Chapter 2
Dinner finished, Matt and Kitty left Delmonico's. Matt walked Kitty back to the Long Branch, promising her he would be back later for a drink. His plan was to go back to his office and go through his mail. He did want to look into the letter the deputy from Arizona sent.
Matt entered the office, expecting Festus to be waiting there for him. He wasn't there. Matt looked at the mail that was sitting on his desk. He knew that one of the pieces was knew wanted circulars. He opened those and set them aside. His next order of business was the envelope from a deputy in Tucson, Arizona. Upon closer examination, Matt saw that the name on the envelope was Deputy Nash Sampson. He pulled the knife out of his pocket, sliced open the envelope, and pulled out the letter. He began to read.
Dear Matt,
There is no Deputy Nash Sampson from Tucson, Arizona. I created that name. I needed to get a letter to you, but I didn't want my name on it? Why, you ask? Because I didn't know what you told your woman or friends about me, about us. I didn't want anyone to see that Mike Yardner sent you a letter and then have the rumor mill start running. I figured a letter from another lawman would not be anything out of the ordinary.
Now, my reason for writing this letter. I am going to be coming to Dodge City on the next stage out of Arizona. The stage should be arriving May third. I'm arriving as Miss Melinda Yates. That's the name that will be on the passengers' list. Again I'm not using my real name because I don't want to get the rumor mill going.
Matt, I did not plan on coming back into your life. However, the reason I'm coming to Dodge is of great concern to you. I wouldn't be coming to Dodge if it wasn't. I don't want to disrupt your life with your woman. I know how much you love her. That was pretty evident by the way you beat feet it out of here. However, my arrival can't be avoided.
Anyway, I'm rambling on. I'll see you on the third, arriving as Miss Melinda Yates. I won't act as if we know each other. I'll let you make the first move and set the pace.
Miss Melinda Yates. (Mike)
Matt could not believe what he just read. A letter from Mike Yardner was the last thing he expected to receive. He read the letter again. The phrase that stuck out was "The reason I'm coming is of great concern to you." That phrase just swirled over and over in his mind. That phrase and the fact she was coming to Dodge City. She would be arriving May third. Today was the evening of the first. She would be here in less than two days. The letter said she would be arriving as Miss Melinda Yates because she didn't know what Matt told his woman and his friends about her. He told Kitty about Mike and the fact she was a woman. He even told her about their one night together. Kitty was not too happy about it, but they were able to talk about it and move on. Now, Mike was coming back into his life.
What was he going to tell Kitty? Should he tell her that the letter wasn't from a deputy in Tucson, Arizona, but from Mike Yardner, a woman from his past that they thought would remain in the past. If she didn't ask about the letter, then maybe he wouldn't have to say anything. Thinking of the letter, he quickly took it and the envelope and tossed it in the stove fire. He didn't want it to end up in the wrong hands. He had so many decisions to make.
Matt had to quickly change his mood. The last time he saw Festus, Matt was in a cheerful mood. A change in his mood would invite questions. As he sat at his desk, he could hear the sound of Festus' spurs. The sound got louder indicating that Festus was about to enter the office. Sure enough, the door knob turned and in walked Festus.
"Hey, Matthew. Ya ready to go and get that drink at the Long Branch?" asked Festus.
"You bet. Let's get going," said Matt as he grabbed his hat off the peg.
Matt and Festus walked down Front Street and over to the Long Branch. The place was its usual busy self. Kitty was standing at the far end of the bar. Her eyes lit up when she saw Matt and Festus walk through the batwing doors. Matt spotted her and made his way towards her. Festus followed.
"I was wondering when you boys were going to show up. How about a drink?" asked Kitty.
"A whiskey sounds good," said Matt. He needed something strong.
"We would've been here earlier, but Doc and I had a good checker game going," said Festus.
"Where is Doc?" asked Kitty.
"The old scudder had ta go out to the Riley house, just as I was 'bout to beat him," said Festus.
"Would Doc's story match yours?" asked Kitty.
"I reckon it probably wouldn't. The old scudder doesn't like to lose to us Haggens," said Festus.
"What would you like to drink, Festus?" asked Kitty.
"A beer would be nice, Mizz Kitty. Much obliged," said Festus.
"Sam, a whiskey for the Marshal and a beer for Festus," Kitty said.
Sam got Matt and Festus their drinks, and Matt, Kitty, and Festus found an empty table to sit at. The three of them sat at the table engaging in small talk, when Festus asked the one question that Matt was hoping he could avoid.
"Matthew, what did the letter from the deputy say?" asked Festus, taking a drink of his beer.
Matt took a sip of his whiskey. He looked at Festus. Matt knew he couldn't tell the truth right there. He had to come up with a story and do so quickly.
TBC
