The morning had been uneventful for the young U.S. Marshal, but then it was still early yet . Matt Dillon found himself able to break free from the confines of the jail house which doubled as his home . His stomach was in protest of the gnawing sensation deep within . He glanced up at the clock on the wall , it was seven o'clock and no Doc or Chester to be found . He thought to himself that this was some what unusual for him to be forced to eat breakfast alone, but if he didn't act upon the opportunity at hand it could soon be lost. Matt stretched his arms up behind his neck flexing his muscles awake as he stepped from the jail house door on to the boardwalk. He took in a deep breath of a fresh scented rain intertwined the rich smell of wet dirt engulfing his nostrils. The smell was very pleasing to him , Dodge so needed the dust to be bedded down with such the rain shower. Matt never minded dealing with a little muddy slop once in a while , but it sure kept Chester in a fuss . The mud only gave Chester more work than he wanted to claim. This meant that Matt's assistant Chester would have to tidy the jail floors more often than he would like . Matt began to trudge his way across the water logged street to Delmonico's for his first meal of his day . He kept a skillful eye out for his breakfast companions. He figured that something important must have come up to keep Doc away from their morning ritual. Now Chester on the other hand , well no one ever really knows just what he's up to half the time . Matt noted by the looks of the bustling stage depot it was most likely that Chester had assumed his status as the self appointed one man welcoming wagon . Matt made his way across the street dodging mud holes as if they were buffalo pies out on the prairie. He tipped his hat to the couples that braved the muck opposite his direction. He couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for the ladies and how hard this Kansas ground assaulted their delicate foot ware in everyway . As he placed his rather large muddy booted foot upon the boardwalk in front of the café, a flash of brilliant red caught his eye. He noticed that the red was neatly placed under a feathered green hat that was adorn a young and very beautiful lady. Matt arrived just in time to follow her through the café door . The young lady was fully aware of the tall timber towering over her as she entered . He was almost instantly attracted to her as if a moth to a open flame . Absent mindedly he entered and then realizing his muddied feet, he slowly retreated to kick them against the hitching post just out side the establishment. Satisfied that all was well he once again proceeded back toward the doorway. He barely had one foot in the place when a load "MISTER DILLON" echoed from down the street .
"Hold up I'll join ya. announced Chester.
"Well Chester, I see I'm not going to be alone for breakfast after all...I missed you at the jail this morning". Matt replied as he looked past Chester surveying the immediate area for Doc .
"Oh well, ya see Mister Dillon … I went to meet the stage …to check and see if it was carry'n any mail for ya ." Chester stated a matter a factly.
"And…. "Matt questioned pushing his hat back alittle on his head .
"No sir, not a thing on the stage today" Chester stated .
"Okay no mail, then what 's her name? " he asked quizzically. While placing his hands in his vest pockets all the while making sure the ten dollar piece was still securely in the right pocket.
"Oh you mean that purdy young eastern redheaded gal…well to be honest with ya, I didn't catch it… I got to talk'n to Bud and before I knew it Mister Dillon she was gone." He detailed with a disappointed tone as he crossed his arms.
"Pretty was she…young...eastern and redheaded did you say?" Matt inquired assuming that the brillant redhead that just entered the café was one in the same they had been discussing.
"Oh Mister Dillon she was someth'n for sure." He replied proudly.
"Something huh…Well from the looks of it she didn't go very far Chester . Matt stated motioning with a nod of his head in her direction. The young woman was unaware of Matt's gesture as she was in the middle of placing her order with Roy the waiter.
"I'll have the special with some perserves on the side please." as she pointed on the menu.
"Good choice, the bacon is good and fresh this morning." announced Roy proudly.
It was just then that Chester noticed the familiar sight Matt had pointed out . "Why Mister Dillon well I'll be … There she is... the gal from the stage ….the one you were quiz'n me about." Chester replied. " Now Chester, I wasn't quizzing." Matt barked .
