Eleven
In their room at the Dodge House, Homer Fargo schooled the boy on his new identify, "Don't wanna take no chance the name Harley Hootie Watson still rings a bell with Dillon. Remember your name is Harvey Carson. You ain't never been to Dodge City before. You're on your way to California. Just passing through …"
GSGSGS
The darkness was unforgiving, but in it's merciless depths there was also an awakening of her remaining senses. The warmth of a calloused but loving hand in hers, of silk and rough canvas, of lace and tanned leather, of prickly beard against tender skin, brought explosions of light to her endless night. The smell of sage and saddle as it mingled with French perfume, a heady and intoxicating aroma, the scent never before as intense as it was now. She savored the taste of fine wine, of rich chocolate, of steak so tender it almost melted in her mouth. She partook in the pleasure of salty skin and brandy flavored lips, soft, hard, searching, exploring, straining, taking, giving. There were times her appetite for these delicacies was greedy, always seeking more, needing more.
GSGSGS
Kitty would spend her afternoon at the rear table of the Long Branch listening to the conversations in the saloon. If she concentrated, she could hear details of discussions from every corner of the large room. It was an amusement for her, and she picked up a lot of useless information which only served to reinforce her notion, that men were every bit as gossipy as women. Festus had notched a deck of playing cards for her and she would busy her hands with a game of solitaire as she listened.
It was on such an afternoon that a bearded Homer Fargo stood at the batwing doors pointing out the location of Kitty Russell to Hootie Watson. His voice was low, but not so low that Kitty wasn't able to detect it's presence. She cocked her head slightly waiting for more words which might give away the owner of the voice, when nothing more came she decided her ears were playing tricks on her.
"Sam?" She called in the direction of the bar, "Could you pour me a cold one please."
A young strange voice answered. "Allow me ma'am." She heard the sound of beer glasses sliding down the waxed bar, solid footsteps coming closer and the scrape of the chair next to her as it was being pulled out.
"Mind if I join you?" the voice asked as the cold glass was placed next to her hand. The voice was youthful and friendly.
"Please do." Kitty answered, mindful that Sam was likely keeping a watchful eye in her direction. Have we met before?"
"No ma'am. I'm new to Dodge, just passing through you might say. My given name's Harvey Carson." the voice replied.
"Well Harvey, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name's Kitty Russell. You say you're just passing through, where you headed?
"West," he answered, "maybe as far as California. I got me a hankering to see the ocean. My sister always talked about wanting to see the Pacific coast. She'd say the streets of California are paved in gold."
"Oh are you traveling with your sister?"
"No ma'am she died a few years back. She was like you I reckon, she was a saloon gal, real pretty like you. I guess you and she'd be about the same age."
"I'm sorry about your sister." Kitty smiled then and asked, "She was your older sister?"
"How can you tell that?" He wondered aloud, "I mean you, they say you can't see."
Rudeness wasn't his intent and it wasn't taken that way by Kitty. "Oh I guess I can hear it in your voice. You sound young and eager to experience life."
"I am that Ma'am. It seems I've waited a mighty long time to do it, too."
She reached a hand across the table until she came in contact with his arm. She offered him a pat of encouragement. "It always seems like that when you're growing up, like you'll never be old enough to do all the things you want. Trust me on this, you grow up fast enough in this life."
She stopped talking all at once when she heard the scuff of a familiar boot approaching her table. The boy noticed the change in the throaty quality of her voice. "Hello Cowboy, care to join us."
Matt Dillon eyed the young man sitting at the table with Kitty, judging him as harmless, he offered a smile and a wink. "I don't want to break in on a private conversation here."
"Oh Matt." She returned, "Sit down. This is Harvey Carson, he's passing through town, and was nice enough to buy me a drink. Harvey, this is Marshal Dillon."
"How do." Matt said offering a firm handshake to the stranger. "I hope you don't mind son, but I'm going to steal this pretty lady away from you."
"Oh you are?" Kitty replied coyly.
Dillon grabbed her hands in his and pulled her to her feet. "Yes Ma'am. I have a buggy waiting out front with a picnic basket packed. It's too nice a day for you to spend shut up in a saloon." Enlisting the young stranger's support, Dillon asked, "Don't you agree Carson?"
"Yes sir." Hootie replied. " I guess I don't have much choice being as how you're the law and all."
"Glad you see it my way."
Dillon grabbed her shawl and a sunbonnet from the nearby coat tree and then started to lead Kitty away from the table, but she remembered her customer and turned to say, "Thanks for the beer Harvey, maybe we can sit and chat again before you head on to California."
"I'd like that." he replied.
She allowed Matt to direct her to the batwing doors, but she stopped short. She swallowed nervously. She wasn't ready to leave the security of the saloon yet. "I should change." She said looking for an excuse.
He gave her a gentle tug through the doors and onto the boardwalk, "You look just fine." He assured her as he wrapped the shawl around her shoulders and placed the bonnet on her head. She hastily tied the ribbons securing the bonnet in place. She was wearing a deep russet skirt which matched the darker tones in her hair and a modest blouse with a soft tie at the neck that complimented the lighter hues. Her hair was held back by a ribbon the color of her skirt. He gave her a hand into the buggy and she awkwardly found her place as he walked around to the other side to climb on. She felt the carriage sway as he adjusted his weight.
With a 'cluck,' the horse started off down Front Street. Dillon smiled to himself as he felt the grip of her hand on his thigh. He gave a satisfied chuckle thinking she was as eager as he to be alone at their favorite spot. But, then he realized her other hand was gripping the side of the buggy in a rigid fisted clamp. She was only holding onto him out of fear. She was scared half to death. His suspicion was confirmed by the look of suppressed panic on her face.
He wanted to stop the buggy right there and take her into his arms and assure her everything would work out fine. But that wouldn't solve the problem and would only serve to embarrass her. What Kitty needed right now was a little starch to stiffen her spine. Dillon forced a teasing tone to his voice. "I've got a couple poles in the back. If I remember right, the last time we went fishing I caught more fish than you did." That had been six months earlier after the last of the herds had traveled through Dodge and they'd had more time to spend together.
She released his thigh. Her voice grew indignant. "You did not Matt Dillon! Why I can't remember a single time we've gone to Silver Creek together when I haven't out fished you."
He laughed, she'd fallen for his trap, "Well, maybe you're right there. But, I reckon that's all gonna change today."
Immediately she realized she'd been baited and Dillon was pulling her in. Still, she couldn't help but rise to the challenge. "Like hell it will Dillon, like hell it will."
As it turned out no fish were caught that afternoon and only a couple bites were consumed of the sandwiches that were so carefully prepared by the eager lawman.
It was from a hill overlooking the creek bed, that Gundrum and Fargo caught sight of the couple wrapped passionately in each other's arms, loving one another under the blue skies and spring sunshine. Will raised his gun to take aim for they were within rifle range. Homer reached over and grabbed the weapon away. "No Pard let them two enjoy themselves. I got me a better plan for sweet revenge and it's gonna fill our pockets with all the money we want."
GSGSGS
The sun was setting like a fireball on the western horizon when they made their way home. It had been a good picnic. As the horse clip-clip clopped down the street, Dillon asked, "Look Kitty, I've been wondering, how would you feel about going to the spring sociable with me?
"Oh, I'm not sure if I'm ready to make my public grand debut."
He reached out and pulled her closer, "Well you've got a while to think about it. But …"
Her head rested lightly against his shoulder, "What?"
The emotion caught in his throat for a second. "You are really something Kitty Russell. I'm proud of you!"