Decisions and Desires
Chapter 12
Arlo figured it would take about a week for them to make the return trip to Dodge. After two day's travel they arrived at the entrance to the draw where Swift Arrow had left him and Quint a few days earlier. He had just made camp for the night when the Indian silently appeared from the bushes behind them. Arlo was startled and instinctively drew his gun, but fortunately recognized the Comanche just in time. Swift Arrow used a few words of English, accompanied by sign language, to explain that he was going to see them safely through the land of the Comanche, but in fact stayed with them until they were within an easy day's ride of Dodge.
As they were leaving their overnight camp site next morning, Matt decided he was able to ride, and persuaded Arlo to unhook the travois from the pack horse. At first it seemed that the lawman was having difficulty keeping his balance in the saddle, but as time went on he improved, and their pace picked up considerably.
ooo000ooo
It was just before noon when two riders were seen on Front Street. One of them was a little slumped in the saddle, but still arguing fiercely with the other.
"Matt you really need to stop by and let Doc take a look at you. That bruise on your head looks pretty serious, and last night you were fevered again. You were rambling on about killers, and burying people." He turned his head so he could watch Matt's expression before adding his final blow, "And you talked a lot about Kitty too."
Arlo had actually been surprised when Matt, in a fevered dream, began calling Kitty's name. It had only added to his realization that however much the marshal denied it, there was a considerable 'something' between the marshal and the saloon owner. A sudden change in expression came over Dillon's face as the trail boss hit him with those words, but it only lasted a second or two before being pushed aside.
"I need to check that everything is all right at the office, then I'll go along and see him."
Somehow Matt had managed to completely ignore the remark.
Arlo gave up arguing. This man was going to do things his own way whatever the outcome. He left the lawman at the Marshal's Office and took the horses to the livery. They were both tired and in need of water and feed, as were the riders. He left the stable and headed for the Long Branch where word was already spreading that Dillon had returned. He saw Kitty reading a newspaper at the back table where he had sat with her for many pleasant evenings before leaving town. She looked up as he approached, her eyes were troubled but there was a welcoming smile on her lips. Arlo removed his hat and took the chair next to her.
"I brought him home," he said softly, wondering what kind of reception he would get.
"I heard, Arlo. Thank you for that. Where's Quint?"
"He'll be along. He went to find the Tanney gang."
"Alone! He can't do that."
"He seemed to think he could, in fact he told Matt as much."
Kitty figured that if Matt Dillon had let Quint go off alone like that he must have been in pretty bad shape himself.
There was silence for a number of seconds.
"How's Matt doing?" she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral and her eyes on the newspaper in front of her.
"He was in pretty rough shape when we found him. He's got a big bruise on the side of his head and he's been running a fever from time to time, but he was able to stay in the saddle for the last four days."
"Did you leave him at Doc's?"
"No, he insisted on checking on things at the office first. You want me to walk down there with you?"
She thought for a moment. "Not just now Arlo, I have a lot of thinking to do."
There was a distance between them that had not been there before. He wanted to ask her to eat lunch with him but decided she would turn him down and didn't want that to happen. He needed to ask about her and Matt, but knew this was not the time.
"Guess I'll see you later then. I'll be around if you need me." He rose from his chair and started to turn toward the street. She reached up and touched his arm.
"I need time to sort things out, Arlo, my life has been a little confused of late. Thank you for bringing him home."
He nodded and, without further discussion, turned and left.
Kitty watched as the batwing doors swung closed behind him. Part of her wanted to rush to see Matt Dillon, but part of her could not forget the things that had happened between them. Was she right to stir up all those emotions again? She went back to her newspaper but her eyes only scanned the words on the page, her mind took no interest in their meaning. She was so engrossed in the turmoil of feelings inside her head that she did not even notice when someone else came to take the seat next to her.
"Kitty."
Vaguely she heard the voice, but it hardly penetrated her mind. She did not respond until a kindly hand came to rest on her arm. Somehow Doc was there.
