Chapter 4

The next morning Kitty woke up feeling like her heart was singing a merry little tune. She couldn't help but smile. Could it be because she was alive and free from what might have been a terrible fate yesterday? Or was it supper with the tall and handsome marshal? She didn't care. It was good to be happy on a beautiful morning like this. She opened her window to let in fresh air. Birds were singing and the scent of flowers filled the air. However, it wasn't long before a commotion at the end of the street caught her attention. Looking out her window she could see a group of cowboys brawling. They were 50 feet away from a little boy playing with his puppy.

Matt heard the noise the cowboys were making. He stepped out of his office to see what was happening and noticed the child. The little boy was completely unaware he was in danger from the mob of cowboys racing toward him. In two quick strides he picked up Toby and his puppy. "Toby, you know you shouldn't play in the street."

The little boy looked up at the marshal, hugging him while his puppy licked the man's face, causing Matt to chuckle. "How about we go find you ma? I bet she's looking for you right now."

Toby merely nodded as Matt went with him to find his mother, who was in the general store. He placed Toby in the family's wagon. "You stay out of trouble, young man." Then added, as the boy replied with another nod, "You keep your pup out of trouble too. That's what a good dog is supposed to do, you know." In reply the golden-haired pup gave him a big, wet kiss.

Matt wiped his face with his bandana as he strolled back to his office. Taking a seat near the door, he thought about what might have happened had he not been so quick. He looked up to see someone watching him from the Dodge House across the street. He saw not just anybody letting fresh air into her room. It was the beautiful Miss Kitty Russell gazing at him. He couldn't help but grin as he tipped his hat to her. In response, her smile widened and her cheeks became slightly pink. Her heart was no longer hers.

When a stage company employee came by to knock at her door a few days later to tell her one would be leaving to go further west in 15 minutes, she replied "Thank you, but I think I'll be staying."

"Very well, Miss," he replied and walked away.

Kitty watched the stage pull out of town from her window. Then she looked down to see the marshal sitting in his favorite spot. She'd been in Dodge a week, but felt she belonged.

Matt, in his chair outside his office, also watched the stagecoach roll out of town and sighed. He didn't want to admit Kitty had caught his eye. However, just being around her made him continuously smile. "Oh well," he sighed. He expected she'd continued on to meet up with her sister in California. He certainly couldn't stop her. Matt stretched his legs out, lowered his hat over his eyes and leaned the chair back so it rested on only two legs, watching the world pass by.

Five minutes later the sound of light footsteps caused him to move his feet so he wouldn't trip whoever was approaching. A young lady cleared her throat. Matt first looked at her feet before letting his eyes rove upward to look at her face. It was Kitty, which made him smile. He was also dumbfounded because he thought she'd left. "Kitty," he said resorting to his boyish grin. "You missed the stage," he said as he stood up while scratching his scalp.

"So I did," she said nodding at him.

"But I thought you were going to see your sister?" Matt said, now chuckling as he leaned against the post that supporting the overhang from the roof.

Kitty looked down at her feet before looking back up at him. "I will. I just thought I'd stay here a while longer." Matt widened his smile and she let out a sigh. "But if I'm staying I need to find a job. My money is about to run out."

Matt thought for a moment. "You know Kitty, you might try Ma Smalley's. She has reasonable rents and maybe even some jobs you could do for her."

Kitty smiled. "Well, thank you Marshal."

Matt smiled, ignoring the fact she was back to referring to him by his title. "Come on, I'll take you over to meet her," he said, offering his arm. She returned his smile and took the proffered limb so he could lead the way.

"Matthew Dillon," Ma greeted the man with the woman on his arm cheerfully as they entered her boardinghouse.

Hello, Ma," he said in response to the older woman's greeting, who had turned her attention to his companion.

"Now who is this pretty little lady?" the smiling woman asked. Matt introduced them. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Miss Kitty," the landlady replied.

"Thank you. It's nice meeting you too, Mrs. Smalley," Kitty replied.

"Please, everyone here calls me Ma. There's always a place at the table and a bed to sleep in."

Before a smiling Kitty could respond Matt spoke up. "Say, Ma, Kitty will be staying here in Dodge for awhile and is looking for a job. She also needs a place"

Ma cut him off. "No need to finish, Matt. She can stay here. I'm always in need of help. We can also see if Mr. Jonas needs any part-time help in his store." Then she turned to Kitty. "If'n you would like to stay here and help me, that is. Tell me, do you cook at all?"

Kitty looked between the marshal and Ma. "I would be more than happy to Ma, though as far as cooking goes, I'm not much of a hand at it."

Ma assessed the young couple with her, crossing her arms. "Those two make a beautiful couple," she thought. "Well, it's settled. You'll be staying here and working for me. I can teach you how to cook."

Though Kitty couldn't see it because she was looking at her new landlady and employer, Matt was grinning like a polecat. Ma knew what he was up to.

"I appreciate that. Thank you, Ma," Kitty said with her own bright smile.

"Oh think nothing of it. Now, if your stuff is ready, I'm sure the marshal could help bring it over," she said chuckling in reply.

Kitty laughed nervously. "Would you be willing to do that?"

"Well, it's my job to help those in need, you know," he said, coloring his tone with amusement. Kitty bit her lip to keep from laughing.