Unshown Moments for Noose of Gold S 12

Matt walked into the Long Branch and headed straight for the end of the bar where Kitty was standing with her books. She knew he was coming before he got there and she looked up with a smile that soon faded when she saw the expression on his face. He'd promised her that they would spend the evening with each other, but she had a feeling that wasn't going to happen.

"I was going to say that I'm glad to see you back, but I have feeling you being back is temporary." She stated.

Matt nodded with a sigh as he pushed his hat back from his forehead and leaned against the bar. "Yeah, it is, Kitty." He looked at Sam who had just walked up and poured him a drink. "Thanks, Sam." He took the glass and took a drink before returning his attention to Kitty. "I've got to go see the Attorney General."

Kitty arched a brow. "Miss Pry's good friend?" When Matt nodded she chuckled. "Well, why? What'd you do to set Miss Pry off this time?"

Matt grinned but shook his head. "It's not that, Kitty. I got a visit from Johnny Farron's wife. She wanted me to see if the Attorney General will make him a deal in exchange for his turning himself in."

"Do you think he will?" Kitty asked.

Matt shrugged and drained his glass. "I don't know." He set the glass back down on the bar. "I hope so, for John's sake but well, Willard Kerner isn't the most easy going person I know. He doesn't like to make deals for too much of anything unless he's getting the best of it."

Kitty watched Matt as he spoke and noticed the concern in his eyes. "You really care about John Farron, don't you, Matt? I mean, even though you haven't seen him in a long while, you still care about him."

Matt wasn't surprised that she could see that. No one in the world knew him as well she did. "Yeah, I do, Kitty. We're not as close as we were when I stayed with him and his folks but well..." He ducked his head. "He's still a friend and I don't want to see him killed if I can help it. And that's exactly what will happen to him if he stays out there. And that is exactly what he will do if I can't get him a deal."

Kitty reached over and placed a hand on his arm. "Then go get him a deal, Matt."

"Kitty, I'm sure sorry." Matt's voice and expression were apologetic. "I know we had plans but…"

"Matt, go on." Kitty stopped him. "I'll be here when you get back and we'll try again then. Okay?"

"Thanks, Kitty." Matt said gratefully. "I promise, as soon as I get this taken care of, we'll take a day off and spend it together."

"Sure, Matt." She answered unconvinced as he turned and quickly left the bar.

….

Matt walked into the saloon and looked around. Sam was busy behind the bar; getting it ready to open up but he didn't see Kitty. "Sam? Kitty up?"

"She sure is, Marshal." Sam answered. "She's…"

"Right here." Kitty called as she came into the bar room from the back, carrying a tray loaded down with a coffee pot and cups. "Have a seat, Matt." She smiled brightly at him as he held her chair for her. "I expected to see you last night. You talk to Farron?"

Matt nodded. "Yeah. He didn't like the deal Kerner was offering so he left. I've got Festus rounding up some men for a posse. We're going to go get him." He accepted the cup of coffee she handed him and took a sip.

"Why didn't you take him when you met with him?"

"I couldn't." Matt answered. "He was just over the state line and out of my jurisdiction. Besides, his partner and he both had a gun on me. Best I could do was watch him walk off and promise to find him. And I will find him and bring him in, no matter what it takes."

Kitty nodded silently and looked down at her coffee cup, wishing Matt was as dedicated to keeping his promises to her as he was to the law. Shaking that thought away, she looked back up at him with as much of a smile as she could muster. "How is it?" She asked, nodding at the coffee.

…..

After Thad and Matt left the saloon, Doc continued to sit with her, watching her. When she told him that Matt and Festus were getting ready to leave with a posse, he suddenly understood her attitude of a few minutes earlier. Though not particularly hateful, she did seem a little irritated at him. Now Doc knew he wasn't the source of her irritation.

"He forget or promise for when he got back?" Doc asked slyly.

Kitty arched a brow at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't be coy with me." Doc said rather sternly. "You know what I mean."

Kitty sighed and shook her head. "I don't know. I guess he forgot. He didn't say anything."

Just then several horses could be heard riding down the street. Both Kitty and Doc got up and went to the doors, watching as Matt and the posse rode out of town.

"That's a shame." Doc shook his head, thinking of Matt not only forgetting his promise to Kitty but also not even acknowledging her as he rode by.

"Well, Matt did all he could." Kitty answered misunderstanding what Doc meant.

Doc took a swipe of his mustache and continued with her line of thought, deciding to let his earlier thoughts go. At least until Matt finally returned and he could talk to him about promises.

END