FIVE
Noise from the saloon below drifted up from the floorboards. As the sun began to set, the Long Branch was filling up fast, people from all over Dodge arriving to celebrate Doc's birthday. Of course, the hope of free beer didn't hurt, either.
Kitty glanced at the wall clock from where she stood in front of her wardrobe. She still had some time left before Festus brought Doc over and the party got underway. Giving her dresses one final appraisal, she made her decision, pulling out the deep red dress with the gauzy sleeves and glittering bodice. She draped it across her bed and sat down at her vanity to put the finishing touches on her hair and makeup before changing out of her day clothes and into the burgundy beauty.
Looking into the mirror, she let her mind wander, the process of getting ready for an evening habit by now. It wasn't often that she chose to dwell on the past, but special days like this one seemed to call old memories to mind like a beacon. The spotlight shone on Doc today, and so her memories followed. Normally, at times like this, her musings would be full of happiness, carefree memories of past birthdays and celebrations. But tonight her wandering mind had a plan all its own, and all she could think about was the heartache she'd felt over the past few years – with Doc by her side, or on Doc's behalf. She landed on the memory of the Stark gang kidnapping Doc, and her heart seized with the strength of the pain she still felt. Kitty couldn't imagine her life without Doc in it, but the possibility had become all too real to her when Matt told her Doc had been taken. She expected to be worried about Matt, it was practically a prerequisite for being the Marshal's woman – she wasn't supposed to ever feel the same fear and anxiety over Doc.
A crash sounded from the room below, startling Kitty out of her reverie, and she shook herself, trying to intentionally focus on the task at hand. It was that damn telegram. She'd let it get to her, for some idiotic reason, and she needed to pull herself together. She hadn't run scared all those years ago when those outlaws had threatened to kill a man a day if Matt didn't make himself scarce while they robbed the bank, and she sure as hell wasn't going to turn tail and run now. The intervening years had only toughened her – jaded her, probably. She made a face at herself in the mirror.
Kitty hurried to finish getting ready, and although she felt more resolved than she had a few minutes ago, a feeling of unease still niggled at the back of her mind. She trusted Festus to take care of Dodge in Matt's absence, but she would still rest easier once Matt returned from Hays. And for Matt to have been so openly worried that morning…. It really wasn't all that long ago that he finally got most of his old strength back after being shot down by Mace Gore's men, and Kitty knew some insecurities still preyed on his mind. She would never admit it to him, but they haunted her, as well.
Remembering that horrifying night, Kitty shuddered and quickly finished fastening the buttons on her dress. She was eager to make her way down to the brightly lit saloon and let rowdy, drunken townspeople and the company of Sam, Festus, and Doc distract her from her morbid thoughts for the evening.
One last look in her full-length mirror – Festus and Doc would be arriving any minute now – and Kitty was out the door. Closing and locking it behind her, she paused for a moment and let the familiar sounds of the Long Branch wash over her. Everything would be just fine.
Nathan Burke burst into the Long Branch, the batwing doors banging against the railing by the door.
"They're comin', folks! Get ready!"
Kitty and Sam shared a look over the end of the bar, and she rolled her eyes but couldn't quite keep a smile from lighting up her face – the energy in the room was infectious, even if Burke was already well on his way to driving her to distraction. Kitty had helped Sam set everyone up with a beer, the pie sat in the middle of the center table waiting for the guest of honor to cut into it, and all that was missing now was Festus and Doc, the man of the hour.
A hush fell over the crowd, almost as if on cue, and they all listened for Festus and Doc's approach. The room fairly buzzed with anticipation. Seconds later, Kitty heard Festus and Doc arguing with each other, and she couldn't help but laugh – some things would never change.
The doors swung open, Festus leading the way, and Doc stood in the doorway as the cheer went up – "Happy birthday, Doc!"
