Chapter Three: Time to Come Home

Startled by the outburst that Johnaton James Dillion blurted about their aunt, Kathleen Russel in taking a deep breath "Johnny, murder is a very serious charge. Why do you believe she was murdered?"

Johnny with tears forming in his eyes, his voice deep and low "I just know".

"Miss Kitty" Jessica speaking up, tears running down her face, her voice cracking a bit "I found her at the bottom of the stairway in an awful position. Her neck was broken from the fall according to the medical examinator. He said that she must have stepped on her dress, lost her balance, and tumbled down uncontrolled, breaking her neck on the way". Jessica's small hand slowly wiped the tears hoping they would stop. Burying her head into Kitty's lap, little sob sounds coming from Lillian as she whispered, "I miss her". Matthew trying to show he was grown up now, squaring his shoulders and holding his head high and yet, tears will flow down his cheeks. Johnny, not wanting anyone to see his tears, stood up quickly and went to the window.

Rubbing Lillian's back and studying each one of them, Kitty wished Matt was there. He would know how to proceed in this matter. Was Penelope killed, or was it an accident? Studying each one, watching how they were processing the death, she decided to gage their reaction. Johnny was angry, this was how he always dealt with emotions he did not want. His body was ridged and tense, staring out the window allowed him to avoid facing those emotions. Jessica appeared to be withdrawing and it would afford her the time to put on a face of determination. There was always work to be done, a problem to be solved, a situation to conquer. She was the strong one. Matthew was putting on a strong face, not allowing himself to cry even though tears were forming in his eyes, and one was streaming down his face. Kitty knew deep down that Matthew was scared, for both he and his sister did not have any family to be passed off too. Lillian lying with her head down in her lap crying softly, her small body trembling as though for the first time she was allowed to let go of her emotions. Kitty realized she had her hands full and took a deep breath. She needed more information and needed to gain guardianship over the younger two. As for the older two, she knew the sooner the will was read and everything was settled, the better. And she needed to get all of them out of St. Louis, the sooner definitely the better.

A rap on the door will startle all of them, bringing Kitty attention away from the children. Johnny will turn quickly and look at his sister. Jessica wiping her face will stiffen up, putting an arm around Matthew. Little hands of Lillian will grip Kitty's arm and she will sniff as she attempted to stop her crying. "I will get it" Johnny voice much harsher than he meant announcing to the room. In several long strides reminding Kitty of Matt's strides, he reached the door and opened it. There stood a middle-aged woman, with black hair and eyes, dressed in nice yet conservative clothing, her hands folded in front of her will enter slightly.

"Master Johnaton, good evening. The cook Maria informed me that dinner for you, your siblings and your mother would be in fifteen minutes. Your uncle has been informed and will be waiting for you." Claira, the housekeeper for the Spenser household will state. "Mrs. Dillion, I apologize for not having the room completely ready for you. I was unaware of your intentions to visit the children."

"That is alright Claria" Kitty reassured the housekeeper. "I did not plan to come at this time; however, circumstances brought me here." Kitty, standing and ushering the four children out; "I will see you in the dining room shortly after I freshen up." The four of them nodding and giving various hugs in their own style will leave the room. Both Claria and Kitty, with sadness in each other's eyes, watched the children head down to their rooms.

"It is very unfortunate that they lost her so abruptly. Now they can have both their father and a new mother to look after them. Master Johnaton really needs a firm male's hand and Master Albert is not the man to do it." Claria speaking quietly to Kitty.

"Has he gotten into trouble lately? Last time we visit he seemed to be well mannered."

"Mrs. Dillion, it is not my place to speak ill of him. I have said enough. When dinner is done, your room will be properly set up for you. Do you have any other luggage that Rolf will need to bring in?" referring to her husband and the grounds/sable keeper.

"Just this one bag Claria. I will need a bath tonight, please have hot water brought up to the tub." Kitty requesting as she went into the water closet.

"Very good Mrs. Dillion." Claria smiled as Kitty moved towards the water closet. Perhaps now things will be set right, and the children will live as a family with their parents.

Back in Dodge City, Festus, and Sam, undressed and dressed the marshal in a night shirt, quietly left the marshal in bed sleeping peacefully. They made sure that Matt's shoulder was secured in a sling and tied to the big man so that he could not move it.

"Sam" the hill man drawled and looked at the bar keep. "Youse surely don't know where Miss Kitty done run off to." Squirted one eye at Sam, trying to gauge the man's reaction.

"Festus" Sam voice low and commanding. "She stated she was going away for a few days, and she will be back. I have already told this to you and Doc." Sam taking a few steps towards the door. "We should let the marshal rest" and with that Sam left. Festus followed him figured that Sam did know and hopefully will contact the red-haired woman that held to Matthew's heart.

