Matt and Kitty were in the Longbranch at their favorite back table when Doc came in with Festus snarling at his heels. "I'm just sayin' I cain't make out why yore bill is so high!"
"I have expenses!"
"Expenses!" Festus headed for the marshal. "Matthew, Miss Kitty, what would you say to a blamed old quack what gouges a feller for expenses that he ain't even expensed?"
"I "expensed" plenty!" snapped Doc. "You lay around for a week while I run myself ragged taking care of you, feeding you..."
"Don't let's get into feedin'. I don't consider a couple of little cups of broth feedin'. By the time you let me up out of the bed I wuz so weak from hunger I couldn't hardly stand on my own two feet. I could have fell down and killed myself before I had a chance to starve to death."
"And I could have had a heart attack running back and forth every time you started whining you needed something! Matt, let me tell you..."
"Miss Kitty, I wuz just wantin' to say..."
Matt got to his feet. "Gentlemen, I have been a lawman for a long time and if there's one thing I've learned it's never to get involved in family disputes." He offered Kitty his arm. "Kitty, I think it's about supper time, isn't it?" She got to her feet and smiled up at him and he bent over to kiss her soundly on the lips. They got all the way outside before Festus and Doc started up again.
"Now look what you done!"
"And just what have I done?"
"You skeered off Matthew and Miss Kitty!"
"Why, you mangy, hard-headed..."
"You ornery old scutter..."
Matt and Kitty paraded serenely down the boardwalk, listening to the voices fade. When they were finally out of earshot she stopped for a moment.
"What's wrong, Kitty?"
Kitty squeezed Matt's arm. "Nothing, Matt." She looked up the street at the Longbranch and her eyes were shining with happiness. "At this moment, there is absolutely nothing wrong at all."
