"Healing Touch" (Part 2)

Kitty watched in horror as she watched Matt and her daughter go down. For a brief moment she froze, but only for a brief moment. She could hear Ruby quietly crying. Kitty went to her first. She was afraid of what she would see. Kitty put her hands on Ruby to roll her over.

"Is the bad guy gone, momma?" Ruby whispered, her voice trembling.

Kitty rolled Ruby over and didn't see any blood whatsoever. She breathed a huge sigh of relief. Her daughter had not been shot. She was not laying on the ground bleeding to death. "Ruby, are you okay? Momma saw you fall and I thought you were hurt."

"Don't you 'member daddy said to fall down when you hear gunshots?" asked Ruby.

Kitty did remember. She remembered the day that Matt taught Ruby to go down to the ground if someone was shooting. On that day Kitty wasn't too happy that Matt was teaching Ruby that, but at the same time understood why he was doing it. Kitty knew that as a lawman, Matt would do anything to keep his family safe, even if it meant teaching his toddler daughter to go down to the ground during a shooting.

"Yes, sweetheart, I remember," Kitty said. Today she was more than grateful for Matt's talk with Ruby. Matt! She turned to her husband, who was still lying there. Kitty could see the blood coming from his thigh. "Matt, talk to me. Are you alright?"

"Are you and Ruby hurt?" Matt asked. He was in pain, but right now his wife and daughter were more important. He had to make sure they were alright.

"We're fine, Matt. Neither of us were hit, but you obviously need Doc," said Kitty, her hands around Matt's shoulder. "Ruby, honey, I need you to stay here with daddy while I go and get Grandpa Doc." Kitty didn't want to leave Matt or Ruby, but knew she had to get Doc. She would've taken Ruby, but knew the little girl wouldn't be able to keep up with her.

"Okay, momma," Ruby said.

"That's my big girl," said Kitty as she stood up and went to get Doc.

Ruby went over to her daddy. She became nervous when she saw the blood. "Daddy, that bad man gave you a bad owie."

"Yes, he did, sweetheart. Daddy's just relieved that you and momma weren't hurt. That would have made daddy so sad."

"Daddy, did the bad guy die?" asked Ruby. She looked over at the man who shot at them.

Matt looked over at the man. He recognized him as Dexter Hunt. He hadn't moved at all.

"I think so, sweetheart." As Matt was lying there, he realized how close his worst nightmare almost became a reality.

Doc had been having lunch with Festus at Delmonico's, when he heard multiple gunshots. Knowing that he would more than likely be needed he left money on the table and left Delmonico's. Festus followed him. As they walked out of the restaurant, they could see Kitty hurriedly coming towards them. They both noticed that neither Matt nor Ruby was with her.

When all three met, Doc spoke first. "Kitty, what's wrong? Where are Matt and Ruby?"

"Oh, Doc, we were shot at. Matt's been shot, a leg wound," Kitty cried.

"Ruby?" Doc questioned. He couldn't fathom his little granddaughter being shot.

"She's fine," Kitty reassured Doc. "I left her with Matt. I knew she wouldn't be able to keep up with me to find you."

"Festus, go get my bag. Kitty, take me to Matt," Doc ordered.

"Sure thang, Doc," said Festus as he quickly went to Doc's office to fetch Doc's bag.

Kitty took Doc to Matt. When they arrived, Ruby was sitting by her daddy's head. Her little hand was gently rubbing her daddy's head. Every once in a while she would give him a kiss on the forehead. Matt had his eyes closed. That sent fear throughout Kitty and Doc. They feared the worst. Doc went over to Matt to assess his injury.

"Ruby, let's get out of the way, so Grandpa Doc can help daddy," said Kitty as she took Ruby by the hand and gently led her away from Matt.

"Momma, I gave daddy kisses, so he would get better," said Ruby.

"I bet it will help," Kitty said, not knowing if Matt was still alive.

"Matt, it's Doc. Can you hear me?"

"Yeah, Doc. My leg is hurtin' something awful," said Matt with pain in his voice.

Kitty heard Matt speak and was instantly relieved. He was still alive. Her husband, father of her child, best friend, and soulmate was still alive. She then heard Festus' jangly spurs coming. She looked up and saw him approaching with Doc's medical bag.

