PT.5

Months Later

Festus entered the post office early, waiting in line as usual for the morning mail. He had been out by the river fishing.
Barney yelled over to him. "Morning, Festus, have some posters for ya today. Oh, and if your in a mind to, there's a letter for Doc from Miss Kitty, if ya wanna take it to him."

"Why sure I will, Barney."

When Barney handed it to him, Festus hurried out of the post office and straight to Doc's. "Doc! Doc. Barney got this here letter fur ya. It's from Miss Kitty!"

"Well is that right?"

"Well, you ol' scudder. I a jest a figured it might jes be importin."

"Oh, ya do, do ya?"

"Aww fuey!"

Doc began reading…

Doctor Galan Adams Dodge City, Kansas

Dear Doc,

Things here are going well. Been keeping busy working with Tess. I so wish you could be here with me when the time comes. Should be real soon now. I so wish Matt were here. I wish I had told him before he left. Oh how I miss you all. I never thought I'd say this but I actually miss Dodge. Give my love to everyone.

Love Kitty

Doc, smiling to himself, folded the letter then swiped his mustache, wishing his Kitty was back in Dodge. Wishing both Matt and Kitty were back in Dodge. These two were like the son and daughter he never had.

Laying the letter on the desk, reaching in the roll top desk and pulling out a bottle of whiskey he poured a drink. He stared into the brown liquid, remembering back a year ago when he Matt and Kitty along with Festus and Newly were transporting an injured Matt to Denver to see a spinal surgeon friend of his, Dr. G.L. Harrington. And he remembered the time they all spent in Denver after the fiasco with Jack Sinclair.

Doc knew first-hand how many times Matt and Kitty's love was tested and just how strong their love was. Those two had been through much and as stubborn as Matt was about his badge and his steadfast rule about not mixing his badge, job and a family.

But after all those years, he realized, he couldn't live without Kitty after Doc saved his life on that train and Dr. Harrington and Doc got him back on his feet.

While in Denver, Father Sanchez did the honor of secretly marrying them with Doc as their witness. But they agreed as long as Matt wore the badge, they would keep it under wraps. No one would know but just the three.

The Next Morning

Tess rose early, surprised to see that Kitty wasn't up yet. Knowing she was usually up bright and early, she knocked at her door. "Kitty? Kitty? Are you awake? It's Tess."

"Oh, Tess, come in. it's open. Tess, I… I… Tess, I think I… I think it's..."

One look at Kitty's face and Tess knew she needed to find the doctor. "Oh, Honey."

"Tess, I think this is it."

"Oh, Honey. What can I get you?"

Kitty now had tears in her eyes. "Tess the one thing I want right now I can't have. But what I do need is a doctor."

Nodding. "Yes of course. I can do that. I'll be right back."

Barton Farm Missouri/Louisiana Border

Ezra Barton was working, plowing his field with his sons, when he noticed a man headed toward his house. Stopping, and telling his sons to continue working, while he went to check who the visitor was, he laid down the harnesses in the field and began walking toward the house.

Ezra was a man of about 50. He had farmed this land for about 30 years. He had come west many years ago with many other families in search of the American dream, much like many others. His wife, Maryann, was his second wife. She was twenty years his junior. His first wife, Carolyn, died in childbirth. This was common.

As Ezra approach the house, he heard Maryann's voice. It sounded frightened. He could also hear her words. "What do you want here, Mister? We have no money."

Then he could hear a deep laugh. "I don't need your money, Woman."

Then Ezra heard her scream.

Quickly, he rushed in only to see this stranger tearing at Maryann's clothing and attacking her as she screamed for Ezra.
"Take your hands off of her!" Ezra screamed.

Just then, the stranger turned and drew a blade and plunged it into Ezra, then into Maryann, laughing all the time. Then, helping himself to the food on the table and leaving, riding off.

Just as he left, the two boys ran up to the house only to find their parents lying on the floor. As another rider approached, they turned to him.

"Boys? What happened here?"

"Mister, a man, he killed our Ma and Pa."

"Did you see him?"

"Yes, Sir. He looked like he was Indian. He rode off that'a way." The boy pointed up over the hill.

The tall man on the horse looked at the boys. "Ok. Do you have some shovels?"

"Yes, Sir."

"I'll help you bury your folks."

"Mister, are you chasing that man?"

"Yes, son, I am."

New Orleans

Tess rushed back with the doctor. "Kitty, the doctor's right here."

"Ok, now, Miss Kitty. Now, let's see what we have going on here." The doctor began examining her. "Well now, looks to me like a little one is ready to make an entrance into the world."

"Really? You don't say, Doc?" Kitty was having a difficult time breathing.

"Ok, Miss Kitty. I want you to take a deep breath and push real hard."

Tess was holding her hand. "Come on, Kitty. Squeeze my hand. Ok?"

Kitty did as asked. She did this repeatedly and she was becoming exhausted. "Tess, I can't do this. I need him here with me." She was tearing up.

"I know, Honey."

The doctor looked at Tess. "Who she asking for?"

Tess just shook her head.

"Ok, give me one more."

Once again, she pushed. Then she heard a loud cry.

"Yes! There she is! There's the beautiful little one!" Kitty just collapsed back on the pillow.

"There, honey. You did it. Oh, Kitty, she's beautiful!"

Kitty just mumbled. "Matt, she's here. By the Grace of God, she's here." She just sadly smiled!

TBC