PT.2
My Family ,“My” Choice!
Doc ,being exhausted…had went directly up to his office…with every intention of getting several hour of sleep. He started to undress and wash up some.. Every part of his body was aching … thinking to himself…
“I don’t know how much longer I can work these kind of hours”? then he just shook his head.. and sat himself down slowly.. the bed felt really good… Ahhhhh! Just as he was about to lay his head on the pillow…. He heard a voice: Doc! Doctor Adams!… Doctor Adams ..are you in here? Quickly …he sat up.
Shaking the tiredness out of his head… walking to the outer room… to see … Well, Billy,…Billy what in Thunder.. are you yelling about? Doctor Adams, Pa sent me to get you… it’s Ma… She’s … well she’s …
What is it Son? ..Doc ask. Well she’s real sick Doctor… Ma got out of bed , and when she was helping Pa with the chores… Doc stopped Him…! She was What? Ma was helping Pa with the Chores…
By Thunder I told Him… Look Son… I’ll get dressed, you go over to Moss’ and tell him I need my buggy…And I’ll be down in a Minute,,, go …, go quick Yes Sir…I go Directly… and he was out the door.
Billy had skipped down the stairs so fast,… when he made it to the bottom ..he just about run right over Festus’. whoa… hold on there…. Where ya off to in such a hurry? Doc wants me to go to Moss’ to get his Buggy…Ma’s real sick Mr. Hagen… Ok, you go on .. Festus’ headed up the stairs… as Doc was coming out…. No!… No! I don’t have time to argue with you right now… You Ol’ Scudder..I ’a wasn’t gonna be argueing wit ya.. I was’a comin’ t’a se if’n ya need me t’a come out there’a wit ya…maybe case there’a trouble or something’? ..Tugging his ear, and rubbing his upper lip…, No.. but you can go see if Kitty isn’t
Too busy.. I could use her help… Tell her I’m headed out to see Betsy Foster.. Sure thing Doc….
Festus’ hustled into the Long Branch… Sam?…. Festus’ Back so soon? Shakin’ his head… Nah, Sam…
Is Miz Kitty still in her Office? Yeah.. She in There… What’s wrong? He ask. Ol’ Doc needs er’
He got ’um sum trouble et the Foster place… and he wants Miz Kitty t’a go wit ’um… Ok, I’ll get her for you…
Sitting at her desk…holding the large envelope …with a tight grip…her eye fixed on the return address:
“ Law Offices Of LaTrese and DuPree
# 10 Brill Avenue,
New Orleans, Louisiana.
There was a heaviness in her stomach … What could this be? What would Lawyer’s from New Orleans
Be sending her? She ‘s been away from there for so many year’s…. she didn’t like the feel of this…
Not at all! Then when she looked at the Names again…LaTrese… ? Dupree ? Why do these names sound so familiar? Oh Well… , I guess there’s only one way to find out…. She turned the envelope over…and with the letter opener slid it under the seal and started to slid it across.. When, she heard…:
Miss Kitty…? … Festus is here and needs to see you it’s important…… Ok Sam I’ll be right out…
Opening the desk drawer.. And slipping the envelope inside.. She went out into the bar area….
Hello Festus’ what did you need to see me about?… Oh, Miz Kitty it’s not me … it’s ol’ Doc…
Furrowing her brow…. Doc!… what’s wrong? Is he alright? Y, yes Ma’am… but, he needs ya to go wit him t’a the Foster place… Mrs. Foster ..she’a real sick…. Lil’ Billy came a runnin’ int’a town lookin’ fur Doc says his Ma’s in a bad way… Ok, you go tell Doc ..I’ll be right there ..will ya Festus’? I’ll dour
Miz Kitty… I’ll do ‘ur directly … Sam, I’ll be back as soon as I can …you be alright here ? …
Don’t you worry Miss Kitty …I’ll handle things here for you just fine. He told her. You and Doc just go and do what you need too. I sure hope Mrs. Foster will be alright? So do I Sam …So Do I.
Kitty met up with Doc out front of the Long Branch…. Oh, Kitty there you are… Thank You , for Coming along… and giving me a hand… Oh, Doc ..of course I’ll come along…she said. Doc,.. What do you think happened? Kitty, I know what happened… You Do? Yeah , That Numb-scull.. Dave ..had Betsy.. out of bed doing chores… after I told him she was to stay in bed ..complete bed rest! Ohhh Doc! Do You think..? Kitty I don’t what to think..! I’m just hoping… I’m Just hoping he hasn’t killed her…!
