An Ordinary Day?
Have any of you ever wondered what went on in just an ordinary day for our friends in Dodge City when the camera's weren't rolling? Lets say we find out.
The day was Friday, May 23, 1889. Matt Dillion had been US Marshal in Dodge City, KS for 16 years. Kitty Russell had owned the Long Branch Saloon for 15 of those years.
It started out raining that morning and a bit stormy. It had been rather dry for a time and the area was needing some moisture. Matt was usually an early riser but with the last clap of thunder around 5am, he had decided to ignore the world for another hour or so and go back to sleep. Kitty, on the other hand considered morning one of the times of the day she would just rather not see but she didn't totally sleep thru it either. Somehow, the two of them managed to wake up around 7:30. They looked at each other wondering where the night had gone and why it was they were not still blissfully asleep. Given the fact that they both had job responsibilities to attend to, they figured getting up and dressed would be the best thing to do. Kitty decided a hot bath was in order, so she heated up several kettles of water and decided a good scrub would feel pretty good. Matt got up and dressed and kissed Kitty good-bye before she got in the tub. Kitty came to the conclusion she was right, that hot bath did feel good. She and Matt met again for lunch about 12:30 at Delmonico's. The special sounded at least edible that day-fried catfish-fresh caught. They both enjoyed it , which could be a rarity as the cooks were never that good there and when they were they didn't stay too long.
After finishing their meal, Matt walked Kitty back to the Long Branch and then headed back to the office. End of the month reports would be due in soon so he figured finishing those and sending them out on the next stage would get them to Topeka in time. Kitty had bookwork to due and orders to make. She had one drummer calling that afternoon and then another would be coming on Monday. Those orders would most likely get to Dodge about the first of June and if they were lucky maybe before the end of the month.
It wasn't long before our favorite couple found themselves busy with the evening rush. Kitty at the bar helping Sam and Matt keeping an eye on the streets. The Long Branch was lively that night, the piano player was taking requests and a few of the customers were enjoying doing a bit of singing. Everybody was having fun. Festus was even doing one of his "Haggen style" dances. As for Doc, he was out delivering another baby at the Ronigers- number 15, they ended up with at least eighteen several years later, Matt joked then that "somebody needed to tell them when to quit". The evening festivities ended about 1am. Sam finished cleaning up at the bar and Kitty put the money in the safe until morning. Matt did the last of his door checks and headed up to Kitty's room the back way.
It had been a rather steamy day after the rain had ended in the morning and everybody was pretty well done in by late evening. A breeze was coming thru Kitty's north window, which at that hour-1:15am felt pretty good. It felt like it might cool off for the night at least. Matt let himself in and headed for the bed. The two of them more or less fell in but not without a nice long kiss and hug first. With his arms gemtly wrapped around Kitty, Matt fell deeply asleep with Kitty doing the same. Such was this unseen ordinary day in with our favorite Dodge City friends.