Doc swiped his mustache, attempting to feign irritation and looking slightly overwhelmed at such an overt display of affection, and Kitty's smile only grew wider. Pushing her way through the crowd around the door, she grabbed his hand and tugged him off the step and onto the main floor, pulling him close, amidst all the cheering and clamor.
"Happy birthday, handsome," she whispered in his ear. Doc gave her a kiss on the cheek as she pulled away, and Kitty smiled with a mischievous sparkle in her eye. "What do you say we get this party started, hmm?"
Doc cut into the pie, and another cheer went up from the crowd. He and Kitty served it up, and Doc made sure Festus was the last to get a piece. Served him right for his jab about the candles atop his pie resembling a barn on fire.
Sitting there, surrounded by friends and his loved ones – although disappointed by Matt's absence – he took a moment to reflect on his blessings. Kitty was laughing loudly at a joke Sam made, Festus was waving his arms around in the animated retelling of a tale they'd all heard a hundred times or more, and life was good for an old country croaker in Dodge City.
"How 'bout another beer, Doc?"
Kitty stood from her seat at the table, and Doc grinned impishly up at her. "Only if you're buyin'."
"You're likely to get just about anything you ask for tonight, Curly." She leaned down to kiss him sweetly on his forehead and then turned for the bar. "I'll bring you that beer, and then I need to help Sam for a while."
"Now wait just a minute – you can't leave me all alone with this one." He jerked a thumb in Festus' direction, who missed the insult completely.
"Maybe if you behave I'll come back over once things quiet down," she laughed.
Festus was still engrossed in his conversation with Burke when Kitty returned, the two of them swapping tall tales back and forth like old women at a quilting bee. She dropped off Doc's beer, and he leaned back in his chair, settling in, taking in all of the excited conversations and easy laughter circulating around the Long Branch, keeping an eye on Kitty.
She was a big girl, he knew she could take care of herself, but just the same…. Doc had made a promise to himself, long ago, that he would keep a special eye on her every time Matt left town – as if he wasn't already. And the latest telegram Matt had received only strengthened his resolve. Kitty could get into enough trouble on her own without Matt's enemies gunning for her, as well – the bruise she was covering up with makeup tonight was proof enough of that. Getting in the middle of a bar fight was the least of Doc's worries, though, and he shifted uncomfortably in his chair thinking about her run-in with the Stroms, just last year. Between the attempted rape and almost getting hung, it all had been just too damn close for comfort, though both acts were thwarted. And even then, Doc knew Kitty still suffered from nightmares from time to time. She could be as brave as any soldier during her waking hours, but controlling her subconscious while she slept was no easy task.
Doc felt the urge to watch over Kitty even more keenly now. Matt had told them he wasn't sure what the telegram meant, but they all knew better. If someone wanted to ruin Matt's life, it wouldn't be too hard for them to figure out the surest way to get to Matt was straight through Kitty. And Doc knew he and Festus were on the list, too – further down than Kitty, make no mistake, but there all the same.
"Whatcha thinkin' on, Doc?"
Doc glanced over and noticed Burke had gone, leaving him and Festus alone at the table. He smiled ruefully at the man. For all that they poked at and squabbled with each other, Festus was a dear friend and more perceptive than people tended to give him credit for.
"That obvious, huh?" He set his mug down on the table and turned in his chair toward his friend. "I can't help but think about the message from Hays, Festus."
The hill man nodded, solemn in a way he rarely was. "I been a thinkin' on that m'self. Matthew sure did seem awful worried this morning."
Kitty's throaty laughter sounded across the room, drawing Doc's attention for a moment.
"Doc, you reckon somebody oughta stay here with Miss Kitty for the night? Just so's we know she's looked after?"
Doc turned back to Festus, and the tender concern he found in Festus' eyes touched him. He cleared his throat and said, "I think that's a mighty fine idea, old boy."
