Chapter Nine: Changes
Belt cinched tight to hold up trousers too large for him, and cuffs folded up on the too long legs, Frank shrugged into one of Matt's work shirts and buttoned it. Matt's socks fit him well enough, and he pulled on his own dirty boots. Kitty had dressed in a skirt and open necked white blouse. They walked down the back stairs to find Sam and Estelle already in the kitchen. Sam was cutting slices of ham and Estelle was competently rolling out biscuits. Her eyes widened at the sight of Frank.
Kitty put a quick arm around her, "This is Frank Reardon, Estelle. He was a good friend of Marshal Dillon's. He came in last night, all the way from Montana. He's a lawman, used to be sheriff up in Hays City." She turned to Frank, "Frank, this is Estelle. She lives here with us now."
Frank offered a large hand and the child took it. "You going to be the new marshal here?" she asked.
"You're a smart one, Estelle," he said, "Yes, I think I am." He crossed the room to offer his hand to Sam.
"Stores'll be open soon, Frank," Sam said, "I'll head over and get you something that fits better. Get the laundry boy to come pick up your things."
Frank nodded in agreement, "This will do for breakfast." His eyes met Kitty's, he looked at the girl and then shifted his head towards the door.
Kitty picked up a stack of plates, "Let's go set the table, Estelle. I don't think this kitchen is big enough for all of us." She led the girl out into the barroom.
"Kitty tells me she's going to marry you, Sam." Frank said when they'd left.
"Yes, sir. That was our plan yesterday. I'll have to see if she's changed her mind." Sam replied, continuing to turn slices of ham in the big skillet.
"She hasn't. Last night… Sam, last night was old times and old friendship. And both of us mourning for Matt. I can't tell you that I wouldn't rather she married me, Sam, but that's not what she wants. Can you and I still be friends?"
"I think we can." Sam replied. "Matt and I were friends, and I miss him bein' here. I told him I'd watch over Kitty, and I will, but if there's anything I learned from Matt Dillon it's that Kitty is her own woman. I wouldn't try to change that."
"We're good then." Frank lifted his nose to sniff then grabbed a rag and opened the oven door. "Biscuits are done." He pulled out the pan and headed out for the barroom, Sam following behind with the coffeepot and a platter of ham.
OoOoO
Dressed more appropriately in new clothes from Jonas' Mercantile, Frank Reardon went in search of Doc and found him in the Marshal's office with Festus and Newly. Greetings and handshakes took more out of them than usual with Matt's death sitting quietly under their words.
Doc was direct. "You going to marry Kitty, Frank?"
"No, Doc, I'm not. I want to, and I asked her. Guess you did, too?" Frank said, and Doc nodded.
"We all done asked her, Frank," Festus piped up, "Me an' Newly an' Doc. She won't have none of us, and I don't know what ta do 'cause that gal surely has to get married right soon."
"She's getting married today, Festus." Frank answered.
"Who to?" It was Newly who came out with it first.
"Sam Noonan."
Doc was the only one not surprised, but he'd suspected last night and had a while to think about it. Festus' mouth split in a grin, "That ol' dog! That's fine news, jus' fine." Newly sat silently at Matt's desk, hat in hand, but he nodded agreement.
"Who's the law here in Dodge right now?" Frank asked after they'd all had a little time to digest the news.
"Guess I am." Newly replied. "Festus, Burke, Sam, and I were all deputized by Matt, but I'm usually the one left in charge."
"There been any problems yet?" Frank addressed Newly, but included the other men.
"A few." Newly admitted, "It's been a little more than three weeks and the word's getting around. Festus and I have run a few men out of town. I expect there'll be more trouble as time passes. War Department might send us a new marshal, but they haven't said yet."
"Not a lot of U.S. Marshals available right now," Frank commented, "At least not ones with experience out west. War Department's spread pretty thin." He looked around the room, meeting each man's eyes, "Anyone object if I take on the job?"
Frank saw the relief in Newly's eyes, and Doc's broad grin, but Festus' eyes were sharp, and his voice hard, "That's jus' the way it needs ta be, Frank, 'cause I got work to do and I need ta be startin' it."
OoOoO
It was a busy morning on all fronts. Frank Reardon, with Newly and Doc in tow, made his way through the town talking with the town council members one by one, and arranging for a meeting at the Dodge House that afternoon.
Leaving Clem to mind the bar, Sam and Kitty, with Estelle between them, stopped by the Oasis to pick up Mollie and Chet Parks and walked across Front Street to the office of the Justice of the Peace. The ceremony took only a few minutes, and Estelle was clearly the most excited of the participants. The two couples dropped Estelle at Ma Smalley's for the afternoon, to start the news rolling, and then went back to the Long Branch. Sam brought glasses and a bottle of good whiskey to the back table, and they toasted the new marriage. "You've done the right thing, Kitty." Mollie told her as the men walked back to the bar.
