PT.6

Old Flame Revisited

Passengers, disembarking from the train, tightened up their outer garments, to shield themselves from the brisk bitter wind and cold. Festus, reached the platform first, anxious to see if Kitty had exited. He paced back and forth.

Dolly had decided to follow Matt some steps behind.

Kitty appeared at the top of the steps, looking around. "Ahhh, I'm home." Then she began descending the three steps to the platform only to hear, "Miz Kitty, Miz Kitty. This a way." Festus was excited. He was happy to see her. Festus always held a special admiration for her.

"Oh, Festus!" She exclaimed. "I have missed you." Taking his face in her hands and placing a kiss on his cheek.

"Ya sure a plum sight fur sore Eyes, Miz Kitty and it's so good to see you too."

"Festus." Kitty's eyes were scanning the platform and the crowd for the one person she was anxious to see, her cowboy." Suddenly she set her eyes on him, smiling.

But before she got out his name, she noticed he was standing with someone, a woman, not a face she knew from town. Tall, blonde, with eyes fixed on Matt. Whipping thru the faces in her mind, wondering who this could be. The woman's obvious gaze on Matt's face, as she spoke to him, was, well, more than the usual look one would have in a casual conversation. Besides the fact, she had her both hands placed on either side of his waist.

Kitty could see Matt was uneasy, quickly pushing away her hands, walking away and heading further down the platform. Then their eyes met.

"Kitty! I'm glad to see you." He was unaware she had seen Dolly.

"Matt." She walked up close to him but remembered they were in public. "Ahhh, I'm so glad to be home, Cowboy."

"Come on, let's get you out of this bitter cold." As they walked towards the Long Branch, unbeknownst to Matt, Dolly was watching.

But this didn't slip by Kitty's attention. "Matt, I'm so happy I made it back before Christmas. So, Cowboy, what have I missed?" Giving him a side glance.

Just as they arrived at the saloon, Matt was relieved that Sam, Louie, Doc and some of the girls, began welcoming her back.

Dolly, peered into the Long Branch, watching all the excitement. "Enjoy it, while it lasts. I guess I'll just have to try harder." She said as she walked away. "Won't be the first time I've won a man over. She's just a small diversion."

Walking around a bit, she found her way to Sarah Carr's dress shop and swiftly ducked in.

"Good morning." Sarah said as Dolly closed the door behind her.

"Oh, good morning. Is this your place? Or can I see the owner?"

"You're looking at her." Sarah answered. "What can I do for you?"

"Dresses." Dolly said looking at some of the work Sarah had displayed, one of which she wanted to show Kitty upon her return.

Kitty had Sarah make it for her before she left, just needed to have a final fitting. It was for Christmas. She wanted something special for the celebration she had planned. This was a regular event.

"Do you do all this work yourself, Miss?"

Sarah interrupted. "It's Mrs. Carr and yes I do."

"You do good work." Dolly said now feeling the fabric of the dress Sarah had made for Kitty. "Well, do you think you can make me something special?"

"Of course, Ma'am."

Dolly corrected her with, "Oh, it's Dolly, Dolly Winters."

"Well, Miss Winters, I'll need to take some measurements. What did you have in mind?"

"What?" Dolly said still looking at the dress on the stand.

"Do you need a party dress or maybe traveling suit?"

Smiling back at Sarah, "No, not a traveling suit. I'm staying here in Dodge. Make it something special. Oh, maybe something for a Christmas time wedding."

"Well, congratulation, Miss Winters. May I ask, who's the lucky man? I know just about everyone in town." Sarah stood smiling at Dolly.

"Of course, you know him. His name is Matt."

Sarah now looking shocked, "Matt?" She questioned. "Like I said I know almost everyone in Dodge, but I only know one Matt. The Marshal. Matt Dillon."

"Yes, that's him."

Sarah couldn't believe what she was hearing. "That can't be. Why, Matt has been with…" Sarah didn't finish her sentence. Turning herself away, she was trying to figure out if she'd just heard what she thought she heard. "When will you need the dress?" Sarah asked still stunned. Sarah and Kitty had been friends ever since Sarah and her husband arrived in town. Then after John, Sarah's husband, passed. She enjoyed making dresses for Kitty. She was a faithful customer.

TBC