Matt laid the new pack of wanted posters aside with a heavy sign, irritable glancing at the cot along the wall as he drummed his fingers on his desk. He'd looked through those posters at least five times tonight and proofread all the reports he'd written over the last week at least as much. He'd swept the floor. He'd made coffee and drank it. He'd cleaned his boots and all the rifles. He'd done literally everything he could think to do but, despite it being almost three o'clock in the morning, he refused to lay down on that lumpy old mattress. And he definitely wasn't going to his rented room! He wouldn't sleep there either.
The only thing his brain could settle on was, why?
It'd all started when Kitty dropped a bomb on him at dinner by calling off their night together. He'd been looking forward to their special time alone all day and she'd all but slammed the door in his face. He hadn't understood her excuse either and they'd actually argued about it, which baffled him even more. He didn't mind if she was tired. Did she really believe, after all these years, that he only came to her for their physical relationship?
Scowling at the floor, he was about to get up and sweep again when he heard soft horsey noises going down Front Street. Hoping up, he slung on his gunbelt and hastened to the door, delighted at the prospect of being able to amuse himself by spying, if only for a moment.
"Kitty!" The sight outside made his heart jump into his throat. Dashing out the door, he grabbed her reins. "What are you doing, honey?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Her face was white in the moonlight.
"I had stuff to work on." he scowled.
"It couldn't wait until tomorrow?"
"Why should it?" he cut her a look. "I wasn't doing anything anyways."
"You could've gone to sleep."
"Believe me, I couldn't." he shook his head. "Kitty, what are you doing on a horse at three in the morning?"
"I wanted to go for a ride." her face flamed as she dropped her gaze. "I couldn't sleep."
A lot of things ran through his mind at that moment, but he managed to bite his tongue. When he did speak, his voice was remarkably gentle. "You should've gotten me."
"I figured you were asleep." Her head jerked up. Eyes wide, she looked grateful.
"Kitty…" A tiny frown appeared. "Even if it wasn't my job to protect the citizens of this town, I love you. You know how dangerous it is on the prairie at night. There's no reason in the world that would've kept me in bed if I'd known you were going out."
He turned her mare around. "Come on, let me get Buck and then we can go."
"Matt—"
She pulled back on the reins, shaking her head. Her bay mare backed its ears, disliking the tug-of-war.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"I-I need to get going…"
He turned around. "You're not going out there without me, Kit."
"Matt—" Panic flashed across her face.
"Kitty…" Concern flooded his face. "You told me at dinner that you were too tired for me to come tonight. I think I made it clear how I feel about that so I won't rehash it. But then I find you on your mare at three in the morning and you say you couldn't sleep, and you didn't get me up, and you don't want to wait for me to saddle Buck. Honey, that's just a few too many inconsistencies than I wanna have in our relationship."
Her face was red and, for a moment, she looked like she wanted to read him a riot act, but instead she let out a heavy sigh. "Fine. You win. Hurry up."
He let out an audible sigh. "Thank you, sweetheart."
"Don't thank me." she growled now. "Just get your horse."
Keeping an eye on her, he quickly went through the familiar motions but his curiosity and worry were on high alert as he added his bedroll for the final touch and swung into the saddle. He didn't remember ever seeing her so preoccupied. Riding past Moss, he shook his head. Was it really possible for him to sleep through two riders living the livery?
Letting his lover take the lead as they put the town behind them, Matt held back his questions and forced himself to keep an eye on their surroundings. The ground was aglow with moonlight and the sky awash with stars. Such an atmosphere led him to hope they'd have some private time together after they got to wherever they were going.
"Kitty, what—" When the River Bend way station came into view, he finally demanded an answer.
His lover, however, completely ignored him. Letting out a gasping sob of relief, she bolted towards the stagecoach parked out front. By the time he caught up, she was practically squeezing the daylights out of a little boy.
"Oh, thank goodness I got here in time." she was really crying now. "Oh, Thad, I was so worried I'd miss you. I-I got a late start. I—"
"Aunt Kitty, I'm alright." he was trying to reassure her. "I'm okay, really."
"Hi there, son." Matt's voice brought both heads up.
"Thad, this Marshal Dillon." Kitty relaxed her grip on the child and shakily rose to her feet, brushing the dirt off her skirt. "He-he's a very good friend of mine." She forced a smile. "He wouldn't let me leave town without him."
"Well, I think that's good, Aunt Kitty." The boy wrinkled his nose. "I wouldn't want ya to get hurt coming to get me."
"Well, at least I have someone on my side." Matt flashed a grin as the stagecoach driver returned and got the team underway. He held out his hand. "It's nice to know someone like that…"
"Matt, this is Thad Farrin."
The Marshal jolted, remembering that particular surman name on one of the wanted posters he'd been looking through. However, his lover fiercely shook her head.
"Come on, you two. We've got to get going."
"Where?" His tone demanded explanation. Reaching for her arm, he could let a lot of things go but not this.
"The Kelks." Her tone was short.
"The Kelks?"
"They're expecting us, Matt." she pulled away. "Please, don't…"
Another look silenced his tongue but not his mind. What was his lover doing with Tucker Farrin's child? Why did he call her "Aunt"? Why hadn't he pressed her for information while they were riding out here? He started berating himself. If Farrin had caught up with her alone out here, he'd never forgive himself!
He was almost crazy with questions when they finally rode through the front gate under the light of a soft pink sunrise but, again, he was forced to bide his time as small talk and breakfast was amply provided, but he didn't let his stomach prevent his ears from gobbling whatever information he could get. Some of his questions were answered but others arose.
"I don't like interfering in private business." Matt left off holding a calf for Thad to pat as Kitty was saying goodbye to the Kelks. "but I don't really like this little arrangement."
"We'll be alright, Marshal." Horace looked philosophical, Eyeing the boy standing a few feet away, his voice softened. "He's saver here, I'll bet, than in a town. Farrin would have to find a needle in a haystack to land right here. Not so in Dodge." He nodded. "We'll be just fine, Marshal."
"Well, you better believe I'll be around more than not until you know who is in custody."
"That'll be appreciated." Mattie beamed, "Thank ya."
"I'll be coming back tomorrow too." Kitty stated, keeping her eyes down so she didn't see Matt's reaction. She stooped to give the boy a teary hug. "You be a good, Thad. I love you so much."
"Come on, Kitty." Matt bit his tongue again, his guts churning. "Let's get ya home."
They rode in silence for some miles. He had a hundred questions but she didn't look up to answering them so he tried to occupy himself by scanning the prairie for the outlaw. Then he spotted a thick stand of trees by a little creek and remembered what was tied on Buck's rump.
"Let's head over there, sweetheart." he pointed.
She looked amused. "Why?"
"You notice I have my bedroll?"
"No…" Her amusement deepened. "I've been a little preoccupied, Matt."
"So I noticed." One eyebrow arched upward. "But, honey, I've been up all night and there isn't anyone I'd rather spend time under the trees with than you so will you do me that favor?"
"I sure will, cowboy. With pleasure."
"We can water the horses in the creek before we head back to town."
"I suppose you'll want me to do some talking too…" her voice trailed off.
"We can do that too, when you're ready."
"Don't you think Chester and Doc are missing us right now?"
"They'll just have to cool their heels, sweetheart."
