PT.10

"The Test of Time"

Matt saw Edward walk into the Dodge House, so he followed him. As Edward was climbing the stairs, Matt called him. "LaFontaine! Wait, I want to talk to you."

Edward stopped. "What is it, Marshal? What can I do for you?"

They walked into the lounge area of the hotel. "Is what Kitty said true? Did you come here to ask her to marry you?"

"Shouldn't you be talking to Kitty about this?" Edward said.

"Look, LaFontaine. I'm asking you. And I'm not in a mood to play games."

"Well, I asked her in San Francisco but…"

"Why?" Matt asked.

"Are you blind, man? Kitty is a beautiful woman."

Matt rolled his eyes. "I know that. But why now? Kitty says you're an old friend."

"Marshal, is Kitty your woman?"

"Well, I… I 'd like to think so. Kitty and I have been together a long time."

"She didn't tell me that you were together, Marshal."

"I'd appreciate if you left town." Matt demanded.

"I've committed no crime, Marshal. I'll stay as long as Kitty wants me to."

Matt's face turned bright red and he stormed out!

Beth standing hearing everything Doc had said to Kitty and finally said, "It's me, isn't it?"

Kitty turned quickly, shocked to see Beth standing in the doorway. "Oh, Beth. Beth, Sweetheart, no. No! How long have you been standing there?"

"A few minutes." She answered. "This is all about me, isn't it?"

"Sweetheart, no. It's not about you. I'm sorry you overheard this."

Doc also added, "I'm sorry too now, Beth. This isn't about you. This is about things that happened before you were even born."

"Miss Russell, Momma explained to me how I came about. And she and Matt explained everything to me…"

"Beth, please come and sit. I want you to understand."

"Miss Russell, I know who you are."

"You do?"

"I know you are special to Matt. You're his woman. He loves you and you love him. Right?"

"Beth. I…"

"Miss Rus..."

"Call me Kitty."

"Ok, Miss Kitty. I heard you telling Doctor Adams here how much you love him and couldn't live without him." Beth was smiling at Kitty. "And believe it or not, I'm old enough to understand that it is hurtful to you that you had to find out that I'm his daughter by another woman during a time when he was your man."

"Beth…" Kitty was uncomfortable having this conversation with her.

"Miss Kitty, Momma knows Matt's yours."

"Oh, Beth…"

"I need to ask you something, Miss Kitty. It's the reason I actually came here today. I want to take Momma home. Back to our home and spend what time she has left together. And I want Matt to make the trip with us. Just so I know I get her there safely. But I want you and Matt to be OK with this."

"Oh, Beth, Sweetheart, that is going to be strictly up to him. Matt makes his own decisions. But do you think your mother is up to the trip?"

"Yeah, I think she really wants to go home."

"Doc, maybe you should talk to Matt about this."

"Ok, Kitty, I will."

"Beth, let me walk you back to the hotel." Kitty said.

As they crossed the street, Matt approached them. "Hi, Matt." Beth said. "I wanted to talk to you about taking Momma home. Doctor Adams said he's going to look in on her and then talk to you and me. I'm going to go up with him. See you later."

"Ok, honey, bye."

Kitty started to turn and walk back towards the Long Branch. "Kitty, wait. Please?"

"What?" She said without turning around.

"Kit, we need to talk."

"About what?"

"Kit, not here in the middle of Front Street."

"Fine. Come on, I'll buy you a drink." He followed her in. "Well?" She asked.

"Kit, can we do this in private?"

"Whiskey or beer?"

"I don't care."

"Come on in the office. Sam, I'll be in here if you need me."

"Sure, Miss Kitty." He said.

As they walked through the door, Matt looked back at Sam. "Sam, don't bother us for anything or anyone unless it's urgent. Please?"

"But Miss Kit..."

"I'll handle her."

"Yes, Marshal." And Sam just smiled.

Kitty walked in the office first and when Matt walked in behind her, she still had her back to him. He kicked the door shut. That got her attention and she spun around. "What…?"

But before she could say another word, he grabbed her up in his arms and pulled her into a deep passionate kiss. She tried to push him away mumbling, "Matt, what are..."

But he wouldn't let go. She was finding it hard to fight him. She wanted to stay mad but the more he held her tight the harder it was. She pulled back briefly. "Matt, what are you doing?"

"Trying to kiss you, if you'd just be quiet." He said.

"Matt, you…you make me soooo furious!"

"Good."

"Damn it!"

