Chapter 9

Kitty rolled over. No longer feeling nauseous after Doc had given her some pills,

"What is it, Doc?" Kitty asked.

"Just take them." Doc said as he closed his bag, "Don't ask. It's better that way." She eyed him and took the medicine as told.

Kitty smiled as she sat up on the side of her bed. It was nearly 5 o'clock now and she knew the birthday party would be beginning soon. She signed and stood. She stretched a bit and walked over to her vanity mirror. She pushed her disheveled hair away from her face and looked at her reflection, "Wow." She said, "By the looks of things, I slept good." She chuckled to herself.

She heard a familiar key take its place in the backdoor. Walking over to the water basin to wash her face, she smiled, "You're here early, Cowboy."

Matt walked in and removed his hat, "How you feeling?"

Kitty splashed some water on her face and removed all her paint. Leaving nothing but her natural freckles and brilliant blue eyes. She turned to face Matt, "Feel like a whole new person."

He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, "You look something better than when I left ya." He smiled.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, "Feel a might better." She smiled her sultry smile, "Maybe even good enough to fool around a bit before this party." She pulled him down for a kiss... he barely kissed her back. She could feel the tension his in lips. Pulling back to look him in the eye, she asked, "What's wrong, Matt?"

"Nothing, Kitty." He ran his fingers through his hair, "I'm just tired." He forced a smile.

"Don't try to fool me, Matt Dillon." She turned and sat at her vanity, "I know when you're tired." She started to brush her hair, "This is something more." She began putting her pins back where they belonged. Holding each curl in place. She paused but continued, "Now, why don't you tell me what's really bothering you..."

Matt walked over to stand to her side. He leaned against the wall, "You remember Ford?"

"From Coffeeville?" She asked, surprised.

He twirled his hat in his hand, "Paul is his cousin."

She looked up, "Is he in Dodge?" He nodded. She continued to put the fresh coat of paint on, "What makes you think that?"

"I just killed him..." He said.

Kitty's head shot up, "What? You okay?"

"Yeah." He admitted, "And that Mitch Malone character," He rolled his eyes, "He turned out to be okay."

"What does Mitch Malone have to do with any of this, Matt." Kitty finished up her eye makeup.

"Mitch followed some cowboys back to their camp earlier and over heard them talking. We ambushed them. They had Lowe's horses and were on their way to Dodge tonight to kidnap me.

Kitty turned to face him, "All of this happened while I was asleep?" Matt nodded. She chuckled, "That'll teach me." She smiled, but noticed Matt didn't find humor in the situation, "What are you not telling me, Matt."

He looked up, "They poisoned the food on purpose." Matt practically whispered, "But it was meant for me."

Kitty stood. She took Matt's hat and placed it on the vanity. She took his hands in hers, "Matt..." She made him look her in the eye, "What are you talking about? I just ate something bad or got some kind of bug or something." She smiled sweetly, "No one poisoned me."

He nodded, "Yes, they did, Kitty." He continued, "They cooked the food with dirty hands, contaminating the eggs. It was mean to slow me down, so they could kidnap me more easily and use me as leverage to get Paul back..."

"That's terrible, Matt." Kitty ran he hand over his check, "But it's okay." She lifted his chin, "I'm fine." She smiled.

"I know, Kitty." He huffed, "It's just..."

"You feel responsible..." Kitty brought his lips to hers for a sweet kiss, this time he didn't resist. She grinned, "What did I tell you about people who touch you..."

Matt rolled his eyes, "You said 'I can't account for everything that happens to people who touch me. That you learned a long time ago, there are some things in this life that you just have to accept the way they are..." He chuckled.

"When I'm right, I'm right." She tilted her back and forth, "Right?" She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You're right. You're always right." Matt wrapped his arms around her waist, "You still feel like fooling around?" He asked boldly.

Kitty ran her hands down his arms to take his hands in hers and lead him to the bed... But when she ran her hand down his left arm, he winced. She noticed blood and started unbuttoning his shirt, "Matt!" She slowly peeled back his collar, "What happened?"

