PT.3

Turning to Kitty, Doc tugged his ear. "Kitty, honey, listen to me. None of this, I mean none of this has anything to do with you or what this old woman is saying. I suggest you go and get a good night's sleep. Now, all of you get on out of here so I can take care of these men."

Matt took Kitty by the arm, leading her out the door. "Kitty, look Doc is right. You can't listen to the ramblings of that old woman. Look, it's been a long day. We're all exhausted. Let's get some sleep. Things will look better in the morning."

As they walked back towards the Long Branch, she leaned into his body. "Oh, Matt. I just don't get it." As they walked past the alley neither of them felt the eyes on them.

Kitty woke early the next morning and headed up to Doc's office. Entering, she smiled. "Morning, Curly." She was holding a tray of food. I thought you'd be too busy to have breakfast so I stopped at Delmonico's."

Smiling, "Thanks, Honey."

"Doc? How's the patients?"

"Well, Kitty, sorry to say, I lost the one. The other is… well, holding his own for now. Wish I knew what this was. But ya know, he is showing signs much like that gypsy youngster."

Furrowing her brow. "What?"

"Yeah. The youngster with the gypsy family. The symptoms seem to be the same, Kitty." Doc was now shaking his head.

Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by a loud commotion in the street.

Kitty and Doc headed out to the landing only to see the old woman standing in the middle of the street in front of the Long Branch. She was splattering what looked like blood on the front of the building and yelling. "EVIL! EVIL! EVIL IS HERE!"

Kitty turned to Doc. "OH, DOC!"

Now the crowd was drawing, Sam now standing in the doorway. "Now listen here. You need to go on and stop this. Louie, go get Marshal Dillon."

"Yeah, Sam, right away."

"You can't protect that evil woman." The old woman declared. "She will bring harm to all. She must be destroyed."

Just as Matt came across the street, he met with Doc and Kitty. "Matt, that woman is crazy." Kitty spoke up grabbing onto his arm. "You gotta do something." Then looking to Sam, "Sam, you alright?"

"Oh yeah, Miss Kitty. I'm fine. I'll get this cleaned up."

Matt approached the old gypsy woman. "Now, Ma'am. I'm gonna have to ask that you and your family leave Dodge. These accusations you're making against Miss Russell…"

She now looked at the star on his chest. "This means you can do something, does it? You need to dispose of her. Burn her. Drown her before she can harm anyone else."

Rolling his eyes, "Ma'am, Kitty Russell hasn't harmed anyone."

"She is wicked! EVIL! Where I come from, we drown redheaded babies. They are witches, evil born. Burn them so they can't harm anyone."

Shaking his head, "Now, Ma'am…"

Just then, the door opened. "Momma. I've been looking all over for you."

"Mr. Basco, I was just explaining to your mother here that she can't go around accusing people of being evil and throwing blood on buildings."

Throwing his hands up, "MOMMA! Marshal, I apologize for my Momma."

"Mr. Basco, I think it would be better for all concerned if you and your family take your camp outside of town and keep your mother there, away from Miss Russell. Please?"

"Sorry, Marshal. Momma, time to go. Marshal, my momma, she still lives by old ways and old beliefs. I hope you can understand?"

"Mr. Basco, believing in them and acting on them are well… different things."

Nickolas Basco moved his family and camp back out to where they camped before they came to Dodge.

Matt decided to take a ride out there to talk with them. As he rode into the camp, he could smell the campfire and food cooking. By the fire was a young woman.

"Good morning, Sir!"

Nodding, "Good morning, Ma'am. I'm Marshal Dillon from Dodge City."

"Yes, I see your star. My husband Nickolas, he's getting water. Will you sit have coffee and food with us?"

"Thank you. I will." He said as he climbed down.

Handing him the coffee, "My husband tells me we are not welcome to be in Dodge City."

"Well, Ma'am, it's not that simple. See, Mr. Basco's mother…"

"Ah, yes. Momma. She is old. She has many old ideas."

"Yes, ma'am, and when she was in Dodge she caused some problems."

"Yes. The redhaired woman?"

"Yes, Ma'am. It seems she has a notion that Miss Russell has done things or will do things."

Frowning at him, "Marshal, your Miss Russell was here when our boy died. She was with the old man, the Doctor. She was helping him."

"Yes, that's right. They told me about that. Kitty helps Doc quite often."

"Marshal, Momma's old ways believe that something about her is…"

He now threw up his hands. "Yeah, yeah, I know. EVIL. She's told me and anyone else who will listen. But I've known Kitty Russell for many years. And I can tell you she is not an evil person. She is a very kind woman. Kitty won't hurt anyone. She has helped many people. She has a very kind heart."

Now smiling at him, "Marshal, you care about this woman, do you?"

"Well…"

"Marshal, when you speak of her you have a light in your eyes. It comes from your heart."

Matt tilted his head to hide the flush of color that washed over his face.

Just then Nickolas walked up. "Good morning, Marshal." He said, handing his wife the bucket of water.

"Basco, I just stopped to see that you settled in."

"We are doing well here, Marshal, and I promise I will keep an eye on Momma. Clarisssa, speaking of Momma, she is sleeping in?"

"Oh, I thought she was with you, Nickolas?"

Quickly, he ran to her wagon. "Momma? Momma? Clarissa, she's not here. Marshal, my momma is old. She is on foot. The horses are here."

"Basco, we'll find here."

Matt headed back. As he was riding with Basco, Matt began rubbing his head.

TBC