"Do you have some sorta interest in her Mister Dillon? " Chester question . Matt with a sheepish look, then realizing he might have showed a slight hint of interest in the earlier conversation of her .
" Oh no, no …not at all . I just know you're in the habit of welcoming all the new woman folk to Dodge ." he quickly replied to Chester 's question with his best poker face he most often saved for the most harden of criminals he dealt with on a daily basis .
"Oh Mister Dillon for ever more… you didn't really mean that …you sound like Doc." Chester shot back as he pulled his hat from his head to scratch .
"Okay Chester enough with that …. lets eat …I'm starved ." Matt stated as they took their seats at a center table across from the mysterious redhead .
"You know I often wonder just where a purdy girl like that might be a head'n ?" Chester not able to let the topic of the young lady rest questioned.
"Could be just about anywhere Chester … just might be either running to or from something." Matt stated all to knowingly.
"She sure don't look like anything we got here in Dodge does she?" Chester posed to Matt.
"Now that's for certain, she kind of brightens the place up with that red hair ..huh?" Matt observed .
"Oh yea ! speak'n of red … I still got that whelp on the back of my neck …it's just hurt'n someth'n fierce still." Chester whined as he rubbed the area he spoke of.
"How longs that been bothering you now?' asked Matt trying to sound concerned.
"Close to now on three weeks .Why you don't think someth'n might be bad wrong? Do ya?" he inquired worriedly.
"Well I wouldn't know, but now, you know ole Doc … if it 's not gone by now he's just liable to cut the dang thang off. spouted Matt humorously.
"Oh for heavens sake wouldn't he just get a kick out of that and he'd probably demand two or three dollar s for the fun of doin it too." pouted Chester quite put out with Matt's muse.
After Roy had served the young lady , he made his way to the table where Matt and Chester were perched . He greeted them with a nod of the head "Hello Marshal, Chester … what could I get you two, this fine morning?' as he took pencil to paper.
Chester ordered first " I'll have a big ole heaping bowl of mashed potatoes with a generous portion of speckled gravy over em… Oh and some coffee of course"
"Fine just fine " Roy approved "and you Marshal?'
"Well Roy …how about the usual." relayed Matt with his best smile.
"Sure thing fellas coffee is a comm'n ." Roy grinned and turned toward the kitchen.
Matt caught his ever so watchful eye surveying the room . He did this without thought most of the time, it was the lawman's instinct in him. Just at that moment he realized that the redhead to his left was eying him . He tried hard to hide his own gazing of her , but it proved to late . Their eyes had met a clash of liquid blue hues danced in that moment. She immediately returned to her meager portion of food that graced the plate in front of her. He wondered to himself, how could anyone thrive on such a small amount of food . She was no bigger than a minute, her weight probably close to 90 pounds soaking wet he thought. That thought was broken by the aroma of his breakfast arriving in front of him . She watched as he dove into the banquet before him, she realized he was a draft horse of a man, but all that for one man, The meal consisted of a steak so large it came hanging off the edges of it's own plate, a mound of potatoes, a half a dozen eggs and just as many biscuits. Heck that could last her a week or more she thought out loud. Roy thinking he heard her made his way to her table.
"Is there something else I could get for you Miss ?" he asked pleasantly.
"Oh no … not for me , but see those gentlemen over there …well I would like to pay their bill." She announced confidently.
"Yes Miss, but more than likely … well the Marshal would not allow it." Roy replied
"The Marshal ?" she quizzed bring her coffee cup to her lips.
" Matt Dillon and the other fellow is Chester Goode ." Roy stated.
" Well then Roy , you just tell them that Kitty Russell was more than happy to buy the law of Dodge City the best breakfast in town" she stated boldly.
"More than happy to Miss Russell." Roy nodded with a wide grin upon his face all the time wondering just how the young Marshal was going to deal with this situation.
