The next morning Matt went with Kitty to the railroad station. He stood with her on the platform holding both her hands in his, looking deeply into her worried eyes he said, "Just remember, you are not alone." Kitty smiled and nodded, squeezing his hands, "I know Matt, I know."
Matt helped Kitty up the stairs onto the train. She turned and promised to wire when she arrived and to write often. She turned and headed into the train. Matt watched until the train was out of sight. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He knew it was the kind of feeling Kitty had probably had hundreds of times watching him head off into a possibly dangerous situation. Deep in thought Matt walked back to his office.
Kitty stared out the window of the train. The seconds, minutes and hours dragged on and on but finally she arrived in New Orleans. She stepped off the train and a porter unloaded her bags. She looked around for the coach that Iris usually sent to pick her up. After waiting for an hour, pacing back and forth, Kitty hired a carriage to take her to her cousin's address. As the carriage man loaded her bags, Kitty spied a telegraph office a short distance down the street. She had the carriage wait as she ran over and sent a telegram: To Marshal Matt Dillon, Dodge City Kansas. From Kitty Russell: Arrived New Orleans will write soon.
Message sent Kitty went back to the carriage, the carriage driver helped her climb in and they took off.
When they arrived Kitty paid the driver. He carried her bags to the doorstep of the house and departed. Kitty rang the bell and waited. She rang again. Finally the door opened and there stood Iris.
"Kitty, I'm so happy to see you, but weren't you supposed to arrive tomorrow?" Kitty laughed and hugged her cousin. She couldn't help but notice the dark rings under Iris's eyes and that she looked way too thin for a woman who was almost 6 months pregnant. Also, was that a fading bruise on her left cheek?
"No, Iris – today. But don't worry, I got here fine and am so glad to see you." Looking down she noticed Davy. He had turned into a beautiful dark haired, blue eyed, very serious looking 3 year old boy. Kitty crouched down to meet his eyes, and said with a smile. "You don't remember me, but I'm your Aunt Kitty. We are going to have a lot of fun together." Davy met her eyes with a serious look and nodded without smiling.
Iris opened the door wider and Kitty stepped in carrying her bags. She looked around and what she saw surprised her. She had remembered decorative vases and wall hangings in the foyer that were no longer there. Several pieces of furniture also seemed to be gone. In fact the foyer and the sitting room that the foyer led to looked pretty bare. Kitty wondered about the rest of the house.
Iris saw Kitty looking around, and said with a nervous laugh and a strained look, "We sold a few things, Kitty, as you can see. The house was just way too over stuffed. Don't you think this is, well, more elegant?"
Kitty smiled weakly and nodded. She heard a stumbling noise from above and turned to look at the staircase that lead to the second floor. Iris's husband, Carl, was staggering down the stairs with a strange smirk on his face. "Well what do we have here?" he slurred. "Oh, yes, it is the lovely saloon owner, from the great and glorious Dodge City isn't it? Welcome to our splendid home." He did an exaggerated mock bow and lifted Kitty hand to give it a sloppy kiss. Kitty resisted recoiling.
Carl turned to Iris, gave her a dark look and squeezed her shoulder a little too tightly. "I'm going out, don't wait up."
He turned and went out the door with a sort of staggering swagger.
Kitty turned and saw Iris's pale face go whiter and her eyes tear up.