There's Always Tomorrow Part 10

THE ANNIVERSARY

Author's Note:

Welcome to Part 10 of "There's Always Tomorrow," a continuing series starring Matt and Kitty. Each story flows sequentially in time, building on the previous one. Characters come and go, and time moves on. You can catch up on the whole series when you have time, although you'll find it helpful to read Part 9 first.

Like all my other stories, this one contains ADULT SITUATIONS and ADULT CONTENT. Matt and Kitty just seem to enjoy it more that way!

It's my pleasure to share this story with you!

XOXOXO

"No man knows anything about any woman . . . At all."

Doc Adams in "The Odyssey of Jubal Tanner."

XOXOXO

THE ANNIVERSARY: CHAPTER 1

Finally, he could see the Arkansas River. The constant puffs of steam that drifted past the window were lighter now, as the engineer throttled back. Matt took one last look into the ornate little jewelry box and watched the light play off the stunning diamond pendant, emitting brilliant hues of blue and white as he stared at it. He'd squirreled enough money away for two years to buy it, and it was sure to set her eyes on fire when he gave it to her.

"Dodge City!" The conductor called as he walked through the car. And then, even louder, "Dodge City Kansas!"

Matt carefully snapped the box closed and tucked it into his bag. It was good to finally be home. He stepped off the coach, and his eyes fell immediately on his girls: Kitty with a beaming smile, trying her best to hang onto an overjoyed Sara who was galloping in place next to her, unable to contain herself at the thought of being swept up into her father's arms. Matt clutched the case between his legs for safekeeping and hoisted Sara up to his chest, giving her a round of kisses that made her shriek "Daddy! Daddy!" While she squirmed and pulled on the brim of his hat, he reached around her and planted a deep kiss on his wife's lips. Second nature now, the Dillons didn't even give it a thought anymore. It was just the depot after all, and he'd been gone over two weeks.

"Me! Me! Daddy, Me!" Sara had been denied for ten seconds, and patience wasn't one of her key skills. Matt gave her a gentle tickle, and half a dozen more kisses.

"I love Momma too, Princess." Then he turned again to his wife. "Have to get my saddle and bedroll from baggage. My big case and my rifle, too."

"I remember all that. I brought the buggy. How was it, Matt?"

She'd sworn to herself she'd stop asking that question. It just always seemed to slip out when he came home because she cared. She really DID care. Lately it always seemed to sober him up, and today was no exception.

"I guess I did my job. I'll tell you all about it at home after this little darlin' runs out of steam." He gave Sara more kisses, then put his hat on her head, listening to her squeal with delight when it plopped almost down to her chin.

"Daddy hat! Taywa daddy hat!"

He snuck one more quick kiss with his wife. "Let's head home so you can spend some time with her." Kitty said. "She's the best tonic for a daddy who's been so hard at work."

"You're readin' my mind again, Kit. You want me to keep her while you get the buggy?"

"Don't think I could tear her away. I'll bring the buggy around. Let me carry that case."

"It's not heavy. I'll keep it."

XOXOXO

Kitty took her time watching the most esteemed lawman in Kansas on the parlor floor, his long legs spread wide, with his daughter and her brightly painted blocks between them. He seemed fascinated that she could stack blue on blue, red on red, green on green, and yellow on yellow without a single mistake. Each time she completed a stack, he pulled her in for a hug and a little tickle, then let her go right back to the task at hand. When she ran out of blocks, he spread them all out again and mixed them up. Instead of being frustrated, she giggled and looked over her shoulder at him, delighted to start the game again. This time he waited until she had the red stack almost finished, then he grabbed a blue block and set it on top. He watched her flail her arms and look back at him with an expression of frustration on her face that only her mother could ever have matched. She waited patiently while he removed the blue block and replaced it with a green one. This time she didn't criticize with those big blue eyes. She simply tossed the blue block onto the pile and quickly replaced it with a red one before her not very smart daddy could sabotage the stack again.

"How long did it take you to teach her that?" He looked up at Kitty with a big smile on his face.

"Half an hour, if that. Ava said it's a real good exercise to start teaching her about relationships between things. Let me show you what Festus made for her."