"Oh hi Curly, I didn't hear you come in."
He just nodded, ignoring her obviously distracted state.
"Must be some pretty interesting stuff in there." He indicated the paper she was reading.
"Not really, it's three days old." She stopped and took a breath, folding the newspaper and placing it on the table as she did so. "Matt is back."
"So I heard, I thought I'd go and check on him. Just wondered if you wanted to come along."
She considered the offer carefully but decided against it.
"No, you go on and see how he's doing, I'll catch up with him later."
Adams knew she had a lot of thinking to do about her relationship with the lawman, so did not try to persuade her. The marshal's recent behavior did not fit with the character of the man he knew so well. It was just not like him to act the way he had, especially towards Kitty Russell. Maybe there was a simple explanation. He would certainly do his best to find one.
ooo000ooo
Doc opened the door to the Marshal's office. Even though it was full daylight outside, the overhanging roof of the boardwalk and grime that had accumulated on the windows since Chester had left, made it much darker inside. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust. He looked around the room and at first thought no one was there. Then he saw movement from the old cot along the back wall. He set his medical bag on the desk and went to look at the man lying there.
The first thing he noticed was the bruising on the side of his friend's head. Adams was even more concerned when he noticed the small amount of dried blood mixed in with the hair above his left ear and a multicolored bruise around his eye. He pulled a chair from the center table and placed it next to the cot so he could be at the same level as his patient
"Matt," he started carefully, not knowing what kind of reception he was going to get, "I think maybe you and I need to have a talk."
The marshal had been lying on his back but now turned on his side so that his back was towards the doctor who was disturbing him.
"Can't a man get any rest around here?"
The tone of the reply was angry and short tempered, but Doc managed to remain calm and reasonable.
"Sure, I'll let you rest, but I think you need to come up to my office and let me clean that wound up and check you over. You look a little fevered to me."
"Doc I don't have time for that. Quint is out there somewhere doing my job. I need to go help him. I just need to sleep for a while. Go away and leave me alone." Matt didn't even turn to look at the physician, his eyes remained fixed on the wall in front of him
"I think Quint can handle himself. Besides from the look of you I don't think you would be much help to anyone."
Matt didn't say anything in reply, and there was a silence in the jailhouse that lasted for almost a minute.
Doc got up from his chair and turned it back towards the table where it belonged. Arguing with this man in his present state was getting him no where. Dillon was beyond reasoning. There was only one thing he could do.
"Matt, you are the most stubborn man I know. I also know that it's been quite a while since you were fit enough to perform the duties of a United States Marshal."
He stopped for a moment taking a breath or two before playing his only trump card. He didn't want to do it but considered it the only way to get Matt Dillon's attention.
"As your personal physician, and a concerned resident of Dodge City, I believe that your refusal to take adequate care of your health represents a shameful dereliction of duty, and as such I will be required to send a report to your superiors in Washington."
"Doc" Matt started
"No, Matt, no excuses. Be in my office within the hour, or you will find me at the telegraph office."
The physician left the jail house, closing the front door a little more forcefully than necessary and hoping his words would have the desired effect.
He stopped by the Long Branch on his way back along Front Street. Kitty had kept one eye on the swing doors for the last hour or more. When he entered she was talking to Sam, across the bar. She looked at him hopefully as he approached.
"Well Doc, what do you think? Is he all right?"
"I think so, Kitty, but I can't be sure till I've checked him over, I told him to come by my office within the hour. After that I'll let you know." The physician had taken his watch from its pocket and flipped it open so he could note the time.
"In that case, how about a drink?" she offered. The physician nodded at the suggestion.
"I thought you'd never ask," he replied.
Kitty nodded towards the barkeep, and a glass containing a generous shot of whisky was placed on the counter.
"To your very good health." the physician toasted the saloon owner, then downed the drink in a single swallow before slowly placing the glass back on the counter.
"I best be getting back to the office now, I'll see you later Kitty."
TBC