"Could I Have This Dance?" This story contains MM from "Old Yellow Boots." (Season 7)
There was going to be a dance next weekend and Matt planned on asking Kitty to attend it with him. They had known each other for seven years, and whenever there was a dance, Kitty would go with Matt, as long as he was available. Even though it was pretty much a given that Kitty would be Matt's date at the dance, he would still ask her. Today he was going to go over to the Long Branch and ask KItty to escort him to the dance.
Matt got up from behind his desk, left his office, and walked over to the Long Branch. He pushed open the batwing doors and walked into the saloon. There was a nice size crowd for it being in the middle of the afternoon. Matt walked up to the bar, where Sam was filling a beer mug.
"Hello, Marshal. Can I get you a beer?" asked Sam. He knew that if Matt did drink during the day, it was usually a beer.
"No thanks, Sam. I'm looking for Kitty. Is she around?" asked Matt.
"She is in the back office," Sam said as he pointed his head towards the closed office door.
"Thanks," said Matt as he walked towards the office door. He knocked and waited for Kitty's response.
"Come on in," said Kitty from the other side of the door.
Matt turned the doorknob and walked in. When Kitty heard the door open, she looked up. She had expected to see Sam, thinking he might need help in the bar. It was getting busy. Kitty did not expect to see Matt. A smile lit up her face when she saw him. She put down her pencil, closed her ledger, got up from her desk, and walked over to him.
"Hello, Cowboy. Isn't this a pleasant surprise? I wasn't expecting to see you at this time of day, not that I'm complaining," said Kitty as she wrapped her arms around Matt's neck.
"Did you hear that there's going to be a dance next weekend?" asked Matt.
"I did hear that. One of the girls mentioned it this morning," answered Kitty.
"Well, if you haven't been asked already, I would be honored if you would be my date to the dance," said Matt. You could hear the nervousness in his voice.
"It just so happens that I have not been asked, and I would be honored to go with you," said Kitty.
Matt let out the breath he had been holding in anticipation. "Oh good, I was afraid someone may have already asked you."
Both Matt and Kitty knew that the town was well aware that they would be each other's dates for the dance. Unless some stranger rode into town, who wasn't aware of that, no other man asked Kitty to the dance. However, Matt still asking Kitty and being all nervous about it was a little game that they played. It started from the first time Matt asked Kitty to a dance. They had only known each other for a short while, and at that time Matt actually was nervous. He wasn't nervous about asking KItty. He was nervous that she would turn him down. As time went on and Matt asked Kitty to more dances, the shyness and nervousness started to go away. Kitty had mentioned to Matt how much she loved how nervous he was when he first asked her to a dance. She told him that she thought it made him even more adorable than he already was. With that being said, Matt decided to keep up the act each time he asked her.
"Nope, nobody else has asked me. I just hope you're still in town next weekend, so you can go," said Kitty.
"Me too, Sweetheart," said Matt as he placed a kiss on her lips. "But you know the life of a lawman doesn't guarantee that."
"I know that all too well," said Kitty, returning the kiss.
"I need to get back to the office," said Matt. "If we stay in here too much longer, Sam and the patrons are going to wonder what's going on."
"Let them wonder. What time will you be picking me up next weekend?" Kitty asked.
"The dance is at seven, so I'll pick you up a little before seven," Matt answered.
"Great, I'm looking forward to it," said Kitty.
"So am I," Matt said, giving Kitty one more kiss before he left the office.
The week went by and it was the night of the dance. Matt was standing in front of the mirror tying his string tie, while Chester was polishing his boots and singing one of his songs. Matt wanted to make sure his tie was evenly tied.
"All over Kansas and in every Kansas town," Chester was singing.
"Chester," Matt interrupted. "You better hurry up. That dance is tonight, not next weekend."
"I have to look good," Chester replied.
"Yeah, well, I'm taking Miss Kitty to the dance, not you," said Matt as he finished with his tie and went to put on his courting coat.
"By the time you get things straightened up around here," Chester said as he was putting on his white shirt. He then noticed the spot on his collar. "Oh no! Look at that, Mr. Dillon. Is that going to show? It's the only white shirt I have."
"Don't worry about it. You can't even see it," said Matt, putting on his coat.
"I'll just go the way I am then," said Chester, not fully dressed.
"Why don't you do that. You'll be the hit of the dance," teased Matt as he put on his Stetson and walked out the door.