Kitty walked to the bedroom that now harbored everything for Sara and came back with a box of blocks. Sara looked up at her eagerly, eyes wide, waiting for her mother to dole out the toys for the next game. Kitty pushed the colored blocks to the side and put the new ones between Matt's legs. Matt rolled them around. The same letter was painted on each side.

"Festus made these?"

"Indeed." She smiled.

"Kitty, Festus can't read!"

"You might be surprised, Marshal. You've been gone a lot. Watch now."

Sara studied the blocks carefully. She pulled in an "S" block, then two "A's" and an "R," placing them in a row. Matt sat stock still and watched her look up tentatively at her mother. Kitty kept a pleasant expression but shook her head "no," and tapped one of the "A's." The little girl beamed and squealed with delight while she rearranged the A's so that "SARA" was spelled perfectly. Her reward was a big hug from her daddy, who scrambled the blocks up again and watched her spell her name perfectly on the next try. She pointed at the blocks.

"Taywa." She looked over her shoulder at her father.

"Sara!" He repeated with a big smile. Just for fun, he placed a row of blocks just in front of hers, spelling "Festus." Then he pointed carefully at his design and very slowly said "Festus."

She didn't recognize all the letters, but the name brought a giggle of delight.

"Unky Fetut!"

He nodded in approval. It was close enough.

Kitty prompted her one more time. "Daddy?"

Instead of going for the blocks, Sara went for her father's leg, laid her head on it, and did her best to give his leg a hug. It was more than he could stand. He spun her around and swept her into his chest, planting baby kiss after baby kiss in her hair, on her face, and on her neck. She was attached to him like glue. He rocked to his feet in one sweeping motion and twirled her around while she laughed uncontrollably, celebrating his return and the games she loved to play.

"Ting!" She demanded.

"My foot's in the stirrup, my rein in my hand," his rich baritone rang out while he glided around the parlor with his tiny partner. "I'm a-leavin' Cheyenne, I'm off to Montan." When he dipped low, she giggled with delight, so he continued. "Goodbye old Paint, I'm a-leavin' Cheyenne."

"Where in the world did you get THAT?" Kitty called from the audience.

"I don't know, it just came to me. Sang it to the cattle when I was stuck ridin' nighthawk."

"Perhaps something a little more upbeat?" She requested with arched eyebrows.

"Home, home on the range," he began, not the least bit surprised when his daughter tried to sing along.

"Ho . . ho . . ranch."

She had no idea the meaning, the words, or what came next. All that mattered was dancing in her daddy's arms. So he kept singing, dancing slower and slower, while he felt her slowly relaxing in his arms.

"Where the deer and the antelope play." He went on gently.

"Where seldom is heard a discouraging word" was almost in a whisper. "And the skies are not cloudy all day . . ." He trailed off, giving her one last kiss on the forehead as she surrendered to sleep.

"Just like all my dates." He looked over at Kitty, who had a big smile on her face. "So bored they fall asleep."

"I promise I won't," she offered playfully. "Time to put her in bed anyway. You can have the honor. You hungry?"

"Mmmm Hmmm. For you." He held Sara gently to the side, then swept a big arm around what he was hungry for and treated himself to a deep kiss.

"Nice. I definitely won't fall asleep! A quick whiskey to warm you up?"

"I'm not cold."

"I meant to warm . . . you . . . up, mister." She had a flirtatious smile on her face, leaving no doubt about her intentions.

"A quick whiskey with my date. It's the least I can do. I mean, she doesn't get paid unless she gets the guy to buy at least ONE drink, right?"

"Your memory's good, big guy. Now put that little girl to bed. Her nightie is on the dresser. Hang her dress in the armoire please. Oh, and she wants her little kitten AND her stuffed horse tucked in with her, one on each side please."

"She still likes those critters, huh?"

"Matt, YOU gave them to her! They're her connection with you. She'll probably sleep with them after she gets married! Daddy's girl, remember?

"Most little girls want dolls."

"Most little girls aren't Matt Dillon's child. Besides, there'll be plenty of time for dolls."

