Chapter 3

The sun was playing pick-a-boo through the window. The birds were chirping, children laughing, full of energy, horses trotted down Main Street; each filling the Spring air with happiness. Kitty laid on her side, smiling, enjoying the sounds. She was also missing the warmth of a certain Cowboys arms. She rolled over to find herself in an empty bed again. She sighed. Reached for his pillow and found a letter folded on top. She smiled. It read...

"Good morning. It was hard leaving you this morning without a kiss, but I didn't have the heart to wake you. Pout and teach me a lesson later. I just wanted to tell you how you make me feel and how much I love you. I will be back as soon as possible. Stay warm, stay beautiful, stay you." - Matt

She folded the note back, held it to her chest, and sank back into the sheets.

It was a little after noon when Kitty opened her eyes again. She laid there trying to plan out her day. Knowing Wichita was a good day's ride there and back, she knew Matt wouldn't be back until the early hours of Saturday morning. She needed to keep her mind busy through the rest of this Friday that was never going to end. Maybe she needed to go shopping or maybe for a ride out on the prairie? She rolled on her side once more and let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

"Miss Kitty?" Sam inquired as he lightly knocked on the door.

"One minute Sam." She stood and wrapped her robe around her. She open the door, "Morning Sam. Everything ok?" She smile.

Returning the smile, "Oh yes Miss Kitty. Everything is just fine. Doc's downstairs wanted to see if you would accompany him to lunch."

Kitty walked passed Sam to look over the banister. "Mornin Doc."

"Morning? Ha!" Doc scoffed, "It's almost 1 o'clock. Morning?" He shook his head, and wiped his mustache. "You coming or do I have to punish myself by going to lunch with that ol' crazy coon at the jail? Already sat through breakfast with em."

Kitty laughed, "Well I don't want to deprive you from your joy Doc."

"Ha" grumbling some under his breath.

"Give a couple of minutes to get ready. I'll be down quicker than-"

"Now don't you start," Doc warned, "I've heard enough of that this morning."

Kitty smiled. And walked back into her room. Doc found a table and a cup of cold coffee to keep him company.

About a half hour later. Kitty's door opened. She walked out in an old familiar dress. A lilac purple, with matching hat and perfume. "You about ready?" Doc asked.

"Just about. Gotta put my hat on." Looking in the mirror at the top of the stairs. Placing a few more pins in their designated places, she turned to come down the stairs, "You know, you could have come by earlier and warned me."

"I like to keep ya on your toes." Doc joked and continued, "Actually, I didn't realize you were here. Matt mentioned at dinner last week he was takin the weekend off. I said if he was going to ride out and fish a little this weekend I wanted to tag along."

"Gotta new pole you wanna to try out?" Kitty asked as they turned the conure at Delmonico's.

"Yeah. How'd you know?" Opening the door for Kitty.

"You know small town, gossip girls, and tipsy doctors." She winked, "Oh and Matt told me last night you owe Festus a beer for something?"

"Oh you! A beer? Ha! All that lazy good, for nothing, bum did was carry a package up to my office. A package, mind you, I didn't even know about. Barney told Matt if he saw me, if he would let me know I had something waiting for me. Then Matt opened his big mouth and told Barney they could just go ahead and deliver it to me. I hear a knock on my door at 8am saying 'Ol Doc, I gotta present fir ya' ... and some how words got put in my mouth and the only line of defense to shut him up was to offer to by him a drink. Crazy scutter..." They laughed as they sat, Doc continued, "Anyway, Matt said he was already spoken for this weekend." He wiped his hand across his face again, Kitty blushed and smiled knowingly. "So I dropped it. Then this morning, Festus said he and Newly just received a telegram saying Matt was a few hours out of Wichita and would be back early Saturday morning. That just confused me. But you know Festus, he filled me in on the whole story, not a summary, the extended version." Doc finished as he sipped his coffee.

They had finished lunch. They just sat letting the time pass. Saying to hey to the locals. Passing along their love. Wishing the best to though just passing through. Making their way back to the Long Branch, Kitty had gotten quiet.

"Well would you look at that! Kitty it's almost dinner time... Where did time go?" Doc looked at his clock and back up at Kitty, "You ok honey?" He asked out of concern.

She smiled a weak smile, "I'm fine Curly. Just thinking. Thank you again for the wonderful lunch date... and for helping the time pass a little quicker. I guess I'll head up and start getting things ready for tonight. "

Doc looked her in the eye, "It's almost 5. Matt should already be in Wichita... Knowing him and Judge Brooker... Paper work is done and Brooker has already sent Matt on his way home... So you just pep up, doll up, and stay busy... Because when you wake up in the morning, he'll be here. I have no doubt."

"Thanks Doc." She hugged his neck, "Come by later for a beer?"

Doc nodded and walked toward his office.

She turned to walk in, "Oh and Doc?"

He turned and smiled.

"Bring Festus with ya." She ordered as she watched his face expression change, "Matt said you owe him a drink."

He wiped his mustache, pouted, and grumbled something as he continued to walk.

Kitty watched him until he reached the bottom steps. She smiled.

Making get way to her room. Kitty sat on her bed. She sighed. She walked over to the window. The day was almost over and her night was just about to start. She looked out at the setting sun. The yellows, oranges, and reds painted across the sky. The thought crossed her mind, knowing he was looking at the same setting sun... Wondering if Matt would be in her arms before sunrise...

TBC