A Passionate Understanding: Vignettes Through the Years

More plotfree Matt and Kitty nonsense. I hope you agree with Master Shakespeare that "brevity is the soul of wit."

P.S. Thank you so much, all you kind "guest" reviewers whom I cannot send a private message. The little notes you all leave for amateur writers such as myself make posting worthwhile. If we fic authors got a chorus of crickets when we posted, we'd assume no one was reading and we'd quit trying. I encourage everyone to sign up for an account—go get an anonymous email account if you need to, make up a fun cowgirl or cowboy handle (I'll help you! Names are my specialty!) and then you'll be more a part of the community when folks can send PMs back and forth. I have formed lifelong friendships through this very website by doing this. We even vacation together. No kidding. Sign up today. Gunsmokers are the best.

Thanks for reading, lj

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"Purple Dress"

by Lilyjack

He watched her remove the pin from her hat and set them both on the dresser as he sauntered in the bedroom door. Intelligent, crystal blue eyes sparkled and a customarily deep voice rose an octave as he greeted the stunningly attractive woman jovially, "Why, hello, Miss. Looks like you might be havin' trouble with those buttons on the front of that pretty, purple dress you have on there."

"It's orchid, I'll have you know."

"Huh?"

"It's orchid, not purple."

"Oh! Sorry. But it sure is purty on you."

"It is, huh."

"Yeah, I bet it'd be just as purty offa you, too."

"You don't say."

"Mmm-hmm. Let me offer my services with those buttons there."

"Would your services be in your official capacity as U.S. Marshal?"

"If that's what it takes, then yep."

"You're real dedicated. I admire that in a man. That's a pretty specialized service you're offerin'—gettin' ladies outta their afternoon dresses and into their evening ones… Keep your fingers on the buttons, sir… Don't know as I've heard of another lawman providin' such a thing."

"Hold still, I can't get all these tiny little buttons when you talk so much… No, Miss, not all marshals are as responsive to the needs of his citizens as I am. There, you wanna hang this part up? Now, where's this skirt unbutton?"

"Right here. It's tricky and it's hard to reach. So, you offer this here handy service to all the ladies? You, uh, I think you missed a button. There's one more."

"Got it. Step out. You want this in the chifforobe? Oh, I only offer this particular service to special ladies. You gettin' dressed for work now? It's awful early."

"No, I thought I might take a nap first. It's gonna be a long night. I heard two more outfits rode in yesterday."

"A nap, huh? Kitty, what the hell do you wanna wear a bustle for? This contraption here is crazy. I have the hardest time getting it off of… There. I swear I'm gonna take it out for target practice one of these days."

"Don't you dare…"

"Feel right here… See, you got plenty back here and don't need a bustle covering all that up."

"Matt, I really need to take a nap. Don't go gettin' anything started."

"Whatta you mean?"

"You know what I mean. Your hands. And I really am tired."

"Alright, alright… I guess I'll just go do some target practice, me and your big bustle."

"It's high fashion, Matt. I didn't choose it. But if I stop wearin' that big ol' bustle, will you promise to stop slickin' your curls back with tonic?

"Uh, you wanna take these petticoats off? For your nap, I mean?"

"Sure."

"Say, those are awful fancy little drawers you got on there, Miss."

"I figured you'd like those. And watch the hands, Marshal. I see where they're headed. I wasn't born yesterday. And you didn't answer my question."

"Question?"

"Why are you slickin' your hair back?"

"Well…like you say, Kitty. Mr. Teeters says it's fashionable. For men."

"Ha! Matt Dillon worried about fashion. I never thought I'd live to see the day."

"Well, what if I just shake 'em loose in here?"

"Shake loose your curls, huh?"

He blushed. "Yeah. Just with you?"

"That'll work for starters. Come 'ere, Cowboy, and lemme at them curls."

"Only if you let me take a nap with you."

"Nap, my foot. You looked like you had a nap gleaming in your eye when you walked in here."

"It was that purple dress that did it, Kitty. Purple dresses put me in mind of a nap every time."

"Orchid."

"Huh?"

"Orchid dress."

"Whatever you say, honey. All I know is it's so purty on you, it makes me sit up and wanna take a nap with you…"

"Matt Dillon, did I ever tell you you're full of horsesh-"

"Yes, you did. But you love me anyway, don't ya?"

"Yes, I sure do. Now, come 'ere and kiss me, Marshall Dillon, before we take our little nap. And whatever else you might have in mind for this here law-abiding citizen of Dodge."

end

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