Damn this infection. I thought it was beat, but this wound is burning hot again. Damn." She closed her eyes to regain her composure. "Kitty, I need a favor. There's a boy who hangs out on the corner, his name is Jimmy. He delivers messages fast for a couple of pennies. Please ask him to race to Mrs. Fairweather's house, and tell her to get here quickly. Her husband is dying, she should be with him." Kitty nodded and hurried off, but not before she saw Doctor Miller lean over and kiss Edward Fairweather's lips.

Dodge City – The Dodge House

Ash Drake hung his gun-belt on a wall peg, and sat on his bed to tug off his boots. "Billy, tomorrow's the day. First thing in he morning, I'm gonna call Matt Dillon out."

Billy's nose was deep in the Kansas Tribune, the kind of paper he hoped to publish one day. Ash raised his voice. "Did you hear what I said? I'm calling Dillon out tomorrow morning."

"TOMORROW?" Billy dropped the paper and looked up sharply. That's so soon. Don't you want to wait until you know what kind of condition his arm is really in?"

"Nope, I know where his arm's at. Today, while you were reading that pile of newspapers, I was out watching Dillon. He left Doc Adams office, and rode out of town. I followed. When he got a mile or so outta Dodge he started workin' the arm and hand. I hid in the bushes. First he did these funny motions, like a routine or something. Then he practiced drawing a gun. First a cross draw with his left hand, then a normal right hand draw. With either hand, once the gun is out, the hold is steady and the aim is true." Ash shrugged, "If he was stopping a bank robbery or something, and had a gun in his hand, he could shoot real accurate. Thing is, his draw ain't fast. Cross draw's slower than the right hand draw, but even with the right hand – well he could outdraw a farmer or a rancher or something, but not a gunman like me. So, little brother, tomorrow I call Matt Dillon out, and take him down. Word will spread that I outdrew the great Marshal Dillon, and I'll be feared and left in peace."

"But Ash, that might not be what happens, it ….."

"You hush now Billy. You don't know the ways of gunmen." Ash stretched out in bed. "Now, I'm gonna get a good night's sleep. You should too." He pulled a blanket over his body and within seconds was snoring lightly.

Hands shaking, Billy undressed and got into bed, knowing sleep would not come easily.

San Francisco

Ursula Fairweather burst into the doctor's office.

Still seated by Edward's bed, Joanne quickly flicked away her tears before standing to face his wife. "I'm sorry Mrs. Fairweather, Mr. Fairweather is gone."

"NOOO," Ursula threw her ample body across the bed. Joanne quickly stepped aside. "I'll give you some privacy." Ursula looked up, her face red with rage. "This is your fault, your fault. A half-way competent doctor would have saved him." Ursula pushed herself to her feet, hands on her wide, fleshy hips. "You won't get away with this. I am going to ruin your reputation and your life. I have connections, and access to newspaper reporters. Your negligence will be written about in every paper in San Francisco, and beyond. 'll tell them how you let him bleed, and kept me from his side. How y-y-you left him here alone for hours, and had liquor on your breathe when you decided to return." She shoved a finger in Joanne's face. "I have influence and money. People will say what I pay them to say. Word will spread. Your life here will be over, your precious practice destroyed."

Pale and exhausted, Joanne stood tall and looked Ursula in the eye. "Do as you like. I have to get to the coroner's office to file a report." She turned and walked out the door.

Ursula clenched her jaw, her body stiffed with hatred. Kitty emerged from a corner of the room, crutches rapidly clicking against the floor. She'd heard it all and was furious. "Mrs. Fairweather, I don't know if you remember me, my name's Kitty Russell. I'm sincerely sorry about your husband, and I'm sorry to have to speak to you this way at a time like this, but I must. Trying to harm Joanne Miller's reputation will do no one any good. And, it won't work. Dr. Miller is respected, people will come to her defense."

Ursula glared at Kitty. "What do you know? You're not even from around here. People will say what I pay them to say, and do what I pay them to do."

Kitty moved forward. Her face was an inch from Ursula's. She'd dealt with foolish arrogance before, and watched Matt deal with it too. Her voice was quiet but firm. "How many people will you truly convince that Dr. Joanne Miller let Edward Fairweather die, when she could have saved him? Besides, do you really want to stir up memories and gossip about how Joanne and Edward were once in love, and engaged to be married? A smear campaign against Joanne might harm her some, but it would harm you too, and think of what that talk and gossip would do to your children. I don't know why you want to destroy Joanne Miller, but be honest with yourself, nothing good would come of trying to do such a thing."

Ursula gasped as if she'd been splashed with cold water. She sank down into the chair beside Edward's bed and stared at her dead husband's face. A sigh escaped her lips, and she gently touched his cheek. "I loved you." She slowly turned back to Kitty, and looked her up and down. "I see you're not married – no wedding ring – but perhaps you know what it's like to be in love."

"I do." Kitty nodded. She saw Ursula's face soften, and waited for her to continue.

"Can you imagine seeing a man for the first time, and knowing that your heart will never be the same?"

"I know that feeling, Mrs. Fairweather." Kitty spoke gently. "Believe me, I do."

"That's how it was for me. I saw Edward across the room at a social event just days after my family moved here from Boston. I was 19. I didn't know it at the time, but with his looks, charm and family money, Edward was the most eligible bachelor in San Francisco. I also didn't know about his recent called-off wedding to Joanne Miller. All I knew was that I needed to be near him, to feel his presence, and I desperately wanted him to - to notice me. Well, to my surprise he courted me, and things moved along quite quickly. My wedding day was amazing, the happiest day of my life. My wedding night was not so happy. At the height of passionate love-making he called her name, and believe me, that wasn't the only time. One day, quite by accident, I found a box in his closet when I was putting away his shoes. I opened it. The box was filled with pictures of her, notes from her, even ribbons from her hair. Still I tried. I tried to maintain my looks, to be beautiful for him. I tried to be the perfect wife. But, over time I realized that there was nothing I could do to make him love me, the way he loved Joanne Miller. I had his name and the wealth, respect and privileges that went with it, and I had his children, but, I never had him. For my entire marriage to Edward, he longed for another woman." Ursula looked at Kitty, eyes begging for understanding. "Can you even imagine what that's like?"

Kitty thought about Matt, and how it would have felt to know, day after day, year after year, that he wanted to be with someone else. It was too painful to contemplate. She put a hand on Ursula's shoulder. "You've been carrying a lot of pain for a long time. I don't think it will ever go away completely, but it will grow dull over time. And now – you can build a new life with your children. There will be new roads to take. Punishing Joanne won't change the past or help you heal. It will only keep wounds open and raw - yours and hers."

A shudder went through Ursula's body. She put her head in her hands and wept.

Dodge City

Billy stared into the darkness of his hotel room long into the night. Try as he might, he saw no way out of the situation. Ash was convinced that if he took Matt Dillon down in a draw, his reputation as a gunman would be sealed, and no one would dare challenge him. Given the state of Dillon's gun-arm Ash was confident of success. Billy rubbed his hand across his tired eyes. Ash could be wrong and end up dead, or Dillon, a good man, could be killed for no good reason. Even if Ash out-drew the marshal, there was no guarantee that gunslingers would stop challenging him. Problem was, there was no convincing Ash of any of that.

His mind tired of going in circles, a heaviness pressed down on Billy. His eyes drifted shut and he fell into a fitful sleep.

TBC