In Pursuit of Justice

Chapter 1

I stood at the entrance to the Long Branch and glanced around the smoke filled room. I could see Kitty - she was sitting at a table in the center of the room chatting with one of the more prosperous ranchers of Ford County. She waved her hand, beckoning me to enter.

"Come and join us Doc," she invited. "You know Bert Stringer don't you?"

"Yes. How's young Bobby doing, Bert?" I asked the man whose son I'd been called out to see two days ago. I'd concluded he had a mild case of croup but his mother was almost frantic. Bobby was four years old and their only child.

"He's much better Doc. Jenny was real worried about him but you sure eased her mind. Thank you."

I pulled out the chair next to Kitty and went to sit down before I realized someone was missing.

"Where's Matt?" I asked. We'd been back from that horrendous trip to Doctor G. L. Harrington's Clinic in Denver for a little over two weeks now. Harrington had given Matt strict instructions about the amount of exercise and rest he was supposed to take each day and specified definitely no riding for at least 3 months. Matt had reluctantly agreed to comply once Harrington had explained the all too real possibility of permanent nerve damage and paralysis if he didn't follow directions to the letter.

"He was here at lunch time," Kitty answered. Her blue eyes started looking around the room. "He's usually here by now - after he gives Newly and Festus their orders for the night." Then she remembered something. " Oh! Festus isn't here tonight - he's taking a prisoner to Hays. Maybe that's why Matt's late."

A look of concern crossed her face. The events of the previous month or more were still fresh in her mind and I immediately regretted asking the question. The big marshal would most likely show up in a few minutes. I knew he was increasingly frustrated with having to follow Harrington's orders and I'd already found it necessary to remind him how critical it was on several occasions. Even my gentle prompting was enough to irk him. Newly told me only yesterday that his boss was becoming increasingly difficult to work with and there'd been moments when he and Festus claimed they were ready to quit and leave town. I knew that neither of them would seriously consider doing that, but the deputy was trying to emphasize how demanding Matt had become.

I saw Kitty signal to Sam to bring me a shot of whiskey. I had barely raised the glass to my lips when Moss Grimmick appeared at my elbow.

"Er.. Doc. Can you come to the stable?"

"Someone hurt?" I asked.

"Just come Doc - it's urgent."

Kitty looked up, "What's going on Moss? Is it Matt?" She had no reason to think that. One of those women's premonitions I supposed. I surely hoped it wasn't so. Suddenly I felt very cold and put my hand on her shoulder. "You wait here Kitty and let me go see what's happening." Of course I knew that was like asking the wind not to blow.

"Come on let's hurry." She was already pulling on my arm.

"Go get your cape." I whispered to her before turning back to the stableman ."We'll be right along," I told him.

I was grateful for the subdued light of the livery stable and hoped that it would prevent Kitty from seeing too clearly. As for me, I'd dug so many bullets out of the body on the floor that, no matter how little light there was, I'd recognized its shape as well as I would my own.

"Tell me what happened Moss." I knelt down by the limp form of my friend on the floor. I picked up his wrist - his heart rate was steady.

"I don't know, Doc. I noticed the marshal's horse was gone when I came back from Delmonico's. He'd told me earlier that one of Emmett Bower's men was coming to get him to turn him out to pasture for a few weeks, so I figured that's what had happened."

The stableman was agitated.

"It's alright Moss. He's alive. Go on."

"Well... the marshal rode in, he didn't look good, Doc. I didn't even know he'd ridden out or else I'd have said something. I asked him if he needed help but he didn't answer. He slid off the horse and landed on the floor like his legs wouldn't hold him and that's when I came to get you. I didn't know what else to do."

"You did fine Moss," I reassured him.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught the shadow at the entrance to the stable. I looked up to see a tall lanky man with a medical bag in his hand.

"What's going on. Can I be of help?" As he spoke, Jeffrey Lassiter looked around until he saw me.

"Doc? "He carefully picked his way towards the small group of people gathered at the back of the stable. The lower light in here slowed him down for a moment until he recognized the unmistakable form on the ground.

"Marshal Dillon?" he said as he looked at the man lying on the floor. "What happened?" His question was directed at me as he squatted down to look at our patient.

Fortunately I didn't have to answer. Matt began to stir.

"Doc?" He mumbled.

"Yes Matt. It's Doc. What happened to you?"

The marshal looked around, trying to see who was nearby. He wiped the back of his hand across his eyes as if trying to clear his vision. "A man got off the afternoon stage. I...I thought I recognized him," He tried to move around to get more comfortable but Lassiter reached out and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Please don't try to move, Marshal - not until I make sure no damage has been done."

Matt looked up at the young physician then seemed to dismiss his warning. He looked back at me while trying unsuccessfully to push himself up again. I ignored his attempt.

"So you followed him?"

"I had no choice, Doc."

"You mean you got on a horse?" Lassiter was incredulous. Kitty was standing back a little behind me and I heard her gasp.

"No other way," the marshal managed to say.

"Come on, Matt - let's see if you can stand up." I was about to try to help Matt to his feet

"No!" I felt Lassiter pull my arm away urgently. "No. Not till I've checked him. We'll need a stretcher."

I stood up and looked at my tow headed companion. He returned my gaze steadily.

"Nerves are easily damaged. I learned that much from Dr. Harrington."

Both the stableman and saloon owner were looking at me for instructions. I'd seen with my own eyes what Harrington had accomplished and I knew that Lassiter was a bright young physician who must have learned a lot from his mentor. I came to a decision.

