Matt Dillon had the latest batch reward posters in front of him together with a cup of coffee that was cooling rapidly. Barney Danches wasn't surprised to see that Matt was dozing in his chair considering the night before all those drunk trail hands and then having to go chasing the man who'd tried robbing the Lady Gay just as they closed for the night. Matt came awake quickly when Barney cleared his throat.
"Howdy Barney."
"Wire from Washington," Barney said as he handed the wire over.
Matt didn't want to miss another social but he didn't think he could get away with turning down a request from the President. One thing the wire did say was that he could bring a guest and he knew just who he'd take if Kitty wouldn't mind missing the social herself.
"Send a reply tell them I'll attend."
Matt looked at his cup of now cold coffee and decided he'd rather have a whisky or a cold beer. Barney nodded and left to send the wire. Matt headed for the Long Branch as he entered he spotted Kitty talking to Doc. He smiled and walked over to their table.
"Howdy Matt," Kitty said smiling up at him. "Want a whisky?"
"That would do me fine."
"Sam, bring me a bottle and three glasses."
"I'll be right there Miss Kitty," Sam said.
Sam finished serving a couple of men at the bar then took the requested whisky bottle and three glasses over to Miss Kitty. Matt smiled and thanked Sam.
"Kitty now the trail herds have gone how about coming with me to Washington. I got a wire inviting me to the White House."
"The White House?"
"Yeah they want me there the day after tomorrow. It means I'll miss the Social. They said I can take a guest so ..."
At first Kitty was disappointed that Matt would miss the social but then realised what Matt was saying. At least if she went with him as his guest her new dress wouldn't be wasted.
"Did the wire tell you why the president wants to see you?" Doc asked.
"No just that they want me there by the end of the week 4 days on the train not my idea of fun. So what do you think Kitty?"
"Now the herds are gone I think I need a rest. Sam can run things here for a few days."
"I figure Festus and Newly can look after things here," Matt said.
"It'll do you both good to have some time away from Dodge."
Privately Doc thought that neither of them had near enough time for courting without interruptions. Doc knew Matt's reasons for not marrying Kitty even though he'd tried telling that overgrown civil servant that Kitty would marry him regardless.
"Right I'll go arrange the tickets on the 10.15 train tomorrow. I'll tell Festus what's going on," Matt said as he finished his drink.
Matt found Festus at the stables on the way to the depot, he explained about the telegram.
"You'll miss the social Matthew. Miss Kitty is gonna be disappointed she'll miss..."
"Nope I'm taking her with me. The wire did say I could bring a guest."
Festus grinned suddenly as he thought that no two people deserved time together more than Kitty and Matt.
"Now don't you worry none. Newly and me will look after things here."
Matt merely smiled and continued on to the depot. The station man smiled as Matt came up to him.
"Howdy Marshal what can I do for you today?"
"I'm going to need 2 tickets on the 10.15 tomorrow to Washington."
"You'll need to change at St Louis to get the Baltimore and Ohio train. Who's going with you?"
Matt didn't answer that. The station man hadn't really expected an answer. He wrote the tickets out and handed them to Matt. He knew he'd get the answer to his question when Matt returned to board the train the next day.