Matt had told Kitty that he would pick her up around seven and it was that time. He walked down Front Street and over to the Long Branch. There were some patrons in the bar, not everyone attended these dances. Clem was behind the bar. Sam would be attending the dance later to play his fiddle. Clem saw Matt walk in and knew why he was there. He watched Matt walk upstairs to Kitty's room. Matt knocked on Kitty's door.
"Come on in," said Kitty. She knew it was Matt. She knew exactly what Matt's knock sounded like.
Matt opened the door and stepped inside Kitty's room. They both took one look at each other and appreciated what they saw. To Matt, Kitty was the most beautiful woman in the world and always would be. To Kitty, Matt was the most handsome man in the world and always would be.
"Darling, you look absolutely stunning. I am going to be the envy of every man at the dance. I better make sure to keep you close," Matt said softly.
"Why thank you. You're looking pretty darn good yourself. If you're going to be the envy of every man, I'm going to be the envy of every woman," Kitty responded.
Matt took Kitty and held her against himself. He loved the feeling of her body against his. He knew the feeling was mutual for her because whenever he held her against himself, he could feel her body relax.
"You know we could just stay here tonight and have our own private dance," said Matt, still holding Kitty.
"As tempting as that is, I'm going to take advantage of the fact that you're actually here to take me to the dance and go. These opportunities can be few and far between," said Kitty as she untangled herself from Matt's arms.
"Oh, if we must go, then fine," sighed Matt. "But I expect a private dance when we get back."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," said Kitty.
Matt and Kitty walked over to the dance. When they got inside, they walked over to the beverage table and each took a glass of punch. They toasted each other and Kitty suggested they go over to a different area of the dance. Matt agreed and followed her. Once they were in an area where no one was dancing, Matt helped Kitty with her cloak.
When Doc arrived, the crowd was dancing to an upbeat song. Doc went over to the beverage table to get a cup of punch. Taking a sip of the punch, Doc saw Matt and Kitty and went over to join them. Chester walked into the dance soon after. He too helped himself to a glass of punch and then joined Matt, Kitty, and Doc.
After Chester joined his friends, Doc pointed out the spot on Chester's shirt. Chester told Doc if he didn't point it out, no one would notice it. After more teasing from Doc, Chester told him to find an old woman to dance with. Matt and Kitty watched the display between the two with a bit of enthusiasm.
Finally Doc told Chester that he was a fine dancer and asked Kitty to be his partner, so he could prove it. Kitty knew Matt preferred the slower dances and wouldn't mind if she shared this dance with Doc. The two of them took to the dance floor. While they danced, Matt and Chester engaged in conversation.
Unfortunately there would be a turn of events at the dance. The happy times would turn into horror when Matt left the dance and gunshots followed. The guests went outside to see what happened. Kitty saw the scene before her and was relieved Matt was still alive. She had a feeling they wouldn't be sharing a dance at the dance that night. Matt had Chester take Welch over to the jail.
"Kitty," Matt said. "Do you want to stay or do you want me to walk you home?"
Kitty knew that since there was going to be a prisoner at the jail, Matt wouldn't be staying with her tonight. Knowing that, Kitty chose to have Matt walk her home. Even if she only had a few moments with him, Kitty wanted to take advantage of it. "You can take me home," she said.
"Are you sure? You were having such a good time," Matt said with sorrow in his voice.
"I'm sure. I came to the dance with you and I planned on leaving with you," replied Kitty.
Matt nodded in understanding and the two of them headed for the Long Branch. They walked inside and Clem wasn't too surprised to see them. He had heard the gunshots and figured Matt was needed at the jail. Clem watched Matt take Kitty to her room. They both walked inside.
"Matt, I know you have to go over to the jail and take care of business. But before you go, could we just have one dance?" asked Kitty with hope in her voice.
Matt knew he had to take care of things at the jail, but he also knew it could wait a few minutes. Welch wasn't going anywhere. Chester would have him locked up in jail.
"Miss Russell, could I have this dance?" He held out his hand to Kitty.
Smiling, Kitty took his hand and allowed him to pull her against him. There was no music to dance to, but they still slowly danced. Both of them cherished this dance they were sharing, for they knew that tonight it couldn't turn into anything else. They danced for a few more minutes and then Matt had to leave. He gave Kitty a deep and passionate kiss before leaving her room, sorry he had to go. It always felt so right being with her.
"When we're together, it feels so right. Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?"
The End
The last line is from "Could I Have This Dance?" (Written by Wayland Holyfield and Bob House; Sung by Anne Murray)
