Kitty made it back to Dodge just after sunset and true to his word, the tall man with the blue eyes was waiting at the stable for her. He'd already paid Moss for the continued use of the carriage and swiftly climbed in beside her when she pulled up. He gave her no time to change her mind as he flicked the reins and set off towards the river.
Kitty glanced over at him in some surprise. This certainly wasn't like the Matt Dillon she'd come to know in the last few months. "Um," she looked over at him curiously, "I thought you usually liked to go out to Spring Creek."
Brent said nothing for a second. He hadn't known that about Dillon. "Well," he quickly covered, "I just thought maybe we'd do something different. That is if you don't mind." He gave her his best smile.
"Oh, I don't mind." Kitty shrugged. "It doesn't really matter where we go, I guess. I'm just glad to be going anywhere with you, Matt." She said that last softly, almost shyly; praying she'd hadn't said the wrong thing. She knew Matt didn't want to marry or really want a serious relationship. That was one of the first things he'd told her. She didn't want him to think she was demanding more than he would be willing to give.
Brent looked down into her oh so blue eyes and wanted so much to kiss her, but he forcibly pulled himself back. "Uh, well, good." He looked away. "I mean, I'm glad to be going with you. I, uh, know I've been kinda distant the last few days and I want you to know it wasn't anything to do with you. I've just been really busy and had a lot of things on my mind."
Kitty nodded. "Sure." She answered. Doc and Chester had said the same thing, but she still wasn't convinced that was all. Still, Matt wouldn't lie to her, would he? Even to spare her feelings?
Brent said nothing more for a little while as he steered the buggy to a spot near the river and pulled it to a stop. "Sure is a pretty night." He said as he glanced over at her and then turned his gaze to the river.
"Sure is." Kitty smiled half heartedly. "So," she took a deep breath, deciding to forestall any heavy discussions. "What were you up to all day?"
"Oh, you know." Brent shrugged. "Just a normal day. Paperwork, Chester's coffee, a few fights. Nothing too much fun. As a matter of fact, I didn't really enjoy too much of the day at all until you got back to town."
"Really?" She was extremely pleased to hear that.
Brent nodded. "Really." He smiled softly at her, drinking in the sight of her in the moonlight. He hadn't thought anything could make her more beautiful, but he figured the moonlight might have just done it. "I was really looking forward to this, Kitty." He reached over and gently pushed a small lock of hair off of her face, his thumb gently tracing her cheek bone and then moving down to her soft lips.
Kitty trembled slightly at the tenderness of his actions and she wanted right then, more than anything, for Matt Dillon to kiss her and claim her. "I was looking forward to this too, Matt." She told him. "I… I… I really care about you, Matt Dillon."
"Kitty." Brent sighed. He knew he should stop her. She didn't know he wasn't Dillon and it wouldn't be fair.
But Kitty wouldn't let him interrupt her. "No, Matt. Please, listen to me. I know you don't want a commitment and you've told me all about why a lawman can't marry and I'm not asking for that. I figure that's probably why you've been staying away from me lately. And I…"
"Kitty," he tried again. "Please.."
"No, Matt, let finish." She pleaded as she placed her hand on his arm. "If I pushed too hard or made you feel uncomfortable, I'm sorry. I just want you to… to give me a chance to… to give us a chance. We don't have to marry in order to be together at least not right now. I understand your…"
"Kitty, no." Brent stopped her again. "Look, it was nothing like…"
"Wasn't it, Matt." Kitty protested. "Wasn't it?"
Her voice trembled slightly and Brent thought she was on the verge of tears. For some reason that made him feel extremely guilty, which was not a feeling he was used to or comfortable with. Brent dropped his head. "Kitty, please believe me. I wasn't keeping my distance for any such reason. I… I just… I…"
"I'm sorry, Matt." Kitty turned away and looked out over at the river, valiantly trying to keep from crying. "I understand. You… you can take me home now."
Brent started to do just that, in fact, he knew he should do just that. This poor girl was in love with Dillon and Brent knew she was thinking that the tall laconic Marshal had basically just turned her away. For some reason, he couldn't stand the thought of her feeling so rejected and so hurt.
Brent reached over and gently tugged at Kitty's shoulder. "Look at me, Kitty." He all but demanded. "Please." He added softly.
Kitty swallowed hard and finally turned, shining blue eyes studying his face, waiting for him to put the final nail in her coffin and tell her flat out he wanted nothing to do with her. "Please, Matt." She requested plaintively. "Don't. Just take me home."
Brent didn't respond. He couldn't. There was something about this woman, about the way she was looking at him, it pulled at a part of him he didn't even know existed. Before he gave it too much thought or could stop himself, Brent pulled Kitty to him and claimed her lips in a kiss. Tender at first, Brent could feel her responding and the kiss became more passionate as he pushed her gently back against the buggy seat and moved even closer.
The kiss at first surprised Kitty, than pleased her and then worried her. She had wanted this for so long and she had thought it might never happen. But as the kiss grew more passionate, Kitty realized there was something just not right. Matt had only kissed her twice before, and neither time had the intensity of this one, but even with that minimal amount of experience, she knew somehow, that his kiss had changed.
Finally, she pushed him back from her and broke the kiss. "Matt… I…"
Brent sat back quickly, catching his breath and better judgment. "I'm sorry, Kitty. I didn't mean to… well, it's..."
"Take me home, Matt." Kitty said quietly. "I think we're both just tired right now and maybe its better we talk about this some other time."
Brent nodded and turned back in the seat, picking up the reins. "Yeah," he nodded as he flicked the reins on the horse's rump and started back to town. "I think you're right."
Kitty said nothing as they headed back to Dodge but her mind was in whirl. She had suspicioned that Matt had changed but really had nothing to prove it. And although she still didn't really have proof, she knew, somehow, that she'd been wrong.
Matt hadn't changed.
This wasn't Matt.
TBC
