The Next Evening

DODGE CITY, KANSAS. The conductor's booming voice stirred Kitty from a light doze. Rising stiffly from the long train ride, she adjusted her hat and moved to the exit carrying her small suitcase. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, as she stepped off the train into a town she thought she'd never see again.

Gripping her suitcase, she set off for Doc's, ignoring the curious eyes and not so quiet whispers that followed her down the street. She reached the familiar, narrow staircase that led up to Doc's and froze, paralyzed with fear. What if Matt was dead - no - it couldn't be, it just couldn't. With a deep breath she gripped the bannister and made herself start up the steps. Her eyes paused on the diamond engagement ring that glimmered on one hand. Without questioning why she pulled the ring off, shoved it into her skirt pocket, and hurried up the stairs. She pushed through the door without knocking, expecting to see Doc at Matt's side. Instead a dark-haired woman was seated at his bedside, gently dabbing a damp cloth across his fevered forehead. Taken aback at seeing a strange women, showing such tenderness towards Matt, Kitty stammered incoherently. The woman turned, "Oh, you – you must be Kitty. Doc said you wired asking about Matt. I'm glad you came." She stood and moved closer to whisper. "Doc doesn't think Matt can last much longer. You should have some time alone with him." The pale, raven-haired woman left. Kitty dropped her suitcase, and hurried to Matt's side. His skin was waxy, face gaunt, breathing shallow. She could almost feel his spirit drifting from his body. She'd spent months trying to rid herself of feelings for this man, now on the brink of losing him forever, panic gripped her heart. Fighting to keep her tears at bay, she slid into the chair beside the bed and clutched his dry, limp hand. Leaning close, she whispered desperately. "I need you Matt. I need you. I know that sounds crazy because I left, but see - deep inside I was somehow sure you'd always be here – with your strength, you goodness, and your l-love. That made the world OK to be in, no matter where I was or what I did. Matt, I don't know how to exist in a world that doesn't have you in it. Please, don't leave me, please." She could no longer keep her tears from falling. "Please, Matt."

A small moan fell from the lawman's lips. He moved his head just slightly. "Kitty." His voice was the softest of whispers. "You're here?" She smiled through her tears. "I'm here Cowboy."

"Well well." Doc was standing in the doorway. He shook his head, voice husky. "I go to the post office to get a box of medicine, and while I'm gone a miracle occurs." He dropped the box and hurried to Matt's bedside to take his pulse. "Far from normal, but the strongest and steadiest it's been." He wrapped an arm around Kitty and kissed her cheek. "I sure am glad to see you. Mind giving me a hand? Now that's Matt's finally conscious, I want to get some broth in him and change his bandages."

St. Louis

John Hanover threw his newspaper down, unable to focus on one word. "Kitty must be there by now. Why hasn't she wired?" Elmira looked up from her needlepoint. "Relax John, she couldn't have reached Dodge all that long ago. She's probably busy tending to her friend. She'll send word when she has a chance."

"You're right Mother, of course" Still on edge he picked up different edition of the Gazette, frowned and smacked it with his fingers."Look at this. A newspaper from two days ago, why is it still in the parlor?"

Elmira sighed with an indulgent smile and took the paper from John's hand. "I'm saving it. It's the edition with the wedding dress I was pointing out to Kitty, the night she heard about her friend." Elmira gazed at the picture of the gown she'd so admired, but her eyes moved up the page. For the first time she noticed the story above. An article about a US Marshal being shot. She quickly scanned the story. A United States Marshal for 20 years, Matthew Dillon, it seemed, had done many admirable things. Most recently he spearheaded the take-down of a large and dangerous gang. The notable lawman, according to the piece, was gravely injured and unlikely to survive.

Elmira set the newspaper aside. Kitty had turned a ghastly white when looking at this very page, and quickly went out for air. She was gone for almost an hour. Elmira frowned, "Um John, did Kitty ever mention a man named Matthew Dillon, a United States Marshal?" John shook his head. "No, why do you ask?" Elmira shrugged. "No reason. I read that he – um - that he was – that he's based in Dodge City, so I thought she might know him."

Dodge

"Matt, let's just get a spoonful of this broth into you."

"Can't." His voice barely audible.

"Try." Kitty tipped the spoon into his mouth. He swallowed and accepted two more spoons before shaking his head. "Can't"

"All right."

Doc lifted the light blanket that was covering Matt's body. "I have to change the bandages, Matt. I'll do it quick, but you know it'll be painful. Just hold Kitty's hand and focus on her."

Kitty took his hand, lacing her fingers in between his. "We've been down this road before, Cowboy. Let's do it."

Doc worked fast. Matt tried not to groan, and kept his eyes on Kitty's.

"All right. The wound is clean. No sign of infection. Let's keep it that way. Matt, I'm gonna give you some laudanum to make you sleep. I know you don't like it, but now that you're on the better side of healing, you've got to get real sleep." He held the brownish liquid up to Matt's lips. The lawman drifted off, his pulse somewhat close to normal, his breathing steady.

Kitty gently kissed Matt's forehead and looked up at Doc. He took her by the shoulders. "I'm glad you came. Are you staying - for a bit?" She nodded. "I don't know for how long." Doc nodded. "You've had a long trip, get some rest. Matt will sleep through the night, I'm sure of that." Kitty started to leave but turned. "Doc, there was a woman here when I arrived, very pale but attractive, with beautiful hair – long and dark. Who is she?"

"That's Gail Gleason. She works at the Long Branch. She's a wonderful woman, Kitty. She and Matt are very good friends."

"I see. See you in the morning, Doc." Kitty hurried down Front Street, looking straight ahead. She considered going to the Long Branch, sure that Hannah would put her up for a couple of nights, but the place had too many memories. Besides, for reasons she didn't care to think about, she didn't want to have a chance encounter with Matt's good friend, Gail Gleason.

She pushed through the heavy door of the Dodge House and smiled tiredly at the clerk. "Hello Howie, you're looking well. Have a room available?." "Sure do, Miss Russell. You must be here for the Marshal. How's he doing? The whole town's on pins and needles."

"He's taken turn for the better. Doc's hopeful."

Howie's face lit up. "That's good news, I'll spread the word. Here's your key, room 21."

"Thanks." Suitcase in hand, she walked heavily up the stairs to her 2nd floor room, and closed the door behind her. The place felt cramped and shabby, but she was happy to be alone with her thoughts. She dropped down into a worn and overstuffed chair, in the corner of the room. Stress and fatigue were pressing down, but her mind was racing. Every word she said to Matt was true. She couldn't imagine a world without him. He was like her North Star, her constant. No matter where she went or what she did, she imagined him in Dodge, unchanged from when she left. It also never occurred to her, that if she moved on from Matt, he might move on too, and turn to another woman for comfort and companionship. In truth, when she saw the woman at Matt's bedside, seeming so familiar with him, she felt a stab of jealousy. When Doc said the woman, Gail Gleason, was Matt's good friend, she felt another stab. Kitty rubbed the back of her neck. This was ridiculous. She left Matt for a serious, good and important reason, she needed a future. Now she has one. She's engaged to fine man who she loves, and her future is clear and bright. She came to Dodge to make sure that Matt was alive and healing, nothing more. She took her diamond engagement ring out of her pocket and slipped it onto her finger. Weariness overwhelmed her. She dozed off in the chair."

TBC