Four
The dry goods in Mr. Lathrop's store were kept off to the side so the ladies could browse the notions and fabric assortment undisturbed by the distraction of farmers and ranchers in town to pick up feed, seed and other staples of their occupation. In this area, Kitty stood deep in thought debating the practicality of cotton muslin to the visual appeal of eyelet lace on dotted Swiss for her kitchen curtains.
So deep in thought was she that she didn't notice Susan Bart Harris had entered the store with Miss Edsel Pry. Their presence may have gone completely undetected had it not been for the conversation which Kitty just happened to overhear.
"I don't care what you say Miss Pry, it is just a disgrace and a sin, yes Miss Pry a sin for that woman to be married in the church, and rumor has it she is going to wear a wedding gown, a WHITE wedding gown, and you know THAT woman is a long way from her virginity."
She had no doubt whom Susan Bart Harris was referring to and her self-righteous words stung Kitty to the heart. Of course Susan had always been infatuated with Matt Dillon and could never understand how he could have chosen a saloon tramp to herself and her father's enormous ranch. Susan had finally married a widower several years ago, thus doubling the size of her property. She had promptly shipped her three new stepchildren off to a boarding school in the east. Wealthy or not, she had aged into a humorless woman of middle years with a habit of neither seeking nor offering a smile.
It was the words of Miss Edsel Pry, which came as a surprise. "Mrs. Harris, I have always considered Miss Russell to be a woman of great moral character, despite the fact she obviously fell in love with a man who had great difficulty in making a permanent commitment to her. I have noticed over the years that they have both gone through enormous pains to keep their relationship discreet, while never denying their affections for one another."
Susan snorted, "I think you have taken complete leave of your senses!" With her nose aimed heavenward she stomped out of the store.
Stepping forward, Kitty said, "Miss Pry, I thank you."
The old woman raised one eyebrow higher than the other and said, "Miss it is extremely poor form to eavesdrop, you should have made your presence known."
As Miss Pry spoke those words to Kitty the room started to spin around her and her head started to echo thunder. Miss Pry watched in horror as Kitty Russell's face suddenly became devoid of color. Rushing to her side, she took Kitty's arm and led her to the wall bench. "My dear, do sit down." She ordered giving her a firm push, and then shouting, "Mr. Lathrop, MisTER LATHROP, we need smelling salts over here."
Lathrop had been doing some stock work in the back room, but hearing the old lady's bellowing commands, dropped what he was doing to obey her order. He grabbed the smelling salts on his way to the front room. He found Misses Pry and Russell in the dry good section, the younger of the two white as a sheet, while the older stood fanning her with a bolt of calico.
Taking charge Miss Pry grabbed the smelling salts and stuck them under Kitty's nose.
"I don't know what happened." Kitty apologized; a cold clammy feeling had replaced the dizzy thundering sensations. She made an attempt to get up but Miss Pry put her hand on Kitty's shoulder and pushed her back down again. "Miss Russell I think it would be advisable if you were to just sit there for a moment or two. Mister Lathrop if you would bring us a cold wet cloth please." The shopkeeper returned promptly with the moistened compress and handed it to Miss Pry.
"Put your head in your lap dear."
"Really Miss Pry, I'm fine."
"Put your head in your lap Miss Russell, you are about to faint, I can see it in your eyes."
Though she'd be loath to admit Miss Pry was right she did as the old woman decreed. The wet of the cloth against her neck dampened the fabric of her dress collar and ran in little trickles of water around her throat. It took a minute or two before Kitty felt her world coming back to order. Slowly she sat upright and said, "Thank you Miss Pry."
Edsel studied the saloon woman for a moment and then reflected, "It's no wonder you felt unwell, after all it hasn't been long since your illness and with all this wedding commotion." Her voice softened as she continued, "I did mean what I said to Mrs. Harris, I have long admired you Miss Russell. As a strong woman myself, I have always appreciated that trait in others."
Kitty was speechless; it was not often that one of Dodge City's upstanding social icons took her side. Miss Pry's stern expression melted into a smile, "I would like to offer you and the Marshal a marital gift. I would like to make your wedding cake." Edsel Pry was known around Dodge for many things not the least being one of the town's foremost bakers. Her cakes and pies were always the high bid for any church auction. "Miss Pry, I couldn't think of any present which would mean more. Thank you."
Seeing Miss Pry had the situation under control, Mr. Lathrop had run across the street to the Marshal's office. "Marshal Dillon, I think you'd better come back to the General Store with me, Miss Kitty just fainted." Dillon looked up from his paper work; then jumped to his feet, grabbing his gun belt he rushed out of the office, leaving Lathrop to eat his dust.
He entered the General Store and scanned the room before rushing across the floor to Kitty's side; there he knelt to one knee in front of her. Miss Pry backed away to give the large lawman more room. Dillon took her hand and looked into her face. "What happened Kitty?" he asked.
Miss Pry didn't give Kitty a chance to answer, "Isn't it clear Marshal? She is working herself into a state of exhaustion over this wedding and after being so recently ill … Marshal Dillon I would hope that you will take your responsibilities as a husband with more gravity than you have being affianced." Miss Pry turned toward Kitty, her voice soft again, "Miss Russell I will discuss our plans at a later date, for the time being I suggest you go home to bed." She glanced up to look at Matt to see what impact her words had on him. The lawman looked confused and she shook her head in disgust. "Good day Marshal."
"Affianced?" He didn't even know what the hell she was talking about. Miss Pry always made him feel like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar and he was glad to see the door shut behind her. He turned his attention back to Kitty, "You okay?" he asked. "Let's get you up to Doc's."
She shook her head, "I think Miss Pry is right, I'm just tired, walk me home please?" With his arm around her he pulled her gently to her feet and the two walked back to the Long Branch together. The whole incident had shaken Dillon up more than he wanted to admit. He hadn't been much help with the wedding plans or the house up to that point but he made a secret vow to himself to be more help from that point on.
As for Kitty, it was hard to forget the hateful words of Susan Bart Harris, the stigma of the life she'd had to lead was hard to live down, most times she didn't try, but for some reason and for the first time in her life she wanted respectability. She was surprised to find an ally in of all people, Miss Edsel Pry.
