CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Kitty sat at the dressing table mirror in nothing but the red corset and matching red pantaloons, curling her hair. Matt stood behind her, mesmerized by her tiny fingers spinning the magic that became one of her piled high hairstyles for special occasions.
"You look like you've never seen me do this before, Mister Dillon," she smiled at him in the mirror, knowing full well that he had, many times.
"Your ring is glistening in the sunlight. Got me hypnotized Mrs. Dillon.", and he pulled her up into his arms to face him.
"Thank you for marrying me, Mrs. Dillon." He gave her a tender kiss. "Thank you for making me the happiest man on earth."
She smiled. "Would you just hold me in your arms for a minute or two? It feels so good when you wrap me up against you."
He pulled her in and did her bidding, burying his face in her almost complete pile of curls, nuzzling away.
"Just dawned on me, I'll be able to do this in front of 300 people tonight when you dance with me." Then he thought for a moment and added, "You'd better not do this with anyone else tonight, my love."
She pulled back just enough to look in his eyes. "You're getting manly on me. What's gonna happen when you do that tonight in front of 300 people?"
He grinned broadly. "Just as long as it's not some other guy. I'll be just fine, Kit, just fine. I won't embarrass you. I promise." He gave her a long kiss, then took her hand and guided it down to rub on his bulge.
"Okay, Cowboy," she finally broke it off. "Gotta get ready."
"Hey, I'm ready. You just rubbed my ready!"
XOXOXO
Charlie and Martha pulled up at six sharp in the barouche Charlie had hired for the ride. There was a substantial crowd in front of the hotel, but when Matt and Kitty headed for the carriage it was like the parting of The Red Sea. At six foot seven inches, 240 pounds, in his impeccable dress attire, Marshal Matt Dillon was a commanding presence. But the beautiful woman on his arm, the beautiful woman in the shimmering red dress, was nothing short of captivating. People stepped aside, and people stared.
Charlie stepped out of the barouche and greeted Kitty with a kiss on the cheek. He took one hand while Matt took the other, helping her up. Martha patted her on the arm as she settled in.
"Kitty, that dress is absolutely stunning! People are staring!"
"They're staring at my handsome husband, Martha," Kitty smiled. "Gonna have to keep an eye on him tonight, around all these Colorado women."
As Matt and Charlie got settled, Martha leaned in close to Kitty and added, "He sure is, Kitty. Lordy, he sure is!"
"Matt," Charlie said, "There's no way we're going to get close to the front entrance of the Windsor. Traffic is backed up three blocks. We're going to take a side street, the walk'll be shorter." And he gave directions to the driver.
The Windsor Hotel was newly opened, a grand attraction in bustling Denver. It boasted the largest ballroom between Kansas City and San Francisco, and this was its first time hosting the Cattlemen's event. Its massive size made it hard to miss as the driver approached it, then well in advance turned down a couple of side streets so he could deposit them in an ideal spot for a short walk.
Charlie and Matt helped the ladies out of the carriage, and Charlie offered "We can pop in this side entrance close to the ballroom, Matt, or we can just walk around to the main entrance. Your choice."
Matt gave a full three seconds of thought to the question, and motioned to Charlie. "Let's head up front. I'd like Kitty to see the lobby."
Truth be told, Matt Dillon wanted the lobby to see Kitty. His first major outing with his beautiful wife. It was nothing but instinct that made him rub his right hand onto his jacket against his revolver, ever ready to protect what he treasured more than anything. Just comforting to know it was there.
The conversation buzz in the ballroom was loud enough with people talking and laughing that Matt had to lean down to hear Kitty say "Look at the size of the orchestra!"
He smiled and rubbed her back. He knew his lady. He'd rather be back up the canyon West of Morrison, but this was where Kitty belonged. Wondered one more time for just a minute what such a lady could want with a man like him. But he felt good, because he fit right in. She had insisted on the new Stetson and his new dress boots.
Charlie picked a table mid-room, but near one of the side exits. Matt grinned and gave him a thumbs up, knowing Charlie had the same instincts he had about being near an exit. So many years of being a lawman. So many years of seeing what could happen to the unprepared. Martha probably noticed, but Kitty didn't seem to. She was having SO much fun surveying the room, checking out hats, dresses, hairstyles. Things she craved back in Dodge and never got to see.
