"The Hat Hook" In the season 5 episode, "Johnny Red," Matt comes into Kitty's room and hangs his hat on the hook next to her door. This short story tells how the hat hook came to be.

Matt and Kitty had known each other for close to five years. In that time they had gone from acquaintances to best friends to lovers. They were still best friends, but they were also lovers. Both their friendship and their love for one another grew with their relationship.

Whenever it allowed him to do so, Matt spent his nights with Kitty up in her room. He would often make the Long Branch his last stop on his rounds, and then climb the back steps up to Kitty's room. Sometimes when he entered the room, Kitty was already propped up in bed waiting for him. Other times she would be sitting at her vanity getting ready for bed. It all depended on how busy of a night she had downstairs.

Matt had his routine when he came to Kitty's. He would remove his gun belt and place it on the dresser. He would then remove his hat. There were times he would place it on top of his gun belt. There were times he would toss it on the sette. There were even times he would just toss it on the floor. Tonight Matt put his gun belt on the dresser. He then sat down on the foot of the bed to remove his boots and tossed his hat next to his boots. Kitty took notice of this and decided she really needed a hat hook in her room for Matt to hang his hat on. She would go to Jonas' store tomorrow.

Gun belt, boots, and hat no longer on, Matt removed the rest of his clothes and joined Kitty in bed. She had been waiting for him. Matt was no longer clothed, but Kitty was in her nightgown. That would not last long. Another routine they had was Matt helping Kitty remove her nightgown before they made love. They both felt it was very sensual and intimate when he did so.

Matt slowly unbuttoned the buttons of the nightgown and Kitty lifted it over her head, tossing it on the floor. It didn't take long for the two of them to start kissing and explore each other's bodies. Kitty ached to feel Matt inside of her and Matt ached to be in her. Taking his hand, Matt reached down to Kitty's curls and could feel that she was ready for him. Matt gently entered her. Kitty gladly accepted him. She wrapped her legs around his hips, and they began a dance of sexual intimacy. As Matt began thrusting faster and faster. He could feel the beginning of his climax. Kitty was right there with him. Just as Matt reached his climax and spilled his seed inside of her, Kitty's muscles clenched around him.

After it was over, both basked in the afterglow. Matt was lying on his back, with Kitty resting her head on his massive chest. He held her securely in his arms. Matt placed a kiss on the top of Kitty's head before he spoke.

"Sweetheart, that was absolutely wonderful. The other women in my past never made me feel this way. It's probably because I never really loved them. Being with you has taught me what love really is."

"Oh, Matt. You can be so romantic when you want to be. I feel the same way. I never knew what love was until you came into my life."

Knowing Kitty had the day off tomorrow, Matt asked her what plans she had. "Do you have any big plans for tomorrow. I know you have the day off."

"Actually, I have to work for an hour or so in the morning while Doc removes a hangnail from Fred's big toe. Before that, I plan on getting a few things from Jonas' store," answered Kitty. "Do you plan on being around Dodge tomorrow?"

"Unless something comes up, I plan on sticking around Dodge. My plan is to work on reports and other paperwork that I need to catch up on," said Matt.

Matt and Kitty talked for a little bit more and then fell asleep. Before the sun made its way above the horizon, Matt rose out of bed and got dressed. Kitty was awake and watched him. Matt knew she was awake, but still was as quiet as he could be.

Before leaving the room, Matt went over to Kitty and gave her a kiss goodbye. "I'll see ya tonight, honey."

"I can't wait, Cowboy," Kitty replied with a smile on her face.

Kitty got ready for the day. She walked down the boardwalks of Front Street and into Wilbur Jonas' general store. When she entered, Jonas was helping another customer. Kitty knew what she wanted. She just didn't know where Jonas kept them in his store or if he would have to order one for her. Jonas finished up with his customer and came over to Kitty.

"Hello, Miss Kitty. What can I do for you?" asked Jonas.

"Hello, Mr. Jonas. I'm in need of a hat hook. Do you carry those or does one have to be ordered?" Kitty responded.

"I have those in my store. Come this way and I'll show you what I have," said Jonas as he led Kitty towards the hat hooks. "These are what I have, but this one is my most popular."

Kitty took the hat hook from Jonas. She really didn't know too much about hat hooks, except that men usually put their hats on them. "If this is your most popular one, I'll take it."

"Great, let me get you some nails. You'll need those to install it," said Jonas. "Do you need a hammer?"

"No, I have a hammer at the Long Branch," Kitty replied. "How much do I owe you?"

"The hook and nails come to $2.75," Jonas told Kitty. KItty paid and left the store.

Kitty returned to the Long Branch and went up to her room. She put the brown paper bag that held the hook and nails on her bed. She then went downstairs so Fred could go and see Doc about removing a hangnail.

The day passed on and before Kitty knew it, nightfall had arrived. When Matt came to her room after his rounds, Kitty was in her nightgown, but she wasn't in bed or sitting at her vanity. She was standing at the door that led to the hallway, with the hat hook in her hand.

Matt started his routine of removing his gun belt, boots, and hat. He saw Kitty standing by the door and asked what she was doing. "What are you doing?"

"I decided to buy a hook for your hat," Kitty said pointing to the hat on the floor. "That hat seems to find different places around here, so I decided to give it its own place. Will you put this hook up here please?"

Matt smiled at her and took the hat hook from her. She was always coming up with good ideas. Hat hook in hand, Matt grabbed the hammer and nails off the dresser and began to pound the nails to hold the hat hook in place.

"Do you think that's a little too high?" asked Kitty.

"It's the perfect height for me, unless you plan on having other visitors," teased Matt.

"You know that's never going to happen," responded Kitty.

Matt finished with the hat hook and then took his hat off of the floor and placed it on the hook. "Thank you, sweetheart. You're always thinking of things, even the small things."

"I think that's what makes our relationship so strong. We make the small things count, just like we do the big things," Kitty softly said.

Climbing into bed, Matt and Kitty knew that hat hook would get plenty of use, and it most certainly did.

The End