"Here ya go, Doc. How's Matthew?" asked Festus, handing Doc his medical bag.

"He's been shot in the leg. He's very fortunate that it didn't hit the femoral artery. If it did, he would've bled out. However, I'm sure it's more than likely lodged in the femur bone. He's going to need surgery," Doc answered. "Kitty, is your wagon nearby? We can use it to get Matt to my office."

"Yes, Doc. It's just right over there," answered Kitty.

Kitty took Ruby with her to get the wagon. She put Ruby up on the seat and then climbed up herself. She was able to back the wagon up and turn it around to drive it to Matt. Doc and Festus were able to help Matt get in the back of the wagon. Doc stayed in the back with Matt, while Kitty drove. By this time a crowd had gathered around. Festus noticed this and shooed them out of the way, telling them everything was alright.

Before they left, Matt addressed Festus. "Festus, Dexter Hunt shot at us. I was able to shoot him and kill him. Could you please take care of the body?"

"Absolutely, Matthew. Don't ya worry about a thing," Festus responded.

When they arrived at Doc's office, Doc asked two men from town to help get Matt upstairs and onto the examining table. They did as they were asked, and then left the office. Doc prepared everything he would need for Matt's surgery. Kitty and Ruby stood off in the corner and watched.

"Kitty, Ruby, I'm going to ask the two of you to leave so I can make Matt feel better," said Doc.

Kitty wanted to stay, but knew she couldn't with Ruby with her. She would take Ruby to Delmonici's to get her something to eat. She knew the little girl had to be hungry.

"Sure, Doc. Ruby and I are going to Delmonico's to get some lunch. If we're not there when you're done, we'll be at the milliner's shop." Kitty was trying to do anything to keep her daughter calm. Kitty lifted Ruby up and brought her over to Matt. "Ruby, give daddy a kiss and tell him you'll see him later."

Ruby gave Matt a sweet kiss on the cheek. "Get better, daddy. I'll see ya soon."

Kitty put Ruby down and gave Matt her own kiss, but on the lips. "We'll see ya soon, Cowboy."

"I'll be here when you get back," Matt answered as he squeezed Kitty's hand.

Kitty and Ruby left Doc's office. Doc put Matt to sleep and began the task of digging out the bullet from Matt's femur. It was lodged in there pretty good. It took him close to two hours to get it out. Doc knew Matt would make a full recovery, but he would be down for several weeks.

Once he knew Matt would be fine if left alone, Doc went to find Kitty and Ruby. Like Kitty had said, they were in the milliner's shop. Kitty heard the bell ring when Doc opened the door and walked in. She immediately went to him.

"How is he, Doc?" Kitty nervously asked.

"He's fine. I expect him to make a full recovery," Doc answered, rubbing his hand over his mustache.

"Oh thank God!" Kitty exclaimed. "Did you hear that, Ruby? Daddy is going to be alright." She then turned to Doc. "Can we go and see him?"

"That's why I'm here," replied Doc.

Kitty and Ruby followed Doc back to his office. When they got there, Matt was on the examining table with a blanket over him. He was still asleep from the surgery. Doc went over to him and gently woke him up. "Matt, Kitty and Ruby are here."

Matt woke up and saw Kitty and Ruby standing there. His leg was sore. "Doc," Matt said, his voice hoarse. "How's my leg?"

"Like I told Kitty, I expect you to make a full recovery. Now I know you're not going to like what I'm going to say next, but you need to listen to me. If you want to make a full recovery, you need to follow my orders. My first order is to have you stay here for a week," said Doc.

"A week?" Matt and Kitty questioned at the same time.

"Yes, a week," Doc responded. "That's a deep incision, and I don't want to take any risk of the stitches coming out. I also want to monitor it for any sign of infection, things like fever. If Matt's here, I can do that much easier."

"Doc, he's my husband. We took vows, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. I can take care of him," Kitty softly protested.

"I know you can Kitty and I know you took vows. But you want Matt to get better, don't you?" asked Doc. Kitty nodded yes. "Good, then let me do my job. You take care of that granddaughter of mine. You two can come and visit anytime you want."

"Momma, we can go home and make daddy his favorite bueberry muffins," said Ruby.

Kitty smiled at Ruby. "I think that's an excellent idea." She and Ruby said their goodbyes to Matt and headed home. They would make the blueberry muffins.

