Chapter 5 A Most Beloved Face

Several Days Later

As the wire he sent said, Matt returned several days later. He returned late at night. Doc knew how eager Matt was to see Kitty and how eager Kitty was to see Matt, but he insisted on checking Matt over to make sure he was alright. Matt knew there was no point in arguing. He let Doc examine him. Doc determined that except for some scrapes and bruises Matt was fine. The Marshal just needed some food, a nice hot bath, a comfortable bed, and some sleep. Doc was one hundred percent sure that Kitty would make sure Matt received all of that. The minute Doc was done with the examination Matt went to see Kitty.

Kitty hadn't been in her room very long, when she heard Matt's unmistakable footsteps on the back stairs that led to her room. She wasn't even going to give him a chance to use his spare key to unlock her door. When she knew he was at her door, Kitty opened it and threw herself at Matt, hugging him with all her might.

Matt was taken by surprise. It was a wonder he didn't tumble backwards and take Kitty with him. "Whoa. Take it easy." Matt managed to say.

"I'm sorry. Did I cause you any pain? I should've taken in consideration that you could be injured," said Kitty worriedly, as she loosened her grip. They walked into the room, shutting and locking the door behind them.

"I'm fine. I already saw Doc. I just have a few scrapes and bruises," Matt reassured her. "I just didn't know if you wanted your arms around a dirty, dust-covered lawman. I cleaned up in Lamb County, but that was several days ago."

"Matt, you could come in here covered in horse manure, and I would still hug you as fiercely as I did," said Kitty.

"You must've really missed me," said Matt.

"You have no idea," Kitty whispered.

"If it's as much as I missed you, then I do have an idea," Matt whispered back.

"I have plans for you tonight, and they start with dinner," said Kitty. "Are you hungry? I have some roast beef sandwiches. I know it's not much."

"After what I've eaten this last week, those sound delicious," said Matt. "But are you sure you don't want me to get cleaned up first? I don't want to make this room all dirty."

"You can go in there and wash your hands, but a nice hot bath is part of my plans," Kitty told Matt.

Matt gave Kitty that smile he reserved only for her. He had a feeling he was going to enjoy what Kitty had planned. Matt went to the water closet to wash his hand, and then he joined Kitty at the small table she had in her room. On the table, Kitty had a plate of two sandwiches and a mug of beer to wash it down at Matt's seat.

"Aren't you gonna have any?" Matt asked when he realized Kitty didn't have any food in front of her.

"I ate earlier," Kitty replied. "When you're done eating, you can enjoy a nice, hot, relaxing bath. I had Sam bring in extra hot water earlier. I checked it before you got here. It's still at a good temperature."

"Those sandwiches sure hit the spot," said Matt, taking his last bite.

"Follow me, Cowboy," said Kitty as she led Matt into the water closet. "Remove your clothes and put them over there. I'll make sure they get washed tomorrow."

"If you're gonna have my clothes washed tomorrow, what am I going to wear when I leave this room?" asked Matt. He certainly wasn't going to walk down Front Street naked.

"When I found out you were alive and coming home, I went to the jail to get an extra set of your clothes. They're in the other room," answered Kitty.

"You know me so well," said Matt. "You knew I'd be comin' here."

"That's what I was hoping for," said Kitty. "Enough stalling. Get out of those clothes."

"Yes, ma'am," said Matt. He swiftly stripped out of his apparel.

"Step into the tub," Kitty told Matt.

Matt did as he was told. He slowly sank into the very warm water. "Aren't ya gonna join me?" He always enjoyed taking a bath with Kitty.

"Not this time," Kitty responded. "But I am going to wash you from head to toe, starting with your head. I'll wash your hair first."

Rolling up her sleeves, Kitty grabbed a pitcher and dipped it into the water. She poured the water on Matt's head, soaking his hair. Next she took a bar of soap and rubbed it across Matt's head. When she had a good lather, she used her fingers and massaged his scalp. Matt closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of Kitty's fingers massaging his head. After a few minutes, Kitty poured another pitcher of water on Matt's head to rinse out the soap.

