Thinking 'bout you every day
Dreaming 'bout you every night
Hoping that you feel the same way
Now that we know it, let's really show it, Darlin'
Let's give them something to talk about
"Something to Talk About" sung by Bonnie Raitt, written by Shirley Eikhard
Chapter Seven
Matt was all for getting married the day after announcing it to their friends, and as much as Kitty would have liked to be married immediately, she wanted more than a hurried ceremony by a justice of the peace. From the moment she had first allowed herself to hope for a future with Matt, a church wedding wearing a dress made especially for the occasion had been part of her dream. She might have been older than most brides and with a baby already on the way besides, but she was going to have the wedding she wanted.
"You understand, don't you Matt? I'm proud to be marrying the man I love, and I want everyone to see that. I want to wear a beautiful dress just for you and see you waiting at the altar for me."
Matt had to admit he wanted the same thing, but…"I thought you would want to right away, before I get called away on business at the last minute."
Kitty said nothing, but her eyes weren't letting him off that easy. You'd better make sure that doesn't happen, Cowboy. Not this time. Somehow. Kitty smiled and Matt knew whatever she was about to say next was going to settle the discussion in her favor. "Matt, that's not the only thing we have to consider. Besides having a dress made, we need to find a place to live, unless you were planning on moving into the Long Branch." Matt was shaking his head. "And I need to get the business sorted out so Sam can run things without me. And I want a honeymoon."
Matt had to raise an eyebrow at the word "honeymoon." He had an idea Doc would have something to say about Kitty doing any traveling. Other than that, Kitty had backed up her romantic notions with practical reasons he couldn't argue with. "All right, Kitty, you win. Will two weeks be enough to for all that?" She nodded. "All right, then, while you work on the dress, and the business, and get the preacher arranged, I'll take care of a place to live and the honeymoon."
"Oh, I walked right into that one, didn't I?" Kitty shook her head. "You're a better gambler than I give you credit for, Matt." She couldn't wait to see Matt's idea of a honeymoon. "One more thing, Cowboy. You are getting a new suit."
Although they hadn't officially announced their engagement beyond the gathering with their friends at the Long Branch, it wasn't long before rumors began flying. By the time Kitty had taken three days off work, there was much speculation as to the reason why as well as her whereabouts. Most people simply thought she had gone on another trip, although when asked, Sam and the saloon girls would only say that she had taken the day off. Others were sure she had finally left Dodge City for good, but, if so, why was the Long Branch still open? No one dared ask the Marshal, even if he did seem to be in unusually good spirits for someone whose lady might have up and left town.
On the morning of the fourth day, Kitty finally left her upstairs rooms. She had a fitting with her dressmaker and an appointment with her lawyer to sign papers authorizing Sam to act on her behalf in running the Long Branch. After that she would go speak to the preacher to arrange the ceremony. If anyone was shocked to see her walking on Front Street, they kept it to themselves, at least until they met up with friends and neighbors in the stores, saloons and cafes.
A telegram started the next round of gossip. Kitty had stopped at the jail once her errands were completed to see if Matt was interested in taking her to lunch.
"How does two weeks from this Saturday sound?" she asked, sitting on the corner of his desk and providing a welcome distraction from the paperwork he couldn't concentrate on anyway.
"Well, that sounds just fine. Is it in the morning like I asked for?"
"Yes, eleven o'clock, and I sure hope I can get up early enough to be ready on time. Are you going to tell me why you want a morning wedding?"
"Because I don't want to spend the whole day waiting for you to become my wife. What if you change your mind by the time the ceremony starts?"
"Well, I guess you'll just have to come after me, Marshal. Well, all right, if you aren't going to tell me why I guess I'll just have to wait and find out, won't I?"
Matt was writing something on a piece of paper. "Kitty, can you do me a favor?"
"Would this favor require me to lock the door and close the curtains?" She looked at him hopefully.
"Not unless I want Doc to get after me. Would you mind taking this to the telegraph office for me?"
"Of course not, but I'm just wondering why. You've never asked me to send a telegram for you before."
Matt grinned. "Oh, I just thought since you weren't going to be working at the Long Branch anymore, you might want a job as my secretary."
Kitty threw her head back and laughed so hard Matt was forced to grab her around the waist to keep her from falling off his desk. "Think again, Matt. But sure, I'll take this one for you. And don't forget you're going to the tailor this afternoon for your new suit." The sound of jingling spurs coming down the boardwalk alerted them that Festus was on his way to the jail. Kitty stood up and then leaned over to give Matt a quick peck on the cheek just before Festus walked in.
"Morning, Miss Kitty, if you ain't a sight fer sore eyes! A course, it's nearly noon, now. Ya thinking on goin' to lunch, are ya, Matthew?"
"Well, Festus, I was just going to take Kitty for lunch after she runs an errand."
"Oh, I kin go do that errand fer ya, Miss Kitty, if you and Matthew wanta go eat now."
"Thank you anyway, Festus, but I could use the walk." Kitty was suddenly curious about the contents of the telegram. Matt had made such a point of her delivering it for him that he must want her to read it. "I'll see you in a while, Matt, Festus."
She waited until she was a block from the jail and ducked around a corner to see what the note said.
To War Department Washington DC
Unavailable 10 Nov to 20 Nov stop Personal business stop Authorize deputies Haggen and OBrien all duties stop
Signed M Dillon US Marshal Dodge City Kansas
"Personal business…" Kitty whispered. Suddenly she had to lean against the wall of the building for support. Ten days! She had no idea if it was allowed or if the War Department would agree to it, but it looked as though Matt were taking ten days off for their wedding. "Ten days...for us?" What else could it mean?" Were she and the wedding...were they finally going to come before the badge? Kitty felt a hand on her arm.
"Miss Kitty? Are you all right?" It was Newly.
"I'm fine, Newly. I just stopped to catch my breath for a minute."
Newly appeared unconvinced. "If you'll pardon my being forward, ma'am, the Marshal's told me your news. Both...parts of it." He was beginning to look a little flustered. "I only bring it up because you look as though you aren't feeling well. Why don't you let me walk you home? And maybe get Doc or the Marshal for you?"
Kitty smiled uncertainly. It was unlike Matt to confide something that personal to anyone. Well, he must have had his reasons. In the meantime, she couldn't very well explain to Newly the real reason for the state he had just found her in, without admitting to snooping into Matt's official correspondence.
"I appreciate your concern, Newly, but I really am just fine. As a matter of fact, I'm going to meet Matt for lunch as soon as I take this to the telegraph office. So, please don't worry about me." She held up the paper she had thankfully refolded before Newly had caught her.
"All the same, Miss Kitty, I'd sure feel better if you'd let me walk along with you. I'd hate to have to face the Marshal if I let you go on by yourself and you fainted out here in the street."
"Well, since you put it that way, Newly, how could I refuse the offer of a handsome young escort?" She smiled and took the arm he was offering.
By the next day, enough citizens of Dodge had compared notes that the various pieces of gossip-Matt's telegram to the War Department; Kitty's visits to the dressmaker; the rumor that the same dressmaker was making a wedding gown for someone; Kitty's meeting with the preacher on a day when there was no Ladies' Aid business going on; and Matt's appearance at the tailor shop added up to only one conclusion. The man and woman at the center of Dodge City's worst kept secret were finally about to make things official.