The waiter took their drink orders promptly, asking them to be ready with their steak orders when he returned. He hadn't been gone a minute, when Charlie slid his chair back to greet two men. Matt followed his lead.
"John, doggone it, good to see you! Hello Marie," Charlie tipped his hat to John's wife. "John, I'd like you to meet my good friend Matt Dillon. Matt, this is John Lytle."
Matt tipped his hat to John's wife, then stepped back and put his hand on Kitty's shoulder. "John, this is my wife Kathleen." Yep. Matt was fitting right in. Gave Kitty a chill to hear him say that. "My wife Kathleen."
"Matt, John is from Bandera, Texas. He's planning to start bringing cattle into Dodge to the railyards in the Spring."
"Figuring on five thousand head, Matt," John volunteered. "Are you a rancher?"
"No, John, I'm not. I'm the United States Marshal based in Dodge City."
"Ha! I should have guessed, what with you hanging around with this ol' boy," as he pointed to Charlie.
"You know, Matt, I could sure use a friend up your way," John continued. "Let's talk after we get these ladies something to eat." And he and Marie took a seat at the same table.
And so it went. The drinks came. Kitty got one sip, leaned over to whisper something in Matt's ear, and before she could, Charlie was out of his chair again. This time to introduce Matt to a man named Conrad Kohrs. She listened in while Kohrs talked about his 30,000 cattle, half of which he planned to ship to Chicago and half of which he planned to ship to Kansas City. It was pretty apparent that the cattlemen were, in fact, really interested in Dodge. Ever the businesswoman, Kitty's mind raced ahead to next Spring when the herds started rolling in. Twice, maybe three times as many herds. Somehow she couldn't picture Matt breaking up fights on Front Street. Somehow she sensed new opportunity in these contacts. She just hadn't figured out what.
XOXOXO
The orchestra was playing such a lively piece that Matt knew he'd never measure up, so he sat the first one out. But the second was a waltz, so he took Kitty's hand before any of the other men had a chance. He sensed it was going to be a busy night.
It had been so loud and hectic in the ballroom until the orchestra started, that the two just fell into each other's arms and danced. Kitty looked up at Matt, then snuggled into his chest and let him take her where he wanted. He was the slowest of slow dancers, ever so easy to follow. No big sweeps, just slow steps snuggled together.
As the music stopped and the dancers applauded, he whispered in her ear, "You look wonderful tonight. Too wonderful! Make sure you remember what I told you about dancing with other guys."
Not one to make a fuss in public, Kitty gave him a big smile, followed by an uncharacteristic peck on the cheek.
Charlie was next to take her out on the floor. Martha was already dancing with someone else, another rancher friend they knew.
When Kitty was escorted back to the table after an hour of serious dancing, she found Matt and Charlie engrossed in conversation with four other men, obviously all prominent ranchers. All of them rose to their feet to greet her, and she took her opportunity to grab Matt from the conversation.
"Excuse me, gentlemen! Sweetie, do you think they'd mind if you opened up the exit door, cause it's amazingly warm in here."
"One way to find out. I'll just go do it." Then he lowered his head to her and added, "You're workin' up a sweat with all these guys, huh?"
Kitty gave him a playful swat on the arm. The big man eased over to the French style door, and pulled both panels wide open. The rush of fresh air was exhilarating. And wouldn't you know it, a loud cheer went up from their side of the room!
The orchestra was playing a waltz again, and Matt took his opportunity. "Kit," he started in. "These guys have big plans for Dodge in the next few years. Seems like there aren't enough holding pens for cattle, but the other problem is they need remounts. The horses are beat soft by the time they get up the trail, and there's no puttin' 'em in a railroad car for the ride home. John and Mike both know Emmett Bowers, but he hasn't been able to supply their needs cause most of what he sells goes to Fort Dodge and on to the yards in Kansas City. What'ya think?"
"I think you should take names, my dear. Take names, take addresses. Seems like Emmett should have done that a long time ago."
And before Matt could get comfortably snuggled down into his favorite woman's hair, some rancher cut in.
"Excuse me, Sir, may I please cut in?"
"Reluctantly, Sir, reluctantly," was Matt's smiling reply as he handed Kitty over.
XOXOXO
Kitty sat tall in her chair when the orchestra finally took their break. She was determined to hold her own and not look the least bit fatigued, even though she hadn't missed a dance. She took the opportunity to lean over to Martha while Matt and the other men continued engrossed in their conversation.
