I have nothing to say…weird huh?
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em.
Shortly after the conversation with Jewel, Kitty and Matt left her room. "I'll be right back, Jewel." Kitty said. She and Matt still needed to talk about what had happened earlier at the dance. Kitty met Matt in the hall and they made their way down the back steps of the Long Branch and then to the boardwalk. Kitty had a shawl wrapped her shoulders and she and Matt walked arm to shoulder as they made their way back towards the lights and music of the dance. "I'm sorry Matt, for running out like that, but those words cut deep."
"I understand Kitty, but I hope you don't let those ladies ruin your opinion of yourself." Matt said.
"They didn't." Kitty said. Dismissing the idea that anyone from polite society would ruin her self image. "I was worried about you, and how people view you as their marshal and law in this town."
"Don't worry about me, Kitty." Matt said. Then changing the subject he asked the question that had been nagging him ever since he came to Kitty's room to find the new girl. "Who is this Jewel? Where did she come from?"
Pushing Matt to keep walking, Kitty stayed close to Matt and spoke softly, "I don't know Matt. I found her crying in the alley and seeing the condition she's in, I couldn't leave her out there."
Matt smiled, Kitty and her soft heart, more than once she had convinced her employer to take a chance on a girl that drifted in to town. Some of them worked out and stayed, others well they were sent on their way or went on their own. However, Jewel in the situation that she was in, wasn't going to work out as a working girl. "So she didn't say where she was from?"
"No. You heard all that I know Matt." Kitty said.
Upstairs in Kitty's room, Jewel was looking at all the pretty things laid out on Kitty's dresser. The fine combs, a pretty silver brush and mirror. Picking up the mirror Jewel looked at herself for the first time in over a year. She was ashamed of herself as she took in her ratty appearance. Her hair was matted and tangled, her face pale and there were shadows under her eyes, not to mention that they were red from crying. Her cheeks were hollow and again she wondered where the pretty girl that Jewel used to know had gone too. Then she remembered, she had died the day that Rory had, the day those terrible buffalo hunters had taken her.
As Jewel continued to move around the room and look at all Miss Kitty had she began to feel more and more ashamed of her own appearance. From her ragged, dirty dress to her dirty bare feet, Jewel Monarch was just a shadow of her former self.
Outside in the street Matt and Kitty continued their walk down Front Street until hearing the first "wheee" of the fireworks as they were lit. "Well we might as well watch the fireworks huh?" Matt said to Kitty who was slightly in front of them.
"I suppose we can do that." Kitty said, with a small smile. "Then we need to get back to Jewel."
Back inside Kitty's room, Jewel found a pitcher of water and a basin. Looking around some more she found some soap and a rag to wash with. Slowly she began to wash away the dirt and grime that coated her face, neck and arms. Looking into the mirror above Kitty's dresser, Jewel smiled. She hadn't been able to do more than splash a little water on herself in what seemed like months. The hunting camp hadn't been clean at all with the stinking hides, flies and substandard living conditions.
After washing Jewel felt almost one hundred percent better, her hair was still a matted mess and she desperately wanted to take a bath but for now, washing was better than nothing. Wondering when Miss Russell would be back Jewel went to the seate and laid down.
After watching the fireworks, Matt could see that things were beginning to wind down further down the street so taking Kitty's hand he said, "I see things are beginning to wind down."
Kitty, enjoying holding Matt's hand just nodded her head in agreement.
When they made it back to Kitty's room, she and Matt stood outside the door for just a moment. "Well, it would have been a nice night Matt."
"It is should have been. Next time Kitty, next time it will be." Matt said.
"Well I suppose I'll see you tomorrow?" Kitty asked.
"You know it." Matt said.
When Kitty entered the room she found Jewel fast asleep on the seate. Deciding that the girl looked ok, Kitty took a quilt from the end of her own bed and covered her up. Tommorow she would see if they had any extra rooms. Kitty had already decided that she wanted to help this girl out, hopefully get her going in the right direction.
After leaving Kitty, Matt went on his nightly rounds of checking doors and ensuring that the good citizens of Dodge made it home alright after the dance. When Matt made it back to the Long Branch he was surprised to see Rex just locking the place up.
"Evening Marshal." Rex said.
"Rex." Matt greeted.
"Did you and Miss Kitty have a nice time tonight?" Rex asked.
"As nice as one can have I guess." Matt replied.
"Did you happen to meet anyone new Marshal?"
"Yes, we did. A nice girl too." Matt said.
Rex just smiled at that. Maybe the Marshal just helped him find what he was wanting and didn't even know it.
Ah another hangy ending. Please review and I promise I will do my best to get chapter 19 up.
