"Lifeline Between the Hearts",Pt.3

                                                                                     PT.3
                                                          
                                                               “Lifeline Between The Hearts”

The events of the evening left Dodge in a somber state…Cowboys were use to killing each other over cheating at poker, but a young girl?  That was different…!  Most of the men headed back to their camps
They felt bad ,but then again …no one wanted to talk?    Matt headed out after leaving Doc’s Office..
Scouring they camps…looking for the man only known to him as maybe… Jim Miller?  But didn’t know which camp…?   And there were at least four large camps.  And for the most part , these camps close ranks, when it come to their own…Matt was just hoping if he had a chance to sit one on one with the Trail Bosses ..and that maybe it was someone he had known…that things would go a lot better…?


Over the next few days.. Dodge was quiet….. As in not much activity…but all people could talk about was
the poor little girl…at The Long Branch…who was shot…and had her Life snuffed out right from underneath her… How could this happen?    All the gossipy Tongues were wagging… and who was right smack in the middle…none other then Burke…How could Miss Kitty and The Marshal let something like this happen?   He was going on and on…when Doc came up behind him.. And Screamed:  “BURKE!”
For heaven Sakes…What in thunder is wrong with you?    What Doc?   I think you should come up to my office and let me examine that head of yours!  ,But why Doc?   Because ,I don’t think it has a brain in it!
Matt and Miss Kitty didn’t let this happen!   And another thing, … I don’t wanna be around if and when Miss Kitty get wind of you saying what your saying…swiping his Mustache ..oh and believe me …she will!
On second thought… Yes I do… I’d pay Money to see that!   Doc!… That’s just plain Mean!…Doc just laughed… not realizing…Kitty walked up at that moment…Hello Curly, What’s so Funny?   Again ,swiping
his mustache …Oh,…  Oh…. Laughing still….Burke… and … Oh, You  Kitty… You!   Me Really?
Curly?… Why do I feel like I just missed something here….?   Oh, Kitty Not for long…Not for long..
Com’on   I’m gonna let you buy me a cup of coffee young lady…. Oh you are,… are you?  She answered with a smirk.   They walked away arm in arm…

Doc and Kitty entered Delmonico’s… Both ,saying Hello Joe… Miss Kitty, Doc….   What can I get you today?   Doc looked at Kitty… smiled, then said… How bout’ Pie to go with that coffee… ?   Oh Sure , Why Not?  Since I’m buyin’ … then she let out a laugh…  Doc you gonna tell me what that out there was all about?   No.   Why?    You don’t need to know. Not right now anyways.  Curly?   Trust me Kitty…
He leaned over and placed his hand on her cheek… Trust Me .    He got a concerned look in his eye….
Curly , are you alright?… yeah, I could ask you the same?   I’m a little tired..  Ok.. But you’d tell me if you weren’t feeling well?… oh, Doc?   Kitty there was a lot of commotion in the Long Branch the other Night..?
Now with a frown… as apposed to any other night?   I’m just concerned Honey.  She patted his arm…
I know you are …,but, I’m fine.. really I am.   I’ll just be happy when Matt catches that cowboy that shot Amy!   You know Curly, I was going through her things, and I don’t think she had any Family?  It’s so sad.
I know honey Percy Crump, told me you paid for her funeral… Kitty you didn’t have to do that?… Yes I did.   Honey the county would have?   Oh, Curly?  No, I owed her that much… why am I not surprised?
When they were finished, …Hey handsome … walk me back to the Long Branch?   Why certainly.
As long as you don’t tell that be Lug when he gets back?… why’s that… ahhh you know him… he might get jealous ?    She just started giggling… serves him right leaving me in the company of such handsome men all the time.   Well, Kitty I’ve ask you time and time again… to Marry Me?  But you insist on waiting for that overgrown civil-servant.. to wake up?   Oh, Doc ..you stop that !   Then she leaned over and Kissed him.   I Love You ..You Know That …, But not enough to Marry Me?   One of these days I just might surprise you!    As they stepped up onto the boardwalk in front of the Long Branch, Kitty Swayed just a Bit.. Doc grabbed her arm, Kitty Honey ..You Ok?  Oh, Yeah.. I’m Fine ..just missed the step up ..Thanks for the help…smiling at him.   Honey let’s get you inside…

                                                                                          TBC