PT.20

Laced by Blood

The crowd was big, much bigger now that Dodge had grown. The music was playing and people were coming from all over the county. This was always a big event. Start of the summer so to speak. Dodge had even built a much larger barn, used for such occasions.

Sam and Ellie supplied all the refreshments. Sam took over doing that where Kitty left off. Sam also helped out with playing the fiddle along with several other men in town playing other instruments. Doc and Festus took turns calling for the square dances. It would be just as Grace always remembered. She was so excited to show Beth and Sarah how much fun it would be.

As they all walked in several Cowboys stood holding the doors open for them, tipping their hats. "Judge, Mrs. Dillon. Ladies!"

Matt and Kitty nodded. "Thank you." The girls were smiling.

Sarah, leaning into Grace, said, "Grace? He's cute. Do you know him?"

"Who Sarah?"

"Who else? The Cowboy with the nice smile that held the door for us."

Grace looked back over her shoulder but quickly Sarah tapped her arm. "Don't look, he'll see you!"

Now laughing, "Yes I know him. That's Jimmy Connor."

"You'll introduce us, won't you?"

"Sarah Martin! You've become such a forward girl." She teased. Grace began taking the girls around introducing them to some of her old friends. Matt kept his eyes on them the whole time.

Doc approached Kitty holding out a glass of punch. "I took the liberty of buying a glass of punch for a beautiful lady in hopes she'd have a drink with me."

Turning, "Oh Curly. Oh course I will."

"Kitty, I must say, you still, after all these years, can light up a room."

"Why, thank you!"

As Doc sipped his drink, he looked at her. "Honey, how are things going for you two?"

"Well, Beth's here and she wants to get to know Matt a little better and…"

"Et et. Honey." Shaking his head. "That's not what I asked you. That's good. He should get to know Beth. But I'm asking about you and that big lug. How are you two dealing with… Kitty, Honey, you can't just pretend."

Now blowing out a puff of air and closing her eyes. "Oh, Curly, I want so much to just go back to the way we were, the way things were before all this. I miss him, Curly. I miss…"

Now Doc just looked at her, brow furrowed. "Oh, now, Honey. You two need to… to… what you to need is time alone. Time alone with no distractions. I never thought I'd hear myself saying this but…"

Suddenly, Beth approached them. "Excuse me, Dr. Adams."

"Yes?"

"I was wondering… well, Grace tells me you're her grandpa."

"Yes, young lady."

Now not sure what to say she swallowed. "Well, then does that mean… ah… does that mean…"

Finally Kitty jumped in. "Oh, Curly. Can't you see you're making her nervous? Beth, yes. That would make this grumpy old man your grandpa too. But I'll tell you a secret. He's really an ol' softy." Then she started laughing, patting Doc on the shoulder.

Doc was scrubbing his chin. "Kitty's right. Yes, that would make me your grandpa too. If that's ok with you?"

Beth's eyes shifted from Doc to Kitty then back to Doc. "Yes. Ok. Ok, Grandpa. In that case, will you dance with me?"

"Oh? Well now, are you sure you wanna dance with an ol' man?"

Offering him her hand. "I'd be proud to dance with my Grandpa."

Kitty just smiled, watching as they walked out on the floor.

While dancing,"Doctor?"

Doc stopped her. "Now here, here, I thought we cleared that up? I'm Grandpa."

Smiling, and slightly red in the face. "OK, Grandpa. I know I was a surprise thrown on you all and I know it's not easy but I really want to get to know Matt as my father and Grace. Having a sister is so new but wonderful. And Kitty! She's been..."

"Oh," Doc said nodding his head. "Kitty is one remarkable woman, that's a big reason Matt loves her so much. Those two have been through a lifetime together. Forty five years, as a matter of fact. Next week will be twenty-seven years together as man and wife."

"Wow. But you said forty fi..."

Waving his hand. "Beth, Matt met Kitty when they were just kids. They didn't marry till seventeen years into their relationship."

"Wow! That's some kind of love." She said as the music ended.

"Well, young lady, thank you for the dance." Doc released her and headed for the punch bowl as a young man approached Beth.

Matt quickly joined Kitty. "Kit? Who is that with Beth."

Smiling a small smirk and holding his arm. "Relax, Cowboy. That's Tyler Owens. You remember him. He was always hanging around with Grace when she was little."

"Oh, yeah. I wasn't too crazy about that either."

Now laughing. "Cowboy, you're gonna have to get used to the fact that we now have two grown women, not two little girls. As much as you'd like to keep them that way." It was all Kitty could do to keep Matt from crossing the room and interrupting the two young kids. "Cowboy, this is a dance. The girls are having a good time." She giggled. "Let them enjoy themselves."

Meanwhile, Tyler was standing with Beth. "Well, hello, pretty lady. Haven't seen you around here before."

"No, you haven't. I am just visiting family."

"Oh, shucks! That means you'll be leaving?"

Smiling. "Not for a little while."

"Pardon my bad manners. I'm Tyler Owens, Miss." He said, tipping his hat.

"Beth. Beth Yardner."

"Well, Miss Yardner, would you be willing to take a whirl around the dance floor with this Cowboy?"

"Oh, I'm afraid I'm not much for dancing."

"Well, it's real simple." He smiled as he led her to the floor. Placing her hands around his neck he whispered. "Just put your tiny little hands like this and sway to the music and I'll do the rest." He gently placed his hands around her waist which didn't escape Matt's attention.

But before he could move, Kitty intercepted him. "Et et, Cowboy. It's just a dance. Relax. Tyler's a good boy."

Matt's jaws were tight but Kitty held on. Doc watched from across the room, swiping his mustache, shaking his head and chuckling.

Kitty and Ellie stayed busy while Sam played music with the men. When Kitty spotted Newly and Amy come in, she motioned for him.

"Evening, Miss Kitty."

"Newly, Amy. Newly, can we talk? Privately ? If you don't mind, Amy? Just for a minute?"

"No, Miss Kitty, go right ahead. I'll help Ellie."

As they walked away, Kitty looked at him. "Newly, I have a feeling there was more you weren't saying at the house earlier."

"No, Ma'am."

"Newly…"

"Honest, Ma'am. I haven't heard any more from the warden so we're still not sure if they are out looking for Matt. I just wanted him to have a heads up."

"Oh, Newly, I'm just feeling real uneasy with so many people in town and well…"

"Miss Kitty, I have plenty of men deputized and watching. It's not for you to worry." Once he said the words, he knew that was foolish to say.

Suddenly Kitty felt two arms slip around her from behind. "Marshal O'Brien, do you mind if I borrow my beautiful wife?

"Not at all, Judge."

"Oh, Newly, it's just Matt tonight." Still holding her tight. "Hey, pretty lady. A long time ago a pretty lady, I know, told me she heard I was a pretty good dancer. What do you say, we see if she was right?"

Smirking at him. "UMMMM… I think I remember that. Let's give it a try, Cowboy!"

The musicians began playing a waltz. Matt took Kitty by the hand and spun her out into the center of the dance floor then into his tight embrace. Locking crystal blue to crystal blue, he whirled her around the floor as if they were the only two in the room. Several folks backed away, giving them room, enjoying just watching them. Everyone was caught up in the dance fantasy right along with Matt and Kitty.

Then the spell was broken and the next thing heard was a loud scream!

TBC