Two Days Later
Dr. Clayton Baxter removed the end-tips of his stethoscope from his ears looked down at Matt who was lying in bed, pale but alert. "Marshal Dillon, I don't know if you're the luckiest man alive or the most unlucky. The scars on your body speak to your lack of luck, but the fact that you keep recovering seems darn lucky." The tall, slightly stooped, gray haired physician scratched the back of his head. "I've never had a patient quite like you, in my many years of practicing medicine. I imagine your doctor back in Dodge has become quite a wealthy man, just from his fees for pulling bullets out of you."
Sitting in a chair beside Matt's bed, Kitty laughed and winked at Matt. "When we get home we'll have to ask Doc Adams where he's hiding all that money."
Matt chuckled, while pressing a hand over his bandaged lower abdomen. "So Doctor Baxter, I can go back to the hotel today, right?"
"Yes, yes." The old doctor rolled his eyes. "But, remember you have to take it slow and easy for the remainder of your stay, and no walking for at least couple of days. I don't want any tugging on those stitches." He grabbed his jacket from a hook, "I'm off to check on some patients. I'll bring a wheelchair when I return." He bent over the bed and looked Matt in the eye, "And I expect you to make good use of it." Baxter glanced over at Kitty with twinkle in his eyes. "I'll count on the lovely lady to keep you in line. I'm sure she has it in her to do so." Kitty laughed again, the world seemed bright right now. Matt's wound was deep, and the blood loss great, but no major organs suffered damage. He'd make a full recovery, and they had 5 whole days left in St. Louis. To her way of thinking, Matt being wheelchair bound for two or three days, would not put a damper on things.
Baxter opened the door and almost bumped into Mike Haley. "Hello Lieutenant." Mike smiled and nodded a greeting, before going to Matt's bedside. "Well, you're looking better and better. I hope you want some company, but first I have a message for Kitty." Becoming serious he turned to her. "Kitty, Will Stambridge is outside. He's leaving town and wants to know if you'll go out and say goodbye."
Kitty nodded slowly with the slightest of frowns. The 48 hours since the bloody end to her ordeal in that basement, had gone by in a blur. She'd remained by Matt's side in her blood drenched clothes, until he was out of the woods. Then Doctor Baxter looked her over, and prescribed a steaming bath, good meal, and long night's sleep. She followed his orders in a state of mindless exhaustion, and after 12 hours of dreamless sleep, awoke eager to put it all behind her. Fact was, she didn't want to think about Will, and how by drawing his gun against 3 arrogant youths, he'd set the whole terrible thing in motion. Could he have avoided it? A small sigh escaped her lips. She could picture herself, six months ago, on a grassy hill with Will. Him in his jacket and vested suit, smoking a pipe and waxing philosophical. She could almost hear his voice.
We all have to make choices, for most of us there comes a time when we question the choices we made – the mistake is not making a change, if that's what we really want.
By that time he'd become her ardent, charming and very attentive suitor. He wanted to marry her, and make a start fresh in life. There was no denying she felt an attraction, but not love - never love, so she turned him down. Now she wondered if the attraction she felt was for Will, or for the idea of Will, the person he wished he was, or could have been if he hadn't been a gunslinger. She heaved a long and heavy sigh.
"Kitty." Matt eyed her with concern. "You don't have to go see Stambridge, if it – it troubles you. Mike will explain to him."
She looked up startled, suddenly realizing she hadn't moved from her chair, and was staring into space. "It's fine Matt. I was just thinking things over. I'll be right back." She gently kissed his forehead and left Dr. Baxter's office.
Outside, the sun was strong. She squinted and saw Will across the street standing by his horse. He spotted her and lifted a hand in greeting. She smiled. Except for the bruise on his face he looked like the Will she knew best, groomed, well-dressed and confident. She crossed the street to join him. He took her hand. "Kitty, I'm glad you came to say goodbye. I wasn't sure you would after the disaster I brought down on us." He smiled with the same old charm, but she saw the effort behind it."
"Will, where will you go now, what will you do?"
Stambridge shrugged. "Not sure but this – situation - has made me questions my choices again. I really want to make a change."
Kitty took a step closer. "You could come back to Dodge. I'd give you a job. If you worked in the Long Branch for a while, you'd get to know people, and be part of the community. We both know farming isn't for you, but if you saved up some money and found a good business partner, you could figure something out."
"Don't you think your Marshal would mind me being underfoot all the time?"
"No." She shook her head, "Not as long as you set your guns aside, and tried to change your life."
Will shook his head with a sigh. "Kitty, if I went back to Dodge and felt your kindness and good will every day, I'd start to think there was a chance for us, even though I know here isn't. It's not such a good idea."
"Are you sure that's not just an excuse, for not making a change?" She heard the harshness in her voice and softened. "I care about you, Will, and the kind of life you lead."
A tiny smile tugged at Will's lips, "For that, dear lady, I will always be grateful." He climbed on his horse and gathered the reins. "Goodbye Kitty." He started to ride away, but paused and turned in the saddle. "Your Marshal. I never thanked him for saving my life. I thought about it when he rescued me from that lynch mob in Dodge, but the words got stuck in my throat. Now he's saved me again. Thank him for me."
"This time he took a bullet, that could have killed him. Will, make saving your life worth it."
He looked at her for a long moment, waved goodbye and rode off.
Kitty stood on the sidewalk watching, as Will disappeared into the distance, His words from last year echoed in her head. The mistake is not making a change if that's what you really want. She whispered softly."What do you really want Will? What kind of life?"
"Are you all right, Kitty?" Startled she jumped and turned towards the voice. "Oh Mike, I-I'm fine thanks." He nodded and offered an arm. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to intrude on your thoughts, but Matt was getting worried and, I swear, he was going to get right up out of that bed to come after you. I didn't want him to tear his stitches so I said I'd come and check on you. Not that you need checking up on, It' just ….."
Kitty smiled and took his arm. "I'm fine, and thank you for keeping Matt in that bed. We'd better go in before he comes looking for both of us. I – um – I kind of need to be near him right now, anyway. You know Mike, he's a – a comforting presence, even though most of the time he doesn't realize it."
TBC
