Late Saturday Night - St. Louis

Kitty hummed a waltz as she slipped out of her high heels and wiggled her toes. It was well past midnight but she couldn't think about sleep. What a night. For 20 years her whole life had been in Dodge City, except for two or three weeks spent elsewhere, every few years. The St. Louis Grand Ball had been like a trip to a different universe. The ballroom of the Lindell Hotel was huge and glorious, with crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and walls draped with velvet curtains in shades of gold and crimson. John, wearing his dress shirt and tailcoat, led her in on his arm, and proudly introduced her to his friends. The orchestra began, and he swept her into a waltz They became part of a sea of swirling dresses and smiling faces, pausing now and again to visit the lavish buffet. The spread of savory tarts, french cheeses, chocolate dipped fruit slices and fine wines was as beautiful as it was delicious. Finally, after a particularly spirited waltz, the conductor announced that he and his 15 musicians were taking a short break. To Kitty's surprise she was whisked off by a gaggle of women, and John went off with the men. Females and males separated be a shining marble floor.

Reaching around to un-zip her dress, Kitty smiled – those women sure gave her the once over. She must have met with their approval, because they praised her gown and chatted about fashion. Yet, her mention of seeking a business to buy was met with puzzled looks and talk turned to their hired help, and a scandalous divorce. Growing bored she glanced across the room at John and his friends. Men gossiped as much as women, she knew that for sure, but they also talked business. She wished she could be part of that, but crossing the room to join them might be a breach of manners, and she couldn't do that to John. No matter, the orchestra returned just then. She was back in John's arms, waltzing in a fairy tale room.

She hung her ball gown in the closet and loosened her corset. Social life here was sure different from the one she'd had for 20 years. In Dodge, there were holiday parties she gave at the Long Branch, and Town Hall events like weddings and sociables. Either way she'd be with Matt, unless his job took him away. A sometimes bone of contention between them. But when he was there, they'd be together for most of the night. They'd dance to Sam's fiddle, or join a square dance called, with great relish, by Doc. Once in a while she'd dance with Doc, another friend, or some farmer feeling frisky, and Matt would give Ma Smalley a turn around the floor. Sometimes young women would eye the big strong marshal, almost begging for a dance. But Matt studiously ignored them. Of course, as time went on, he took to the dance floor less and less, and finally not at all. That shot up leg of his made sure of that.

A memory tore into her. A noose around her neck – fear in every fiber of her being. She was going to die. A miracle - Matt's rifle shot. Ignoring his badly wounded leg, he got there. Freed from the noose, she ran up the hill and saw him on the ground unconscious, sewn-up leg ripped open – blood, so much blood.

She closed her eyes, heart pounding, and took deep breaths to calm herself. Damn it she could use a drink. She thought about going down to the parlor to look for some whiskey or wine, but rejected the idea. Someone might see her, she'd have to explain. She finished undressing, crawled under the blanket, and tried to think of chandeliers, marble floors and velvet curtains, anything but Matt.

Dodge City

Matt tossed a few blankets into the floor of the cell, slammed the door and locked it. The cots in both cells were full, and men were sprawled out on the floor beside them. It had been rough Saturday night.

"Mathew, ya couldn't squeeze another man in thar, with a shoe horn."

"Yep. And I sent those sober enough to ride, home to their wives or mothers, or back to their campsites to their bosses." Matt shook his head."Hannah doesn't handle situations the way Kitty…. I mean Hannah's still learning."

"Sure, Matthew." Festus knew it best to stay away from any topic involving Miss Kitty. "Anyways, iffin ya want, I can sleep on the office cot an' keep an eyeball on the cells."

"No Festus, you go on home, I'll stay. Nobody got killed or ever hurt that bad tonight, so I'll let them all go in the morning. The kind of hangovers they'll be having, will be punishment enough."

With a quick nod Festus left. Matt sat on the side of the office cot and pulled off his boots. It had been a long, tough night. Hopefully he'd fall asleep fast, too tired to dream about Kitty.

