Chapter 48
While all the gossip was flying in Dodge that week, Matt Dillon was out of town. He had been called to Pueblo, to bear witness for the State of Colorado against the outlaws captured by the Dodge City posse at Sharlow's hideout. He did his best to remain dispassionate and professional recounting the events that lead to Susan Bart's death and that of young Willie Ronniger.
The Sharlow Gang had committed many heinous acts, one of the most brutal was a stage hold up twenty miles from Pueblo, where every passenger had been savagely murdered. Two individuals had lived long enough to give an account of the incident. The small courtroom was packed with those seeking justice for the victims.
There had been a disruption after the guilty verdict had been rendered when one of Sharlow's men had pulled away from the guard. With curled lip and snarling voice, he'd vowed, "You'll pay Matt Dillon! Kingston Sharlow, won't ferget what you done back there at the Roost and he won't ferget what's happened to us. When he's dun with you 'n yers, you'll wish to God, you'd never been born!" The guard jerked the man back and the shackled outlaws were hauled out of the courtroom to the heckling and jeers of those in attendance. In three days time there would be a hanging, Pueblo would find justice and the world would have four less cold blooded murderers to contend with.
Afterward, he'd sat in the office of his old friend Sheriff Floyd Rettler waiting for it to be time to head down to the train station. "Matt, don't it bother you, what he said about Sharlow getting even?"
"Floyd, I haven't met an outlaw yet who didn't vow retribution after sentence'd been passed. Have you?"
"Don't reckon I have. It's just that now you got a wife and child to think about. That makes circumstances some different."
Dillon's jaw set at a hard angle. A wife and child; this was the reason he hadn't married Kitty. A badge and family wasn't a good mix. It made you vulnerable, it made you an easy mark. His stomach knotted at the thought, but all he said was, "yup."
GS GS GS
He was bone weary when the train pulled into Dodge. All he wanted was a stiff drink and a little peace and quiet. He was getting too old for this. Kitty had told him, "Cowboy, there comes a point in every lawman's life when it's time to hang up the guns and take off the badge".
If Kitty were still alive … Kitty … he thought of her now and his weariness was replaced by stark longing. She'd have been there waiting for the train to pull in, waiting for him, and together they would have walked arm and arm to the Long Branch, ascended those stairs hand in hand and when the door to her room closed behind them he would have left the badge and all his troubles outside. She would have made him forget the responsibility, lifted the weight from his shoulders and brought contentment to his over burdened heart, if only for a night. In the light of morning he would have picked up the load again ready to fulfill his obligations to duty and the badge. Kitty … if she were still alive, someone else would be wearing the badge now … if she were still alive they would be a real family. A photograph never to be taken, came to his mind; Kitty, beautiful Kitty with one hand holding onto their strong willed daughter and the other clasped tightly in his own. The picture so exquisitely sweet that his eyes welled and he had to blink away the moisture. Lawmen don't cry.
He stepped down from the train and heard a familiar voice. "Bout time you got back Matthew. Ol Doc's up at Ma's awaiting fer ya, he's got something he wants to jaw with you and Miss Sydney about."
If Hagen noticed emotion in Dillon's face he didn't acknowledge it. He reached for Matt's carpet bag. "I'll tote that fer you Matthew, reckon you're plumb wore out."
There was banjo music coming from the Lady Gay. The tinny tunes of the Long Branch player piano drifted up the street, but the town seemed quiet enough for a Friday night. The Fourth of July the end of next week would change that and in another month the herds would start coming in. Business would surely pick up. Down the boardwalk, he caught sight of Newly checking doors and locks while walking toward the saloons.
It was going on Nine O'clock and the lamplighter had already made his rounds, gaslight cast shadows in the murky darkness. At Ma's he stopped to look in the front parlor window. Sydney stood looking out toward him. Even in the dim light he could see a change come over her face as their eyes met.
Festus handed Matt his carpetbag, "reckon I'll go help Newly keep an eye on things."
"You're not coming in?" Worry set in all of the sudden, "Is Matilda okay, is that why Doc needs to talk with Sydney and me?"
"Miss Mattie's fine, full of piss 'n vinegar jus' like always."
"Then what's this all about?"
"Doc'll tell ya. You just go on in now. Don't worry none about Dodge tonight, me and Newly'll see to things."
His scowl was deep-set as he tightened his grip on the carpetbag and ascended the porch steps and entered Ma's. Doc was waiting for him at the door to the parlor.
The old man asked, "Train running late?"
"Yeah. What's this all about?"
"Sit down Matt, you too Sydney." He directed as he shut the parlor door to insure their privacy.
Matt glanced at his wife. The worry, not completely assuaged by Festus, resurfaced, "Matilda's alright?"
