PT.2
"The test of Time"

After traveling in the August heat, Kitty was glad to have finally reached San Francisco. The Palace Hotel had sent a porter to meet her with a carriage. As Kitty was standing on the landing at the depot, a young man approached. "Are You Miss Russell?"

Kitty turned, "Why, yes. I'm Kitty Russell."

"Miss Russell, my name is Daniel. I was sent from the Palace hotel to escort you back to the hotel and get you checked in, Ma'am."

"Oh, I wasn't expecting…"

"You are here for the conference?"

"Yes, that's right." She said.

"Well, Ma'am, then the carriage is for you. I'll get your bags."

"Well, alright," Kitty said. "Thank you, Daniel. That's kind of you." Kitty found it not to be quiet as hot in San Francisco as in Kansas. Maybe being close to the ocean. She always loved this city. "Maybe I'll have time to take it in." She was thinking to herself.

Arriving at the Palace hotel, it was so spectacular and on such a grand scale. She found herself thinking how much she wished Matt was with her. How she would love to show him the ocean.

Matt was doing his normal routine in Dodge, but Festus, Newly and most of all Doc noticed he wasn't in the best of moods. Not much was happening. Thinking to himself…"And Kitty said I'd be too busy to miss her, huh. How wrong was she?"

Finally Doc, couldn't take it anymore. "Matt, what in thunder is wrong with you?" Not that he didn't already know.

"Who, me?"

"Oh, no, that big lug behind you. Yeah, you."

"Nothings wrong with me." Matt said. "Why?"

"For heaven sakes, Matt. Kitty's only been gone a few days."

"I know, Doc. I know."

Doc just wasn't able to hold his laughter anymore. Swiping his upper lip. "You are really something. You walk around here like a caged cat." Now Doc was really laughing at him.

Festus came up and didn't know what was going on. "Doc? What's so funny?"

"Oh, no. I'm not gettin' into this with you."

"Gittin in' what with me?" Festus asked.

"Matt, I've got work to do." And Doc stood to leave.

But Festus went on. "Matthew. I got a letter fur ya here."

Matt jumped. "Let me have it."

Doc looked back at him. "Well, are ya happy now? Kitty sent you a letter. There now we can all relax." Then Doc stopped because Matt just put the letter in his pocket and didn't open it. Doc knew from his expression that should have made him happy. But when Matt looked at him, Doc knew something was wrong.

Kitty had several of her meetings while she was at the conference and also took some time to see some of San Francisco's sights. Still wishing her cowboy could have been there. At least then she could make him see why, all those years ago, she talked about this city so much. She knew he was a Texas born cowboy and even mountain at heart but there was no one else in this whole world she wanted to share all this with but her big strong cowboy. Still she did make sure to get in some shopping that she knew Matt would tease her about.

Kitty took the time to look up old friends since she knew she had a few days before her trip home. She even found a few people that she knew from New Orleans. Even some from Panacea's old place. Gamblers mostly, who were very surprised to see Kitty in San Francisco.

She had stopped into a small café on the water front and heard a familiar voice. "Kitty? Kitty?"

She turned to see who and where the voice was coming from and standing just steps from her, was a gambler she knew from Pan's place. Edward La Fontaine.

"Don't you remember me? I surely remember you. How could I forget that beautiful face and fabulous red hair?"

Kitty looked surprised. "Edward? Why it's been..."

"No, don't say it."

Kitty started to laugh. "Ok, I won't." She said.

"Oh, Kitty and that laugh. Now I'm sure it is you. What are you doing in San Francisco?"

"Well, actually I'm here on business." She answered.

Looking surprised, "Business?"

"Yes," she went on. "I live in Dodge City, Kansas and I own the Long Branch saloon. I came here to a business owner's conference."

"Kitty, I knew you were different."

She just laughed. "You did , did you?"

"Let me buy you dinner?"

"Oh, Edward. I… I..."

"You have to eat don't you?"

"Ok, I'm staying at the Palace Hotel."

Edward showed up a few hours later at the Palace Hotel and approached the desk. "Miss Kitty Russell's room?"

"I'll ring her for you, Sir."

A few minutes later, Kitty showed up. "Edward."

"Kitty, you look lovely. But then again you always did."

