PT.4

DOC, hearing all the commotion, rushed down the stairs to the street below, focusing on the crowd now forming around a collapsed Kitty.

Jake began to try and lift her head, brushing her hair from her face. "Doc, I'm sorry. She went down so fast. It was the shock."

"The shock?" Doc repeated.

"Yes, Doc. My hand, here, came into town with Matt's things and Buck. But when she began to question him about Matt, and he told her about the old man and the grave…"

Now Doc's expression stopped Jake from saying anymore. "Grave? What grave?"

Then Jake's hand continued. "Well, Doctor Adams, I came across an old man burying someone on the prairie and he had the Marshal's things here."

Doc just shook his head. "Jake, can you help me get her up to my office? But be real careful. Please?"

"Sure thing, Doc." Jake carried her up and placed Kitty gently on the table. "Doc, you think she'll be ok?"

Doc just nodded.

"She looks awful pale."

"I'll take care of her, Jake."

Just then Kitty started to stir, mumbling Matt's name. "Ma..ttt? Ma..tt?"

Doc, taking a cool cloth and wiping it over her face, said, "Ssshhhh. Just lay still honey. Just relax and lay still."

"Doc? Buck, he came in without him… his hat and badge. Where is he Doc?"

"Now, honey, you just lay still. Just don't you worry."

"He has to come back to us Doc, he just has to." Tears began filling her crystal blue eyes.

Several weeks had passed and there had been no word from Matt. Kitty had sunk deeper into a depression. She didn't want to believe what the hand had said about the old man on the prairie but the longer time passed, the more it was likely. Her cowboy wasn't coming home. Now she was realizing she had to make a decision, one that she knew was going to be the hardest decision of her life.

After another restless night, with very little sleep, Kitty was up early. She dressed and was down and out the door, headed for Doc's office, making her way up the stairs. As she entered, she smiled. "Morning, Curly."

"Well, Young Lady! What in thunder has you up at this hour?"

"Got a minute?"

"For you? Always. How about a fresh cup of coffee?"

Nodding. "Sure."

"Coming right up. Here, have a seat." Handing her a cup. "Now, what is it that I can do for you?"

Exhaling, "Well, Curly, I've decided to leave."

"Whoa! Now wait just a minute here. Leave? What do you mean?"

"Now, Curly. You know as well as I do, before very long tongues are gonna start wagging and I don't know if I can stand it. So I just figure the best thing for me to do is just leave Dodge."

Shaking his head. "Uh huh! Nah! That's not the Kitty I know. Uh huh. The Kitty I know does not run from anything."

"Oh, Curly. What do you suppose I do?" Now she was tearing up. "He's gone, Curly. And its gonna be hard enough doing this alone."

"But, Kitty Honey, you're not alone. You have your friends, me, Festus, Newly and Sam. Need I go on?"

"Oh, Curly! I know you all mean well, but everywhere I look I see Matt and it's just too painful, at least right now. Maybe someday, I'll be able to come back. But right now, I have to…"

Now placing her face in both hands to cover her tears, Doc just took her in his arms.

"Honey, I wish I could change your mind about this. Where will you go?"

"New Orleans, I suppose. I have friends there. I can find work. I'll write as soon as I get there. Sam will take care of things here."

A few days later, Kitty was on a train to New Orleans. She had written ahead to an old friend, Tess Warren. She and Kitty had both worked together in New Orleans after they left Pan's place.

Tess married a riverboat gambler but was now widowed and opened a place of her own. She knew Kitty had very good business sense. So Tess figured Kitty could help her with her financial problems and Kitty figured she could throw herself into work to keep her mind on something other than her grief.

TBC