A Flicker of Light In The Darkness

Chapter 3

Matt Comes Home

The trial ended after two months, one week and three days and Matt Dillon was on his way home. He had never been away from Kitty this long, not in the six and half years they had been involved. He sat on the train, the repetitive rocking of the wheels lulled him to sleep and he dreamt about his lady. He could smell her hair, as it cascaded around his face. He wanted to feel her naked body next to his; to feel himself slide into her waiting body. Right in the middle of his dream, the train whistle blew, propelling him into the real world. He sat up quickly, looking around nervously, as though the people around him knew what he was dreaming. No one seemed to even be aware of his presence. He was relieved when the conductor came through, announcing Fort Dodge as the next stop. A short stagecoach ride and he would be home.

Kitty was as bad as a teenaged, love sick girl. She had tried on at least a dozen different dresses, before coming back to the one she'd had specially made. She had her hair down, then up; and now down again. She remembered he liked the smell of it when he nuzzled her neck. All the while she ran around the room, Calleigh sat quietly watching. She was very excited for Kitty, but very apprehensive for herself.

Her whole future depended on Matt liking her—for many reasons. She hadn't been completely honest with Kitty, when she had asked Calleigh if she were looking for her dad. The truth was, she came to Dodge specifically to find her father. Her father just happened to be a man known to the people of Dodge as...Marshal Matt Dillon.

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The plan that Calleigh so carefully conceived after all these years, had suddenly gone awry. Getting so deeply involved with Kitty was just a fluke. Calleigh wasn't sure how she would feel about Matt Dillon, but she knew she loved Kathleen Russell. She loved her enough to leave, if things didn't go well between herself and Dillon.

Kitty had finally made up her mind. She was dressed in a beautiful, teal blue dress that accentuated the color of her eyes. The dress she had made for Calleigh, was of a different fabric and pattern, but the color was the same. Calleigh suspected that Kitty planned it, thinking that Matt might be more receptive if she looked like the lady he loved. She turned them both to face the mirror. "Well, are we ready?"

Calleigh nodded and stood up trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach. Finally, after all these years, she was about to meet her dad.

Doc and Festus were already at the platform when the ladies arrived. The stagecoach pulled in, and Calleigh braced herself. The giant man stepped off the step; but despite all the people on the landing, all he saw was Kitty. They moved toward each other like magnets; yet because of the secrecy, had to keep each other at a respectable distance. They hugged as friends do, but that was all. Doc could see how hard it was for them to let go of one another...and so did Calleigh. She studied the big man. He was very handsome, very rugged looking. They made a stunning couple, she thought. Kitty turned and gently pulled Calleigh forward. "Matt, I would like for you to meet Calleigh Reign."

She cleared her throat and held out her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Marshal."

For a moment, he was caught off guard. He looked at the little girl, and then at Kitty—and then again at the little girl. The resemblance was uncanny. Right down to the speckling of freckles that Kitty always tried to keep covered. With a slight shake of his head, he leaned down and with a smile that she would remember forever, shook her hand and said her name. In that moment, she loved him and prayed to God that he would learn to at least accept her.

"I've heard so many nice things about you." Matt's smile was engaging, his voice deep and rumbling.

"Thank you. Kitty has told me nice things about you too."

"I thought we could all go to Delmonico's," Kitty suggested. "You must be starved."

Matt gently placed his hand on the small of her back, as they started toward the restaurant. "I am… Hungry." Had it not been for the fact that he seemed to be devouring Kitty with his eyes, his comment would have been innocuous. Calleigh took Doc's hand and they followed along behind. Within minutes, they reached their destination and had been seated. Calleigh noticed the way the Marshal's hand brushed against Kitty's and was slow to move on. Their orders were placed and Matt turned his attention to her.

"Tell me about yourself, Calleigh. Kitty says you were traveling as a performer?"

"Yes, sir. For just over three years now."

"I hear you're pretty amazing with a gun. Doc, didn't you say you saw her performance?"

"I did." He nodded emphatically, "It was something to see, all right. She's an amazing little girl. Definitely faster than any of those names they write about in those dime novels; McCallister, Dobson—any of those. Good thing she just does it for show."

"I've had a lot of practice and training," her lids fell, hiding from their gaze. Praise was not something she had ever had to endure much. People in the crowds were amazed, but treated her more like a side show freak.