"Doctor Adams assured me this has nothing to do with Matilda, but he wouldn't tell me what it does concern. I am as much in the dark as you."
"Doc, I don't mind saying I'm tired, and in no mood for games and riddles."
"Well, I'll get right to the point then. It seems that somehow, Miss Taffey Boyd got a hold of your marriage contract. Last Friday night at the Long Branch she told anyone who'd listen all the details. Since then the news has spread all over town, all over Ford County for that matter."
Sydney gave a gasp, "So that explains some of the looks and comments I've been receiving this past week."
Doc nodded, "To put it bluntly, you two are the talk of the town."
"How the hell did Taffey Boyd get a hold of that contract?" Matt looked pointedly at Sydney and his anger was like a pot of boiling water ready to overflow. "You showed it to her?"
"I did no such thing!" She declared indignantly.
"Well, I'm fairly certain Roman Gundrum wouldn't go around showing it off."
A red flush crept up Sydney's neck until it set her cheeks aflame. She realized what must have happened. "I left it on the hall table …"
"You did what!"
"It was only for a moment … I left it on the table and went in the kitchen with Matilda … it was just a few minutes …"
"But apparently long enough for Taffey to get a good look at the contract. Of all the stupid things to do …."
"Mr. Dillon, I did not expect anyone to disturb it on the table, and certainly did not leave it there with the intention of someone …"
He growled like a grumpy old bear, "Damn irresponsible …"
"It is hardly fair that you of all people speak to me about responsible behavior, might I remind you of your daughter conceived out of …"
"You leave Matilda out of this."
"I hardly think that possible, since she is the reason we are in this ridiculous sham of a marriage."
"I'm not the one who left papers out where anyone who wanted could read them."
Doc fidgeted and then made an effort to rein the agitated couple in. "Festus, Newly and I have been giving this some thought."
Matt slammed his hat on Ma's horsehair settee, "Well that's damn reassuring."
"There's no reason to swear." Sydney scolded.
"Well if this isn't good reason to swear I'd like to know what the hell is!"
She ignored her spouse. "Doc, did you gentlemen come up with a solution?"
"Yes, actually it was Newly who came up with an idea. You see at this point it's only Taffey Boyd's word since she's the only one who saw the Dillon Doctrine."
"The what?" Sydney's voice raised an octave.
"Dillon Doctrine … that's what folks have started to call it."
"Damn." This time it was Miss Sydney who uttered the expletive.
Matt grunted, took a deep breath and said, "Go on Doc."
"Newly figured if folks saw you two acting like there was no contract forbidding you from doing things like hand holding and showing the kind of affection newlyweds are apt to show, people would figure Taffey was just blowing hot air and eventually find something else to gossip about."
Matt shook his head, "That's all well and good … but Miss Taffey and every other member in this household knows about our separate bedrooms."
Doc tugged at his ear, "Well, I think we have a solution to that as well."
"Now wait just a minute Doctor Adams …" Sydney sputtered, her cheeks flaming up again.
Doc raised a hand in an attempt to calm Mrs. Dillon, "Just hear me out. Mr. and Mrs. Heitzer have agreed to swap rooms. They'd take all three of your rooms, that way when Herbie's in town during the school year he's got a place to sleep. You'd get their large bedroom and the sitting room where Herbie sleeps - that could be Matilda's room. They also have two separate beds in their room."
Matt shoved his hand in his front pockets, "Why are Mr. and Mrs. Heitzer so eager to help?"
Doc smiled, hoping Matt and Sydney would appreciate the humor of the situation, "Seems Grandpa Heitzer snores … Grandma Heitzer says she loves him dearly but it would be a relief to sleep down the hall from him. So there you have it. Perfect solution."
Sydney fluttered her eyelids, "I hardly call it perfect."
Matt shook his head and ran his fingers though his hair. "Doc, there's gotta be another way. Maybe we can just ride this thing out."
"Maybe, but sooner or later it's going to affect Matilda. I think you'll both agree, she's got enough to deal with without adding more gossip to the mix. Seems the two of you can sacrifice a little pride for the child's sake."
"I will not compromise my principles." Sydney's nose rose toward the ceiling.
Dillon's scowl intensified, his eyes traveled up and down her body, stopping briefly at her small chest before returning his glare to her face. "I signed the contract Sydney, believe me I have no designs on your principles."
She crossed her arms over her breasts, "Humpf." she snorted, matching him glare for glare.
"Fine!" Doc said, as if that settled the matter. "Now … I would suggest the next time you two are together in public you engage in a little handholding, some sweet talk and as long as you're at it, a peck on the cheek wouldn't hurt none either."
