Chapter 3
Matt was sitting in his office doing paperwork, when there was a soft knock on the door. Matt put his pen down and went to answer the door. Upon opening the door, he saw Lucinda standing there with a small basket. He stepped aside so she could enter.
"Hello, Lucinda. What brings you into town?" asked Matt.
"I made some biscuits for my father and his men, and I made some extra for you. I decided to ride into town and see if you were busy. I thought maybe we could share a few biscuits together. I even brought some honey," answered Lucinda.
"Sure, Lucinda. That sounds nice," said Matt.
Matt and Lucinda enjoyed the biscuits and honey. Matt did his best to be friendly to Lucinda, but at the same time he was trying not to send the wrong signal. He didn't want Lucinda to get the wrong idea.
"Lucinda, these biscuits taste delicious. You must've put a lot of time into them," said Matt as he put another piece of biscuit, drizzled with honey in his mouth.
"Thank you, Matt. They really weren't too time consuming to make. I'm glad you like them," said Lucinda. "Listen. Are you free this evening? I thought maybe we could have dinner together at Delmonico's" Lucinda met Matt shortly after he arrived in Dodge and ever since then she had been trying to become his girl. So far she wasn't succeeding. He had been friendly to her, but he was just as friendly to the other citizens in Dodge.
"Sure, Lucinda. Dinner at Delmonico's sounds nice. Seeing that dinner time is only a couple hours away, will you be staying in town?" asked Matt.
"Yes, I was going to go and visit Jo Ellen. I'll be back here around six, if that's alright with you," said Lucinda in the sweetest voice she could muster.
"That's fine. Unless something comes up, I should be here," replied Matt.
"Great, I'll see you in a couple of hours," said Lucinda as she walked out of the office.
Two hours quickly passed and before Matt knew it, Lucinda had returned to the office. "Are you ready to go?" asked Lucinda.
"I sure am. Just let me get my hat and gun belt, and we'll head on out," said Matt, grabbing his hat and gun belt.
Word around town was that Lucinda Glidden was sweet on the Marshal. However, the Marshal wasn't really making any reciprocating moves. He was polite to her as a friend, but that was about it. Matt learned that Lucinda was the daughter of Andrew and Elsie Glidden. Elsie had died of pneumonia about ten years ago. Andrew was a successful rancher and well respected around Dodge. He was doing his best to raise Lucinda
Lucinda's social circle included Adeline Pumford, Jo Ellen Meers, and Susanna Humphrey. All four ladies were considered Dodge's high social class. Haughty was a word used to describe them. Maybe that's why Matt didn't feel anything romantically for Lucinda. She just wasn't his type. That and the fact that he was convinced that lawmen shouldn't get married and have families.
Matt and Lucinda arrived at Delmonico's and found a table to sit down at. Once they were seated, the waiter came and took their orders. They each ordered chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy. While they were eating their meals, Lucinda brought up the Ford County Dance Social that was taking place a week from this coming Saturday.
"You know Matt, the Ford Social is a week from this Saturday. Do you think you'll be going? I'd sure like to go. I'm just waiting for the right gentleman to ask me," Lucinda strongly hinted at Matt.
Matt knew about the county social, but he was trying to avoid it. Those things just didn't really appeal to him. It seemed that whenever he tried to dance, he had two left feet.
"Yeah I heard about it. I haven't set my mind on going to it. Being a Marshal, I never know my schedule. I'd hate to make a commitment and not be able to keep it," said Matt.
"Oh," was all Lucinda could say. She really wanted to go to the dance and she wanted Matt to take her. If she wanted her father to give her his Kansas ranch, she had to get Matt to fall in love with her.
Matt and Lucinda finished their meals. They walked over to where Lucinda had parked her buggy. Matt helped her up onto the seat. Being that it was summer and there was still plenty of sunlight left, he knew Lucinda would be home before dark.
Before she left, Lucinda spoke. "Matt, if you think you'll be around for the social, I'm available to take."
"I'll keep that in mind," said Matt. Lucinda smiled and rode away.
Matt returned to his office to find Chester and Doc sitting inside. Chester had been Matt's assistant for a few weeks now, and Matt had no complaints. After Matt had introduced Doc to Chester, all three of them had become good friends. Chester and Doc were sitting at the table playing checkers.
