Unshown Moment for Eliab's Aim S10

Kitty smiled at Curly Smith as she passed him on her way to the Long Branch with her new order tucked in her arms. She was looking forward to showing a certain lawman the new dressing gown she'd bought. That is, she would when he finally came back to town.

As she approached the saloon, she stopped for a second when she saw Pearl Winton standing near the doors, looking in every few minutes. "Pearl?" She approached slowly. "Uh, you looking for someone?"

"Well," Pearl shrugged. "I wasn't really lookin' as I was a waitin', Kitty." She smiled. "Ya see, Festus is in thare and I was a waiting for him to git through so's I could take him to supper. I'm fixing a mighty good supper of ham hocks and mustard greens and…"

"Uh, Pearl." Kitty sighed. "You know, if Festus is in there, it might be a while before he comes out. Your supper could be cold by then."

"Aw, if'n it is, I kin warm it up." Pearl's southern drawl was topped only by her height.

"Well," Kitty shrugged. "You can wait here if you want. You can even come in if you want. You know, we don't discriminate against women."

Pearl ducked her head. "I surely do appreciate that, Kitty, but I don't think it fittin' for me to go in to a saloon. No, I'll just wait right here for Festus."

"Alright." Kitty ticked her head and went on into the saloon. She had a feeling Pearl would be waiting a long while.

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Kitty watched with amusement as Festus snunk out of the saloon by the side door, trying to avoid Pearl Winton. Standing beside her, Sam laughed and looked over at his boss. "You think she'll catch him?"

Kitty chuckled. "Probably. She's a woman with a mission."

"A mission?" Sam questioned.

"Uh huh." Kitty nodded. "She's on a mission to corner Festus Haggen and I'd be willing to bet she does just that."

"You really think she'll get him to marry her?" Sam couldn't believe anyone would corner that wily hill man.

Kitty shook her head. "No, I doubt she'll get him to the preacher but she'll vex him some before she finally gives up."

Sam nodded. "Yeah, I believe that." Sam frowned for a second as a thought struck him. "You know, I wonder just exactly what it was that Earl Winton saw in Pearl when he married her. I mean, she's not the prettiest woman I ever saw."

Kitty smiled softly. "Sam, when you're in love with someone, it's not your eyes, you're looking at them with. It's your heart."

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Kitty leaned against the bar waiting for Sam to bring her a cup of fresh made coffee. She had her books to work and some inventory to check on but not just yet. It was quiet in the saloon tonight and she wanted to enjoy it for a few minutes.

"Kitty." Quint nodded at her as he came into the saloon and made his way over to her. "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm alright, Quint. How about you?" She smiled up at her friend.

"Well, I'm doing alright." He looked around for Sam but didn't see him. "You short handed tonight? I don't see Sam."

"No, Sam's brewing me some coffee. What's up with you, Quint? Trying to avoid Festus?" She grinned.

"Avoid him?" Quint shook his head. "No, actually I need to talk to him if I see him. Why would I avoid him?"

Kitty grinned. "Oh, Pearl Winton's got her cap set for him and he's been doing everything he can think of to escape from her or push her off on some one else. So far, he hasn't had any takers."

Quint grinned. "Well, I don't doubt that. Not too many men could handle that much woman."

Kitty laughed out right. "I do believe you just might be right about that." Kitty looked around the bar room again and then back at Quint. "It sure is peaceful in here. As a matter of fact, it's peaceful everywhere in Dodge."

"Well, not anymore it isn't, Kitty." Quint started to tell Kitty about Eliab when Festus arrived and as Kitty suspected, tried to palm Pearl off on him.

After Quint told him about Eliab being in town and Festus slunk out of the saloon in fear for his ear, Kitty looked back over at the blacksmith and sometimes Dodge Deputy. "You're serious about him shooting Festus' ear off, aren't you?"

"Uh huh." Quint nodded. "Or at least Eliab is."

"Uh, what do you plan on doing about it?" Kitty was a bit concerned for her hillbilly friend.

