Dance Partners 9

Gunshy... God in the machine? Hmmm interesting thought.

As they walked down the boardwalk, Matt told Festus his thoughts. First order of business was to protect Kitty. He knew her well enough to know she'd not want to leave town, but he wasn't about to leave her unguarded.

He had an idea Viola and her cohort, whoever he may be, would probably try something at the dance. There would be a lot of people in town that night and a lot of confusion. But he wasn't ruling out them trying something before-hand.

"You ain't got ya, no worries about Miss Kitty, Matthew." Festus promised. "Why, I'd sooner lay down on a train track and a train a comin' with its lights on then let nothing happen to her. I garontee ya that."

"I know, Festus." He answered gratefully. "And I appreciate it. I'm going to have Newly keep an eye on the jail and around town and spell you when you need it while I go and see Viola."

"You think she'll tell ya nothing?" Festus asked.

"Nope." Matt shook his head. "And that's not why I'm going. I've got another idea."

As they pushed into the saloon, Matt could see Kitty nowhere. But a quick jerk of Sam's head told him she'd taken sanctuary in her office. Walking past the bar, Matt tossed some coins on the top. "Sam, a couple of beers please."

"Right away, Marshal." Sam replied.

"Festus, stay out here and keep an eye out. I'm going to go in and talk to Kitty." Matt told his friend.

"Will do er, Matthew." Festus nodded then looked at the two beers Sam had sat down. "Ain't ya gonna drink yer beer?"

Matt shook his head. "Those are both yours." Grinning at the pleased look on the hill man's face, Matt went to Kitty's office door and lightly tapped. "Kitty?"

Quickly the door opened and a small hand grabbed his, pulling him inside. No sooner did the door close, than Matt had her tightly wrapped in his arms. "You okay?" He asked, kissing the crown of her head.

Kitty nodded against his chest. "Just tired of fending off dance partners." She sighed. "Just this morning, I had three more men asking me to the dance. Sam had to practically throw one of them out on his ear because he didn't want to take no for an answer."

Matt frowned and pushed Kitty back a little. "Do you know who that man was?" He asked.

Kitty shook her head. "No. I've never seen him before. He just came in and said he heard I was looking for someone to take me to the dance and declared he was the man. When I told him no, he practically insisted that I go with him. Like I said, Sam finally had to get rid of him."

Matt nodded. "Well, you won't have to worry too much longer about that happening."

Kitty stiffened. "You found out something, didn't you?"

Matt nodded and pulled her back to him, kissing her on the forehead. "Lindy Hewitt was in my office, just a little bit ago. Seems Viola, her sister, cooked this whole thing up."

Kitty gasped and pulled back to look up at him. "Viola? For what purpose? Matt, what could Viola Hewitt possibly expect to gain by spreading this kind of thing around about me? About us?"

"Well, she didn't do it directly." Matt hedged. Knowing Kitty's temper, he was hesitant to tell her Viola's main reason. "But she's behind it. From what Lindy told me, she's plans to have you kidnapped."

"What?" The story just more bazaar. "Why? What have I ever done to Viola?"

"You loved me." Matt said softly. "And you let me love you."

Kitty suddenly understood and the thought made her furious. "Why that… I oughta go over there and snatch her bald headed. Do you know what I've been going through here, because of her?" Kitty pulled completely out of Matt's arms and walked over to her desk. Taking down a bottle and a glass she poured herself a stiff shot and drank it down, allowing the warmth to spread through her along with the anger. "I know she wants you. She has for a long time. But does she really believe this would bring you to her? I swear, Matt…"

Although glad to see her angry instead of hurt, the way she had been, he knew anger wouldn't solve anything either. "Kitty, calm down, will ya? Now look, the hardest part about this whole thing was not knowing who did it or why. But we know now and that means we can get it stopped."

"How?" Kitty demanded to know. "Are you going to arrest her?"

Matt shook his head regretfully. "I can't, Kitty. Lindy's word isn't proof of anything illegal. And spreading rumors, though abominable, isn't illegal either."

"What about having me kidnapped?" She asked pointedly with a scowl. "Is that just fine and dandy by the law too?"

"No, and you know it isn't." Matt answered. "But I have to have proof that she was planning it or at least a confession." Matt knew what he was about to tell her, ask of her, she was not going to like, but he couldn't think of any other way.

"Ut, oh." Kitty sighed. "I can tell by the look on your face, I'm not going to like what you're about to say."

Matt nodded with a slight grin. "You know me too well, Kitty Russell."

"Yeah, I know you." She shook her head. "Alright. What is it? What are you planning?"

"It's the only way I can think of that would work." He moved back over to her and gently took her arm. "I wish there was anything else…"

"Tell me, Matt." She stopped him. "What are you planning?"

TBC