My Twisted Heritage

Chapter 6

Gunsmoke

Spoilers: Twisted Heritage/Not really any spoilers, I really don't follow the original idea

too much.

Before they knew it, Friday evening had arrived. It had been almost two months since the beautiful stranger had come into their lives and things were changing for the better. Kitty had found that she enjoyed the bookwork and she was very good at it, and Blane no longer felt the need to check the work behind her. He trusted her with his very life. The Copperton ranch was a flurry of excitement as the ranch-hands pitched in, making the barn ready for the dance. They had seen the way the boss looked at the pretty redhead and how happy she had made him. This was a good thing. Since his wife's death, Blane had become too solemn and sometimes down right unbearable. But that had changed the day he carried her unconscious form into the Copperton house, and nothing and no one had been the same since. So, as the ranch-hands decorated the barn to Mrs. Copperton's liking, Tracy and Kitty were busy getting dressed for this party. Blane came strolling into the barn as the men hurried about their work.

"Well, well, well, it's good to see that at least one woman living on this ranch can get dressed and prettied up without creating a commotion or taking forever." He said looking at his mother as she stood there in a soft pale blue dress.

Jesse turned around and frowned at her son. "When you get to be my age, Blane, you really don't think about looking pretty for the guests." She said as he laughed at her. "And has Tracy decided on which dress to wear?" She asked him.

"Well, she has it down to five dresses now." He said as he chuckled. "As for that woman, I don't rightly know what she's planning on wearing. She wouldn't let me take her to town and buy her a dress. She said, she'd wear one of the dresses that were given to her by Mace's wife, Hannah." He seemed disappointed and rightfully so. Hannah never wore anything other than dark browns, black or dark blue dresses with button up to her neck and sleeves that came down to almost cover her hands. She dressed like a preacher's wife even though her husband wasn't a preacher, but a ranch-hand on the Copperton ranch. "I can't wait to see what color she wears, black, black or maybe black." He said as Jesse began to laugh.

"I'll go check on her. Maybe give her a pair of earrings to gussy her up a bit." She said as she started to leave. "I don't think it matters much, what she wears. She could wear a gunny sack and you still wouldn't be able to keep your eyes off of her." She said heading out the door. Blane laughed as she left him there to finish with decorating.

Kitty was in her room looking at the dresses from Hannah. She wasn't really ready to do any mourning, and these dresses were made for such a sad occasion. As she stood there in the dressinggown, there was a light tap on the door. "Come in." She said still looking at the dresses. As she looked up, she was surprised to see Cookie come in with what looked to be a gown, wrapped in cloth to keep it clean.

"Scuse me, Miss, but Miss Jesse asked me to deliver this to you." He said as he hung the dress on the door or the armoire. Kitty just stared at the white cloth. She slowly stepped over to the gown and gently touched the cloth. Closing her eyes, she made a silent wish that the dress was not brown or black. Pulling the cover back on the dress she found a dark blue gown, with a square neckline and crystal beads sown into the bodice. Gently taking the dress down, she pulled it in front of her and looked into the mirror. The gown was like nothing she had ever seen before. It was utterly beautiful. She slowly lays it down on the bed and unbuttons the back. Then lowers the dress and steps into it. Jesse knocks on the door, just as she is beginning to button the back. She pokes her head in, seeing that Kitty was having a bit of trouble reaching certain buttons.

"Let me help you with that." She said coming to her aid. When the buttons were fastened, she stepped around Kitty and looked at her as Kitty looked in the mirror. "I picked out the right color for you, Kitty. Blane won't be able to take his eyes off of you."

"Jesse…" She started, but Jesse stopped her.

"He's falling in love with you, Kitty. And I for one, think it's about time." She looks at Kitty who tries to deny what she's feeling. "I'll meet you down stairs." She leaves the room, leaving Kitty to think for a moment.

Downstairs, Blane, Tracy and Jesse were waiting for Kitty. "Kitty, we're gonna be late to our own barn dance." Blane said. Tracy laughed at her father. Jesse slapped his arm. But the commotion stopped, the moment she came out and stood at the top of the stairs. If she had looked like an angel before, she was a heavenly angel now. Blane stopped in his tracks, staring at her. She smiled slightly. Tracy, who held her fathers hand, released it then pushed him towards the steps. He was stunned by the beauty who stood at the top of the steps, so stunned that he couldn't speak or move at first. Blane quickly climbed the steps. "You are the most beautiful woman, I've ever seen." He held out his arm to her and she wrapped her arm around. She then took a handful of skirt, to lift it slightly, as to keep from tripping over it.

They get to the barn and Tracy and Jesse are walking ahead of them. Blane stops and turns Kitty to face him. "I'm not sure I should take you to this barn dance, Kitty."

"Why?" She said feeling afraid.

"I'm a very jealous man. If any of them so much as smile at you, I might have to do something drastic." He smiles at her. Kitty rolls her eyes at him.

"Let me assure you, Mr. Copperton, that I am your date." She reached up and pulled his face to hers. Her lips gently brushed his and her tongue snaked out, caressing his bottom lip. He hungrily devoured her mouth and pulled her tightly against him. When they came up for air, Kitty smiled. "I think perhaps we better go inside before Jesse sends out a posse."

to be continued……