Matt stood with Kitty on the boardwalk in front of the Dodge House hotel, "Matt, I just know you'll like Sissy," she smiled.
Matt nodded, "Oh, I am sure I will too," he smiled. "You've done nothing but talk about her for the last week," he said with a humorous glint in his eyes.
Kitty playfully swatted the marshal's arm, "I have not!" she countered. "I just haven't seen her in almost ten years," she stated.
"So you've said," Matt added, again getting a look from the redhead saloon owner. Matt chuckled.
The stagecoach was a little behind in schedule, but as the driver wired ahead from the last stop, the late winter roads were beginning to break up for spring, making travel slower than normal with mud and ice.
The sun was bright, however, there was a bit of a north wind, which made the longer than normal wait a chilly one, "How late did the driver say?" Matt asked Kitty who was in contact with the stagecoach office all week.
"About half an hour," Kitty replied.
"And we are waiting outside, because?" Matt grumbled as he adjusted his coat collar.
"I want to make sure Sissy sees us right off," Kitty stated.
Matt shrugged, "Right," he said trying to figure Kitty's reasoning. Kitty looked at Matt then pursed her lips at the comment before she looked back down Front Street just as the stagecoach rounded the bend into town.
The driver slowed the coach as it moved up the street, finally stopping in front of the hotel, where he quickly dismounted and opened the door.
Kitty's face lit up when she saw Sissy moved to the door, "Sissy!" she shouted with glee.
"Kitty!" Sissy smiled broadly back as she stepped down from the coach. The two women hugged, "It's wonderful to see you," Sissy said as she pulled away, looking at the saloon owner.
Kitty studied Sissy Mitchell, "You haven't changed a bit," she said while still holding the other women's shoulders.
Sissy's eyes drifted over to Matt who remained standing next to Kitty, "And who is this?" she smiled.
Kitty smiled at Matt, "This is the town marshal, Matt Dillon," she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
Sissy smiled coyly as she caught the look on Kitty's face before she extended her hand to Matt, "Very nice to meet you, marshal," she smiled.
"Likewise," Matt said as he could feel his face growing redder. He couldn't help but think what an attractive woman Sissy was. Her brunette hair was done up neatly under her fancy feathered hat that matched her royal blue taffeta dress.
"Excuse me," a male voice said from behind as he still stood on the step of the coach.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry," Sissy stated and moved aside, allowing the well dressed male younger passenger to get off the stagecoach. He tipped his hat at the two women as he passed Sissy and Kitty and a quick glance toward Matt before he retrieved his carpetbag and headed into the hotel.
"Who's he?" Kitty asked as she watched the man through the hotel door.
Sissy shrugged, "He was on the stage before I got on. He never said a word," he stated.
Matt didn't recognize him so he just shrugged the man off as a tired traveller, "Looks like he might be a lawyer or something," he smiled. "Now Kitty, you promised me a drink for waiting here with you," he said with a wink to Sissy.
Kitty made a face and then laughed, "I don't recall, but now that Sissy is in town, I'll buy you both a drink," she smiled. Matt ticked his head, "I'll get your luggage," he said to Sissy as he walked to the two bags the coachman sat at her feet.
"Why thank you marshal," she smiled.
Kitty hooked her arm under her friend's arm and turned toward the Long Branch Saloon. Matt followed along.
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"I'd like a room toward the street, if possible, "Jason Burton said as he sat his carpet bag down at his feet.
"Let me see what we have," Howie Uzzell replied as he looked through his register. Burton scanned the hotel lobby as he waited.
"Who's the doctor in town?" Burton then asked.
Howie looked up from the book, "Do you need a doctor?" he asked.
Burton shook his head no, "Not right now," he smiled.
Howie shrugged, "Well if you need him, Doc Adams 'office is just a little down the street, above the general store," he pointed out.
Burton nodded, "Thanks for the information," he smiled slightly. "Now what about a room," he tried to sound overly friendly and Howie lapped it up, "Oh, yes, the room!" he chuckled and looked back into his book.
Jason Burton again looked around the lobby, until Howie tapped him on the forearm that he had resting on the service counter, "I do have a street facing room. How long would you like it for?" he asked with his ink pen poised above the booking book.
Jason looked at the hotel clerk, "A week should be fine," he smiled and pulled a small pouch out of his brocaded waist coat. "How much?" he asked.
"I'll take five dollars now to get you started and we'll finalize the bill when you check out," he stated.
Burton nodded, "Fair enough," he said as he placed five dollars in Howie's hand and signed the register where Howie indicated with his right index finger. Jason Burton gently lifted the pen out of the clerk's hand and scrawled his name where he was shown. Howie then plucked the key off the peg and handed it to Burton, "I hope you enjoy your stay in Dodge," he smiled.
"Thank you," Jason said as he picked up his carpet bag. "I'm sure it will be interesting," he smiled and moved to the stairs.
"It's the third room up the stairs to the left, through the curtain," Howie happily pointed out.
Burton tipped his hat, "And thank you again," he smiled as he made his way up the staircase.
Jason Burton stood in front of the door to his room and he looked down at the key in his hand, "Doc Adams is still in Dodge," he snorted. "Well, well, well," he smiled to himself as he unlocked the door to his room.
Jason Burton entered the darkened room and placed his carpet bag on the foot of the bed. He then walked to the window and looked down at the street. It was busy with farmers and town folk shopping or dinning, among other things. Jason's eyes lifted up from the street and stared at the shingle that swayed slightly in the breeze from the side of Jonas' general store. "Doc Adams," he smiled with vengeful look in his eyes.