Doc, I ‘ll never understand why?…why people treat other people.. especially the ones their suppose to Love With no compassion…? Betsy, was looking so forward to having this baby.. wanting so much for it to be a little girl. And now that she finally has that … it would be awful .. Just awful.. if…. Kitty, Don’t
He turned and looked at her , … her eyes were tear-filled …and she was biting her bottom lip…. Your right Doc…and she took a deep breath….
Doc and Kitty pulled up to the Foster farm… the Foster Children were all outside …working with there father.. All but one of the older ones…. He stayed inside with Betsy…. When Doc and kitty got out of the Buggy… Dave just looked at them and continued to walk into the barn… Kitty put her hand on Doc’s shoulder… Curly, let’s just worry about Betsy.. ignore him for now.. ok? And inside they went.
Betsy, was fevered. .and incoherent when Doc touched her she would yell in pain… Rob told Doc and Kitty, that she was plowing when she collapsed … Doc was fuming … Looking at kitty.. he said ..I’ve got to break her fever… Rob, can you help Miss Kitty get lots of Cold Water.. Maybe a Tub full..? Sure Doctor… I’ll try… Come on Rob.. I’ll help you ..kitty said wrapping her arm around him… Rob looked at Kitty…, Miss Kitty?… Is my Ma gonna die? Oh, Rob.. She’s real sick honey.. But Doc and I are going to do everything we can for her.. I promise… so don’t you worry… Ok? Kitty saw the other Children working outside… it was hot ..they were exhausted… she had called to them to come in side to cool them down… they didn’t want to come because they didn’t want they father to get angry..? But, Kitty insisted!
When Dave came out of the barn… and didn’t see the children… he began to yell for them….then he stormed into the house… But, as he did…Kitty stopped him at the door…Whoaa!… you need to keep the noise down… Doc is trying to keep Betsy calm… How dare you? This is my home.. Don’t you tell me to keep quiet! And what are you kids doing in here when there is work to be done? They were overheated
And exhausted… I brought them in here to cool them off a bit… well! Isn’t it just like a woman to coddle them?… What?.. Coddle…? Why You….Dave Foster! … don’t you dare speak to me like…and just then
His temper took hold… and he grabbed one of the boys…. Get back to work all of you now!… when the Boy flinched…Kitty jumped at him… Your hurting him…and she reached out to break his hold on the boy..
But with the other hand… Dave pushed her back.. but so hard that she bounced up against the stone fireplace… Kitty let out a yell! Doc rushed in from the back room…FOSTER! What in thunder do you think your doing? He ran to Kitty… , Kitty.. Honey are you ok? Ugh, Doc, I …I Yeah…I’m Ok…
You let me be the judge of that…. Doc helped her stand …then , they went to the back room with Betsy.
By Morning…Betsy’s fever broke… but she was still in a lot of pain. Kitty was a sleep in the rocker where she had rocked the new baby to sleep. Doc went to talk to Dave…. Foster We need to talk ..
Look Doctor… I have a farm to run… I don’t have time for sitting a talking… Fine , then Sit and LISTEN!
I’m gonna tell you something… and you best listen ..unless you want to be a widower and a soul parent…
Is that what you want? Ahh Doc she just lazy!…Lazy? ..what in Thunder is wrong with you man?
You have yourself a good wife ,a good woman… and a good Mother for your Children.. All 6 of them…
That’s not the easiest job in the world… Now!… you need to let her heal and get well! And I mean it!
Do You Understand Me???? If you don’t… your sure gonna kill her! Now I need your word….My Word? Yes Your word, that your gonna follow my orders? And I also want you to apoligize to Miss Kitty… for the way you treated her in there… she been mighty good to your family… and she didn’t deserve the way you acted in there… Oh, alright! Kitty woke.. And as she came out of the bedroom
She was groggy… Dave looked at her… Miss Kitty, I owe you an apology … I didn’t mean to be soo…
It’s alright …Just let’s forget it…she said shaking her head… still trying to focus and wake up completely.
Dave I‘ll be out in a day or two to check on Betsy.. And the baby…. And I want you to make sure these boys get enough water while their out working…. Ok Doc. Then Doc and Kitty… packed up and Left…
While riding back to Dodge…Kitty laid her head on Doc shoulder and slept…looking puzzled. Doc just smiled… and Kissed the top of her head….
TBC
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