Now, before I go any further, I know you all are wondering about my opening statement in this tale. Let me assure you, I will get to that part and you will understand completely what I was talking about. But it is not yet time to touch upon that subject. You need to know some things first. Once you do, then I'll tell you the rest of the story.

Okay?

Good.

Now, where was I?

No, don't tell me. It's best I remember it on my own. Doctor said something about exercising my brain. Better than the rest of me, I guess. Too old to exercise the rest of me. Now…..

Oh, yes.

I left off where I was trailing along behind Kitty Russell like some stray hound following a meat wagon. While that analogy isn't exactly right, it's not too far off the mark. I was trailing after her and like a cur who wants what that meat wagon had, I wanted what Kitty Russell had, or at least something similar.

Oh, to be sure, I would've thought I'd died and gone to heaven should Matt Dillon turn those baby blues on me as he did her, but I knew without anyone telling me, he wouldn't. Not just because of the way I looked, but more importantly because of the way he looked, at her. He might've noticed a pretty girl, (not me, a pretty girl), but she wouldn't have been able to hold his attention. Miss Kitty Russell had all of that.

However, although Matt Dillon was out of my reach, it didn't mean that there might not be another man out there, tall, handsome and rugged, who'd fill the bill for me. All I needed was the right training and the only one who could give that to me, was leading me up to her rooms.

When the elegant lady opened the doors to her grandly appointed living quarters, I nearly swooned. Or at least, I would've nearly swooned if I'd been the sort of girl who did that sort of thing. I wasn't but I came close. The room we entered was astoundingly beautiful and classy and perfect, very much like the lady who lived there.

This place, compared to my little room at home was like a gold plated mansion compared to a cave. At home my room was barely big enough for a small bed, my chest and room between them. Papa said bedrooms didn't need nothing else cause all you ever did in them was sleep. He may have been right, but Lord he might've changed his mind if he'd a seen Miss Kitty's rooms. (That is after he died of shock he might have.)

"Oh, my!" I gasped. "This… this room is wonderful."

"You like it?" The lady asked, seemingly pleased that it had my approval.

I nodded enthusiastically like my head was on a spring of some sort rather than my long thin neck. "Yes, Ma'am. Very much so."

"Have a seat." She offered, rather than demanded. Although I wouldn't have minded if she had demanded. I was already as smitten with her as I was with the Marshal.

But although I'd probably have done just about anything she asked of me, I refused to sit down. I had no intentions of putting my dusty behind on her fine, clean chairs. "Uh, no, Ma'am." I shook my head. "I'm awful grimy from the stage ride and I don't want get your chairs dirty."

"Non-sense." She shook her pretty head. "Have a seat. Could I get you something?"

"Oh, oh no, Ma'am." I hastily assured her. There was no way I was gonna let this woman wait on me when I knew it should be the other way around.

Smiling graciously, Miss Russell took a seat on the bed and patted the space beside her. "Come on, have a seat and tell me about yourself. I can tell you're new here."

Cautiously, I did as she asked and sat down next to her, trying hard not to move too fast so as to dislodge as little dust from my clothing as possible. "Yes, ma'am." I finally answered. "I am new here. My name's Randi Larkin. I just got in on the stage. I came here looking for a job."

"A job, huh?" She gave me an appraising look and I felt woefully lacking, in just about everything a girl looking for a job should have. "What kind of job exactly."

I dropped my head. "Working for you." I mumbled, already sure she would scoff at that notion after seeing what I looked like. Dang, I cursed myself for my plain looks.

"Have you ever worked in a saloon before?" She asked, not unkindly. She didn't scoff once. (I thought that really kind of her, cause I'm not so sure I wouldn't have.)

"No, Ma'am." I shook my head, refusing to look up at her. I was feeling more and more uncomfortable by the moment, though not because of anything she did or said. But simply because I was beginning to realize how stupid I was to take off cross country to find a woman, this woman, and ask her to hire a silly, unattractive farm girl with no experience. I was just glad she wasn't laughing at me.

But instead, she did something that was totally wonderful. She actually hugged me and smiled. "Working in a saloon is a tough job and not too many young women like it, despite what they think. Are you sure this where you want to work?"

"Oh, yes, Ma'am." I practically jumped at her. She didn't say no and she didn't laugh. I counted that a good sign. "I mean, well, yes. I do want to work here but I guess, well, after seeing me, you probably wouldn't want me working for you. I am kinda plain and all." I kinda peered over at her afraid to look her fully in the face.

"Nonsense." The pretty woman at my side said again. "You are not. You just need a bath and some decent clothes, is all. Do you have anything better in your bag, than what you've got on?"

Regretfully, I shook my head. "This is actually the best dress I have."

Miss Kitty favored me with another smile as she got up from her bed and started towards the door. "Wait here a second and let me see what we can do."

Before my startled mind could even begin to form a reply, she disappeared from the room, only to return a few minutes later.

"I asked Sam to bring up some water for a bath for you. And while you're doing that, I'll see about getting you some other clothes. Hopefully something that will fit a little better than what you're wearing."

"Oh, no.!" I protested again. Although, I have to admit, my protests were growing weaker. "Honestly, I couldn't let you do all this for me. I mean you don't even know me."

Crossing her arms in front of her, she shook her head. "Of course, I do. You're my new friend and maybe my new employee."

And that is how I came to work for Kitty Russell and to be present the fateful day that later events transpired.

TBC