"Thank you." Kitty took the pencil and paper from the clerk and went to the counter to compose a telegram. She chose her words carefully. Arriving Tuesday 4PM stage. Missing Dodge terribly. Kitty.

She reread the words, nodded with satisfaction and returned to the clerk. "Please send this to Marshal Matt Dillon in Dodge City, Kansas."

"Right away ma'am."

She felt a bit odd as she watched him tap out the words. Usually she was on the receiving end of messages like that from Matt. This time she was the one hiding her deepest feelings in a few simple words, knowing the meaning would be clear to the one it was meant for.

After paying the clerk Kitty headed down Washington Avenue to catch the morning stage. She glanced in store windows as she hurried along. She'd purchased her traveling suit in one of those shops. It was the latest fashion in style and color and she felt quite fine in it. She smiled to herself; her time in St. Louis had been lovely and her cousin's wedding beautiful. Yet after 3 weeks she was more than a little homesick. She missed her friends, her business and most of all Matt. Even after 18 years as a couple separations were hard. She missed him more with each passing day and last night her dreams were filled with his scent, his touch, the feel of his lips…..

"Hello, Miss Russell." Startled from her reverie she looked up and realized she'd reached the stagecoach.

"You're the first one here. Let me help you in." Slim, the ever-cordial driver extended his hand.

"Thanks Slim."

"Um - Miss Russell can I ask something about - well – your clothes?"

Mystified Kitty nodded.

"Is the color of your suit called seafoam green?"

"Yes but I'm surprised you know that."

He turned beet red, "Eliza, my missus looks at magazines and such and has mentioned the fashionable color seafoam green. I wanted to make sure of exactly what it was because her birthday is coming."

Kitty smiled, "That's nice Slim real nice. If you need help choosing a gift let me know." She settled into her seat and a minute later a boy of about 10 scrambled in followed by pale, portly man in an expensive suit. He nudged the boy towards the window and sat between him and Kitty, closer to Kitty than necessary. His close-set eyes wandered over her face and down her bosom, and he offered a thin-lipped smile. "Please allow me to introduce myself, Carter Winthrop II. This is my son Carter Winthrop III. We're traveling to Dodge City. I understand it's a growing town. I'm looking into making investments, perhaps buy land."

Kitty inched away to put space between herself and Winthrop. "Nice to meet you." She looked over at the boy, "You too Carter." The boy smiled brightly. Kitty briefly wondered how such a good-looking child could have such an unattractive father. She returned her attention to the elder Winthrop. "I'm Kitty Russell, I live in Dodge and own a business there." She was about to ask about his investment plans when a woman and man climbed in and sat across from her.

The woman caught Kitty's attention. There was something familiar about her yet Kitty couldn't place her. She was thin, very thin and wore a hardened, wary look. Her voice had a harsh, unpleasant rasp. Kitty was about to give up the idea that they'd met before when the woman's eyes widened as she smiled at something her companion said. Kitty had a flash of recognition. The smile and big, brown eyes were unmistakable.

"Susie?"

The woman looked stunned but recovered instantly. "You are mistaken. "

Kitty caught the second of hesitation and knew she was correct.

The woman's companion frowned, "Ma'am, I'm Tom Johnson and this is my wife, Mrs. Sophia Johnson, formerly Miss Sophia Harkness. Sophia lived abroad for many years and returned to the states a month ago. We've been married for just 5 days, the happiest days of my life." He squeezed Sophia's hand." Sophia smiled and Kitty again saw something of the beauty she'd been a dozen years before.

Knowing there was no point in arguing, Kitty smiled. "Please accept my apologies."

Johnson nodded. "No matter, we all make mistakes."

"Are you and Mrs. Johnson going all the way to Dodge?"

"Yes, but we'll be in town just long enough to get supplies and rent a horse and wagon. Our real destination is a small ranch outside of town. I just bought the place." He shrugged bashfully, "It's all I could afford so it's not much, but I plan to grow it with Sophia at my side."

Sofia was about to speak when the stage lurched forward; they were on their way. They'd barely gone two blocks when Slim saw people on the sidewalk signaling him to stop.

