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Before she even realized it, Kitty had been in Dodge for about three months. Once she set mind to staying more than a couple of hours, she decided that first thing was first – she had to find work. So she turned to what she knew best – saloons. She noticed that the Long Branch seemed to be very popular. With the cattle drives arriving at any minute, it was only going to get even busier. So she walked in and asked to speak to the owner of the place, and a very unassuming man of average height and build walked out and introduced himself.

"Why hello there," he said in a friendly tone. "They said you asked to see me. The name's Bill Pence. How may I help you, miss..?"

"Well this is strange.." she thought to herself. He didn't seem much like other proprietors that she was used to: big burly men with foul attitudes who only cared about two things – how much liquor his girls could sell and how much money they could make for him upstairs after they sold it.

"Kitty," she replied with a smile. "I just got here in town and was looking for work so I was hoping you might have a spot here for me."

He didn't even give it much thought. While he had some of the most beautiful women in town working for him, this girl was different. He knew that her sapphire hues which shone like jewels against her flaming red locks would be an instant draw. With the drovers due any day now, it was a no brainer.

"Sure, sure." He nodded. He also noted that she was young. "How old are ya?"

"Old enough." Kitty smiled. "19, almost 20 actually."

"And do you have any experience working in saloons?"

"Oh sure. All my life, actually. I can even deal a little bit too, if called upon." She said hopefully.

"Well sure would like to have you working for me. You can start tomorrow. I'll have the bartender show you to your room upstairs. Speaking of upstairs.."

Kitty interrupted. "..I've done that too." She said meekly.

"Well," he continued. "What you do upstairs is your own business. I don't make my girls do anything they don't want to. The men around here can be pretty rough but myself and the barkeep try to keep things in order. Well, whad'ya say?"

Kitty smiled hesitantly at first – she wasn't sure what she had done to have such good fortune. But then she stated confidently, "I'll be here tomorrow, 6 o'clock sharp."

And before she knew it, the welcomed spring turned into the dog days of summer. And without even realizing it, she had been in Dodge for about 4 months now. With the cattle herds come and gone, business had slowed some but things stayed steady enough with thirsty men seeking refuge from the scorching Kansas heat.

That included her group of friends – Chester, Doc, and especially Matt. They had all become pretty close and she was none the more excited to get to know them, especially the handsome young marshal.

It was an exceptionally hot Summer afternoon when the 3 men walked up to the swinging doors of the Long Branch, and Matt stopped before entering to survey the room which caused Doc and Chester to bump into him.

"Well heaven's sake Matt, what are you waiting on?" Doc barked. "Aren't you going to go in?"

"Wael Doc," Chester piped up, "Mr. Dillon's probably just'a checkin' ta make sure there ain't no funny business goin' on before we go in."

Doc tugged at his ear lobe. "Oh I'm sure that's it." Doc knew he wasn't looking for any funny business, but rather looking for someone. The sudden smile on Matt's face didn't go unnoticed by him.

Matt pushed through and Doc and Chester followed right behind. Kitty stood leaned up against the bar, taking a moment to enjoy some downtime before the evening rush. She looked up to see who walked it and her smile lit up when she saw her friends.

"Well, hello there!" She said, beaming. "What can I get you boys to drink?"

Chester started digging around his pockets but frowned when he found each one empty.

"Oh stop it," Doc grumbled. "I'll buy you a drink. That'll be three beers, if you don't mind."

"Make that four beers," Matt offered a lazy smile. "I'll buy you a drink, Kitty." Kitty's cheeks flushed.

"Well you fellas go on over there and have a seat and I'll be over directly." All the men filed over to a table and took their seat. It wasn't long before Kitty came over with the requested refreshments and nervously took a seat on the other side of Matt.

They spent a good bit of time catching up on the day's events, the town gossip, and anything else that came to mind. Before long, it came time for Matt to get back to the jail.

"Well, it's sure nice been talkin' with you, Kitty. But I best get back to work now."

She watched in awe as he rose to his full height, pushed his chair in and tipped his hat to her. "I'll see you later, Kitty." Her cheeks flushed again. "Sure, Matt," she said with a meek smile. He nodded to Chester and Doc.

"I'll be around in just a bit, Mr. Dillon, soon as I finish my beer." And with that, Matt walked out of the saloon. Kitty was lost in thought as she watched him leave. She'd never seen a more handsome man in all her life. She gave a sigh as she took a drink of her beer and rejoined her conversation with Doc and Chester. She wondered if Matt really was going to come back again later…

But it wasn't too long after he left that their conversation was cut abruptly by the sound of gunfire. All the patrons began to push back from their tables and lined up at the door trying to catch a peak of what happened. Doc, Chester, and Kitty did the same – with Doc pushing through the crowd to make his way out the batwing doors and unto the boardwalk. He ran out into the street when he saw Matt lying on the ground.

Kitty and Chester eventually made their way out on to the boardwalk and Kitty gasped when she noticed Matt lying on the ground with Doc by his side, tending to the wound on his arm . Chester hobbled over to see what was going on, and noticed not only Matt lying there but also a gunman lying a ways away, dead with a bullet through the heart.

"Couple of you men help me get him up to my office." Doc stood as a few guys obliged and assisted him with Matt. On the way, he glanced over and saw Kitty standing there wide-eyed with her hand covering her mouth.

It was a couple of days later and Matt was recovering in Doc's office. Doc was just finishing tending to his bandages when he heard the soft knock at his door. He went over and opened it. "Well, hello Kitty. Please, come in," he said as he stepped aside and let her through the door. "Thanks, Doc." Kitty smiled and entered, wicker basket in hand.

She made her way over to the chair that Doc was occupying beside the bed and sat down, placing the basket down on the floor beside her. "How ya feeling, Matt?"

"Fine, fine. A little sore of course, but I'll be out of bed by tomorrow."

"Tomorrow!" Doc chided. "You'll do no such thing. You'll rest, that's what you'll do.. and maybe you'll be ready to get up by the weekend."

"Oh hush up, I know what's good for me and I say I'll be up and about tomorrow."

Kitty laughed as the two barked back and forth at each other.

"Say Matt," she offered, "I brought you a little something."
"You did, huh?" He smiled.
"Sure," she smiled. "It's not much, but I figured you might want something other than whatever Doc's been feeding ya." She smiled and Matt sat up as she reached over to get the basket that she had brought in and pulled out a bowl of stew and a couple of biscuits that she had gotten from Delmonico's on the way over.

"Well say, that sure looks delicious." He took the cup and spoon when she offered it to him. "A lot better than that old sawbones can come up with." They both laughed and looked over at Doc who just folded his arms and grumbled under his breath something about being ungrateful.

Kitty turned back to Matt. "I want you to rest up and take care of yourself. It's been awfully lonely at the table without you," She said with a shy smile. "Sure, Doc and Chester keep me company enough but here lately, they haven't done anything but argue!" They both laughed as Doc grumbled again and swiped at his mustache.

"I'll be back before ya know it." He flashed her that boyish grin that just gave her butterflies in the pit of her stomach.

"Well, I best be going now." Kitty stood. "I've got to get back to the Long Branch before my shift starts. Take it easy will ya, Matt?"

He nodded and Kitty turned and walked towards the door.

"Say, Kitty.."

"Yes?" She turned around to face Matt as she opened the door.

"I'll see you later?"

She nodded. "Sure. I'll come by tomorrow."

"I'll be looking forward to it."

Her cheeks flushed as she walked out and shut the door behind her.

TBC