Chapter 3 "Setting Things Straight"

*Author's Note: Fort Wallace is not closer to Hays than Dodge City is closer to Hays. Looking at a map, Fort Wallace is in the opposite direction. It would have been easier for Matt to go straight to Hays. However, I just went by what was said in the episode.

Matt arrived back in Dodge, grateful to be home. He wanted to put the past week behind him and go see Kitty. Her beautiful face and lovely body was all he could think about. He took his horse to Moss Grimmick's stable. Matt gave directions to Moss to give the horse a nice rub down and some extra oats. Once Buck was taken care of, Matt made his way over to the Long Branch. Matt peered over the batwing doors and saw Kitty standing at the end of the bar. She was talking to Fred. Matt pushed the doors forward and walked inside. Kitty sensed Matt's present and smiled when she looked up and saw him.

"Well, Matt, welcome home," Kitty said. "How about a drink?"

"Kitty, I could sure use a whiskey," Matt answered.

"Fred, get the Marshal a whiskey," Kitty told her barkeep. Fred poured some whiskey into a shot glass and handed it to Matt. "Let's go to our table." She grabbed the beer she had been drinking.

"Alright," said Matt. He took the shot glass of whiskey and followed Kitty to their table.

Matt and Kitty had some catching up to do. Kitty had been gone for two weeks, returning a few days ago. She had to leave on a business trip before he left for Hays City. Her trip had been planned for a month. She didn't mind going this time, especially since Matt would be gone to Hays while she was gone. Kitty wouldn't be in Dodge City missing him. The business trip would keep her busy. The trip wouldn't completely keep her mind off of Matt. Nothing could keep her mind completely off of him. They approached the table and Matt pulled Kitty's seat out for her. She sat down and he did the same.

"Matt, I'm not going to beat around the bush," said Kitty, tracing her finger around the rim of her beer mug. "Tell me who Sarah Drew is."

Matt could tell by the tone in Kitty's voice that this was a conversation that they should have in private, not in a crowded saloon. He planned on doing his rounds later tonight and then come to Kitty's room after he finished.

"Kitty, I believe this is a conversation that we should have in private. We don't need extra ears hearing things," said Matt. "I have a feeling the Dodge City rumor mill has been running. I'll come by after closing, when I'm finished with my rounds."

"I agree," said Kitty. "We'll talk about this tonight."

Matt was about to say something else, but Chester walked into the saloon and over to the table. Matt felt that it was best that nothing more be said, especially around Chester. Matt liked his dear friend, but Chester did have a big mouth.

"Mr. Dillon," said Chester as he sat down. "When didja get back?"

"I just rode into town not too long ago," Matt replied.

"Were ya able ta get Miss Sarah to Fort Wallace?" Chester asked. "She sure was a purdy little thing."

Matt saw the look on Kitty's face. He really didn't know how to describe the look that he saw. The best he could come up with was anger mixed with annoyance. He wasn't looking forward to their private conversation, but Matt knew it couldn't be avoided. Things had to be set straight.

"Yes, I did, Chester," Matt replied. "I got Miss Drew to Fort Wallace so she could be with her fiance." Matt added that last part, hoping Kitty would know that he would never involve himself with a woman that wasn't available. She should already know that he wouldn't involve himself with another woman no matter what. There was only one woman for Matt Dillon and that was Kitty Russell.

"It shore took ya a while ta get back," said Chester.

Matt took a deep breath. Chester did not know when to shut up. "Well, I wasn't just taking Miss Drew to Fort Wallace. My original plan was to go to Hays City. After taking Miss Drew to her fiance, I went to Hays."

"Wael, I guess I plum forgot about that," said Chester.

"I need to get going and start my rounds," said Matt, getting up to leave. "I'll see ya later, Kitty."

After Matt left, Kitty turned her attention towards Chester. "How 'bout a beer? On the house of course."

"A nice cold beer sounds jest fine," Chester replied.

"Fred!" Kitty yelled towards the bar. "Bring Chester a beer!" Fred filled a mug with the frothy drink and brought it over to Chester.

Later that night Matt finished his rounds and returned to the Long Branch. But this time instead of entering through the batwing doors, he climbed the back steps and entered through the door that led to Kitty's room. After using his key to get in, Matt saw Kitty sitting at her vanity, her back was to him. Matt went through his normal routine of removing his boots, hat, and gunbelt, placing all of them in their usual spot. Matt walked over to Kitty and started a trail of kisses down her neck to her shoulders.

"Oh Matt that feels absolutely wonderful," sighed Kitty, leaning her head to the side to give him more access.

"Trust me. It feels absolutely wonderful doing this," said Matt as he continued his assault of kisses. "I've missed you so much."

