Unshown Moments – The Peace Officer – S 6

This is for Freelancerseal

"There." Doc stood back from the bed with a friendly smile to the pretty young blonde woman in the bed and removed his glasses. "That leg will heal well enough. You'll just need to stay off of it for a few days."

Turning, he nodded to Kitty who was standing near the wall looking on. "Kitty, I'm going to go on now. But you make sure this young lady does as I say."

"I will, Doc." Kitty offered him a wan smile as he donned his hat, grabbed his jacket and coat and headed out. She waited until he'd closed the door before crossing her arms and moving over towards the bed. "You comfortable?"

Stella nodded as she eyed the beautiful red head. "I'm okay. Of course I wouldn't have been if Matt hadn't of taken such good care of me out there." She smiled thinking of the tall man who'd fairly captured her heart.

Kitty nodded expressionlessly. "Yeah, he's… he's a good man."

"He sure is." Stella agreed happily. "I'll tell you, Kitty, from the moment he walked into that saloon; I knew he was something special. You know, it was like… well… well, like I could just instantly trust him." She lightly chuckled, never noticing that Kitty was saying nothing.

"I, uh, I didn't see a wedding ring on his hand so I assume he's not married." She said hopefully.

"No, he's not." Kitty answered. She could tell the woman was smitten with Matt, as a lot of women had been. But she wasn't sure what Matt had told her about his views on relationships. She was positive that Matt hadn't told Stella anything about his relationship with her. He never did. "He always says his job doesn't allow for that."

Something in her voice made Stella look up sharply at her and though she didn't exactly see anything in her face, she felt it. "Uh, Matt said you were a friend of his." She watched Kitty's face intently.

"I am." Kitty shrugged. "Just like Doc is and Chester and Mr. Jonas down at the store and Mr. Bodkin the bank manager."

"Oh?" Stella tilted her head. "Are they really his friends or…"

"They're his friends." Kitty stopped her. "They care a great deal about Matt and would do anything to help him as he would them. Chester and Doc aren't gun men but they'd take up arms if that's what it took to protect him. Same as he's done for them."

"I guess, I've never known a man like Matt." Stella shook her head. "The only lawmen I ever knew was like Clegg and he… well, he wasn't the kind of man that people liked too well and the only reason they would call him friend was out of fear."

"Matt doesn't work that way." Kitty moved over to the chair next to the bed and settled herself into it. "This town isn't run by him but by the citizens that are protected by him. That's why things work so well when he's out of town. The people here feel secure."

"I see." Stella answered with a tick of her head. "That's kind of a new concept for me. Of course, Matt's a whole new concept for me. He's so kind and caring and…" She stopped with a soft smile. "And well, I don't guess I have to tell you how good looking he is."

"No." Kitty agreed stonily. "Matt is a good looking man. But there are several good looking fellows in town. Take Chester for instance. He's nice looking. He's single too. Of course, Doc is too as well as others in town." She watched Stella's face as intently as Stella had watched hers and saw that other single men didn't really interest her much.

"And you?" Stella asked suddenly. "You single too?"

Kitty nodded as she understood Stella's underlying question. "Yes. I am. I won't lie and say I want that to be a permanent thing but well, it is what it is. You make adjustments and accommodations."

"For?" Stella asked.

Kitty frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Adjustments and accommodations for whom?" Stella clarified. "You're a pretty woman, Kitty. And obviously smart and successful and I doubt Dodge is the only place where you could make a living. So what or who keeps you here?"

Stella knew she was being blunt but there was something in the red head's eyes when she spoke the Marshal's name and Stella had to know if he was really free as he seemed or if Kitty Russell already had his heart locked up.

Kitty was impressed that Stella could read her. Few people, even including Matt some times, could tell what was going on in her mind when she didn't want them to. She wasn't accust0med to speaking about her and Matt and she didn't plan on starting now. Still, the woman's direct question did deserve a direct answer.

"I have a lot of reasons for remaining here." Kitty answered evenly. "My business is here, my home, my… friends."

Stella caught the subtle emphasis on the last word. "What about family." She asked. "You said you're single. But do you have any children or other family?"

"My friends are pretty much the only family I have." Kitty answered honestly.

"Oh." Stella decided to push further. "Marshal Dillon never said, but I got the impression he didn't really have any family either."

"He doesn't." Kitty replied coolly.

"Does he have someone special in his life?" Stella's eyes were locked with Kitty's and she saw the answer there before Kitty even opened her mouth to answer.

"You need to talk to Matt about that." She replied not unkindly as she got to her feet and stepped closer to Stella's bed. Gently pulling her forward, she lightly fluffed her pillow and then looked down at her with a smile she didn't really feel. "Matt's kind of a private person."

Stella nodded. "I noticed. So are you." When Kitty gave her a questioning look, she continued. "You didn't say anything, and you don't have to, but I saw the look in your eyes when his name was mentioned. Judging by your expression, I'd say he's important to you. Actually, I'd say he's more than just a friend to you, isn't he?"

Kitty looked down. "Like I said, he's a friend."

Stella nodded in understanding. "I wish I had a friend like that, Kitty." When Kitty didn't reply she reached and briefly took her hand. "Thank you for helping me Kitty. I appreciate it."

Kitty nodded and added a smile. "You're welcome. Is there anything I can get for you?"

"I could use some water." She nodded towards the picture and glass next to it.

Kitty nodded, poured her a glass of water and handed it to her. "Uh, Matt said you might need a place to work." Kitty said while Stella drank her water. "I could give you a job once you're back on your feet."

Stella looked up at the beautiful red head and though she liked the woman, she knew right then and there, she couldn't work for her. Kitty Russell cared deeply for Matt Dillon, the same way that Stella felt about Matt, perhaps even more. She couldn't stand the thought of working for the woman that had the man she, herself, wanted.

"Uh, I appreciate that, Kitty, but I don't think so. I think I need a change completely. I'm not sure where I'll go but as soon as Doc Adams tells me I can, I'll be leaving Dodge."

Kitty nodded in understanding. Stella was in a way telling her that she'd not try to come between her and Matt. That she saw their connection would not try to take Matt from her. Though Kitty wasn't unused to women making a play for Matt, she was unused to them backing off when they realized he belonged to her. "Can I get you anything else?" She asked as she took the glass and placed it on the table.

Stella shook her head, then stopped. "Uh, if you see the Marshal, could you tell him I'd like to talk to him?"

"Alright." Kitty answered."You sure there's nothing else?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." Stella nodded with a smile.

"Alright." Kitty returned the smile. "I'll be back later to check on you. And I'll tell Matt when I see him."

As Kitty left the room, closing the door behind her, she stopped for a moment, thinking of the woman behind the door. It hadn't taken her but a few moments to see that she was infatuated with Matt, perhaps even more. But Stella had not pressed when she realized that Matt belonged to her. Kitty was glad for that and admired the woman for it.

Inside the room, Stella sadly stared at the door that the red head had walked through. From the moment that Matt Dillon had walked into that saloon in Tascosa, she'd wanted him. Perhaps more than anything she'd ever wanted before, she'd wanted Matt. It was the main reason she'd chased him down on the prairie. But she knew now, that he'd not be hers.

Whether he admitted it or not, he was already taken by a beautiful and gracious lady that, perhaps even knowing how Stella felt, had helped her and was willing to help her even more. No, she couldn't stay, and the tall man that had so taken her fancy, would never be hers. When Matt came, she promised herself, she would be polite and tell him she was leaving. She wouldn't tell him how she felt about him and she wouldn't make a fuss. But she would say goodbye.

END