They both hated stagecoaches.
Besides being miserably uncomfortable, something always seemed to happen, whether it be a crash or a holdup, or even both.
Matt and Kitty had managed to get away and spend an entire, undisturbed week together in Topeka, but now they had to head back home. Matt had an upcoming trial to attend in Hays in a few days. The train ride was relaxing and uneventful until the locomotive began jerking and shuddering as it pulled into the Spearville station. The conductor began going through the two passenger cars, ordering everyone out as soon as the train stopped.
Standing on the platform with their carpetbags, Matt and Kitty saw two overall-wearing railroad men talking animatedly together as they gestured towards the big locomotive on the nearby track. The older of the grease-covered men saw the young couple and walked over.
"If you two have tickets for the run towards Dodge, you'd better hurry over to the stage depot! This train ain't goin' on anywhere for a while! Broke down but good, it is!" He shook his head, pulled at the brim of his striped cap, and headed back towards his co-worker who was walking determinately towards the locomotive with a massive wrench in his hand.
Kitty and Matt looked at each and grimaced.
"Oh, Matt…not the STAGE!" Kitty groaned, remembering all of the previous harrowing stage rides in both of their pasts.
"Well, Kitty, you know I have to get back for that trial. It's only about another twenty-five or thirty miles to Dodge. Now, Honey, if you want to stay on here until the train is running, I'll take you over to the hotel." He bent to pick up their carpetbags again.
"Matt. We went on this trip together and we're going back home together! We'd better get on over to the stage depot before the other passengers do. I overheard a woman getting off the train with us complaining that the livery here won't rent long-distance buggies, wagons, or horses."
"You're sure then, Kitty?" She nodded and together they hurried to the telegraph office, and then the stage depot, getting there just in time to board the 12:15 coach.
Fortunately, the only other passengers were Henry and Helen Stuart, and old farm couple on their way to Dodge to see their newest great-grandchild.
Matt tossed his and Kitty's bags up to the shotgun guard, and then handed Kitty up into the coach. Climbing in after her, he immediately felt cramped, his tall, broad-shouldered frame folding up into the narrow space beside Kitty.
Within moments, the driver cracked his whip and the stage jolted to a start down the dusty street.
The stage had only gone a short way before the older man sitting across from Matt and Kitty reached out a gnarled hand. He was wearing a soft white shirt buttoned up to his chin under his best pair of denim overalls. A broad-brimmed straw hat shaded his lively brown eyes which were surrounded by sun creases.
"Afternoon! I'm Henry Stuart, and this is my wife Helen. Figure we're gonna be together a while so mays well get acquainted! What's yer name, young man?"
The old man's voice was the loud one of someone with a hearing loss, so Matt raised his own.
"Matt Dillon, Mr. Stuart! And this is Miss Kitty…"
"Wha…? the old man interrupted, "Kitty, ya say? Well, nice to meet ya, Mr. and Mrs. Dillon!"
"Uh…," Matt started to correct the old man but hearing Kitty snicker, he sighed, and gave it up. The noise inside the coach was too much for easy conversation.
Helen Stuart smiled over at the beautiful young couple, admiring the red-haired woman's smart, dark green traveling suit over a pale yellow blouse, and the stunning, large oval sapphire ring on the wedding finger of her left hand. The old woman was quite content in her own best pale blue gingham dress with matching bonnet that matched the color of her sharp, kind eyes.
Kitty saw the old woman carefully looking her over, and smiled back, following Mrs. Stuart's eyes. Seeing her linger and smile over her sapphire ring, Kitty softly chuckled. The sparkling ring had been a present from Matt after their first night together, and she wore it often and purposely on that particular finger.
Hearing the chuckle, Matt glanced over at Kitty and saw her twisting the sapphire ring slightly with her right hand. Their eyes met, and Matt had to suppress a grin.
Henry Stuart was also admiring the stunning young woman and her handsome man, remembering when he and Helen were just married.
"Matt, you two must be returning to Dodge after your honeymoon in Topeka maybe, am I right?!" he said in a loud, jocular voice. "Now, you just go ahead and hold your lovely wife's hand! Me and the Missus don't mind a bit, do we, Mother?" he asked, glancing at his wife's nodding head.
The big Marshal's face reddened and as Kitty looked up at him, dramatically fluttering her long eyelashes, he reached over for her left hand.
"THERE! That's better, isn't it? Mother and I are on our way to Dodge to meet our newest great-grandchild! Six month old BOY!"
Kitty and Matt smiled, and then both couples settled back, trying to get as comfortable as possible while being rattled around like four beans in a can.
Leaning his head back and closing his eyes, Matt felt Kitty squeeze his hand. He squeezed back and thought, "this IS a good idea!"