As much as Kitty wanted Matt to continue, she knew they had to talk. She had questions about Sarah that Matt needed to answer. Matt was right earlier in the evening when he said the Dodge City rumor mill had been running. Deep down Kitty rationally knew that they were just rumors, but there was an irrational part that she needed Matt to confirm that.

"Matt, before we go any further, we need to talk about Sarah Drew," Kitty reluctantly said.

Matt took a deep breath and stopped his kisses. He was hoping his kisses and soon their love making would be distracting enough for her to forget all about their talk in regards to Sarah. Unfortunately it wasn't.

"Alright, tell me what you want to know," said Matt. He pulled up a chair and sat next to Kitty.

"Let's start with you telling me who Sarah Drew is," said Kitty.

"She's a lady from Boston that came to Dodge, hoping someone would take her to Fort Wallace," Matt replied.

"You told her that you would?" Kitty inquired.

"No, I told her I wouldn't do it," Matt replied. "I told her it was too dangerous."

"But you ended up taking her," Kitty stated. "How did that happen?"

"I told her I wasn't going to take her, but she found out that I was going to Hays and that Hays was closer to Fort Wallace than Dodge City was," said Matt. "When she found that out, she thought that I should take her. But I still told her no. Well, she had other plans. She must've quickly rented a wagon from Moss Grimmick and went on ahead of me. As I was riding Buck on my way to Hays, I noticed her and the wagon. She was just sitting there. I was angry when I saw her. I knew she was manipulating me, but I felt I had no other choice but to escort her to Fort Wallace. If I didn't, she was going to trail after me."

"Let's rewind," said Kitty. "You were right about the rumor mill. Rumor has it that you and Sarah had supper together at Delmonico's and that you wore your courting coat and a string tie. A man usually doesn't wear those, unless he's on a date with a woman."

Matt knew he couldn't lie to Kitty and he wasn't even going to try. "Yes, we did have supper at Delmonico's together and yes I did wear my courting coat and tie." Before Kitty could say anything, Matt continued. "Let me explain. I never consider eating supper with Sarah as a date. She asked if I would take her to dinner, and since the woman was betrothed to another man, I figured Sarah thought the same way I did, that it wasn't a date. "

"Then why did you dress the way you did?" asked Kitty. Matt told her he didn't consider eating supper with Sarah as a date, but she was still curious as to why he wore his courting coat and string tie.

"I don't know," Matt sighed. "I guess since Sarah was from Boston, I felt out of place wearing my everyday clothes. But looking back now, that shouldn't have mattered. I'm sure when people saw us they assumed we were on a date. They probably didn't know she was trying to get to her fiance. That's probably when the rumors started."

"Seeing the two of you at Delmonico's and then escorting her to Fort Wallace probably didn't do anything to quench the rumors," said Kitty.

"That's the funny part," said Matt. "I never told anyone I was taking her. I have no idea how Chester knew."

"You said she probably rented a wagon from Moss Grimmick," said Kitty. "I'm guessing she told Moss of her plans and he told Chester. Chester knows you well enough to know that you're not going to leave her alone on the prairie."

"I guess that makes sense," said Matt.

"Chester said she was pretty," Kitty said. "Would you agree?"

"Kitty, she was a pretty lady. I'm not going to deny that," Matt replied honestly. "But she doesn't hold a candle to you. You are beautiful both inside and out. When I first met Sarah, I thought she acted like a spoiled brat. Now, can we continue what I started when I first got here? I don't know how much longer I can keep my mouth, my hands, and the rest of my body off of you"

"Yes, but before we do, I need you to answer one more question," replied Kitty. "Did anything intimate happen between the two of you? The two of you would have spent at least one night together on the prairie."

"Kitty I have never lied to you and I don't plan on starting now," Matt said, staring Kitty directly into her eyes. "There was no intimacy between us. I love you, Kitty. I would never do anything to betray that love."

Kitty believed Matt. She knew that Matt Dillon had never lied to her. "Thank you, Matt. I know how much you love me and that you would never do anything to hurt me. I just needed to hear you tell me nothing went on between the two of you. Now let's continue what you started."

Matt and Kitty stepped towards each other. Kitty removed her nightgown and then stepped towards Matt and started unbuttoning his shirt. When she reached the last button, Kitty pushed Matt's shirt off of his shoulders, watching it fall to the ground. It was then that she noticed Matt's shoulder wound.

Kitty could see the wound was still healing. She knew the wound wasn't there before she left on her business trip. The night before she left, they had made love. That night both of Matt's shoulders were fine. The wound on Matt's shoulder wasn't just a scratch. It had the shape of a bullet wound. Kitty needed an explanation.

"Matt, what happened to your shoulder?" she asked.

TBC