"Did Charlie ever make you shoot with him?"
Martha laughed out loud. "Oh, the shooting! Guessing you had your required shooting lesson?"
Kitty's eyes widened, finding a woman to bond with.
"Martha, he gave me a revolver for my wedding present!"
"I'll bet that big boy did. And I'll bet you got a lecture about learning to protect yourself because of how dangerous his job is!" Martha was still smiling broadly.
Then she softened. "Kitty, the job is dangerous. Charlie did make me shoot with him. I own a hat shop, remember? I hate guns. I have a revolver in my reticule at work. Really. At the shop! And to this day, even though he's been retired all these years, he still takes me up to the cabin every summer and we shoot. I think it's in their blood, Kitty. I think they worry, and it helps them for us to carry part of the load. It's actually not all that bad, once you get used to it. When we go up now, he even lets me target practice with his forty-five. It's just Charlie and me now, the kids haven't been along in more years than I care to remember. He lets me do things he never would have in front of the kids. Told me once he was afraid he'd scare them."
Kitty smiled, and put her hand on Martha's arm.
"Thank you. You have no idea how that helped."
"Just roll with it Kitty. Relax, listen to what he says, and just roll with it. It's real easy to see how much he loves you and how much he wants to keep you safe. And if I could just add, it's real easy to see why."
Kitty gave Martha a seated hug. A long hug. Bonded with another woman over shooting. Never in her wildest dreams . . .
XOXOXO
"Gentlemen," the conductor announced. "Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" There was a clinking of spoons on glasses as the men in the audience tried to help out.
"Gentlemen!" Please ask your beautiful lady to join us for the last waltz. It has been such a delight to play for you this evening! This will be the last waltz."
Was it Kitty more glad to hear that, or was it Matt? He didn't know, but he made sure to pick her up from her chair before one single other solitary soul could claim her. He put his arm around her and led her to the dance floor.
"How 'ya holdin' up, Red?"
"I love you, Matt," was her reply. "I love you, and I want you to take me home please."
He wrapped his big arms around her as the orchestra started, and he just held her. He rubbed her back, then he locked her in his arms and just held her. They danced. Well, was it really dancing? He knew she was exhausted, so he decided to just move a step here, a step there, and just hold her. His beautiful wife, Kathleen.
As the music stopped and the applause began, Matt swatted Charlie on the arm. "Let's do it, buddy. Past my bedtime!" They ducked quickly out the exit doors, to find that there was an entire row of carriages waiting. Charlie grabbed the first barouche. He and Matt helped the ladies in. Both of them snuggled against their husband's shoulders.
"I'd like to drop you and Martha off first, Charlie," said Matt. "Forty-six Round Street please, driver," Matt called out. The driver nodded and waved, and the horse was off at a slow trot.
"Matt, let's have lunch tomorrow," Charlie said. "Can we meet at your hotel at noon?"
"Yep." He gestured toward Kitty. "She oughta' be awake by then. After lunch we're going to buy our tickets for the trip home on Tuesday."
"A good night it was tonight, Matt. Told 'ya there'd be some big contacts."
"Don't know how I'll ever thank you. You were sure right, it was a lot more than a dance. It was more like the business meeting of a lifetime."
"Well, you're young enough that it'll really matter. Remember me for that. Lots of opportunities out there besides just wearing the badge, you know."
"Charlie, I never gave it much thought until this trip. Never thought it was possible. You sure opened my eyes."
"She sure turned heads tonight," Charlie nodded toward Kitty. "The guys were waitin' in line for a dance."
"Yeah, but she's going home with me," Matt smiled.
"Is she snoring?" Charlie pointed at Kitty.
Three deep, booming guffaws came out of Matt Dillon. He just couldn't help himself.
"Hah, . . . Hah . . . Hah . . . She doesn't snore, Charlie. She just breathes heavily," he grinned. "You and I snore. She breathes heavily."
It was another 20 minutes before the driver had Matt and Kitty back to their hotel. Matt paid him and tipped him generously, then woke Kitty up.
"C'mon, sleeping beauty, you need to come with me."
The driver waited patiently while he carried her out of the carriage and stood her up. He rubbed her face until she smiled.
"Oh, hello Marshal! Was I doing something wrong?"
"You were snoring, sweetheart. "C'mon, we're headed upstairs."
And he put his arm around her waist, helping her walk three flights of stairs to heaven.
TBC