Later that night, Kitty was snuggled in Matt's arms in the big, brass bed in her room down the hall from Louie's. She had shared Louie's story with Matt, and told him that he wanted both of them there tomorrow night.
"Kitty, it's all so hard to believe, and yes, I do feel guilty for never seeing that he could have been something other than a drunken, harmless, old man who needs protecting."
"Matt, don't be too hard on yourself. Everyone in town has thought that for the twenty years Louie has been in Dodge. You'll be there tomorrow night, won't you?"
"You bet I will! I owe him." Matt had been thinking of all of the times Louie had stumbled to the Marshal's office to warn him or alert him to danger.
The next morning, Kitty was standing behind the bar refilling a bowl with fresh hardboiled eggs when she looked up to see Doc's face peering in above the swinging doors.
"Come on in, Doc! Have some coffee with me."
The old man in the rumpled suit and ancient hat nodded, pushed through the doors and came in, head and shoulders bent forward in his distinctive shuffle. He put his scuffed-up doctor's bag on a table, scraped back a chair and sat down with a sigh. Kitty swept over with a tray of two coffee cups and a carafe.
"Doc, you look awfully tired for so early in the day." Kitty put her left hand on the right forearm of the man she loved like a father. She poured two cups of coffee and set one down by him.
"Oh, I'm all right, Kitty, but I AM tired. Spent most of the night at the Henderson's waiting for their sixth baby to decide to be born. Pretty little thing, though." The left corner of his mouth went up for a moment in his usual quick-lived smile.
"That's good. I remember what trouble you had with her fifth. So, did you bring any poetry books for Louie, Doc?"
"Indeed I did!" He opened his bag and pulled out three slim books and handed them to Kitty. "All of the poets on his list are in one or more of these books. I'd certainly like to see his reaction to listening to you read these to him." Doc pulled on his left ear and clicked his tongue.
Kitty decided it was up to Louie to invite Doc to the "settling-down-for-the-night" reading session, and followed him up the stairs to Louie's room after they finished their coffee.
Doc checked Louie's pulse, listened to her heart and lungs, and gently palpated the distended liver, noting how much more yellow-tinged his skin and eyes were. By now, Louie was too weak to get out of bed, and had to be lifted to a sitting position. The proud dying man could still use a bedpan on his own, with difficulty, and would not allow anyone to help him.
Frustrated that he could do no more for this gentle man, Doc turned away and made a show of carefully stashing his stethoscope in the old, battered leather bag on a chair by the bed.
Louie watched the selfless old man who had cared for him and the town for years, often being paid in vegetables, livestock, and promises.
"Now, Doc, don't you go feeling bad about me. I know that no one can do anything more for me with pills or powders. You've patched me up so many times over the years, and I surely owe you. I have one last favor to ask."
Doc turned back, met Louie's eyes and nodded. "Anything, Louie."
"I want you to be here tonight at ten o'clock with Kitty and Matt when Kitty settles me in for the night, and tonight, she'll be reading me poetry!" His eyes happily spying the books in Kitty's hands.
"I would be honored, Louie." Doc picked up his bag and turned to leave.
"Wait, Doc! Please, Miss Kitty, tell Doc what I told you last night before I finish my story tonight." Louie was wearing out and his head fell back against the pillow.
"I will, Louie. Come on, Doc, let's go find a quiet table and we'll talk." Kitty put her hand on her dear friend's back as they left the room and headed downstairs.
When they sat down at the table back by the stairs, Kitty waved at Sam and he headed over with two glasses and a bottle of their best rye whiskey. Kitty took her time telling Doc Louie's story, wanting to get it right. Doc listened attentively, all of his prior limited knowledge of Louie clashing with this new picture of an intelligent young scholar from Ohio.
"You know, Kitty, I don't think anyone has ever wondered enough about the "town drunk" to ask him anything about his past. Of course, Louie has always been too drunk to say much or even be listened to. I am ashamed to admit that I also took that man at face-value, never imaging what damaged him so much to cause his drinking. Even during those short and infrequent periods of time when he stopped drinking. Perhaps we'll find out tonight." Doc's eyes were moist as he stared at the beautiful woman who knew and loved him so well.
"Oh, Doc. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she put her slim right hand atop Doc's weathered left one.