"Mr. Dillon, didja enjoy yer supper with Miss Lucinda?" asked Chester.
"Yes, we had a nice time," answered Matt, sitting down at his desk.
"The Ford County Social is coming up. Are ya gonna go?" asked Chester.
"I haven't made up my mind yet," answered Matt. "It's still over a week away and I have no idea if I'll even be in town. Do you plan on going?"
"I sure do. I've asked Miss Shirley Holden to go and she accepted," said Chester with a smile on his face.
"I'm sure the two of you will have a wonderful time," said Matt.
Doc sat there silently listening to the conversation between Matt and Chester. He knew Matt was trying to avoid the county social and he had a feeling he knew why. Matt just didn't want to get seriously involved with a woman. He just wished Matt would change his convictions. Doc knew Lucinda was going after the Marshal. He had to admit that she could be a snob, but maybe being with a down to Earth man like Matt would change that.
"Matt, why don't you ask Lucinda Glidden to go with you?" asked Doc. "You know she would be more than happy to accept your invitation."
"I don't know, Doc," Matt hesitated. "You know how I feel about relationships. If I ask Lucinda to the dance, she'll probably take that as me wanting to get romantically involved with her."
"Then ask her as a friend and make sure she knows you're asking her as a friend," stated Doc. "Besides, it would probably look good if the Marshal, who's a public servant, made an appearance at the county social."
"You do have a point of the Marshal making a presence at the dance. Fine, I'll ask Lucinda, but as a friend," sighed Matt.
Matt rode out to the Glidden ranch the next day. When he arrived, he saw Andrew Glidden near the horse corral. Andrew saw Matt ride up and went to go and greet him.
"Marshal, good to see ya. What brings you out here?" Andrew asked.
"Mr. Glidden," Matt said, touching the brim of his hat. "I'm here to see if Lucinda would be interested in going to the Ford social with me."
Andrew Glidden knew his daughter really liked the Marshal. He believed the Marshal would be a good man for his daughter. "Go on into the house. She's inside. She'll be happy to see ya."
"Thank you, sir," said Matt as he walked up to the house.
Matt walked up to the house and knocked on the door. After a minute or two, Lucinda answered. Her face lit up when she saw Matt. "Matt, what a pleasant surprise!" she exclaimed. "What brings you out to the ranch?"
"Lucinda, I want to ask you to the social, but as a friend," Matt answered. "I want you to know I'm asking you as a friend."
Lucinda couldn't believe her ears. Matt was asking her to the dance. It was disappointing he was asking her as a friend, but nonetheless, he was still asking. "Oh Matt, I definitely accept your invitation."
"Alright, I'll pick you up on Saturday. I'll rent a buggy from Moss Grimick," said Matt.
The day of the dance arrived. But before it did, Matt had things to do to get ready for it. The first thing he did was purchase a new white shirt and string tie. He didn't want to buy a new courting coat, but knew a brand new white shirt would be appropriate. Matt also went to Moss Grimmick to rent a buggy for Saturday night. He certainly couldn't have Lucinda come into town. He did ask her and it was only gentlemanly for him to go and pick her up.
Matt arrived at the Glidden ranch early Saturday evening. Lucinda had been sitting on a bench on the front porch. She was wearing a pale yellow dress with small white polka dots. Her blonde hair was pulled back at the sides. Matt would be a liar if he didn't admit she did look awfully pretty. Lucinda walked down the steps and out to the buggy.
"Are you ready to go?" asked Matt.
"I am," said Lucinda as she offered Matt her hand so he could help her up into the buggy. Matt helped her up and they took off for the dance.
As they were riding to the dance, Matt spoke. "Lucinda, I think it's only fair to warn you that dancing is not my thing. I swear I have two left feet."
"That's fine. I'm just glad to be going with you," Lucinda responded, placing her hand on Matt's hand.
The dance wasn't as bad as Matt thought it would be. He did share a couple of slow dances with Lucinda. He seemed to have a better time than he thought he would. Matt drove Lucinda home and helped her down from the buggy.
"Lucinda, I had a nice time this evening," he said and then gave her a small kiss on the cheek.
Lucinda wasn't going to accept just a small kiss on the cheek. "So did I, Matt." Before he knew what was happening, Lucinda planted a kiss on his lips. She was going to get him to change his mind about her.
TBC