"Thank you. Shall we eat here or did you have some place else in mind?" She asked looking at him with a smile. Kitty would much have preferred the dining room. Although Edward came from a well to do New Orleans family there was still a part of her that knew just how far she could trust gamblers. She learned that first hand. And Edward, put her in mind of her father. They chose to stay there at the hotel, seeing that it was so elegant.

While they waited for their dinner to be served, Edward looked at Kitty. "Kitty, my dear, tell me all about what you've been up to since I've seen you last."

Smiling slightly, she said, "Now, Edward, we're only here for dinner and it's been more then twenty years." Kitty could see his wheels turning.

"Well, then shorten it for me. Please tell me there isn't a Mr."

"No, I'm not married but…"

"Whew, you scared me there for a minute." He began.

But Kitty continued. "Why do I think you already knew that?"

"What? No I…"

"Edward, let's just say, I'm not married but not available either." Now looking at him with a raised brow. "And something tells me that isn't a surprise either."

"Kitty! You shock me."

"Edward, why don't you cut to the chase. Oh, I know you didn't follow me here but you've been hedging at something. What is it?"

Laughing he stated, "You always were a woman to get right to a point. Well, Kitty, you could save me."

Now she just laughed out loud. "What?"

"I wasn't sure how I was going to figure this out but when I ran into you this afternoon it was devine intervention."

"Edward La Fontaine, what on earth are you talking about?"

"Marry me, Kitty?"

Kitty almost choked on her drink. "What did you say?"

"Marry me, Kitty."

After she was able to catch her breath, "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?"

"Is that such an awful thought?" He asked.

"YES! No. YES!"

"Kitty, let me explain."

"Oh, yes. Please do!" She said sarcastically.

"I don't really want you to be my wife. I don't love you."

"Oh, well now that we've cleared that up, please go on." She said smiling with a smirk.

"I'm in love with a woman named Johanna Graham."

"Oh, by all means don't stop now." Kitty's now more confused.

"Our families are at odds and I can't get my inheritance if I marry Johanna."

"Edward, you're a grown man. If you truly love Johanna…"

"Kitty, wait. My family, they've always been fond of you."

"I'm sorry, Edward. I can't."

"Kitty, you don't know what it's like to have money then lose it."

"Oh, Edward. I know better then you think."

"So, are you still saying no? Don't you know what it is to have to sacrifice for love?"

Now Kitty was getting a bit angry. How dare this man sit here and presume to know anything about her life and what she will or will not do in the name of the love of another person. "Edward, my answer is still NO. If you'll excuse me I'm not feeling well and I have things to do. Thank you for dinner. Good bye."

When Matt was alone he pulled the letter from his pocket, debating if he should open it. A feeling in the pit of gut told him this wasn't going to be something he wanted to read. It was the post mark that bothered him. Just as he started to open it, a knock on the door.

As it opened, Doc came in. "Matt, thought you might want to join me for supper." Doc still saw that troubled look on his face. "And if your in a mind to, my ear is free."

"What?"

"Supper. Want to join me?" Doc repeated.

"Yeah, sure."

"Let's go. I'm starved and let's go before Festus shows up."

"Festus?"

"Yeah, you know that whiskered fella you let hang out here? That thinks he's of help?"

"Oh, he went to Hayes for me this morning, Doc." Matt said, still thinking.

Doc smiled. "Oh boy, there is a God! I can eat in peace. But Matt, I gotta say, I'm missin' Kitty myself. Been lonely without her."

Matt didn't say anything right away. Then as they were walking, it hit him what Doc said. "Yeah, Doc, it's been lonely. It's been lonely without Kitty."

While they were eating, Doc finally brought it up. "Matt, I wasn't gonna say anything till you did but you've been acting strange ever since Festus gave you that letter. What's going on? Is it bad news?"

"No, I mean, I don't know. I haven't read it yet."

"Well, for heaven's sake, why not?" Doc asked looking at Matt, trying to figure what had him worried.

"I hate to say it, Doc. But after all this time…"

Doc shook his head and swiped his mustache. "All this time?"

"Why would I get this letter now, Doc?"

"Well, Matt, you're not gonna know if you don't read it. And how can you be worried when you haven't even opened it yet?"

Matt turned the envelope to face Doc. Now Doc could see the return address and post mark. "Oh, my heavens. How long has it been? Matt you better open it."

TBC