Chapter Eleven: The Week Begins
Matt Dillion's eyes opened slowly. His head was foggy, brain fog as Doc would call it. He wasn't sure where he was, why he was there. This was not Doc's back room. How did he get here? A train, he remembered taking the train. Where? St. Louis, that's right, St. Louis. Kitty and the children. Smith and Newly, Doc and Spenser. As his mind cleared up, he silently cursed the effects of laudanum. They were in court, his shoulder bothered him. Were they back at the Spenser's estate? How long had he been out? His right shoulder felt heavy, but there was no sling. His left shoulder felt heavy. Had he been shot again? The room was dark, before sunrise, the smell of jasmine lingered in here. Matt looked down and smiled. Kitty was asleep next to him, holding his arm, her head resting on his shoulder.
Matt moved his left arm out of Kitty's grip, maneuvering it above her head and coached her to lay completely next to him. He ran his fingers slightly through her hair, he buried his face into that hair. Kitty woke up quickly, startled by Matt's face and fingers lingering in her hair. She sat up quickly, "Matt, your awake! What do you need, are you hurting, you shouldn't move to much around." She peppered him with questions, he chuckled.
"Easy Kitty, I am alright. Confused for a bit, brain fog, but I am fine. A bit thirsty." He confessed to her. Kitty attempted to leave the bed and Matt pulled her back in. "First, a kiss then a glass of water. It has been hell week for both of us." His boyish grin captured her heart, she could never deny it. Teasingly she leaned into him and placed her lips on his. His arm entwined around her waist as the kiss intensified. Then, suddenly she broke free, and Matt protested.
"I am getting you water. Do you need anything for the pain? Doc said I can give you a half of a teaspoon of the laudanum."
"I just need you, back in bed with me. Once I drink the water, and no thank you on the laudanum. I despised the taste and the effects. Why was I given it anyway? Last, I remember we were in court. "
She handed him the glass and then crawled into bed beside him. "You were out of it when we got home yesterday after court. When we arrived here, Newly and Jessica managed to get you into bed and undressed. Doc had to open your shoulder; it was infected." Kitty retrieved the glass from him and put it on the table beside the bed she continued. "You have been asleep since mid-day yesterday."
"No more laudanum, promise me Kitty." His arm once again encased her shoulders as she snuggled down to him. Kissing the top of her head, he moved his right arm across his stomach and took her hand in his. Kitty took his hand, promised no more laudanum for now. Their fingers intertwined with each other, Matt's thumb caressing the top of her hand. "We seem to have so much to talk about." Matt whispered.
"I know. I left instructions with Sam at the Long Branch. The girls won't be entertaining upstairs anymore or living there. A couple of the rooms will be made into bedrooms for the children, and I was thinking that two of the rooms could be made into one, a family room." Her voice was quiet and steady.
"I see. We are not going to be able to keep our relationship quiet and away from prying eyes. We will be the talk of the town."
"This would not be news in Dodge Matt. Most of the townspeople have us figured for a couple. I am wondering how the news of the children will be talked about."
"Kitty, I don't want you to raise these children alone. As their father, I should be there as much as possible." Matt kissed the top of her head as daylight began to creep into their room. "I could get used to this", he whispered into hair. Just then, the door to their room cracked open and on seeing them awake, a six-year-old Lillian raced over to Kitty's side of the bed.
Matt chuckled as Lilly wormed her way into the bed, forcing Kitty to sit up and out of his arms, pulling the child to her lap. Lilly looked at him with serious blue eyes, a mop of red hair, with a pout on her lips. Even though he knew that Kitty did not give birth to this child, one could be hard pressed to believe that statement. Would the Dodge folks think that this was her child, his child? And her brother, named after him, Matthew James. Would they think he was their biological child also?
