Chapter Four-Settling In

Kitty had known Horace Kelker for seven years. He'd been one of her first regular customers when she'd landed a job at the Long Branch Saloon. His routine had been to pay Kitty a visit every Monday evening after he'd dropped off his wife at her quilting circle. The shy man had been so nervous to approach the attractive young newcomer that he'd asked Bill Pence to arrange for Kitty's services on his behalf. Over the next year and a half, Horace and Kitty had become close friends. He'd even gone so far as to confess to Kitty that he and his wife, Mattie, had never been able to have the children they'd so desperately wanted.

The farmer and saloon gal remained friends even after she'd bought half interest in the Long Branch and had given up certain "duties". Kitty had made sure to carve out some time on Monday nights to just sit and visit with her former customer, and of course, offer him a drink "on the house." It had been pure happenstance that she'd met Mattie Kelker one day in Mr. Jonas' store, literally bumping into her as she entered the mercantile as the farmer's wife walked out, carrying a large bolt of fabric. It had always fascinated Kitty that Horace had proudly introduced the women to each other; that he'd not been ashamed to know a saloon keeper. She'd often wondered if Mattie knew how Horace had occupied himself while she'd been making quilts with the other proper ladies of Dodge City. If Mattie knew, she had never let on.

"Tell me," Kitty quipped, transferring fresh eggs from a basket into a bowl, "do you train your hens to hide the eggs, or is it their own idea?"

"They got a mind of their own, alright," the kind, mustachioed farmer playfully answered. He then called the redhead to the window, pointing out that the boy he and his wife had voluntarily taken into their home was doing 'women's work' and that he was 'too cityfied'. He asked, "Didn't he ever have any menfolk around?"

Kitty explained that Thad hadn't been around too many men in his life, reassuring Horace, "I'd count it a real big favor if you'd teach him the things he oughtta know, until he grows up to be a man." All she wanted was for the child to be able to live like a regular boy. She hated that he'd spent nearly his whole life on the run from his outlaw father.

Deep in the pit of her stomach, Kitty worried about what kind of man Thad would grow up to be. She hoped with all her might that the child would never follow in his father's footsteps of being a womanizer, or worse yet, a criminal.

When he'd been six years old, she had delivered the boy to the stuffy, Creole style home of Lucy and Gerard LeGendre in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Lucy had welcomed Thad with open arms, but her husband had been aloof, definitely looking down his nose at Kitty and her young charge. She'd wondered if the man of the house had ever given the boy any attention at all. But, alas, it had been time to move the child once more, fearing that Tucker had gotten wind that the boy had been relocated to the Crescent City. She at least had peace of mind that while he stayed with the Kelkers, Thad would not only have all of his physical needs met, he would also be loved.

Kitty laid in bed that night, unable to sleep. Her mind had been racing as she rehearsed how to tell Matt about Thad and her obligation to him. After all, in a couple of days she'd have to get back to Dodge and her other responsibilities. Oh, Kitty Russell, you've done it this time. You should've been straight with Matt a long time ago. When you fell for him, you fell hard, and it's gonna hurt when he leaves you because you're a phony.

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"Are you sure you're gonna be able to sleep with all those cans in your bed?" Kitty asked the little boy, pushing his damp curls to the side.

"Yes'm, I'm sure," he beamed, proud of the fact he'd had good enough aim to shoot the cans clear off the corral fence. "Uncle Horace says I'm a good shot and I'm gonna be a good rider, too!"

Another full day had passed, and the little boy seemed to be settling in just fine. The proud redhead grinned, her hands tenderly cupping his cheeks, "I never had a doubt. Are you happy here?"

"I suppose," he shrugged, "I'll be okay here until you can get us a place t' live, if that's what you're askin'."

She inhaled deeply, "I promise you that I'm going to make that happen, Sweetheart." She stood, fully covering him with the simple blue and red quilt. Oddly, it reminded her of the first tiny blanket in which he'd been handed to her.

"I know you will," he yawned, rolling onto his side. "I'm glad we're together again."

"Me, too," she whispered, lowering the lamp on his side table.

Kitty joined the Kelkers at the dinner table, fully intending to share the story of how she'd become Thad's caretaker. The kind couple had reassured her they didn't need to know the sordid details, but she'd decided they at least needed to know about Tucker and the threat he could pose to them.

"You've got a right to know. I've known Thad since he was born," Kitty began. "His mother, she used to work with me. She married a man named Tucker Ferrin. Does that name mean anything to you, Horace?"

He took a sip of his coffee, "That name doesn't mean a thing to me."

