With a Little Luck

Chapter 3

Friday, February 14

Kitty snuck inside the livery where the horses were saddled, dressed in her riding clothes. She handed Matt a drawstring pouch and he quickly tied it onto his saddle bag before helping her up.

Matt peeked out the door before mounting Buck. "Is it safe?" she asked. "All clear," he replied happily.

It was an unseasonable 54 degrees in Dodge City. With light coats and big plans, they headed out of the stable and toward their date with destiny. Chester, meanwhile, had a date with Doc.

"What did you tell him?" Kitty asked out of curiosity.

"That I had important business to take care of and would be gone all afternoon," he replied, satisfied that he had been truthful. "I gave Doc some money to take him to lunch at noon sharp. I figured there was no way he would pass up a free lunch."

"He means well," Kitty said, laughing.

"Oh, I know," Matt acknowledged. "And I love him like a brother. But right now, I'm going to enjoy being an only child."

The old log cabin in Spearville had been vacant for years. Matt had discovered it once when he was caught in a snowstorm looking for shelter. It was empty except for a bare cot and a table with no chairs. But it had a single feature that was very attractive, whether one needed protection from the elements or a place for an uninterruptible rendezvous—a working fireplace. On a clear day like this, they could be there in an hour.

Or, as they discovered, even less than an hour with fresh horses and eager riders. They stopped in front of the cabin and Matt untied the pouch, then unbuckled his saddle bag and the thickest blanket he owned.

Kitty walked into the abandoned building and took a quick look around at the dust covered floors and cobwebs. "You spoil me, Marshal Dillon," she teased.

"Only the best for my girl," he replied, kicking a pile of dirt away before unrolling the blanket in front of the fireplace. He set a bottle of wine that was wrapped in the blanket off to the side.

Kitty opened the pouch and pulled out two shot glasses, carefully wrapped in a sea of red satin and black lace. They weren't quite as romantic as her good crystal, but they were sturdy and had made the bumpy journey intact.

"So when do I get to see you in that again?" Matt asked expectantly.

"Not until it's warm enough in here to be practically naked," she insisted. Kitty was pretty sure he got that fire going in record time.

They cuddled up together on the blanket, basking in the glow of the blaze and listening to the crackling wood as warmth filled the tiny room. They popped open the wine and filled their shot glasses.

"To us," Matt toasted, clinking his little glass with hers. "Against all odds we've done it again, Miss Russell. Seven years in a row."

"I guess it's going to take a lot more than a jail break and a missing pig to ruin our holiday," she proclaimed proudly.

"A stolen pig," he reminded her dramatically. Matt had finally earned his salary that morning when he rode out to Dub Greer's place and rescued the kidnapped swine. He had warned Greer and Pritchard that they'd better call it even, and he just might arrest them both if something like this happened again.

Kitty laughed. "Happy Valentine's Day, Matt," she said as they took a drink of wine.

"Happy Valentine's Day," he replied, reaching for the saddle bag lying just beyond the blanket.

He pulled out a small box and placed it in her hand. "You know, I hear seven is a lucky number," he said. "And right now, I'm pretty much the luckiest man on earth."

It was a familiar box. Over the years, Matt had bought her gifts from the same jeweler every time he went to Hays. She had a lovely cameo and two pairs of earrings that had come in that same little box.

There was something else that came in a box that size. The ruby was heart shaped, with tiny diamond chips around it. He had guessed at her finger size and had come impressively close. It was the Valentine's Day special at Mr. Alden's jewelry store, and Matt couldn't think of anything he wanted to give her more.

Marriage was out of the question as long as he was a U.S. Marshal. Even a public relationship was forbidden, so for seven years they had expressed their love behind closed doors. It was a sacrifice she was willing to make, the enormity of which he fully appreciated. She could have balked at his rules and would have been justified in doing so—it was not a life many women could accept. But somehow she had, and after seven years he had almost stopped worrying that she might change her mind.

Kitty owned many rings, at least one to match every dress in her wardrobe. She smiled as she opened the box to find one unlike any of the others—one that matched a part of her only her lover could see. He took her left hand and fumbled with the small topaz stone she had on her ring finger. "Do you mind if we move this?" he asked.

She didn't mind. She moved the ring that matched her riding outfit to the other hand, and he slid the heart shaped ruby in its place. It wasn't a wedding ring, but it was no less symbolic. It meant that she belonged to him, on Valentine's Day and every other day. She could wear it openly as if it were any ring, a constant reminder of who they were when the town wasn't watching. It was as perfect a gift as she had ever received.

Kitty leaned in and gave him a tender kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I love it," she whispered.

Matt returned her embrace, putting his arms around her waist and pulling her close to him. The hard floor was only partially cushioned beneath them, and their surroundings were stark and drab—a far cry from a brass bed or a fancy restaurant. Yet this was their best Valentine's Day yet.

Matt spotted the little pile of red on the corner of the blanket behind her. "It feels pretty warm in here to me," he hinted. "Do I get my present now?"

Kitty leaned back on her palms and crossed her legs, giving him a look that clearly answered that question. He eyed her white button down shirt and brown riding skirt hooked snugly in the front. It was absolutely stunning on her, but it had to go.

He scooted next to her and propped himself up on one elbow, conveniently leaving a free hand for exploring. He reached over and casually gripped the top button of her shirt between his thumb and forefinger, playfully twisting it before easily popping it through the hole. Loose, widely spaced, readily accessible buttons—things were finally starting to go Matt's way.

Kitty glanced down at the newly exposed area around her chest with a raised eyebrow and amused smile. "That was pretty impressive, Cowboy. Got any more sexy tricks up your sleeve?"

Matt pondered that for a moment. "It's been seventeen days, Honey. I think you're lucky I'm not already finished!"

Kitty laughed out loud, slowly sliding her arms back until she was lying flat. "You're about to be the lucky one, Marshal," she promised, reaching for the delicate mound of red satin and black lace.

The End

With a little luck, we can help it out
We can make this whole damn thing work out.
With a little love, we can lay it down.
Can't you feel the town exploding?
There is no end to what we can do together.
There is no end, there is no end.
The willow turns his back on inclement weather;
And if he can do it, we can do it, just me and you.

-Paul McCartney & Wings