To say business was slow in the Long Branch that afternoon would be an exaggeration. Dead would be a more accurate word. Sam stood behind the bar with nothing to do but watch Kitty in amazement as she bustled about finding things that needed doing. A little boy ran in and looked up at the bartender, "Are you Sam?" Sam nodded and the boy handed him a slip of paper and raced out. Unfolding the paper Sam read that Doc wanted to see him right away, and that he should not mention it to Kitty. Sam was mystified, but asked Kitty if he could step out for a little while. She nodded as she furiously wiped the bar down once again. Sam walked out thinking that they'd either have the shiniest bar in the country or that Miss Kitty would wear a hole in it and the whole thing would collapse.

Over in the marshal's office, Chester got a similar note, and asked Matt if he could leave to do an errand. Matt nodded saying grumpily, "Just pick up the mail on your way back." Chester didn't dare remind the marshal that he had handed him the mail hours ago, and it was in a pile right there on the desk.

Doc had done some preliminary planning by the time the two men arrived. He had them sit down and spoke with great seriousness, "Sam, Chester there are plans to be made, important plans. You both know that Matt and Kitty have not been themselves lately. It's obvious that they've had a fight, and are angry with each other, and that is making them both disagreeable."

Chester responded quickly, "Mr. Dillon has sure been impatient, and you're right Doc, he hasn't been spending any time all with Miss Kitty."

Sam responded reluctantly. His respect for Kitty knew no bounds, but he found himself adding, "I have to admit that Miss Kitty is not at her best. She keeps re-doing things I've just done and done pretty well. It's pretty obvious that she and the marshal are avoiding each other. I'd sure like things to go back to normal.

Doc slapped his hand down on his desk for emphasis, "Yes, that's why I've figured out a way to bring them together. I want to put them in a situation where they'll have to interact. That's the only chance they'll start talking, and talking can lead to working things out."

Chester and Sam nodded in total agreement so Doc continued, "I'm going to give myself a birthday party in the town hall this Sunday, and I need your help."

Chester looked surprised, "Doc, I never knew when your birthday was, so it's July 20th is it?"

Doc scowled and spoke impatiently, "Chester never mind that, the main thing is that we have to have a social event that they both feel obligated to attend."

Sam smiled, "Doc, that might do the trick. How can we help?"

Doc looked at Chester, "Are you on board with this too?"

Chester nodded vehemently.

Doc lowered his voice conspiratorially, "Good, now I already have the town hall secured. I'm going to write out a whole lot of invitations, it has to be well attended or they'll think it's some kind of trick. I'll need you two to help deliver invitations, so come back in a few hours to get some. In the meantime, I'm counting on the two of you to start arranging for food and punch. I'll get some folks to play music. Of course, I'll pay for everything."

Sam and Chester stood to leave. Before going out the door Sam turned to Doc, "Do you think being at the same party will be enough to get them back together?"

Doc rubbed his mustache, "Sam, maybe not, but let's just get them there and see. I consider this Step 1. If it doesn't seem to be working we'll have to move to Step 2. We've got to do what we've got to do."

Sam and Chester nodded solemnly and with a strong sense of purpose left to start making arrangements.

Later That Night

Kitty was behind the bar of the Long Branch when Sam handed her an envelope and said innocently, "Miss Kitty, Doc asked me to give this to you. I got one too. It's going to be a great occasion."

Kitty opened the envelope. She smiled when she saw it was invitation to Doc's birthday party, but soon felt a stab of panic as she realized that Matt was sure to be there. She couldn't turn Doc down, but had to avoid Matt. After giving it some thought she planned to show up late so that Matt would already be inside socializing. It would be easier to avoid him that way

Meanwhile Chester handed a similar envelope to Matt. He was pleased when he read the invitation, but then his eyes widened with worry. Kitty was sure to be there. Maybe he'd get lucky and get called out of town, or he could pretend he was even if he wasn't. He shook his head at himself, ashamed of even having that thought. Doc was a great friend and had been a lifesaver many times in many ways. He wanted to be there for Doc's birthday, and by golly he would try his best to make it. After giving the matter some consideration, he came up with a plan. He'd show up late so that Kitty would already be inside socializing. It would be easier to avoid her that way.

Doc's Birthday Party

The night of the big event arrived. It was an unusually cool and overcast evening for July, and folks appreciated the break from the hot days that had come before. People showed up in droves, after all Doc had touched the lives of so many.

Doc stood by the door greeting everyone as they arrived. The men shook his hand or patted him on the back, and just about every woman gave him a peck on the cheek. Everyone was in the best of spirits. After a half hour it seemed most everyone was there. Everyone but the two people Doc was waiting for, and he was getting nervous.

Seeing Doc standing by himself looking out the door, a small group of people surrounded him and jovially led him to the punch bowl to wish him well. He accepted their toasts, and downed the punch he was handed as his eyes kept returning to the door.

Outside, Matt and Kitty each thought that they were late enough to avoid the other. Matt rounded the corner from one direction as Kitty came from the other.

As they turned their respective corners, they were shocked to find themselves facing each other, and stopped in their tracks. After long seconds of silence, Kitty spoke with great formality and stiffness, "Good evening Marshall."

Matt opened the door to the town hall and responded in kind, "Good evening Miss Russell."

Kitty entered and went in one direction, as Matt went in behind her and headed in the other.

Doc saw the two come in and move to different areas of the room. Not wanting things to go that way all night, he wanted to take action. Knowing that a lot of folks were itching to dance, he decided to get the music going. He figured Matt and Kitty wouldn't dance, but if they weren't dancing, they'd be left standing on the side when most everyone else was twirling about. He thought they'd feel silly just standing and watching, and would eventually say something to each another.

He told the musicians to start playing. Just as Doc knew would happen, people happily moved to the floor to dance. It took less than a minute for Doc to realize that he had made a big mistake.

Seeing that Matt and Kitty weren't the least bit interested in each other, every eager farmer wanted to dance with Kitty, and she obliged with feigned enjoyment. Matt stood by the food spread pretending not to notice Kitty, and every young woman with a crush on the strong, handsome marshal flocked to his side to practice the age-old art of flattery and flirtation.

Almost an hour later Kitty was still dancing. Her latest partner was jerking her about awkwardly as he stepped on her feet. Kitty wondered if the young farmhand had actually ever danced with a woman before. She wanted desperately to sit the next dance out, but the only women under 50 who were not dancing were those ridiculous young flirts who were surrounding Matt. Not only that but the over 50's women who were sitting, were watching with approval as their daughters were doing the flirting!

In the meantime, Matt was trying to ignore the fact that young man after young man moved in to dance with Kitty. He continued to smile weakly at the young women who were flirting with him, as he barely listened to what they were saying. He kept hoping a fight would break out, or he'd hear gunfire to give him something to do.

Doc was circulating around the room, trying to be the perfect host while keeping an eye on the couple. Things were getting worse instead of better. Step 2 was needed, and needed now.

TBC