Kitty studied the platter in the middle of the table, sighing, "Well, Tucker Ferrin is a very, very handsome man who is very good with the ladies when he wants to be." She looked directly at her friends, proclaiming, "He's an outlaw. Thad's mother, Ellie was her name, she didn't know about Tucker until after Thad was on the way. She left him and had the boy, but Tucker found her. He always did. She spent her life hiding Thad from his father. He'd beat her, but she'd never tell him where she'd sent the boy. I promised Ellie a long, long time ago, that if anything ever happened to her, I'd see to it that Tucker never got his hands on Thad." I'd rather die first.

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While lying in the bed just a few feet away from where Thad slept, Kitty stared into the darkness. It had pained her to finish her tale by telling her friends that Thad's father had killed Ellie. That the last beating had finally put Ellie McCullough Ferrin six feet under. But as much as it had worried her to utter those words out loud, it had warmed her heart to know that the Kelkers weren't the least bit concerned for themselves, but rather for Thad's well-being.

Kitty rolled onto her side, squinting to see the sleeping child. So, Mattie asked me. It surprised me she actually had the gumption to ask if you were mine. I told her I wouldn't mind if you were. I wonder if you would mind, sweet boy. I'm not exactly mother material.

She stood, tip-toeing to the boy's bedside where she kneeled, studying his facial features. When you were a baby, you had such dark eyelashes. I see you kept those. Your ears are just perfect. Ellie and I would sing lullabies t' get you to sleep. Kitty tilted her head to the side, pursing her lips. Your nose and lips are all your father's, that's for sure. I'm sure you'll be a handsome man. Maybe you'll outgrow the freckles. That's hard t' say. She tenderly blessed his forehead with a kiss, sighing as she made her way back to her own bed.

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"Mr. Dillon!" Chester hollered louder than necessary as he entered the Marshal's office.

"I'm right here, Chester," Matt scoffed, pinching his lips to the side. He was sitting at his desk, shuffling through the day's late mail.

Chester limped over to the front of his boss' desk, apologizing, "Sorry t' have yelled. I thought ya might be back by the cells."

"Nope." Matt pursed his lips as he continued to read the latest bulletin about a bank robbery in Wichita. Tucker Ferrin seemed to fit the description of one of the men given by an eye witness.

"Any word on Tucker Ferrin's whereabouts?" Chester busied himself with the broom.

"Nope."

"Well, I s'ppose I'll get ready fer bed once I finish pickin' up in here. Mr. Dillon?" he paused, eyeing the big man over his shoulder.

"Yes, Chester," Matt gave the man his full attention.

"Don'tcha even wonder a little bit where Miss Kitty wandered off to with all those supplies? Some of them meant for a little boy?" he turned to face the marshal.

"Chester, how many times do I have to tell you?" he stood, rounding his desk as he headed for the door, "What Kitty does is her own business."

"Oh, c'mon now," the assistant drawled, "I know that's what ya have to say, but I know you two are…well…involved."

Matt turned on his heel, crossing his arms in front of his chest, "Oh, ya do, do you?"

"I know you don't think I'm all that smart. But I do have eyes and ears," Chester propped his chin on top of his hands which held the broom handle, "Mr. Dillon, she loves you an awful lot, and I'm pretty doggone sure you feel the same about her. Aren't ya worried she's hidin' somethin' real important from you? Or that maybe she's in trouble?"

His friend's directness took Matt Dillon by surprise. He inhaled deeply before quietly responding, "You're a smart man, Chester. I have never doubted your intelligence, so I'm going to be honest with you," he assumed a wide-legged stance as he firmly wrapped his hands around his gun belt. "I trust Kitty implicitly. I especially trust her judgement. I also trust that when she's ready to tell me something, she will. She's a smart woman and I respect her privacy. I'd appreciate it if you would, too."

Chester stood up straight, not sure how to respond to the man he respected above all others. Of course he respected Miss Kitty! After all, she had always been kind to him. But he was also worried about her. He decided to simply nod and reply, "Yes, Sir."

The United States Marshal confidently closed the door behind him and strode down Front Street to begin his rounds. He nodded at the few men leaving the various saloons as he jiggled the door handles of the businesses that had closed earlier in the evening.

As he stared over the batwing doors of the Long Branch Saloon, his heart began to beat just a bit faster. Where are you, Kitty? And what the hell are you up to? I sure wish you trusted me as much as I trust you. Matt nodded at Sam, their eyes connecting. At that moment, he realized he hadn't been the only one worried about the lovely redhead.

TBC