Tuesday Night

Dodge City

It had been a slow night in the Long Branch and by the time Kitty walked her last two customers to the door, Sam had already piled the chairs up on the tables. She turned and watched him push the broom up and down the room with practiced efficiency. Sam Noonan was a good man, the kind of man who liked to do a job well no matter what it was. He was also a good friend, to her and to Matt. She watched for another second.

"Sam, you miss him too, don't you?"

Pausing mid-motion Sam looked at her, knowing exactly who she was referring to, "Miss Kitty, he's always been an awfully good man to have around. I wish he was here." A smile touched his craggy face. "Now and again, he'd ask me to take care of certain things or join a posse. It made me feel good, knowing he believed in me like that. It made me believe in myself. Of course he didn't come to me for advise, he had Doc and – well – mostly you – to turn to." He continued sweeping. "The marshal didn't open up to many people, and Miss Kitty, I hope you don't mind me saying this, but that's something you and he have in common."

Kitty smiled gently, "You're right Sam. No one will ever know me the way Matt did." Her stomach lurched. She'd spoken of Matt in past tense. "Sam, you go on. I'll dry the glasses. I have things to think over and being busy helps. Good night."

She polished glass after glass, and tried to sort things out. She would never love anyone the way she loved Matt, but she couldn't balance on this edge of uncertainty forever. She needed answers. The letter she'd sent to Mr. Davidson had been painful to write, but she had to know if she should fan the flicker of hope that lived in her heart or stamp it out. Then there was Caleb. He wasn't in love with her, not yet, but with the slightest encouragement he would be. She so enjoyed his companionship. He hadn't stopped by tonight, because he was trying to write, and she'd missed his company. They had fun together and when she was with him, she could keep her mind off Matt. It was all so complicated and confusing. She needed answers.

Washington DC

Abraham Davidson went to the hall closet and retrieved a letter from his brief case. Lorraine had gone to bed, but he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep. The letter he held in his hands had started to invade in his dreams. He went into the living room and poured himself a shot of whiskey, before sitting down to re-read the letter.

To Mr. Abraham Davidson,

My name is Kitty Russell. I am the owner of the Long Branch saloon in Dodge City, Kansas. I believe it is widely known as one of the best and most upstanding saloons in Kansas.

I am writing to inquire about US Marshal Matt Dillon. It is known by many, in my part of the country, that Marshal Dillon and I have been in a serious relationship for quite some time. We long planned to share our lives more fully, when the time came for him to retire.

Mr. Davidson, I'm sure you know the circumstances surrounding the attack on me by Jude Bonner and his men. Many details came out in the trial, and people talk. There has been much speculation about what Bonner and his men actually did to me. All of it is true. I wish what happened to me on no one, not my worst enemy, not even on the worst person in the world. I was destroyed – body, mind, heart and soul. The skill and care of Doctor Galen Adams kept me from descending into death, but it was the love of Matt Dillon that brought me back to life. So, against all odds I became whole again.

I tell you these things to show that I have standing not only in the community of Dodge City, but more importantly in the life of US Marshal Matt Dillon. From what I learned from Doctor Adams, Matt accepted a dangerous mission from you, for which he'll be paid a considerable amount of money. Doc believes that Matt won't survive the assignment, and he intends the money to go to me. Mr. Davidson, if you are a man who loves or has loved, you understand that all the money in world will not replace Matt Dillon in my life.

I respectfully ask for any information you can give about Matt's assignment and whereabouts. I'd like to know what measures, if any, you are taking to insure his safe return. I would appreciate honesty in your reply.

Sincerely,

Kitty Russell, Dodge City, Kansas

Davidson set the letter down and drank his whiskey. He resisted pouring another. His thoughts were jumbled enough. How does a person answer such a letter – such a woman? Dillon thought he deserved to die because of what happened to Kitty Russell, and what might happen to her in the future. He, Abraham Davidson, hesitated but gave him the job that would kill him, because he needed it done and Dillon was his best bet. How do you explain to a woman that you'd sent the man she loves to die? Davidson poured himself another whiskey. He wasn't brave enough to do it today, maybe tomorrow.