Matt's face was the next thing to wash. Kitty took the washcloth that was sitting on a stool and dipped it into the tub to get it wet. She then took the same bar of soap she used on Matt's hair and lathered it up on the washcloth. Very slowly, Kitty started to wash Matt's face. But as Kitty was washing Matt's face, she stopped and stared at him. Matt realized Kitty's motions had ceased. He opened his eyes to see Kitty looking at him. He wasn't quite sure, but he thought he saw unshed tears in her eyes. This concerned him.

"What's wrong? Don't like what you see?" he teased.

Kitty swallowed the lump in her throat. "No. I'm just trying to burn the image of your beloved face into my brain. I don't want to forget what you look like again."

"Again?" Matt inquired.

Taking a deep breath and collecting her thoughts, Kitty told Matt about her nightmare that he had been killed. She relayed to him how real the nightmare was, but what made it worse was that she couldn't remember his face. She couldn't remember what he looked like, and that scared her to her very core. So to make sure she wouldn't forget his face, she wanted to study it as much as possible.

"I'm convinced that in my dream I forgot what you looked like was a punishment for my stubbornness," said Kitty. "Matt, I'm so sorry. I was so upset when you didn't show up that night or the next morning. I let my stubbornness cloud my logical thinking. I shoulda realized something was wrong. I shoulda known that you wouldn't stand me up like that. That being said, I'm not going to let my stubbornness get the best of me anymore. I'm not gonna be stubborn anymore."

Matt raised his eyebrows at her. "Kitty, I don't know why you forgot what I looked like when you had your nightmare, but I'm sure it had nothing to do with your stubbornness. Now about not being stubborn anymore, don't do that." It was Kitty's turn to raise her eyebrows at Matt, prompting him to explain. "Kitty, your stubbornness is one of the many things I love about you, even though I am a victim of it at times. You wouldn't be Kitty Russell if you weren't stubborn every once in a while. I love Kitty Russell."

"If you insist that I remain stubborn, then I will," said Kitty.

Matt smiled. "I do insist." He brought his hand up out of the water. "I'm startin' to look like a wrinkled old man."

"Let me finish washing you and then we can get to the next part of my plan," said Kitty.

Kitty finished washing Matt's body, paying extra attention to certain body parts. When Kitty was done washing Matt, he stood up. Kitty handed him a towel, noting that he was well prepared for the next part of her plan. Matt took the towel and dried his hair and body. After he was done with the towel, Kitty took it and draped it over the back of one of her chairs.

"Now for part three of the plan," said Kitty. "Go to the bed and wait for me."

Matt looked at his naked form and then at Kitty's fully clothed body. "Either I'm under dressed for this next part or you're overdressed."

"I can fix that. You just go to the bed and wait for me," Kitty responded.

Kitty slowly and deftly stripped out of her own clothes. She purposefully took her time, giving Matt a private show. The only thing he could do was lick his suddenly dry lips in appreciation. Matt didn't know how much he could take. Watching Kitty was doing magical things to his body. He couldn't wait for her to join him.

"Kitty, I'm very much appreciating watching you take off your clothes," said Matt. "But you need to come join me so I can show how much I appreciate it."

Not wanting to stall things any more herself, Kitty climbed in bed next to Matt. Her hand immediately found Matt's member and she could feel that he was indeed ready for a night of lovemaking. Knowing that Matt was ready for their bodies to become one, prepared Kitty's body. Matt carefully rolled on top of Kitty, his body pressing her body into the mattress. Kitty guided Matt's manhood into her warm velvety opening.

That night there was nothing hotter in Dodge City than the two lovers in that bed. They shared their bodies with a smoldering passion. The searing heat of their lovemaking burning memories into both lovers, causing neither of them to ever forget each other's faces.

The End