The Next Morning

Kitty blinked her eyes clear of sleep to focus on the ornate gold clock sitting on her dresser. 5AM, an ungodly hour to be awake, but it gave her time to dress perfectly, collect her thoughts and be fully ready to confront Matt in his office the moment he walked in. She rose stiffly and padded across the room to her closet, to find something flattering, cool and stylish. Going hanger by hanger she came to a linen, powder blue dress – low cut, short sleeved, and cinched at the waist but not too tight. She even had a pair of shoes that had been dyed to match. A small smile touched her lips. Most men would say they didn't notice a woman's shoes. That's because when they felt the impact of a well put-together outfit they didn't think about the parts. She zipped up her dress, slipped on her shoes and sat at at her vanity. A dash of lipstick and touch of rouge would do. She brushed her hair out, so it fell softly to her shoulders and clipped it back from her face. Jewelry was next, simple earrings and a thin silver chain for her neck. She leaned back in her chair and stared into the mirror – not bad Kitty Russell, not bad at all. Feeling confident, she jumped up and opened her top dresser drawer, where Matt kept the spare key to his office. She'd let herself in, lock the door behind her, and wait for him to arrive. With a last look in the mirror she quietly left her room. The hallway was dim and eerily still, but had an air of expectation. She leaned over the railing and scanned her saloon. Chairs were piled on tables, towels spread out to dry, a big broom sat on the player-piano, poised for action. In just hours the cycle of business would start. Late morning would bring in tradesmen, farmers and ranchers, in town to buy supplies. They'd order beers, and eat the free lunch of hard boiled eggs and pickles. The room would echo with home grown jokes and the talk of the price of potatoes. Mid-afternoon there'd be travelers, fresh off the stage-coach or train. They drink good booze and flirt with the girls, before the next leg of their journey. Night would bring in cowboys, gunslingers and adventurous types. Men who drank hard and played for high stakes. Saloon girls who were so inclined took the winners, or lucky losers, to their rooms. Any type of customer who came into the Long Branch, left knowing it was the place for them. That was something to be proud of. With a last look over the railing, Kitty marched down the stairs and headed for Matt's office.

Matt Dillon stifled a yawn, and led his horse into the stable. He hadn't gotten much sleep last night, or in fact for many nights. It was real nice of Melody to get up before dawn to fix him breakfast, knowing he had to get to work as soon as he got to town. Turns out that cooking was one of the many things Melody Merriweather was good at. He tended his horse and set off down the deserted street. A few feet from his office, he paused and tensely peered ahead. Luck was with him. The 2 butterflies, Lorraine and Lizette were nowhere to be seen. Hopefully he'd be done with his essential office business, and on his way back to Melody's, before the 2 girls got there. Deep in thought he unlocked the door and stepped inside. He froze. Kitty was sitting behind his desk, arms crossed and eyes on fire. "Kitty what are – what's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"I believe you know there is, Matt. It shouldn't surprise you that I figured out what's going on."

Matt sighed with relief, his shoulders relaxed, a smile touched his lips "I should have known you'd figure it out. I promised to keep it a secret, but to tell the truth this is a big relief. I'm glad you know."

Kitty's eyes widened in shock. "That's what you have to say? You're glad I know about Melody Merriweather."

"Well Kitty, I don't know what else to say. You know, if it was up to me I'd continue with the way things are for another year or two, but Melody's father made it clear that's not going to happen. He's still working through the details, but I haven't made up my mind."

"You want to continue this – this situation for another year or two?" She looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. "You expect me to just, just…" She sputtered. Her face grew red. "And what does Melody's father have to do with anything – what details – a dowery or something?"

Matt frowned in confusion. "What – a dowery – what?" He paused. They stared at each other in silence. Smoke was shooting from Kitty's ears. Matt was trying to make sense of her words and her reactions. After a long minute, a possibility wormed its way into his brain. "Kitty this may sound crazy, but do YOU believe I'm involved with Melody? Is that what you think you figured out?"

"What else would I mean?" She angrily leaned across the desk and glared up at him.

"Well" He ran his fingers through his hair, "When you said you figured it out, I thought you meant you recognized her last name – and – somehow - put it all together."

Kitty sighed impatiently. "Merriweather? I don't know any Merriweather. Matt, what on earth are you talking about? I -I … oh, oh, oh, Merriweather as in Silas Merriweather, the head of US Marshal Services?"

