~3~

A few hours later, Kitty sat back and rubbed the back of her neck. There was no change in the cowgirls fever and Kitty needed fresh water. She stood up from the bed when there came a knock at the door. "Come in."

Festus entered the bedroom with a bedroll and saddlebags and sat them in the corner. He walked over to the bed. "She shore is the prettiest thang in boots I've ever seen." Festus commented. He looked up at Kitty. "How's she a do'n, Miz Kitty?"

"The same. I've managed to keep her fever from increasing, but I'll feel better when it breaks." Kitty looked over at the saddlebags. "Are those her things?"

"Yes 'em." Festus picked the saddlebags back up. "Ya reck'n there might be somthin' in these here bags that'll tell us who she be?"

"I hope so, Festus." Kitty answered, taking the bags from Festus.

Festus pointed at the saddlebags. "Well, lookie here." Festus said, as he ran his finger over the initials tooled into the leather.

"W. C." Kitty said.

"Ya figger thems her initials?" Festus asked Kitty.

"They could be, Festus, but we won't know for sure until she wakes up." Kitty started looking through the bags. She closed the bags after not finding anything that would let them know the woman's identity. "Well, there's nothing in here. Is this everything she had with her?"

"Yes 'em."

Kitty walked back to the bedside, as the fevered woman started to moan and toss about. Kitty leaned down and felt her forehead. "Her fever has spiked. Festus would you get me some fresh water, please."

"Shore enough." Festus grabbed the pitcher and bucket and left the room.

Kitty placed her hands on the sick woman's shoulders to try to keep her still. "Easy now." She said, placing the damp cloth across the woman's brow.

The woman's eyes started to flutter.

"Can you hear me?" Kitty watched her eyes flutter some more. "That's it, open your eyes."

The woman fought to open her eyes, but she could only manage a few moments at a time.

"My name is Kitty Russell. What's your name?"

The woman moaned as she tried to keep her eyes open. She opened and closed her mouth as she tried to talk.

Kitty leaned in close. "What did you say?"

"I…I'm…Will," came her faint reply before the fever took her again.

"Will, Will, can you hear me?" Kitty asked as she patted Will's face.

Festus came back into the room with the water. "Miz Kitty?"

"Festus, she just came to. Pour some of that water in the basin please."

Festus poured the fresh water, "Did she tell ya any thang?"

"Said her name is Will before the fever took her again." Kitty told him, as she re-wet the cloth, rang it out, and wiped the sweat from Will's face.

"Can I spell ya, Miz Kitty?"

"No, I'm alright, Festus. You go do your rounds. I'll be fine."

Kitty sat up all night with Will, until her fever finally broke at just before seven in the morning. A half hour later, Kitty stood up from the chair and stretched. She placed her hand on Will's forehead and found it cool to the touch. Relieved that the fever hadn't returned, Kitty tucked the covers around Will and left the room to get some sleep.

Will's eyes fluttered open when the late day sun shined across her face. She rubbed her eyes with her fists to clear the sleep from them and looked at her surroundings. She narrowed her eyes when she found four walls of a room instead of the rock walls of the cave. She lifted her head off the pillow and took a good look at the room she was in. It was the fanciest room Will had seen, with elegant paper covering the walls.

Will was about to prop herself up on her elbows when she noticed she wasn't wearing her union suit. She lifted the covers to see that she was wearing a fancy lace nightgown.

Will laid her head back on the pillow and wondered how she had come to be here in this room. The last she could remember was taking shelter from the cold rain in a cave. "The man with the mule," Will whispered. "What did he say his name was?" She closed her eyes and pictured the man sitting at the fire. 'Names Festus Haggen' she remembered. He must have brought me here, she thought. "But where is here," Will murmured.

Will knew one thing she needed to leave. She threw back the covers and slowly rolled on her side, swinging her feet off the bed and sat up. She was still exhausted from the fever, and took a moment to gather up her strength. She stood up grabbing the bedpost for support, since she was as weak as a newborn kitten. Before Will could move there was a light knock on the door and Kitty entered the room.

"Will?" Kitty took in how pale and shaky Will was. "You shouldn't be out of bed."

Will looked at the red head standing before her. She was wearing a simple skirt and blouse with her hair half pulled back by a ribbon. Will tried to take a step and her knees buckled. Kitty rushed over and put her arms around Will's waist and helped her back into bed. Once Will was settled, Kitty sat down on the bed next to her. "Nice to see you awake."

Will furrowed her brow, "Do you mind me asking who you are?"

Kitty smiled. "Kitty Russell, I'm a friend of Festus."

"Festus Haggen, he's the one who brought me here?" Will asked.

"He did. You had a pretty bad fever, so he brought you to Dodge late yesterday."

"Oh. Is this his home?"

Kitty gave a silent chuckle. "No. This is my place."

"Your husband must be a very rich man."

"I'm not married. I own the Long Branch Saloon, and this is one of the rooms above it."

"How do you know my name?" Will wondered.

"You told me last night when I was taking care of you."

Will rubbed her forehead. "I don't remember that."

"I don't doubt it with the fever you had. It broke early this morning." Kitty explained.

"I owe you a debt of gratitude." Will said softly.

"I am happy you're doing better. So is Will your given name or a nickname?"

"Willa Curtis is my given name, but I prefer Will."

"You don't wear typical female clothes. Is there a reason you dress to look like a man, Will?"

"Looking the part of a man has its advantages when you're traveling alone across the country." Will justified.

"That would explain why I found your chest bound." Kitty supposed.

"A corset and riding as much as I do don't mix well. The binding makes it easier to move and more comfortable when riding. Not that I have that much to restrain."

Kitty suppressed a smirk. "So, where is it that you are traveling to?" Kitty wondered.

"Texas."

"You have family in Texas, Will?"

"All my family has passed." Will clarified.

"Then what's in Texas?"

"No hard winters." Will simply stated.

"Doing what, if you don't mind my asking?"

"I make a living as a ranch hand. I had been working on a cattle ranch in Montana territory for the last twenty years, and figured I would go to where there's warmer weather."

Before Kitty could say anything more, she heard Will's stomach growl. "Do you feel up to having some broth?"

Will scratched the top of her head, "What I'd really like is a bath, is there someplace here in town where I can take one?"

"You can take one next door in my washroom. You're in no shape to go any farther than that." Kitty told her. "I'll get you some broth, and after you eat you can have a bath." Kitty patted Will on the leg and stood up. "I'll be back in a bit."

Kitty left the room and went downstairs. She stepped off the stairs onto the barroom floor and walked over to where Sam was standing behind the bar. "Sam, I'm going over to Delmonico's to get some broth for Will. Would you mind heating some water and fill my bathtub, please."

"Sure thing, Miss Kitty."

"Thank you, Sam."

TBC