"Before The Return" This is a missing moment from "Daddy-O" (Season 2).

Matt had just finished his rounds and was walking up the back steps to Kitty's room. Earlier that day Kitty had gotten a telegram from her long lost father saying that he was coming to see her. Kitty was apprehensive about her father's return and asked Matt to go with her to meet the stage. Matt didn't even have to think about his answer. He told her he would go with her.

Matt reached the top steps and knocked on the door. Kitty had been deciding what to wear when she met her father, when she heard the soft knock on the door. She went to go and answer the door. Kitty opened the door, and as she expected, Matt was on the other side.

"Hello, Matt," Kitty greeted him. "Come on in." Kitty stepped aside, allowing Matt to enter the room. "I'm trying to decide what to wear tomorrow when I meet the stage. Do you think this dress and hat look alright?" Kitty pointed to her dark pink dress, with black trimmings and matching hat.

"That dress and hat will be fine," Matt replied. "I've always liked that dress and hat on you."

"Really?" Kitty questioned. "You've never told me that. Anyway, I want to make sure I look perfect tomorrow."

"Well, I'm telling you now," said Matt. "Why do you need to look perfect, not that you wouldn't no matter what you wear?"

"I don't want to disappoint my father," Kitty said softly.

"Disappoint your father?" Matt asked. "Why would you think you're going to disappoint your father? If anything, I would think he should be worried about disappointing you. After all, he's the one that left and never returned."

"That's just it," Kitty responded. "He never returned." Kitty saw Matt's questioning look and continued. "I told you how my mother never held his deserting her against him. Since she didn't, I didn't. But I've always questioned why he never returned, even after my mother passed away. You would think he'd want to make sure I was okay. Did he find out I was a girl and not a boy? Did he want a boy? Would he have returned if I was a boy? If he did leave because I wasn't a boy, then I have to be sure to impress him."

Matt could not believe what he was hearing. He never once considered that Kitty felt this way about her father, that she thought she was the reason her father did not return. That was absolutely ridiculous.

"Kitty, you can't think that he never returned just because you weren't a boy," said Matt as he put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

"To be honest, Matt," said Kitty. "I can't help but think that. Why else didn't he return until now?"

"Kitty, unfortunately there are men that walk away from their responsibilities, no matter what," Matt answered. "You don't have to worry about being a disappointment. You have made something out of yourself. You're half owner of the best saloon in town. That's quite an accomplishment. You should be proud of who you are, and so should your father."

"Matt, I know you're trying to calm my fears, and I appreciate it," said Kitty. "But I'm still nervous as can be."

Matt looked at Kitty and realized she was in her cream colored nightgown with light blue trim. "I can't believe I'm about to say this, but maybe we should go to bed, so you're well rested for tomorrow."

"Marshal Dillon, are you saying you want to skip our love making tonight?" asked Kitty, with a slight smile on her face. Honestly, she didn't mind. As much as she loved sharing her body with Matt, tonight it probably would be best to get a good night's sleep. Of course she had a feeling that sleep would be hard to come by.

"Believe it or not, that's what I'm saying," Matt replied. "Let me get out of my clothes, and we can go to bed."

Matt slipped out of his clothes, leaving only his union suit on. While Matt was removing his clothing, Kitty was turning down the covers on her bed. When she finished, Kitty climbed onto the bed, and Matt joined her. Kitty pulled the covers over them, and snuggled up against Matt. She knew sleep wouldn't come right away, and she was right. Kitty could tell Matt had fallen asleep. It took her another hour to finally fall asleep. When she did, it was a restless sleep.

The next morning Matt woke up before dawn. He looked down at Kitty who was still fast asleep. He knew she didn't fall asleep right away. Matt hated to wake her, but wanted to tell her goodbye before he left and went to his office. He started placing gentle kisses on her forehead. Kitty started to stir.

"Kitty," Matt whispered.

"Hmmm?" she softly responded, not quite fully awake.

"I have to get going," Matt answered. "I'll be back in a few hours. We can have a late breakfast before the stage arrives."

Kitty was now awake. "I'm not sure if I can eat. I'm still very nervous about my father's visit."

"You have to eat something," Matt told Kitty. "It's not going to help to meet your father on an empty stomach."

"I guess you're right," sighed Kitty. "Come back here around ten."

"I'll see ya at ten," said Matt. He got out of bed, got dressed, and left Kitty's room.

Matt returned a few hours later to get Kitty, so they could go and eat breakfast. Matt had his usual breakfast of several eggs, ham, and biscuits. Kitty had some toast and a bowl of oatmeal. They both had a cup of coffee.

After breakfast, Kitty walked back to the Long Branch and Matt walked back to his office. They had gotten word that the stage was due to arrive around one o'clock. Matt promised Kitty that he would pick her up at the Long Branch half past twelve, and they would walk to the stage depot together. Kitty agreed with Matt's plan.

Chester had heard about Kitty's father coming to Dodge and also wanted to be at the depot. Matt doubted that Chester wanted to be there to support Kitty. If anything, Chester's reason for wanting to be there was out of curiosity. Matt was certain that Chester only wanted to see what Wayne Russell looked like.

It was close to half past twelve, and Matt was walking towards the Long Branch. At that time, Doc was descending the steps of his office. He saw Matt coming.

"Matt!" Doc yelled, getting Matt's attention. Matt walked over to Doc. "Are you going to get Kitty to take her to the depot?"

"That's where I'm headed," Matt replied. "Do you plan on going?"

"I wish I could, but I can't," Doc answered, tugging on his ear. "I'm going out to check on Timmy Hankerd's broken leg."

"I'm kinda glad you're not going," said Matt. "Chester's going, and there's nothing I can do about that. But as far as I'm concerned, this man doesn't need a welcoming committee."

"You haven't even met the man, and it already sounds like you don't like him," Doc pointed out.

"I guess I don't know how I feel about him," said Matt. "I just know I don't like how he's making Kitty feel. Speaking of Kitty, I have to get going."

Matt went over to the Long Branch and walked through the swinging doors. Kitty was waiting at the bar, talking to Bill Pence. She saw Matt walk in and the butterflies in her stomach grew ten times as big. Bill knew Kitty was going to meet her father. He wished her luck and told her goodbye.

"Are you ready to meet your father," Matt asked as he and Kitty walked down Front Street to the depot.

"No," Kitty answered. "But I'm glad you're going to be there."

"Kitty," Matt said. "Everything's gonna be alright."

"I hope you're right," said Kitty. "If not, you're gonna owe me a drink."

"Deal," Matt laughed as he and Kitty continued their walk, arriving at the stage depot. In a short time Kitty would finally meet her father.

The stagecoach arrived a few minutes after one o'clock. Meeting her father was not as bad as Kitty thought it would be. She learned that he owned a successful freight business. Kitty also learned that her father wasn't too pleased with her being a saloon owner. After Kitty's father told her he wanted her to invite her friends to dinner so he could meet them, Kitty knew she needed that drink.

"So that's my father," said Kitty. She watched him and Chester walk away, towards the Dodge House.

"He's quite the gentleman," said Matt, not knowing how else to describe Wayne Russell.

"Matt, I need a drink," Kitty suddenly said.

"Come on," Matt chuckled. He put his arm around her waist and they headed back to the Long Branch.

The End