"Yep." Matt pulled a wooden chair close to the desk and sat across from her. Melody is his daughter. She was a tiny girl when her mother died, not long after Silas pinned the US Marshal's badge on me. I went to the funeral, remember?

"No, I don't remember. Why would I?" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Matt, I'm trying to make sense of this. Are you saying that Silas Merriweather is here, and he's the one you've really been spending time with?"

"Yes, he wanted to meet with me alone and privately. Absolutely no one was supposed to know. He was adamant about that. Melody rented the cabin and made it comfortable for him. His health is deteriorating from some kind of heart condition. He's not in good shape, and can't handle being Director of the Services much longer. Besides that, Melody's getting married and moving to Boston. He wants to retire and be close to her. He's been keeping it all a secret because Washington, according the him, is filled with political gamesmanship. If his pending retirement was widely known there'd be maneuvering by powerful people to fill the position with their favorite candidate. He wants to choose his successor, and have it be a done deal before anyone knows what's happening. That's why it's been such a secret. Even a small slip of the tongue could start a rumor that could spread."

"OK," Kitty's head was swimming. "I assume he wants you to be the new director, but why have you been out at that cabin night and day?"

"It's a complicated job, Kitty. Before I make a decision about taking it, he wants me to know exactly what's entailed, and also how to deal with folks in Washington DC. His health's so bad, I have to be at the cabin when he's well enough to work. He's most energetic late at night and in the wee hours of the morning. During the day he doses on and off, so I try to be there as much as I can. Kitty, there's something else. This will be the first new director in 25 years. If I don't take the position, whoever does will want to put his stamp on the job, establish his authority, clean house. I'm the longest serving US Marshal in the country. A new man would be threatened by my reputation, I'd be thanked for my service and sent on my way. Silas says there's no doubt about that."

Kitty's rubbed her temples trying to sort everything out. "Matt, a little while ago you said you wished you could continue with the way things are for another year or two. You meant being marshal and living the life we've built for ourselves in Dodge, didn't you?"

"Yep. This is kinda sudden after all. Another year or two would give me time to really think about the future." She looked him square in the eye and raised an eyebrow. He read her mind and sighed. "I know, I've had plenty of years to plan for what's next, and haven't done it. I haven't saved money, thought about possibilities, sent out feelers. Kitty, I always thought this job was it for me. I though I wouldn't survive it." Her eyes softened. "I am more than grateful you have. And now, ready or not, life's stepping in to shove you forward. Are you taking the job?"

"I don't know." Matt stood abruptly, and started pacing. "The problem is I – I don't see how I can win." He crossed the room once, twice, a third time, his feet pounding the floor boards."Kitty, if I don't take the position, I'll be out of a job real soon, and have to leave Dodge. There'd be nothing for me to do here. Besides, I'd feel honor bound to be out of the way so the new marshal can establish his authority, I guess I'd ride off somewhere and do something. Land's cheap in the high country, maybe I could manage to buy a small parcel and try ranching. That could be OK except – except for losing you. Kitty, I can't imagine a life without you, but I can't ask you to leave everything you have here, for a life of uncertainty somewhere off in the high country. On the other hand, taking the director's position means a desk job in Washington DC. I'd be shuffling papers, and playing political games. I'd hate it, and I'd still lose you. I can't expect you to give up all you've built here, a business, friends and community, to marry me and be a Washington socialite, with nothing of your own. No matter what I choose, I lose you, and I either spend my days just getting by or doing something I hate."

Matt fell silent, but continued pacing back and forth. Kitty watched for as long as she could stand it, and pushed herself to her feet. She loved this man more than anything, but he was right, this was not simple matter for either of them. "Matt, pacing won't help. Stand still and look at me." She waited until he complied, and met his eyes. "First, don't you dare make decisions for me, or make assumptions about what I want. You've never done that before, and now's not the time to start. You are right in that I cherish my community, hold my friends dear and am proud of the business I built. I enjoy running it, learning something every day, and meeting the people that come through. That said, change is part of life. You're not going to lose me Matt, and I sure as hell am not letting go of you. So, we'll figure this out together. When you go back to that cabin I'm going with you, whether Silas Merriweather likes it or not."

She looked so fierce and indestructible Matt had to smile. He wrapped his arms around her kissed the to top of her head. "I have a feeling he won't dare object. Let's go."

TBC