CHAPTER ELEVEN

The Long Branch closed at five. Sam had hung a sign on the door that simply said, "Closed Till Monday. CONGRATULATIONS, MISS KITTY!

Matt and Kitty were upstairs getting ready. Well, they were supposed to be getting ready. Actually, sharing a steaming hot bath in the big tub qualified as getting ready. At least the first step in getting ready. It felt wonderful! Matt had spiked the bathwater again!

"You know what I love about you, Mister Dillon?", Kitty volunteered as she wiggled her butt on him.

"Hmmm?"

She wiggled again. "Everything. Just everything. Even your wonderful bath oil!"

"If you keep doing that on me, we're going to need another bath after this one."

She wiggled again. "Right now the part of your everything I love the most is your sex. I want your sex, Mister Dillon!" And just that quickly she rolled on top of him, taking him in her hand. She ducked her head under the water and put him into her mouth, sucking softly and moving her tongue in a circle around his head. He was instantly ready, so she popped up out of the water to meet his grin. "You just lay there quietly, sir. This won't hurt a bit. I'll be very careful with you," she whispered. And she went under the water again to torment him with her mouth. This time when she surfaced, he was panting.

"It appears that you need service, sir," she said as she used her hand to gently guide him into her. "Oh yes, I see why the bath oil is so nice, it's so easy for me to . . .ohhhhh!" She rotated, pushed, rotated again, pulling his hips toward her all the while. Pinned on his back, he was out of breath with desire. He thrusted, then again, then again, and she felt his final enlargement much too quickly. His pulses came instantly while she grinned and watched him release.

"You planned that!"

"Did not! Just felt so good, the bath oil and all. You went in so easily!"

"When you talk to me like that, I can't stand it. I owe you one."

"Okay. I'll remember that. How about later?"

"Mmmm Hmmm. Now up and out, Mrs. Dillon, up and out!"

They dried each other, slowly, quietly. Taking time for the tenderest of kisses between swipes. Their skin was soft and sweet smelling. They were like one, finishing the bath. The room was warm, the last of the evening sun streaming in the window.

"Kitten, you're my life," he whispered. "Can't believe you waited for me. Can't believe how you complete me."

He put a big dry towel on the bed and led her over.

"Right there, Mrs. Dillon. You go right there." He picked her up and laid her gently on her back.

"I just need one little favor from you before we get dressed, darlin'."

He probed her folds with two gentle fingers. She was soft, smooth, and definitely still aroused.

"Matt, what do you want?"

"You know what I want. I want to watch you catch fire, Kitten. For me. For my touch."

He rotated his thumb on her in the special place he'd discovered long ago, the special place that drove her wild.

"For my touch, Kitten." He eased into her with his finger, then back with his thumb again. "How can a man and a woman have such special places, Kitten?"

She was writhing under him now. "You're all wet from what I did to you. Now I want to do it to you."

"Such private talk," she was panting now. "Tell me how it feels to you."

"It feels like desire. It feels like the desire we're going to have for the rest of our lives." He persisted with his thumb, watching her face.

"Ohhhh, Maaattt!" He put his fingers into her so he could feel what he had wanted. And feel it he did. She gasped and pulled him to her for a deep kiss as she came on him, throbbing, pulsing, lost in her own physical world.

XOXOXO

"Do you think this dress is too much for Dodge? I so much wanted to wear it tonight, but I don't want it to be too much."

She had the red corset on, and was easing into the red dress. The one that drove Matt wild at the Cattlemen's dance in Denver. The one she loved more than any dress she'd bought in a very long time. He stepped behind her to help her pull it on, and button the tiny buttons on the back. He kissed her softly on the back of her neck.

"I think you're too much for Dodge, sweetheart. I think Dodge needs a big wake-up tonight, and you're it. I'm so proud of you! I want everyone in Dodge to see you in this beautiful dress, with that beautiful gold ring on your finger!"

She turned to face him and took him in her arms.

"Matt, I'm the happiest woman in the world right now! I love you so much!"

They walked down the back stairs, deciding against taking a buggy to the Grange Hall. It took them directly past their new house.

"Dooley's doing a great job, Matt! He's only been at it two days and he's gotten more done than most people could do in a week. I'm so glad you gave him the chance. So glad!"

"Yeah, he deserved a chance. Maybe once in a while I have a good idea, huh?" He grinned down at her. "Like when I asked you to marry me, huh?"

She squeezed his arm and snuggled into him. He paused for just a minute in front of the house. "Can't wait to be here with you," he said softly. "Just can't wait."

The hall was already packed with people when they walked in the door. Doc greeted them immediately. He gave Kitty a long kiss on the cheek, pounded Matt on the back. And even though there was a loud buzz of conversation in the room, he succeeded in hollering over it.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Ladies and Gentlemen! Ladies and Gentlemen!" Our guests of honor, Marshal and Mrs. Matt Dillon have arrived!"

Matt and Kitty were descended upon by people from all over Ford County. Many of them were people Matt had helped over the years, some who had never even met Kitty. Matt thought his right arm might never recover from all the hand shaking, and Kitty was hugged until she thought she'd melt. Both of them were beaming, both of them overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from all these friends. Almost every woman took Kitty's left hand and admired her ring. Finally, Doc got his turn to talk with them.

