Chapter 17

*Author's Note: I want to apologize for the delay. Things got really busy. On top of that I rewrote the beginning of this chapter multiple times. I just couldn't seem to get it started the way I wanted. I finally decided to go with what is posted.

"Festus, I want him brought back" Matt began to say.

"Don't you worry none, Matthew. We'll bring him back alive. He ain't gonna become fodder for the turkey buzzards," Festus promised. He knew Matt well enough to know Matt would not want Myles Saunders to escape justice.

Matt watched as Festus and the other men went after someone who caused harm to Matt's family. He did not even have to tell Festus he wanted this man brought back alive. Festus knew Matt well enough to know that is what Matt wanted.

There was no need for Matt to ask if it was Kitty, Ruby or both had been hurt. When Festus told him that Ruby was sick, Matt knew that Ruby was the victim. Intentional harm to his precious little girl made Matt's blood boil.

He wanted to go with Festus and find the man that hurt his little girl. It was more than just his willpower that stopped him from doing so. Knowing that his girls needed him was taking him to Dodge City and not with Festus.

Matt's mind went back to the time he was riding with Kitty to visit her friend out at Salt Creek. Kitty had fallen off her horse and was injured. Matt was able to get her to a nearby farm. He wanted to leave her with the Judsons, particularly Cora Judson, so he could get help from Doc. But Kitty did not want him to leave her. In her semi conscious state, she begged him to stay with her.

He made the decision to stay with her and was grateful he did. Lootie Judson wanted to have Kitty for his own. Lootie was not right in the head. Matt could only imagine what Lootie's actions could have done to Kitty, if Matt had left her. If anything would have happened to Kitty at the Judson's while he was getting Doc, he would have regretted it for the rest of his life.

Matt did not want to have regrets this time. He had no idea what condition Ruby was in. It shook Matt to the core that his little gemstone could be dying. He did not want to regret not being there during her last moments. Those were moments he would never be able to get back. Matt was suddenly blinded by tears. His baby girl was only five years old. She couldn't be having her last moments.

As Matt was riding back to Dodge, he rode quickly so he could be with Kitty and Ruby. But then suddenly, he would slow down. He was afraid of what he would encounter once he got there. Right now he held on to hope that Ruby was still alive. As long as he did not know for certain, in his mind she was alive. Once he knew for certain, things could not be changed.

At Doc's office, Kitty repeatedly went over to the window, pushed the curtain to the side, and looked out. When she was not looking out the window, she would open the door and look out the door. Doc assumed she was anxious for Matt to get there.

"Kitty, honey, Matt will get here," he reassured her. "He's not going ta be too late, if that's what yer worried about. Ruby has been improving. You and Matt are not going ta lose her"

"And for that I am eternally grateful," said Kitty. "But now I risk losing Matt. I don't want ta lose him. Ruby and I can't lose him."

"Lose Matt? What are you talking about?" Doc questioned.

"Doc, do you remember when the Gunther brothers robbed the bank and took me as their hostage," Kitty asked.

"Yes," Doc slowly answered. He would probably never forget that.

"A few days after Matt and Chester rescued me Chester was at the Long Branch. He 'n I were having a beer. While we were chatting with one another, he told me how worried Matt was," said Kitty. "I'll never forget Chester's words. Oh forevermore, Miss Kitty. Ya should've heard Mr. Dillon. He vowed ta tear the Gunther brothers' throats out, if they had hurt ya." Kitty did her best Chester impersonation.

"And yer afraid that Matt will do the same to Myles Saunders," Doc stated.

"Yes," Kitty answered. "He threatened to tear throats out and I wasn't even his wife at the time. Matt 'n I were still establishing our relationship. Ruby is his daughter, his flesh 'n blood. I can only imagine what Matt will do to the guy that did this to Ruby. Who or what is gonna stop him."

"Kitty, I promise you everything is going to be alright," Doc vowed.

"Oh Curly, how can you make a promise like that?" questioned Kitty.

"Myles Saunders. His name is Myles Saunders," said Doc. "His daughter died, and I'm to blame."

"You said that earlier," Kitty stated. "What makes you think you're to blame?"

"Back east, when I was still attending medical school, I assisted in Tabitha Saunder's tonsillectomy. I was administering the chloroform. The mask apparatus was broken. I didn't realize it. She ended up getting too much chloroform and dying. If I would've checked the mask, she might still be here," Doc explained.

"Doc, that was an accident. You didn't do that on purpose," said Kitty, trying to convince Doc he did nothing wrong.

"Ever since then, I make sure all equipment I use is in proper working order," said Doc.

Kitty looked at Ruby's small figure on Doc's examination table. It suddenly occurred to her that it might be better if Ruby was lying on the bed in Doc's backroom. Not only because it would probably be more comfortable for Ruby, but also because it might be better for Matt to see Ruby in a bed and not on Doc's table.

"Doc, do you think we could move Ruby to the bed in your backroom?" asked Kitty.

Doc did not have to ask Kitty why. He knew exactly why she wanted to move Ruby. "I think that's a good idea."

Doc carefully picked up his precious granddaughter and walked her to the backroom. Kitty followed the pair and turned down the covers. Doc gently deposited Ruby on the bed and covered her up. Both Doc and Kitty noticed Ruby's color starting to return.

Matt arrived in town and rode straight to Doc's office. Buck barely came to a stop before Matt dismounted him. He took the steps two at a time up to Doc's office. Doc and Kitty heard Matt's heavy footsteps on the stairs.

Matt opened the door and expected to see Kitty, Ruby, and Doc. He was surprised when he didn't see anyone. Panic started to set in, but then he saw the opened door to Doc's backroom. Matt placed his hat on the hook next to the door and walked towards the room. The first thing he saw was Ruby. A split second later he saw Kitty and Doc.

"How is she, Doc?" Matt asked as knelt down by the bed.

"First of all, she's going to be fine," Doc replied. He thought it was best that Matt knew Ruby was going to be alright. "She keeps improving as time goes on."

Matt closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. "Was it chloroform poisoning?"

"Yeah," Doc sighed.

"What kind of monster would do that to an innocent child?" asked Matt.

"He's someone from my past," Doc started to say, but stopped. Ruby was starting to moan.

"Mmmm," she moaned as she started to squirm around. You could tell she was experiencing discomfort.

"Shhhh, baby," soothed Matt. "Daddy and Momma are here, and so is Grandpa Doc."

Kitty was quite taken back by Matt's calm demeanor. She could only wonder how long it would last. Kitty also wondered how long Matt would stay there.

TBC