RESCUED: CHAPTER 15

Dodge sure looked like Dodge on a Saturday night. With the holding pens filled to the brim, all five saloons and all three restaurants were overrun with the first wave of thirsty, hungry trailhands who'd won the right to hit town first while their buddies held the rest of the herd just south of town. The train had four extra stock cars in line, ready to head east with their valuable cargo by dark, so the next train could pull into Dodge and repeat the process. Kitty stood with Sara in her arms at the railhead with Doc and Joseph, all of them relishing the sight.

"Mrs. Dillon, this is amazing!" Joseph was beaming, looking at the beautiful lady who wasn't the least bit concerned about the dust and noise. "I never could have imagined . . ."

"It's KITTY!" She shouted at the young doctor over the din. "Already told you, it's Kitty! If you're staying in Dodge, you'd better get used to it!"

"Don't argue with her, Joseph." Doc was grinning broadly. "It's futile."

"Do those cowboys listen to that all the way from Texas?"

"All the way." Doc answered, grinning up at the wide-eyed young man. "They're what put Dodge City on the map, and we're mighty grateful to have 'em. Kitty and I never get tired of looking at this."

"Look! The boys from the restaurants are pointing at their choices!" Kitty nodded toward the front pen.

"Supper tonight?" Joseph asked.

"No, that's not how it works. They'll hold back their choices in that small pen over there. Then they're slaughtered and cured for a while before we get a taste. You'd better plan on following us home for the celebration tonight, Joseph. I have plenty from earlier this summer in the icehouse."

Doc gave Kitty a quick kiss on the cheek and took Sara from her arms. "Let's get Sara out of this dust. Your house sounds like the perfect refuge."

They walked the short distance to the house, Joseph chattering away the whole time about witnessing the cattle being brought into the holding pens. Kitty put Sara down in her crib and tucked Matt's little kitten in next to her, then went to attend to her guests.

"I'll get supper on early, guys. Charlie and Festus need a home cooked meal before the chaos starts in the saloons. Ava should be here any minute. The men should be around soon."

As if on cue, Ava popped in the back door, brushing the dust off her dress.

"That's a sight out there!"

Kitty smiled her best smile, relieved that the mess she'd struggled with that day was over and done. "I can't believe you're here, Ava! What about supper at the boarding house?"

"Ham, beans, and cornbread. It's all ready to serve at seven. Ma's keeping it warm. Thought I'd see if I could help a little around here."

"You're wonderful, you know that? Will you please help me get food started for the guys?"

"Well, they ought to be mighty glad they have a place to eat. The restaurants won't be able to serve anybody but cowboys tonight."

"And well they should serve those cowboys! Doc, you're the bartender. Help yourself and Joseph to a drink."

"Cyrus told me about your part in rescuing the bank, Kitty." Joseph was tentatively trying out her first name but he figured it was safe while she was busy cooking. "You should run for mayor!"

"By thunder, what an idea!" Doc chimed in. "The marshal and the mayor! What a team that'd be!"

Kitty turned around and shook her stir spoon at Doc with a big smirk on her face.

"Seriously. Aren't YOU just the comedian, Doctor! Women can't even vote, much less run for Mayor!"

Poor Joseph's face flushed. He had no idea the love these two had for each other, and how many years they'd been at their teasing.

"Sorry, I was just after a little humor. Didn't mean to . . ."

"No, No, No!" Doc cut in on the young man, looking very much like the cat that ate the canary. "I wasn't joking at all! Kitty, you'd be a shoo-in! And you don't need a single woman to vote for you, because all the men would!"

"Ah! Of course!" Joseph keyed off Doc with renewed confidence. "If they held the election today, you'd win in a landslide."

"Thank you, Joseph." She said softly, the banter concluded. "Did you gentlemen know that women can already vote in Laramie?"

"No!" They both chimed in simultaneously.

"It's true. Lily told me. Happened while she was still working up there back in '70."