Matt chuckled, "How much practice can you get in…" He looked to Kitty and back to the girl, "…what was it, twelve years?" Kitty bobbed her head slightly. "Just hard to picture you, a pretty little girl, with a gun. Odd profession to pick. I can't believe your family approved."

"It's wasn't a profession, sir." Calleigh offered a faint shrug. "It was just a way to survive. You do realize that the only other profession I could have chosen, would have been prost-"

"Calleigh!" It was almost like a well-trained duet—Doc's low, gruff voice, matching Kitty's feminine tone, shouting the little girl's name in unison. Each, knowing how that sentence was going to end. Matt was slightly taken aback with the sudden outburst; but he, too, knew what she about to say.

Calleigh merely let the moment go and answered the rest of his question. "I don't have any family left."

"I'm sorry." His sympathy was genuine. How could he not feel sorry for her? She was adorable; a little outspoken, but adorable. Despite this, being a lawman had taught him to be just a little suspicious of everyone. "Where's your family from?"

"From? Uh, nowhere in particular. We moved around a lot. Carter didn't like to stay in one place too long."

"Carter?" Matt repeated the name as a question. "That's the man you traveled with. The promoter?" He waited for her to confirm, which she did with a nod. "I meant your family, before him. Where were you from originally?"

Again, she stalled, trying to come up with an answer he would accept. "My family traveled as well. I believe we were from up around Oregon."

"Oregon; nice country. Is your father still in Oregon?"

"Uh, no. He… He died also."

"I thought someone said you wanted to learn the gun because your father was a gunfighter?" Kitty turned to Matt, her expression clearly one of confusion. She had written all of this in her letters. He seemed to be interrogating the girl—not getting to know her.

Calleigh knew he was fishing for information. She and Carter had had more than their share of run-ins with local authorities and she recognized the tone of questioning. She produced her sweetest smile and raised her eyes to match his gaze. With a sudden burst of confidence, she responded. "I'm sorry to be so confusing. My mother passed away when I was born and for awhile, I lived with a neighbor, Emma Sconlin. She already had nine kids of her own, so I didn't make much of an impression on her; even as newborn orphan. I don't know that she ever came looking for me when I ran off, but I would be surprised if she did. As for my dad, he wasn't a gunslinger, he was just good with a gun. Emma's the one that told me about my dad. She also said he was killed in a logging accident."

Calleigh had rattled through the biggest pack of lies she had ever told. Maintaining the smile, she leaned back in her chair, almost daring him to challenge her. As much as she wanted him to like her, she couldn't let him back her into a corner. It was too early for the truth.

Matt wasn't sure how much of that was true, but he was sure he had pushed this little girl to her limit. He glanced at Doc and Kitty. They seemed to have accepted Calleigh's story without any doubts. He eased back in his chair, calling a silent truce. The conversation eased into a more casual and comfortable dialogue. Most of which was carried by Doc and Kitty.

Dinner was over and they were readying to leave, when Calleigh leaned over to talk privately with Doc, "I don't mean to be a bother, but I'm feeling a little off. Do you have some headache powder I could have?"

"He reached down, placing a hand to her forehead. I don't think you have a fever."

"Doc?" Kitty saw him checking for fever. "Is she all right?"

Calleigh headed Kitty off before she could get too upset "I just kind of have a headache." She turned up to Doc, "Poppy, would you mind if I stayed with you tonight? You don't mind do you Kitty?"

"Well, I don't know. If you're sick, you should come home."

"If I'm sick, what better place to be than with a doctor?" Calleigh countered.

Kitty looked to Doc for advice. He slipped his hand around Calleigh's shoulder and pulled her to him. "She'll be fine, she's just a little peaked. You go on home; I'll take care of her."

They had stepped out of Delmonico's onto the wooden boardwalk. Kitty held the girl's face in her hands. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry to spoil the evening. It was a pleasure to meet you, Marshal." Calleigh held out her hand.

Matt was always so amazed at how small Kitty's hand felt in his; but he was unprepared for the diminutive hand that reached out to him now. He was also surprised at the firm grip it held. "A pleasure for me too."

