Unshown Moments from Pest Hole S 1

Leaving the wrecked restaurant with Chester, Matt's stomach was churning as he thought of what had been done to its owner. He'd known from the day he'd pinned that badge on that he'd see things like that, but he'd always hoped he wouldn't.

"Mr. Dillon?" Chester asked as he hurried to stay up with Matt. "What are you gonna do?"

"I'm gonna arrest Matthews, Chester. You heard what he said about paying Bedino a visit. Well, apparently he did."

"Ya know, he's got himself several men a workin' for him. He ain't gonna be easy to take."

"I'll take him, Chester." Matt said angrily without once slowing his pace or looking over at his assistant. "I'll take him."

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After Doc and Matt left Franz Pelzer's home, Matt tried to get Doc to tell him what his plans were, but Doc refused to tell him. "When you go out after a gunslinger, you keep your plans to yourself, don't ya? That way you don't have anyone questioning your methods."

Matt stopped for a moment thinking about that, pursing his lips when another thought struck and he hurried after Doc. "Alright, Doc. If you won't tell me what you're planning, then at least tell me why you plan on having Kitty out here to cook for me."

Doc looked at him shrewdly. "Who would you prefer to cook for you? Chester? How about Joe over at Delmonico's? I already know; you don't like my cooking."

"Well, what about Ma Smalley?" Matt questioned. "I mean, she's a good cook."

"Yes," Doc nodded. "She can. But why not Kitty? You afraid she can't cook? Or is it you just don't like the idea of her cooking for you? Maybe you think she'll get ideas from it."

"Doc, you know better than that. That's not what I meant." Matt shook his head in exasperation.

"Maybe." Doc chuckled for the first time in a few days. "Maybe."

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Kitty stood up and stretched her aching back. Chester and Kate were currently sitting with Doc's remaining patients while she and Olive rested and got in a few hours work. Doc and even Matt had offered to pay for their time tending to the sick but, while she didn't know about Olive, Kitty refused the money. Though it meant she had to work a few extra hours at the saloon to make up for the time she'd spent at the jail, she felt it worth it. She resolved never to take money for helping Doc. Or Matt.

But her shift at the Long Branch was now over and she was tired. Doc told her he probably wouldn't need her the next day so she figured to go upstairs, take a hot bath and sleep late.

"Kitty!"

She had just reached the stairs when she heard Doc calling her name. "Doc? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. But I need your help." Doc answered.

Kitty sighed, saying goodbye to her sleep and mentally preparing to trudge back over to the jail and watch over Doc's patients. "Let me change my clothes, Doc, and I'll be over to the jail in a few minutes."

"Over to th…" Doc shook his head. "Kitty, I don't need you to tend to my patients. I need you to cook for me."

Kitty looked at him curiously. "Cook for you? Doc, I'm not a short order cook. If you're hungry, I'm sure Joe over at Delmonico's…"

"Oh, no," Doc hastily stopped her. "I don't mean that, exactly, Kitty. Actually, I need you to cook for Matt tomorrow."

"Matt?" Kitty's eyebrows rose to her hairline. "Why? Doc, what's going on here? If Matt wants me to cook for him, then why doesn't he come and ask me? I swear, Doc, I…"

"Now, Kitty, calm down." Doc waved a hand to stop her. "Look, I need to perform a little experiment tomorrow and I need you to cook some sausage. It's not got anything to do with anything other than that. Honest."

"What kind of experiment?" She asked, still suspicious.

"It has to do with finding out what's making all of these people sick." Doc answered. "If I'm right, I will have figured out the source of infection and probably figured out a way to stop it."

"And if you're wrong?" Kitty crossed her arms against her chest.

"Well, I'll still be trying to figure it out." Doc shrugged.

"Uh, why me?" Kitty wanted to know. "I mean, why not Ma Smalley or maybe…"

"Because I don't want them." Doc answered. "Besides, ain't ya kinda curious to see whether or not Matt likes your cooking?"

