TEN

Poor Matt Dillon. His pent up emotions were in desperate need of release. He couldn't help it, he started to laugh, slow little rumbles that worked their way into great belly laughs. He laughed until tears came to his eyes and his stomach hurt. He laughed until he was weak from the effort and had to lean on a tree and just when he figured he'd gained control he'd look at her and it would start all over again.

"Matt Dillon!" Kitty hissed, "Matt, stop it! This is not funny!"

Taking a deep breath, he gained some degree of self control. He'd been a professional, after all, used to working in difficult situations, and trained to always keep his wits about him.

Kitty's fragile hold on patience had reached its limit, she stomped her foot in exasperation, "Are you just going to stand there like a big dumb cowboy, laughing like a hyena, or are you going to help me?" She demanded.

He recalled seeing a hyena once at a traveling circus, the astute Dillon recognized this was not a compliment. He made a valiant attempt to wipe the grin off his face. Poor Kitty was trying her damnedest to be serious, but just looking at her, he burst out in laughter again. She was standing there in her underwear with her red hair trapped in the hooks and eyes of her binder. "By Golly Kitty, I don't know." he teased. "I might consider helping, if you ask nice."

`Ooh!" She stomped her feet again and glared up at him, her eyes and mouth forming thin lines. She gritted her teeth. "Mr. Dillon I would appreciate your assistance."

"Now that's more like it." He moved closer getting a better look at the loathsome garment. It resembled a corset, except that it fit over the breasts rather than under. Each hook and eye had red hair tangled around it. "How did you get yourself all caught up like this?" He wanted to know.

"OH!" She snapped. " Don't ask questions, just help me get this stupid thing off before it pulls all my hair out."

"Okay, just stay calm." Bending down, he tried to undo one of the hooks, but the movement brought a jolt of pain to his injured arm. He couldn't see the hook well enough, either. He needed something to sit on so he would be eye level to the problem. Glancing around he saw the chamber pot that adorned a corner of Kitty's convenience room. The pot was clean but he placed the lid on it so he could sit down. Seated on the small white china throne, he motioned her to come nearer. She moved between his spread legs, her head held as high as the trapped hair allowed. She jutted her chin forward, mustering together her remaining fragments of pride. Matt Dillon faced the binder in a final showdown. Its hooks and eyes, presented a formidable line of defense against all outside forces. The position did not ease the discomfort to his wounded limb, but the close proximity to her chest brought with it a measure of visual clarity. He took a long moment to give her predicament his complete consideration.

Try as he might, he couldn't lift his injured right arm high enough to reach the hooks. Nor was Kitty's burned hand much help in solving the problem either. The only way to free her would be to work together as a team.

"Now Kitty, you hold this side, while I work the other side." Dillon instructed. Starting from the bottom up, they got the first three hooks unfastened. The work was beginning to get interesting, ever dedicated; the ingenious ex-lawman developed a technique that seemed to work effectively. With his one good hand he would unwind the strands of hair, carefully pulling them free, then with Kitty's firm hold on the side of the garment he'd work the hook loose. Matt worked diligently, feeling a sense of accomplishment as they slowly worked their way up the binder. With four hooks to go, he felt his concentration waiver. He ran a tongue over his lips. Her hair was the most severely tangled closest to the top. Perspiration was forming on his forehead. His fingers seemed to be growing in size before his eyes, becoming too large to complete this delicate operation. He shifted uncomfortably on the pot.

"Kitty,how about I just get my knife and cut you out of this thing?" She answered his request with silence. He continued to work; hook number three was released. Number two was a bit easier. Number one was impossible. His eyes wouldn't focus on the hook when there were other complications beckoning for his attention. He could tell the situation had aroused Kitty's interest as well. Her lovely bosom was rising and falling at an increasing rate. He noticed the delicate throb of her pulse beating at the base of her neck. Glancing higher, he observed her eyes close but her dewy red lips remained slightly open. Her warm breath fanned his face.

"Maybe if you moved just a little bit closer." He suggested.

She did, only inches from his face, he inhaled the sweet scent of her. Urgency fueled his desire; he was desperate to free her from this entrapment. But, the harder his fingers worked the more entangled the hair became. Just when he thought all hope was lost, the hair fell free and the last hook was released. A big smile spread over Matt Dillon's face, and the long arm of the law reached out to pull her in.

GSGSGSGSGSGS

The chuck wagon got a late start that morning. The strain that had been evident on their faces since the stampede had been erased by mutual relaxed expressions of contentment. She sat close beside him, unwilling to have the connection broken. From time to time they would share a smile or affectionate touch. They made noon camp only minutes before the herd arrived. If any of the men noticed something amiss, they were gentlemen enough not to mention it. They were satisfied with beans and biscuits, especially when accompanied by Miss Kitty, wearing the blue gown.

It was in the afternoon, back on the trail that Kitty ventured to ask what had been bothering him. "Nothing important." he said. How could he explain emotions he didn't fully understand?

"The way you were acting." She paused and took a deep breath. "I was afraid your feelings for me had changed."

"Kitty, you know how I feel." He was puzzled that she could doubt his love.

"No, I don't. Not all the time anyway. Matt, you were pushing me away."

He didn't look at her but answered with a smile, "I didn't push you away this morning did I?"

She smiled, "No you didn't, but something has been bothering you, don't deny that."

Dillon looked across the horizon, and squinted. He pulled down the brim of his hat, shading his features from her view. "No, I won't deny that something was bothering me. But I came to figure out that it wasn't as important as I thought it was."

"Really?" she asked.

He turned to look at her, remembering what life was like without her. A small muscle in his jaw twitched as he swallowed hard before answering. "Really."

GSGSGSGSGSGS

She was under orders that night to let the cowboys tend to the cooking duties, while Matt redressed the burn. They served up a meal of strong coffee, side pork and beans.

When they had finished their plates Matt asked. "Come with me for awalk?" Behind them were the sounds of the tin plates hitting the dishwater, and the amiable conversation of the cowboys. Off in the distance they could hear Slim Manley singing a lullaby to the cattle as he made his circle around the herd.

He led her to a small clearing where a family of antelope were grazing. They were little more than shadows in the evening dusk. They sat down under a tree with Kitty relaxing against his chest. He rested his head pillowed on her soft red curls. "I've got something of yours," he told her.

She smiled, "My heart Matt Dillon, you've always had that."

She felt him smile, "Do you remember our first Christmas together?"

"I remember." she answered. "There was a blizzard, Dodge was snowed in. I guess I'd been in town three months and you and I were just starting to get close. You came to my room Christmas Eve with a little box in your pocket. I remember my hands were shaking as I opened it. It had been so many years since anyone had given me a Christmas present." She paused as she thought of the little cameo she had left by the river that morning. Had he found it? "I had never seen anything prettier than that cameo Matt."

"It was all I could afford. I didn't know what to get for a lady. I just knew I wanted you to have something from me. Something that would say you were mine. You seemed to like it and I felt pretty good about that. Then I saw the jewelry box on the table by your bed. It was filled with all those shinny sparkling things. I couldn't figure out how you could be so happy over a cheap necklace."

She nodded her head, "Most of those `jewels' were paste and glass,and the only value they had was in a ticket out of town should the need have come." She leaned forward breaking the connection with him by hugging her knees to her chest. "The necklace said I was somebody, it said I was your girl."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the cameo. She felt the necklace slide into place as he tenderly closed the clasp. He pulled her back into his arms. "You'll always be my girl." He whispered. "Always."