PT.12
My Family, My Choice!
Fenwick Sanitarium
Vermilion Parish
Abbeville, Louisiana
On a large estate, sat the exquisite Fenwick Sanitarium in the Vermilion Parish. A finely built structure
with towering pillars and a veranda circling all around the mansion. Bright white in color with a brilliant red peaked roof. This was a place reserved for the family of New Orleans area's finest. No expense was spared.
In a brightly lit room on the second floor, in a drug induced state, Constance LaRogue sat staring out the window. In a low whisper, "Kath..leen, Kath..leen." The light and the sparkle now gone from her eyes, she just sat in a sad somber state. The nurses would set her by the window and she would watch as if she were waiting but with no expression. And on occasion, the nurses would ask, "Who is Kathleen?"
But she wouldn't answer. She'd just repeat, "Kath..leen"
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Doc arrived in Broken Arrow not knowing exactly where he would find Matt or Kitty or what exactly the story was.
He checked himself into the hotel. While talking with the clerk, he learned that Matt had been over in the café with the sheriff. So, seeing he hadn't eaten for awhile, he headed in that direction, thanking the clerk for his help.
"You're quite welcome, Doctor."
Joe McAndels was just riding up outside and overheard the clerk refer to him as 'Doctor'. "Say, Fella, you're a doctor, are you?"
Tugging his ear, swiping his mustache. "That's what they tell me." Doc replied.
"It might be I could use your help."
"Sick, are ya? Don't look sick to me."
"Oh, no, not me." Joe answered. "It's my wife, she's been…well… Not sure how to explain it to ya, Doctor. I'm sorry, names Joe McAndels."
"I'm Doctor Adams. Live in town here, Mr. McAndels?"
"Oh, no, Doctor. I have a ranch, um, just out side of town here."
"Well, I'd be happy to come out and take a look at your wife for you. Unless you'd rather bring her to town?"
"Ah, Maggie's not too comfortable being around town folks."
"Oh, there a reason for that?"
"Takes some explaining, Doctor."
"People call me Doc."
"Ok, Doc."
"I was just gonna grab me a cup of coffee."
"Sure, I have to stop in the Cattlemen's Association office. Then if you don't mind I'll take you out to my place. See you in 15 minutes?"
"Will do." Doc said and he headed to the café across the street.
As he entered the café, he saw Matt, Frank and the sheriff sitting at a table in the back. "Well, I sure feel like I'm at home." He said smiling.
Matt looking confused, asked, "What do you mean?"
"I no sooner get checked in at the hotel and decide to come over here for coffee and a bite and I found me a patient, already."
Matt and Frank laughed. "Now, who here knew you were a doctor?"
"You mean besides this bag I'm carrying?"
"Oh, yeah." Matt rolled his eyes.
"No, some rancher heard the clerk call me Doctor and says his wife is ailing and would I look at her. When I asked what was the problem, he didn't know what to tell me. Just that she was ailing. I'm gonna meet him in 15 minutes. He's over at the Cattlemen's Association office."
"Doc, this rancher, did you get his name?" Matt asked.
"Sure, Matt. Hummmm, Mc… McAndels. Yeah, that was it. McAndels. Joe McAndels."
Matt and Frank turned to each other, then to Dan then back to Doc and together said, "KITTY."
Rubbing his upper lip and shaking his head, "Someone want to tell me what in thunder is going on here?"
"Doc," Frank started, "it's a long story."
"Well, for heaven sakes. You got me all the way down here…"
Dan looked at Doc. "Doctor, they're right. This is a long story and we're still not sure what the whole thing is yet."
"Oh, Doc, I'm sorry. This is Sheriff Dan Ward. This is our good friend, Doctor Adams. He also knows Kitty Russell very well."
Frank began. "Doc, you remember when I came into the Long Branch and said I saw Kitty down here in Broken Arrow? Well, I did. I wasn't crazy. This rancher, McAndels, she's living on his ranch. But she don't know us Doc. He's calling her, Maggie and says she's his wife of fifteen years. A wife that disappeared a year after they married, but supposedly showed up again a few weeks ago, out of the blue. But he says he knew her right off . There's some stuff that just smells real bad going on and I… well, we think Kitty's right in the middle of it."
"Now, wait a minute, Matt, Frank. Kitty wouldn't get mixed up…"
"No, Doc. I don't mean she's part of it. Knowing like… I mean, she… she don't know… We don't know how she got here."
