Later That Night

Kitty went behind the bar to help Sam dry glasses. After all the excitement earlier in the day she expected a busy night at the Long Branch, but business turned out to be unusually slow. Sometimes there was no predicting what got people drinking.

A little while ago, with just 2 customers in the place, she'd told the girls to take the rest of the night off. Now, unless things picked up in the next couple of minutes, she'd close for the night and send Sam home too. It was just as well. Closing early tonight suited her. It would give her time to go upstairs and get ready for Matt. They had a lot to talk about, and her conversation with Missy had reminded her how lucky she and Matt were to have each other. She wanted the atmosphere to be just right.

She looked around the room as she dried another glass, and tried to remember the last time the Long Branch had been so quiet. Out of nowhere she heard a loud growling rumble. She quickly realized it was her stomach and sheepishly glanced around. Either no one heard or, more likely, the few people who were there resisted laughing. Either way she realized that the 2 hard-boiled eggs she'd had hours ago wasn't much of a dinner, which meant there was another advantage to closing early. It would give her time to put a meal of sorts together for herself and Matt. He wouldn't have had time to eat since the shootings, and was probably even hungrier than she.

She gave Sam a quick nod. He grinned and starting stacking chairs on tables. The 2 remaining customers took the hint and downed the beers they'd been nursing along. Sam helped lock up and went home whistling, glad to be off duty early. Kitty went into the kitchen and put some cold, fried chicken legs on a plate. She added some slabs of buttered bread, a few carrots and the 2 hard-boiled eggs that were left over from the lunch spread. She put her hands on her hips and smiled. It wasn't Le Coq D'Or, but it would do. She set the plate on a tray, added a pitcher of beer and 2 mugs, and went upstairs. Humming to herself, she changed into a light blue negligee and was putting on a matching robe when the familiar sound of Matt's footsteps brought a smile to her lips. She waited expectantly and was surprised to hear a soft knock on the door instead of a key in the lock.

"It's open Matt." He stepped inside and shut the door behind him, but didn't move.

Seeing his hesitation she stepped towards him, "You didn't use your key?"

"I-I didn't know if you were still upset with me. With the way you left for the convention and the whispering you heard about Misty and me, I wasn't sure if – well - I didn't want to make assumptions."

"Oh Matt." She reached up and touched his cheek. "Next time use your key. We have a lot to tell each other, but I understand about Missy, and I think she's wonderful. I'm not upset. I am so very glad to see you."

He visibly relaxed and used his right arm to pull her closer.

She wrapped her arms around him and hugged hard. Her head pressed against his shoulder and he winced slightly. She quickly stepped back.

"I'm so sorry, Matt. I forgot about your shoulder. How is it?"

"Fine, it's just a graze. Doc cleaned and wrapped it."

"A graze can smart pretty good." He shrugged and she knew she'd entered territory he didn't like to dwell on. With no further comment she led him to the table. "My guess is you're at least as hungry as I am. Let's dig in." She sat beside him and they each grabbed a chicken leg. Matt wiped his mouth with a napkin pleased to find things between them so easy and natural. "Kitty, I still don't know what I did wrong with the sociable and all. I mean, when I left for Hays you didn't seem angry."

"Matt, you didn't do anything wrong, not really. I understood that you had to get to that trial. There were just things that started bothering me, like not being about to go a sociable alone if I wanted to. I reached a point where I felt I had to prove I was a capable, accomplished woman who could do things on her own."

"Kitty, I've always known that. You are one of the smartest, most able people I know. Who'd you need to prove those things to?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe the world, maybe myself. Right now I want to be sure that you know that I love you and I want us to be us."

"I want that too."

She smiled, "Matt, I have so much to tell you about that convention." She took another hungry bite and chewed, "There's a lot I want to hear about too. I don't know what happened at Kramer's trial or who those 2 gunmen were who tried to take the Carter twins. Fortunately, we have the whole night to talk about it all." She stopped and smiled slyly, "And maybe even do a few other things."

He gave her a deadpan stare, "Besides talk, I can't imagine what we could think of to do." Kitty laughed and Matt suddenly remembered something. "Before we say anything else, I want to give you the gift I brought back from Hays." He fished into his pocket and Kitty looked at him with pleased expectation. A knock on the door broke the moment.

They looked at each other and sighed, so much for having the whole night. The knock grew louder and more insistent.

Kitty frowned, "Who is it?"

"It's Doc - I want – I'm looking for – I wondered if – damn I need see Matt now and I know he's here."

Matt crossed the room in two strides knowing Doc wouldn't come to Kitty's for him without a good reason. "Doc what is it?"

"Matt, I don't know how it happened. It's unbelievable. It's impossible. It's – it's …"

"What Doc, what?"

"The blond man, Clay, he's gone."

"Gone?" Matt's eyes widened, "You said he couldn't even sit up, how could he be gone?"

"I don't know Matt, I wish I did. He was sleeping soundly so I went to Delmonico's for a quick bite. When I got back his bed was empty. I just don't see how a man in his condition could get up and walk out."

Matt looked at Doc for a moment before answering, "Unless he had help."

Doc ran his hand across his mustaches, "You have some idea about that?"

"I do. Let's go."

Matt grabbed his hat. "Kitty, you make sure you're locked in here. Clay may be as desperate as a wounded animal, but if I'm right about this, his accomplice is even more dangerous. There's no telling who they'll go after."

"I'll lock up tight Matt, I promise. You don't have to worry about me."

TBC