When Kitty didn't reply, Doc grinned broadly and headed towards the doors. "Matt will be here in the morning to take you out to Franz Pelzer's house. See ya tomorrow."

Kitty glared at Doc's back as he walked out but while she climbed the stairs, the scowl disappeared to be replaced by a slight smile at the thought of cooking for Matt.

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After Chester ate the sausage Mr. Pelzer had cooked, Doc asked Kitty to take him and the blacksmith out of the house so he could talk to Matt alone. Kitty wasn't quite sure what was going on, but she knew it was probably best for everyone that she do what Doc wanted.

"Come on, Mr. Pelzer." She said as she ushered both he and Chester outside.

"That just ain't right." Chester grumbled as Kitty closed the door behind them. "I didn't do nothing cept just take a bite or two of that there sausage." He paused and looked at the blacksmith with a smile. "And that surely was good sausage, Mr. Pelzer. You're a good cook, ya know."

"Ya, I know." Pelzer puffed out his chest with a smirk.

Kitty arched a brow at both men but said nothing as she wondered what Matt and Doc were talking about.

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After Doc had told Matt his plan and his fears about Chester, Matt sat silently for a moment, watching Doc eat. Finally, unable to think of anything else to do, he got up and claimed of piece of the meat Kitty had cooked for himself and sat down across from Doc, moving the uneaten and tainted meat aside.

"Kitty's not only pretty but she's not too bad a cook, Matt." Doc said with a grin as he finished his plate and pushed it back. "You know, there's a lot of men in town that would love a combination like that. You add in her intelligence and charm and I'm purely amazed some man hasn't claimed her already." He paused and looked slyly over at Matt. "Or has he?"

Matt silently finished the sausage, savoring the last bite, before finally getting to his feet and stepping over to the bed to pick up his hat. He kept his head down; afraid Doc would see the expression on his face at the thought of someone, anyone but him, claiming Kitty. And yet, he wasn't sure he had the right to do that himself.

"I, uh, see you finished your meal." Doc nodded at the empty plate. "Guess you like her cooking too."

"I was hungry." Matt shrugged. "And now I'm full and ready to go, how about you?"

Doc chuckled and shook his head. "It takes more than that to satisfy you, Mr. Lawman. A lot more."

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Kitty sat quietly beside Chester, occasionally checking his temperature and running a cool cloth across his forehead. Doc had left to talk to the newspaper editor and Matt had just finished making a pot of coffee.

"Want some coffee." He asked.

Kitty shook her head. "Not right now."

Matt came close and looked down at Chester and then over at Kitty, noting the dark circles under her eyes. "You should go home and get some rest. You look tired."

"I am tired." She admitted. "But I'm not going anywhere until I'm sure he's going to be alright."

"That could be a while." Matt warned.

Kitty offered Matt a half smile. "What's a matter, Marshal? You have a problem with spending time with me?"

Matt blushed. "No, you know better than that. I… I just… well… I mean, well…"

"Thank you, Matt." She said softly. "But I'll be fine."

Matt smiled, realizing she'd understood that he was more than just a little concerned for her. For a moment he wanted to say more, he wanted to tell her just how much he cared about her, but right then wasn't the time. Not with Chester lying there, maybe dying. Maybe he'd tell her later, when things were better and they had more time.

Later when Doc returned and checked Chester over, the three retired to the small square table in the middle of the room with cups of coffee and dour expressions. Despite Kitty's protests, Matt had asked Doc to check Kitty over. But Doc understood it was Matt's feelings for Kitty that drove that request and not any real illness on her part.

"No, Matt, she'll be fine. Once this is over, and we're sure Chester is going to be fine, then I'll prescribe that she get a drink, a bath and about 12 hours sleep."

"I'll take you up on that Doc." Kitty told him. "Just as soon as Chester is better, you owe me a drink."

"I'll owe you too." Matt's clear blue gaze centered on Kitty.

"And you'll pay me back, Matt. Someday, you'll pay me back." Kitty returned his stare and gave him a wink.

End