Rescue or Recovery
Disclaimer: Just taking our friends out to play; will put them back when I'm done!
A/N: a special Thank you to my friend Singerme, for all your help,as usual..Hugs Girl
And,Thanks to all the readers and reviewers, I appreciate you all you make this all worth doing!
PT.1
After a blistery long winter, the town of Dodge was more than happy to finally be seeing some small signs of spring. There was just the early morning sound of birds chirping on the window sill and a soothing breeze blowing across the room over the bed in the early hours of the morning. The sunrise peaked through the lace curtains of the second floor of the Long Branch stirring the entwined couple. Her long amber-copper tresses sprawled across his chest as she began to stir. The rather large cowboy lay watching, smiling down, remembering the special welcome home he'd received after being gone for two long weeks.
He had trailed an outlaw, Martin Bailey, clear to Pueblo and then had to take him to Hayes for trial and hanging. He knew it was a necessary job but that's one part of the job he'd never had the stomach to hang around for. So, he always tried to take his leave before it would happen, or just try not to have to witness the event.
His trip home, he'd always try and focus on what he had waiting for him, Dodge, home, stability, and to get all that. When he and Buck headed into town, his eyes would look for his beacon of light, the light that led to his heart, his soul, his stability. The arms of the woman he loved.
Matt Dillon was a man of few words, and although Kitty sometimes wanted him to be more expressive, over time they had a communication between them, unexplainable to some, but admired by many. Sometime what wasn't said, said more then what was.
Pulling her closer, placing a kiss on her forehead and brushing several curl off her face, he smiled. "Good morning."
Squirming, "Ummm," in a sultry voice, "Morning, cowboy. You're still here?"
"Yeah, but…"
"Ugh. But you're gonna go, huh?" She buried her face into his chest.
"Ah, honey, I have to."
"Oh, Matt. The sun's not even up yet. And besides…" now pouting up at him, "no one knows you're back yet."
Cupping her chin in one large hand, "Look, Kit, Honey. I need to make out my report, then I'll come back and I'll take you to breakfast. Ok? Like you said, sun's not up yet. You can roll back over." Now reaching over, slapping her bottom.
"OUCH!" Now smirking at him. "Oh, alright, but I don't have to like it." She said, still pouting.
Matt dressed and quickly leaned down, kissing Kitty before letting himself out the side entrance, quietly descending the stairs and trying not to be seen. But just across the alley, a small light shined and the man sitting by the window, drinking coffee, swiped his mustache, smiled and mumbled. "Welcome home, Son."
Several hours later, Doc made his way down his stairs and across the boardwalk towards the Long Branch. Seeing Matt, he called out. "Hey, Matt!"
"Doc?"
"Matt..." catching up with him. "Welcome home, Matt." Patting him on the shoulder.
"Good to be home."
"I was just on my way to see if Kitty wanted to join me for breakfast." Doc said.
"Well, you're in luck. I'm taking Kitty to breakfast." Matt smiled at him. "Join us?"
Just then, they heard the jingle of spurs. "Oh no!" Doc covered his face with one hand. Matt just smiled.
Entering through the batwing doors, "Morning Sam."
"Marshal, Doc, Festus."
Matt was scanning the room. "Sam, Kit…"
"I'm right here, Cowboy." Kitty called, making her way across the landing. "Well, what's this? The welcoming committee?"
Needling at her, "Well now, Kitty, I was gone two weeks."
Smirking at him descending the stairs, "You don't need to tell me."
Rolling his eyes, "Alright, can we just go eat? I'm starving."
Shifting her eyes at him, "Of course you are, Cowboy." She let out a laugh.
The foursome all sat at a table at Delmonico's. Festus was holding a large stack of mail.
Doc tugged on his ear, "Well now, are you gonna sit there holding that pile all through breakfast or are you gonna tell us what all that is? Oh no, wait. You can't… You can't read. Ha!"
"Oh alright, you Ol Scudder. This here is the mail. I was a pickin' up the mail fer Matthew so I got Miz Kitty's and I even got yur'in." He said, starting to hand everyone their mail."
Doc began to snicker.
Kitty slapped him on the arm. "Oh, Curly, stop."
Suddenly Matt, Doc and Kitty began redirecting the mail in their hands to each other. Festus sat quietly, eyes lowered.
Kitty looked across the table. "Thank you, Festus. I appreciate it." She said as she winked at him.
Just then Joe was standing there. "Morning folks. What can I get ya?" He stood with his dry stare as he always did, no smile, staring straight ahead. Kitty ordered, then Doc, Matt and Festus.
Kitty watched as he walked away. "That man will never change." She said smiling.
Kitty had sat her pile of mail on the table. Matt couldn't help but notice the letter on the top. It had a return address from St. Louis. Kitty caught his expression but was unsure what it was about, or why.
TBC