"I hate to wake him, Matt."
"Judge Dalton's startin' proceedings at nine sharp. It's after seven now...he'll need to clean up a bit, and have some breakfast."
Kitty peered through the open door at the sleeping figure, and nodded. "You're right. Is there some coffee?"
Tom poured a cup and handed it to her. "Here you are, Miss Russell. I'll head down to Mitchell's and get him some breakfast."
Matt handed Kitty the keys to the cell as Taber left. "He might be a little sore about you and Festus bein' here..."
"I can handle it, Matt."
He nodded and watched her walk through the door, closing it decisively behind her. Festus stepped up to Dillon, handing him a cup of steaming liquid.
"This pot's a mite better n' the first, Matthew, that thar one was a tad on the weak side..."
Matt's eyebrow raised in response to the comment. "I reckon you're right about that, Festus, since you didn't make it."
Haggen scowled at his friend, and then looked worriedly toward the door to the cells. "I'm feelin' a tad nerv-i-ous about this here trial, Matthew."
"So do I, Festus, but whatever it takes to make Doc feel secure is what we're gonna do."
"Truer words ain't never been spoke, Matthew."
Kitty unlocked the door and opened it, walking in. Doc was sleeping on his side, facing the cell door. She softly sat down on the edge of the bunk.
"Doc? Doc, it's time to wake up..."
The pale blue eyes wearily opened, and he frowned as he focused on the woman sitting next to him. She smiled at him despite the coolness of his mien, and ran a hand through his unruly hair.
"Morning, handsome...I brought you some coffee."
His voice held an edge, "Brought it all the way from Dodge didja?"
"Now Doc--"
"--No you don't." He stood up, practically shoving her out of the way, some of the coffee from the mug spilling onto the floor. "You're not gonna soft-soap me. I left you a note tellin' you that I didn't want you here." His eyes filled and his voice belied his emotion, "I didn't want that..."
He turned away from her, his hands shoved down into the pockets of his pants. Kitty set the coffee mug down on a nearby chair and moved up behind him, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. Doc's head dropped and he closed his eyes.
"If you know me at all, then you know damned well that I couldn't stay away. Not now; not when you need me."
Tears streamed down his face, but with his back still to her, she couldn't see them. His voice turned to a hard whisper.
"I don't recall sayin' I need you."
Kitty shoved down the desire to recoil from the hurtful comment, and reminded herself why he was saying it. Instead of retreating away from him, she moved closer, wrapping her arms around his chest and shoulders, pulling his back into her. His muscles tensed trying to hold onto the simulated anger, but a moment later, she felt him shudder with emotion.
Kitty leaned the side of her head into his, speaking softly into his ear, "I know you want to protect me, Doc, and I love you for that; but I'm not goin'." Her voice shook slightly as she continued, "No matter what happens, I'm not goin'."
He reached up to the arms that were wrapped around his chest, picked up one of her hands and kissed it, holding it tightly in his own large one. Then wordlessly, he broke out of her grip and stepped a few paces away, still keeping his back to her. As he pulled out his handkerchief to wipe his face, he finally spoke.
"Still offerin' that cup of coffee?" He turned to face her then, a gentle smile lighting his lips. "I could sure use some."
She smiled back at him, despite the tears sliding gracefully down her cheeks, and handed him the mug. He reached up to her face and softly brushed the tears away with his finger, then he took a sip of the coffee. And a slightly impish grin tugged at his lips, and his eyes twinkled over the top of the mug.
"You brought Festus with you, didn'tcha?"
And for the first time in several days, Kitty Russell laughed, in spite of the situation. "Yes, Doc, I brought Festus and his mule."
"And that ol' flea-bitten jackass made it all the way from Dodge in a snowstorm did he?"
"Now Doc, you know how Festus feels about Ruth, I doubt he'd take kindly to you callin' him a 'flea-bitten jackass.'"
He took another sip of his coffee. "Who said I was talkin' about Ruth?"
They both laughed, but the lightness in the room dissipated quickly. His demeanor was suddenly sullen, and Kitty sensed that his mind had turned to much graver matters. She watched him take a few more sips of his coffee, then walked over to him, taking a hold of his chin with her hand, as if inspecting it.
"You plannin' on a shave?"
He chuckled slightly. "Guess I'd better. Don't wanna give the good folks of Hays the wrong impression." She turned to leave, but he called to her, "Kitty..." She looked back at him, and after a long pause he said, "If at any time this gets too hard for you, I don't want you to hesitate to leave, I'll understand."
Her eyes searched his for the truth, and her tone was without accusation, "Is it too hard for you to have me here?"
"What's better for me isn't what we're talkin' about."
She looked deeply into the pale blue eyes. "You can't protect me from this, Doc. What happens to you, happens to Matt, and Festus, and me. It happens to the whole town of Dodge, don't you know that?"
His deep voice was like a soft, tentative caress, "You might have to remind me now and again..."
Kitty shook her head, walked over to him, and kissed his cheek. "I can do that, handsome, don't you worry."
He watched her glide from the room, closing the door behind her, and Doc Adams felt nothing but intense pride in the daughter that God had given back to him.