PT.9

"The Test of Time"

As the sun came up, Kitty started to stir then she realized Matt was still there, holding her while she slept. She tried to move easily so not wake him but as soon as he felt her movement he was awake.

"Good morning, beautiful. Sleep well?"

"Yeah, I guess I did. But wasn't I over…"

Matt just smiled. "Yeah, I carried you."

"I'm sorry, I must have been more tired then I thought. Matt, I know you wanted to…"

"No, Kitty, it's ok. We can talk later. You needed the sleep."

"Matt, last night when Sam said…"

He stopped her. "Kit, it was Beth. She saw me come here. She wanted to know if I would agree to have breakfast with her today and talk."

"Oh, Matt. I'm sorry. I never asked how she took you telling her you were her fa…ther." As she finished the sentence, her voiced tapered off and she dropped her eyes.

"Kitty, it's ok. I know this is hard for you."

"No, Matt. Is she alright? How did she take it?"

"Kit, she surprised me. At first she was upset with me but then after she calmed down, it got better."

"Cowboy, she's a kid. It's gonna take some time. You have to give her time."

"And you, Kit?" He added.

"Time, Cowboy? Time? Look, go have breakfast. We can talk later. Beth has a lot she has to say I'm sure. And, Matt, listen. Just listen. Her whole world has been turned up side down."

Matt met Beth in the lobby of the Dodge House. She came bouncing down the stairs. "Good morning, Matt!"

"Well, good morning, Beth. I see you're an early riser."

"Have to be on the ranch, work to do."

"So, what kind of appetite do you have?"

"Momma says enough for three people."

As she laughed he said, "Well, I guess you are my girl."

Beth just looked up and smiled. "Well let's go eat."

And they headed for Delmonico's.

Sitting quietly, trying hard to keep her mind on the figures in front of her, and not on the previous days events, Kitty sat in her office, staring at the ledger in front of her. But no matter what, her mind kept going back to the same thing.

Then came a knock and Sam opened the door. "Miss Kitty, excuse me. But there's someone asking to see you. I told him you were busy but he just keeps insisting."

Shaking her head, "That's ok, Sam, I'll see him. Show him back."

And a minute later, she heard Sam say, "Jjust this way Mister. Through this door."

Then she heard his voice. "Hello, Kitty."

Quickly she turned, and with her brow raised and hands on her hips said, "Edward? Edward La Fountaine, what on earth are you doing here in Dodge?"

"Oh, now, Kitty, my dear. I just couldn't leave things as we left them in San Francisco. I'd never forgive myself."

Shaking her head, "Now Edward…"

"Kitty, Dear, please. Can I at least buy you breakfast?"

"I'm too busy. I can't." She said.

"Ok, then at least take the time for coffee. Please?"

"Edward, what is this all about?"

"Have coffee with me, please."

"Oh, alright. Sam, I'll be back in a bit, just going for coffee. I won't be long."

"Sure, Miss Kitty." Sam answered.

Sitting in Delmonico's Beth and Matt were having their breakfast and he was telling her about Dodge. Then she decided to ask about his life. "So, Matt. Do I have grandparents, aunts, uncles?"

"I'm afraid not, Beth. My father, your grandfather, was a Texas Ranger and he was killed in the line of duty. And my mother, your grandmother, died of an illness when I was a young boy. I was an only child. I was taken in by a family. They raised me till I was oh, about sixteen. Then I went out on my own."

"Wow, what did you do?"

"For starters, got myself in a mess of trouble. Mischief, raised some hell with friends. Then I met a Marshal, Adam Kimbro. He took me under his wing, straightened me out, taught me a lot then made me his deputy. Then later I moved on and came here to Dodge City and went to work for a Marshal Josh Stryker. Then when he stepped down, they made me Marshal. They were both good men, Beth."

"So do you have a family here in Dodge?"

"A family?" He repeated.

"Yeah, you know, wife, kids and so on?"

Matt just smiled. "No, no wife and you're my only kid."

"So, when you rushed back here to Dodge, was there someone speci…"

Now Matt's face was slightly crimson. "Do you always ask so many questions?"

"Hey, I have a lot of years to get caught up on. I need to learn about my father."

"But do you have to do it all over breakfast? Your food is getting cold."

She could see she had embarrassed him a little. "Ok, it can wait some. But I figure it's probably that nice pretty redheaded lady. Miss Russell. That was her name, wasn't it?"

"What? Who?"

"Your someone special. Miss Russell?"

"I thought you were going to finish eating."

Now she was laughing. "Oh, OK."

"How about I show you around? Maybe you want to shop. I'll take you over to Mr. Jonas' shop."

"Sure, thanks." As they left Delmonico's Beth noticed Kitty from across the street and started to wave. "Hello Miss Russell."

Kitty couldn't help but find the girl lighthearted and refreshing. Even with all that was happening to her.

Matt looked up and noticed the man standing with Kitty. This didn't sit well, especially that he had his hand on her back.