Oklahoma

JB sat in the Golden Palace with Alex, Ben and Matt. He threw back a shot of whiskey and thought about the jewelry story heist. The velvet bag had yielded the valuables they expected, yet the robbery left him unsettled. He could have sworn Matthew had merely winged the old jeweler before declaring him dead. That meant either Matthew was lying or his own eyes deceived him. He had some thinking to do to figure it out.

Alex looked up from his beer, "Ain't it my turn with Naomi?" He yelled across the room, "Naomi, get over here."

Matt saw the terror in Naomi's eyes, and plastered a grin on his face, "JB you said something about me having a turn with Naomi. How about now?"

Alex smiled slyly at Matt, "Eager ain't you? JB, it's OK with me. Let him have a turn."

JB looked up, " Sure, sure it's on the monthly tab, don't matter who goes when."

Matt grabbed Naomi's arm and pulled her up the stairs.

JB watched him go. Matthew did all the right things, but something was starting to feel off. He poured himself another shot of whiskey. "Alex and Ben, Mathew's real fast with that gun, right?" Alex nodded. Ben smiled, "One of the best I've seen." JB stroked his bushy mustached, "Funny we've never heard of a Matthew Adams. You'd think a gunman like that would have a reputation." He set down his whiskey without finishing it. "Let's get home. I got some thinking to do."

Naomi and Matt disappeared inside her room. She closed the door and faced him. His heart squeezed at how ill she looked. "Well Matthew Adams, you must want more than talk this time. JB squeezes a rope around my neck until I'm blue. Alex ties me to the bedpost. Ben spanks me with a whip or makes me crawl around like an animal. What's your pleasure?"

Matt pointed to a tall screen that stood at the side of the room. "Naomi, go behind there and get changed into a nightgown or whatever warm thing you wear to bed. Then get under the blankets. I'll sit in the armchair. I just want to talk. If you don't want to tell me anything, go to sleep."

Mystified, Naomi hurried behind the screen and got into a long sleeved cotton nightgown. It was tattered but still warm and comforting. She slid under her one blanket and watched Matt.

He sank into the armchair across the room from her bed. She couldn't help but notice how tired and sad he looked. Her heart went out to him, a strange feeling for her.

Matt felt her eyes and sat up straighter. "If you feel like talking, I'd like to know about Reverend Torch's wife."

She turned over on one side. "I'll tell you what I know. I don't think she'd mind. She showed up here a few years back and I could tell she used to be beautiful. Being a whore here is the lowest of the low, and that's how far she'd fallen, yet she was sweet and kind. We became friends. She was sick when she got here and got sicker every day. When she was dying she told me about her past. She was 17 when she married Gabriel Torch. She loved him, but he was busy with his job. He was head of a big church and trying to build his reputation. Her family lived far off, and it's hard for a minister's wife to make friends, so she was lonely. A traveling salesman came along and flirted with her. She was flattered and let him kiss her. It happened once, but someone from Torch's congregation saw and spread the word. He was angry and embarrassed and threw her out. Her family was ashamed of her. She had no money and did what she could to survive. Things went from bad to worse and she ended up here, sick like me. When she was dying she desperately wanted to see him, so I wrote to Torch. To my shock he came. She was on her deathbed and it wasn't pretty. She weighed no more than a child and coughed up blood. When he held her, her eyes lit up. She told him she loved him. He asked her forgiveness and she gave it before she died. Matthew, the thing is he never forgave himself. A man who can't find a way to live with what he's done in the past, is a terrible thing. So, Reverend Torch is a drunk who dispenses Sunday morning wisdom, and does what he can to get his whiskey supply."

Naomi was spent and drifted off to sleep. Matt drifted off too. His was not a peaceful slumber.

TBC