Kitty's Love Story

Chapter 4

Kitty breezed into Doc's office shortly before 11am, carrying a breakfast tray and looking radiant and well-rested. Her middle of the night conversation with Bill had awakened Doc, who first checked on his patient and then insisted she go home for some much needed sleep. He got no argument from her this time.

She had slept sound and hard, managing to avoid the disturbing dreams that had haunted her brief nap at Bill's bedside. It occurred to her upon rising that she had not eaten a meal since yesterday morning, when she and Matt had gotten a bite at Delmonico's before catching the stage. Had all gone as planned, they would have enjoyed lunch together at that small café in Tanner's Creek during their layover. But of course, nothing had gone as planned yesterday. She assumed Matt was in Hays preparing for his testimony, oblivious to the traumatic events that had followed their argument. That stupid, heat of the moment argument that she so regretted. She ached for his comforting arms to hold her and make her feel safe again.

After taking a bath and getting dressed, she had stopped by the bakery for an assortment of rolls and pastries in case Bill and Doc were as hungry as she was. Kitty did a careful balancing act as she walked up the wooden steps with a tray full of food and coffee, hoping that Bill was awake and not in too much pain.

Bill was not only awake, he was hobbling around Doc's office on a pair of crutches that were clearly too short for him. It was the only set Doc had, and Bill was determined that he wasn't going to spend the day in bed. "Good morning," he lit up as she entered. He suddenly forgot all about the pain in his thigh.

"Well, look at you," she chuckled as he unsteadily made his way around the office, looking like a giant toddler learning his first steps. "I'm so happy to see you up and about."

"I'm pretty happy about that myself," he quipped, wincing slightly as he put some weight on the bad leg.

"Now don't you go undoing my handy work," Doc chided his overeager patient, pointing a finger in Bill's direction. "It's fine to move around a bit, but take it easy on that leg." It was a lecture Doc had given many times over the past twenty years, to one man in particular. He couldn't help but wonder when that man might get back into town, and what he would think about this situation. What was this situation exactly? He didn't know for sure, but Doc thought he sensed something between Kitty and Bill. He didn't like it one bit, but nobody would ever know it.

Kitty set her tray of goodies down on the table. "I don't know about you two, but I'm starving," she announced good-naturedly. "How about helping me get rid of these? I think my eyes were bigger than my stomach."

Doc and Bill both sniffed around the tray with interest. They had slept late too, and Doc had just been preparing to go find them something to eat when Kitty appeared. "Don't mind if I do," Bill said, picking up an inviting blueberry muffin. Doc went into the back room to retrieve three coffee cups, then chose a piece of homemade bread and made use of the small bowl of strawberry jam sitting next to it.

An hour went by quickly as the threesome leisurely sat in Doc's office, polishing off the tray and chatting. Bill and Kitty filled Doc in on the details of their ordeal, and Doc was pretty sure he knew who the culprit was. "It sounds like Pete Folsom," he told them. "He killed two people during a bank robbery in Garden City, and Matt tracked him to his father's place just outside of Dodge. Harry Folsom—mean old son of a gun. It's no wonder his son turned out the way he did."

Kitty slowly nodded as the story came back to her. "I remember that name. Matt found some evidence that the son had been hiding out there, and Harry pulled a gun and said he was trespassing. Matt got the gun away from him and arrested him for obstruction."

"That's the one," Doc confirmed. "He wouldn't cooperate, and then Pete hit another bank. Harry was practically bragging about how the law would never find him. Matt had no choice but to take him up to Hays, but he was afraid Pete might be out for revenge."

Doc glanced at Bill, who was silently taking in these new details. "You did a mighty brave thing," he said softly to his patient. "We sure are grateful to you."

Bill smiled humbly. He knew who "we" were. Kitty had told him all about Doc on that bumpy ride to Dodge, his head leaning against her shoulder as she tried to keep him conscious with story after story. He knew that Doc Adams was not only a fine physician, but a beloved friend. She spoke of him like family.

She didn't mention the other part of "we," but Bill felt his considerable presence looming large over them. Kitty Russell was close enough to Marshal Matt Dillon that they were not only taking a trip together, but a criminal like Pete Folsom knew that the best way to get to Matt was to threaten Kitty. Their relationship must be common knowledge, and from her comment on the stage it had been going on for some time. There must be a reason they had never married.

Ethics and common sense told him to leave it alone. He wasn't exactly sure how she had ended up on that stage to Tanner's Creek without him, but Kitty was obviously involved with another man. And not just any man, but the marshal of Dodge City. He had no business pursuing her, nor did he stand a chance if he did. Yet there was something about this woman that caused a man to lose all sense of reason. He had not been attracted to anyone since Grace had died, and he hadn't been on a date in over thirty years. He suddenly felt like a young man nervously courting his first crush.

Bill Dunlap made an uncharacteristically spontaneous decision. Kitty Russell was not married, and she was free to keep company with any man of her choosing. If she said no, he would lick his wounds and be back on his way to Kinsley as soon as he was fit to travel. He could go home with his head held high, having acted with courage in saving an innocent woman from certain harm. But if he didn't at least ask, he would forever wonder what might have been.

Kitty gathered her considerably lighter tray and stood up to leave. "I'll be back to check on you later," she promised. "You listen to Doc and take it easy, okay? I don't want to get any bad reports on you."

"Yes Ma'am," he said dutifully. She had almost made it to the door when he summoned up the courage to stop her.

"Kitty, wait" he called.

She turned around and looked at him expectantly. "Yes?"

"I would be honored if you would accompany me to dinner this evening."

Kitty didn't know what to say. Was he just being polite, or was it more than that? Something in his voice told her it was the latter. If so, he would be one in a long line of men who had been interested in her during the many years she had been the single woman who was taken. But, she realized at that moment, one of very few who actually tempted her to say yes.

Was it the fact that he had saved her life, or did the attraction go deeper? She wasn't sure. He was a handsome man, a kind man. She genuinely liked him, and the thought of spending more time with him appealed to her. She took a deep breath and turned to Doc.

"Is he well enough to go out tonight?" she asked.

Doc gave Kitty a look that said more than words could have. Are you sure you know what you're doing? Of course, he had to give her an honest answer.

"I suppose so," Doc replied cautiously. "As long as he stays off that leg and drinks a lot of water. No alcohol. He needs to rest and keep hydrated, but it should be fine to go out for a short time."

Kitty smiled at Bill. "Well then, I guess it's a date."

TBC