Chapter 2 Kitty's Nightmare (Part 1)

The Nightmare

Kitty was in the Long Branch. Matt had been gone for several days. Festus and Thad had been out looking for him. Each minute that passed by brought more dread to Kitty. She thought she would have heard from Festus or Thad by now. What was taking so long? Surely they would have caught up to Matt and his captors by now. Kitty was wiping down the bar for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning, when she heard Louie Pheeter's unmistakable voice.

"Festus, Thad you're back," said Louie as he watched the duo ride into Dodge. "Where's the Marshal? I figured he'd be with you."

Happiness filled Kitty and she smiled when she heard that Festus and Thad had returned. But her feelings of bliss quickly dwindled when she heard Louie ask where the Marshal was. Matt obviously wasn't with them. Why wasn't he with them? Something was not right. Festus would not have returned without Matt. Kitty knew she wasn't going to get any answers just standing inside the saloon.

Kitty made her way to the door and walked outside. The first thing she noticed was that Festus and Thad had returned in a wagon. They didn't leave in a wagon. Thad left on his horse and when Festus rode to Jetmore, he was on Ruth. Now Ruth and Thad's horse were tied to the back of the wagon. Kitty could see boots sticking out the back of the wagon. They were, without a doubt, Matt's boots. Kitty would recognize those boots anywhere. She also noticed a canvas covering the back of the wagon.

Festus' and Kitty looked at each other. His unshed tears and silence spoke volumes. Kitty stood there shaking her head as if doing so would change the circumstances. Kitty suddenly found it hard to breathe. Matt Dillon was dead. Her cowboy, her soulmate, the love of her life was dead. Her memory immediately went back a few months earlier when Mace Gore and his gang had taken over Dodge City. Matt had been gunned down. Kitty thought Matt had been killed then. Doc let her believe that. But at that time Doc was right there and was miraculously able to save Matt. Kitty knew there wasn't going to be any miracles this time.

The silence that filled Front Street was broken by Kitty's scream. "Nooooo!" She started walking to the back of the wagon, but Festus stopped her.

"Mizz Kitty," he said as stepped in front of her. "I think it'd be best if ya didn't look at Matthew. Ya don't want yer last mem'ry of him to be what he looks like now."

Kitty numbly nodded in agreement. Festus was right. She didn't want to see Matt dead and have that image permanently etched into her brain. She wanted to remember how he looked when he was alive. Kitty wanted to remember how he looked the night he left the Long Branch. When he left he was wearing that smile that was meant just for her.

Doc had been sitting in his office when he heard Kitty's scream. Angst filled him. He swiftly pushed his chair away from his desk and got up. He grabbed his hat and walked out of his office. From his view on the top of the stairs, Doc could see Festus, Thad, and Kitty. He could also see the wagon and its contents. Well, what he knew were the contents. Doc could only see the boots, but just like Kitty he knew they were on the feet of Matt Dillon. The canvas meant only one thing. Matt Dillon was no longer alive. To say he was shocked was an understatement. Doc quickly gathered his senses so he could go and comfort Kitty. He would grieve later.

"Kitty," Doc softly said as he gathered her in his arms, soothingly rubbing her back.

"Oh Doc," Kitty sobbed, her flowing tears wetting Doc's shoulder. "He can't be dead. This can't be happening."

"Shhhhh," Doc soothed. He then looked at Festus. "When?"

"Late last night," Festus answered. "We caught up with Gorman 'n his gang 'n a gunfight broke out. Matthew had his hands tied 'n couldn't defend hisself when one of Gorman's men shot him point blank. When Gorman dropped his gun 'n went after that man, me 'n Thad took advantage of the situation and were able to unarm the men. We got 'em handcuffed and took 'em to Meade."

"Did you try to save Matt before you took those pieces of filth to Meade?" Doc asked.

Kitty turned away from Doc and looked at Festus. "He was done gone, Doc. The bullet went straight in his heart. He died instantly. I wish I coulda done somethin'. Matthew was a good friend."

"If he was shot point blank in the chest, then there was nothing you could've done," Doc told Festus. He didn't want Festus feeling guilty for not doing anything. He then turned to Kitty. "I want you to go back to the Long Branch. I'll be there shortly. Sam, please walk her back."

By now a crowd had gathered around the wagon, including Sam. "Sure thing Doc," he said. "Come on Miss Kitty." Sam ushered Kitty away from the crowd and back to the Long Branch. He walked her up to her room. "Is there anything I can get for you, a glass of water or something?"

"No thanks, Sam," Kitty whispered. "I just want to be alone right now."

"Very well. I'll be downstairs if you decide you need anything," said Sam. He left the room and closed the door behind him. He didn't even want to imagine what his employer and friend was going through. Sam knew how close Miss Kitty and the Marshal were.

Kitty walked over to her window that looked out onto Front Street. She pushed back the lace curtains and peered out. Some men must have gotten a stretcher from Doc's. They were putting Matt on the stretcher and carrying him over to Doc's office. Kitty wished with all her heart that the men were carrying an injured Matt Dillon to Doc's. But reality hit, when Kitty saw Matt's lifeless arm and hand dangling out from under the canvas that covered his body. Kitty walked away from the window and collapsed on her bed. She didn't even try to stop her tears.

Kitty wasn't sure how long she had been lying there when she heard a soft knock on the door. It wasn't Matt's knock. Kitty knew his knock. The knock was repeated. Kitty rolled over and sat up. She heard Doc's voice on the other side of the door.

"Kitty, it's Doc," he said. "I'm comin' in."

Doc opened the door and entered Kitty's room. He took one look at Kitty and his heart broke. He really didn't know how to console her. Nothing he said would bring Matt back to her. He dreaded what he needed to discuss with her, Matt's funeral. Funerals were the final chapter of a person's life.

Doc pulled a chair next to the bed. "Kitty, I know how much you're suffering right now, but we need to discuss Matt's funeral."

"I.. I… don't know if I can do that," Kitty stuttered. "Planning Matt's funeral means everything is over and I'm not ready for that."

"I know honey," Doc said. "I wish I could change things, but I can't. Now we both know stalling things won't change anything. I've already talked with Percy Crump. He's going to offer a coffin for Matt, free of charge. We can bury him up on Boot Hill."

"Not on Boot Hill," Kitty said. "Matt has buried too many outlaws up there. I don't want Matt to be among them. I have a place I'd like him to be."

TBC