Deja Vu

PT.6

After supper, everyone met up at the reception. Kitty realized this was going to get interesting. But, after all the years running the Long Branch, she knew dealing with Matt and his old war buddies wasn't so bad. They spent most of the night rehashing old stories which, as she listened in, gave her some insight into Matt as a young man, pre-Dodge.

At one point Joey made her way to the bar, next to where Kitty was standing.

"I hope all these war stories ain't boring you."

Shaking her head, "Oh no, not at all. I'm used to it."

"Matty tell ya bout' them?"

"I've heard some and then from several others."

"Ya got yourself a real good man there."

"Yes, I know. Matt and I have been together a long time."

"Yeah?" Joey looked surprised.

"Uh huh. We have our thirtieth anniversary coming up."

"Whoa." Joey smiled. "Didn't realize."

"Uh huh. But we've known one another longer."

"Got'cha a family?"

"Yes, we do. We have three daughters. Seven grandchildren."

"Well I'll be."

Kitty smiled in amusement.

"Sammy and me, we ain't quiet got around to children."

"Sammy?"

"Oh, yeah. After all the years, we finally decided to get hitched. But guess I was past that time of life. Know what I mean?" Kitty just nodded.

Matt made his way to where Kitty and Joey were. "Kit, I'm ready to call it a night. You?"

"Sure, Cowboy. Well, Joey, I guess we'll see you all at the awards ceremony. Good night."

Entering their suite, "Wow, what a night." Matt tossed his Stetson on the table then sat on the chair removing his boots. He watched Kitty as she began removing her jewelry. She was quiet.

"Kit, Honey?"

"Huh?" She mumbled.

"You alright?" He asked. He knew just looking at her, her wheels were turning.

"Cowboy, I'm just tired." He knew better. She walked off into the water closet.

When she returned she was in a chiffon robe. She sat down at the vanity and began removing pins from her hair.

He could see her through the mirror. "Honey, please."

"Matt, not now. I'm tired."

"No, Kit, I don't want to go to bed with this unsaid. So say it."

"Matt, it was a long time ago. Does it really matter anymore? It's just that... Well, that... Ugh! Never mind." Quickly he straddled on the seat behind her, not letting her get up.

"Listen to me. Ok, I should have told you. It was stupid. There I said it. It was stupid. It was so long ago and it wasn't anything. She was a kid. I was in the war. We all were and actually, at first, we all thought she was a boy. Her father and brothers were killed and she wanted to, I guess help. So the war department used her as a scout. She was tiny. She could sneak in and out of places most of us couldn't. She looked and dressed like a boy, acted like one too. It wasn't until one of the guys got into a fight with him, well her, they realized, he was a she. And then, there was the time she..." He swallowed hard.

Kitty furrowed her brow. "What?"

"Kit, Honey, she saved my life and I was grateful for that."

"Well, I'm grateful for that too, Cowboy."

"Look, Honey, I know you're angry."

Turning to face him, cupping his face in her tiny hands. "NO! No, I'm not angry. A little hurt, maybe, that after all these years you didn't feel you could tell me the truth."

"I'm sorry, Honey. You're right. And I was about to when she came in the dining room. Really I was. Can you forgive this ol' stupid cowboy?"

Holding back a smile. "Hmmm... I guess I'll have to think about it?"

"Maybe I can make it up to you."

"OHHHHH? And what did you have in mind, Cowboy?"

Now with a sheepish grin, standing, slipping one hand under her legs, he lifted her.

"Matt, be careful."

"Shhhhhhh."

Carrying her, He gently placed her on the bed, pulling on the sash, then loosening the robe, letting it fall open. "Ahhhhhh... Beautiful!" Gently kissing the tip of her nose, her chin, the nape of her neck. "Ummm." Then he kissed her cleavage. "Ohhhhh." Slowly, he was running his warm tongue down her stomach.

"AWWWWW, Cowboy."

"Uh huh? Is it working?"

"ABSOLUTELY! Don't stop."

The remainder of the night, he showed her there was no one but her in his mind or heart of hearts. The two became one.

Awards Ceremony Morning

Rising early, Matt woke. Reaching over, he found the pillow beside him empty. "Kit? Honey?"

Coming out of the water room, "Well, sleepy head. You're awake?"

"I'm the one that should be saying that."

She chuckled. "Matt, it's beautiful out. Thought maybe we could go for a walk? Don't worry, it'll be after we feed you, Cowboy. Then I thought maybe we could go to Le Droit Park. Remember, we went there? It was so beautiful. It's less than half a mile. I think we can handle that."

"Kitty, we're not that young anymore."

Laughing. "Ohhh." She gave him a side smirk.

Quietly eating breakfast. "Cowboy. I'm glad we came. This is the first time in years we've been away together, alone." Smiling, "Just you and me with the brood at home."

"Well, Honey, you wanted a family."

Slapping at his arm and picking pieces of bacon from his plate. "Oh, Matt. I don't regret our family for one second. But having this time alone with you..." Now looking at him blue to blue, words weren't needed.

Matt was listening to her every word, but suddenly he felt the hair on the back of his neck rise.

He was trying not to let it show. He didn't want to alarm Kitty. He wasn't sure what was causing this feeling but over the years, he'd learned NOT to ignore this feeling.

TBC