Gunsmoke: Never Wanna Live Without You

Part 3

"So are ya gonna be at the dance tommora, Miss Kitty?" asked Chester grinning at her like a fool. He had come in earlier for one beer and he ended up staying for three.

"I sure am, Chester. Aren't you gonna be there?"

"Oh, sure, sure. I just need ta find someone ta ask," he said sipping his beer.

"You mean you haven't asked anyone yet?" she said surprised. The dance was less than twenty four hours away.

"Well, to tell the truth, I probably won't ask anybody. I just don't feel like bein' tied down to any one person. I just wanna have a nice time, maybe dance a few dances and then go home," he told her.

"You don't seem very excited about it. I thought these Dodge City barn dances were a big deal around here."

"Oh, they are, but I've been to my share," he said dismissively. "The excitement wares off after while." Kitty held in a laugh as she listened to him go on. She knew that the real reason he wasn't excited was because he wouldn't be able to go with Lois Barnum. He had waited too long to ask her and she was going with Stanley Vernon instead. Doc had come in earlier and told her all about.

"Well, you be sure and save a dance for me, Chester."

"I sure will, Miss Kitty," he said. He tipped his head back to finish the last of his beer and then wiped the foam from his lip. "Well, I guess I'd better head back to the jail."

"Come on, I'll walk you out," Kitty said standing. They said their goodbyes and she watched for a moment as he limped down the boardwalk.

A slight chill was in the air and she rubbed at her naked arms. Autumn was just around the corner; she could smell it. She turned to look in the opposite way Chester had gone and caught sight of her big man coming toward her. He must have been on his rounds. "Hey there, Cowboy," she said smiling as he got nearer. He stopped closely in front of her and pushed his hat back on his head.

"Hi, Kitty," he said with a big grin.

"You out on your rounds?" she asked.

"Yeah, but I'm finished now."

"How about a short walk?"

"Alright," he said, glad she asked.

"I haven't seen much of you this week," Kitty said as the strolled down the deserted boardwalk.

"Yeah, I know. It's been real busy around here lately." Matt watched as she shivered a bit. "Cold?" he asked as he slipped an arm around her, pulling her into his side.

"Mm, just a little," she said, loving his touch. She felt so protected when she was with him. "Come here," she said as pulled him into a shadow. She leaned her back against the wall and pulled him in until he was pressed up against her, her arms wrapped around his neck. "You have yet to give me a proper hello," she whispered. Matt didn't waste any time as he leaned down and took her mouth in a sensual kiss. His tongue teased her lips open and explored every delicious inch of her mouth.

Kitty moaned as the kiss continued. She felt his large hands roaming down her hips and upper thighs, the feeling making her hot.

Matt was feeling pretty warm himself, the soft noises she was making only adding to his desire. He felt her hand slide down his chest and gently push. He pulled away, both of them breathing hard. "Matt," she said, trying to calm herself, "I have to go back to work." Matt only closed his eyes and groaned. Then he leaned in again to kiss her one last time and enfold her in his strong arms.

"Woman," he said miserably, "You drive me crazy." He buried his face in her neck, inhaling the sent of her intoxicating perfume. They stood that way for a few moments longer.

"I really should get back now," Kitty said. Matt reluctantly let go and they walked back to the saloon.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then," he said with a sigh as they stopped a short ways from the door. Kitty smiled at him and then turned to go. She was just about to push the doors open when she suddenly turned back and walked to him. Matt looked at her with a furrowed brow and watched as she snaked a hand in between her breasts, pulling out something shiny.

"Here," she said pressing it into his hand. "Come and visit me when you're done tonight." She turned around again and quickly headed into the building. A smile spread across Matt's face as he looked down into his hand and saw a key.

MKMKMK

The next morning, Kitty slowly went about getting ready. Matt hadn't come to her last night and she wasn't sure why. The Long Branch had stayed open a little late, but there was no word of any trouble and the streets were still quiet once she went to her room. It hadn't been an easy decision for her to make, inviting Matt back to her room. He hadn't said the words, but she was so sure she saw it in his eyes on more than one occasion.

She looked at the new dress hanging over her changing screen. It was a beautiful, deep blue, strapless number and she was sure it would knock his socks off, but she wasn't as excited about the dance anymore. She felt kind of empty somehow. With a deep sigh, she pinned her hat to her head and left for breakfast.

Once in Delmonico's, she took a table near the far wall. She hadn't seen Matt on the street on the way over. The logical explanation would have been that he was somehow busy with work last night, but she still felt down for some reason, even a little foolish. Maybe she should have never given him her key at all.

