Kitty's New Year

Well, I kind of thought I'd be living in San Francisco this year.

Yeah? You never told me that.

What would you have done about it?

Might try to talk you out of it.

You would?

Kitty and Matt, "Pucket's New Year," Season 2

The stagecoach thundered in a cloud of dust as it crossed the Kansas-Colorado border. Inside the coach, Kitty Russell swayed through the bumps and jolts, having given up on fighting off the dust that worked its way in long ago. The prairie scenery had lost its charm after the first few hours and after the last stop there were no other passengers with whom to pass the time. Kitty sighed with regret. This was feeling less like a grand adventure and more like an impulsive gesture with each passing minute. It wasn't, she reminded herself. She was always going to go to San Francisco. She was going to give Dodge City a year, and it had been nearly two. Was it any surprise her reason for finally leaving was the same reason she'd stayed in the first place? Matt Dillon.

US Marshal Matt Dillon stabled his horse and walked to the nondescript shack, propping his long frame against the outside wall. He wiped the trail dust from his eyes and pulled the telegram that had reached him in Hays City just in time from his pocket. He read it again and shook his head. Doc had evidently spared no expense apprising him of the situation, not to mention his opinion. He took off his hat, running a hand through his hair. Why had she done it? He knew, though, and he didn't need Doc to tell him.

The stage pulled into the yard of the way station and the driver rattled off his customary instructions as he helped the sole passenger climb out. Kitty barely noticed when the man led the horses and rig toward the corral. She shook as much dust from her black suit as she could while walking up the dirt path to the house. She stopped still when she saw the tall man walking her direction. Why, if she didn't know better she'd swear it was….

"Matt!" she breathed out almost accusingly. He tipped his hat and gave that little half-smile that always turned her insides to mush.

"Hello, Kitty." He said nothing further as he stood there taking in her disheveled appearance like he was looking at Lillie Langtry.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed. She didn't know how, but this couldn't possibly be a coincidence. Why did he have to make this harder for her?

"Let's talk " He took her arm just above the elbow and they walked to a grove of trees behind the shack. When he turned to face her, she crossed her arms in front of her waist and looked away, her lips pressed together tightly. "Why are you leaving Dodge? And why didn't you tell me?"

"It's a free country. And I'm a grown woman. I didn't know I needed your permission to leave." She still couldn't look at him. She might burst out crying and that would never do.

Matt swallowed. She sure wasn't making this easy. "Is there any way I can talk you out of it?"

"No! You know I was on my way to San Francisco when I stopped in Dodge. There's nothing for me there, so it's time to go." Nothing but Matt, and that damn badge he used to keep her at arm's length.

Nothing? That hurt. "Well, Chester and Doc are sure gonna miss you."

"Chester and Doc," she scoffed. She opened her reticule and rummaged through it. If he was going to make her cry, she needed her handkerchief. "I can't go back. I don't have a job."

"I know the Bull's Head is always looking for girls."

Fuming, Kitty looked at him. He winked at her and rocked back on his heels.

"Now there's an idea. I ought to make good money there, considering the fine clientele they have," she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes for good measure.

Matt's insides twisted at the thought, though he was pretty sure she was calling his bluff. "Kitty…." He took a step closer and grasped both of her arms gently just below the shoulders. "You're practically running the Long Branch now. Bill Pence would be a fool not to take you back." Matt took a gamble on who had paid for Doc's long missive.

"He's not the only one," Kitty said pointedly, looking up into his eyes.

"Please come back." His fingers tightened almost imperceptibly as he met her gaze.

Kitty felt her resolve beginning to waver. "Why, Matt?" she whispered. "I need you to tell me why."

His heart hammered in his chest, and he was as light headed as if he had just taken a couple of bullets . Damn it, he was about to lose her, and she'd never been his to lose. "Kitty, I -" He took a deep breath. "I need you to stay. I know I don't have anything to offer you and this badge is gonna keep getting in the way. I thought we could just be friends, but that isn't enough any more. Is it? "

Kitty shook her head silently.

Matt swallowed hard. There was only one thing that might get her to come back. The truth. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I love you, Kitty."

Love radiated from her eyes back to him. He thought she'd return the sentiment, but his girl-if she was his girl-was full of surprises. "I know," she said calmly. "I've been wondering if you were ever going to get around to figuring it out."

"I'm not much of a hand when it comes to understanding women," he admitted sheepishly.

"Is that a fact," she said quietly, almost a whisper. Suddenly his arms were around her and their lips were together. For two years Matt had done nothing more than touch her arm or back while walking. Well, there was that time he'd grabbed her around the middle to stop her from beating that pig, Hank Groat, with a washboard, but this was different. This time their bodies were pressed together tightly as if they had been made for each other.

Kitty pulled away slightly, catching her breath. "Marshal?" she asked, with just a hint of seduction in her voice.

"Mmnn, " Matt mumbled as his lips traveled down her neck, stopping at the lace above her bosom.

"Do you think you could stop kissing me long enough to retrieve my bags from the stagecoach? I've decided not to go to San Francisco after all."

Matt placed one last kiss at her freckled throat. "I'll try, Miss Russell. I'll surely try."

End