CHAPTER EIGHT
It was almost 8:00 before Matt woke. Couldn't remember the last time he slept this late. He looked over at Kitty, pushed up against him, sleeping soundly. He thought of waking her, then thought better. He eased out, and sat on the edge of the bed, replaying the day before in his head. He'd asked her to marry him, and she had said yes. What had changed? All the fears he'd harbored since he met her. Now he was going to be the marshal, but with a wife. The woman he loved. He thought of his pledge to himself, never to marry. Then he thought of his selfishness. He wanted her with him. Didn't want to sleep at the jail or the boarding house one more night. Wanted to come home to her. Was that selfish? She wanted to be with him. She told him she'd love him whether he was the marshal, or not. He had an out. He'd just have to figure out how to take care of her and support her if he had an ordinary job. Nope, that wouldn't work. Kitty was used to a comfortable life. He had to do better than that. Had to find a way in Dodge, too, because of the Long Branch. Then he thought of the lecture Doc gave him while they were out fishing, while he was still recovering back at home. He'd thought about it often, but never more than right now.
"Matt! Open up your mind a little bit! Kitty loves you and you love her! Doesn't matter your fears about having a wife with the kind of job you do. You're hiding under a rock! Kitty has always been able to take care of herself. Why would you deny either of you what you both want most? She is more than capable of taking care of herself if something would ever happen to you. Good gracious, she's the most successful business owner in Dodge! And then you want to protect her from all who would know she's 'the marshal's woman.' Well, who in thunder do you think you're hiding that from? She's already been kidnapped, beaten, shot, and molested because she's 'the marshal's woman.' Who do you think this is a secret from? You should stop for a minute and think what she's endured, what she's given up, all because you're the most important person on the planet to her. Open your mind! Every day you two have together is a gift from God! She's 32 years old, Matt. She wants a home with you, and a family. When are you going to put her in first place ahead of that piece of tin?"
XOXOXO
The feed set out in the lodge was amazing. Matt ate steak and eggs, and a hearty helping of hotcakes. Then he piled a plate and grabbed two cups of coffee, and headed back to the cottage. Kitty was up, brushing her long red hair. She was never surprised to wake up without him. Well, maybe just a bit surprised on this special morning!
"Good morning, my wife-to-be," he grinned, as he walked in the door with the food and coffee, carefully balanced.
She came to him immediately, relieved him of his load of food and drink, then pulled him to her for a deep kiss.
"I come bearing gifts! You need food, my dear."
"I need you." She said softly, and kissed him again.
"I'm never going to get tired of this," he yielded and returned an even deeper kiss.
"Sit down, I'm going to feed you," he announced.
And when she did, he handed her the coffee, then slowly and deliberately began putting a mouthful of food at a time on a fork, and into her mouth. Between each slow bite, he kissed her.
"Really?", she said, smiling, between bites. "After all the times I've stolen your food?"
"Ah, so soon you forget, after all the times you've fed me a bite at a time while I was recuperating in Doc's office, or in your rooms?"
"I put that out of my mind."
"This place is wonderful. We should come here for our honeymoon!"
"Matt, this IS our honeymoon!"
XOXOXO
Matt reached out his hand. "C'mon, Kitty, we're going to ride up the canyon. Bring your jacket."
It was a gorgeous morning. Matt had his gunbelt strapped on, and had two horses tied out front.
"Stable man says this bay mare is quiet and friendly." He tied Kitty's jacket on the saddle and helped her up. Then he put his saddle bags and jacket on the palomino, and stepped on. Kitty had a big smile, knowing how Matt enjoyed being in the woods on a horse, and these woods were absolutely spectacular. "Got directions to a great picnic spot! An hour uphill, turn left every time you can. Can't miss!"
The trail was narrow, especially where it squeezed through the rocks. The quiet was exceptional. Nothing but the occasional chatter of a squirrel and the sound of the horses' shoes when they moved along the packed dirt. Kitty watched Matt scanning the trail ahead and on both sides. Probably a well practiced habit, she thought, from all his time out in unfamiliar territory. Her mind wandered in the quiet. He needed to do this, to be out in the woods or on the prairie. He had always needed to do this. He had ridden alone in unfamiliar territory for weeks on end. She wouldn't be comfortable for one day by herself. But this? This was a delight! Matt had taken her riding many times out on the prairie. Instead, this was like a magic forest. No openness, just the tight dirt trail winding through the tall pines. Spectacular!
Matt held up his hand and stopped his horse. He turned in the saddle. "Here's the first left turn. Watch your knee on the rock, this is pretty narrow." He eased his gelding past the rock, then stopped again and waited. "You can stiff arm against this rock, Kit, your horse will move over off the push." Kitty tried it, and was amazed to see that it worked, and gave her much more room to get by the rock.
