Chapter 3

Kitty would have liked to stop for a breather, but those rain clouds overhead didn't give them much time to spare if they weren't to get soaked. When they reached the stage Matt dismounted his horse and walked over to help Kitty down.

"Thank you," she purred smiling at him.

Matt only tipped his hat in return. Then he and Roy saw to the driver. They wrapped him in a blanket and draped him over one of the horses Matt had brought back after saving Miss Russell. He tied all three to the back of the coach. After everyone was inside and the bag with their belongings returned to Roy and Annie, he, now clad in his slicker, climbed up on the box to drive the stage to its next stop, his home, Dodge City.

As Kitty sat in the coach her mind kept drifting back to US Marshal Matt Dillon, the man who saved her from the outlaws. She smiled and turned a light shade of pink thinking about how handsome her rescuer is. Kitty had heard many stories that made her picture him as a much older man, maybe in his 40s, 50s or even 60s. But Matt Dillon looked to be 25 or 30 at the most. Lost in her daydreams she hadn't noticed the stage had pulled to a stop.

"We're here," Matt said, opening the door.

Roy and Annie were the first to step out. Then Matt helped Kitty down. "Welcome to Dodge City, Miss Russell," Matt said with a smile.

"Thank you, I think," she said looking around her. There wasn't much to see compared to New Orleans where she'd grown up. The streets were covered in mud and everything was, well to put it nicely, ugly.

Matt chuckled as he helped her with her bags. "It does take a bit of getting used to."

Kitty kept looking around and nodded. "I can see that," she in an ironic tone to which Matt merely smiled in reply.

Kitty noticed the man walking toward her and the marshal walked with a limp caused by a stiff right leg. "What happened to the stage, Mr. Dillon?" the man asked in his usual frantic manner.

"Hello, Chester. Robbers held it up."

Chester shook his head. "That's just a shame, Mr. Dillon."

"Ya, it is. The outlaws shot Wayne and then kidnapped Miss Russell here," he responded, nodding at the redhead beside him.

Chester slowly took off his hat. "Oh that's just awful. I'm so sorry that happened to you, miss."

Kitty only nodded as Matt realized he hadn't introduced them to each other. "Chester, I'd like you to meet Miss Kitty Russell. Miss Russell, this is Chester Goode." She smiled at the man who was still awkwardly holding his hat.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Russell."

"Same to you, Mr. Goode."

"Oh please call me Chester," he replied chuckling.

Kitty nodded at him as she responded, "Alright, I think I can do that." Chester, who was even worse than his boss with women, could only nod for fear of sticking his foot in his mouth.

Matt smiled as he watched the interaction between Kitty and his assistant. "Well, it's just a good thing that you were coming back from Hays when you did, Mr. Dillon."

Chester smiled and Kitty looked over at Matt. She had been wondering how he was able to rescue her so quickly.

Matt nodded. "Yeah, it is, Chester. Say, would you untie Buck and the other horses and take them over to Moss for me. Also, let Rick know there's a body for him."

Hearing what Matt had said snapped Chester out of his daydream. "Huh? Oh yeah, sure thing, Mr. Dillon," Chester replied starting to do what he'd been told.

Kitty smiled. "Is he your deputy or something?"

Matt chuckled as he started to walk her over to the Dodge House. "Well, he's more of an assistant around the office than a deputy, but when I need him to be that he's always right there."

"I would have thought you'd have at least a few deputies," Kitty said, smiling.

Matt just shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I guess it's something I never really thought about, having a permanent deputy that is."

Kitty only nodded as they entered the hotel where she checked in. "One room, please."

The desk clerk handed her the key once she signed her name. "Your room is number 8, up the stairs and to the right. It faces the street."

"Thank you," she said, nodding.

Matt helped her carry her things up to her room, then tipped his hat to her. "It was nice to meet you, Miss Russell."

Kitty smiled up at him. "It was nice to meet you too, Marshal and please call me Kitty."

Matt smiled as he acknowledged her request. "Alright, only if you call me Matt," he answered as he turned to leave, but then looked back, adding "Miss Kitty, would you join me for dinner tonight? I know you've had kind of a tough day of it and"

Before he could finish a pleased Kitty replied, "I'd be happy to Mar.., Matt."

Matt yet again chuckled and tipped his hat. "I'll come by later and pick you up."

Kitty bowed her head in reply as the door softly closed. She watched from her window as he walked to his office. He was a gentleman and a cowboy, not a bad combination she thought. She grinned. The marshal invited her to dinner. It was then she realized she'd never thanked him for saving her. She nibbled her lip. "How could you forget to say thank you to one of the best looking men you've ever seen?" she thought. Kitty pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head.

Later that night after dinner together Matt walked Kitty back to the Dodge House. "Marshal, I never did thank you for saving my life today."

"Marshal," Matt said with a smile. "Are we back to formalities?"

"Alright, thank you, Matt, for saving me."

Both were smiling as he replied. "It was my pleasure," trying to make it seem like it wasn't that big of a deal.

"I'm sure you've done that kind of thing hundreds of times over, she answered, smiling warmly up at him.

"Well, not all of them are as easy as yours was. Those two left a trail even a blind man could follow," he chuckled. Kitty raised an eyebrow as he continued after clearing his throat. "But to rescue a pretty redhead like you was worth any danger."

Kitty laughed as she looked up at him. "Good save, Cowboy."

Matt grinned. "I kinda like that."

He could see the redness creep over her face, but didn't let on that he saw it. He wasn't about to spoil things now that they'd reached the hotel and he was preparing to lean in to kiss her, but she took a step back.

"Well, thank you for walking me back, Mar, Matt."

"G'night," he said reduced only a smile at her rather than a kiss. With that, Kitty went upstairs to her room.