As the pieces fell into place, this story became an ATC to Season 5's Tag Your It as well as Unloaded Gun. The action for the former takes place about a year earlier. Also, thanks again to all the guests!
Chapter 10 – Showdown on Front Street
Unlike the four people in Kitty's rooms those staying at the Dodge House weren't deliberately sleep deprived. By the time Clyde Billings and Ben Fuller reached the hotel from the Long Branch, Bud Peevy, swayed by what Billings told him, was already sound asleep. He planned to be ready for action come morning. Despite every effort during their supper and final tour of the many saloons and gambling dens Dodge City had to offer, Bud wasn't able to fully convince Tom Conway that facing down Matt Dillon was the right thing to do like he'd hoped.
Billings was already in his room when Flo Delaney and Curt Dryden caught up with Ben in the hallway as he turned his key in the lock to enter his room. Fuller turned towards them.
"Ben, we'd like to talk to you. It's urgent," Flo said. "I saw you with Sally Teasdale over at the Long Branch. We need to know what she told you."
"Come to my room where we can talk comfortably," Curt added. "I'm curious about what she had to say, but also about what Billings said. I've a feeling pooling information might save some lives."
By the time Ben left for his own room a half-hour later the trio had a plan. The two men would be armed and on the street by sunrise. Flo turned to leave for her room across the hall, but Curt stopped her with a gentle hand on her elbow.
"I'd like you to stay if you're agreeable. I believe we can relax each other."
"Since you're willing, Curt, I'll be more than happy to oblige. It's not often an experienced woman like me finds such an attractive man of the same general age willing to provide mutual pleasure."
Flo and Curt were happily relaxed and ready for more sleep but for the bright light coming through the curtained window. He hoped they hadn't overslept as he opened the door to allow Flo to discretely cross the hall to her own room to quickly freshen up. His own preparations took only a couple of minutes. He emerged into the hall to see an armed Ben heading toward the stairs. Curt raced to catch up to the younger man. Together they rushed down them and out to the street. Except for the scene playing out in front of them this sunny Tuesday morning, April 8, 1873 promised a perfect spring day.
Bud and Clyde stood, their backs to the hotel, staring at Matt Dillon glaring back at them as he stepped onto the dirt of Front Street in front of the Long Branch. Tom stood on the edge of the boardwalk on the hotel side so that he had a clear shot at Dillon should the other two miss if he had to. From where he stood by the hotel door Curt could see the indecision on Tom's face. Kitty stood diagonally opposite Tom far enough into the street for Matt to see her and the Teasdale sisters out of the corner of his eye.
"Bud, I know how you feel about Kit, but Billings can probably handle Dillon on his own," Tom reasoned. "Besides, I'm still not sure he means her any harm. We've no proof other than what the two women behind her told us that he's the one who set up what could have been fatal accidents for not only her, but him as well."
"You may not be sure Tom, but I am. Sally and Tilda convinced me. Billings has his own reasons for facing down that gunman hiding behind the badge. He just might be fast enough to get both of us."
"Peevy's right I stand a good chance of getting both of them before I go down," Matt agreed. "That doesn't mean I want this. I'm standing here ready to die for Kitty's sake."
"Bud, stop before you ruin your life! Those women hired Billings. He wasn't accurate enough for any of his attempts to cause permanent harm, but this confrontation could kill Dillon and Kit and then you when you hang."
"What are you talkin' about Curt? What makes you so sure?"
"I'm sure because what Sally told Ben Fuller here gibes with what I learned from folks living here. She and her sister want revenge for Dillon killing their cousin Carl Killion. He's kin so they chose to ignore the facts. The loss of his ranch turned him into a killer, a hired gun. The marshal kept him from murdering a young woman because her cousin didn't want to share an inheritance."
"Curt's telling the truth," Ben added ignoring Tom. He and I have you and Billings covered. Either you both drop your guns or you're dead men. Curt didn't say it Billings, but you know the only reason Matt's facing the two of you is because your girlfriend has a gun in Kitty's back."