"It's nothing, Kitty." Matt removed his shirt, "The stitch just came out."

"Nothing, my foot!" Kitty's eyes flared, "You were shot!" Hands on hips, she stepped back, "When were you going to tell me about this?" She pulled him to the bed and made him sit, "Stay here." He did as he was told. She stood beside him and cleaned the wound once more, "I go to sleep, I wake up to find out I was poisoned, you found the Lowe Horses, and you've been shot!" She was fuming, "I can't believe this! Who shot you! One of Harrison's cowboys?"

"Ford." He whispered.

"Oh," Kitty paused, "I'm sorry, Matt." She replaced the bandage with a new wrap and kissed it softly, "I'm sorry you had to do that."

He shrugged his shoulders, "It's the job, Kitty."

"Don't give me that speech right now, Matt Dillon." Kitty warned. He looked up. She could tell he was hurting. Her expression softened, "Here." She pushed him back onto the bed, "You rest. I'm going to go take a quick bath." He didn't fight her. He was tired. She smiled, "You look terrible."

"I feel terrible." Matt countered. He watched her as she fluffed his pillow behind his head, "Kitty..."

"Mmm?" She answered absentmindedly. He grabbed her hand. She stopped, "What's wrong?"

"Thank you." Matt said quietly.

"It's part of the job, marshal." He smiled. She chuckled, "Take a nap. I'll wake you before I head down." Matt nodded. She kissed him softly and shut the door to the washroom as he began snoring.

When Kitty finished getting ready, she headed downstairs. It was about that time. She was so thankful she was feeling so much better. She had decided to let Matt sleep. He would castigate her later, but she didn't mind. Actually, she was looking forward to it. She smiled wickedly as she descended the stairs.

Mitch was already there waiting. He noticed her mischievous grin and comment on it as she made her way to the bar, "I wonder what the story is behind that smile."

"What smile?" She teased. She smiled, "I hear I owe you some thanks."

"Really?" Mitch flirted back, "What cha have in mind?"

"A glass of whiskey." Kitty held back a smile at his defeated look. He didn't answer. She offered, "Would beer be better?" She walked around the bar.

Mitch forced a smile, "Beer's fine, Miss Russell."

"You can call me, Kitty." She said as she handed him mug.

"I thought only your friends called you Kitty." He teased.

She looked upstairs. She looked back at Mitch and grinned sweetly, "I don't count you a stranger anymore, Mr. Malone."

Mitch took a sip of beer, "He gonna be okay?"

"The Marshal?" Kitty asked.

"If that's what you call him." Mitch winked.

Kitty smothered a grin, "He'll be fine." Mitch nodded. Kitty propped herself against the bar top. She looked him in the eye, "You wanna know what I think?"

"About me?" Mitch braced himself on his elbow as well. He placed him glass on the bar, "Sure, Miss Russell." He smiled, "Give it a whirl."

Kitty thought back on the first day he walked in... "When you first walked through those doors, you held the room's attention."

"That's me." He chuckled.

"Uh huh?" Kitty shook her head, "I don't think so."

"No?" Mitch asked, "Who am I then?"

"You may have been that guy years ago, but..." She smiled, "You've changed for something... Or someone." Mitch dropped his head and spun his glass in his hand. Kitty continued, "You don't wear a ring, but you were quick to flirt with me and my girls. You're happy to let others think you're an outlaw, a Casanova..." Mitch blushed, "But if any of us took you up on it..." He looked at her, "You'd run for the hills." He smiled, "Because you have someone at home waiting for you and you love her..."

The blush crept up Mitch's face, "Oh, Miss Russell... You're not too bad yourself."

Kitty push up from the bar when she noticed some cowboys making their way in, "She's a lucky girl." He smiled as he watched her make her way upstairs. She patted Sam on the back, "I'll be back." He nodded.

Mitch's sweet moment was short lived. He turned and saw his boys rushing in.

TBC