Captive Hearts 3

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As Kitty began to fall, Matt reached out, catching her. "John, John." he called frantically. As the door opened and Higgins and Clark entered, Matt scooped her up and moved over to the couch, gently laying her down.

"What happened?" Major Higgins asked when he came in the room.

"I don't know; she just starting falling. Is your Surgeon here?" He asked.

"No, he died in the raid. But I'll send for Doctor Adams from town." Clark answered rushing from the office to affect the summons.

Major Higgins knelt beside the stricken woman and gently patted her cheek. "Miss Russell?" But she gave little response as she grasped her stomach crying out. "I'll get some water," he said as he stood. "She feels like she's got a temperature."

Matt sat down on the edge of the couch next to Kitty. She was too pale. "Kitty, honey."

"Matt, go away." She gasped. "Please, go…..away…"

"Kitty, I'm not going anywhere. Now you just take it easy, okay?"

Kitty pushed his hand away and turned to her side. She was in too much misery to do much more.

The door opened and Higgins stepped back in. "Clark sent a wire to Dodge asking Doctor Adams to come here as quickly as possible." Higgins said glancing at Matt as he carried in a bowl with water and a cloth. "You want me to….."

"No," Matt shook his head. "Hand it to me." As he gently pulled her onto her back and wiped her brow with the cool wet cloth, he spoke softly to her, soothingly. 'It's alright, Kitty. Just relax a little. It's going to be alright."

When she finally settled down and seemed to be breathing easier, Matt put the cloth down and bent close. "Kitty, Doc's on his way. Now I want you to just lie here and rest. Okay?"

"I'll… be fine." She insisted. "Just… go on. I don't need... Doc."

Matt could see how big a lie that was but thought it better not to argue. "You just rest."

Getting up, he stepped away and pulled Higgins into the other room. "Was she hurt when your men raided that camp?"

"I don't know," Higgins answered truthfully. "There was no report of it, but to be honest if she didn't complain of any injury, I doubt anyone would've checked. With the surgeon dead, there weren't any really qualified medical personnel out there. All of the injured, that we knew of anyway, were taken to a nearby town down there for treatment and then everyone else was brought here."

Both men looked up when Clark reappeared. "Major, I received a reply from Dodge. Doctor Adams is tied up there and can't come. He suggested we bring the patient to town."

Major Higgins looked over at Matt. "Ride'll probably be pretty bumpy but it'll be the quickest way to get her some help."

Matt swallowed hard. "We'll need a wagon and some hay or something to cushion the ride."

"Clark, get that arranged as quickly as possible." Higgins ordered.

"Yes, Sir." Clark disappeared again, rushing to make the arrangements.

Matt walked back into the Major's office and sat quietly down beside Kitty. He had never been at such a loss. For a solid year now he'd thought Kitty left him. That she had abandoned him and their life together. Now looking down at the frail woman beside him, he decided it was he who had abandoned her.

When he had found that she had taken the stage from town, he had been concerned but he convinced himself that as soon as she calmed down and thought about it, she would return. But she didn't return and even though he more than once wanted to go after her, something always came up to stop him. Something called his badge.

Higgins pulled up a chair beside the couch. "I swear, Matt. She said absolutely nothing about not feeling well. If she had of….."

"I know, John, I know." Matt forestalled his apology. "She wouldn't have. She never complained when she was sick or not feeling well. She just always…"

Kitty opened her eyes and looked angrily at the worried men beside her. "I'm not… dead, you know, so please don't talk… about me like I am. I just got... a little sick to my stomach."

"How do you feel now?" Matt asked her seeing the answer clearly in her face.

"I'm alright," Kitty tried to sit up, but grabbing at her middle she rethought that plan for a second. "Just a little… lightheaded is all. Guess I missed a couple of meals."

"By the looks of you, it was more than just a couple." Higgins replied. "It doesn't matter though, Miss Russell. I've sent Sgt. Clark after a wagon and we're going to get you into town, so that Dr. Adams can take a look at you."

"No," Kitty protested loudly. "I don't need… a doctor, I'm fine. Honest." Pushing Higgins back, Kitty pulled herself up and tried to rise, only to clutch her stomach and cry out, rolling to her side as misery overtook her again. "Oh, God," she groaned. "Oh, not now."

Matt gently reached down, pulling Kitty close. "Kitty, hang on. Honey, come on, it's going to be okay."

Kitty didn't, couldn't, reply as she was rocked by wave after wave of agony.

Clark reappeared at the door, his eyes growing wide at the woman writhing helplessly on the couch. "The wagon's ready, Sir." He swallowed hard.

"Let's get her to the wagon," Higgins ordered. But as Sgt. Clark stepped forward, Matt pushed him back. Reaching down, he tenderly picked her up and swiftly left the office carrying her outside.

TBC