The Dance 2

I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.

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The night of the dance arrived. Kitty had forced herself, to forget the hateful words she had overheard, and concentrate on the night to come. She and Matt were going to a dance together, and they were going to have a good time, despite her detractors.

The dress she had made, was beautiful and finished just in time. Standing in front of the mirror, she made a few last minute adjustments then stood back to appraise herself. She knew very well what others thought of her looks, but she only trusted her own opinion on the matter. Well her own, and that of Matt.

Judging her self to be presentable, Kitty finally turned and left her room to go downstairs.

As she glided down the stairs, Matt and every other man in the room watched her. Matt couldn't believe how gorgeous she was. "Damn she's beautiful" he thought to him self.

Stepping to the bottom of the stairs, he took his hat off and extended his arm to her, as she gained the bottom step.

"Kitty," he greeted her "you sure do look awful pretty tonight."

"Thank you, Matt" she breathed, "and you look awfully handsome." Looking at him in his white courting jacket and string tie, she thought he had never looked more handsome.

Matt answered her with a slight blush and a grin. "You ready?" he finally asked.

Kitty took a deep breath. "Yes," she answered, as she took his arm and they made their way out of the saloon.

Matt knew all eyes were on the stunning red head on his arm, and the knowledge gave him mixed emotions. He was thrilled to be taking the prettiest girl in town to the dance, at the same time as he was worried about her. Even in a town dance, with no threat of spoilers known, he knew being with him always carried with it a certain amount of danger.

He had tried to explain it to her, but he wasn't sure she had truly understood. A stronger man would've stayed completely away from her he knew. But strong as he was in most things, he had a certain weakness when it came to Kitty Russell.

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They arrived in good spirits, as Matt had relayed a funny story to her about Chester, on the way over. As they entered the barn, they were greeted by three of the town's most prominent citizens. "Evening Ladies," Matt greeted them.

"Marshal," they returned in unison blatantly ignoring Kitty.

"You ladies know Miss Russell here?" Matt asked indicating the stunning red head on his arm.

"Fortunately not," one of them said.

Kitty felt Matt stiffen at the comment, but she was determined not to let her evening be spoiled by such people. "Come on, Matt," she said softly, as she tugged on his arm. "Let's go in huh?"

Matt let Kitty lead him in, but not without casting a glare back towards the three old shrews. Once they had deposited his hat and her cape, they wound their way through the building, to a table near the dance floor area. Once Matt had Kitty seated, he went to procure some punch for the two of them, promising to return quickly.

Kitty had only been sitting there for a few minutes, as the next dance began, when a very drunk Dow Hargrave came up to her. Reaching down to pull her up into his arms, Kitty could smell the alcohol on his breath. "Come on Kitty," he slurred, "let's dance."

"No Dow," Kitty said trying to push him away. "I'm not ready to dance just yet."

But Dow wasn't so easily discouraged. "I said I want to dance," he said childishly, as he pulled harder on her arms.

"I said no Dow," Kitty said, trying to keep her temper in check. "Why don't you sit down for a while and just enjoy the music, okay?" She was trying to calm him down, without creating a bigger scene then was already being created. She was acutely aware of the stares being directed at her.

Dow, however, was having none of it. "No," he said churlishly, "I want you to dance with me! Now!"

"She's not going to Dow," a deep voice said from behind him.

Kitty looked up to see Matt standing behind Dow, with one fist clenched and the other clamped down hard on Dow's shoulder. Turning the man to face him, Matt looked down at the cowboy, barely controlled anger clearly evident on his handsome face. "The lady told you no, Dow, so if I were you I'd leave. NOW!"

Dow might've been drunk enough to ignore Kitty, but he wasn't so inebriated, that he could ignore the Marshal. "Yes sir," he answered sullenly, as he turned and left the dance.

Kitty looked up gratefully. "Thank you, Matt" she sighed.

"You're welcome," he smiled down at her, just as the band struck up a new tune. "Are you ready to dance?" he asked holding out his hand to her.

"I sure am," she answered, as she rose and glided easily into his arms as he led her out onto the dance floor. Though he wasn't much of a dancer, Matt felt light on his feet with her in his arms. She made dancing, which to him was an onerous task, easy. So entranced with his dance partner was Matt, that he didn't notice the other people around them.

But Kitty noticed. Expressions ranged from leers on most of the most of the men's faces, to out right hatred on most the women. Kitty did her best to ignore all of them, and concentrate only on the man holding her in his arms. But it was tough on her.

When the dance ended, they made their way back to where they had been sitting. As they passed one of the other tables, Kitty noticed that the people sitting there suddenly stopped talking and glared at her as she passed by.

Matt noticed it too, but was doing his best to ignore it for her sake. Once they reached their table Matt held the chair for her as she sat down, and took the chair beside her. "Having fun so far?" he asked hopefully.

"Sure," she said putting on her best smile, trying not to show that the stares of the others bothered her.

But Matt wasn't so easily fooled. "Kitty," he said as he took her hand, "ignore them. The ladies are just jealous of you and the men are jealous of me."

Kitty gave him a fleeting smile at his attempt.

"We came here to have fun," he went on, "so let's not let them spoil it for us. Okay?"

Kitty mustered another, brighter smile and nodded. 'Okay," she said, "but before another dance starts can we get some air?"

Matt grinned at her. "Alright," Rising he took her by the hand and escorted her back towards the entry way.

TBC