He relished his time with her. Hadn't given a thought to his hideous trip since he stepped off the train. Now here he was in Sara's brightly decorated bedroom, carefully disrobing her and putting the pretty blue nightdress on her. Her eyes were still a brilliant blue, even though she was three years and . . . "Let's see," he thought for a minute before it came to him. "Three and a half now," he muttered to himself. Where did the time go? When she was born, Doc told him she'd probably have blue eyes for her lifetime, since both his and Kitty's were deep azure. He said it was unusual with her dark brown hair, but then in the next instant he'd pointed at her father. Memories had a way of flooding into his mind at the silliest times. He looked at the little horse, a creamy buckskin with four black legs and a thick black mane and tail. It was one day so long ago when he was in Wichita, waiting for another murder trial to start. There it was in the window of that general store next to a couple of dolls, of course. He could have picked one of the dolls, but . . . He gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. She smiled and mouthed "Daddy" one more time, then closed her baby blues and let sleep claim her.

"I took the liberty of pouring while you were busy, cowboy." Kitty handed him one of the glasses.

"Any rule in this bar against taking these drinks to your room, missy?"

"Cost ya' extra to go to my room," she teased.

"I've got money. Got a good job and all. Just lookin' for a little tangle."

"You gonna take that wedding ring off?

"Nope. Not worried about my wife finding me."

"Oh but she will, cowboy. She'll find every delicious part of you."

He was sure he'd be able to beat her at the seduction this time, but he'd lost the first round fair and square. So he gave her his glass, swept her into his arms, and marched her to the bedroom, depositing her gently on the bed. He put both glasses on the nightstand, right next to the "Private Talk" sign that had watched over them for six years of marriage. Every time he looked at the beautiful woman on the bed like this his memories of what she'd meant to him took control of his mind. Smart, tough, beautiful, and HIS. All HIS. Seemed like the longer they were together, the more exciting she became! He hovered over her for a minute, then unable to wait any longer, he planted his lips on hers and kissed her. Really kissed her with a pent-up passion that went all the way back to their wedding night.

"Wow," she whispered when he let her air up. "Look, I don't have time for kissin. You better get on with it mister or my boss will . . ."

He covered her mouth with his again, this time exploring the inside of it eagerly with a tongue that was all too ready to explore every part of her body. Problem was, they were both fully clothed. He wanted to give her a big tickle for her smart remark, but somehow there was a much more important draw. Practiced fingers worked away at buttons, their chests now bared.

"Got a lot more of those gray hairs since the last time I had you. You still want me?"

"More than ever. And I decided I want more of that kissin, too," she reminded him with a soft smile.

"Like I said, I can pay for this. Been out on the prairie a long time. Gonna be in Dodge for a while. I'll pay double and keep you for more kissin'."

Hands motivated by what was to come, clothing came off quickly. Available fingers took their time lightly stroking each other's bodies.

"Gotta warn you, sometimes the marshal raids this place." She whispered.

"I'll just bet he does. And I'll bet I know what he's after, too!"

"Saw you earlier dancin' with another girl."

"I've danced with her before. Went to her room too before I came here. That bother you?"

"Can't let it. I've got bills to pay." She nipped his neck playfully. "Dance this dance with me, cowboy?"

That invitation had been his undoing since the first time they'd shared a bed, and this night was no exception. He crushed his lips down on hers, pulling her into his arms. Their favorite game of teasing each other had worked its inevitable magic. She was caressing his butt up and down, then in circles, pressing just a little bit harder with each rotation, feeling the muscles, then massaging them again purposefully with her fingers. His mouth was in her ear now, breath sputtering, his day's growth of beard brushing on her cheek reminding her in the most delightful way that the man she loved was home at last. Private talk and banter, even rational thought soared out the window when they joined in their favorite dance, a dance a man and his wife should be able to enjoy at any whim, except for the pull of his job. Except for all the nights they had to be miles apart . . . longing for each other. No point in ruining the moment by thinking about that. They rocked together, both naked bodies glistening in sweat, then combined fluids in one final but NEVER final celebration of their love. Together at last now, this year he'd be home for their anniversary.

XOXOXO

Rolled to her side to face him as their breathing finally slowed, she stroked his face with the lightest of fingertips, running them over the stubble that really was flecked with gray.