Kitty figured with Roy's reaction as it was, that she would need to leave before the Marshal and his companion did. She didn't want to create a awkward moment for him at all, just wanted to show a nice gesture. Kitty removed herself from the table and made her way past Matt and Chester to the cashier. Kitty gasped when the bill rang up to be over five dollars, hell that was the cost of one of the best petticoats from Paris but she some how figured he would be worth it . Although this put her short on money for the next stage fair, she didn't seem to mind staying a little while longer . After all the tall timbered scenery here in Dodge looked so nice . She whisked her way out the door to scout the town and retrieve her bags from the stage depot .
Matt leaned back in his chair with his hands on his stomach as if trying hold it in after polishing off that rather large meal. "Mister Dillon do you have anything important going on today?" Chester asked lifting his cup of coffee to sip.
"Nope not yet , but it's still early in the day you know." Matt Stated.
" Where's ole Roy with the check .'' Matt wondered out loud .
"I've got it covered Chester " Matt stated as looked around the room for the waiter. "Thank you kindly " Chester replied with his best crooked smile.
Matt eyed and motioned for Roy to come to the table .
"What can I do for you Marshal?" Roy asked sheepishly, knowing what was coming next.
"I'm buying today… how about the check?" asked Matt
"Oh well that's already been taken care of Marshal.'" Roy stated in a some what uncomfortable tone .
"What do you mean, 'taken care of' " Matt repeated back to the waiter leaning forward in his chair.
"Um Miss Kitty Russell paid yours and Chester's bill" relayed Roy
Matt was in disbelief . " You mean the lady, young, green hat, red hair …..(The waiter broke in to Matt 's well observant verbal account ) "Yes that's the one , I tried to tell her nicely you'd not allow it but she just wouldn't have it any other way sir. " Roy replied respectfully.
"Well I be swan , I told ya she was someth'n Mister Dillon" Chester spouted .
"Oh yea she's something alright, I 've got to catch up with this Miss Kitty Russell" Matt stated bluntly as he threw the tip at the table .
"And what do ya plan to do when ya catch up with her ?" Chester questioned.
"Well give her a big ole Kansas Thank You " puffed Matt as he grabbed his hat from the coat rack as he rushed to exit Delmonico's.
Matt's hurried pace ate up the distance between him and Kitty . She heard the heaviness of the foot steps as they chewed the boards beneath them. She knew with out looking back that they belonged to the one titled Marshal Matt Dillon . Then she heard the ringing of "HOLD UP MISTER DILLON " in a raggedy breath. This only confirmed what she already knew, the Marshal was making his way up behind her. Matt spun around and without one word he held the palm of his right hand up toward Chester .
Chester halted understanding just what this non verbal signal meant for him and with a lowly voice said … " Thank her for me too , would ya''
Matt felt awful at that but he didn't need Chester making things any tougher on him than she already had. He thought as he carried on, what will I say to her, what will she say to me . Oh gal darn woman, who does she thinks she is . She can't just buy a mans meal like that, what kind of statement does that make to a man. Chester watched as Matt made his way down the street.
Doc came up from behind and spoke as he removed his pocket watch to checked the time of day."Where's Matt off to in such a hurry… Did I miss something Chester ?"
"Yea, ya missed breakfast… Oh Mister Dillon is trying to catch up with the lady that paid for our meals this morning... he's goin to thank her " Chester stated .
" A lady PAID for your MEAL!" exclaimed Doc . Placing the watch back in his pocket with a swipe of his mustache .
"Yes that's what I said … she paid for mine and Mister Dillon's breakfast… Why ?" he asked all still watching Matt's departure.
" Well for starters… this would be the first day in I don't know how long that I miss a morning meal and to know that the tab is picked up by some one other than me is just too hard to believe ." shaking his head he rubbed his mustache heading for the café door .
" Doc , where ya headed ?" quizzed Chester.
"Well I'm going to eat … that's what." Doc spouted .