"Me?" Quint shook his head. "Nothing. In the first place, I doubt Eliab could catch him and in the second place…"

"I hope there isn't a second place, Quint." Kitty arched a brow. "I really don't want to see Festus hurt."

"I know, Kitty." Quint ducked his head. "I don't either. But don't worry. I doubt it'll come to that. It'll all work out, you'll see."

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"Doc. Kitty." Quint nodded at the two as he came into the saloon walked over to the end of the bar.

"Hello, Quint." Kitty smiled at him. "What've you been up to today?"

"I betcha he's been hiding Festus." Doc chortled and took a swipe of his mustache.

"No, I haven't, Doc." Quint shook his head at him. "As a matter of fact, the last time I saw Festus was this morning when he came running past my place, being chased by Eliab."

Kitty shook her head with a sigh. "Well, I think this whole thing is silly. I can't believe that anyone would seriously want to shoot someone's ear off, especially their own uncle."

"You'd believe it if you met him, Kitty." Quint shook his head. "He intends to shoot Festus' ear the first chance he gets."

After Festus ran through, in his quest to evade his nephew and she saw the real fear on the man's face, she began to be a little certain that his nephew wouldn't shoot the 'little hangy down' part of his ear. And then after meeting Eliab and seeing the look in his eyes when Jake Craig stepped on his foot, Kitty was even less certain of her earlier statement and seriously beginning to worry.

After Eliab took his leave and headed back to the stable, Kitty looked over at Doc. "Doc, I'm beginning to think he really will shoot Festus in the ear."

Doc nodded. "I am too, Kitty but there's nothing we can do to stop it." Doc took a sip of his beer before a thought came to him and he looked up at Kitty with a grin. "Of course, if Eliab does succeed, it just might improve Festus' looks some."

"Doc!" Kitty slapped his arm with a shake of her head, knowing he was joking.

"Well? It might." Doc continued to laugh.

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Kitty took a look around the empty bar room. The saloon was closed and Sam had just finished locking up the cash box. "Sam, you go on home now. We've done all that needs to be done for the night."

"Alright, Miss Kitty." He answered with a nod just as the doors swung open.

"Evening, Kitty. Sam." Matt grinned as he moved across the room. "You all closed already?"

Kitty returned the grin. "Oh, I think we can handle one more customer." She looked at Sam who was about to put his coat down and tend to Matt. "Sam, you go on now. I'll, uh… take care of the Marshal."

Sam smiled, looked at his boss and then the Marshal and nodded, understandingly. "Yes, Ma'am. Good night. Good night, Marshal."

"Sam." Matt nodded and stood still until Sam left, closing the door behind him. Swiftly, he reached over and pulled Kitty into his arms. "I have missed you Miss Russell." He leaned down and kissed her. "Two days out of town this time seemed like forever."

"I missed you too." She smiled. "Did you get yourself some sleep?"

Matt nodded. "Yeah. And a bath and a shave too."

"Umm." She arched a brow with a tilt of her head and a slight shimmy of the shoulder. "Well, then you must be wide awake and ready for ready for some action."

Matt chuckled. "You might say that. At least, action that doesn't involve ears, guns and silver studded boots."

Kitty laughed out loud. "We did have a crazy couple of days around here. Did Eliab get off alright?"

Matt shrugged. "I guess. He was gone when I got up. Quint wasn't too awful sure that Pearl Winton wasn't still chasing him."

Kitty chuckled again but sobered a second later as she looked up at Matt. "Uh, did you already release Quint as Deputy?"

"Nope." Matt smirked. "He's still 'acting' Marshal till tomorrow morning."

"Oh?" Kitty looked hopeful and Matt didn't disappoint as he pulled her to him.

"Yes, Ma'am. I am free all night. I was wondering if, maybe, you might have some idea as to how to spend my time. I mean, away from ears and guns and boots."

Kitty swiftly blew out the lamp on the bar and grabbed Matt's hand drawing him towards the stairs. "I certainly do, Marshal. I certainly do."

END