Sam poured another cup of coffee. "Try not to worry, Miss Kitty."
She smiled weakly up at the bartender. "Can't really help it, Sam."
He nodded and walked back to the bar, leaving her to her thoughts. She shivered slightly as the sensation of disaster tore at her. Doc and Matt had been gone all day and into the night; if they had found Festus, they would have come back by now. She stared into the depths of the dark liquid in the white and blue cup and shoved down her rising tears. Maybe she was just tired and that was why it felt like her world was about to end. She felt the touch of a comforting hand, and looked up expecting to see Sam, but he was still over at the bar, and there was no one near her table. Kitty stood up abruptly, fear filling her, and Sam quickly walked over.
"Miss Kitty, what's wrong?"
She tried to keep the quiver from her voice, "I...I don't know, Sam. Nothing, I guess." She tried to smile lightly at him. "I'm just a little spooked is all."
Sam looked at her, concern on his face. "Are you all right?"
She nodded. "Yeah... listen, let's call it a night, there aren't too many people in here anyway, and I don't know about you, but I could use some sleep."
"Whatever you say, ma'am."
Sam began closing things up, as the customers started leaving. Kitty cleaned away her coffee cup, and helped Sam with the rest of his chores. When they were finished, Kitty walked him to the doors, and he turned to look at her.
"Miss Kitty, if you need anything, you'll let me know, won't you?"
She pat his arm. "Of course, Sam, and I thank you for being such a good friend."
He put his hat on and nodded at her. She watched him walk down the boardwalk, and then she closed the doors to the saloon, blowing out the lanterns as she moved toward the stairs. As she started up the steps, she thought she heard a man cry out in agony, and she turned her breath catching in her throat. Frightened, Kitty ran up the rest of the stairs, and entered her room, closing and locking the door behind her. For a long moment, she stood leaning against the back of the door, her arms wrapped around herself, trembling. But she didn't hear so much as a wooden board creek, and decided she must have imagined all of it.
As she prepared herself for bed, she sighed: Matt and Doc wouldn't be back soon enough, and she prayed that Festus would be with them.