Slow Train To Dodge
PT.3
Kitty was drifting off into a slight slumber when the train slowed as it pulled into its stop.
She stirred, just a bit, glancing up just enough to see the conductor taking on several passengers. Now brushing the tendrils of curls from her face, she leaned her head against the window, wrapping her arms around herself, trying as she might to rest her eyes, as best she could.
Just then, she had a sense of a presence. Re-adjusting herself slowly, she then slowly opened her eyes to see beside her a young woman, sitting, looking quite shy, making a point of keeping her face wrapped and hidden behind a scarf. This, Kitty found strange considering how extremely warm it was. She also took notice to the young woman's behavior as to the way she shuddered and lowered her gaze whenever someone walked through the car or came close.
As the train began to move again, the young woman curled up and began to doze off to sleep. Something about this young woman puzzled Kitty but her mind kept drifting back to Matt and wanting to get back to Dodge as quickly as possible.
Several hours into the ride, Kitty noticed the young woman stirring and mumbling in her sleep. Her rattling's were incoherent. Kitty also took notice that she was shivering. Leaning over, touching her, Kitty realized she was fevered. Slowly taking her jacket and covering her, Kitty managed to get the attention of the conductor.
"Miss Russell? What can I do for you?"
"Well," she said. "What can you tell me about this young lady?"
"Well now, let me see." He looked at his manifest. "Miss LaPree. She is headed for Dodge City, traveling alone. She did seem a bit nervous when she boarded."
"Oh? How so?"
"Ummm, she kept looking over her shoulder like she was looking for someone. You know? Or like she thought she was being followed?"
"Well, right now this girl needs a doctor. Do you think you can find out if there is a doctor on board?"
"Yes, Miss Russell. I'll see what I can do."
As the conductor returned, he regrettably told Kitty there were no doctors aboard. "But I thought maybe you could use some of these things." He said, now handing Kitty a bowl of cool water and some clean white cloth and a clean blanket and pillow.
Taking a deep breath and nodding, she accepted the items. "Thank you."
Kitty began to make the young lady comfortable as best she could, loosening the tight scarf and wiping her face and neck with the cool water. Slowly brushing the soft curls from her face, she focused on her gentle features. "You poor child. You're on this train all alone, scared, sick. What happened to you? Where is your family? Are you running from something? Someone? And if so, what? There must be someone worried about you somewhere. If you were my child I'd be worried.
Kitty began to think, what was she going to do for this young girl? There was no doctor on board. No medicine. They were still one to two days from Dodge and she still had no idea what was wrong with this girl nor did she know who this girl really was and what this girl was running from and/ or hiding from?
Her mind was now reeling. She couldn't let anything happened to this girl. She would do everything she could remember that Doc had taught her. But her heart was breaking, wanting to be by Matt's side and hating every minute she wasn't there for him.
The young woman was comfortable and asleep. Kitty dropped into a seat, exhaled and closed her eyes, deep in thought. Suddenly loud screeching noises were heard along with piercing metal scraping. Then a sudden jerking of the train sent the passengers flying.
TBC