Another hour passed, the party showing little sign of slowing down. Someone would wander over from time to time to give Doc their personal birthday wishes, Kitty came around to sit for a few minutes here and there when she could, and Doc and Festus drifted from one topic to the next, trading insults at the appropriate times.
It was approaching ten o'clock when a flash of movement at the doors caught Doc's eye. A cowboy had just entered the Long Branch and stood taking stock of the room. A tall man with dark hair and green eyes, Doc assumed he was a stranger to Dodge – he couldn't recall ever seeing him in town before. He looked friendly enough, eyes lighting up and a smile turning up the corner of his mouth when a chorus of laughter rose up from a nearby table, but Doc would rather be wary of strangers in town over the next few days.
Doc quietly interrupted Festus and indicated the newcomer with his eyes. Festus caught on quickly, giving the man a once over, even as he appeared to come to a decision and approached their table.
"Evenin', gentlemen," he said, touching his fingers to the brim of his hat.
"Evenin'," Doc offered, Festus merely nodding in turn with a smile.
"What's the occasion?" He looked around, thumbs casually hooked in his beltloops. "Or is business always this good in here?" He smiled.
"The Long Branch shore is the most popularest saloon in Dodge," Festus answered, looking as proud as if he owned the place. "But we're celebratin' this here ol' scutter's birthday." He stuck his hand out. "Name's Festus. Festus Haggen. And this here's Doc."
The stranger smiled again and gave Festus a firm handshake.
"Festus. Doc, happy birthday. I'm Caleb."
Just then Kitty came back over. "Well, Festus, Doc – you planning on introducing me to your new friend?"
"The name's Caleb, ma'am." He tipped his Stetson.
"Caleb, pleased to meet you." Kitty smiled brightly at him, and Doc couldn't tell if she was playing it up or if she truly was charmed by this man. The woman had a poker face even he had trouble reading at times. "I'm Kitty Russell."
"Pleased to meet you, too, ma'am." Kitty moved to sit down, and Caleb quickly pulled out a chair for her, earning another smile.
"So what brings you to Dodge, Caleb?"
"I'm on my way south, Miss Russell. Got an uncle that just started a shipping company down in New Orleans. Figure he could use the extra help, and I could use the job. I'm takin' some time here in Dodge to scrape together some more money so I can make it the rest of the way."
"I'm sure you'll love it down there. I'm originally from New Orleans, myself. In fact, head over to the bar there and tell Sam that Kitty said your first beer is on me."
Doc thought he saw something strange flicker across Caleb's face, but he tipped his hat with a smile and a "much obliged, ma'am" and headed over to the bar before Doc could put any serious thought into it.
"Need another beer, Doc?"
"Hmm? Oh, no thanks, Kitty, not just yet."
"Alright then." She smiled and pulled her chair closer to the table.
"Miss Kitty!"
Kitty sighed and rolled her eyes in fond exasperation. "I usually love extra business, but this is a little much," she joked. "Coming, Sam," she called over the din.
"We'll just skip my birthday next year then, hmm?" Doc asked, putting on an innocent air.
"Smart ass."
Doc chuckled, watching her walk away. But she'd only gotten halfway to the bar when a clumsy looking brute of a man suddenly turned around at the bar and pushed off of it to block her way as he saw her approaching.
"S-say, Kitty, why don'tcha let me buy you a-a drink?" His words slurred together, and he swayed slightly on his feet. Doc tensed up, ready to intervene, and felt Festus shift beside him.
Doc couldn't see Kitty's face from his vantage point, but one hand went to her hip, and the tone of her voice said it all. "After what happened last night, Bear, I suggest you either stick with your friends over there or sober up. Now move out of my way."
The sloppy smile fell from Bear's face, and instead of moving out of Kitty's way he took a step closer.
"Just tryin' t-ta 'pologize."
Doc made ready to stand – Kitty hadn't told him who had actually hurt her last night, but now that he knew he could feel his anger rising.