"Mind if I join you?" came a deep voice from above. She looked up into the handsome face of John. She was so busy thinking about Matt that she didn't even hear him walk up.

"Sure," she said with a small smile. She would have rather been alone, actually, but she didn't want to be rude.

"So," he said as he sat down across from her, "You here to eat?" Kitty looked at him with a bit of a raised brow.

"That's the general idea," she responded, thinking his question stupid. He only gave her a lopsided smile.

"Well, you've been sittin' here for a few minutes haven't you?"

"Mhm."

"The server should have waited on you by now," he explained. "At least given you some coffee."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," she said not even having noticed. "They can be kinda slow here sometimes."

MKMKMK

Matt walked along on his way to the Long Branch, intending to see if Kitty wanted to have breakfast with him. He wouldn't blame her if she said no. He didn't mean to stand her up, but last night, just as he was about to lock the sleeping Chester in and go see Kitty, young Francis Neil had come riding in on her pa's horse, explaining that he had been shot by thieves. He quietly and quickly went about getting Buck and Doc and headed out. They didn't get back until nearly three that morning and the thieves were still on the loose. Matt decided that it would be safer if the family came into town until the men were caught. That way doc could keep a better eye on his patient.

He peeked inside as he was passing Delmonico's and stopped dead in his tracks. Kitty was sitting at a table with John Luff and laughing about something. The sight nearly made Matt's blood boil. And why did Kitty let him hang around her so much anyway? He stood there debating on whether or not to go in. He wanted to talk to her in private and Delmonico's probably wasn't the best place to do that anyway. He decided to let her finish her breakfast and he would catch up with her later. He would just go on over to Jonas's and pick up a few donuts for his own breakfast.

MKMKMK

If Matt wasn't going to come to her then, darn it, she was going to him. It was nearly five-thirty and now Kitty was just plain mad. He hadn't been to see her all day and the dance was only a few hours away. She pushed open the door to the jail and walked in to find it empty. Just her luck. She sat down at his desk, deciding to wait until he came back.

MKMKMK

Matt walked in twenty minutes later, surprised to see her in his chair. "Kitty, what are you doing here? What's wrong?" he asked as he took his hat off. Kitty stared at him stone faced.

"I'll tell you what's wrong. I gave my heart to you in the form of a key last night and you didn't do anything with it! Then I wait all day thinking that you'd come to me with some sort of understandable excuse and you don't, which leaves me thinking that you don't want me and that I've been a fool all this time and now I'm upset," she finished. By now she had stood from the desk and she was in his face and poking his chest. Matt stood there looking down at her, her jaw set and her mouth tight.

"You're beautiful when you're angry," he said softly as his face broke out into a grin. Kitty deflated, letting out a deep breath. Then she leaned into him and buried her face in his chest, the decoration of her hat brushing his face. "Kitty," Matt said gently, "I really do have an understandable excuse." She lifted her head from his chest and looked at him. Now, she was pouting.

"What is it?" she asked. Matt locked his hands around her waist to hold her in place.

"Someone got shot and I had to leave town last night. I didn't get back until early this morning and then every time I tried to get to you today something came up. Then I just came back here to wash up a little bit before I tried again and there you were sittin' at my desk," he explained. Kitty lowered her chin, feeling silly at all the things she'd said to him.

"Oh, I understand," she said quietly. Matt smiled and tilted her chin backup.

"Good." He leaned down and kissed her lips softly.

"I'm sorry," she said forlornly. "I should have given you a chance to explain before I said all that."

"Its okay, Kitty. You have a right to say what's on your mind. But, you've gotta know by now how much I want you. It about killed me when I realized I wasn't gonna be able to make it." Kitty smiled at his admission.

"Do you still want to go to the dance with me?" she asked.

"You're the only one I wanna go to the dance with." He leaned down to kiss her again, this time slow and long. Kitty pulled away dreamily.

"I should go and get ready," she said. Matt only nodded his agreement as he loosened his hold on her. "Maybe…we could try again tonight…after the dance," she suggested shyly. He nodded his head again and leaned down to steal another kiss. If she couldn't see how much he wanted her, then she would definitely be able to feel it. The kiss quickly began to spiral out of control until they heard footsteps on the boardwalk. Kitty pulled away breathless this time. "Okay, I have to go." He watched as she hurried out the door, flustered. He couldn't wait until tonight.

To be continued…