Chapter 2
Kitty looked at her nightgown that was draped over the back of her vanity chair and then at her bed. Even though she knew the nightgown would be more comfortable then the dress she was wearing, she just did not have the energy to change into the nightgown. She walked over to the bed, threw back the covers, climbed in, and threw the covers over herself haphazardly. Kitty was asleep the minute her head hit the pillow. She didn't even take the time to lock her door.
The saloon was still busy. Men continued bellying up to the bar drinking beer and whiskey. Gamblers were still dealing poker games. "Oh Susanna" was playing on the player piano. Saloon girls were talking with some of the men, getting the men to buy them drinks. With all of this going on, Shawn still was uncertain if he could go upstairs to Kitty's room without being noticed. He had to get up there. Louis and Jesse were counting on him. He could not let them down. He could not let Artie down.
Shawn was deep in thought, when saloon girl Suzette came up to him. "Hey handsome, can I get you a drink?" Shawn jumped at her words. "Sorry. Didn't mean ta scare ya. Can I get you a drink?"
Shawn briefly contemplated Suzette's question. It would look odd for him to sit there and not have a drink in front of him. He did not want to draw attention to himself. Shawn smiled at Suzette.
"I'll have a beer." He placed 2 nickels on the table. "Get one for yourself 'n come join me." Suzette took the nickels and strolled up to the bar.
She returned with two mugs of beer and placed them on the table. "Are you from around here?" Suzette asked as she sat down, taking a sip of her beer. "I don't recall ever seeing you around Dodge."
"Nope, I'm just passin' through," Shawn replied as he took a sip of his beer.
Shawn and Suzette had been talking and sharing a beer for a good twenty minutes, when Shawn's mind started processing a plan to get upstairs. He would use Suzette. People would not think twice about a saloon girl bringing a customer upstairs. Shawn began to softly gaze at Suzette and smile. He had to set the mood. Suzette noticed.
"What are ya smilin' at?" she asked with a return of her own smile.
"Sittin' here, I realized how beautiful you are," Shawn replied. "And I was wonderin' if we could continue this upstairs. It's been quite a spell since I've been with a woman."
"I think I can fix that," said Suzette, getting up from the table and walking in the direction of the staircase. She offered Shawn her hand. Shawn took the offered hand and followed her.
A short time latter Shawn climbed out of bed feeling quite satisfied. The flush and smile on Suzette's face was an indication that she felt the same way. Shawn walked over to the chair in the corner of the room to retrieve his clothes. After getting dressed, Shawn walked back to the bed and placed a couple of silver dollars on the nightstand.
"Thank you for a wonderful time, pretty lady. I'll see myself out."
"Goodbye, stranger," Suzette whispered, realizing she never got Shawn's name.
Shawn left Suzette's room, but did not go back down to the saloon. Instead, he deftly walked down the hall. Shawn turned the knob on Kitty's door, grateful it was unlocked, and slinked into Kitty's room. He could see that Kitty was fast asleep. Looking around the room, Shawn decided to sit and wait in a dark corner. Shawn figured Kitty would not wake up anytime soon, but still thought it best to sit where he would not be easily seen.
Shawn was not sure how long he would have to wait before leaving Kitty's room to let his brothers in the back door. He did not dare risk opening the door to see what was going on in the saloon, in fear of being seen. He would sit in the dark corner until the noise downstairs turned completely silent. Shawn could wait. He was a patient man.
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Doc was in his office finishing making some fooling pills for Mrs. Prettalin. She was constantly complaining to him about ailments that were not there, that Doc finally came up with the idea of making her some fooling pills, which were basically sugar pills. Doc was confident that his plan would work and Mrs. Prettalin would be fooled by the pills. Knowing that the pills needed time to dry and bind, Doc decided to head on over to the Long Branch and have a drink. Matt should be finishing his rounds any time now.
Doc's timing was perfect. As he was walking down his steps, Matt and Chester were walking in the direction of the Long Branch. "Matt! Chester! Wait up!" Both men stopped before going into the Long Branch.
