Twenty-one
It was midnight and she was still pacing back and forth, as if she were a caged circus lion looking for a way out. She wrung hands, and they hurt from the effort, for it had been repeated too many times.
Lilly had come into his room shortly after Kitty had administered the pill. "Good." She said, "I see you dun took my advice. I could tell he was headed fer the funk, I know it were a hard thing to do, but you'll see it was the right thing. You want, I should set with him a spell?"
"Thank you, no. I'll stay with him. You go on to bed." That had been four hours earlier, and now here she was still in his room, still wondering if she'd done the right thing.
Her pacing continued and with each step another worry came to the forefront. There were so many questions and so few answers. Without doubt, her primary concern was for Matt's health. Pain like that, couldn't be normal. Oh, how she wished Doc were there to tell her what to do - to work his healing magic on Matt. The thought of Adams brought her back to Matt's request earlier that day. "Go home to Dodge, home to Doc." Was he telling her something more than a mere childlike request? How could she know for certain? Oh, how she wished they could go home to Doc. That kind good soul would certainly know what to do. She replayed the day's events in her mind and felt cornered by the danger she was sure they were in. She thought about how well Matt had seemed when they took the rowboat from the storage shed and tested its water worthiness. He'd known just what was needed to fix the craft."Pine tar." He'd told her. "Fix the leak with pine tar."
She paced the room three more times before she asked herself again,was there a message he was trying to convey in regard to the boat? The boat? It was a means of escape, why hadn't she seen it before? Doc Adams and the boat. Maybe they couldn't get to Dodge, but could they get Doc to them? He would know what to do. The boat and the river - they could travel by moonlight, and could be miles away before anyone suspected them missing. Full moon was two weeks away - if she could get word to Doc to meet them somewhere downriver. Mail took at least ten days to reach Kansas from the East Coast, a telegram wasn't safe, too easily could it be intercepted by Wilcox or Barger. It would take Doc three days by train to get to them. Down river. What town would be down river … she thought hard … twenty five miles down river was Mt. Morris. It was large enough to get lost in for a time, but small enough that Adams would be able to find them. Doc could come to them, maybe even bring Festus with him. Confluent thoughts were traveling through her brain at rapid speed. What seemed a muddled mess suddenly had form and substance. Down river - a smile brightened her face. She'd need to get word to Doc as soon as possible. She'd go to the post office first thing in the morning, before Matt awoke. Oh, it would be a tricky thing … but it was hope incarnate.
She managed not more than a couple hours sleep that night, but she was filled with energy when she awoke from her slumber. Before bed, she'd composed a short note to Doc on a piece of paper, from the writing tablet Matt had practiced his name on. Her words were succinct; almost abstract, fearing the possibility her note might fall into the wrong hands. Her signature was only the letter "K". She scoured the small secretary in her room for an envelope and found one, creased and yellowed with age. She used candle wax to seal it, imprinting the tallow with the impression of her cameo broach, so Doc would know it was she. Satisfied, she had at last taken some control over their destiny, Kitty went to bed.
At sun up, Kitty rose. She dressed simply, donning a white blouse and black gabardine skirt and wescot, that she'd brought with her from Dodge. She pulled on her sturdy boots for the long walk to town. When thus attired, she checked on Matt. He was stirring, although not fully awake. Without thought beyond the moment, she went to the kitchen. Placing one of Lilly's oblong pills on the cutting board she proceeded to slice it in fourths. Returning to Dillon's side, she slipped a small piece in his mouth and watched as he swallowed it.
She threw on a black cape and with the envelope tucked in her handbag,she tiptoed past Lilly's cot in the parlor and was just about at the front door, when Lilly called out, "Where you sneakin' off to?"
Kitty cleared her throat, "I wasn't sneaking anywhere. It's a pleasant morning and I thought I'd go for a walk. I won't be gone too long. Keep an eye on Matt for me, would you please?"
She was sitting up on the cot, her stringy hair standing at odd angles to her head, and her bony body looking even scrawnier in a muslin nightgown too large for her skinny frame. "Curious thing, you headin' out afore breakfast."
"Not curious at all, I've always enjoyed an early morning walk." She opened the door and let her self out before Lilly could voice any further comment.
The air was brisk. There was a wind today that sent the golden leaves falling from the trees like rains from the heavens. They made a scrunch-swish sound as she walked through them. She wasn't sure where the post office was but figured no doubt; it was not far from Town Square. She quickened her pace to combat the chill.
She was halfway there when she noticed a small covered delivery wagon approaching from the opposite direction, being pulled by a team of elderly mares. Some yards in front of her the driver pulled the horses to a stop. She noted the name Yeoman's Meats painted neatly on the side. The driver jumped down from his seat and walked in her direction. The heavily bearded man wore a leather cap, pulled low, and thick spectacles, which were perched on the end of his nose. Her heart beat fast as she realized he was coming to her.