Doc wandered along the boardwalk thinking about the old General and his comment about Libby Prison; for some reason it was bothering him. Maybe he and the other men would have been liberated sooner, but it was hard to say and he didn't want to dig any further into the past. He still felt irritated. Maybe it was the tone the General used that made it feel that he was unconcerned for what happened.
The doctor paused and looked across the street. With a quick check of his watch he determined that it was well passed noon and maybe a beer would calm him down. Doc closed the pocket watch and slid it back into his vest pocket before he step out onto the street in the direction of the Long Branch.
It seemed like the good weather was bringing people out as the street was busy with shoppers and farmers who were getting ready for the planting season which was still weeks away.
Doc entered the saloon and ambled over to the table where Kitty sat with the newspaper. It occurred to the doctor that his toe hurt a little more; perhaps he thought, that he was doing too much walking and standing and irritating the digit. He still wasn't one hundred percent certain whether he had broke it or not.
Kitty looked up from the paper, "You look like you're about to explode," the saloon owner stated as he examined the doctor, who looked dishevelled.
Doc scratched his cheek, "No. Well, maybe," he said as he sat down, placing his medical bag on the table.
"What's wrong?" Kitty asked as he folded the paper and placed it on the table.
Doc leaned forward and folded his arms on the table in front of himself. "I went to see that General," Doc began, "I'll be fine if he'd just do as I say," he ticked his head. "He's a stubborn one," he added as he screwed his right index finger into his ear, then ticked his head.
"Met your match?" Kitty's mused only to get a glaring look from the doctor. "Hardly," he huffed. "He just said something about the war that just is down right bugging me," he sighed.
Kitty patted Doc on the forearm, "Would a drink help? I mean if you're up for it, that is," she eyed the doctor.
Doc pursed his lips in thought, and tried not to look too eager, "That might work," he finally said.
Kitty smiled and got up to get the doctor a glass of whiskey. Doc's eyebrows lifted at the sight as he only planned on a beer, but this was much better; he tried to hide his look. Kitty returned to the table and sat back down next to the doctor, "There you go," she placed the glass down in front of Doc, who nodded and thanked her for the drink.
Kitty then was the one that looked puzzled as she looked around the room. Doc noted the look on the saloon owner's face as he took a sip from the glass, which caused him to also look around himself to see if had missed something. His eyes came back to Kitty, "Now you're the one that looks like a drink might help. What's wrong?" the doctor asked.
"I'm not sure, yet," Kitty said as she stood up and walked back to the bar; this time she retrieved the schedule of when her girls worked. The saloon owner scanned the page and frowned, "Sam?"
The barkeep stepped over to where Kitty was standing, "Miss Kitty?" he too could see that she was concerned about something.
"Did Jane Rose ask to change her shift after last night?" Kitty asked.
Sam shook his head no, "She didn't say anything to me. Maybe she's just running late," Noonan stated.
"Well that could be," Kitty said placing the clipboard back behind the bar. "I'll give her a little more time before I send someone to her boarding house," she tried to smile, but knew that there was something wrong. Jane Rose was always punctual and always good at letting someone know if there were any changes in her schedule.
Doc's eyes followed Kitty back to the table, "Now you're the one looking like you could use a drink," he stated. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, yet. I hope," Kitty sighed as she watched the door of the establishment.
Doc didn't buy her comment, "I thought you where better playing poker, than that," he said looking Kitty in the eyes.
Kitty smiled slightly at the comment, "This isn't a poker face. I'm just worried that Jane Rose hasn't shown up for work yet and I can't imagine why," she finally said.
Doc finished his drink, "If you'd like I can go and see what's keeping her," he placed the glass down.
"I'd like that, Doc," Kitty nodded in approval. Doc patted Kitty lightly on the shoulder as he picked up his leather medical bag before he left the saloon. Kitty smiled kindly at the doctor, and she wasn't sure if her imagination was playing tricks on her, but she could almost see the doctor limping slightly. Kitty's eyebrows knit in thought and soon shrugged it off.
Doc began his trek up the street to the little boarding house where some of Kitty's girls stayed. He'd been there before, tending to some of the women from time to time, depending what was ailing them.
Doc approached the boarding house as several of the young women were leading, "Hello doctor," one of them waved as she passed by. Doc caught himself smiling as he watched them walk away. He drew his hand across his moustache and returned his attention to his task at hand.
The doctor opened the front door and stepped into the parlour. He was quick to take off his hat as he approached Mrs. Daily, who was busy at her desk. Slowly the woman looked up, "Hello Doctor Adams."
Doc nodded, "Mrs. Daily," he said then looked around.
"What brings you here?" Mrs. Daily asked as she stood up. "No one is sick, are they?" she held a level of concern as there were also other people who shared the boarding house.
Doc's eyes fluttered in thought, "I hope not. I was asked by Miss Kitty to check in on Jane Rose," he stated.
Mrs. Daily stepped away from her desk, "You best talk to the other ladies from the Long Branch, Doc. They are down the hall in room eight," she pointed.
Doc nodded sharply and headed down the hall. He looked around before he knocked on the door as he didn't want people to get the wrong idea. The doctor gently rapped on the door and then brushed his hand nervously across his moustache. Doc heard the women in the room moving, so he assumed they were covering up to receive their visitor. "Who's there?" one voice called out.
"It's Doc Adams," he replied as he patiently waited at the door. Slowly it opened, "Doc?" Kelly Roberts spoke through the opening between the door and the jamb.
"Look, I won't be long. Kitty asked me to look in on Jane Rose," Doc stated.
A blank look came across the young woman's face, "Jane Rose didn't come home last night. We thought she was at the Long Branch," Kelly stated.
Doc felt uneasy about the news. "That's find," he nodded as he tried to smile.
"Where is she Doc?" Kelly asked as Doc began to leave. The doctor stopped in the hall and looked over his shoulder, "We'll find her," he smiled with a wink before he turned away. He heard the door close behind him, and he drew a deep breath; suddenly he felt something in the pit of his stomach- something awful.. Kitty needed to know.