PT.3
Kitty and Francine(Franny) pushed thru the batwing
doors,…Sam and Newly were standing at the bar,… Sam, Newly… I want you to meet
My old friend Francine Lewis-Ashton,
neither Sam or Newly could take their eyes off of her…. This didn’t go
un-noticed by Kitty. It is certain;ly a
Pleasure Miss… quickly Francine
, spoke up… Oh Please It’s Francine or Franny!
Well , Miss Franny,.. Welcome to Dodge, Newly said taking her hand
between his own. Newly couldn’t get
over the striking resemblance to Patricia.
Well Gentlemen ,.. It’s My Pleasure as well,… to meet any friend of
Kath…Kitty’s she quickly picked up on
that they didn’t refer to her as Kathleen.
Sam , I’m going to take Franny up and get her settled… Maybe
you could bring us some Tea? Still
fixing his gaze on Franny,…Sam? Kitty
interupped his thought. Oh,.. Yes Miss Kitty
then Kitty, motioned to Franny towards the stairs… We can talk in private in My Rooms…
Kitty showed her the room she had fixed …Oh, Kitty!.. .this
is so Beautiful…I hope you didn’t go to Much trouble?... shaking her head,… No
Franny Not at all,. But I would have.
Get settled and then we’ll have our Tea in My room… it’s just down at
the end of the hall… wonderful,.. I’ll just be a Moment…
Kitty waiting in her room stoked the fire to assure it would
be comfortable. ..while they chatted… then , A light tap on the door…It’s open
Kitty said. Come in …Franny had removed
her outer Coat and Hat .. and freshened her face…. Entering Kitty’s room,…
taking in the décor…Oh My !.. Kitty, This is Beautiful as well… You have done
well for yourself..? tilting her
head … and smiling,.. It’s comfortable and it’s home! Come sit… I have to ask,.. it’s been so
Long …what brings you to this part of the country? Franny became somber and quiet…Franny, did I
say something wrong? Now looking at
Kitty with sadness in her eyes,… and lightly shaking her head as she fiddled
with her hands,.. NO! No not at all… well then What? Kitty now noticed her eyes beginning to tear
up…. Franny?...What is it ..you can tell
me. Oh Kitty ,.. I know we haven’t seen
one another in such a long time but ,.. I need your…. Help! Of course Honey,… How can I help? Well,
this isn’t easy… that’s ok,.. here have some tea and take a deep breath…
and tell me. Sipping slowly on her tea,… then exhaling slowly,.. she looked at
Kitty and Blurted out,… Help Me Hide!
Just a bit shocked,.. Kitty wide-eyed , What? Help you hide? Why? If he finds me … he’ll kill me! Who Franny ? Victor… Victor? Kitty
repeated. Yes He’s my husband. Victor
is from a French aristocratic Family ,.. I don’t want to be married to him
anymore …I can’t be! Franny, honey
…reaching out to touch her hand, you could divorce him and.. Before Kitty could finish, Oh No! he
wouldn’t hear of it, nor would his family!
Huffing out a breath, Well, he’ll just have to hear of it…. Kitty you
don’t understand ,.. no one in his family ever divorced. He says it would Shame them. Do you Love him? Kitty asked. I, I,… Honey it’s a simple question…. Not anymore! As Kitty began to reach for her arm..
Franny flinched.. relax Honey it’s ok your safe here. Are you ok? Now tears trickling down her cheeks … she slowly rolled up her sleeves,.. to
expose Bruises… OH FRANNY! This is nothing Franny said .. trying to hold
back more tears.… You mean there’s more… Kitty said furrowing her brow. Franny just nodded. Oh, Honey ,.. let me get Doc…? NO!,
NO! you can’t tell anyone… Doc’s a friend of Mine Franny,.. you should be
looked at. I can bring him here. And no
one will know. Please ? thinking for a moment,.. placing her hands
across her stomach….. OK, if you think it will be safe… you trust this Doc…
Person? With My life…Kitty
answered. Look you stay here, and
I’ll go get him… you can lie down till I get back…. Franny, I promise it will
be just fine… then she headed for the door.
Kitty walked right passed Sam and Newly ,.. as well as
several customers ,.. saying not a word…
climbing the stairs to Doc’s .. Kitty could only imagine what this man
had done to her friend…Knocking on the door as she opened it,.. Doc was sitting
at his desk deep in thought … combing through his journals for something to
help one of his patience Curly,
you look engrossed. What is so
interesting? Oh, Kitty Hello,… I was
just trying to research some Medicine for
ol’ Mrs. Collins… still ailing huh? Yeah she is … Doc,… Mrs. Collins is … She’s Old Kitty,.. but, I’m still her Doctor… Yes You are!...and a very good one
too! Taking off his glasses,… puckering
up his mouth,.. Young Lady, I know you
didn’t come here to compliment me on what a good Doctor I am ,..although it’s
nice to know someone in this town notices.