Kitty knew the best place for Matt at the moment was in Doc's office, but she missed him terribly. It had only been three days, and she still had four more days until he could come home. She wanted him home so badly, as did Ruby. Ruby missed her daddy tucking her in at night.

When she wanted to keep her mind off of things, she liked to keep herself busy. She was still part owner of the Long Branch, running the financial side of things. Normally she worked on the books at home, but today she decided to go to the Long Branch and work in the office. She brought Ruby with her. To keep Ruby occupied, Kitty brought a pencil and a tablet of paper, some of Ruby's picture books, and her blocks. Ruby played on the floor while Kitty worked in her ledger.

There was a knock on the door, and Sam peaked his head in. "Miss Kitty, I hate to bother you, but it's awfully busy out here. Do you think you could help out for just a bit?"

"Sure, Sam," Kitty answered as she closed her ledger. "Ruby, momma has to go out there and help Uncle Sam. I want you to stay in here and be a big girl and play with your toys. Maybe you could draw a picture for daddy, and we can take it to him later."

"Sure, momma. I'll draw daddy a picture," said Ruby. She went and got the pencil and tablet of paper off the table.

"Thank you, honey," said Kitty, giving Ruby a kiss on the top of her head. She then followed Sam out into the saloon, locking the door on her way out.

Sam wasn't lying when he said the place was busy. It was a good hour or more before things settled down and Kitty was able to go back to the office. She and Ruby would go and see Matt. They would then go home, have supper, and Kitty would put Ruby to bed. Kitty inserted the key into the door knob to unlock the door. When she opened it, Ruby was nowhere to be seen. She quickly looked around, thinking her daughter was playing hide and seek. Panic set in when she couldn't find Ruby. Kitty went back out into the saloon.

"Sam, have you seen Ruby? She's not in the office." Kitty's voice was full of fear.

"No, I haven't. We've been so busy. Are you sure she's not hiding?" asked Sam. He was also worried.

"I looked. She's not there. I know I locked that door, so no one could've gotten in and taken her. There was no sign of forced entry," Kitty said. "Besides, no one was here when we arrived, so no one would've even known she was in there."

"Would she have left on her own?" asked Sam.

"That's the only other possible explanation, but I don't know where she would've gone," said Kitty. Then it suddenly dawned on her where Ruby most likely was. "I think I know where she is."

"Where?" asked Sam.

"I can bet money she went to Doc's office to see her daddy. I know she's been missing him. I told her to draw a picture for Matt and we'd take it to him later. She probably couldn't wait until later and went over there on her own. Sam, I have to see if she's there."

"Of course, Miss Kitty. I pray that she is," said Sam.

Kitty left the Long Branch and took the back alley to Doc's office. She saw Doc coming down the street. It looked as though he had been at the general store. She waited for him.

"Kitty, did you and Ruby come to see Matt. Hey, where is Ruby?" asked Doc, when he noticed Kitty was alone.

"I thought she was upstairs with you and Matt,:" said Kitty. Her anxiety level was once again on the rise.

"Why would you think that?" asked Doc.

"I don't have time to explain," said Kitty as she hurriedly took the stairs up to Doc's office. Doc was on her heels.

Kitty opened the door to the main office and then went to open the door to the back bedroom. The scene before her brought her relief. There on the bed was her four year daughter snuggled fast asleep against her daddy's side. Her Cowboy was also asleep. Kitty then looked over at the side table and saw a piece of paper from the tablet she brought to the Long Branch for Ruby to use. She walked over to the table and looked at the paper. On it was a rainbow and some flowers, Ruby's favorite things to draw. Just as she expected, Ruby decided she couldn't wait and brought the picture to her daddy by herself. Ruby probably noticed her daddy was asleep when she got there and decided to have a nap herself.

"You know sometimes I think the best kind of medicine is a healing touch," Doc told Kitty as he observed Ruby snuggled close to Matt.

"I would say you're probably right," said Kitty.

The next four days went by and Matt was allowed to come home. He would be on crutches for at least a month, but he was thankful to be home. Kitty and Ruby were also thankful he was home. Doc mentioned that he felt a healing touch was the best medicine, and Kitty and Ruby were going to make sure Matt got all the kisses and healing touches he could get.

TBC (The end of "Healing Touch")