"Are you really my papa now?" Lillian's question caught Matt off guard. Refocusing his thoughts, Matt looked at her first seriously and then a smile cracked across his face. "You bet I am. And Aunt Kitty here is now your mama. What do you think of that?" Lilly cheered and gave Kitty a hug. She looked at Matt and then hugged herself, threw open her arms. "I hugged you papa. I did not want to hurt you."
Clara stepped up to the doorway and knocked slightly on the door. "Good morning marshal, Mrs. Dillion. Breakfast will be served shortly. Do we need to bring breakfast up to your room or will you come down to the dining room?"
"Mrs. Dillion and I will be having breakfast with the children. Could you please corral this one for us?" Matt spoke up, startling Kitty with his admission of "Mrs. Dillion". Clara smiled and motioned for Lillian to come to her, which she did. The door gently closed leaving the marshal and his "wife" alone.
"Um… Matt. About my name." Kitty stumbled over her words. Matt just grinned at her and placed a finger on her lips. "Later Kitty. I'm hungry and need help getting dress." Unsure of when later was, what he thought and where they stood, she helped him get dressed, putting his wounded shoulder and arm into a sling. She then got dressed herself and the two of them left the room, heading down to breakfast as a family.
Dakota Smith always believed he was stealthy, quiet and a bit sneaky. So far, he had avoided Doc and he planned on continuing to avoid him. How long he could do this was unknown, he was going to try for as long as he could. That lasted for ten minutes, and from a side room that Dakota for whatever reason he ignored, Doctor Adams stepped out behind him. Maybe deep down he wanted to be caught. "Just a minute there, young man." Doc's voice made Dakota jump slightly and he turned to face him. "Oh, morning Doc. Sleep well?"
"Thought I would walk with you to breakfast." Doc headed for the dining room. "Surely a growing boy like you needs to eat. After breakfast, I want to check you over and we can have that quiet chat I mentioned."
Dakota was trapped, and with reluctance in his voice "Yes Doc. After breakfast." Dakota walked into the dining room with him. Johnny, Matty and Lilly were seated along with Newly and Jessica who were sitting together. Doc and Dakota took the seats shown to them. The end seats were empty until Matt and Kitty entered and took those seats. During breakfast, Doc spoke up to Matt and Kitty. "I will be looking at Mr. Smith here and afterwards, I would like to check the twins and little ones out, along with you Mr. Marshal."
"I don't see any problem with that Doc. I believe there is a room that would work. I can be there to help you if you need an assistant." Kitty slipped her coffee. "I would really appreciate it if you took a good look at Matty's ears."
"Mother, would it be permissible if Doc checked me out this afternoon verses this morning?" Jessica inquired. "I promised Mr. O'Brien that I would go for a walk this morning with him. Too show him more of the grounds."
"I see." Matt spoke up, looking at her and then to Newly. "Just the two of you, I take it?"
"Yes father, is that a problem?" Jessica batted her eyes at her father. "Surely you trust your deputy to look out for my welfare." Johnny coughed at this statement, and she glared at him.
Kitty gave Johnny a "knock it off" look and noticed how uncomfortable Newly was looking. "Matt, I don't think there is any problem with the two of them taking a walk."
Matt looked from Kitty to Jessica to Newly. He knew he was defeated in this. Later he will have a serious discussion with Newly. "No, there should be no problem. Just be careful out there, you have already gotten hurt."
After breakfast everyone went their separate ways, Dakota attempted to sneak off. He wasn't successful in his attempt and found himself in the room that Kitty had picked out to do examinations on everyone. Checking him over, Doc grunted his approval and removed the tape. "Well, everything looks fine, just fine. Bruises should disappear before long, and I don't see any reason to check you again. Be careful with the nose and if it bleeds, you come see me."
"Thanks Doc." Dakota stood and Doc placed his hand on Dakota's chest. "You sit back down there. We still need to chat." Sighing, Dakota sat back down and waited. "Seems that Doctor Sam and I have benefactors. Suddenly we have the whole building so that we could open a clinic and additional monies to outfit that clinic. You wouldn't know anything about this would you?" Doc's hand rubbed his mustache as he surveyed the young man.