What brings you here? Doc, you
know me too well….smiling. Doc,
it’s my Friend,… Franny ,… I think she could use your help…? Franny,… Franny who? Don’t ever remember you having a Friend named
Franny?... Oh , you’ve never met her,
she got in this afternoon on the stage,…You’ll understand when you see her,..
but, we need to keep this quiet ok?
Kitty is there something I should know?,.. unsure what to say,… Doc
you’ll understand when you see her… Please? Ok let me get my bag,… where is she ,..
the Dodge House?... Oh, NO, she with me at the Long Branch… Ok, young lady lead
the way,… and they walked down the stairs…. Turning to look at Doc,… Curly? ...
if you don’t mind …can we go up the back stairs?... What? Why? I’ll explaine later….
Franny jumped up ,.when she hear the door to the back stairs…
Who’s There? Kitty quickly entered
followed by Doc,… it’s me Franny,.. and Doc is with me… sorry, I didn’t mean to
startle you… No Kitty it’s ok ..I guess I’m just ….Kitty smiled,.. I know
Honey. Doctor Adams,... this here is
my friend Francine, Franny,….Franny this is my Dear Ol’ Friend Doctor Galen
Adams… tugging his ear,.. and swiping his mustache,… Well now Kitty … where
have you been Hiding this beautiful young woman? Now looking a bit scared… Hiding ?..I’m
Not…. Kitty you promised… Relax Franny,.. I haven’t said anything…. So, Miss Francine,… Oh please
it’s Franny…ok, Miss Franny,… Kitty tell
me you may be in need of my services?
Oh, Really I told Kitty I was Ok…
No, Fran,.. you can tell him… better yet show him. Doc here is a good Man… and as I said I
trust him with my life. Franny
dropped her eyes…. Then began to roll up her
sleeves….. Doc didn’t need to know how?... he guessed from just the bruises
…. Oh Dear? How long have you been like this?
About Two weeks. She said still not looking either of them in the
eye. This is Bad,…are you experiencing
any other ,… Before he could finish his sentence,… Doctor..I guess you’ll want
to see this too… Kitty , began to excuse herself to give then privacy,… NO!
Kitty stay Please… Franny, began undoing her shirtwaist…. She had her back to them,… and the bruises on
her arms were nothing compared to her back,.. Kitty took a Deep breath… Ahhh
Franny ! then as she turned… with
partcially exposed Breast… the bruising
continued. Franny rested her hands at
her mid-section … I’m so ashamed! I
was crazy to think he’d let me leave!
Young Lady you listen to me.. .and Listen closely This is Just wrong!... Oh Kitty, what am I
going to do? My Family will never
understand… My Mother will never except me back. Even with My Ba… then she stopped. Doc looked at Franny then back to Kitty…,
How long? What? she said looking at him
with question in her eyes. How long have
you known you are with child?... Now the tears began to fall… Oh Honey it’s
going to be alright … your safe here.
Doc, pulled Kitty aside,.. Kitty honey … You should talk to Matt about
this … I can’t Doc ... I promised.
What are you going to do ? he asked.
Well,. I guess for now …when you finished here … I’ll hide her out here
…what else can I do? … besides ...from what she has told me … he’ll never look
for her here.
The train pulled into the depot,… and as passengers
disembarked … no one could miss the extremely exquisitely dress Gentleman
… Festus’ was standing talking to the
conductor,.. The Man said,.. Excuse me …can you point me to the nearest Hotel
in town… That’id be The Dodge House Mister…it be the only Hotel in Dodge! The Man was terribly high strung… at least
for Festus’. Boy! can you deliver my
things? At first Festus’ paid no
attention… BOY!... My Bags… You be ‘a
talkin’ ta me Mister? YES!... see that My Bags get to the Hotel
Promptly … You jest’a hold on there Fancy man.. I’m not your Boy!.. I’m the
Deputy in Dodge. Turning his
nose up… and under his breath...saying …
This Dodge City is a Dirt Town!
As the man arrived at the Dodge House ,.. Howie was
assisting another guest,… The man was very impatient…. Sir, If you don’t mind
I’d like a room? Excuse me Mister ,but,
I’ll be with you in a moment… the couple standing at the counter,.. just
looked… then the Husband said .. I’d figure a well presented man as yourself
would have better manners and upbringing?
What would you know of my Up Bringing? Anyone in this hamlet… would know
nothing about … quickly, the man ..stopped him,.. Sir I’m going to kindly ask
you to limit your ill minded
Comments in the presents of The Misses.
He just let out a huff… as the couple ascended the stairs,… he directed his
attention to Howie,, Now if you would kindly give me a room? And let me see you sign in ledger? Howie now
with a tight jaw,… A room I can oblige.
As for My ledger,.. I’m afraid not!
Well then .. give me the room number of My Wife,.. Francine
Bousselot’ and be quick about it! I’m afraid we have no one by that name… are
you certain ? Yes I am .. and handed him
a Room Key.
Festus’ still annoyed .. That stick –fiddled ,.. Ya-hoo .. a
talkin’ ta me like I be his servant…Puffing out a breath of air… not paying any
attention to who was around …. Why, I’ll git on him like ugly on a ape!
TBC
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