PT. 25

Masks We Wear?

Conclusion

They took a few more days to take care of the paper work involved and bury her father, Wayne Russell, a final time.

Matt had wired Jim Dolan to tell him about the events that took place in New Orleans. Jim assured Matt that he would handle all the legal things pertaining to John Chapman and Maryellen Sullivan and that he and Kitty could just give a deposition and send it on to him after they returned to Dodge.

Then they made their arrangements for the train and headed home.

The trip took several days but when they pulled into the Dodge City Depot, Doc, Festus and Newly were all there to greet them.

Festus yelled out, "Miz Kitty,it is so plum de' good to have you and Matthew home."

She hugged her friends, and Festus and newly saw to it their bags got back to the Long Branch. Walking back, Doc held tight to Kitty's hand. "Now, honey, I want you to let me take a look at you and…"

"Curly, I'm fine."

Rubbing his mustache. "You let me be the judge of that, young lady."

She smiled back at him, kissed him on the cheek. "Oh alright, Curly, you win."

After greeting everyone at the Long Branch, they all sat around a table sharing a drink as Matt and Kitty shared the events of their trip.

Matt sat staring into his beer and Kitty was just glad to be home.

Festus, listened to the story. "Folks is just plum de' crazy, Matthew. Did you wear one of them there masks at the party?"

"No, Festus, well maybe just a little. And to think all this started because we went to this masked party." Matt added.

For a second Kitty was quiet then she said, "You know, life is about masks."

They all looked at her, and together, "What?"

"Well, think about it all of you, everyone, every day in their lives wears some sort of mask. All for different reasons of course, to hide something about ourselves, good and bad, but all the same it's our protection from the world we live in. And I believe, especially after this trip, life is about: "Masks We Wear"

Later that night, alone in their own bed, Matt and Kitty laid curled into each other, escaping into a world all of their own. Blue Met Blue, Flesh Met Flesh, Heat met Heat. And they lost themselves in a bond of intimacy that was a protection all their own. "Cowboy, I do love you. You are the very core of my life. With out you I'd…."

"Ssshhh, I'm here and I'm staying. I love you, Kitty Russell."

Drifting off to sleep, lying entwined together, they were home!"

Fini