"My Lady, My Lover, My Sanctuary"

Matt lay on the hard, unforgiving ground of the Kansas prairie. He had been in Hays City for the past week and was longing to be back in Dodge City. He would be there tomorrow. As he tried to will himself to sleep, thoughts of Kitty entered his mind. Those thoughts were always wonderful thoughts to have.

What can I say about a woman like Kitty Russell? Anybody that looks at her can see her physical beauty. She has vibrant red hair that reminds me of an autumn sunrise, sapphire blue eyes that are the windows to her beautiful soul, and alabaster skin that is smooth to the touch. Right now I long for the warmth of her body against mine and her kisses that absolutely take my breath away. I'm not sure if a person can actually get drunk off another person's kisses, but Kitty's kisses do something to me.

There's more to Kitty than her physical beauty and her body that attracts me to her. It's her personality, her inner beauty. I know for a fact that I have never and more than likely will never meet another woman like Kitty Russell. She is the kindest, the humblest, the most giving person I know. Kitty is kind to those she encounters. She wants to be your friend. I know Kitty Russell is one of the richest women in Dodge City, probably western Kansas, yet she never looks down on those who have less money than her. I should know. I have a fraction of what she has, and that doesn't deter her from wanting to be with me. Kitty is a giving person when it comes to her money. She has generously given to the church and to the school multiple times. Kitty is all of these things to those around her, yet she is even more to me.

Kitty is my lady. I have heard people refer to her as the Marshal's girl or the Marshal's woman, but I like to think of her as my lady. To me, calling her a lady seems more respectful. When we first got together, when she was just entering womanhood, I did refer to her as my girl. But that's changed. She is no longer that girl from New Orleans. Yes, she's from New Orleans, but now Kitty is a gorgeous lady that lives in Kansas. She's my gorgeous lady.

Kitty is my lover, the love of my life. My body yearns to be with her. The things her body does to my body cannot be described with simple words. It goes beyond words. There's this physical attraction that is so powerful I don't think anyone or anything could ever destroy it. It's not our love making that makes me want to be with her. She is truly my soulmate. Like I said before, Kitty Russell is the love of my life.

Kitty is my sanctuary. She is the one I go to when I need to feel safe. I am not talking physically safe. It is my job to keep her physically safe, not the other way around. Kitty keeps me safe from myself. I see so much bad in people, and I have had to take lives because of all the bad. I hate doing that. I hate the killing part of the law. There are times when the demons inside me get a little too loud telling me it would be best to just end things. But Kitty is louder than those demons. She patiently listens to me and gives me her love and support. Kitty also keeps my heart safe. I have given Kitty my heart and she guards it from evil. I have tried to give my heart to a few other women, but the results were disastrous. At least I thought they were disastrous at the time. Now when I think back, I'm glad things didn't work out with those other women. If they had, I never would have met Kitty Russell. I can't fathom that.

What time is it? It has to be close to midnight, maybe even after midnight. The Long Branch is probably full of thirsty cowboys and town locals eager to spend their money on beer and whiskey. I know for a fact that Kitty is working tonight. She once told me that she works when I am out of town. She said staying busy helps to keep her mind off the fact that I'm not there. I understand what she means. If I can keep myself busy enough, I can keep my mind off the fact that I'm not with her in Dodge. I try to imagine what she's doing in the Long Branch right now. Is she standing at the bar, talking with Clem? Is she having a drink with Doc or Chester? I don't question if she's having a drink with another man. She stopped doing that a few years ago.

This trip to Hays was very hard. Well, the trip wasn't hard. It was a very uneventful trip. All I had to do was attend the trial of Ned Langston. He had been arrested for petty theft. He'll spend a couple years behind bars for his crimes. No, it was getting myself to leave for Hays City that was difficult. I hadn't been to Hays in several weeks. It wasn't by choice. I just wasn't needed there. I've been to Hays countless times before.

Why was this trip so difficult? It was because the last time I went to Hays and came back, Kitty had been shot at the Long Branch. She had been caught in the crossfire of two men who had gotten into an argument. I had just returned from Hays. I had taken care of Buck, and I was sitting at my desk, going through the mail. I still relive the scene of Chester barging into the office yelling that Kitty had been shot. Needless to say all that was forgotten as I quickly followed Chester out the door and over to Doc's office.

Kitty was already there, lying on her stomach on Doc's examining table. She looked as though she were peacefully asleep, but I knew she wasn't. The only thing that kept me calm and reassured was that Doc wasn't frantically working on her, desperately trying to save her life at that very moment. His calmness helped me not to go over the edge. I knew Kitty wasn't out of the woods when I went after Baloe, but I knew she was in excellent hands.

Now I have this irrational fear that something is going to happen to Kitty again while I'm out of town, especially when I'm in Hays because that's where I was the last time. Logically I know there is a minute chance that Kitty will be shot again, but that part of my brain isn't doing the thinking right now. I close my eyes and sleep finally takes over.

I slept for a couple hours and then decided to head back to Dodge. I should be there around dawn. After a few hours of riding, I can see Dodge City in the distance. I finally reached Dodge City. I can see the beacon of light in Kitty's window, welcoming me home. Did she know exactly when I would be back? No, she didn't. But I know she's had that lamp on since the day I left. I quickly take care of Buck and head for that light. It is that light that guides me to my lady, my lover, and my sanctuary.

The End