AN: Some interesting reading about women led me to write this story. I imagine Kitty to be about 28 when it takes place. For those super familiar with the show, I have taken some small liberties.

Matt rode into Dodge feeling pleased with the way things had played out. He'd ridden hard to reach Hays City in time to testify at Jerry Kramer's trial, and got there just in time to brush some trail dust off his shirt and slip into the courtroom. When he took a seat he spotted Kramer casually leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, wearing a smug smile. The self-satisfied attitude surprised Matt until he noticed the well dressed, over-fed man seated next to Kramer. It was Richard Reyburn, a high-priced lawyer known for getting witnesses to misspeak and contradict themselves.

Perhaps feeling Matt's gaze, Reyburn turned and looked at him. Matt thought he saw a look of surprise flicker across the man's face, but couldn't be sure. He was sure, however, that the fatigue in his sleep-starved eyes wouldn't be lost on the shrewd lawyer.

Reyburn called Matt to the witness stand and fired questions at him rapidly. Careful to stay focused despite his fatigue, he gave clear and precise answers. He'd been itching to see Kramer brought to justice for a long time. Day 2 played out in much the same way, and on day 3 the frustration in the lawyer's voice was apparent. Finally, after Reyburn had asked the same question 5 different ways, the judge lost his patience and said it was time to move on. The two sides made their summations and it took all of 20 minutes for the jury to find Kramer guilty of murder, arson and theft. He was sentenced to hang the following day. Matt left the courtroom, eager to head back to Dodge. He felt no need to witness a hanging. Reyburn caught up with him, smiling like a wolf.

"Marshal, you know, I collect the major portion of my fee only if I win. Your testimony put quite a dent in my income."

Matt eyed Reyburn's expensive suit and protruding belly and didn't express the thought that sprang into his mind. He shrugged. "Mr. Reyburn, trials can be unpredictable."

"Sometimes Marshal Dillon, sometimes." Reyburn, went on his way. Matt got on his horse and pushed all thoughts of Reyburn from his mind. The man made his skin crawl. It was time to get home.

He tied his horse outside the Long Branch and peered over the bat-wing doors. It was early afternoon, so he wasn't surprised to see a mere smattering of cowboys eating hardboiled eggs and drinking beer. After a few seconds, he spotted Kitty at the end of the bar talking to her chief bartender, Sam. He paused for a second to relish the small things that never failed to delight him – Kitty's smile, the tilt of her head, the way she held a glass. He touched his shirt pocket and felt the slight bulge of a gift box, and then pushed through the doors. He could hardly wait to tell Kitty about the trial and give her the present he'd brought from Hays. It was a special one.

Kitty didn't look his way as he approached, so he slouched against the bar next to her.

"Hello Kitty." As an afterthought he added, "Hi Sam."

Sam smiled, "Welcome back, marshal."

"Oh, hello." Kitty offered tight smile.

Matt was taken aback by the coolness of the greeting and then noticed that Kitty was wearing her dark green skirt and matching jacket. "You're wearing a traveling outfit. Are you taking a trip?"

She nodded, "You're not the only one who has a job to attend to. I'm going to a convention of the Western Association of Saloon Owners. I'll be getting new ideas, meeting people and making deals with new suppliers. If you haven't noticed, I run a business and am good at it."

"Well, I – I know you are." He was perplexed by Kitty's outburst. "When are you going? You didn't tell me about this before I left."

"I'm taking 2:00 train. It leaves pretty soon, so I should get upstairs and take care of a few last minute things." She turned and hurried away.

Matt glanced at Sam who was carefully inspecting the glass he'd just dried. Miss Kitty and Marshal Dillon were two people he'd do anything for, but he wasn't going to get in the middle of whatever was going on between them.

Matt hurried up the stairs after Kitty and found the door wide open. He stepped inside and closed it behind him. She was calmly moving around the room putting items into a straw bag. Deciding to confront what he thought was bothering her, he took off his hat and held it in front of him.

"Like I said before I left, I'm real sorry about having to miss the sociable. How was it?"

She didn't look at him, "I didn't go."

"Why not? It was all arranged for Doc and Festus to take you."

She shrugged, "I didn't want to go." She bent over and used two hands to shove a large suitcase closer to the door.

Confusion filled his face. "I thought you wanted to go." He stepped closer, "I –I'll carry your bags to the train. How long will you be gone?"

Deliberately vague she tilted her head, "Oh, a week or so. No need to carry my bags. I've arranged for Festus to do it."

As if on cue there was a knock on the door.

"Come on in Festus."

Festus walked in and stopped in his tracks. "Matthew! Ah didn't know ya was back." He looked at Kitty, "Sorry fur interruptin, Miss Kitty. Now Matthew's here I reckon ya won't be needin me.

"Festus if you don't mind, please go ahead and take my bags."

Festus looked at Kitty's frozen smile and Matt's stony face and hesitated before picking up the suitcases. "Yes ma'am. " He lugged the bags out the door and Kitty followed without glancing back.

She walked beside Festus without speaking, but could feel his awkwardness at being the one who was with her even though Matt was back. Damn it, she too wished Matt was beside her. She hadn't meant to greet him so coldly; it's just that things had built up inside her over the past few days. Now that he was back, she wasn't so sure she wanted to go to that convention. He looked so glad to see her that her resolve almost melted away. But she couldn't change her mind. That's why she couldn't risk having him walk her to the train. She needed to prove that she had a life that did not rely on Matt Dillon's comings and goings.

They reached the train and Festus extended his hand to help her up the steps into the passenger car. "Miss Kitty, I'll jus git ya bags all set." He got her suitcases secured in the baggage car and walked through the train looking to say goodbye. He spotted her at a window seat and pulled off his hat, "Miss Kitty, ya have a real safe trip, an a good one too."

"Thank you Festus."

"Miss Kitty, do ya got any words you'd kinda like me ta bring ta Matthew, seein as he jus got back an thar wasn't no time fur jawin or nothin. Maybe sum scribbled words or sumthin?"

"No thanks Festus, I'll see Ma… everyone when I get back."

Not knowing what else to say Festus nodded and left. As soon as his feet hit the ground the whistle sounded and he watched the train move out of sight.

Matt

Matt watched Kitty and Festus leave her room. Part of him wanted to follow, but she'd made it clear she didn't want him to. In the 9 years he'd know her, he'd learned that sometimes it was best to stay away. This seemed like one of those time. Of course, he was never sure. Maybe he should have shown her the gift he had for her, but she could have interpreted that an attempt to keep her from gong to the convention that seemed so important to her. He let out a long breath and went to his office.

TBC