Chapter 2

"What about this one Matt?" Kitty asked as she walked out of the dressing room. She spun around, "Do you like this dress or is it too much?"

Matt was looking out the window. Checking the sky. Watching the strangers. Staying sharp. Not turning from the window, he distractedly said, "Yeah. Looks great."

"Matt?" Kitty getting aggravated. "You didn't even look!"

"Ah uh." Matt looking up at the cloudless sky.

"Matt!" Kitty placed her hands on her hips. "Are you listening to me?" She walked over and grabbed his upper arm to turn him. "Listen to me."

"I'm sorry Kitty." He lowered his head.

"If you don't want to be here, go where you want to be." Her blood was starting to boil. "I usually don't complain when I get to spend time with you, but lord... It doesn't feel like you're even here. I can get my stuff done by myself. I'm used to it."

He placed his hands on her shoulders. "I'm here Kitty," he shook his head, "I'm sorry. I rather be here with you than anywhere else."

Kitty tried to smile, "I'm sorry Matt. I didn't mean to go off on you." She dropped her head and let a sigh out.

"I'm the one who is apologizing." He lifted her chin. Looking her in the eye, then down at the dress, "Wow! You look like a dream in this dress. You look beautiful." He shifted his gaze back to her eyes.

Kitty slightly blushed. "Thank you." She picked up the dress material so she could walk. Before she went into the changing room she turned, tossed her head toward the shop's door and said, "Go figure this out Matt. It'll make you feel better. I'm just going to pay for this dress and head back to The Long Branch."

Finding a wall to lean against, Matt shook his head, "I'm not leaving. I'll wait for you and walk you over there."

Kitty smiled and closed to curtain.


"Good lord, Kitty. You came in for one dress." Matt complained as he tried to balance the bags and boxes, "I mean how much stuff does one person need." He was having trouble seeing over the tower of leaning boxes.

"Give me this." Kitty grabbed a bag and two hat boxes. "Here. I can carry these. I just need you to carry these two bags and..." She lifted each package to check its weight, she grunted, "this one. Maybe this one... It's heavy. There, perfect!" Satisfied, she smiled, "Thank you!" She patted him on the arm.

Matt just rolled his eyes. Kitty looked both ways before they stepped off the boardwalk... Coming down the street from the West of town was a covered wagon. That same eery wind picked up again. Everyone turned their attention to the stranger. The wagon had tin cups tied on sides, clinking as the horses trotted. The rig creaked and swayed. The driver was clothed in a black cloak, grey hair framed an unknown face. Dodge City froze in time.

"Matt...?" Kitty called without taking her eyes off the ghost like driver.

Still trying to get situated, "Kitty," he reached to catch a box before it fell, "I can't,..." He continued to mumble something.

"Matt!" Kitty shook his arm to get his attention.

"I'm going to drop these," Matt turned his head to look down at her. Kitty still watching the wagon and shaking his arm, "Kitty, stop that. What's wrong?"

"Look!" She watched as the dark stranger slowly rode by them, looking straight ahead.

"What?" Matt questioned. He looked up.

As the wagon passed, the driver quickly jerked its head and turned its gaze to Matt and Kitty. Then whipped its head back to the road ahead and continued to the down the road.

Kitty and Matt watched the wagon until it went around the last curve down Front Street. Kitty turned to watch Matt's reaction, "Matt? What was that?"

He turned his gaze back to Kitty, "I don't know, but that uneasy feeling is back." He looked back down the street, "I'm sure going to find out." He wanted to change the subject. He smiled, "Come on. My arms are giving out on me." He leaned in, "I'd rather use my strength else where?"

"Good! That means I can put you to work." Kitty smiled up at him, "I have some furniture that needs be moved."

"Furniture?" He pulled his head back. Puzzled, "That's not exactly what I meant. I was thinking more along the lines of..."

"I know about you're thinking, Cowboy," Kitty moved in closer, "There's more than one way to skin a cat. You just have to be creative." She stepped off the boardwalk and headed toward the Long Branch. Following closely, Matt laughed and shook his head. Before walking through the batwing doors, he turned and looked down the road once more. He had a feeling it was going to be a long night.

TBC