"Hey, Doc," Chester greeted. "Whatcha been up to the last hour?"
"Just making some fooling pills for Mrs. Prettalin and her non-existent ailments ," Doc replied.
"Are we gonna stand out here and discuss Mrs. Prettalin or go inside and have a drink?" Matt asked. "Kitty said she was working tonight. Maybe we can have a drink with her."
Doc rubbed at his mustache, disguising his smile. He knew there was no maybe about it. The moment Kitty sees Matt walk into the Long Branch, she will make herself available to have a drink with him. In the last year that Kitty Russell had been in Dodge, Doc noticed that Matt had grown quite fond of her. Doc was tempted to say that Matt was in love with her, and he was sure that Kitty felt the same way about Matt.
Before walking in, Matt peered over the doors and surveyed the scene before him, looking for Kitty. He was disappointed when he did not see her. Matt pushed the swinging doors forward and led the way into the Long Branch. He turned to Doc and Chester.
"I don't see Kitty," he stated. "I know she said she'd be working tonight."
"Wael, uh she did say she was working. Maybe she's uh," Chester stumbled over his words, looking up to the balcony, towards her room.
Matt glared at Chester. "She's not upstairs working," he said sternly. Matt knew that for a fact because he and Kitty agreed that she would not bring men up to her room. He would be the only man that entered Kitty's Russell's sanctuary, and he wasn't just referring to her room. They came to that agreement a few months after she arrived in Dodge City.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Dillon," Chester apologized. "I didn't mean ta upset ya."
"Why don't we ask Sam where she is," Doc suggested. "I bet he knows."
"Good idea," Matt agreed. The three men walked up to the bar.
"Hello," Sam greeted when he saw Matt, Chester, and Doc. "What can I get you?"
"I thought Kitty was working tonight, but I don't see her," Matt replied.
"Mr. Pence sent her upstairs early," said Sam. "The poor girl was so tired, she could barely keep her eyes open. Can I still get ya something to drink?"
"Three beers," Matt answered, placing enough money on the bar to pay for the drinks. He was disappointed that he wouldn't see Kitty tonight. If she was as tired as Sam said she was, then he wouldn't be stopping by later. Sam filled three mugs and placed them on the bar. The trio took their beer and went to find a table.
"It's too bad Miss Kitty couldn't join us," said Chester as took a sip of the frothy beer in his mug. Matt nodded in agreement.
"If Kitty's as tired as Sam says she is, then sleep is the best thing for her," said Doc.
Matt, Chester, and Doc finished their beer and left the Long Branch. Doc went to his office, and Matt and Chester went to the jail. Before parting ways, they agreed to meet at Delmonico's for breakfast the next morning.
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Louis and Jesse were in the cabin getting ready for their trip into Dodge City. It would take at least an hour to get to town, and Louis figured by the time they did, the Long Branch would be closed for the night. Louis went outside to hitch the horses up to the wagon. If Shawn succeeded in his part of the plan, then Kitty Russell should be in a deep sleep when they take her. Since she would be sleeping, a wagon was the best way to get her to the cabin.
"I hitched the horses up to the wagon," Louis told Jesse. "Are ya ready ta go?" He put three envelopes into his vest pocket. "I wanna be back here before dawn."
"I'm ready," Jesse replied.
Both men walked outside and climbed up onto the seat of the wagon. Louis took hold of the reins and steered the wagon in the direction of Dodge City. There was faint lightning in the far distance. Louis hoped a storm wouldn't hinder their plan.
"Do ya think that storm is gonna ruin things?" Jesse asked, also noticing the lightning.
"I was wonderin' the same thing," Louis responded. "That's all the more reason to git goin'. We've put too much into all of this to not have it go as planned."
They continued their way to Dodge City. Louis clicked the reins causing the horses to pick up their speed a bit. Louis and Jesse Washburn would be in Dodge City in an hour's time.
TBC