While Bud and Clyde hesitated, their attention focused on Matt, Tom strode quickly behind his father-in-law's foreman and the railroad man. He then made his way unnoticed onto the street behind Sally and Tilda. Before either realized he was there he grabbed the little pistol pointed at Kitty from Tilda. Matt, alert for any chance, saw what Tom was doing and bolted toward Kitty's side ending the standoff.
Kitty savored the fleeting moment of Matt pulling her away from the sisters into his strong, protective arms. He remained comfortingly behind her, but his arms no longer encircled her as she turned toward their suddenly former tormentors.
"You're fired!" the angry redhead yelled. "The sight of you makes me sick! Ben, Tom follow them into the Long Branch to make sure they take only what's theirs. No matter what they claim, the shotgun leaning against the post belongs behind the bar."
While Ben and Tom dealt with the Teasdales, the awakening town, going about the business of opening shops and delivering milk, barely noticed the remainder of the group still standing on Dodge City's main street. Curt acted first, taking it upon himself to herd Bud and Clyde into the saloon. Matt and Kitty followed. The Long Branch was officially open for business even though there was no morning coffee as yet, but Chester, who'd been looking for his boss when he witnessed the altercation, took it upon himself to boil up a pot to be poured out of Kitty's fancy pot.
"I bet somebody other than Chester made that coffee," Doc stated announcing his arrival with Flo Delaney, who'd hung back in the Dodge House lobby until everything was settled.
"You'd lose," Matt replied. "Doc, it's a good thing you weren't needed. Four people might have died because you were late to a gunfight."
"Pshaw, Mr. Marshal? I have you know I only took my time because I knew you, with the assistance of Ben and Curt, had the situation well in hand. I'd have come as soon as the first shot was fired."
"Marshal, would you have been able to shoot both of us?" a chagrinned Bud asked.
"Nope. I couldn't have drawn against you," Matt replied as Ben and Tom came toward them with Sally and Tilda. "Sally, empty the contents of your skirt pocket on the table," he ordered before he picked up six of the bullets one at a time and calmly loaded his Colt.
Matt used the repetitive motion of reloading his peacemaker and gun belt to help control his anger. He needed to be clearheaded if he was going to get the necessary answers to determine what would happen to Sally, Tilda, Billings and Peevy even taking into account Kitty's preference. With the final bullet in place, he buckled the now loaded belt and returned the revolver to his holster. He stood at his intimidating full height waiting for any of the conspirators to start talking when Clyde Billings spoke up.
"Marshal, you've every right to throw me in jail. Falling in love, especially with an older woman, is no excuse, but that's what I did even before she left Tascosa. The money didn't hurt none neither. Tilda told me you didn't keep promises you made to Killian and her while bein' paid by him and using that money to pay for both sisters services, willin' as they were, when she was a mere girl of 17. It was the only way she and Sally could earn a livin' in that wild country where their cousin tried to make a go of his ranch by the Canadian River. It was her idea to use a series of accidents disguised as pranks to try and harm both of you so you'd suffer double before being killed."
"What about you Peevy? Was it love?" Matt asked sardonically.
"In a way. Kit was a kid despite all she'd experienced by the time I met her. Once I saw the woman she'd become I fell into old habits of wanting to protect her like any man would his daughter. I thought you were behind it all Dillon because you or your stand-in Chester were always close by whenever I saw what I thought were attempts on her life. Tilda and Sally told me you engineered Bill Pence leaving so you'd have even more control over Kit and the Long Branch. It fit what I already believed."
"Bud, I'm as determined to live my life my way and not at the whim of some man as I was at 15. If you'd asked I'd have told you Matt respects that."
"I forgot you're no longer that desperate girl. Curt didn't. I should have paid him heed."
"Yeah, you should have, but we've been together too long for Tom and I to part ways with you. That ain't true for him," Curt added, pointing a finger. "Billings, you're fired!"
"Kitty wants you girls and Billings gone," Matt added reasserting himself as being in charge. "Get out of Dodge. Peevy, because you did it for Kitty you can stick around until Curt's ready to leave."
