PT.8

Old Flame Revisited

Pulling her hood up over her head, Kitty traipsed her way across Front Street, trying to keep warm and keep a cool head. But this was going to end tonight.

Matt was warming his hands by the stove after doing some checking on Louie and Hank over at the stables.

Suddenly the door flung open. "MATT DILLON! Just how long were you going to wait to tell me?"

"Now Kitty…" he started, shocked to see the fuming temper.

Tightening her jaws, "DON'T YOU 'NOW KITTY' ME! Did you think I wouldn't find out? Or maybe you were saving it for tonight's dessert?" She was now pacing the room with her hands on her hips. "Was this how you kept busy while I was gone? Did you know about…"

Quickly grabbing her by the shoulders, "Are you going to let me answer you, or are you just gonna keep firing questions?" He said still trying to figure what had her so riled up.

Then he was thinking, "Did she have a confrontation with Dolly?"

"Now, first things first. We're talking about Dolly, right?" He said in a calm tone hoping it would calm her a bit.

Huffing out a breath, "Yeah, why do you have someone else in mind? Matt, I warned you that woman was up to no good, years ago, and I was right. Do you know what she did?"

Before he could answer her, Festus came barging through the door. "Matthew? Matthew? Jake's wagon jest come a pullin' in out on the street. Jake, he ain't no place to be a found."

They all three quickly rushed out to see what was happening. As Matt approached the wagon, he knew it belonged to Jake Worth. As he checked it out, he found blood spots on the seat.

"Matt? What do you think happened?" Kitty asked.

"I don't know, Kitty, but I'm going to back track and see what we can find."

For the moment, their conversation was forgotten.

"Matt?"

He turned to look back at her. "I know, Kitty. I know. I will."

Matt and Festus rushed off to find his friend Jake. Kitty was standing there in the middle of the street. She knew what Jake's friendship meant to Matt and to her as well. Just as she turned to head home, she looked up at the Dodge House, then quietly to herself, she said, "I'm gonna get answers. Tonight!"

Dolly noticed everyone out on the street, but didn't know what it was about. She saw Matt headed in the direction of the hotel. Quickly she made sure she was dressed in what she thought would help her persuade him to her way of thinking. She quickly checked her hair in the looking glass. "Ahhh, perfect."

Then she heard a light knock, "It's open, darling." But as she turned the voice she heard wasn't what she was expecting.

"No. Sorry to disappoint you."

Dolly dropped the looking glass, shattering it as it hit the floor. "Oh, I… ah… I…" shaking her head for a moment. "I thought…"

Standing in the doorway, her eyes burning a hole straight thru Dolly, "Oh, I know who you thought it was, Darlin'."

Kitty quickly slammed the door behind her and started walking closer to Dolly. Picking up a robe lying on the bed, Kitty tossed it at her. "Here, cover yourself. I'm going to talk and you're going to listen."

"But…" Dolly started.

"I said, you're going to listen. That means SHUT UP!"

TBC