AN: Typically when I post a story, I put up a chapter a day. This story didn't lend itself to that schedule so, 2 chapters today and 2 tomorrow is the plan. On with the show.
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Matt jumped off his horse as it slowed from a gallop and raced up the stairs to Doc's. Mud and dirt flew from his clothes as burst through the door. Doc Adams paused from pouring liquids through a funnel into a small brown bottle, and looked up. The old man's tired eyes wandered down Matt's face before resting on the piece of tin pinned on his chest. The badge was there, the one he'd left in this very room when he took off after Jude Bonner with vengeance in his heart. Festus, in fit of Haggen wisdom, quickly came and grabbed the badge, before riding after Matt with every able bodied man in Dodge.
Doc set the funnel down with a nod of satisfaction. "Glad to see you're wearing the badge. I know you. You wouldn't have put it back on, if you'd done anything to discredit it. That tells me a lot." The marshal met his old friend's eyes. "Can I go in and see Kitty?" "Yes, yes, she's in the back room." Doc lifted the bottle he'd filled. "I mixed this medication to help her sleep. She'll be willing to take it now that you're back."
Lying perfectly still in the back-room bed, Kitty's eyes and full attention were focused on a small stain on the ceiling. She could not allow her thoughts to wander back to Bonner and his men - their filthy hands, wet tongues and ugly laughter. Her helplessness when they held her down and used her body, one after the other, again and again, until they grew bored.
She heard the door and slowly turned her head. Relief flooded her body. "Matt." He was here, he survived. Life was a possibility. He slide down in the chair beside the bed and took her hand. "Matt, what - what happened? Did you kill him?"
Not sure what she hoped to hear, he leaned closer, his voice hoarse. "I – I wanted to. I had him on the ground unarmed, defenseless. I held a huge rock over him. I coulda broke his head wide open. The dog soldiers were all around, ready to kill me if I moved. Then, Festus and the men of Dodge moved in, and surrounded Bonner's men. Festus shot one, the others dropped their guns. I still had that rock right over Jude Bonner. He had terror in his eyes. That pleased me. His life was in my hands. I could have smashed head to bits, and seen his brain in pieces. No man from Dodge would have blamed me or ever said word about it. But – but I couldn't do it, Kitty. I tossed the rock aside. Jude Bonner got arrested with the others."
Kitty closed her eyes and nodded slowly "Thank God."
Doc muttered his own silent prayer of thanks. Not even the vile evilness of Bonner could turn Matt Dillon into a murderer. "Matt, where's Bonner now, and his men?"
"Well, once I tossed that rock aside and walked away, Festus came over and handed me my badge. When I pinned it on, I had to make some decisions and I remembered that Bonner and the others weren't just wanted by the law, they were wanted by the army. They stole a military payroll shipment and killed 5 soldiers in the process - cut off their ears to take as souvenirs. With that in mind I led them to Fort Dodge. There is no better place than army fort for jail space, and the man power to keep guard. A military tribunal will try them there tomorrow. If they're found guilty they'll be hung right there. Major Bentley, the fort commander, seemed mighty sure of that outcome. There will be no need for a civilian trial."
Silence fell over the room. It was over. Matt wouldn't have to leave Dodge to attend a soul wrenching trial, and Kitty wouldn't be asked to testify, and have to relive it all. That was relief. Doc ran a hand across his mustache and sat on the side of the bed. "Kitty, I want you to drink this down. Now that you can see that Matt's back safe and sound, you need to sleep for a good, long time. When you wake up you'll feel some better. I guarantee it." He lifted the small brown bottle to her lips. She swallowed obediently, and looked at Matt as her eyes grew heavy. "You'll be here when I wake up?" "I sure will." Sleep began to overtake her.
Matt looked at Doc with anguish in his eyes. "What happened to Kitty is my fault, all my fault. I should have never let myself get involved, get close – love. I put her in danger." Doc put a hand on Matt's shoulder. "You're not thinking straight. I have a prescription for you. Get cleaned up, put on fresh clothes and eat a real meal. Kitty will be asleep or a good while, so you have plenty of time to get back here. Matt, you'll see – Kitty will heal, so will you, and so will Dodge City."
Dodge City, Dodge City, Dodge City – the words echoed, and tumbled into Kitty's mind as she drifted off to sleep.
TBC