PT.3

Return To Dodge

Entwined Hearts

Matt made his way to the Long Branch. Al was behind the bar. "Hello, Marshal, can I get you… "

Waving his hand, "ah, naw, Al, Kitty around?"

"In her office, shall I tell her you're here?"

"No, I'll just go back." Walking back, lightly tapping on the door.

"I'll just be a few more minutes Al. Is it important?" Kitty called.

Matt opened the door, stood quietly staring, wondering what he could say to fix everything. "Kit, it's me."

Swiveling around in her chair, "Oh, Matt. Ummm… come on in. I was wondering if I'd see you."

"Kit." Taking three swooping steps across the room. "What can I say here?"

"That's simple." She replied. "Tell me you've come to your sense's and decided not to put that badge back on!"

"Kitty, you know I can't do that!"

"NO! I don't know that!"

"Kit, I'm a target for every man out there I've ever put in prison."

"YEAH, and how many times have you told me, if a man wears a gun, he's fair game to anyone who wants to call him out? And, Matt, you can't defend yourself like you used to, and wearing that gun you're inviting…. Ugh!" She turned to face the wall, in anger.

"Kit, honey, I understand this upsets you…."

Now spinning around to face him. "Upsets me!? What upsets me is this need you have to play Russian roulette with death! Matt, your not getting any younger! And you said yourself there is always going to be someone to come along that's just a little faster, better. Do you know how many times I've…." Now trying to fight back the tears.

Matt reached out to hold her but she stepped back. "Don't, Matt, I can't watch you lie out there in that street again and maybe this time…"

"Kitty, I can't just walk away."

"Well, looks like you've made your choice, Marshal."

"Kitty?"

"I don't think we have any more to talk about!"

"Kitty, please."

"If you don't mind, I have to finish this."

Tossing his hat in his hands, he turned and just before closing the door looked back, eyes filled with pain as he shut the door.

She picked up the glass off her desk and smashed it against the wall. "DAMN YOU, MATT DILLON!"

Matt and Kitty didn't talk for several days. All was quiet. Actually no one saw much of her in that time.

Then early one morning, Doc strolled in to invite Kitty for breakfast. Figured he'd get her out to talk to him. But Al told him she had been up early. "Doing what, Al?" He asked.

"Don't feel at liberty to say, Doc. I know she was down at the depot."

"She come back?"

"Oh, sure. Been up in her room ever since."

"Well, I'm going to go up and see what this is all about." Doc made his way up the stairs, across the landing, tapping on the door to Kitty's room.

"What is it AL?" Kitty called.

"It's me, Kitty, Doc." He answered.

"Oh, Doc. It's open."

When he opened the door to enter, his eyes scanned the room only to see all her things sprawled all over the room. "Young lady, what in thunder happened in here?"

Giving him a smirk. "I'm packing, Curly!"

"Packing? For what?"

"New Orleans. I'm going home."

"Now wait one cotton pickin' minute."

"No! Now, Curly, I know what your gonna say, and you're not gonna talk me out of it. My mind is made up!"

"But, Honey this is your home!"

"No, not any more, Curly. He's made up his mind. He's made his choice, and it's like I said, I can't watch him play roulette and try cheating death anymore. I just can't." Tears were welling up. She couldn't hold them back. "I have to go. I don't want to. The thought of leaving you, Festus, Newly... and yeah, the thought of leaving Matt, is breaking my heart! But, Curly, I'm dying inside. Every time I see him hurt, I die a little more. Maybe If I'm not here, and I don't see what he's doing to himself….."

Doc stopped her from saying anymore. He could see the pain she was in. "Have you told him?"

"No, not yet."

" You will tell him won't you?"

"I… I…. I don't know if I can, Curly. And you can't either. Promise me?"

"Honey, when are you leaving?"

"Day after tomorrow."

"Honey, you need to tell Matt. You know he's going out after…."

Putting her hands up in front of her. "I know, he's going after them and when he does, I won't be here when he gets back. I want you to give him this for me." She handed him a fancy envelope.

Doc couldn't help but notice the scent coming from it.

"Give it to him when he returns. Please, Curly." She took his face in her tiny hands. "Please?"

"OH, I don't like this. I don't like this, not one little bit!" He tucked the envelope in his breast pocket. Shaking his head and rubbing his mustache. "I don't like this one little bit!"

TBC