"Doc. Why would I know anything about that?" Dakota kept his voice calm, quiet and very level. As for eye contact, normally this would not be a problem with as many poker games he had played. Some reason, he could not look nor maintain eye contact with Doc.
"I see, I see. So, somebody else just happened to come into that kind of money, overheard a conversation that should not have listened to and mosey on down the bank with a certain busybodied deputy, and I wound up owning a building."
"I suppose you could say that." Dakota went to stand up, Doc placed his hand on Dakota's shoulder. "And why would you do a fool thing like that?" Doc asked looking into Dakota's face.
"My stuff needed a place to stay, you and Doc Sam needed a clinic."
"Your stuff!" Doc exclaimed. "Where in tarnation are you planning on staying?"
"With my stuff. I umm…. thought perhaps I could rent a room from you?" Dakota hemmed and hawed.
"You did, did you? Well, we will see when we get back to Dodge. I need to discuss this with the missus you know."
Dakota nodded in agreement to Doc's words, looked to the floor and fiddled with his rifle. Doc saw the resignment in Dakota's eyes. Placing a hand on Dakota's shoulder and squeezing it, Doc took a seat. "Dakota", his voice was soft and caring. "Why the rifle? I haven't seen you without it. What is going on?"
Dakota sighed. He was very comfortable around most people and yet, with the doctor and this family he wasn't really uncomfortable. Searching his thoughts he looked up at the Doc Adams, "Doc, I think I am lost."
"I see." Doc's eyes showed Dakota that he understood the young man's feelings. "Son, everyone feels lost sometimes. The rifle?"
He gripped the rifle harder, no sure if he should tell the old man, it's story. Would the doctor understand. When Doc saw that Dakota was hesitating, he told Dakota that as his doctor what was said would stay between them.
"Doc, I am an orphan. The Petersons's were nice until you reached ten, and then they became slave masters. Three of us were over ten, I was the oldest at thirteen. One day, I caught Petersons with Siliva, an eleven-year-old girl there. I attacked him, but he was too strong. He beat me and beat me with a belt until I passed out. The next night, the three of us ran away, different directions. I ran and ran until I had found the near by city and there I hide. No money, rags for clothes, no one to turn to. I got caught and the sheriff through me into a jail cell. The next day this big man, tanned, strong and with a barrel laugh. He came into the jail and talked for some time with the sheriff. Next thing I knew, the sheriff hauled me out of the cell and stood me in front of the big man telling me that I was to go with him."
Doc nodded and went to the table where there was a bottle of whiskey. He poured two glasses and returned to his seat after handing Dakota a glass. Dakota took a drink of the whiskey slowly, allowing the drink to burn down his throat. Continuing his story " The man's name was Jake Gills, and he was a trail boss for the Circle K Ranch. He took me to a few stores, bought me some new clothes, boots, a hat. I really thought he was going to return me to the Petersons. When he saw my back, he took me up to the doctor. Later that day we were on the biggest ranch that I ever saw. He gave me an older horse and introduced me to the trail cook. That is where I worked for two seasons, and Gills was pleased with my determination to work. He got me another younger horse, my first six shooter and I became a ranch hand. Taught me everything I know about life, I guess. I admired him and in a small way worshiped him. I would do anything I could for him."
"Just after my 17th birthday, Gills took a bad spill off his horse and broke his spine." Tears weld up in his eyes. Finishing the whiskey, Dakota continued. "Before he died, he gave me this rifle, saying that he had no kin, and I was as close to a son as any man there. This is his rifle."
"What happened after that?" Doc softly asked.
"I left the ranch; everything reminded me of him. I travelled towards the orphanage that I ran from to take out the Petersons but couldn't. I drifted for a while, and then the whole bounty hunter happened. That is another story sometime Doc. You know the story from when I found the marshal, Colbert, and here we are. Except that I feel lost. I don't know if I want to continue bounty hunting. I just want to belong somewhere. Can you understand that, Doc?"