He looked back and saw a cowboy running towards him carrying a duffle bag and yelling for him to wait.

Slim sighed but stopped and signaled the man to hurry. The cowboy grinned and tossed up his bag. "Obliged. It's real important I get on this stage."

"So get in already."

The cowboy jumped aboard and sat next to Sophia and Tom. He ran one hand through his wavy blond hair and rested the other lightly on his gun belt. "Howdy folks. Name's True. Swear on a bible it's my given name. I don't bother with my last name. One name's enough when it's True. A smile lit his handsome face, "Ya'll know my name, now be friendly and tell me yours."

As the others introduced themselves Kitty studied True - his clothes, gun belt, palpable alertness and the way he took control. She immediately felt a strong dislike for the man. She knew the type and would bet the Long Branch he was a gunslinger.

The Winthrops and Mr. and Mrs. Johnson introduced themselves and True exchanged pleasantries before turning his attention to Kitty. A smile played at his lips, "Everyone else has said howdy."

She met his eyes without returning his smile. "Name's Kitty Russell. I live in Dodge. Nice to meet you." Not interested in conversation she looked out the window.

True's green eyes narrowed with curiosity. He studied Kitty. She was in her mid to late 30's and was still beautiful. That said a lot. Many women in the west grew old before their time working their fingers to the bone on dirt farms or small ranches, toiling on and on through droughts and storms and illness while having baby after baby. He glanced at Kitty's hands. She definitely didn't lead a life of scrubbing floors, hauling water and churning butter. There was no wedding ring, yet she was too stylish for a schoolmarm and too classy for a prostitute. Kitty Russell was of interest to him.

She felt True's eyes but didn't turn her head to look. She had no desire to answer a gunslinger's questions about Dodge. He could be gunning for Matt. Lots of men tried for cash, reputation or both. So far Matt had walked away from those encounters, but a day could come when he'd be the one left dead on the street. She banished the thought from her mind and swallowed the acid fear that rose up in her throat. She was getting way ahead of herself. She trusted her instincts about True but that didn't mean he was after Matt or anyone else at the moment.

She directed her thoughts to Susie or Sophia as she called herself. A dozen years ago she was all of 18 when she walked into the Long Branch looking for work. She was gorgeous with big brown eyes, thick chestnut hair, a voluptuous figure and a luminous smile. Men flocked to her. After a year she quit, saying she'd always wanted to move to a big city and she'd saved enough to do it.

Kitty briefly glanced Sophia's way. The years had not been kind. Her cheeks were sunken, body bony, hair thin and dull and her once lilting voice harsh and ugly. Yet her big brown eyes and beautiful smile still hinted at the beauty she once was. Tom, a poor rancher with a pockmarked face had married her and seemed genuinely in love. He clearly believed her story that she'd lived abroad for years. Abroad – In a pig's eye, but where had she been?

Dodge City – Delmonico's Restaurant

Doc watched Festus watch Matt silently push chunks of ham around his plate and knew what was coming. Sure enough Festus couldn't contain himself, "Matthew, ya plan on eatin that thar meat?"

"Festus, just because I take a breath between bites doesn't mean I'm not eating."

Doc rubbed his mustache in amusement. "Well Matt you're acting like you're not eating and Festus still looks hungry." Festus' eyes widened in surprise at Doc's support. He was about to speak when Barney rushed in. "Marshal this telegram's for you."

"Matthew, is it from the War Department?"

"No Festus, it's from Kitty." With a slight smile he read the message and stuffed it in his pocket. "She'll be back Tuesday on the 4:00 stage."

Fetus grinned and Doc smacked the table, "Hallelujah."

Matt frowned. "It's not like Kitty's been lost or something."

Doc looked at Matt kindly, "We miss Kitty and will be delighted to have her back but we'll also be delighted to have you in a good mood again."

"I haven't been in a bad mood." A frown covered Matt's face.

Doc put a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Matt, you've been doing your job, upholding the law and protecting people like usual but your mood has gotten worse each day that Kitty has been away.

"I'm not in a bad mood now." He finished off his ham and threw some coins on the table. "Breakfast is on me."

TBC