"Moss, have a few men go get the stretcher from my office and bring it here."

()()()

By the time we got back to the office Matt seemed to be recovering, at least enough to object to what was happening.

Jeffrey Lassiter was doing a good job of directing the transfer of our recalcitrant marshal from the stretcher to my old examination table. Kitty was standing right there, watching every movement.

The stretcher-bearers were dismissed and as they were leaving Jeffrey approached me. Quietly, almost in a whisper he said "Doc, I need a word with you." I noticed that recently Jeffrey had started to call me by the name that everyone else in Dodge used. I certainly approved of him referring to me by my given name, but apparently he was more comfortable with the sobriquet.

I looked around. Kitty was standing by Matt talking softly so I tilted my head towards the back bedroom. "Let's go in there," I said.

I carefully pulled the chair out from the table by the window and sat there looking at Lassiter. "Well?" I asked.

"Listen Doc, I know Dr. Harrington doesn't think I'll ever be good enough to carry out the delicate kind of surgery he does. I'm not sure I have the ability to examine Marshal Dillon and decide if there's been any nerve damage or not. If I get it wrong..."

I thought for a moment before standing up and looking directly at him, face to face.

"You know what, Dr. Lassiter, every patient that you saw while I was away in Denver, has bragged on how good you were. You handled that delivery of Belinda Scott's baby, and by all accounts did an amazing job. You're a good clinician and have many fine skills to offer. We can't all be famous like Gabriel Harrington, but I have no doubt of your abilities. You gained knowledge from his teaching and now's the time to put it to use. You told me yourself that Matt shouldn't be moved until we know if any new damage had been done. I watched you direct those men on how to move him. You knew what you were doing. Now go in there and do the job you've trained for. I can't do it. I don't have that kind of knowledge." I kept my eyes firmly fixed on his the whole time I'd been speaking. I knew that being out there on your own could be a daunting prospect to start with, but deep down I knew he was a capable physician.

"But Sir..." he hesitated, his head hung down while he studied his shoes. "So much is at stake, and it's...the marshal." There was some kind of reverence in his voice.

"Yes, he's a big man with a presence to match. He can be intimidating, but you have to learn to deal with people of all kinds. He won't bite - just stand your ground. It's time for you to use those special skills you've learned."

He stood there for a moment as if lost in a fog. I could only imagine the thoughts going through young Lassiter's mind. I remembered the first serious case that I'd faced alone and how I'd felt. He raised a hand to his temple as if considering my words. At last he nodded. I could only hope he'd learned enough during his time in Denver.

I persuaded Kitty that we should leave Dr. Lassiter to do his work then walked her back to the Long Branch Saloon. I asked Sam to bring us each a shot of whiskey then guided her into the little store room-come office behind the bar. I quietly closed the door.

"Sit down Kitty," I told her while pointing to the chair by the small desk where she often worked. I placed one of the whiskey glasses in front of her and kept the other for myself. I took a few steps towards a stool standing in front of a nearby stack of barrels and sat facing her.

"What's going on Doc?" Apparently she hadn't heard all of Matt's words in the confusion of events. There was an urgency in her voice. I took a breath or two while trying to frame my reply.

"According to Matt he recognized one of the passengers who got off the mid-day stage. He said he'd been looking for him for a long time."

"Then he got on a horse, after everything he's been through? I heard Dr. Harrington expressly tell him not to do that for at least three months!"

"I know Kitty - me too. But we both understand how Matt feels about that badge of his. Jeffrey's trying to figure out if any serious damage was done. It'll take him a little while."

Kitty shook her head and looked down at her hands before speaking.

"Can he still walk?"

I thought for a moment. "I don't know Kitty." I had to be honest in case the worst happened. "I sure hope so."

I sipped from the shot glass I still held in my hand. "How about I take you to supper?"

"Honestly Doc I don't think I could eat right now. All I want to know is if Matt's gonna be alright. How long will it take?"

"I have no idea. Jeffrey Lassiter was a little apprehensive about the task ahead of him, but I have every confidence in his abilities. He's a smart young man and has a great future, but examining United States Marshal Matt Dillon is an intimidating task for him."

We sat a little longer until we finished our drinks. I stood up and walked over to lay a hand on her shoulder. "I hate that you're having to go through all this again, Kitty. Someone needs to have some strong words with that big galoot!"

"I just hope he's gonna be alright Doc."

"I know what you mean. I'll go back up to the office and see how Lassiter's doing. I promise I'll come back as soon as I have anything to tell you."

"Thank you Doc." She looked at me with those blue eyes. They were heavy with moisture. I gave her arm a squeeze and left through the door that led to the alley.

I walked as calmly as possible along the boardwalk to my office. There was still a part of me that was bubbling over with anger at Matt Dillon. What kind of a fool would risk paralysis after all he'd been through in Denver. His recovery hadn't been all due to luck. Dr. Harrington and his clinic staff had played a big part as had my tall lawman friend. He'd put his heart and soul into working towards an almost complete recovery. Yes, he'd been lucky then, but now he could've thrown that only chance away. Fortunately by the time I'd climbed the stairs and reached out to open the door my anger had cooled. I'd known Matt Dillon a long time and understood him better than anyone else - with the possible exception of Kitty Russell. He couldn't help doing what he did. It was built into him. I could only hope this wasn't going to destroy the rest of his life.

TBC