Matt and Kitty Have a Date.
I own no part of Gunsmoke
Matt finished clearing his desk and put all his reports in the desk, then locked it. Looking at the clock he thought, in two hours he and Kitty would be on the stage out of town. He found himself hoping nothing stopped them this time as Kitty deserved a trip. It had been a very hard year for them. He picked up the tickets. Matt wondered if Kitty would be mad, for he planned most of the trip without asking her. He had a ticket to see Johann Strauss Jr for their first night in St Louis. The second night he had reservations at a restaurant that cost a month's salary for two meals, but it had a live band and dancing. It had been a long time since he held her in his arms on the dance floor. He figured the third day he could drag along as she went shopping. The fourth would find them on a train headed back to Dodge. She did not know; he was planning a side trip for some camping and fishing on the Snake River. He had cleared that with Festus and Sam behind Kitty's back.
He then pulled out a small box that held a small ring. He was not yet sure why he bought it. They had been together for nineteen years. They had done it, and all seen it all and they were still together. She deserved better than a back door relationship. What if she said no? Would that end their life together? No, she would not say no. Heck, she had been pushing to get married ever since the first night he spent in her bed. No, she would not say no. Now that he thought about it, she had not been pushing him toward marriage lately. Maybe that is why he bought it.
The last of the drovers pulled out last Monday. Sam had just returned from three well-deserved days off. Kitty and the girls spent those days cleaning and polishing the saloon. The shelves were stocked, inventory done, and Kitty was packed and more than ready to get out of Dodge.
The minutes waiting seemed like hours as Kitty tried not to seem too eager. Looking into the looking glass behind the bar, she wondered if she should go up and change. No, this had been the sixth dress she had on today. It was not a good dress for traveling, but Matt always complimented her on it, so it would do. She bought four new dresses for the trip, but they were packed. No, this dress would have to do. God, she wished he would walk through that door, even though the stage had not pulled in yet.
Matt shined his boots. He could not decide if he should wear his Sunday go to meeting white shirt, or his everyday pink one. He chose the pink one as the stage could get dusty and he would need the white one once they made it to St. Louis. Looking at the clock, he thought he still had about an hour before he was to meet Kitty at the Long Branch. He thought about going over and having a drink with her before the trip. Drinking and stage rides did not go together well, as they would not be stopping until they hit the waystation. Besides she might get mad if he came too early. Looking at his bed, he thought he would lie down for a half-hour, then go over. That would put him a little early but just about on time. He laid down with his boots on and promptly fell asleep.
The stage rolled into town with its usual flair. Everyone gathered to see who was coming and going. The stage driver, knowing Miss Russell was to be getting on, stopped in to get her bags and for a quick drink. Festus stopped in with some mail. He said for her not to worry as he would be looking after things while Matthew was out of town. Doc stopped by to tell her to have a safe trip. Sam pulled Festus aside to ask him if there was some reason that Matt had not shown up yet. Festus said," there weren't none that he knowed of".
The stagecoach driver was on his third drink. He looked at the clock. "I think we can wait a few more minutes for a U.S. Marshal". Kitty's eyes turned sad. "I guess something came up." Kitty offered a fourth drink. "Sorry Miss Russell, we have to get the stage to the waystation before dark. We have to be leaving." Kitty half-smiled. "You got two seats on that stage bought and paid for?" The stage driver lowered his head. "That's true Miss Russell, but we do not give out refunds and we cannot wait any longer." Kitty turned to Sam. "Break out the money box. Ladies, run up and pack a bag quickly. You two take our seats." Carla began to protest. Her dresses needed to be mended from the summer's rush, and she had no money for a vacation. Kitty put her hand on her hip. "The stage is leaving. Give them my bag. You will find two dresses each. They may need some altering. There is some travel money in the lining of the bag. You two go have a high old time. Come back ready to scrub this joint top to bottom."
Once the stage moved out, Doc Put his hand on hers and patted it softly. "I am sure he had a good reason."
Kitty smiled. "Yeah, he always has a good reason. His reasons are always so good, he makes me feel bad about complaining. Sam hand me that bottle."
Doc Squeezed her hand. "That won't help, just give him a chance to explain."
Kitty looked at the label, then set the bottle on the bar. "You know you're right Sam. Hand me that pot of coffee." She picked up a slate and wrote 'Closed for cleaning'. "Hang this outside, then head home. Gentlemen, drink up we are closed."
Once outside, Doc told Festus, "Go find Matt and get him over to the Long Branch Tell him he better have a damn good reason for standing Kitty up."
