Chapter 4
"We saw you at the dance with the Marshal. How did you manage to get him to ask you?" asked Susanna Humphrey. She, Lucinda, Adeline, and Jo Ellen were eating pie and drinking coffee at Delmonico's.
"To tell you the truth, I didn't do anything. I hinted that I would like to go, but that's about it. And then several days before the dance, he rode out to the ranch and asked me to go with him," answered Lucinda, sipping her coffee.
"Do you think him asking you to the dance is a sign that his feelings for you are changing?" asked Adeline.
"I don't really know. He's so hard to read. When he asked me to the dance, he said it was just as a friend," Lucinda replied.
"Maybe he's playing hard to get," offered Jo Ellen.
"If he is, he's doing a mighty fine job of it. However, it's not helping me achieve what I want to achieve. I have to get him to fall in love with me, so we can get married and live on my father's ranch," sighed Lucinda.
"Not only that. You have to get him to want to give up being a marshal and become a rancher," Susanna reminded Lucinda.
"Don't remind me. It's hard enough just to get him to be sweet on me," Lucinda said.
Time passed and before Matt knew it, he had been the Marshal of Dodge City for six months. During that time, he started to make a small dent in Dodge City's ruthlessness, but so much more needed to be done. He wasn't about to let his guard down and ease back. Matt Dillon was gaining the reputation of being a firm, but a just lawman, a reputation he wanted to maintain.
Also during that time, Lucinda still did what she could to get her relationship with Matt on the next level. She would often stop by the jail to see Matt. Lucinda also made a point to have dinner with Matt a couple times a week. She wanted everyone to know that he belonged to her. She knew there were other men in Dodge, but none even compared to Matt Dillon. Lucinda did sometimes wonder if there was another woman. When Matt rode out of town, did he go and see her? He was a man and she knew he must have manly needs. Was there another woman fulfilling those needs? Lucinda immediately got rid of those thoughts. She knew Matt did not want a family at the moment, and he wouldn't risk getting a girl pregnant. But she still wondered.
Matt lay on his cot, listening to the early morning rain. It had rained all night and Matt could just imagine what the streets of Dodge looked like. More than likely, they were tiny streams of mud. The stagecoach was due to come in that morning. He just hoped the rain stopped by then. Finally, after lying there for several minutes, Matt decided to get up and get ready for the day.
Ready for the day, Matt realized he was hungry and decided to go to the cafe for breakfast. He did enjoy the food at Delmonico's, but he really liked the breakfasts that the cafe made. Plus, it was still lightly raining and the cafe was closer to the jail.
Matt walked into the cafe and took a table across the room. The waiter came and took his order. "I'll have six eggs, a stack of ham, and four biscuits."
"I'll get your order right in, Marshal," said the waiter.
While Matt waited for his food, he noticed a woman sitting across the room from him. She had a cup of coffee in front of her and a small bowl of oatmeal. Even though she looked absolutely miserable, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She had this vibrant red hair that he swore he had never seen on another human being. He tried not to stare, but he couldn't help it. He was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Why was he feeling this way? He couldn't get involved with a woman. He then noticed her carpet bag. She must be one of the stagecoach passengers. He had never noticed her in Dodge before. He figured she was probably getting a bite to eat before the stage left again. It was probably a good thing she wasn't staying.
Kitty Russell arrived in Dodge City, a cold and miserable woman. She wanted to get to San Francisco, but only had forty dollars to her name. She knew that wouldn't get her too much farther. Kitty had a decision to make. Did she stay in Dodge and get a job or did she get on that stage and get a job in the next town? Dodge City was so ugly. It was brown, no color. The money she had would at least get her to the next town. It was no guarantee that town would look any better.
While she was contemplating what to do, a man walked into the cafe. He was the biggest man she had ever seen. She couldn't help but stare. She just hoped he wouldn't catch her staring. Kitty slowly ate her oatmeal and sipped her coffee. At that moment she wasn't in too much of a hurry to leave the cafe. Now, if Kitty was mesmerized by the giant of a man that walked into the cafe, the breakfast that was put in front of him was just as mesmerizing. She watched in awe as he polished off all that food. Kitty made her decision. She would get a job in Dodge City to earn enough money to continue on to San Francisco. Finishing her breakfast, Kitty placed some money on the table, grabbed her bag, and left the cafe.
Matt watched the beautiful red haired woman leave the cafe and disappointment filled his senses. For a brief moment he actually considered throwing out all his convictions of lawmen not marrying or having families. Matt threw some money down on the table and went back to the jail. He didn't notice the redheaded woman did not get on the stage.
Kitty knew she needed a job, but she also knew the only thing she knew well was being a saloon girl. The closest saloon at that moment was the Long Branch. Wading down the street, she made her way to the saloon. She pushed open the batwing doors and stepped inside. Kitty walked up to the bar, placing her bag at her feet.
The barkeep behind the bar addressed her. "Hello, miss, is there something I can do for you?"
"I'm looking for a job. Are you hiring?" asked Kitty.
"We are, but I'm not the owner. That would be Bill Pence. He does the hiring. He's back in his office. I'll go and get him," said the barkeep.
"Thank you," said Kitty.
"Bill, there's a young lady out there looking for a job. I told her I would have you talk with her," said Sam.
"Thank you, Sam. By the way, what does she look like? If she's going to be a saloon girl here, it does help to have good looks," said Bill.
"You don't have to worry about this one. A blind man would notice her good looks," answered Sam.
Sam and Bill walked out from the back office. Bill could see what Sam meant about the young lady's looks. She was beautiful. "Sam says you're looking for a job. I am looking for another saloon girl. Do you have any experience?"
"Yes, I was a saloon girl back in Abilene," Kitty responded.
"Good. Experience does help with this kind of job. Alright, you're hired. Can you start this evening?"
"I most certainly can," said Kitty. "Do you know of a place I can stay, one that's not too expensive?"
"Since you'll be working here, I can offer you a room upstairs. I can offer it to you as part of your pay," said Bill.
"Okay, that sounds fair," said Kitty.
"Very well. Your room will be at the top of the steps. Let me get you a key to the room. In there you'll find some dresses in the wardrobe. You can wear them to work. I'm sure they'll fit you."
Bill went back to his office to get the key. When he returned, he handed the key to Kitty. "I just realized that I never got your name."
"It's Kitty Russell," said Kitty accepting the key from Bill.
"I'm Bill Pence. Welcome to Dodge City, Miss Russell."
That evening Matt, Doc, and Chester decided to go to the Long Branch for a beer. They walked through the batwinged doors and settled down at one of the tables. It wasn't until they were seated, that Matt noticed a certain redhead standing at the bar. He was sure his eyes were playing tricks on him. There was no way that the beautiful girl at the cafe was now working at the Long Branch. However, when she made her way toward them to take their order, Matt knew it was the same girl. He didn't think he would see her again. His heart skipped a beat. He was in trouble.
TBC