"My dear, you look ravishing tonight! This is the fruition of my dream. Twelve years of the same dream, Kitty! I've so much wanted this for you and Matt. Congratulations, and decades of happy returns!"

Kitty hugged Doc. "You know you made this possible, my friend, and you know how much I love you for it."

Ever practical Matt took his turn. "Doc, how in the world did you pull a deal like this off on such short notice?"

He looked up at Matt, not a bit fazed. "Oh pshaw, it was easy! I had Burke and Festus workin' for me! Tell them, tell the world! The only person I had to worry about showin' up was you!"

The food was nothing short of amazing. It was on a huge buffet centered around roast beef, chicken, and ham with all the sides and trimmings anyone could ever want. At the end of the table were Ma Smalley's pies: gooseberry, apple and cherry. Two neighbors took turns manning the bar so that Sam Noonan could be free to play his fiddle, right along with Mike Boggs who accompanied him on the guitar. The music was non-stop.

Matt leaned over to Kitty at the table. "You wanna go work the bar, darlin'? Nobody's as good as you!"

"Not a chance, Cowboy," she laughed and gave him an unseen poke in the thigh under the table.

As if not enough people had greeted them at the door, the procession at their table seemed to never end. Many of them came back a second time. Mr. and Mrs. Bodkin, Mr. Jonas, Ma Smalley, Will and Bess Roniger, Moss Grimmick, Hank Patterson. Ben was there, Percy, Jake Wirth and his wife, and Emmett Bowers and his wife, too. Even Steve Butler, who'd been driving the stage a week ago, managed to bid a trip that put him in Dodge for an overnight, so soon after his adventure. It was a non-stop parade of well wishers. To a person, each thanked Matt again for saving them from Gore's rampage. There was an equal number of Kitty's admirers from the Long Branch. Louie Pheeters was all cleaned up and almost sober. Bill and all the girls were there, along with the four of the drummers she'd done business with for so many years. Half the staff from the Lady Gay had taken off work to attend. Festus and Quint strategically found a spot at the table on either side of Matt and Kitty.

"What in the name of 17 billygoats is she doin' here?" Festus tapped Matt on the arm. "Gonna be trouble!" He gestured toward the door, as Edsel Pry was marching purposefully toward their table. She walked directly to Matt and Kitty. Matt stood respectfully, removing his new Stetson to greet her.

"Miz Pry, it's so nice to see you," he smiled and took her hand. Kitty was astounded, waiting for the sparks to fly.

"Marshalllll Dillon! Congratulations to you and your beautiful bride! I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking such good care of my brother! I believe you remember my brother?"

"Of course, Miz Pry. Your brother, John Finch. He's a good man."

Kitty was taking it all in, trying not to let her mouth hang open. When in the world would Edsel Pry call her Matt's "beautiful bride?" Who the hell was John Finch? "John says he might have frozen to death out on the prairie somewhere if it hadn't been for you, Marshalllll! He says you are quite the hero!" Then she bent over into his ear. "I baked the cherry pies, be sure you get some of the cherry pie."

"Thank you so much, Miz Pry! I know I'll enjoy it."

"Matt, before you dance the night away, I have a proposition for you and Kitty." It was Quint now, but speaking loud enough that both of them could hear him. Things were coming fast at Kitty! "Would you and Kitty consider letting me build your barn and your bunkhouse this winter, maybe in exchange for my living there for a year or two? I don't hunt in the winter, and business at the shop is slow till April. I can easily get it done by then if you'll let Festus help me some. I'd love to have a nice place to rest at night, away from the shop. And you've got a great caldron," he winked.

One glance into Kitty's eyes was all Matt needed to answer. He slid back from the table just far enough to shake Quint's hand, a big grin on his face.

"Quint, that's a deal! By gosh, that's a deal, my friend!"

The eating, visiting, and socializing during the meal done, Sam and Mike started playing again, and Clem Anderson stood up and joined them with his harmonica. They practically had a band! Just as he had in Denver when the orchestra played, Matt took Kitty's hand and stood her up.

"May I have the first dance?"

"For the rest of your life, Cowboy," she beamed.

With that, he led her to the empty dance floor. By Doc's plan with the guests, everyone watched as they danced the first dance alone. Matt had his arms wrapped around Kitty, his face in her hair. Everyone had always found him to be a striking man, but here, in his best Western suit, with this beautiful woman, he was larger than life. Kitty's red dress absolutely shimmered as she moved against him, her head buried in his chest. Doc had tears in his eyes. Even Festus was quiet, just watching.

As the music neared the end, Kitty pulled her head back from Matt's chest and looked up at him.

"You gonna explain Edsel Pry and her brother?" She whispered.

"I sure am, darlin'. But first I have something more important to do. First I'm gonna' kiss you, deep and slow, right here in front of all of our friends and guests. Just one time, deep and slow, so they get to see what they waited for and suspected we were doing all these years."

With perfect timing, their lips connected, and Matt kept his promise, as the music came to an end. The room exploded in applause, with a few cat calls and cheers thrown in for good measure. The loudest cat call of all was from Festus.

tbc