Rubbing his mustache again. "Ok, first things first. We have to find out what's wrong with Kitty. And I ain't gonna do it sittin' here." Doc got up and headed for the door.
"Wait," Matt hollered.
"What?"
"I'm going with you."
"Now you can't do that, Matt."
"Why not?"
"Now why are you gonna say you're there?"
Dropping his eyes, "Oh, maybe your right. But, Doc, I just thought maybe if I could talk to her alone…"
"Oh, and demand she listen to you? Yeah, that usually works, don't it? Look, you big lug, I know you love her, I do too. Just let me go out and see what I can find out."
"Doc, I…"
"Yeah, yeah. I know."
As Doc exited the café, Joe was crossing the street. "Ahhh, Doc, good, perfect timing. Shall we go? I took the liberty of renting you a buggy, if that's ok with you."
"I'm obliged. Shall we then?"
"This way, Doc. It's only about 15 minutes."
"That's fine."
Waking from her afternoon nap, that Joe had talked her into, again she was startled. Again it was a repeat of the same.
Flashes and voices. "Kathleen won't let you do this. - She can't stop us. - Cowboy - Who are you? - Why are you doing this? - Leave her be, you're hurting her. - Kathleen. – Cowboy, I need you."
Again as she opened her eyes, the large figure was in the doorway. "What are you doing in here?"
"I heard you screaming, Mrs. McAndels."
"You shouldn't be in here, Tom. Where's my husband? Where's Joe?"
"Oh, he went into town. He'll be back soon."
Furrowing her brow. "You can go. I'm fine. It was just a bad dream."
"Are you sure Mrs. McA…"
She quickly cut him off. She felt uncomfortable. "I said, I'm fine. You can go, Tom. Thank you." She had an unsettling feeling in her stomach. Something about the way he watched her.
She went into the wash room, splashing water on her face, thinking about the dream, asking herself, "Who is this Kathleen? And who is Cowboy? Who is being hurt? And how can this Cowboy help? Damn! Why am I so confused? Where have I been all these years? Oh, my poor Joe. What has this been like for you? Joe, I'm so sorry."
Just then she heard the sound of horses. She hurried down the stairs and out the front door onto the porch. "Joe, you're back."
She ran right to him, putting her arms around his waist. "Oh, I'm sorry, we have company? Hello." She looked at Doc with a sweet smile.
Doc was amazed. There was no recognition.
"Maggie, Sweetheart, this here is Doctor Adams."
"Doctor Adams. It's so nice to meet you."
"Maggie, I invited the doctor here so he could have a look at you. To…"
"Oh, Joe. No. I don't need a doctor. Damn it!"
"I apologize, Doctor, for my wife's outburst."
"Joe, I told you I was just fine."
Doc waited a minute, then said, to Joe putting his hand up and winking, "Mrs. McAndels…" he said very gently… "May I call you Maggie, even though we just met?"
"Oh, I guess so."
"Your husband is just concerned. On the way out here, he explained to me that you have been experiencing some headaches and some confusion?"
"Well, yeah, some." She said quietly.
"Well, I'll tell you a little secret. We men like to be humored. So, how about you let me just check a few minor things and it will humor him. What do you say to that?" And he winked at her.
"You're a foxy thing, you know that?" Then she pulled back a moment and squeezed her eyes shut. For a moment… a quick flash of Doc's face… and then it was gone.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"I think so. I guess my husband also told you I've been gone a long time, did he?"
"Yes, Ma'am. He did."
"And that I can't remember things?"
"Yes."
"Doctor, um... Do you suppose I'll ever remember my life? All of it?"
"I certainly hope so. I sure do."
Doc proceeded to examine her and as he did, he noticed she had a good size lump on the back of her head. Quickly he remembered her hitting her head when they were at the Foster's. When Dave shoved her into the stone fireplace. And her falling asleep on his shoulder on the ride home that day. And the long sleep the next day. This all was coming back.
To himself he thought, "Kitty, Honey, I'm sorry. I didn't notice. And good God, what else have you been through?"
"Maggie, I'm gonna give you something to help you sleep better. Your husband says you're not sleeping well?"
"Oh, no. That's not necessary. Joe just worries. I just have these scrambled thoughts. But they don't make any sense. It's just frustrating."
Winking at her. "I'm sure it is."
TBC