"I said move, Bear," Kitty growled. "Or I'll ban you from the Long Branch permanently. We don't need your kind of trouble in here."
The saloon had gone silent, everyone riveted by the unfolding drama.
Bear's face turned a deeper shade of red and he seemed to sober up a bit as he snarled, "The Marshal ain't here to fight for you now, is he, Red? I don't think yer so tough without your man here to back you up."
Festus shot up from his chair, sending it skidding across the floor.
"You'd best watch yerself, Bear, 'fore you say somethin' you'll regret."
A moment of utter stillness passed, when all Doc could hear was the fierce pounding of his heart, and his hands clenched tighter around the arms of his chair, his knuckles white.
Then the Long Branch exploded into chaos.
Bear lunged toward Kitty, his large hands wrapping around her neck, and screams erupted around the saloon, Kitty's girls crying out in fear. Chairs scraped across the floor, cowards moving back from the fight, anxious in their drunken states to remove themselves from danger. The momentum from Bear's attack quickly propelled them back into another table, and they crashed on top of it, sending mugs of beer crashing to the floor. Bear choked Kitty with his meaty hands as she desperately clawed at them, struggling to breathe.
The second Bear had moved, Festus drew his gun and Doc surged to his feet, both of them struggling to move through the crowded chaos and reach Kitty. From the corner of Doc's eye, he saw Sam grab the mallet from behind the bar.
Doc reached Kitty first, but even with his adrenaline pumping he couldn't pull Bear's hands from Kitty's throat. His heart raced painfully, and he pummeled Bear with his fists. They were running out of time. Kitty's movements were getting weaker by the second.
"Move!" Festus' way was blocked by a few drunken, confused cowboys.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Caleb appeared behind Bear and cracked him over the head with the butt of his pistol, immediately knocking him unconscious. He grabbed Bear by the shoulders as he fell, and Doc helped shove the deadweight to the floor before he could crush Kitty beneath him.
Kitty drew in a long, gasping breath from where she lie on the green felt-topped table. Her breath caught, and she tried to push herself up as she drew in another faltering, halting breath. Doc quickly leaned over and grasped her shoulders, pulling her into himself. He felt her clutch the lapels of his jacket, and he began rubbing slow, calming circles over her back to help her center her erratic breathing. With his other hand, he held her firmly against his chest, careful not to squeeze too hard, and he rested his chin on top of her head, closing his eyes tightly for a moment.
"Oh, thank God," he breathed.
Festus reached them then, laying a comforting hand on Kitty's shoulder.
"Miss Kitty? Are ya alright? I tried to get to ya just as fast as I could, Miss Kitty." Guilt laced his words, and Doc couldn't help but feel similarly.
Kitty took one last deep breath and eased back in Doc's arms. He noticed her eyes were dry, but there was no mistaking the fact she was well and truly shaken from the ordeal. She raised a trembling hand to her throat and nodded, trying miserably to smile for them.
"I'm alright, Festus." Her voice sounded hoarse. Doc didn't believe her for a second, and from the look on Festus' face he had his doubts, too.
"If'n it's alright with you, Miss Kitty, I'm gonna drag this here yayhoo over t' the jail. But I'll be back directly." Festus leaned forward and bashfully gave Kitty a quick peck on the cheek before enlisting a couple men to help him carry Bear down to the jail.
Activity resumed around the Long Branch, and Sam brought out a broom and quickly swept up the broken shards of glass from the floor. Doc, one arm still around Kitty's shoulders, noticed Caleb standing off to the side.
"Caleb," he started but then had to clear his throat. "We're mighty grateful to you, son."
"Yes, thank you." Doc couldn't help but wince at her raspy voice. "Sam," she called over to the bar, "Caleb drinks for free tonight."
"Yes, ma'am."
"You don't have to do that, ma'am." The young man ducked his head briefly. "I'm just glad I was here to help."
