Dinner was an uncomfortable time for the red head and the cowboy. Emotions and thoughts burned through their heads and hearts leaving behind ash and pain and worry.

Though he showed no obvious sign of recognizing her, and he wore another name, Kitty knew Matt Dillon when she saw him. He had resided in her heart for far too long not to. But why was he there? And with a man like Miles Wallace? And why hadn't he let her know that he was alive?

That last question was the one that burned the most as she sat across the table from him and looked into his eyes, practically begging him to give her some sort of answer. But the only reply she was received was a curt nod of the head and a softening of his gaze the few times he glanced in her direction.

Matt was afraid to look at her too often for fear his feelings for her could be clearly seen. He didn't question her being there. Festus had told him she had come this direction to help out her friend. And he now knew who the friend was. But he questioned her silence. She knew who he was, despite the mustache he'd grown and the different name. She had to be furious at his unknown deception. Why wasn't she giving him away, as other women he had known would have?

"The food's really good tonight isn't, Mark?" Deborah cast doe eyes at him but noticed he wasn't paying attention, to her or anyone else. "Mark?"

She reached over and placed her hand on his arm, in much the same way Kitty used to and he jumped a little.

"Huh?" He blinked and looked around.

"I said; the food is really good tonight. Don't you think?" Deborah watched his eyes as she spoke, expecting him to sneak a look over at Kitty and prepared to be jealous when he did.

But instead he turned solely to her. "Oh, uh, yeah. It's… its fine." He answered as he speared a potato with his fork and lifted it to his mouth for emphasis. "Just fine."

Deborah glanced at Kitty and then Miles. Neither of them seemed to be enjoying their meal. Kitty, if that was possible, had said even less than Mark and seemed almost angry. Angry at what, though, Deborah couldn't begin to guess.

Miles was watching Kitty as well as Mark, certain he'd seen some sort of connection between them when they met at the saloon, but they certainly didn't act as though there was. In fact they acted as though they couldn't stand the sight of each other and it puzzled him. People usually only hated each other after they'd known them very well. These two had never met. Or had they?

"Kitty, my dear." Miles looked over at her. "Would you prefer something else? You don't look as though you're enjoying your meal."

Kitty, avoiding even a glance at Matt, shook her head. "No, no, Miles. Thank you, but I'm just not really hungry. I… no thank you."

"Are you not feeling well, Kitty?" Deborah asked with some concern. Kitty had seemed alright earlier in the day, but she certainly looked pale now.

"Oh, I'm just tired I guess." Kitty shrugged it off. "As a matter of fact, if you don't mind, I'd like to just go ahead and go back to my room."

"Oh, no, Kitty. Please." Miles implored. "It's early yet."

"I know, Miles." She smiled as warmly as she could muster considering how cold she felt right then. "But honestly, it's been a long day for me and I would just sour the evening for you all." Placing her napkin on the table she pushed back from the table and rose. "You all have a nice evening."

Matt started to rise and offer to walk her back, but just in time, realized that would not be a good idea for a couple of reasons.

"Wait, Kitty." Miles said as he too rose from his seat. "I'll walk you back."

"No, that's alright, Miles." She shook her head. "You just stay and enjoy the rest of your evening. I'll be fine."

"My evening cannot be enjoyed if I'm worried about you, my dear." He smiled patronizingly at her. "Now, come. I'll walk you back." As Kitty gathered her cloak about her, Miles pulled some money from his pocket and tossed it on the table. "That should take care of dinner." He glanced over at Matt. "I'll talk to you tomorrow about details."

Matt didn't reply, just merely nodded as he allowed himself the luxury of once again gazing at Kitty before Miles took her arm and led her away.

"Well, I'm sorry Kitty wasn't feeling well, but I'm kinda glad she and Miles went on." Deborah gave him her most alluring smile. "Gives us a chance to maybe get to know each other a little better."

Matt swallowed hard. The last thing he wanted was to get to know her better. He wanted nothing to do with her and what he did want had just walked out the door with a despicable man who had hired him to kill three others. Matt's first instinct was to pull away from Deborah, get to his feet and chase after Kitty. But he couldn't do it. He had worked too long for this and had to see it through. So he sat and trying to gather what was left of his soul together and try to figure a way to do his job and protect Kitty at the same time.

Walking back to the saloon, Miles patted Kitty's hand which he held cradled in the crook of his arm. "I'm sorry the evening has to end so soon, Kitty. Are you sure you won't agree to perhaps a moonlight buggy ride or at least a night cap with me?"

Kitty forced herself to smile up at him. "I appreciate that Miles, really I do. But I think all I really want to do is just take a hot bath and go to bed. You understand, don't you?"

"To be honest, no." Miles answered as he stopped just outside the saloon and brought her around to face him. "Kitty, I realize that you and I do not know each other that well. And I know about the law man back in Dodge that you were close to."

At the stunned expression on Kitty's face, he smirked. "When I'm interested in someone, I want to know all I can about them. And Kitty, I am interested in you."

Kitty stood silently for a moment. She didn't believe he knew that Matt Dillon and Mark Dalton were the same man. And she didn't know just exactly what he would do about it if he did. In fact she had no idea what their association was all about at all. But she knew she didn't trust this man and angry as she was right then at Matt's deception, she wasn't about to do anything that would give him away.

Forcing the smile again, she took his hand. "Miles, I appreciate your interest, even if I don't appreciate your prying into my life, but really, I just…"

Swiftly, Miles leaned in and clamped his lips atop of hers, deepening the kiss until Kitty almost forcefully pulled back from him.

"Miles, please…"

"I'm interested in you, Kitty." He repeated. "I want you. And I always get what I want."

Before Kitty could offer a protest or argument, he had turned and walked away, leaving her with a very bad feeling.

TBC