"How can I push a thousand pound horse like that?," she asked Matt.
"It's just leverage. The horse isn't planning on it. The horse is relaxed. Easy to push sideways. If it was a contest, the horse'd win every time. And it sure beats scrubbin' your knee on a boulder."
The distance to the next left turn was much shorter, and the trail wasn't as steep or narrow now. It moved through a stand of aspen trees that were just hinting at changing color. The sunlight danced through the leaves and bounced off the hip of Matt's horse in a never ending change of pattern. It was almost hypnotic to Kitty. They both rode along quietly just enjoying Colorado. So different from Kansas!
"Here we go, Kit," Matt announced as they rode into a large clearing. "And sure enough, there's water here, that's why we had the aspen trees. Seems like anywhere you find those trees, there's going to be some sort of water around."
Matt scouted around and found the ideal spot to park the horses. He helped Kitty down, and helped her put on her jacket.
"You're not cold, are you?"
She smiled. "It's not cold, Matt. It's just crisp. Glad you suggested the jacket."
Matt handed her the saddlebags. "You unpack these and get to fixin' lunch, woman! I'll tie up the horses."
"Yeah, right, dear. Sure dear. Anything you say, dear," she grinned. "Woman's work, huh?"
Matt was loosening cinches. "Matt! There's a gun in this saddle bag!," Kitty announced sharply. "It's a pistol of some sort."
"Yep." He didn't even look up when he answered. "It's a pocket revolver. It's your wedding present."
She couldn't resist walking over to him, gun in hand, carefully pointing it away from both of them, handling it like it was made of glass. She had picked up Matt's 45 many times. This gun was a fraction of the size and weight. Almost hard to believe it was a gun.
"What did you say?"
"I said it's your wedding present."
Now they were eye to eye. Blue on blue.
"And I am to do what with this?" He knew she hated guns. Made quite an impression, giving her a gun for a wedding present.
"You're going to learn to load it and use it, right here in this clearing." He cupped her face in his hands. "Then when we get home, you're going to keep it in your reticule, or your pocket, or next to your bed any time you aren't with me. ANY time. You got that?" He was dead serious, not a hint of softness in his eyes. He released her face, but took the hand that wasn't holding the revolver. "You agreed to marry a man who has terrible enemies. That man will protect you with his life, but he won't always be with you. When he's not with you, you have to step up and protect yourself. Understand?"
Kitty looked down at the revolver, then back into Matt's eyes. "Yes, I do. I will, Matt." And she, too, was dead serious. Her heart was beating faster. She hated guns. She didn't want this gun. But she understood. Package deal, marrying this lawman.
They sat on a rock by the stream, and Matt explained everything. He taught her how to load safely. He taught her to carry the revolver on an empty chamber so she was never in danger of an accidental discharge. He lectured about safe shooting and what a ricochet was. He made certain she knew that bullets danced off of rocks and metal surfaces, and went somewhere else.
"Kitty, you're not going to be target practicing with this gun. When you shoot this gun, it's going to be to defend yourself from some guy who's up close to you. Don't be tryin' to be a sweetheart and shoot him in the foot. If some guy is after you, put a bullet in his gut or his chest. Those are big targets at close range. You got that?"
She nodded.
"Now let's fire this a few rounds just so you can feel it. You stand at the horses' heads and talk to them. Need to give them a warning that there's going to be some noise. I'll keep an eye on you. It's okay if they move, just don't want them to bolt."
Matt fired the little revolver into a log. He looked back at the horses. They had done nothing but move their heads. Obviously they'd been around gunfire before. Kitty looked fine. He fired twice more. Then he called Kitty over.
"Let's re-load. Here." And he handed her two bullets. The gun was warm in her hand, and it gave her pause, which Matt noticed.
"I'd never hand you a hot gun, Kitty. Give me your trust, please." He was still dead serious.
She looked up at him with trepidation. "I'm sorry, Matt. I just hate guns, you know that." She was playing for a hug. She got nothing.
"Load the gun, Kitty." And she did.
He pointed to a huge Aspen near the water, six or eight paces away. Nothing behind it but more Aspen.
He pulled Kitty back into his chest, standing behind her, the gun in her hand. "Put two hands on it, Kitty. You're going to hold it with two hands until you get comfortable with it." Then he put his massive hands over hers. Lots of hands on a small gun.
"Squeeze the trigger, don't jerk it. Take a long breath, let half of it out, and then squeeze and hit that Aspen dead center."
Kitty did as she was told. She felt Matt's hands holding the gun down as it fired.
"That's kick. When you pull the trigger, you need to bearing down on the gun like I did. Go ahead."
Again, she did as she was told. This time she hit the tree. And this time even though Matt's hands were on hers, he didn't have to use them.
