The Dinner Date
The ride was a restful quiet one for Matt and Kitty. It had proven to be a difficult decision for Kitty to give MaeLee Baines the orphaned baby girl-named by Kitty as Mary. Matt had tried to console Kitty as
she sat beside him in tears but ended up in more of a "comedy of errors" than anything else. They had
decided to simply have dinner together that night if for no other reason than to give each other the "company" they both needed. When they got back to town, they stopped at the Livery Stable to return the horse and buggy and then walked down to the Long Branch . Kitty walked in alone and Matt walked back to the office. About eight that night, Matt walked back over and up to Kitty's room. Kitty had prepared steaks, corn-on-the-cob, baked potatoes and biscuits. She and Matt enjoyed every bite of it and finished it with some of Kitty's best Napoleon brandy from 1837-of course. They sat quietly for a moment on the sofa just thinking about the day and what had led them here. Finally Kitty said, "You know Cowboy that was one of the hardest things I think I've done in a long time and I really don't want to feel that again." Matt could understand, just by listening and watching Kitty, that it was no "cakewalk" for her to do what she did. "I could see that Kitty" he replied "but I'm glad you did it" "Not that you aren't able to take care of a child, it's just that you may have had to give up the rest of what really makes you happy to do it." All either of them had ever wanted for the other was that they were happy.
Kitty looked at Matt knowing that she wanted the same for him. As much as that badge of his could get in their way, she really didn't want him any other way. Too few men that walk the earth were the kind of man that Matt Dillion was and that was the kind Kitty Russell wanted married to him or not. They had finished their brandy and Kitty went to pour another glass while Matt got up to "stoke" the fire in the fireplace. As they both sat down again, they set their brandy down on the table, and gave each other a long hug and kiss. As they separated, Matt looked in Kitty's eyes and said "you're the best girl any man could ever have. I don't know what I ever did to deserve you but I've never regretted "noticing" you that first day you came to Dodge City". "Me either Cowboy, me either" and they fell into a blissful
sleep.
The Dinner Date