"Maybe City Council." Doc offered dryly.

"Oh STOP!" She filled their plates with chicken stew and beans while Ava put the cornbread in the center of the table. "Let's just enjoy this food."

Eager eaters slid their chairs into the table. The only one who was still lost in thought was Ava, who added ever so softly, "You could win either one, Kitty."

She'd been expecting Festus for supper. What she hadn't expected was the young cowboy he had in tow, and the agitated look on his face.

"Miss Kitty! Doc here?"

"C'mon in, Festus. Yes, he's in the parlor."

"What is it, Festus?" Doc stood up, pushing his coffee away.

"Doc, this here's Buck Nelson. He rides for Dave Henry down on Bluff Creek."

"Buck, I'm Doc Adams. You need a doctor?"

"Yeah, well, that is no, I need you to come to the Henry ranch with me. They sent me to fetch you. Paul was bringin' in the marshal whenever they sent me this mornin'. See, I wasn't with the wagon or nothin' like that, but the cowboy that found 'em and rode in said . . ."

"Hold on now, son, hold on." Doc said in his most soothing voice. "Let's do this one little piece at a time."

"Sorry. I been ridin' at a good clip since sunup."

Kitty cut in, even more eager than Doc to hear the young man's story. She'd been all along ducking the issue that Matt had been gone more than enough time to ride all the way to Ashland and send a telegram. Henry Ranch was only half that distance.

"Buck, here, you sit and have a whiskey." She pointed at the table and with a trained hand, poured a tall one.

"Thank you, ma'am." The young cowboy snatched his hat off, embarrassed that he'd forgotten it when he walked in the house. Kitty and Ava quickly cleared their places while Doc and Joseph took their seats again, watching the young man take a couple of generous gulps of his drink.

"So like I was sayin', I wasn't there when that cowboy rode in or nothin' but the boss come and got me and told me . . ."

Doc interrupted him, realizing that free recitation wasn't going to work.

"Buck, slow down. Who needs a doctor?"

"The marshal, that's what Paul said."

Kitty drew a sharp breath and looked at Doc. This time he ignored her, knowing full well that no matter what had happened to Matt, she was safe and with friends.

"What's wrong with the marshal?" He went on.

"Don't know but the boss went for him in the wagon at sunup."

"Went where?"

"Don't know that neither. Paul came and got me. He told me to saddle up right quick and get the Doc from Dodge. So ya' see, Dave headed south with the wagon and I headed north and that's why I'm here ta' take ya' back."

Doc looked at his pocket watch. "Just a little over an hour of daylight left. That's a long ride, Buck."

"It ain't bad. Just a day."

"Galen, look," Joseph cut in. "I take the prairie calls. I'll head down there with Buck."

A shiver ran down Galen Adams' spine. It was decision time. He'd been by Joseph's side almost every minute since he'd arrived in Dodge, and the youngster had passed every test. The man he regarded as his son could have another bullet in him, maybe a broken leg, maybe worse. He pushed his repulsive visions aside. It was time to move on. Time to test Joseph's mettle on a grueling, all night ride on the prairie. He glanced at Kitty. She had an oddly tranquil look on her face. But when she laid her hand on his arm, he knew.

"All right, Joseph," he said abruptly before he allowed himself to argue. A thought raced through his head to give Joseph Matt's complete medical history, remind him to take a bullet extractor, make sure he had plaster and chloroform in his bag. Instead, all he said was, "Go pack up everything you think you'll need. You mind this now, young man: That old wagon road down to Bluff Creek is a nasty bugger. Don't be ridin' stupid."

"Got it, Galen. Thanks for the tip." He was out the door like he'd been called to a fire.

"Buck, 'yer gonna need a fresh horse if'n 'yer gonna ride all night." Festus' voice was uncharacteristically soft. "We got us a big, strong gildin' in th' barn what might please 'ya. I kin put 'yer saddle on 'im. We'll keep 'yers here n' trade back after this all blows over, dontcha' see?"