"Yes son, I can. Your story is safe with me Dakota. When we get back to Dodge, you can stay in the spare bedroom. I am sure that Sammatha will not mind. Then we can help you figure things out." Doc looked at the young man. "Dakota, go put the rifle away in your bedroom. Your safe with us."
"Thanks Doc." Dakota stood up and feeling no resistance from Doc, hurriedly left the room. Doc just shook his head and tugged his ear.
Down the hallway, Newly O'Brien and Jessica Dillion were on their way out the main door for their walk. Newly opened the door to let themselves out, and standing there, midway into a knock was a messenger. Startled, the man looked from Newly to Jessica, not sure who to address. "Excuse me sir, ma'am. I am looking for Marshal Matthew Dillion and Miss Kathleen Russell. I have a message from Judge Halbrook."
"They are my parents. May I take it up to them."
Scratching his head, the messenger pondered for a moment and then handed over the message. "It should be fine, just please see that they received it."
Jessica took the message, told Newly that she would be right back and ascended the stairs, knocking on Matt and Kittys door. Kitty answered and Jessica handed her the message, explaining that it just came. Kitty smiled, took the message, and told Jessica to have a good time. Jessica smiled back and scampered off.
Kitty chuckled a bit and moved back over to where Matt was sitting. "She seems very happy", Matt commented. "Who is the message from? The court?"
"Jessica is getting attention from a gentleman Matt. What young lady wouldn't be happy with that?" Kitty handed the message to him. "I am not sure I want to know." She sat down on the arm of the chair. "You read it."
Matt opened the message and read it out loud, "Marshal Matthew Dillion and Miss Kathleen Russel presences are requested at Judge Halbrooks office next Monday promptly at 1:00 pm. Please send a reply to this message that it was received." Matt folded up the message looking up to Kitty. Seeing the worry in her eyes, pulled her into his lap and kissed her. "Kitty, it will be alright."
Laying her head on his shoulder, she fingered Matt's shirt between two fingers. "I guess I am just worrying about this too much. The twins can leave anytime with us, with you and no court would interfere. What rights do we have with Matty and Lilly? I mean, well Matt let's face it. You are gone a lot with your job, and I am a saloon owner."
Moving his left hand up to her arm, he took the time to kiss her forehead. He lingered there for a few moments, thinking about what to say next. "Kitty," he whispered. "My job does take me away. I was going to send out Festus and Newly more and plan on being in Dodge more often. I could even use Dakota occasionally, if the person had a wanted poster on them."
Kitty's head turned upwards looking into Matt's eyes. "Do you really mean that Matt. That you will be around more often? And what about the saloon and the children living there? Are you going to let others know you live there too? Are you going to live there?"
Chuckling a bit with all her questions, his left hand stroked her long hair. Her scent always drove him a bit crazy and right now, he really wished he could pick her up and carry her to bed. Instead, he answered her questions. "Yes, I mean it, yes, I will be living there. I am their father and need to be present in their lives. There might be times I need to sleep in the jail, like taking my turn on a weekend, or when we have a prisoner. If we can prove that we can make it a home for the children, like a family room, a dining area et., I am sure the judge will approve. We will tell him our plans, school, church, socials, those sorts of things. Maybe someday we could look into a real house."
"Matt, that all sounds good. I just hope that the judge will accept it, will let us take them all back to Dodge." She whispered and then planted a lingering kiss on his lips.
"Kitty, I have been thinking about all of this." Matt pulled her tighter to him, his desire for her beginning to make itself known. "I think we should get married. That should also help the judge to decided."
She stopped the kissing and sat up looking at him. As much as she had hope for a marriage with him, she wondered if it wasn't for the children needing a mother, would he have proposed to her? Before she could question his motives, a knock on the door sound along with Doc's voice coming through.
"Kitty, Matt. I am coming in to check on my patient." Doc announced as the doorknob turned.
TBC
