Pt.4
Return To Dodge
Entwined Hearts
Matt left town after the men who shot him. As planned, Doc saw Kitty off to New Orleans, saying nothing as he promised, but regretting it just the same.
After a week or so, Matt returned. Figuring with time to cool, maybe now Kitty would sit and talk a little more calmly with him. This usually worked, if he gave her time to think about how she let her temper get the better of her.
As he rode into Dodge, he took Buck straight to Moss' stable, then headed for the bath house, figuring he would then head for the Long Branch to see Kitty. Matt couldn't figure why everyone was acting so strange. No one would look him in the eye.
All freshened up, he took a deep breath, and headed directly for the Long branch. Standing at the batwing doors, scanning the room, hoping to see the one person who had been on his mind since he rode out of Dodge over a week ago.
But, then only to hear a deep gravely voice. "Well, hello there! You must be our esteemed Marshal Dillon."
Looking surprised at seeing the face of the elderly woman behind the bar. Well, yes, Ma'am, I am. And you are?"
"I'm Hannah!"
"Well, good morning, Hannah."
She detected a question in his voice. "Go on ask your question. I know from your tone you have one."
"I was expecting to see Kitty."
"Sorry, she's….." Before Hannah could finish, Doc came in behind Matt.
"I'll handle this, Hannah. Matt, we need to talk."
"Well, can I get you gents some hot coffee?" Hannah asked.
"Thank you, Hannah. That'd be nice." Doc answered.
"Coming right up." She replied.
"Matt, come on, let's sit."
"Doc, what's going on here? And where is Kitty?" Matt asked bewildered.
"Matt, Kitty's not here."
"Yeah, I can see that! Where is she, Doc?"
"She's gone!"
"Gone where?"
"Well, home!"
"DOC? This is…."
Swiping his mustache, "Matt, I know, I know. I tried to stop her, but you know Kitty. Matt, she was really upset and…"
"Doc? When?"
The day after you rode out after…." He stopped and just shook his head. "She didn't want you to know, she didn't want you to try and stop her."
"Did you know?"
"Well, yeah, but she made me promise... promise not to…, Matt I…I…"
"No, Doc, it's ok. I understand. Do you know where she went?"
"New Orleans."
Matt just hung his head.
"You are going after her aren't you?"
Matt just got up and left, saying nothing. When Hannah came out with the coffee. "Where's he going?"
"If he's got any sense, New Orleans!"
Hannah just looked puzzled!
New Orleans, Louisiana
Kitty arrived in New Orleans at the Royal Lady Gambling House. It was owned by a friend of hers. She had written to her before she left Dodge, saying she be arriving in a week. Just after, she had made the deal with Hannah to take over partnership of the Long Branch. She was real happy Hannah could arrive as soon as she could. Hannah was already in Abilene, Kansas. Kitty agreed to be a silent partner.
When she arrived at the Royal Lady, she was greeted by a rather large fella' who introduced himself as Butch. "Well, hello, Butch! I'm Kitty Russell. I'm looking for Julie McCann."
"Miss McCann is in the back. Is she expecting you?"
"Yes, I believe she is!"
"If you'll wait right here, Miss Russell, I'll let her know you're here."
"Ok, thank you, Butch."
Kitty was admiring the place. Julie had done well for herself. This was a place of real luxury. Beautiful crystal lighting fixtures, floor to ceiling mirrors, long bars on two sides of the large room, long winding staircases. Many, many gaming tables.
Suddenly, "Kitty Russell!"
"Julie! Ahhh , Julie, it's so wonderful to see you again."
"Come, please sit. Tell me all about your trip and what brings you back to New Orleans."
Then Kitty's face dropped.
"Kitty, dear, did I say something wrong?"
"Oh, no! I just miss home, that's all. I'm a New Orleans gal through and through!" Her whole body was quivering, hoping Julie wouldn't notice.
"Well, let us get you settled in, then we'll get us some supper."
"Oh, Julie I… I..."
"Kitty Russell, don't you dare tell me you made a reservation in a hotel."
"Well, I didn't want to put you out."
"Nonsense, Kitty! You're staying right here, with me. We have plenty of room. I'll send Butch for your things."
"Oh, Julie, no…"
"Kitty, no arguments! We have so much catching up to do. I've missed you so much!"
Dodge City, Kansas
Matt sat in his office trying to fill out his reports. His mind kept drifting off to his conversation with Doc. "Matt, she went home." Then thinking to himself, 'This is home, here with me. What was she thinking? Ahhh Kitty, honey, why? Oh, hell, I know why.'
Then the door to the office opened. "Matthew, did you git'um?"
"What?"
"Did you git them ya-hoo's?"
"Yeah, Festus. Festus, look I'm busy."
"Matthew, ur' a bleedin'." Festus exclaimed.
"What?" He was still very distracted.
"Ur' a bleedin'."
"Ahh, it's nothing."
"Maybe you should git ol' Doc ta' look et' it fur ya?"
"Yeah, Yeah." Matt mumbled.
"Matthew?"
"What, Festus?"
You thinkin' on Miz Kitty leavin', are ya?"
"Festus, I said I'm busy!"
"I'll go git the mail fur ya, Matthew." He hung his head as he left the office.
Then as the door opened again, "Damn it, Festus, I said…"
"You don't have to bite his head off cause your miserable!" Doc noticed the blood coming through his shirt. "While I'm here and since I am a doctor, why don't I look at that wound you seem to have busted open?"
"It's nothing, Doc."
"Oh, you a doctor now, are you?"
"Oh, go ahead."
"And while I'm doing that, you can read this here." He dropped the small scented envelope on the desk in front of Matt.
"Where…?"
"She asked me to see that you got it when you got back."
"Why didn't you?"
"You stormed off so quick."
"Did you read it?"
"NO! It's addressed to you, you big lug!"
With a twisted expression, "I just thought,…"
"What? I was nosy?"
"No, that she… Never mind." He waited for Doc to finish. When he left, Matt put the envelope up to his nose, taking in the smell. "Ahhhhh, Kitty, Honey!" Closing his eyes, remembering their last night together, he then turned it over to open it, slipping the letter out then began to read:
My Dearest Matt,
I know this may be hard for you to believe, but my leaving is not because I don't love you. Just the opposite. I love you too much to stay in Dodge and watch you continue to challenge death. We've had this discussion over and over so many times. Cowboy, you don't owe anyone anything. You have done so much for so many for almost twenty years. No one would ever fault you if you took off that damn ,… badge. I go to sleep, when I can sleep, every night wondering if that day or the next will be… Well you know. Or do you? Cowboy, this is your choice, and I can't make it for you. But I can choose not to watch. I'm sorry, as I said, I love you with all my heart. I have since the day I laid eyes on you in the café and will till the day I die. But, please, don't ask me to watch you die.
If you change your mind you know where I am.
I love you, Cowboy, Till My Last Breath And Beyond,
All My Love,
Kitty
He held the sweet scented paper to his face. "Ahhhh, Kitty, Honey. Damn it!"
TBC