"Thanks, Festus. Mine's pretty tired. He'll be needin' some oats."

"I gotcha' covered on that. Now you git some vittles so's 'yer ready when th' Doc gits back."

Kitty, Doc and Ava watched Buck Nelson eat like he hadn't been fed in a week.

"Where's that gelding gonna be, ma'am?" He finally said as he wiped his mouth for the third time.

"In our barn, right outside. I'm sure Festus will have him all ready to go."

"Then I'll be off to the barn. Much obliged for the vittles."

"Buck, when you get to the ranch, you tell the marshal . . ." She caught herself and drew a corrective breath. This was no time for personal talk. "You tell the marshal we're all fine up here, got that?"

"Yes ma'am. I sure will do that."

Kitty, Ava, and Doc sat quietly together after the young man walked out the door, each of them lost in thought and none of them knowing what to say. Thankfully, Festus broke the silence when he came back in, his spurs pounding out their distinctive melody until he took a seat at the table. For some reason, Kitty just stared at his badge. But Doc knew.

"They's gone, Miss Kitty." Festus said softly. "Doc Joseph he done loaded up TWO doctorin' bags. One on his horse an' one on Buck's. He oughta have more 'n enough . . ."

"Thank you, Festus." Kitty placed her hand gently on his, knowing he was as worried about Matt as she was. "Joseph will do just fine. Now you need to eat while we still have some left."

"Festus, you tell Mister Cole I'll bring food for him to the jail for him in a couple of hours. You'll be busy until the saloons close."

"Aw, fiddle, Ava. Nuthin' but a bunch a' trail worn cowboys. They might kick up their heels a little bit once they get fulla' scamper juice, but they ain't gonna cause much trouble. Sides, it gits too cold at night now 'fer 'em ta' be a-runnin' all over town. They's gonna be in them bedrolls a'fore midnight, I'd be bettin'."

"You'll tell Mister Cole, you hear?" Ava repeated.

"Better yet, kin I 'jes take me a couple plates a' this here food back ta th' jail with me? Might 'jes as well make sure Charlie don't need me 'fer nuthin' seein's how I bin gone a while."

Kitty hurried to plate up two mounded helpings of the stew and cornbread, covered them with two of her big napkins, then gave Festus a quick kiss on the cheek.

"You skedaddle now!" She held the door so Festus could stomp out with the food. When she returned to her seat at the table, Doc and Ava were sharing a very private conversation.

"What's this all about?"

"Kitty, he's probably just fine," Doc offered. "That was some pretty sketchy information from Buck. Don't forget, Matt went looking for Frank. Maybe it's Frank . . ."

"And if it is?" She snapped. "You think I haven't thought of that? Frank is Matt's best friend, and he's my friend too, you know. I care very much about him. He was covering Dodge while Matt and I went to San Francisco. If something happened to him I'd never forgive myself."

"I'll be heading over to work now," Ava announced.

"Wait just a minute, Ava," Kitty chimed in. "Will you watch Sara for me tomorrow?"

"You know I will! She'll have to go to school with me at nine though. Hope you don't mind that."

Kitty smiled softly. "She's such a good baby. Your students will love her, and she just might learn something."

"Then I'll see you two in the morning. I'm off to serve dinner."

Doc waited until Ava had closed the door behind her.

"Now, young lady, what do you have to do tomorrow besides enjoy your beautiful daughter? You've been working for Dodge three days straight. A little rest at home seems in order."

"Is my schedule so all-fired important that you had to talk with me privately?"

"Hey! Smooth those hackles, young lady. I know you pretty well. You wouldn't be planning to bury yourself in work at the Long Branch tomorrow, now would you?"

"It's always helped when I've been worried about him," she admitted softly. "I have friends around me there."

"Charlie'll be here later."

"Another wonderful friend. It's just not the same. I got pretty spoiled in San Francisco, Doc. Didn't have to share Matt with anyone, not even friends."

tbc