Unshown Moments for Kitty's Outlaw (2)

This is for BigMommaT and Mommoo

AN: Dear Very Well Mannered Guest. I do like your idea and I promise I will see what I can do. And thank you, as well as everyone else, for your kind wishes. God willing, this will be done and over with and I can get back to fun life as opposed to real life.

After Kitty and Cole went out back, Matt took a deep breath and left the saloon. He didn't know this Cole Yankton but it was plain Kitty did. He hated that idea. He knew Kitty had a life before Dodge and though he didn't know everything about that life, he knew the most of it. But he didn't know that much about Yankton and exactly what his connection to Kitty was.

Heading back to the jail, he was in a quandry. He wanted Kitty; in fact he loved her. But knowing he didn't feel free to marry her, he didn't want to stand in her way of happiness if she found it with someone else. And yet, he didn't like or trust this Cole Yankton and he didn't want Kitty hurt by him.

"Tomorrow." He sighed to himself. "I'll take her to supper tomorrow and see what I can do about this man."

"Hi, Kitty." Matt tipped his hat to her the next afternoon when he came in the Long Branch, half expecting to see Cole Yankton hanging around and grateful when he saw he wasn't there. Though he passed it off in front of Doc and Chester, privately the thought, of him anywhere near Kitty, bothered him.

"Matt." She smiled, genuinely happy to see him. "Would you like a beer?"

"Alright." He nodded and watched her closely while she drew the mug full of frothy liquid, trying to discern her feelings about their encounter the night before.

"Something on your mind?" She asked, noticing his scrutiny.

"No, no." He shook his head and took a deep drink of the beer. He wanted badly to ask her about the tall dark haired stranger and just exactly who he was to her, but Matt was unwilling to do that. He had promised himself he wouldn't pry and he wouldn't ask but he'd be there to listen if she wanted to talk. "Just enjoying the beer."

Kitty took a deep breath and looked down. She wanted Matt to ask her about Cole. She didn't exactly want him to be jealous but she wouldn't mind it if he showed some interest in her talking to another man. As it stood, he didn't appear to care one way or the other. "Free beer the only reason you came in here?" She finally, pointedly asked.

It wasn't and Matt could tell she knew that. "Uh, no." He replied after a moment's thought. "Actually, I was wondering if you'd be free for supper. Thought we could go over to Delmonico's and get a bite. I mean, that is, if you don't already have plans." He left that last sentence dangling on purpose.

Kitty saw the question in his eyes and it lightened her heart a little to see that, whether he said it or not, he did indeed care that another man was spending time around her. But thinking of that other man, it dawned on Kitty that he just might be eating at Delmonico's himself this evening and she really didn't want to run into him again with Matt there. It was too awkward. Not to mention the unwanted company of a certain physician and Marshal's assistant.

"That sounds good, Matt. But can we eat somewhere else? There's a nice little Mexican café open at the end of town and I'd like to try that." She asked thinking that place would be far enough away to insure that Cole couldn't try and interrupt their supper or Doc and Chester try to join them. Perhaps then, she and Matt could actually discuss Cole and his role in her past privately and in their own time.

"That little place out west?" Matt frowned. "That's quite a ways out there."

"I know, but I've really wanted to try it and it would be a nice change of pace." She batted her lashes at him and knew by his smile, he'd agree.

"Well, alright." He nodded. "I'll pick you up later." Taking another deep draught of his beer, he set the mug down, gave her a sly wink and headed for the door. "I'll see you later, Kitty."

"Bye, Matt." She grinned; happy that they might have a chance to actually discuss Cole without Chester or Doc interrupting them or Cole confusing the situation. She wanted to reassure Matt that Cole no longer held her heart or attention. She'd given that all to Matt. But she needed to tell him outside of the bedroom and outside of intrusion by anyone else. "I'll see you tonight."

However, that evening, when Matt arrived to collect her, Kitty could tell talking about Cole and about them in general was going to be difficult. He was quiet as they walked down to the small cantina, offering only a word or two.

Sighing, Kitty could see that their needed conversation wasn't going to be as easy as she'd hoped, even without interruption when even after arriving at the resturant and ordering and eating their meal, Matt said nothing about Cole, although she knew he had to be wondering.

Finally she stopped and took a deep breath, resolving to bring it up herself. "Matt, you've haven't asked me about Cole Yankton."

But if she thought finally they could clear the air and resolve things, she was again mistaken for it was then that Chester rushed in and told Matt about the bank being robbed and that Cole had been the one to do it.

Looking up at Matt, she could see the suspicion in his blue depths and the fact that he might suspect her of helping Cole to do something like that, cut her to the core. Glancing at Chester, she could tell that he more than suspected her, he was silently accusing her. But Chester didn't bother her. She wasn't concerned with what he thought.

But Matt... Matt not trusting her and thinking her capable and willing to help in something like this was painful. And as she watched them rush out of the cantina her heart sank at the thought of it.

After leaving the Cantina, Kitty slowly and listlessly made her way back into town and to the Long Branch. She didn't want to go back to work, she wanted to go to her room, curl into a ball and cry. But instead, she put away her hat and reticule and moved behind the bar, deciding distraction would be better than tears.

As Matt raced out of town with Chester, his mind was in a whirl. He'd always trusted Kitty since he'd met her. She'd always been the one person he was sure of. But now... He didn't want to believe that she'd been involved in this robbery. But it sure looked like she was.

Later, after they'd found Cole and his bank robbing partner and Matt heard the brief conversation between the two men about Kitty, Matt's heart sank even lower. Glancing over at Chester, he could tell that he was positive of Kitty's guilt in the matter and would probably be the first to testify against her if it came to that.

But a stubborn part of Matt refused to accept it. Circumstances didn't look good and most things surrounding this seemed to point to Kitty's involvement, but though the LAW had to consider the possibility, the MAN didn't. And the man, who's heart had already been claimed by the beautiful red head, held out that small hope that the law was wrong.

Later still, while Matt and Chester were hauling Cole back to town, along with the reclaimed bank money, Chester looked sorrowfully over at Matt.

"I sure am sorry, Mr. Dillon." He sighed, his voice close to a whine. "I hate that Miss Kitty's mixed up in this. She's..."

"She's innocent until proven guilty." Matt glared over at him. "We don't have any proof that she did anything."

"But ya heard what Yankton's partner said." Chester protested. "He said..."

"What he said isn't proof either. If you remember, Yankton didn't acknowledge it. Now we're not going to accuse anyone of anything until we have proof. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Matt's voice and arched brow convinced Chester it was best to let it go for the time being. "Yes, Sir." He sighed. In truth he didn't understand. He was convinced Miss Kitty had helped Yankton and the thought that Mr. Dillon would be hurt by it bothered him. But he knew better to say anything. Later, when the truth was known about what happened, would be time enough to talk about it all.

After helping Matt get Cole up to Doc's office, Chester distanced himself from his brooding employer and went down to the saloon. He said nothing to Kitty but she overheard him say something to Clem about catching the bandits and Cole and Doc's. Quickly, she rushed from the saloon and headed over to Doc's office. She needed to see Cole and she needed desperately to talk to Matt and she prayed as she went, that it wouldn't be too late for either one.

END