It was early morning in Topeka, Matt Dillon, Marshal for Dodge City, had taken part in a trial the day before and now he was about to go home to Dodge, he wanted to put in place a plan he'd been thinking about for some time now, he went down to the stage depot. "Howdy, Marshal," Jim Buck said. "Damn, shotgun rider hasn't turned up and I got a money transfer to Bodkins Bank on board, mind riding shotgun?"
"Not at all. How was Dodge when you were last there? I've been attending a trial all this week."
"Peaceful, Festus and Newly seem to be coping well," Jim said as the passengers arrived. "Welcome folks, you'll be safer than safe this trip. Marshal Matt Dillon will be riding shotgun with us as far as Dodge," once the passengers and baggage was loaded Jim slapped the reins urging the team into a trot, driving west out of Topeka. A day and a half later they arrived in Dodge City, Matt got down from the box.
"Evening, Matthew," Festus said.
"Evening, Festus, get some men help get the gold to the bank."
"Sure thang, Matthew," Festus got some men to fetch a handcart and loaded the strong-box onto it they pushed the cart to the bank. Mr Bodkin supervised as they brought the box into the bank. Matt went to his office he washed and shaved, then took a small package from his saddlebags, he put it in his pocket smiling to himself. Later that night he let himself into the back of the Long Branch, Sam watched him go up to Kitty's room and smiled. Matt knocked at the door, Kitty opened to him.
"Matt, come in," he smiled and dropped a kiss onto her lips. "I missed you."
"You did?" Matt didn't know why but he was glad to hear that. Kitty poured them both a glass of whiskey. Matt pulled her close to him and produced the package, he watched as she opened it to reveal a diamond ring and a plain gold band. "Kitty, will you marry me?"
"Matt, do you know how long I've waited to hear you say that, fifteen years."
"Well, will you?"
"Oh, Matt, I've waited for you to ask me. Now I've got you on the hook I'm not letting you off that easy," Matt hugged her closer and kissed her until she was breathless. He slipped the diamond ring on the ring finger of her left hand. "We should go tell Doc first," Matt nodded.
"We can tell him tomorrow morning," Matt carried her to bed. She woke the next morning and snuggled closer to Matt. "Happy?"
"Matt, I couldn't be any happier," they dressed and slipped downstairs and out the back door as Sam came in to start the day's work. Sam smiled, he knew something was up, but knew they'd tell everybody when they were ready. They went up the stairs to Doc's office.
"Coming to breakfast, Doc?" Matt asked. "My treat."
"Your treat, then I'm coming to breakfast, you're not getting out of this."
"You want to tell him, Kitty."
"Tell me what?" Kitty held up her left hand.
"Matt asked me to marry him and I'm not going to let him off the hook."
"I'll go see Reverend English, make the arrangements for Saturday noon," Matt said.
Saturday noon came all too quickly, thanks to Doc's telling Burke everybody knew by Wednesday night that Kitty and Matt were to be married. It had been short notice but the ladies of Dodge had out done themselves even Mrs Pry baked the cake and others had cooked up a storm. They used Festus to keep Matt and Kitty in the dark about what they were planning in the hall kept for such social gatherings. Matt and Kitty felt choked up when Festus and Newly guided them to the hall. "How on earth did this get arranged without me knowing about it?" Matt asked.
"Had to do somethang for your wedding, cain't have a wedding without a party, Matthew," Festus said. The people of Dodge had done them proud, music and dancing, they cheered them onto the dance floor. Matt realised that he'd never known just how many friends he had in Dodge, the local photographer took their photograph for the local paper and two photographs of each of them, and a few days later he gave them a framed copy of the one with them together and then gave Matt a tintype of Kitty and gave Kitty a tintype of Matt and that really choked Matt up.