The next morning, Kitty was once again sitting at her usual table, sipping coffee, and enjoying the quiet town. Holding her small spectacles-on-a-chain up to her eyes, she started reading the town's newspaper.

"Ahem." Ginger Peller cleared her throat as she stood in front of Kitty. She had peeked in over the top of the bat-wing doors, and seeing Kitty, had hesitated, started to walk away, then taken a deep breath and pushed on inside.

Kitty looked up, still holding her spectacles in front of her face, and silently studied the beautiful young blonde, who seemed unsure of herself. After a full minute of silence, she spoke in a low, cool voice. "Yes? What can I do for you, Miss Peller?"

"I, uh, I uh want to apologize for my behavior last night, and ever since I arrived in Dodge, really." She waited for a smile or an invitation to sit down, but seeing none coming, swallowed hard, and continued. "I acted like the child I was when I saw…when I saw Matt ten years ago by the creek. I'm sure he has told you the true story. Then when I saw the two of you together, I knew I had lost out, but, well, it's so hard to let go of him. My fantasy of him." She looked down and felt her face blush.

"Honey, it takes years of practice," Kitty said with a smile. "Would you like to sit and have some coffee, Ginger?" Kitty had a fleeting thought of wondering what this young woman meant about seeing her and Matt together, but figured it was at the table in the saloon last night.

"Oh, no thank you. I have to get going. I'm leaving on the next stage in a little bit, on to St. Louis. Mrs. Huggins and I are going to open a dress shop there! It's almost like having Mama back again." Clearing her throat, Ginger looked into Kitty's beautiful blue eyes studying her. "Miss Kitty. Do you think we could be friends?"

"I'm sorry Ginger, I'm afraid it's a little late for that, but I do wish you and Mrs. Huggins well. Have a safe journey." She gave her a closed-lip smile and picked up her coffee cup, a deep relief flowing through and easing the tenseness of her body.

"I understand. Some things can't be forgotten, so I will be glad for forgiveness."

"You have that."

"Goodbye, Miss Kitty. I have learned a lot from you." She gave a small, wavering smile, and turned to leave, then hesitated, and turned back. "Miss Kitty. From the first, I sneered at you as merely a 'saloon woman'." Ginger's face colored, and she swallowed hard, and looked into the silent woman's questioning eyes. "I was wrong, so very wrong to pre-judge you. You may own a saloon, and work in one, but you are so much more than that. I hope someday to be even a little like you, and then perhaps the right man will love me as you are clearly loved. Thank you." She gave Kitty a genuine smile, turned towards the doors, and walked away, her lovely body straight and tall, with nary a sway.

Kitty returned to her newspaper, not unaware of big Sam smiling at her as he wiped a stack of clean whiskey glasses. As always, she sensed when Matt looked in over the bat-wing doors at her ten minutes later, looked up, put her spectacles down and returned his special, warm blue gaze.

"Have some coffee, Matt?" she asked as he walked over, a smile on his handsome face. She motioned to Sam for another china cup.

"Sure, Kitty." He sat down close beside her, his left leg touching her right.

They sat quietly and companionably sipping their coffee for a few minutes, enjoying the peaceful time together.

Matt set his cup down in its saucer with a slight clinking noise. "Kitty. I saw Ginger Peller and Mrs. Huggins getting on the St. Louis stage on my way here. Word is they're starting up a dress shop there. Hope it works out for them."

"Yes, Matt, Ginger stopped by to tell me. It's really too bad she had to leave right away on such a hot day." Kitty was looking down and tracing the pattern on her china cup with a forefinger.

"What? What do you mean? What difference does the heat make?" He studied her profile, trying to decipher her mood, and took a sip of coffee.

"Well, Matt. If there had been more time, maybe you could've taken her skinny dipping." She looked up at him innocently, but her twinkling eyes gave her away.

Matt began to choke and cough, and Kitty vigorously patted his back until he stopped. Their eyes met and both began laughing. Matt put his big left hand on top of her right forearm on the table and squeezed. Sam looked over with a big grin that transformed his face into a craggy beauty.

End.

Epilogue:

One year later, Matt received a letter from Ginger, now Mrs. Thomas Hale of St. Louis, MO.

"Dear Matt,

I met Tom two months after Mrs. Huggins and I set up our dress shop here. We quickly became very successful, and hired on a lovely young girl, Susan Hale. One day when her brother Tom came to walk her home after a long day, we met and got to talking, and I guess you could say we've never stopped! We were married two weeks later.

Please forgive me for my behavior last year. I still had a lot of growing up to do. I never told Kitty, but I had followed you up the back stairs into the Long Branch that last night before I left town. I shamelessly watched you two long enough to know that Kitty is much, much more than a 'saloon woman.' I may not be book-smart, but I know what love is. You both taught me so much. Stay with her, Matt. She completes you.

Affectionately,

Ginger

P.S. Our address is on the envelope. I hope you and Kitty can visit us someday. Our first child is due any day now.