"Exactly, Kit. Exactly. Now you try it yourself." He kept her in his arms, but pulled his hands away, ready to help at a moment's notice.
"Ready?"
"Yep."
Kitty shot not once, but twice, hitting the tree both times. She lowered the gun and took a huge breath. Matt took the gun from her, and turned her around. Finally, he had a big smile on his face.
"And you shot twice because . . . "
"Because I knew you'd tell me to do it again and I just wanted to be done."
He pulled her into his arms and nuzzled into her hair. He could feel her heart beating fast.
"Proud of 'ya, baby girl. Really. I know this isn't easy for you. Marrying me is NOT gonna be easy."
Kitty looked up at him with a smile.
"I love you, Marshal. Can I try it with one hand now?"
XOXOXO
"Kitty, we should head back down. Sky's startin' to cloud up," Matt announced as they finished their picnic. "So beautiful up here, but we're not dressed for rain."
They packed up. Matt carefully re-cinched the horses, tied everything on, and helped Kitty up. The horses headed back down the trail eagerly. Kitty was surprised that she had to hold her horse back a bit. She was inexperienced at mountain riding, downhill all the way home, even though she had been on many a horse that had an affinity for the barn.
"This girl wants to go, Matt," she laughed.
"Yeah. I get that. I have plans for back at the barn myself, young lady," he grinned back. And he let his big gelding walk about as fast as he thought safe, heading down the narrow trail. This time when they got to the tight turn, he reached out and pushed his horse off the rock. Kitty followed his lead, remembering how easy that had been to do. Such fun all the stuff she was learning out here from her cowboy.
They were almost half an hour from the lodge when the first drops of rain fell. Matt cursed under his breath, knowing how fast a storm could move in here, and how he didn't want Kitty to get wet and cold. She had only her jacket on. He reached back and untied his, putting it on while he rode, as he always did.
"Hope we beat this," he said back to Kitty. "We're not that far from home."
They ducked between the drops for another couple of miles before their luck ran clear out. One giant clap of thunder was followed by a heavy downpour. They had just ridden into the edge of a Colorado storm cell. The rain was frigid. At a wide spot in the trail, Matt decided to waste a minute of riding time, feeling the need to talk to Kitty. He pulled his horse to a stop and motioned her alongside of him.
"We're not going to outrun this. Button up as best you can. Try to relax. The more you tighten up or shiver, the colder you're going to be. I know it's hard, but give it your best. It's helped me when I've been stuck in the weather. I promise I'll get you warm when we get home."
And with that, they headed down the trail. It was getting slippery enough that Matt really didn't want to try a trot with Kitty along, but every time the footing felt solid enough he did. Within ten minutes, they were both soaked to the skin. Kitty stayed quiet, concentrating with all her might on the relaxation Matt had recommended. It wasn't working. After another ten minutes she just gave up and started shaking. The sight of the lodge up ahead was more welcome than welcome. Little pellets were falling now. Little white pellets that felt like soft ice. It was sticking in Matt's hair. And on Kitty's horse. Pellets.
Matt reined in at the lodge and took a look at Kitty. She was shaking, and she looked miserable. Not going to take her any further. He stepped down, walked over to her and pulled her off the horse. He gave her a quick kiss.
"You go inside this minute. You hurry. I'm going to take these horses back to the stable man, and I'll be home in a jiffy."
Kitty shook her head. "Matt, wait, I need my revolver. You said . . ."
"I know what I said, Kit. By gosh I'll get it for you!" And he dug it out of the saddlebag. So proud that she cared enough to do what he had taught her. Really proud. This was a plucky woman.
As Matt rounded the corner in front of the lodge, the coachman saw him and called out.
"Mister Dillon! I can follow you to the stable and bring you back!"
Music to Matt's ears. He motioned to the man to follow him, and set off for the stable at a high trot. Didn't take any time at all to get there and return the horses, and it was a delight to hop into the carriage for a quick ride back. On the way, he asked the coachman to order hot water and brandy for his room, "please, just as quickly as possible. My wife was with me on the ride, and she's really cold." The coachman cuffed Matt on the arm in acknowledgement, and smiled.
When Matt got to the room, Kitty was peeling out of the last of her clothes. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her, so glad she was now going to be warm.
"Gawwwd, Cowboy, you're SO cold!," she looked up at him with a big grin and pushed him away. "You're not gonna get me warm like that!" And they both just started laughing. Really laughing. Neither one could be more cold or miserable, but it was over, and it was time to laugh, and that's exactly what they did.
"I'll get a fire going, Kit. Bellman's bringing hot water and brandy right quick, just hang on." He pulled his jacket and shirt off, then built the fire without taking time to remove his union suit. When he turned around, Kitty was headed for the bed to crawl in under the covers.