"Yes, I think I have." Kitty replied. She tried to smile, but her lips couldn't manage it.
Mollie laid a hand on her arm. "It will come right, Kitty. You just have to give it time. Sam's a good man."
Kitty covered Mollie's hand with her own. "He is, Mollie. I trust him. I even love him. But I never expected to marry him."
"Things change. We have to change with them. You need to talk about it, you come see me." Mollie rose, gathered in her husband and partner, and headed back to the Oasis.
OoOoO
Festus came jangling into the Long Branch midafternoon. A nod from Sam sent him to the door of Kitty's office and he entered without knocking. "You got some time for me, Miss Kitty?" he asked.
"Only if you're not going to propose to me again." Kitty replied, and this time she did manage a small smile.
"Naw, I know you're married now, Miss Kitty. Most evrabody's heard that by now," he walked over to the desk and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "You gonna be happy, Miss Kitty?"
"Too soon to talk about happy, Festus, but I'm going to be okay, you believe that," she answered him.
Festus sat down across from her and took her hand. "Yes'm. Takes time to make things like that happen, but you jus' keep a-tryin' an' things'll come out right." He played a bit with her hand, turning the new ring on her finger. "Miss Kitty, I'm a-headed out, and I got a coupla things to ask you."
"You're going out after Tonneman." It was a statement not a question.
"Yes'm. I am. I figure no way you're gonna be safe until I take him." Festus hesitated and went on, his voice stern, "I'm gonna get every one of 'em, Miss Kitty. I got them all in my head, and I'm gonna take 'em one by one. For you. For Estelle. For her ma an' pa. For that family he burned." Festus looked up into her eyes, "For Matthew."
Kitty put a hand briefly against his cheek and then went over and knelt by her safe. She opened it and counted out a pile of bills and a handful of gold and silver coins. "You're going to need money, Festus. For you, for the horses, and to grease your way to more information. Take this to start, and anytime you need more, you send me a telegram."
Festus took the money from her and stored it away in various pockets. "That shore will help, Miss Kitty," he agreed, "And I got one more thing t'ask ya. It's about ol' Buck. I been takin' care of him, ridin' him some to keep him in shape. I'd like to take him with me. Ride him and use ol' Ruth for supplies." He regarded his boots thoughtfully. "I'm leavin' tomorrer mornin' an' I'm not planning on bein' back soon, Miss Kitty."
Kitty took hold of his scruffy chin and pulled his face up to look into hers. "You take Buck, but you be back ten days before Christmas, no matter what. You hear me Festus Haggen?"
"That when the baby's due, Miss Kitty?" Festus asked her, a warm smile spreading over his worn face.
"Yes it is."
"I'll be here. You jus' watch for me."
OoOoO
The Long Branch was full that night, even without a herd in town. Seemed every man in town stopped by to shake Sam's hand and take the opportunity to kiss the new Mrs. Noonan. Kitty put up with it until about eleven and then slipped quietly out the back way and up the stairs to her room.
She checked on Estelle and found the girl sleeping soundly in the room on the other side of Kitty's washroom. Kitty shook her head. She had feared that there would be harsh words about her taking in the girl and keeping her at the saloon, but it seemed no one really cared about a homeless and penniless orphan. Newly had ridden out to the family's farm and packed up everything that seemed worth keeping. Estelle slept under quilts her mother had sewn, and her papa's Bible lay on the stand beside her bed. Kitty had bought the girl two day dresses with a number of pinafores to wear over them, and one good brown cashmere for Sunday when, hand in hand with Doc, Estelle went off to church. School would start in another month, and they'd see what happened then. She closed the door to Estelle's room and went to wash, brush out her hair, and put on a nightgown.
Kitty was lying awake when Sam came to her a couple of hours later. As if he'd done it every night for years, he blew out the lamp and lifted the covers to lie next to her. He held her lightly for a while until she stopped trembling and relaxed against him. "Surely you're not scared of me, Kitty?" he asked, "We've known each other far too long for that. I thought we agreed not to make a fuss over this?"
She took a shuddering breath. "You're right. We're both too old and too well acquainted to act this way. It's just…" She stopped and couldn't go on.
Sam gathered her against him, stroking her hair. "Shh. We've got plenty of time, Kitty. Go to sleep."
And eventually, she did. In the morning, waking with his warm body next to her, it was a different matter and she found him, somewhat to her surprise, experienced, gentle, and thorough. With a bit of patience and a bit of practice, Kitty thought, this needn't turn out too badly. It wasn't what she wanted, but it was what she had, and it was up to her to make it work for both of them. For all of them.