The Broken Road

Nope, I still don't own em, and still ain't getting a solitary dime for my efforts. But I sure am having fun.

I've been working on a story for a different fandom and had no plans for another Gunsmoke story but then this little thought came to mind. The song is one of my favorites and was sung at my wedding. It seems fairly appropriate for Kitty. I am coming to adore that lady more and more. Dang she was quite a woman.

Oh and this one may take me a while. My computer access is better but my internet access is worse. And please, let me remind you. You don't have to pay for all this fine entertainment I and the other writers provide so keep the flames to a minimum, if you would. Thank you.

This is set in the year before Kitty came to Dodge and ends just after she arrives. It centers on her.

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you – Marcus Hummon, Bobby Boyd & Jeff Hanna

KRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKR

Kitty Russell was a strong girl. Born to a respectable woman and a disreputable gambler, her first years in life were happy and carefree, unaware, as she was, just what her mother went through to take care of and protect her. But when she turned ten, she began to realize just how hard life could be and just how broken a road she'd have to travel before finally reaching the destination she was meant for.

**KR**

Kitty Russell sat in the back of the seedy main room of the Big Eye Saloon in Blue Eye, Missouri and dealt yet another hand of poker. Glancing briefly at the men around her, she had no doubts she'd win this hand as she'd won the one before that. These three men, dirty, lazy and ogling at her well displayed assets weren't there to actually play poker. They were there to stare at her.

She knew that and her boss, Turk Newton, knew that. That was why he had her there most nights. Well, that and her skills upstairs. That was a part of her job that she literally hated. Almost 18 and she already felt like an old woman most days, simply because of the things she had to do in order to live. But at least she was alive. She'd known many girls, her age and younger who couldn't claim that privilege.

"Kitty!" Turk's gravelly voice bellowed across the room.

Kitty looked up and then just as swiftly looked down in disgust. Standing next to her boss at the broad plank bar was Walt Payton. He was, for lack of a better term, one of her regulars. She literally hated taking the man upstairs, but her wishes in the matter were never considered or allowed. She was a saloon girl. And saloon girls weren't given choices, at least not here.

"Well, gentlemen." She sighed heavily as she tossed the cards down on the dirty table top and scooped up her money.

"Looks like duty calls."

"Ah, no." Two of the men protested. "That ain't fair." The third chimed in.

Kitty stopped and gave him a smoldering glare. "Who promised you that life would be fair?" When he didn't answer, Kitty shook her head, squared her shoulders and headed over to the bar to hand her boss the money, collect her customer and take him where he wanted to go.

After reaching the second floor, Kitty led Walt to her room. Though tiny and bare, it was relative luxury compared to the curtained spots further down the hall, and hard won. Turk only gave her that room because she out earned the other girls both down stairs and upstairs. Quickly entering, she wanted to get this over with as fast as she could.

"I missed ya, Kitty." The sweaty obese little man with the miniscule mustache and thinning gray hair mumbled as he pulled her to him and buried his face in her neck. "I thought about nothing all day but this."

"That's nice." Kitty answered as she allowed him to pull her dress up.

Though it disgusted her, Kitty put herself on hold and did what was required as she helped him pull his jacket and shirt off while he stripped her of her dress. Most of her upstairs clients didn't take long and Kitty usually never bothered with undressing or helping them to undress. But Walt was different.

From the first time he paid for her time, he made it clear that he wanted no clothes between them and he wanted more than the standard half hour most of her others clients received. She'd protested to Turk but her protests were worthless in the face of the greenbacks Walt waved in his face. If he wanted to take the entire night, it was fine with Turk as long as Walt had the money to cover it. And Walt always had the money.

"I want you bad, girl." Walt fairly growled while groping her breast and forcefully pushing his hand between her legs.
"Walt," she forced herself not to yelp at his manipulations and pushed him back far enough to stop him but not far enough to anger him. "Come on, now. Let's get comfortable and move this over to the bed."

With a leering grin, Walt agreed and pushed her back towards the bed as he stripped off the rest of his clothes then eagerly climbed on the bed with her. Kitty, who'd already removed the last of her clothing lay back against the pillows and allowed him access to her body. Though not really participating, she made him believe he was just what she needed to top off her night.

Walt, as expected, took no time in getting down to business, roughly pulling her legs apart, he entered her swiftly and hard. He gave her no time to adjust to his rather large size, something he was enormously proud of, given his other shortcomings.

Kitty gritted her teeth and rode out the discomfort finally drawing in a tight breath when she'd relaxed enough to make it less painful and he'd gotten into a rhythm. She knew it wouldn't take long for him to reach his pinnacle and she only had to wait for him to do so. After that, he would fondle and kiss and even straddle her again, but she knew this would be the extent of most of his nightly efforts.

Only this time it wasn't. Though Walt's breathing was labored as usual and he was putting a lot of effort into it, he wasn't getting there. Thinking she could help the process along, Kitty wrapped her arms and legs around him, pulling him close, as she nuzzled his neck with her teeth and whispered urgently in his ear. "Come on, baby. Give me all you've got." She crooned.

But nothing she did, or he did, seemed to have the desired effect.

Suddenly, Walt stopped. "It's not working." His voice sounded rather mournful. "I… I can't..."

"It's alright, Walt." Kitty soothed him, praying he'd just get up and go home now. "You don't have to… well… not every time." Trying not to appear too obvious, Kitty subtly pushed him back a little, trying to ease him off of her.

With a sigh, Walt pulled back, but he didn't move off of her. Instead he looked down at her with a sudden smile. "I know, what will work." He sounded gleeful and Kitty didn't like it. A gleeful Walt never boded well for her.

"Roll over, Kitty." He grabbed her arm, trying to turn her onto her stomach. "I know exactly what will work."

Kitty may have only been 17 almost 18 but she'd been around the block a time or two and instantly, she knew what he planned on doing. "No, Walt." She shook her head. "That's not part of the deal. I don't want to do that."

Without notice, Walt raised his fist and struck her hard across the face. "You're a whore, Kitty." He breathed fetid air into her face. "You do what I say, when I say it. I paid for your services tonight and I'm damn well going to get them."

Though slightly addled, Kitty wasn't about to comply so easily. "I… said… no!" She grunted as she shoved with all her strength and managed to unseat him from her.

But though he was overweight and over eager, he was quick and before she could do more than sit up, he was on her again. Twice more he raised his fist to her and then with little more resistance, rolled her onto her stomach and climbed atop her hips. "I told you." He mirthlessly chuckled. "I own you tonight and you do what I want."

Kitty shrieked at the pain and despite her aching head, bucked wildly beneath him, trying hard to get him off of her. Flailing away, her hand bumped against the lamb beside her bed and she realized it would be the only weapon she might find.

Taking a deep breath, Kitty used the last of her strength and pushed herself up, twisting as she did so, managing once again to temporarily knock him loose from her. As he angrily reached for her again, Kitty grabbed the lamp with both hands and brought it down hard on top of his head.

For several seconds, nothing happened. Both of them froze, identical shocked expressions marring their faces. Then suddenly, Walt crumpled, toppling over sideways to the floor beside the small bed. Taking in deep gulps of air, Kitty remained as she was for a moment until she thought she could move without throwing up or passing out, certain that any moment now, Walt would spring back up and continue his attack.

But Walt didn't move. Walt didn't even breathe. Unconsciously holding her own breath, Kitty forced herself to get up and kneel beside him. Walt Payton didn't move and she couldn't feel his heart beating. "Oh no." She whispered to herself.

TBC