Chapter 6

Matt had heard that Lucinda's aunt had died and that she was taking the stage to Topeka to attend the funeral. He had been out of town for a trial and had returned less than thirty minutes ago. He was sitting in his office when he heard the stagecoach riding into town. He got up and walked over to the stage depot. He wanted to offer Lucinda his sympathies and wish her a safe trip. Walking to the depot, he could see Lucinda and her friends waiting for the stage. He knew the other girls weren't going to Topeka. More than likely they were just keeping her company while she waited.

Lucinda saw the stage coming down Front Street, and at the same time she saw Matt coming her way. A huge smile spread across her face. He had been out of town and she wasn't sure she would see him before she left.

"Matt, I wasn't expecting to see you. I thought you were still out of town," said Lucinda.

"Ladies," Matt said, tipping his hat. He then addressed Lucinda. "I got back a half an hour ago. I heard about your aunt. I'm so sorry. How long do you plan on being gone?"

"The funeral is Friday. I should be back on Tuesday," Lucinda answered.

Matt took Lucinda's hand and squeezed it. "Have a safe trip."

Before he could reclaim his hand, Lucinda pulled Matt in for a quick kiss. "Thank you, Matt."

"Anybody who's riding this stage better get on. We're heading out!" exclaimed the stagecoach driver.

Lucinda got into the stagecoach and looked at her friends. They all exchanged looks with one another. They knew what Lucinda wanted them to do.

Meanwhile, Kitty had been at the Long Branch, upstairs in her room. She had heard the stage come roaring down the street and looked out her bedroom window. While she was looking out, she saw Lucinda and the other girls standing there. Like the others in town, she also knew that Lucinda's great aunt Tillie had died. She wanted to go and tell Lucinda she was sorry, but stopped when she saw Matt walk up to the depot. Kitty wasn't sure what kind of relationship Matt and Lucinda had. She heard that she really liked him, but that he didn't feel the same way. However, seeing the way he took Lucinda's hand and the way she pulled him in for a kiss, she wondered if maybe he did feel something for her.

After the stage left, Matt returned to his office and the other girls walked over to the Dodge House. None of them lived in town, but if they were going to spy on Matt and Kitty, they would have to stay in town while Lucinda was gone. The girls reached the Dodge House, walked inside, and went up to the front desk.

"Hello ladies," said Mr. Dobie. "What can I do for you?"

"We would like a room with two beds," answered Jo Ellen. Two girls would sleep in one bed and one girl in the other. They would trade off so each girl had a chance to have her own bed.

"I do have a room available. Do you know how long you'll be needing it?" asked Mr. Dobie.

"We were thinking until Tuesday, but we're not sure. Can we pay by the day?" asked Adeline.

"You can do that. I'm surprised you girls want to rent a room here, considering each of you live only a few miles from here," said Mr. Dobie.

"Oh well, we decided to have some girl time together these next several days," said Susanna.

"Nothing wrong with that, but I'm surprised you would do this without Lucinda. Don't you three usually hang out with her?" asked Mr. Dobie.

"We had this planned for the four of us, but then Lucinda's great aunt died. We told her we would postpone everything until she got back, but she insisted we go ahead with everything," lied Jo Ellen.

"I did hear about Lucinda's aunt. Anyway, here's your key. It's room twenty-four, up the stairs and to the left," said Mr. Dobie, giving the key to Adeline.

Adeline took the key and the girls went upstairs. They unlocked the door to their room and stepped inside. They didn't have any extra clothes with them, so they would have to go home and pack a bag. Since each girl rode her own mare into town, they left their hotel room and went to retrieve their mares. Mares retrieved, they mounted them and rode back to their homes. The girls returned to the Dodge House within an hour.

That evening Matt stopped by the Long Branch. He saw Kitty standing by the bar and approached her. "Hello, Kitty. Are you available for a drink?"

"Hello, Matt. Sure, I'm available. What would you like to drink?" asked Kitty.

"A whiskey, rye," answered Matt.

Kitty got a whiskey for each of them and then led Matt to an empty table. She wasn't sure if she should feel guilty drinking with Matt. Kitty knew what she saw at the depot. However, drinking with the men that came into the bar was part of her job, and she intended to do her job.

"What time do you get off from work?" Matt asked Kitty.

"Tonight I have to work until closing," answered Kitty.

"Oh," said Matt.

Kitty could hear the disappointment in Matt's voice. "Why?" she asked.

"I was going to ask you to have supper with me at Delmonico's," said Matt quietly.

"Matt, I don't mind having a drink with you here in the Long Branch, or having dinner with you, Doc, and Chester. But I'm not sure if we should have dinner alone. What would people think? I don't want to come between you and Lucinda," said Kitty as she looked down into her shot glass.

Matt reached over and placed his hand on top of Kitty's hand. "Kitty, the only thing between Lucinda and me is what she wants it to be. I don't feel for her what she feels for me. Trust me. You won't be coming into the middle of anything. So, the next evening you're available, do you want to have dinner with me?"