"Hey, woman! Hold it! Don't you get in there till you dry off! I don't want to make love to you in a wet bed, you hear me?"
"You come and make me, Marshal!"
He dove for her just as she was hitting the bed, tickling her unmercifully until she shrieked "STOP! MATT! I GIVE UP! STOP!" and they both got carried away with laughing again. Then came the expected knock on the door.
"Okay. Now you can hide in bed while I let the guys in." She just grinned, and complied. As soon as the men left, she joined Matt in front of the fire, brushing through her soaked hair while he peeled the rest of his wet clothes off. Both naked as naked could be, he poured the brandy. They stood there and drank it, in front of the fire, feeling the warmth not only on their exposed skin, but in their bellies. He poured again.
"C'mon love, let's get in the bath with these drinks."
He lowered himself carefully into the tub. It wasn't as large as the one Kitty had for him at home, but it was ample enough for his size as long as he was careful. He patted his lap at her. "Get in here. Right now. Hurry up!" And he held her drink while she got settled on top of him. They luxuriated and soaked until they finished their drinks. Then Matt went to work with the soap and sponge. He bathed Kitty, then worked on himself while she lounged absent mindedly on top of him.
"Up, lady, up. I gotta wash where you're sittin'."
She woke from her trance. "Oh, please, allow me . . ." and she took the soap and sponge from his hand. She reached between her legs and got every part of him that mattered, then worked her way down his legs and even got his feet. Now it was Matt's turn to lay back absent mindedly. Damn, that felt good! When she was finished, she tossed the soap and sponge out and they both just laid there enjoying each other as the bath water cooled. He stroked her arms while she stroked his legs. They didn't need to talk.
Kitty's mind was wandering. How serious Matt had been today teaching her about her revolver. How much he wanted to keep her safe. She knew she was going to be a burden for him that he'd have to carry for the rest of his life. She swore quietly to herself that she would do everything humanly possible to take that load from him. Biggest step of his life to overcome his fears and marry her. Then she said a little prayer. Suddenly her trance was broken.
"OK, my love, water's done and we're out of here," and he pushed her up off of him.
They both stepped out. Matt grabbed a big towel and worked on Kitty. She never took her eyes off of his. Then she picked one up and worked on him. At least as far up as she could reach. Sensing her problem, he bent down so she could get his face, his neck, his shoulders. Then they resumed drying each other, one step at a time. It was SO warm. SO nice! They even got between each other's toes.
He led her back to the bed and pulled the covers down, pointing at it. Kitty hopped in and he followed in the blink of an eye. For all of two minutes they laid there in each other's arms. Then Kitty started the inevitable. She began sucking on Matt's nipples. He was quiet, enjoying, but she felt him stirring. She went from his nipples to his neck, and bit him softly. He could never resist that. Beyond stirring, he got hard. She moved down, under the covers, kissing the insides of his thighs. He pulsed involuntarily at her touch. Then she returned to lay on top of him, just feeling him hard underneath her, skin on skin. She reached down and held him in her hand, rubbing his sex on her in the special place that drove her wild.
"Matt," she mumbled, "Do you know how much I love your touch on me?"
"Thought about this all the way down the canyon."
"I want you, Matt." And she guided him in slowly. He groaned and pushed back.
"I want you too, Kitten. Could this be any better?"
He rolled her over and stroked her repeatedly. He was still groaning with pleasure. Feeling herself losing control, she leaned into him and let herself go. Waited all afternoon for this. Why wait any longer? She leaned into him and gyrated, and gave out. Her climax came in waves. He followed right after her, filling her with his love.
XOXOXO
Matt got up and put two more logs on the fire. Then he returned to bed to be with his best girl. His only girl. His only girl for twelve years. He laid there quietly for a minute. Then he rolled her into him so they were facing each other.
"Kitty, I want to keep my job. I love my job. The only way I can be happy is to have you and have my job. I can't see myself being a store clerk. It won't be easy for you. But when I come home, I want to come home to you. I don't ever want to be without you. Gonna do my job with you as my wife. I'm so sorry I took so long to come to my senses. It's your love that makes me a whole man." He paused for a minute, then went on.
"If we could just live like this, in Colorado, forever, it would be a dream. But we can't. We both have to go back to reality. I want to make memories here that will last a lifetime, because you and I will be together for a lifetime to remember them."
And like so many times before, he pulled the covers back and looked at her. Her creamy skin, her beautiful breasts. Like so many times before, he rubbed her softly while he got aroused again. 38 years old. Long day out in the cold. But he wanted to take her again.
"I want to come home to you, my sweet, after a week on the trail. I want to take you in my arms and do this . . ." and he pushed her legs apart with his knees.
"Do you want this again? Do you want to be one again?"
She smiled, then kissed him with abandon, the only answer he needed before he entered her for the second time in an hour.
TBC