"A Little TLC" This story was inspired by the cold that I am suffering from. Fortunately for Kitty, she has Matt to give her a little tlc. I'm not as fortunate as Kitty. (I decided to base Kitty's symptoms on my symptoms.)
It started with a sore throat. It was one of those sore throats that always hurt, not just when you swallowed. Kitty knew the symptoms that led to a cold. She would have a sore throat for a day or two, and then the sneezing and stuffy/runny nose would start. It wouldn't be uncommon for the cold to move to the chest.
'Great,' thought Kitty. 'This is just what I need. I can't be getting sick now. Matt has been in Hays for the last week, and I was looking forward to welcoming him home tomorrow.'
As the day went on, Kitty's symptoms were getting worse. She was sneezing, and her nose was either stuffed up or running. Kitty was working her shift in the Long Branch and couldn't wait for it to be over. All she wanted to do was go upstairs, change into her nightgown, and crawl into bed.
Bill Pence had noticed that his business partner was under the weather. "Miss Kitty, I can see that you're ailing. Why don't you head on upstairs? It's not too busy down here. The girls and I can handle things."
Normally Kitty would insist she finish her shift, but she gratefully accepted Bill's offer. "Thank you so much, Bill. I really appreciate it," said Kitty as she walked up the stairs to her room.
Once Kitty was in her room, she changed into her nightgown, let her hair down, washed off her face paint, and crawled into bed. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.
Matt rode into town the next morning. He took Buck to Moss Grimick's stable and then headed to the jail. When he walked in, he saw Chester and Doc sitting at the table playing checkers.
"Is this what the two of you have been doing this past week, being lazy and playing checkers?" Matt teased as he unpacked his saddle bags.
"I'll have you know, big Marshall man, that I've been very busy this past week. It seems as though the citizens of Dodge have decided to come down with colds," Doc retorted. "I can't speak for this one." He pointed to Chester.
"Well now, the town has been quiet, but I shorely haven't been lazy. I took the time this week to clean up around here," said Chester.
"I was only havin' fun with the two of ya. I'm going to the Long Branch to see Kitty," Matt said, walking out of the jail and over to the Long Branch.
Matt pushed open the batwing doors and stepped inside the Long Branch. He saw Bill behind the counter and a few patrons sitting at the bar, but Kitty was nowhere to be seen. Matt was surprised Kitty was not downstairs. She usually was at this time. Matt walked up to the bar to speak to Bill.
"Hey, Bill. Do you know where Kitty is? I thought she'd be here," said Matt with concern in his voice.
"Hello, Marshall. Welcome back. I'm afraid Kitty has caught the cold that is going around. She ended her shift early last night and hasn't come downstairs yet this morning," Bill answered.
"Thanks Bill. I think I'll go up there and check on her," said Matt.
Bill watched Matt go upstairs to Kitty's room. He knew the Marshall and his business partner had a thing going. They might not have officially announced it, but it was pretty obvious there was love between the two of them.
Matt reached Kitty's room, took the key out of his pocket, unlocked the door, and walked inside. What he saw tore at his heartstrings. There was his girl all curled up on the bed, surrounded by handkerchiefs. He quietly took off his boots, gunbelt, and hat and went over to sit down on the bed. He tried his best not to wake her up, but the motion of the bed succeeded in doing that.
Kitty felt the mattress of the bed go down. She opened her eyes to see Matt sitting next to her. "Hello Cowboy. Welcome home. I wish I could give you a more proper welcome home," said Kitty, sounding all stuffed up.
"Don't worry about that. You just get better soon. How long have you been sick?' Matt asked. He felt her forehead, making sure she didn't have a fever. He was relieved that she didn't.
"It started yesterday with a sore throat. Then came the sneezing and stuffy and runny nose. Believe it or not, I don't mind the sneezing. It helps to unstuff the nose," Kitty said.
"I talked to Doc and he said people around here have this nasty cold that's going around. Have you seen Doc?" Matt asked.
"No, I'm too miserable to get out of bed," answered Kitty.
"Tell you what. I'll go over to Doc's office and see if he has anything he can give you. Then I'll come back here and give you some tender loving care," Matt said as he stood up.