"They say you never forget your first love," Ben interjected looking at Sally. "You were mine, so unless you have somewhere else you'd prefer to go come with me to Cheyenne. There's plenty of work for both you and Tilda, with the railroad or not. It's your choice. I'm no longer the kid workin' for his big brother. I've got a huge say in who we take on. The same goes for you Billings unless Matt minds if you stick around a few more hours. We'll just about fill up the three o'clock northbound stage. Flo, will you be joining us as far as Deadwood?"
"I'm not sure Ben. Somehow returnin' to that cathouse of mine doesn't seem that invitin' even if it is far grander than what I ran here. I'd been thinkin' I'd turn the place over to the gal I've been trainin' these past five years in case somethin' more appealin' turned up."
"Flo, I know we've only just met, but when you get to be our age findin' someone compatible to spend what remains of your life with ain't that easy. I'd be pleased if you'd come to Laredo with me. You can ride in the chuck wagon with Bud."
"Curt Dryden, is that your way of proposin'? If it is, then I accept!"
By two Clyde Billings had sold his horse and, under Chester's mostly watchful eye, found his way back to the Long Branch. He stood, munching a ham sandwich from the free lunch and sipping his beer by the polished wooden bar, assessing the early afternoon customers. Chester's eye occasionally darted toward Sally and Tilda, who were also taking advantage of the free lunch, their carpetbags on the extra chairs at their table, but his attention was on Kitty. She was talking quietly with Bud and Curt seemingly tolerant of the sisters' presence. That is she was until five minutes before the Hays stage was due to leave.
Matt, Ben, Flo and Doc left the doctor's office for the depot in time to see Kitty, with Curt, Bud and even Chester's help, herd the Teasdales, with all their belongings, and Billings out of the Long Branch to meet the incoming stage. They formed enough of a crowd that a stranger might think some prominent citizen was being given a sendoff until he looked hard at the way the marshal watched the sisters' carpetbags being tied on top next to their trunks. Matt's stiff posture didn't ease until Billings, after helping Tilda inside, sat facing forwards next to her. On the boardwalk first Doc, then Matt, shook hands in farewell with Ben Fuller. The lawman stepped aside to allow his boyhood friend to hand Sally Teasdale into the coach. Before Ben could join the others going north, Flo came up on his blind side to give him a quick farewell peck on the cheek. Satisfied those he ordered out of town were on their way, Matt stood on one side of Kitty and Doc on the other as the stage pulled out.
Wednesday morning Kitty forced herself awake long after her man had left but early enough for a seven o'clock breakfast to bid farewell to the remaining visitors. She managed to dress in time to join Matt, Doc, Chester, her old friends Tom Conway, Bud Peevy and Curt Dryden and Matt and Doc's old friend Flo Delaney before the rest of the party had finished ordering. After the meal they lingered only long enough for Wilbur Jonas to finish putting his merchandise on the boardwalk in front of the Mercantile. It was the signal for Bud to bring the chuck wagon round with Curt's and Tom's saddled horses tied to the back. Doc lingered with Flo while Curt, Tom and Bud loaded their supplies, pretending he was helping her with her valise. By the time Flo settled in the wagon with Bud, Curt and Tom were mounted alongside. As the woman and three men pulled away, Doc turned toward his office while Chester headed back to the jailhouse, leaving Matt and Kitty alone.
"Matt, do ever get the feeling we'd be better off if we never saw old friends again?"
"I don't know Kitty. There are advantages and disadvantages."
"You may be right, Cowboy. "Your friend Ben and my friends Curt and Tom did keep my friend Bud and your acquaintances the Teasdale sisters from killing us."
"You're forgetting something, Kit. Curt and Flo, who'd never have met if they didn't come to Dodge, will marry once they get to Laredo because our past met their present."
"I always suspected as much as you try to hide it you're a romantic. We seem to have a knack for matchmaking. Two other couples got together as well because of knowing us. Out of seven people from our youth, five turned out to be real friends and all of them found new or renewed friendships. How is it then, that I'm the only woman who isn't getting married?"
"I think maybe we both need a drink," Matt replied taking her by the elbow and steering her toward the Long Branch. "I'm buyin'."