Wichita a GUNSMOKE story
By MarMar1
Chapter 10
DISCLAIMER: see chapter 1
AUTHOR'S NOTES: 1)Sugar cubes were invented in 1841 by Jakub Kryštof Rad
2) Dear Reader, thank you for your patience and thank you for your comments and feedback on this story
Wichita chapter 10
Frank stopped outside her door. His hesitation was an indicator of his uncertain thoughts, wondering what sort of reception awaited him. Well, no sense wondering when he had only to knock to find out. Shrugging off the uncertainty, he carefully placed the large basket to the side of the door, out of sight. If the reception turned out to be chilly, no sense looking more the fool with picnic basket in hand. Removing his hat, he brushed his hair back with one hand and knocked on the door.
As the door swung open, he couldn't help but smile. It had always been the same; seeing Kitty made him smile. From their very first meeting they had always had an easy, comfortable, teasing friendship. Frank had never felt a need for pretense with Kitty, not like he did with most women. He released the breath he hadn't known he was holding.
"I wasn't sure if we still had plans." He offered with a slightly sideways, questioning look. He noticed, though, the way she was dressed, not plain (he doubted one could ever describe Kitty's attire as plain), but, well, casual. She wore a simple shirtwaist with the top buttons open, along with a dark skirt that just skimmed the tops of a pair of boots. He realized she was dressed for the stockyards and his tension eased.
Putting one hand to her hip, Kitty's eyes twinkled as she challenged him, "Frank Reardon, you aren't trying to back out on me, are you?"
"Oh, no ma'am. I would never dream of backing out on you. I just…well…uh…are you ready?" He didn't want to talk about the reason for his uncertainty. "I've brought along a picnic lunch, so we won't have to worry about hurrying back." Reaching over, he lifted the basket from its assigned spot out of sight and held it up for her to see.
Kitty lifted one delicate eyebrow in reaction before saying, "Let me just get my hat…" She stepped back into the room, then returned holding in her hands a hat which perfectly completed her outfit. Locking the closed door, she turned to Frank and said, "I'm ready."
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Pushing his hat back on his head, Frank leaned on the fence post and watched as Kitty stroked the nose of the big stallion whose muzzle was buried in the palm of her other hand. Sugar cubes! Who would have thought? Kitty chuckled deep in her throat as the stallion got a little too friendly with his muzzle, searching for more treats. "Oh, no." she said, firmly shoving the horse's head away. "I might have known you'd get greedy! Go on, now." She turned and walked toward Frank. He could see her eyes shining.
"They're beautiful, Frank." She tilted her head to indicate the corral full of horses. "Someone has a good eye for horse stock." She placed her slender hands on the top fence rail as they each looked out over the animals. Frank had always appreciated her knowledge of and abilities with horses. She was a natural, so at ease with them. He thought how her lovely hands looked, soft and polished in contrast to the hard, weathered fence rail; so different, yet not out of place. That was Kitty, elegance, beauty, strength that always complemented her surroundings, whatever they were. She had that innate ability to make a place better than it was before. She had that same ability with people.
"Dayton Simms." Frank confirmed. "He's the one buying 'em. Breeds them, I guess. He traveled himself, looking for what he wanted, he bought 'em and arranged to have them brought here from three different sites. I'm to drive them down to his ranch three or four days south." Dayton Simms was a name well known throughout Kansas.
"Thank you, Frank. Thank you for bringing me here, for showing them to me." Kitty smiled up at him, then turned her gaze once more to the livestock. Frank made a decision.
Resetting his Stetson on his head, he straightened up from the fence. "What do you say we take a ride?" He kept his gaze on the livestock, too.
After the slightest hesitation, Kitty spoke, "Oh, I haven't ridden in ages." Frank noticed that her voice was wistful rather than argumentative.
"Well, you surely haven't forgotten how." He said. "We'll get a horse from the stable for you. A nice, gentle, old horse, if you insist." Frank teased and felt her begin to hope. "It'll be fun. We can ride out to the river, if you want."
Kitty turned sparkling eyes to look at him. "Would you, Frank? Just ride out to nowhere?" Her eyes held anticipation and what he thought might be a touch of sadness.
Unsure just how to respond to what he saw, Frank concentrated on the words and the lightness of the morning. "Oh, well, a ride to nowhere isn't so bad. Once we get there, we'll find out what's in this basket I've been lugging around all morning. That'll surely give me the strength to make the ride back." He played it up for all he was worth. "Maybe we'll even have a race on the way out." He allowed himself a sideways glance at Kitty. "Of course, if you're ridin' a nice, easy, safe old mount, it won't be much of a contest…" His crooked smile finished the challenge for him.
"Oh, you!" Kitty easily scolded as she claimed his arm and pulled him toward the stable entrance.