Doc read the sincerity in Caleb's warm eyes, and some of the suspicions he had been holding on to melted away.
Kitty reached out to touch Caleb's arm. "It's the least I can do."
Caleb smiled, nodded, and headed back to the bar and the girl he'd been talking to before he'd come to Kitty's rescue. Doc quickly turned all of his attention back to Kitty.
"Let me get a good look atcha, baby," he murmured. Carefully, he tilted her head back and gingerly probed her throat with deft fingers. "The swelling's not too bad. How's it feel to swallow?"
"It doesn't feel great, that's for sure." Kitty caught his hands in her own and smiled. "But I'll live."
Doc swallowed the emotion clogging his throat and brushed a fiery strand of hair out of Kitty's face.
"You probably need some rest."
"What I need, handsome, is a drink." She winked, and Doc knew he would lose this argument. "Now how about you help me off this table, and we can have Sam get us something a little stronger than beer, hmm?"
Doc sighed and shook his head, but he helped her down anyway, and they returned to their chairs with a couple glasses and a bottle of whiskey. There wasn't anything in the world he wouldn't do for his Kitty.
From his position at the bar, Caleb could act interested in whatever Stella was rambling on about while still keeping an eye on the center table. Festus had returned from locking that oaf up a few minutes ago, and he'd joined Kitty and Doc. He couldn't hear what they were talking about over the noise of the crowd, but that was alright for the time being.
He took a slow draft of beer and nodded absently in response to something Stella said. She was a pretty enough girl, and probably the friendliest he'd met all day, but he had other things on his mind. More important things.
He'd arrived in Dodge late in the morning, and after checking into the hotel he'd quickly canvased Front Street before making a slow round of the saloons. Apparently, he'd saved the best for last. Caleb had gathered enough information around town to know three things: the general population of Dodge held Marshal Matthew Dillon in high regard, the town was not on its guard, and Matt Dillon and Kitty Russell were the worst kept secret in Dodge City. It was amazing to Caleb the things people would divulge when they thought they were talking to a friendly face – even if he was also a stranger to them.
It was one thing to hear the talk around town, but it was something entirely different to see the proof of those words in action. And Caleb had seen plenty. Not only was Kitty Russell Matt Dillon's woman, but Caleb would lay odds that Doc and Festus were close friends with the Marshal, as well. Not to mention the fact that they were as fiercely protective of Kitty as he imagined Dillon to be, if not as intimidating.
As the crowd began to thin out and Stella moved on to a more attentive partner, Caleb caught bits and pieces of the conversation at the table holding his interest. It sounded like the doc would be staying overnight at the Long Branch – the telegram calling Dillon away had them spooked, and the men felt better knowing Kitty wouldn't be alone overnight. They weren't as dumb as they looked.
That was just fine by Caleb.
He tipped his hat in thanks to the barkeep – Kitty had called him Sam – and left the Long Branch, breathing in the crisp, midnight air of late spring. It cleared his senses, and the gears in his mind started turning as he made his way back to his hotel room. He would wait until the Long Branch had closed its doors for the night before sneaking back out again. Mr. Jonas' store would be a good place to start, maybe the restaurant on Front Street, too.
Caleb planned on stirring up some trouble here and there around town to begin with – nothing too big, but enough to make the town uneasy. He wanted them already on edge when he began to escalate things. He would have to move quickly, though. Dillon could return in as little as two days, and the more damage Caleb could do before he returned the better.
In the end, the townspeople wouldn't care whether or not their marshal was actually in town when it was attacked – they would only care that he hadn't protected them.
Caleb's steps echoed on the boardwalk, steady and calm, in no hurry to reach his destination. He was confident in his plan so far. Luck had been on his side once again in the Long Branch. In the right place at the right time, he knew he'd earned a lot of trust when he saved Kitty's life. That would deflect suspicion from him when things started going wrong around town.
It was a shame Kitty had to be tangled up with Dillon. A damn shame.