Chapter 4 – Idylls Don't Last Forever
There was only Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before the conferences that brought them to San Francisco would consume nearly all the hours of each day for the two men from Kansas. While Doc was a bit nervous about giving his speech, he looked forward to meeting with other physicians to exchange knowledge that he could bring back to his patients in Dodge City, Ford County and as much of the surrounding territory that depended upon him as the only licensed doctors for at least a hundred miles. Matt, on the other hand, dreaded having to dress up fancy and listen to boring talks on keeping the peace in larger towns and cities where the populace was more settled. He didn't even want to think about giving his speech, which most of them would ignore as irrelevant.
The two men and one woman from the small cow town visiting the big California city spent what remained of Sunday taking in the sights. Julie took them to Chinatown where they ate an early supper in one of the restaurants. Kitty was more than willing to try the new foods and ways of preparing them, but Doc and especially Matt weren't so sure. However, once Kitty sampled Julie's and the owner's suggestions and seemed pleased with them, they gave it a try. It wasn't steak, but it was pleasant to eat Matt finally admitted after even Doc didn't complain about the cooking and its overall effect on their health.
Julie wanted to get home in time to put little Stephen to sleep in his crib. Doc agreed to escort her home in one rented carriage while Matt and Kitty secured another. Julie insisted they'd love watching the sunset over the ocean, so they decided to see for themselves. Leaving their rented carriage on the road, the Dodge City couple strolled onto the beach just as the sun was beginning to set. Their driver had led them to a quiet yet beautiful section of the beach where the homes of the wealthiest citizens looked down on the water from the city's steep hills. Matt glanced about his surroundings and seeing nobody but his lovely lady, her red hair glowing in the red of the setting sun, drew her to him.
One kiss led to another deeper one until the choice was either to remain where they were in the dark on the sand or return as quickly as they could to their bedroom in Julie's home. Since nights on a sandy beach were unfamiliar and their carriage driver was awaiting their return, practicality won out over impulse. They strolled by the light of the moon and stars back toward the road, their arms entwined. Matt bestowed one final passionate kiss and a fleeting peck under a tree that lined the road before escorting Kitty back to the carriage and helping her inside.
Customers were very much in evidence as they made their way toward the stairs. Doc was at the bar chatting with Charlie Smoots and called them over. They would have ignored the older man if the idea to bring a bottle of Napoleon Brandy upstairs with them hadn't popped into Kitty's head. Julie was just returning to the floor as Charlie reached for the bottle. She whispered where they could find the brandy snifters in the third floor living quarters and bid the couple goodnight as bottle in hand they again moved toward the stairs. A nod from Julie to the burly young man keeping watch over those stairs meant nobody interfered with their progress.
To Matt and Kitty's surprise when they entered their assigned bedroom suite with the brandy and newly acquired glasses the door to the adjoining washroom was open. Peeking inside, they discovered an oversized tub filled with steaming water was waiting for them. Placing the bottle and glasses on a handy table, the couple began undressing each other as they prepared to enjoy a delightful bath. Only as Kitty grabbed for the bar of soap they'd share did she notice a note slip to the floor. Matt bent to pick it up.
"I took advantage of your absence to fill the tub, guessing when you might return. Five minutes before that I had Charlie bring up as many buckets of steaming hot water as might be needed to fill it. Upon your arrival I sent Charlie upstairs with a couple more large buckets of not quite so hot water for rinsing. Edna supplied the rest while he returned in time to provide the brandy."
The romantic interlude continued until their energy gave out and both were ready for sleep. Monday was a repeat of Sunday except they took a cable car ride and Kitty dragged Matt shopping with her. He reluctantly agreed to purchase a city suit and several dress shirts to go with it. The alterations would be completed by late Tuesday afternoon, in time for the opening of Wednesday's conference.
Matt hoped to see something other than ladies shops before the afternoon was over when they stopped in a restaurant for dinner at noon. He figured he'd given in to Kitty enough by agreeing to the new suit and shirts. At least the eatery they chose wasn't overly fancy and had steak on the menu. He escorted her inside and was about to ask for a table for two when he spotted a couple of familiar faces. Tilda Gilroy and Sergeant Tim Parker gestured for them to join them at their table.
"I'm so glad we met up with you," Tilda said once Matt and Kitty were seated. "My parents thought you might like to join us for dinner at our home Wednesday evening at eight. It should allow time for you to get ready and find your way after you delegates are released for the evening. I do hope you can come. Daddy and Tim want to talk about enforcing the law, but Miss Kitty, mom and I would love to hear about what it's like to run your own business out on the frontier rather than just being a wife and mother. Your friend Mrs. Blane and Doctor Adams are welcome to join us as well."
"We'd love to come Tilda. Wouldn't we Matt?"
Matt nodded his agreement. He would escort Kitty. Julie and Doc would come if she wasn't too busy with her business and he didn't decide to spend his evening with his fellow physicians. The two couples completed a tasty meal before the women went their way and the men in another direction. Tilda wanted to show Kitty a number of shops where she could purchase the latest fashions at what the young woman considered reasonable prices. Tim agreed to take Matt back to the station house to show him how the members of a big city police force spent their time.
Soon Monday melted into Tuesday, their last day of sightseeing. All too soon it was time to see how well Matt's new suit fit. He fidgeted, but Kitty was satisfied with how her man looked in the perfectly tailored outfit. He squired her back to Julie's completely unaware that someone had been following them since they brought Tilda to her father's office on Saturday. Therefore, it was a relaxed Matt Dillon who after supper at the House of Cards left the company of his friends and went for a walk by himself. His thoughts were on how much Kitty was enjoying being back in a big city and how he would rather be on the open prairie chasing a gang of outlaws than facing a conference of lawyers and city lawmen in the morning.