Kitty gave her a hug and handed her off to Doc. "If she gets sick-"

"I'll come get you. Promise. Now get." Once Matt and Kitty were safely out of earshot, Doc turned to his little companion, "What was that? You're no more sick than I am."

Calleigh linked her hand in his and pulled him into a steady gait. "Matt's been gone two months; do you really think he wants a kid around?"

Doc's brows arched up and he let out of long slow whistle. "Point taken." They resumed their walk, and he looked down at her again. "How old are you—really?"

She giggled—and for a moment, the twelve-year-old reappeared. "I wish I were the twelve-year-old that grew up with a mom and dad and swing in the back yard." Her slender shoulders hunched up in a shrug, "Alas, that wasn't me. I grew up on the road, with a gunslinger; spending many nights in a brothel. That's how I knew what Matt would want."

"Alas?" Doc repeated the word, letting it roll slowly off his tongue. "What kind of kid uses the word, 'alas'?" I tell you what I think; I think you're a forty-five year old midget." This time her giggling was infectious.

"I told you I did a lot of reading. I just like using words that we don't hear a lot. I feel kind of sorry for them."

"You feel sorry…for words?" Doc shook his head and pushed his hat back on his head. "How about the word 'precocious'? How do you feel about that word?"

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Matt Dillon placed his hand in the small of Kitty Russell's back, as he walked her to the Long Branch. Without any notice, she suddenly pulled him into the alley. His lips, hungrily sought hers. His hands seemed to be caressing every part of her at once. Moving. Touching. Claiming. "I'm not sure I can make it to do rounds," Matt's voice was as ragged as it was breathless.

Kitty pulled back, as much as he would allow. "You go, make sure the city is safe. I'll close up the bar and meet you upstairs." He agreed with a shake of his head, but captured her lips one more time before leaving.

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Sam had finally gone and Kitty had closed up the bar. She was on her way up, wondering if Matt had already slipped in the back door. She reached the top of the stairs and it was still deathly quiet. Maybe he hadn't gotten there yet. The room was still dark when she opened the bedroom door and stepped in. "Damn," she mumbled under her breath, "He's not here."

The words had scarcely escaped her lips, when a hand encircled her wrist and whirled her around. "Oh, he's here," the voice was deep, the words ragged. He didn't give her a chance to respond, as his mouth came down on hers. She was so pliant in his arms, her mouth so warm and willing. Neither of them knew how they were suddenly naked, but neither of them cared.

Matt wanted to go slow; to enjoy every nuance of her, but his body would not cooperate. Seeking her own release, Kitty ignored his pleas to slow down. Rolling on top of him, she sat up and before he could stop her, Kitty slid down over the hardness her body craved. He cried out, as her body swallowed him inside of her, tightening around him. She arched back, allowing his hands to slide up along her smooth, flat stomach—coming to rest on her waist as he pulled her tighter to him. They had been apart too long for either of them to wait. Sounds of pleasure soon exploded in the room, until they lay exhausted in each other's arms. Matt left a trail of kisses along her neck and pulled her closer. "Did I mention how much I missed you?" He murmured.

She laughed softly, remembering the number of times he had uttered those words at their most passionate moments. "I think you might have, once or twice." She reached down, snaking her hand between his legs and finding the focus of her search.

An unexpected squeeze caused him to cry out her name. He pulled back, lifting her chin up with his finger. "You're laughing! You are evil, Kitty Russell." He stopped her laughing with a kiss, "Pure evil."

Again, she snuggled in closer and he began to trace an imaginary pattern along her arm. "I hope she's not sick, but I am glad she went with Doc. That reminds me, what is this –'Poppy'? " The word did not roll naturally off his tongue.

Kitty pulled away from him and sat up, propping herself on one elbow. "It's a special nickname she has for him. Something between the two of them. You know, it's starting to make sense—her getting sick so suddenly. She did this for us." Kitty looked at Matt, knowing he wouldn't understand.

Matt pulled her back down into his arms. "What are you talking about?" His words were muffled, as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. "She's a kid. Besides, she doesn't know." He pulled back and looked down into Kitty's face, "You didn't tell her, did you?"

"Of course not. But since you mentioned it, we're going to have to figure out a different arrangement for a while."

Matt pulled her back into his arms, swallowing her words in a kiss. "Enough talk," he whispered, as his hands began to explore again.

TBC