Entering the examination room, Sam stopped at the door before leaving. "I need to get back to the Long Branch. If you need me Doc, send word". Doc nodded to Sam, watched the barkeep leave and turned to Festus "You don't need to stay around Festus. Don't you have a prisoner locked up in jail? Newly is here to help us if we need help."

"I wanna jaw with the boy here Doc" lambasted Festus glaring to Dakota.

"After his nose has been fixed, rested and fed, then you can integrate him." Doc stated to Festus with anger in his voice. Now was not the time for integration or anything else and Festus timing was not always the best.

"You old shudder" mumbled the deputy leaving the doctor's office and headed towards the jail. At the bottom of the stairs turned and looked up at the office door he mumbled more to himself than to anyone around. "That Colbert, wonder if he has kin folk that might nosy around Dodge." Moving a bit faster in his step, Festus Haggen entered the Marshal office, went back to the cells intending to jaw a bit with his prisoner.

Sitting on Doc's table, Dakota Smith held his face, hoping the pain would go away along with the headache that he had. Feeling gentle hands touching his shoulders attempting to remove his duster, his hands flew up to those hands and he realized that they belonged to Doctor Sam. Mumbling "sorry" Dakota removed his hands quickly and let her remove his long black duster.

"It is alright Dakota. Doc needs to exam your face and if Galen wanted you to lay back, the duster would make that so uncomfortable." Doctor Sam said with a quiet voice, removing his duster. Laying it on the small cot in the room and returning to the front of the table with medical instruments, smiled at him. Watching her husband and fellow physician exam Dakota's face and not helping herself commented on the cheekbone. "If you think it is also broken, Galen?"

"I don't think so." Doctor Adams muttered. "Okay son, I want you to lay down and let me take a better look at this." Dakota laying back onto the table, feeling a bit dizzy and sick to his stomach, informed both.

"I am not overly surprised Dakota" Doctor Sam looking at him and smooth a strand of black hair that came loose.

"I think that the cheekbone is fine. I know why you set your nose, but you did not set it correctly. It will need to be realigned and then taped. It's going to hurt son, I won't lie to you, but it has to be done or you might keep bleeding." Dakota nodded to Doc's words, gripped the table, and closed his eyes. Doctor Sam picked up bandages in anticipation of blood, moved to the end of the table and placed her hands on both sides of his head.

"Newly, come here and hold him down. This is going to be very painful, and I don't want any reaction when I fix it." Newly moved over to the bottom half of the table, gripping Dakota's legs. "Ready Doc", stated Newly. Doctor Adams grabbed the young man's nose, moved it quickly and the sound of cartilage snapping signaled the procedure was over. Doctor Sam placed a bandage over Dakota's nose; stemmed the slight flow of blood and told him that it was over. Doctor Sam told him he could open his eyes, and then she realized that the boy had passed out. Newly released Dakota's legs, and also realized that the young man passed out asked "Do you need the smelling salt Doc?"

"No Newly I don't." Doc replied by attending to the nose, placing cotton and tape. "Let him rest, he probably needs it more than we know. Once I am done here, help me get him to the cot."

"Yes, Doc. Afterwards I need to get down to the jail if you don't need me."

When the doctors were done with Dakota's nose and face, Newly helped settle Dakota down onto the cot. Feeling someone removing his boots and gun belt, Dakota's eyes immediately popped open. At least his right eye did, the other one was swollen shut. He tried to scramble into a sitting position bending his left leg to stop the removal of his boot, Dakota confused for a moment shouted "What the hell" as he reached for his nonexistent pistol.

"Easy there son" Galen placed a firm hand on Dakota's shoulder. "We were just making you a bit comfortable. Your in my office right now and on a cot". Dakota looked at him, decided to lay back. He was so tired and as Newly removed his last boot, the sound of it dropping on the floor made him feel so vulnerable. Newly bid the three of them goodnight, left and headed over to the jailhouse.

Dakota pulled his duster off the back of the cot, covered himself with it and fought to stay awake. In seeing Dakota fighting sleep hard, Doctor Adams will rub his mustache with his hand and looked to his wife. "I don't want to give him sleeping powders" he softly said to her, "not with a head injury. He needs to sleep by god." Doctor Galen Adams stood and headed to the cabinet where they kept such powders. A very soft and quiet singing entered into Doc's ears, and he turned, saw his wife sitting by the young man, stoking his hair, it will tug at his heart. Dakota eyes closed and did not open, a soft snore will escape his lips. The patient was asleep, and Doctor Sam stopped her singing, removed the duster, and replaced it with a blanket. Galen Adams came over to his wife, taking her arm, led her to their private room and looked at her. Pain entering his heart, pulled at his ear, he studied her, "Samantha" he started.

"Galen," a soft hand reached to his face, and stroked it. "It is alright. Children are not in the cards for us." She whispered, looking deeply into his eyes. "It was not meant to be."

TBC