SUNDAY MORNING.

St. Louis

"Good morning Mother." John sauntered into the first floor dining room. Elmira looked up from her seat at the table."Well aren't you cheery. Come sit. Cook-Mary just put out pancakes and coffee." Humming under his breath, John sat across from his mother, filled a cup with steaming coffee and piled pancakes on a plate. "Lovely day, isn't it Mother?" She raised an eyebrow. "I doubt you've been outside yet, so I don't know how you'd know. I take it you had a good time at the ball last night."

John nodded while stuffing buttered pancakes in his mouth. "Kitty looked – ravishing, and she's just so – well - delightful. The Smithson's invited us to their party next Saturday, and the Mason's the Saturday after that. Oh, someone mentioned the circus is coming in soon. I'll get tickets for the 4 of us. You, Johnny, me and Kitty." John sipped his coffee. "Tomorrow, I'm going with Kitty to look at Cafe that she's interested in buying into, but I'm not sure she …."

"Hold on John, hold on."

"Mother?" John refilled his coffee cup.

"John, you've known Kitty Russell for less than a month. Granted we shared a very long train ride, live in the same house and see a lot of one another, but don't you think you're moving rather quickly?"

"Mother, I'm not proposing marriage, I'm merely attending some events with her, and offering guidance in business. If I do wish to become more – involved, as time goes on, there is no reason not to. Mother, she is kind, smart, and beautiful, and Johnny has really taken to her

Elmira smiled gently at her son. "I like Kitty very much too, but, she - well she doesn't talk about her past, and I sometimes wonder why." The old woman pictured Kitty, at the jewelers, claiming she didn't remember how she came to possess a unique and valuable necklace. "John, all I'm saying is that Kitty Russell may be more complex than you think."

Dodge City

Gail Gleason sat in Doc's office, watching him funnel powder into a small blue bottle. "Gail, I'm not surprised you and the other women at the Long Branch woke up with headaches, last night was one of the loudest and wildest I've seen in a long while." He capped the bottle and handed it to her. "Half a teaspoon of this, mix it in a cup water, and drink it down. There's enough here to give two doses to everyone who works there."

"Thank's Doc." Gail started to rise but his gaze kept her in place. "Something else?"

Doc wiped a hand across his mustache. "I saw you in Demonico's yesterday, having breakfast with Matt. Gail, Matt is a good man, the best man I know. He's also hurting pretty bad right now, even if he tries not to show it. Gail, Matt's a complex man, he – well..."

Gail put a hand on Doc's. "I've heard about Matt and Kitty Russell." She smiled softly. "I don't know if you're trying to protect me, Matt or both of us. Whatever it is it's kind of you. Doc, Matt and I are friends. I don't want more than that, and you know why. He certainly doesn't want more than that either. But Doc, has it ever occurred to you that every time Matt looks around he sees a hundred things that remind him of Kitty? And, when he's with you or Festus or 'most anyone else around here, she hangs over conversations, whether her name is said or not. With me, things are simpler. We're the right friends for each other right now."

She rose from her chair, to end the conversation, and opened the door. Doc put a hand on her arm. "You'll be here on Wednesday for your weekly check in, right?" She shrugged, "Why not?" Headache powers in hand, she slowly descended the stairs.

Matt was riding down the street, and slowed his horse when he spotted her. "You all right? You're coming from Doc's."

"Just getting headache powders after last night. You're riding out, jail empty already?"

"Yep, I sent my prisoners staggering home groaning and holding their heads. I woulda kept them an hour or two more, but I just got a lead on where part of the Reynolds gang might be headed."

"You're worried. Are they really that dangerous?"

He nodded. "The Reynolds brothers have recruited a lot of men, and if reports are right, they're split up in a bunch of different hide-outs. If they manage to merge, it will be like an army on a rampage. I'm hoping this will be a good first step to stopping them."

"Be careful Matt."

"I'm always careful." He tipped his hat and rode on, thinking that Gail Gleason looked paler than simple a headache could make anyone.

TBC