10 Hours Later – On the Train to Dodge City
Kitty felt Matthew's warm body stir, and groggily opened her eyes. The 3 month old had slept comfortably in the sling Kitty fashioned from her large, cotton shawl, but it was clear he was getting hungry. She gently rubbed his belly, and looked around nervously. If she didn't nurse him soon, he'd start hollering and disturbed everyone in the car, but nursing in public could bring harsh disapproval, and she didn't have the energy to deal with that right now. She eyed the passenger directly across from her, a stiff backed woman with a deeply lined face, and grey hair pulled back into a small, tight bun. To Kitty's surprise the woman's stern look evaporated, and her lips curled into a smile. She winked, "Go ahead and nurse him my dear. With that nice, big shawl, I'm sure you can do it so no one notices. It's a trick we mothers all learn, at one time or another."
Kitty nodded gratefully. She swiftly undid two buttons on the front of her dress, and tilted Matthew towards her breast with her shawl covering them both. "Thank you for understanding."
"Ah, I understand motherhood, that's for sure." The woman's brown eyes twinkled. "My name's Penelope, but folks call me Nellie. I'm on my way to Colorado to visit one of my daughters and her family. She has two youngsters of her own."
"Nice to meet you Nellie, I'm Kitty. How many children and grandkids do you have?"
"I gave birth to 5. My 4 girls are all married with families. They've given me 10 grandkids in total. My boy died of measles when he was a baby. It's a sadness I still carry, but we all suffer sadness in our lives don't we? Sometimes I think it helps us appreciate our blessings." Nellie shook her head with a laugh, "I warn you, I tend to go on a when I have a captive audience." She leaned forward. "Kitty, you have a beautiful boy there, and these old arms are itching to hold him. When he's all full up hand him over, it will give your back a rest."
Matt
Boots digging into the thick purple carpet in the lobby of the Mayflower Hotel, Matt strode passed the front desk for the seventh time. The skinny, middle-aged clerk behind that desk, eyed the marshal nervously, trying not to stare. Matt pivoted and crossed the lobby once again. He was up before dawn, but decided that 5:45 was too early to visit Kitty, so went to a restaurant for breakfast. He soon discovered that for the first time in memory, he was too nervous to eat, so he downed 4 cups of coffee and returned to the hotel lobby, to wait for time to pass. After pacing the length of the room yet again, he stopped by the desk and glanced up at the clock. 8AM, surely late enough to go to Kitty's place. He strode out the door, and the clerk breathed a sigh of relief. Matt quickly reached Oak Street, and when he turned the corner he spotted Gabrielle outside Kitty's house, clutching a piece of paper.
"Morning, Gabrielle." He tipped his hat. "Sorry to be here so early, but I need to speak to Kitty. Can you let her know I'm here?"
Worry clear on the small woman's face, she handed Matt the note she'd found pinned to Kitty's front door. Dear Gabrielle, I'm taking Matthew on a trip. I'll be in touch when we get back. Don't worry, you will be paid your regular salary. Yours, Kitty Monroe. Gabrielle shook her head. "Doing something so sudden is not like Mrs. Monroe. Do you think something is wrong?"
Matt frowned. "I - I'm sure she's fine, but maybe I should look into it. I know she works at Cafe du Monde, someone there might know where she went. Can you direct me?"
"800 Decatur." Gabrielle pointed down the street. "5 Blocks and around the corner."
"Thank you Gabrielle, and I'm sure you don't have to worry." Mind racing, Matt hurried off. He didn't want to believe that Kitty had run away from him again, but he was hard pressed to think of another reason for her sudden trip. He quickly reached the cafe and shoved open the door. The place was classy, with tables of varying sizes and an attractive bar, lined with stools, at the far wall. Waiters were moving smoothly around the room, serving breakfast and filling coffee cups. A short, mustached man, with a proprietorial air, stood cross-armed by the door watching everything and everyone. Matt approached him. "Good Morning. I'm looking for Kitty Rus – Kitty Monroe. Do you know where she is?"
Cecil Barr ran a hand across his greying mustache. "And just who might you be?" He lifted his chin, and stared up at Matt.
Matt chuckled inside. The man reminded him of Doc, and he'd bet a month's pay he was just as stubborn. "I apologize, I should have introduced myself. My name's Matt Dillon. I'm a US Marshal and a friend of Kitty's from before she moved here."
Barr gave a short nod, and took measure of Matt. Kitty was a special women, good hearted, smart and funny. She was raising a baby on her own while building a career, and handled it all with grace and a smile. If this imposing man was bringing one speck of trouble into Kitty's life, he'd better think again.
Matt saw the man's hesitation, and spoke softly, looking directly into his eyes. "I was at Kitty's place last night, and went back this morning. Gabrielle told me she left for a trip quite suddenly. I thought you might know where she is. Believe me, I mean no harm. I – I've know Kitty for a long time. She and I – well – it's complicated, and there are things the two of us have to straighten out. If you know where she is, I'd like to know. I would never harm her. You have my word on that."
Cecil Barr slowly nodded, the man seemed sincere, and there was certainly no harm in telling him the truth. "Marshal Dillon, I'm afraid I can't be of much help. Kitty stopped by last night to pick up money she was owed, and to let me know she was going on a trip, and needed a week or two off. She didn't say where she was going, although…" Barr paused and scratched his ear. "She's very friendly with a married couple that visits New Orleans regularly. I think their last name is Sanders or Saunders or something like that. Anyway, they live in San Francisco and keep pestering her to visit. Maybe she took them up on it. In any event she said a week or two. She'll be back. Maybe you should just wait."
"Thanks, I appreciate it." Matt turned to go, but looked back at Barr. "Kitty ever mention our friend, Doc? You're a lot like him." Without waiting for an answer, he hurried off, jaw clenched. Darn it Kitty, you did it again, didn't you? Ran off from me without telling anyone where you were going. What am I supposed to do? Wait here, start another search? It took 9 months to find you last time you left me. San Francisco might be an idea, and I do know some lawmen there. Darn it Kitty, you sure don't make it easy.
Kitty
Kitty raised her arms over her head and stretched while across from her, Nellie gently rocked Matthew in her arms. She looked up at Kitty. "Such a happy baby, and so big and strong for a three month old. Are your other children big for their age?"
Puzzled, Kitty frowned, "Other children? Matthew's my first." Realization struck and Kitty nodded knowingly. "Oh – I know, I am older than most first time mothers."
"Well there I go, putting my foot in my mouth, like usual. My dear, I made assumptions and I'm sorry. Different paths for different people. You are a lovely looking woman, with a marvelous baby boy. I'm sure your husband is a very happy man." Kitty smile weakly and blinked back tears. Nellie reached over and gently patted her hand. It was clear the red-head had a lot on her mind that she didn't want to talk about. A change of subject seemed in order. "My dear, let me tell you about my first born, Grace. She was so puny we didn't think she'd live but…."
Kitty let Nellie talk on without interruption, and was genuinely entertained by her stories. They both knew some events were embellished for effect, and they also both knew that Kitty would rather listen than talk. After a while Nellie fell silent, and the women drifted off into their own thoughts. Kitty tried to picture Matt sitting down for a good, calm talk. Hard to imagine after the way he stormed out of her house, checked out of his hotel, and ran home to Dodge. She could understand his shock at learning the truth, but what was he thinking, leaving like that? Well, Matt Dillon, we are going to have a talk whether you like it or not.
TBC