" Mind if I join ya?" he questioned
"You buy'n?" Doc asked
"I swan Doc …you just beat all and to think I was gona tell ya about Miss Kitty"Chester barked
"Who?" Doc asked quizzically
"Well ya see…." Chester began to give his version of the morning when he and Matt first eyed the redhead. The two made their way into Delmonico's as Chester continued to ramble on.
All of a sudden there she was standing in front of the depot waiting for the stage. A glow all about her . His heart skipped one complete beat the moment she came into his view. He shook all the thoughts of her from his head and then spoke.
His voice started stern but then crack a bit , he cleared his throat and began with a little softer tone.
"I understand that you have a Thank You in store from me " as he removed his hat only to begin twirling it around in his large hand .
" I do ?" questioned Kitty batting her eyelashes back at him.
" Yes, you most certainly do… Oh… I 'm sorry… I'm…um… I would be Matt Dillon " hestated with boyish charm as he held his large free hand out to her.
"A thank you and even with a apology too … I 'm delighted to be meeting you then . I'm Kathleen Russell , 'Kitty' to you if you don't mind. " she stated allowing her delicate fingers to grace his.
" No …I don't mind one bit 'Kitty' and like wise on meeting you." he replied relaxing his hold on her hand as if he were ashamed of his grip.
Taking notice on her where abouts, being in front of the stage depot he figure she was waiting for her departure from this God forsaken town.
" Will you be leaving town sometime today? " he tried to be coy with his question.
" Well actually I find myself a little short on funds, so I'm going to stayjust a few more days than I originally intended... I 'm just waiting on my bags now". she stated moving into his shadow to block the early morning sun.
Matt took note on her statement and really felt embarrassed now . With a feeling as if he has stolen the money from her very hand bag .
" Aw Kitty let me buy you a ticket…You shouldn't done such a fool thing and have spent your money on my breakfast … tell you what… I'll buy you the ticket and then we're even ." cracking his smile once again.
Matt moved toward the counter, but Kitty grabbed his hand and pulled him back to her. At that moment the warmth of her hand made his inner self shudder at the mire feel of her skin upon his . With this action Matt read just exactly what she was trying to convey. A different feel not as before in the polite hand shake of their formal greeting . He weakened in the knees and was not one bit proud of this feeling . He was not some school boy , what was she doing to him his mind wondered with it's loss for explanations. Why just this morning he awoke to rare but welcomed ordinary ole day in Dodge. Then it had a drastic change when she paid her way in to his life as well as his heart . This was not amiss with Kitty either, she knew that she had just chopped a wedge of bark from this oak of a man standing before her . Kitty was feeling very comfortable in her skin right at that moment .
"So how would you like to assist in finding me a roof to cover my head and a job that pays enough to keep me fed? " her eyes pleading to his.
" Okay, which first… um lets see… Ma Smalley will put you up on my word, so that's covered. " smiling down at her placing his Stetson atop his unruly curls . "Now employment … are you a seamstress, general store clerk, a teacher ?" Matt quizzed.
" No Cowboy… a saloon girl's more like it ." Kitty said a little put out with what might have been a hint of mockery from his posed question .
He couldn't help but delight in hearing her chosen profession, he couldn't think of anything better to waste his extra time and hard earned money on.
" All right then, I know just the fellow… Bill Pence at the Long Branch Saloon… He might hirer ya… even put ya up in one of the rooms he has there. " Matt stated confidently.
" You know all about this establishment huh …You frequent it much?" she shot at him a little sullen.
With a well placed hand upon his gunbelt that graced his lean hips he bent down to her eye level and with a cocky confidence said "Nope, not up until now Miss Russell" with that boyish grin of his that embellished his handsome face .
Kitty melted inside and before she knew it she had sprung into him placing well deserved thank you kiss upon his stubbled cheek. Matt could only accept her actions willingly . Disordered with the whole situation at hand he shoveled up Kitty's two bags under his left arm. He then held his the other out to escort her to where he hoped would be her new home, The LongBranch.