Deja Vu
Disclaimer: Just taking our Friends out to play, will put them back when I'm done!
PT.1
Dillon Ranch
Small, swift gusts of air swirled across the ground. You could see the tiny funnels forming, making their way, collecting leaves and brush along the way. Horses were stirring in the corral. The chilled air was cool.
It was still mid-March. Kitty stood on the front porch warming her hands with a steaming cup of hot coffee, her favorite floral shawl wrapped tightly around her. She was staring out across what was now a growing ranch and a very prosperous one as well.
Thinking back, she remembered when she and Matt had first decided to take on horse breeding, once he finally decided to take off that badge. That was something she thought she'd never see. Although, just unpinning that damn badge didn't mean unpinning the responsibility. It was engrained in his soul and had become a deep part of the man she knew as Matt Dillon.
But, she had made her peace with that many, many years ago, more than she cared to count. But then again, it was part of what she loved about the man.
Now, once again, he was off helping fellow ranchers. They had asked him to lead them in a dispute with a group of eastern land buyers, who wanted to purchase their land on behalf of the railroad and a company wanting to build major hotels. This would greatly interfere with many ranchers.
Many of these ranchers trusted Matt. They looked up to him, respected him and held him in high regard. They knew he would fight for them as well as himself. He had just as much to lose.
Kitty walked slowly towards the large oak tree, her morning ritual. It was her daily morning talk and coffee with Doc. Tilting her head smiling, "Morning, Curly. I always said this is the best time of the day. I get to have coffee with my favorite man." She was now winking at him. "You know, Curly, you gave up too soon." Chuckling, "Yeah, asking me to marry you. I was just about to take you up on that offer."
Chuckling again, now sipping her coffee, knowing full well he'd be huffing, saying, "Ahhh, you held out for that over grown civil servant." Then he'd be nodding, and swiping his mustache, and saying, "And you were right too. If ever two people were meant to be…"
Suddenly, tears began to fill her eyes as she sat, rubbing the ground. "OH, CURLY! I MISS YOU! I LOVE YOU!"
Suddenly, the sound of a rider broke her train of thought. As she turned, she saw Newly approaching. "Newly?" Standing, brushing off her skirt, she walked towards him. "Newly? Good morning. What are you doing out this way so early?"
"Well, Miss Kitty, I was headed out to see ol' Mr. Carter about some papers that came in for him and Pete in the telegraph office had this letter that came for Matt. So I thought I bring it out."
"Well, thank you. I'll take it for him. Matt's still not back yet."
"Yeah, I wondered about that." Newly said.
"Newly, I'm expecting him back later today or tonight. I'm hoping the news is... well, hopeful."
Nodding, "I hear ya, Ma'am."
As Newly rode off, Kitty looked down at the letter in her hand and at the return address.
United States War Department, Washington, D.C.
Kitty inhaled deeply, holding her breath.
TBC