"Thanks, Cowboy. You're the best."
Matt put on his boots and gunbelt and left Kitty's room and went to Doc's office. Doc was sitting at his desk when Matt walked inside. "Matt, what can I do for you?"
"I just went to see Kitty. It seems as though she has caught this cold that's going around. I was wondering if you had anything to make her feel better," Matt answered.
"Poor girl. What are her symptoms?" Doc asked as he went to his medicine cabinet.
"Sore throat, sneezing, and a stuffy nose," Matt answered.
Doc pulled out two vials. "Here's some camphor and aconite. These will help with her symptoms. She needs to take them with food in her stomach."
Matt took the vials from Doc and put them in his pocket. "Thanks Doc. I'll stop at Delmonico's and get some food."
"Now listen. Those medications will not make the cold go away. They will just make the symptoms less worse. She'll still be contagious. I know how you two feel about each other, but I strongly suggest no kissing or anything for awhile, unless you want to end up being sick."
"Thanks for the advice, Doc," Matt said, getting ready to leave.
"Oh, one more thing, you might want to put a couple drops of eucalyptus oil in a basin of hot water and let her breathe in the steam vapors. That will help with the stuffy nose," said Doc.
Matt nodded and left Doc's office. He knew Kitty had different oils she put in her bath, but he wasn't sure if she had eucalyptus oil. Jonas stocked different oils at his store, so Matt decided to go and see if there was any eucalyptus. He entered the store and went to the shelf that had the oils. Matt was in luck. There was a bottle of eucalyptus oil. He took it off the shelf and was on his way to the counter to pay for it, when he passed a table of ladies handkerchiefs. He remembered seeing the handkerchiefs Kitty had already used, so he decided to buy her some more. Matt paid for his purchases and left the general store.
The next stop for Matt was Delmonico's. He ordered a small bowl of oatmeal and a big pot of chicken noodle soup. KItty could eat the oatmeal now and the two of them could share the soup later. To make it easier for Matt to carry the food, Joe put all of it in a wooden crate. Matt thanked Joe and walked back to the Long Branch.
When Matt walked into Kitty's room, he saw her sitting on her settee. She was still in her nightgown, but had also put her robe on. Her hair was loosely pulled back. Kitty smiled when she saw Matt.
"I have some stuff to make you feel better," Matt told Kitty as he put the crate down on the table. He took off his boots and gunbelt and took the vials of medicine out of his pocket. He gave the vials to Kitty. "Doc said these would make your symptoms less worse, and you should take them with food. I brought you some oatmeal to eat now and soup we can eat later. Doc made sure he warned me that you would still be contagious, even though the medicine will make you feel better. He flat out said no kissing for a while."
"That's too bad," Kitty pouted. "I've really missed you this past week."
"Trust me the feeling is mutual," Matt responded. He showed Kitty what he bought at Jonas' store. "Doc said a few drops of this eucalyptus oil in a bowl of hot water will help with your stuffy nose, but I have a better idea."
"What's that?" asked Kitty as she took one of the new handkerchiefs Matt bought and wiped her nose.
"I was thinking I could fill the tub with hot water, put a few drops of the oil in there, and we could enjoy a hot bath together, Doc never said anything about not taking a bath together. You'll be sitting in front of me, so you won't be breathing on me," Matt answered.
"Oh Cowboy, that sounds divine," said Kitty, removing her robe and nightgown.
While Matt filled the tub, Kitty ate her oatmeal and took the medication with some tea. Once the tub was full, Matt added the oil. He and Kitty undressed, and they stepped into the tub. The vapors from the oil did a wonder for Kitty's stuffy nose. Matt's massaging hands did a wonder for her body.
"I hate being sick. But if it's going to get me this treatment, I won't complain too much," Kitty sighed.
"Honey, you can have this treatment anytime you want. It absolutely pleases me to pleasure you like this," said Matt as his hands continued to do their magic all over Kitty's body.
"You told me you were going to give me some tender loving care and you definitely delivered," said Kitty blissfully. She continued to enjoy the sensation of Matt's hands.
The End
