Unshown Moments for Big Man Season 6

This is for Mirschell

"Evening, Bill." Kitty smiled at her partner as she finally made it in for the evening crowd. "Sorry, I'm late but the dress fitting took a little longer than I expected."

"Ah, that's alright, Kitty." Bill smiled at his pretty partner. "We're not that busy…. Yet."

Kitty chuckled as she looked around. "I see some new faces. Herds aren't due in yet so the stage must've arrived."

"Sure did." Bill nodded just as a tall man with a blue plaid shirt approached them. "No one's too rowdy though. Good thing since the Marshal's up in Hays."

"True," Kitty nodded. "But I doubt anything will happen that we can't handle until he gets back."

"I hear him call you Kit…ty?" Kitty turned to see a tall man, with thinning blonde hair looking down at her with a leering grin on his unshaven face.

"Yes." She answered cautiously. She never cared who knew her name but she wasn't sure she wanted to give this creep anything more than that. "Who are you?"

"Pat Swarner." He moved closer making Kitty slightly nauseous. "And I'm going to buy you a drink."

"Uh, sorry, Mister." She moved away from him quickly and headed for the office. "I need to do some work in the back." She gave Bill a pleading look and he nodded.

"Go on, I'll be fine up here."

Before Swarner could form a protest, Kitty quickly disappeared into the office.

Over the next couple of days, Swarner made a pest of himself as he turned up at her elbow everything she moved from the safety of the office or her rooms.' She and even Bill, had told him to back off but he didn't seem to take the hint.

,

"Evening, Kit…ty." He slithered up beside her. "Barkeep, a bottle and glasses." He glanced at Bill before returning his attention to the gorgeous red head that had caught his attention.

"Uh, no." Kitty quickly raised her hand to Bill. "Sorry, but I'm really busy. I don't have time."

"Ah, come on, Kitty." Swarner practically whined. "Just one little drink."

"No." She repeated, this time with a little bite in her voice. "I said; I'm busy."

"But I want to see you." He emphasized the word with a twitch of his eyebrow, making her skin crawl.

"Well, you're seeing me right now." She glared at him. "And if you come back tomorrow, you can see me again then."

Swarner started to say something more when Bill, sensing a problem, called Kitty to his side.

"Kitty, I got those invoices in the office. You want to have a look at them? You're better at the book work than I am."

"Sure," Kitty smiled at him gratefully. "I'll go on in now." With nothing more than a fleeting scowl at Swarner, Kitty stepped around him and started towards her office.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow." Swarner called after her.

"Sure." She waved him off as she went into the office and closed the door heavily behind her.

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The Next Day

"You walk out of here now and you can get out on your own two feet, Mister." Matt warned with a glare to the hooligan, Pat Swarner. He'd heard about him from Chester when got back. This was his first time seeing him.

"Oh, I'm leaving." He offered an oily smile to the angry red head. "But don't you think I'm not coming back Kit-ty." He hissed her name as he looked back at Matt. "You don't scare me Marshal." His smile never left his insolent face as he turned and retreated from the saloon, leaving his hat behind.

Kitty looked up at Matt with a weary shake of her head. "Thanks, Matt." Her smile returned.

"You're welcome," he answered looking at the two men who stood holding Swarner's hat. "Those two with that fella?"

Kitty looked over at them and shrugged. "I think they all came in on the stage together. Not sure if their friends or fans but they do seem to have some sort hero worship for him."

'Hmpf." Matt shook his head. "Some hero."

Kitty chuckled. "Speaking of hero's, glad to see you home. You have a good trip?"

Matt nodded. "Same as always."

"Well, let me buy you a drink to celebrate your return." She smiled as she headed around the bar to get the offered libation.

As she did, Pat's two friends watched the Marshal and the red head with a growing irritation. Pat wanted the red head and the Marshal had interfered.

"I can't believe Pat backed down from that lawman." Ack Blint shook his head. "I didn't think he'd ever be the kind to back down from anyone, especially when that anyone is keeping him from what he wants."

"Well, he won't keep him from her for long." Harry took another look at the lawman and the saloon owner. "Pat Swarner can't be beat."

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Two weeks later.

Matt, Kitty, Doc and Chester were quietly standing at the end of the bar. Matt had just relayed his intention to stand trial for a murder he knew he hadn't committed but had no way to prove.

Kitty questioned the plan but Chester flat out stated that Matt would stood no chance at all if he followed through.

"Oh, for heaven's sakes." Doc glared at him. "You've got him convicted already. Why don't you…" He shook his head in exasperation.

Chester quickly apologized and then beat a hasty retreat from the saloon. Finishing his drink, Doc too took his leave, irritated at both Chester and the circumstances surrounding Matt's decision.

After Doc left, Kitty looked back over at Matt. "Are you really sure about this, Matt?"

Matt glanced up at her, seeing the worry and concern. "Well," he sighed, "like I said, I don't know what else to do. If I don't give myself up to the judge, and I can't find the man who really did kill Swarner, then they'll just send someone after me. At least if I turn myself in, it'll be in my favor."

"Not enough so." Kitty looked down. "I'm sorry, Matt." Her voice was soft and contrite.

Matt looked up in confusion. "For what? You're not the one accusing me of murder."

"No, but if you hadn't been defending me that day, then no one would have reason to accuse you of killing him."

Matt shook his head. "Kitty, Jud didn't accuse me because of you, he accused me because he really thinks it was me he saw."

"I... I know." She sighed, "but that's the reason that Ack and Harry are making such a fuss."

"Kitty," Matt leaned closer. "I could care less about Ack and Harry. I care about you. Now look, everything will work out, I promise you. Even if I have to stand trial, it will work out. Something's probally right around the corner that will solve this mystery of who killed Swarner."

"I sure do hope so." She shook her head. I couldn't stand Pat Swarner but I didn't want him dead and I would be willing to put up with him if it meant none of this mess would've happened."

"Well, I wouldn't." Matt offered a stern look. "I don't want you to ever have to put up the likes of Swarner."

"It's part of my job." She pointed out. "Besides, I can usually handle them. He was just..."

"He was a jerk and he deserved a beating, even he didn't deserve to get killed." Matt shook his head.

Just then, Chester came rushing back in.

"Mr. Dillon?"

Matt turned to his assistant. "What's wrong, Chester?"

"I think you'd better come with me." Chester took a deep gulp of air. "I think I found your double."

Matt glanced at Kitty with an "I told you so" look then back at Chester. "Show me." He said before tossing "I'll see ya later." over his shoulder to Kitty.

Later that evening, as Jud made the rounds of the saloons and told of what he saw and how wrong he'd been, Matt and Kitty stood silently in her office, arms wrapped each other celebrating the fact that Matt would not have to stand trial for a murder he did not commit and Kitty wouldn't have to put up Swarner or anyone else like him for as long as Matt was around.

END