Matt was awakened by the sound of the stage pulling out." Oh no," he thought as he grabbed his traveling things. As he opened the door, he ran into Festus who confirmed Kitty's anger. "She's madder than a wet hornet, sitting over at the Long Branch all alone. Doc said you best have a good story." Matt handed Festus some money to go rent a buggy and leave it behind the Long Branch. In Matts's haste, he forgot the little box with the little ring.
Looking in the one small broke window of the Long Branch, he saw her sitting waiting. She looked beautiful in one of his favorite dresses. Her makeup was lighter than the thick stuff she wore when she was working. He knew she styled her hair loose and partly surrounding her naked shoulders just for him. He smiled for she was truly a work of art, and she was his. The saloon was dark, lit only by the streetlight and a candle on her table. Basking her in orange light, she looked beautiful, like a morning sunrise with all the promise of a fresh new day. She also looked very alone, very sad, and very very angry.
Suddenly she looked up. He jumped back as his leg gave out, sending him backward. He tripped over the sidewalk and fell into the street. A wagon going down the street could not stop in time. Matt rolled as the horses stepped over him, but he hit his head on the wood.
Kitty heard the ruckus outside but had no desire to deal with anything. She poured herself another cup of coffee.
Matt was taken to Doc's office where he regained his senses, but Doc insisted he lie still for a while. Matt almost fell when he tried to stand up, so he went back to bed.
Doc sent Festus to fetch Kitty.
Kitty locked the door, grabbed a bottle of the strong stuff, went upstairs, and hung up her dress. She polished the heel and toe of her boots. Then sat down to take her makeup off. When looking at her reflection she yelled, "You are dumber than dirt. How could you believe he would come for you? She started combing out her hair. "You know everything, and everyone is more important to him than you are."
Festus banging on the door made her jump. She knew it was not Matt for he had a key. She heard Festus yelling her name, but she had it with men. At this moment she could not stand the thought of Festus. She did not want to hear about Matt's job and how important it is. She threw down her comb. "Matt does not think you're worth the time to make excuses himself. He sent Festus!" She went to bed and covered her head with a pillow.
Festus tried every door and window. Then returned to Doc's office where he reported the Long Branch was locked up tighter than a honey jar in winter. Matt tried to stand up but became dizzy, Doc easily pushed him back into bed. Matt held his head. "Go to my room. In the top dresser drawer, you will find the key to the Long Branch, get it, and go tell her what happened… Tell her I." Matt again passed out.
Once Festus stopped yelling the Long Branch got deathly quiet. Kitty came out from under the pillow. She returned to her dressing table. Looking into the looking glass, she rubbed the wrinkles on her forehead. "No wonder he does not think you are worth his time, you old spinster. Look how fat you are!" She stood up and examined her waistline." You're not so bad and not that old either. He's got a lot of nerve. Hell, he is thirteen years older than you and he doesn't have the twenty-inch waist he had when we first started dating." She reached under the table and found her hidden spinster box. Opening it she took out several bundles of money. The money was tied in different colored bows Laying them out on the stand she kind of laughed. The first bundle was very small tied with fishing string from Matt's pole the first time he took her fishing. She remembered thinking she was rich having that much money to save in her old age box. Then she looked at the bundle she placed in the first year she co-owned the Long Branch. It was tied with a ribbon from the gift Matt gave her the night they celebrated her retirement from entertaining. She took the money she had in her handbag for the trip and tied it with a ribbon Matt gave her. He brought it all the way up from the Mexico border. She hated that ribbon but did not know quite why. If it had been a different man, she would have thought he had an affair when he was gone that time. But when he talked in his sleep he kept talking about a Mike and fixing some roof. Maybe she was blaming him in the wrong. Maybe it was the passing of time that was getting to her. She put the money in the box and closed it. She looked at the words written on the top of the box. First was Hope chest, then Spinster. She crossed that out and wrote 'Old Maid'.
Festus went to retrieve the key. He found it but tripped over a nightstand, sending a little box with a little ring on to the floor. The little box was spied by a large rat. The rat ate a hole in the box and dragged the little ring off.
Thinking the knock on her inside door was Matt, Kitty did not even put on a coverup as she swung the door open. Festus turned bright red when he saw Kitty in her white and pink see-through underthings. Kitty was too angry to care about her attire. "Well?" she said with her hand on her hip. Festus stared. "Mathew's hurt. Doc wants you to come."