Kitty and Edward walk towards Matt and Beth. "Hello, Beth, I see your are finding your way around Dodge?"

"Yes, Ma'am. With Matt's help. We just had breakfast and he's going to show me where things are. Momma's resting. She didn't sleep well."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Kitty said. "Matt, this is an old friend, Edward La Fountaine. Edward, this is Marshal Matt Dillon. And this is Miss Beth Yardner. Well, I won't keep you. We were just going for coffee. I hope you enjoy yourself, Beth."

"Oh, thank you, Ma'am."

Matt just looked at Kitty, then said, "Beth, can you wait for me over there? I'll be just a minute."

"OK. Matt."

"Kitty, can I see you for a minute? Alone?"

"Edward, will you excuse me?"

"Oh, yes, Kitty, Dear."

"Ok, Matt, what is it?"

"Kitty, Edward. Who is he? And what's this 'Kitty Dear'?"

"Now, Matt, he's an old friend from New Orleans. I ran into him in San Francisco and…"

"In San Francisco?"

"Matt, keep your voice down. Yes, in San Francisco and then he showed up here this morning."

"And what does he want?"

"Wait a minute here. What is this?" Now Kitty's anger was building. "Oh, Marshal. Don't you worry. There won't be any surprises you didn't know about. Because I'll tell you now if you really want to know. Edward wants me to "MARRY HIM!"

"What!?"

"You heard me. He proposed."

"Kitty, you can't marry him. You don't love him. You love me."

"Is that a fact?" She yelled.

Now both Edward and Beth had no idea what to do or say. They were now drawing attention to themselves, something they never did before.

Now Kitty's temper was getting the better of her, but she realized Beth was watching them. She wanted to scream at him but instead, she just clinched her teeth, and her fist, and said, "Matt Dillon, you make me CRAZY!" And stormed off.

Doc came up, throwing his hands in the air. "What in thunder are the two of you doing?"

Matt's eyes were bulging with frustration. "Doc, that woman makes me CRAZY!"

Now Beth cracked up laughing. "And what are you laughing at?" Matt asked her.

She was trying to stop her laugh. "Well it's funny that you both say the same things about the other. And well, I was right too."

Matt was looking at her from the side. "About what?"

"She is your someone special. Look, Matt. Momma explained to me last night that she didn't know who exactly the woman was, but that there was someone who was very special to you back here in Dodge that was in your life for a very long time. And that, that is who your heart belongs to. Momma knows that. She knew it then and knows it now."

Edward just looked at Matt, not sure what to say. And after seeing him angry, figured it best not to say much. He just walked back towards the Long Branch.

Doc walked into the Long Branch. "Sam, can I have a beer? Never mind, make it a whiskey. Kitty, Honey, I want to talk to you."

"Oh, not now, Doc."

"Yes, Honey, now."

"Doc, I'm not in the…"

"I don't care if your in the mood or not. Now we're gonna talk, or I'm gonna talk and your gonna listen." He turned to Edward and said. "In Private."

Kitty, with a huffed attitude, said, "Doc! Edward is my guest."

"Good, then he'll understand we need to talk."

"Edward, will you excuse my rude friend here and give us a minute?" She asked.

"Take all the time you need. I'll be at the hotel." And he left.

"Now, Curly, what is up with you?"

"Kitty, I want you to sit down here and listen to me. I'm gonna say some things and I know you aren't gonna like everything I say. But I can't stand watching what is happening anymore."

"What?"

"I've known you and Matt a long time."

"I know." Kitty said.

"And you both are like my own son and daughter."

"Curly, look…"

"No, quiet. Just listen. I introduced you two kids and slowly watched you kids fall in love. Oh, you think I didn't see, but these ol' eyes see more then you know. I know you thought you two were being discrete and in public you were. But a blind man could have seen the way you two felt about one another. For over twenty years now, I've watched the trials and tribulation the both of you have gone through, all in the name of love. Love for one another.

I'd like to think things could always be perfect for you both. But from experience we all know that's not so. Kitty, Honey, I'm not gonna say he made a mistake. Because he would have had to be aware of his actions to know it was a mistake. Honey, what happened, happened. Was it a good thing? Was it a bad thing? That depends on who you ask.

Right now, for you, it's painful. One because it happened and two because he didn't tell you. But he didn't want to hurt you and he knew how you'd be about it. And, well, look at you. Do you think Matt would have done this to you on purpose?"

She started to speak. "At at. I'm not finished. That big lug, that over-grown civil servant, loves you more than anything in this world. And, ok, now he has a daughter. But, Honey, that's not going to take anything away from what he feels for you. Don't punish him. He's doing that enough for the both of you."

"Curly," she waited, "can I speak now?" Giving him a soft smile.

"Go ahead." As he waved his hand.

"I hear you. And I know what you are saying. I know Matt loves me and no one knows, better than you, how much I love him, Curly. You know I can't live without him."

"Yes, I know that."

"But sometimes he just makes me crazy." As she was talking, Beth was in the doorway.

TBC