"Show me how furious you are." And he kissed her again. But this time he wouldn't let her pull away. Little by little he felt the fight go out of her and it was replaced with the same passion he had for her. He started to kiss her on the neck. "Now that's the Kitty I remember, the Kitty I've been missing, the Kitty I know and love and… Oh, Honey. Send this guy away." He felt her body start to stiffen.

"What? Wait a minute. Is that what this is all about? You come in here and you think you can…"

"Kit, no. That's not what I meant."

"Matt! Ohhh, UGH! And to think that I was even going to… Just leave!"

"Kitty, wait. I didn't mean it like that. I just meant, I didn't want you to..."

"Matt, just go!"

"No! We're gonna talk about this, Kitty."

"Matt, I want you to go. I want you out of here. Now! I should have known better then to… ugh! You make me crazy, Matt Dillon!"

Matt just threw his hand up in the air and left the office, wishing he wouldn't have mentioned Edward at all. As he walked past Sam, he just threw his hands up and shook his head. "That temper."

Sam just shrugged his shoulders.

Doc and Beth went in to check on Mike. She explained to Doc that she wanted to return to her ranch. He said he agreed it would be fine, as long as it was sooner then later but that she and Beth shouldn't go alone in case there were problems.

Then Beth stopped at Matt's office. "Matt, got a minute?"

"Sure, Beth. Come in and sit down. What do you need?"

"Well, I just came from Momma's room and Doctor Adams says we can go back home but should do it soon before Momma get any weaker. The thing is, I want you to go with us. Just so I know we'll get there safe. But I don't want this to be a problem. I talked with Miss Kitty about it and she said it was your decision to make."

Edward stopped by the Long Branch. Sam told him Kitty was working in her office. Kitty heard them talking and came out. "Sam, that's alright. Edward, follow me." Once in the office she asked him, "Why are you here? I thought I made myself clear in San Francisco."

"But, Kitty dear. This afternoon it appeared you may have had a change of heart."

"Oh no, Edward. I've not changed my mind."

Then what was…"

She stopped him before he finished. "Forget that. That was nothing."

"Oh? Well, Nothing ordered me out of town."

"He what?"

"Your Marshal friend. He ordered me out of town." Edward was enjoying this.

Kitty furrowed her brow. "For what reason?"

"You, my dear one. You. I told him I'll stay as long as you want me to."

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Yes, Sam. What is it?"

"Miss Kitty, I'm sorry. There's a man here looking for the Marshal and Mrs. Yardner? It's about her daughter Beth."

"I'm coming out, Sam." When she came to the bar, standing there was a big man. Kitty looked at him and said, "Hello, may I help you."

"Yes, Ma'am. As I was telling your bartender here, I was looking for the Marshal. He wasn't in his office, and someone on the street told me I should talk to you. You are Miss Kitty, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am. And you are…?"

"You can call me Chalk, Ma'am."

"Well, Chalk. Let's see what we can do to help you out. Sam says you were here about Mrs. Yardner's daughter, Beth."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Please, call me Kitty."

"After Mike left to come here looking to see the Marshal here, Matt Dillon isn't it?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Then Beth disappeared."

"Well, Mr. Chalk, you don't have to worry. Beth is here in Dodge. Mrs. Yardner is over at the Dodge House. So is Beth. And you'll probably find the Marshal there as well. It's just across the street."

"Much obliged."

As Chalk walked across the street, Matt was coming out of the hotel. "Marshal? Marshal Dillon?"

"Yeah."

"My name is Chalk. I'm a friend of Mike Yardner's. Miss Kitty, over at the Long Branch, told me I could find Mike and Beth here at the hotel."

"Yes, that's right."

"How is she?"

"Tired but good. She wants to go home. We were just making arrangements to do just that."

Chalk stopped and looked at Matt. "We?"

"Well, Beth wanted me to go with them to see that they got home safe."

"Well, Marshal, I'd like to go see her now. Maybe we can chat later?"

"Sure." Matt said. "My office is down the street."

After seeing Mike and talking to both her and Beth, Chalk wanted to be the one to take them back to the ranch. Mike explained to Chalk that Matt was Beth's father but he still wanted to have as much time with her as he could, so they agreed. And Beth understood. So, Beth and Chalk stopped at Matt's office and explained to him. And she told him that she still wanted to come back and spend time in Dodge so they could get to know one another more. But for now, she wanted as much time with her momma as she had left.

So, Matt agreed.

TBC