Kitty looked up and saw the sincerity in Matt's eyes. She knew he was telling her the truth, that he wasn't romantically involved with Lucinda. Kitty was relieved. Matt Dillon was slowly becoming an important part of her life.

"I get off work at half past six tomorrow. We could go to Delmonico's then," said Kitty.

"Perfect. I'll be back tomorrow evening to pick you up." Matt downed the rest of his whiskey and got up to leave. "I have to do my rounds. See ya later, KItty."

"See ya later, Matt."

During the time that Matt had been in the Long Branch, Adeline, Jo Ellen, and Susanna had been up in their hotel room, watching out the window. Susanna just happened to be looking out, when she saw Matt walk into the Long Branch. She immediately told the other two girls what she saw. They couldn't be sure if Matt was going in there to see Kitty, but they assumed he was, and they would report it to Lucinda. The girls had plans to eat supper at Delmonico's, but they put those plans on hold for the moment. They weren't going to leave until Marshal Dillon left the Long Branch. They wanted to make sure he left the Long Branch alone. The three of them took turns watching out the window.

Rounds for Matt were nothing out of the ordinary. He ended up bringing two guys back to the jail to sleep off their drunkenness. Chester was already asleep on his cot when Matt returned with the two men. Matt locked the men in their own cells and went to his cot to get some sleep. However, sleep wouldn't come right away. He couldn't stop thinking about Kitty Russell and his dinner with her tomorrow night. Would Lucinda be upset? More than likely, but he didn't feel for Linda what he was feeling for Kitty. That was something Lucinda was going to have to face.

"Mr. Dillon, Doc and I are going to Delmonico's for a bite to eat. Do ya wanna join us?" Chester asked Matt the following evening.

"Thanks for the invite, but I'm taking Kitty to Delmonico's this evening," Matt replied.

"Maybe the four of us could eat together," Chester suggested.

"Well that sounds nice, but I," Matt started to say.

Thankfully Doc intervened. "Chester, you and I can have supper together. Let Matt and Kitty eat their supper together."

"Wahl, I don't see why all four of us can't eat together," said Chester, completely clueless.

Doc wasn't clueless. He knew Matt felt something for Kitty Russell, and he was glad. Doc had hoped that maybe something would happen between Matt and Lucinda, but now he was pleased nothing did. He liked Kitty Russell a lot more than Lucinda Glidden, and knew she would be better for Matt.

"O shaw, Chester! Come on!" exclaimed Doc as he pulled Chester out of the jail.

Matt just shook his head. He looked at the clock. It was twenty minutes after six. He quickly washed up and strolled over to the Long Branch. When he walked through the batwing doors, Kitty was placing a beer in front of a customer. She saw Matt and smiled at him.

"Matt, let me go upstairs and change. I'll be with you in a few moments," said Kitty,

"No rush. I'm a little early," said Matt.

Kitty ascended the stairs to her room and changed out of her work dress and into something more suitable outside the Long Branch. She chose a blue dress with tiny white flowers. Dress changed, she walked out of her room and descended down the stairs. Matt saw Kitty and appreciated what he saw.

"Are you ready?" asked Matt.

"Yes," answered Kitty.

Matt and Kitty left the Long Branch and walked over to Delmonico's. They walked in and took a table by the window. There were other customers eating their meals, including Jo Ellen, Susanna, and Adeline. They immediately noticed Matt and Kitty.

"Look who just walked in," Susanna whispered.

"One more thing to report to Lucinda," said Jo Ellen as she buttered her roll.

Matt pulled out Kitty's seat for her and she sat down. Matt then took his seat. They didn't notice the table of girls. They were more focused on each other.

"Kitty, do you like to fish?" asked Matt.

Kitty wasn't expecting that question. "I actually do. I used to fish when I was a little girl in New Orleans."

"If you're interested, maybe the next time I have a day off, we can go fishing. I know a great spot," said Matt.

"That sounds delightful. Count me in," said Kitty.

A couple more days passed and soon it was Tuesday. Lucinda was expected to be on the noon stage. Her friends were at the depot waiting for her. Matt was not with them. He was eating lunch with Kitty. Lucinda's friends saw the two of them go over to the cafe.

Lucinda got off the stage and saw her friends waiting for her, but not Matt. She was upset to say the least. She was hoping Matt would be there. Afterall, she had been gone for several days.

"Lucinda, it's so good to see ya!" exclaimed Jo Ellen.

"It's nice to be home. It's nice to see all of you, but I was hoping Matt would be here. Is he out of town again?" asked Lucinda.

The three girls looked at each other. Susanna spoke. "He's here. He's having lunch with Kitty at the cafe. This isn't the first time they've been together."

"Explain," said Lucinda, her voice low.

The girls explained what they had seen while Lucinda was gone. This information was the fuel that Lucinda needed to go ahead with her plan.

"It's time to teach Kitty who Matt belongs to. We execute the plan tomorrow," said Lucinda

TBC