"That was absolutely delightful, my love. Are you as happy as I am?"

He took her fingers and put them to his mouth, kissing them tenderly.

"Happier than any man in the world deserves to be right now," he whispered. "Here with you and Sara, it's paradise. How's that?"

But for just a moment she saw him break eye contact, so she gave him a tender nibble on his neck. When she came back to his face, his eyes were moist, or had she imagined that? She brushed his lips with hers, and when she looked up a tiny tear had trickled down each cheek. A quick kiss under each eye made them stop. Once in a while his job played with his mind. Sometimes he had to take a life with his gun, and that had always crushed him. More and more often he had to spend his nights in some hotel room rather than out on the prairie in the fresh air he loved. More and more often he had to travel by train, leaving Buck at home bored to death. It had to be the trip. Time to make him talk about it. So she picked up right where she'd left off at the depot.

"Sara can make anybody right with the world!" She brightened.

"She sure can, Kitten," he smiled softly. "I'm gonna spend lots of time with her while I'm home. She's just good for my soul."

"A lot of other folks, too. She's got everybody that comes around this house wound around her little finger." She paused a moment, then went for it. "You were going to tell me what happened on your trip, Matt."

It took him a minute to even recollect the mess, he'd been so lost in the joy of being with his family. But Kitty had always had a soothing way with him, and he'd come more and more to depend on that.

"It was sad, Kit. They sentenced Wilkins to hang after I testified against him. Then I had the pleasure of serving eviction papers on his widow. She must've been seven or eight months along. All she did was ask if she could pick up her husband's body and bury him at home before she loaded her stuff in the wagon. Three more land foreclosures after that, two near Salina and one clear up around Manhattan. I waived the first two, they'll probably write me up for that. My God, the first guy had just mangled his leg in a plow and had five young children to feed. The second was a woman trying to stay alive all by herself on a farm that would've taken three strong men to work. Maybe they'll make me go back and serve 'em again, I don't know. But at least I bought those poor people some time."

"What happened to the pregnant widow?"

"I don't know. I stayed long enough to bury her husband and load all her stuff in the wagon. Drove her to town that night and left her there. Had to catch the train for Kansas City first thing in the morning. Don't know if anybody helped her, but at least she wasn't out on the prairie."

"When did Festus make the blocks?" His abrupt change of subject startled her.

"Uh, well, your trip before last. Maybe a month or two ago. She got real handy with them when Ava started teaching her to recognize the colors and spell her name. You were gone on this trip while I practiced with her."

"Why didn't I see 'em when I was home last time?"

"Matt! Be fair! You got home on a Saturday morning and you left again Sunday night. We had time to take her out for one picnic, that was it."

He was quiet for what seemed like an eternity, thinking about what she'd said. He kissed her tenderly, then tried to compose his thoughts. He kissed her again, just lost in the love he had for his wife and how much she meant to him. Charlie's words in that letter over two years ago kept echoing back to him. "Having a family is the ultimate privilege any marshal will ever know."

"When's she gonna learn to say her name right?"

"I think she does real well. She's only three and a half."

"How does she spell it like that when she can't say it right?"

"She has the letters memorized, sweetie. She's not reading them, she's seeing them. She'll be able to read them next year. You haven't been around to watch Ava teach her. Truth be told, Ava is teaching ME how to teach her, right along."

"I miss you when I'm gone."

"I miss you too, Matt."

"I mean really miss you! More than I can describe. I want to roll over in bed and take you in my arms and love you, Kit. But there are so many nights I can't do that because of my mistress, the United States government. Now you're left to raise Sara with Ava and Festus. I should be here like other husbands and fathers are with their families. I'm so left out of it. I mean, c'mon, Kit, Festus? He's a wonderful friend, as good as anyone could ever have, but I'll be damned if I want him raising . . ."

She put her fingers on his lips.

"Matt, I'm right here for her. I wouldn't let anyone else help raise her up if I didn't approve."

"I know that. But I want to be right there next to you, teaching her, watching her grow."

She pulled his face down into her neck and kissed him in his thick curls, gently stroking his shoulders until they finally fell asleep in each other's arms.

tbc