Kitty envisioned Matt lying in the street from a gunshot wound. Her legs buckled. Festus caught her. "You best get dressed," he said as his hands slipped under her unmentionables. Feeling her soft skin caused his face to turn blood red. His fingers would tingle every time he saw her for years to come.
Entering Doc's room, Kitty saw Matt sleeping. Doc explained that Matt would be ok, but he needs a lot of rest. Kitty leaned down and whispered, "I am sorry. I got so mad at you. Forgive me." Looking at Festus she asked, "Did you get the man who shot him?" Doc said, "He was run over by a wagon. He will be ok. I just sent Festus to tell you he would not be coming tonight. I want to keep him here overnight. He would not stay unless he got to talk to you." It was not long before Kitty realized Matt was hit by the wagon after the stage pulled out.
When Doc finally gave the 'OK', Matt stumbled down Doc's stairs. The stairs were slippery as it had just started to rain. The sidewalk seemed to sway as he made his way to the Long Branch. It had been two days. The demands of his job would require him to be back to work in three days - not enough time to go to any big city. He hoped she was not in the mood for fighting, but figured she was, for she had not come to visit since the first day. He stood for a moment wondering what he could say, to make things better. The 'closed for cleaning' sign still hung on the door. Men would walk past, shake their heads, and walk off. Matt saw his reflection in the glass doors. He looked old. He knocked on the door.
"We're closed," she yelled from inside. "Kitty it's me, Matt. Let me in." He felt like a fool standing in the street. He looked around. It seemed no one in town had anything better to do but watch him with hat in hand standing outside in the rain. It seemed to take forever for her to open that door.
Kitty was polishing the bar. When he knocked on the door, her heart jumped, followed by anger. How dare him come now when she had been cleaning all day? Her hair was tied up in a kerchief, wearing a potato sack tied with binder twine, so she would not destroy her fancy dresses. It was just like him to come see her now. She really did not want to spend the day listening to him tell her how important his job was. Maybe she would not open the door, she thought as she slowly moved to the door.
Matt tried hard not to laugh when he saw her standing there in a potato sack, but could not help himself, making her infuriated. She threw a wet rag at him and slammed the door, breaking the stained glass. Matt could not help himself and laughed harder. Kitty was startled by the broken glass; she forgot for a moment that she was mad. Matt stepped over the glass and closed the batwing doors. "Please Kitty, let's not fight. I am truly sorry."
Kitty went to get a dustpan to clean up the glass. "Go ahead. Tell me what was so important that you stood me up this time." It took some doing, but Kitty finally agreed to let Matt try and make it up to her.
It was then that Matt remembered that little box with a little ring. He took Kitty's hand and pulled her toward the door. She said she could not go out in the street dressed as she was. He smiled and said she looked great to him. He picked her up and headed toward the door but thought better of it when he saw the townspeople gathering to see what happened to the door. He turned and started toward her room. The stairs proved too much for him as his head began to hurt and the stairs began to sway. He dropped her just before rolling to the bottom. She came tumbling after, landing on his lap. She would have been really mad, but the startling turn of events prevented her.
"Are you, ok?' he asked. "Yeah, how about you?"
"Ok." The local cowboys now were in the Long Branch staring at them. Kitty stood up, straightened the potato sack, stuck her head in the air, and strutted up the stairs. Matt stood up, rubbed his head, put his hat on, straightened up to his full height, and followed her. The cowboys who had been watching in silence waited until the big Marshal turned the bend of the landing before breaking out in laughter. "Marshal, if you have trouble handling her, I'd be glad to come up there and help." "Marshal, that's not the sack you want her in." "Miss Kitty, if you want a man who is strong enough to carry you up those stairs I'm here." "Can I borrow a potato sack?" Festus entered just as Matt stopped and turned around. In the rush to get out the door, the cowboys knocked Festus through a window, embedding glass in his gun hand. Several others had to see the Doc for various injuries. When the Doc asked what happened, one of the cowboys said, "He looked at us." Another said he hoped the marshal didn't recognize him. Doc said, "He looked at you?' "'Yeah, that is what he did alright We should go over there and cut that big marshal down to size." After a brief discussion, the cowboys thought it was a good time to return to their camp and get the hell out of Dodge.
Back at the Long Branch, Kitty dressed in a simple street dress and put her hand on her hip. "what are we going to do now that you made a laughingstock out of me?" Matt sat on the bed and smiled. "I think it was me, they were laughing at. I have to be in Topeka on Wednesday so I don't think we can make New Orleans. How about we go camping do a little fishing I cleared it with Festus and Sam"