Chapter 1

Wayne Russell looked over at his daughter and took note of the disinterested look on her face. The buggy ride out on the prairie was supposed to be a joyful time, but Kitty obviously was not getting any joy out of it. Even while they were riding down Front Street, Wayne could tell that Kitty was not in the mood to go on the buggy ride. She barely acknowledged the Marshall and Chester, two of her close friends. Wayne had a feeling that Marshall Dillon might be more than just a friend.

Not being able to stand the awkward silence between them, Wayne Russell decided to break it. "Kitty, this buggy ride out on the prairie was meant to be a happy occasion, some time to get to know one another better. By the look on your face, one would think you were on your way to a hanging."

Kitty looked over at her father. "Maybe I'm not finding the happiness of this buggy ride because I know why you brought me out here."

"What's that supposed to mean?" questioned Wayne. "Yesterday, when I arrived in Dodge City, we both agreed it was best to get better acquainted with one another."

"Yes, I did," Kitty agreed. "But this time out on the prairie just isn't to get to know each other better. You also want to use this time to talk me out of owning the Long Branch. You don't want a daughter of yours to be a saloon owner."

Wayne Russell took a deep breath and slowly let it out. He brought the buggy to a halt and addressed his daughter. "Kitty, you are absolutely right. I don't want you to be a saloon owner. You are a lady and a lady has no business owning a saloon or even being in one. I've seen lady saloon owners and how they behave and how they're treated. I don't want that happening to you."

"Well, if that's the case, I guess I stopped being a lady about six years ago," Kitty stated.

"I don't understand," said Wayne as his eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"Surely you know the life I've led before I bought a half interest in the Long Branch," said Kitty. "How do you think I've been able to make the money I needed to become a partner with Bill Pence. It certainly wasn't sewing new dresses. After Mother died, I had nobody, until Panacea Sykes took me in. I'm sure you're aware of who she is. I was with her for several years until I decided I wanted to be on my own. I wanted to get out of New Orleans and start fresh in San Francisco. I needed money to do that. Living with Panacea, I knew of one quick and easy way to make money. I was sixteen years old when, well you know. It took a few years of that kind of living just to get to Dodge City. My life during those years were not pleasurable."

Wayne Russell took in every word that Kitty told him. "Kitty, I am sorry you've had to experience that kind of life. I take full blame. I shouldn't have neglected you and your mother, but it's your mother I'm also thinking of. She wouldn't want this lifestyle for you. She wouldn't want you to be a saloon owner. Your mother was a refined lady, and I have no doubt she was raising you to be one as well. If you don't stop being a saloon owner for me, do it for her." Wayne was hoping that mentioning Kitty's mother would persuade her to change her mind about owning the Long Branch.

Kitty chewed her bottom lip as she contemplated her father's words about her mother. If her mother was still alive, Kitty would've had a much different life. Chances are she wouldn't be out in the middle of the prairie with her estranged father. Kitty would still be living in New Orleans or maybe she and her mother would have gone to San Francisco together. Kitty could see her mother moving to San Francisco with her. Her mother was not afraid to try new things.

"You've been in Dodge for a couple of years now." Wayne's voice broke Kitty's thoughts. "What happened to San Francisco? Did you still plan on going there?"

Kitty shrugged her shoulders. "Plans changed. Life happened."

At that moment, Wayne was even more certain that a certain Marshall had something to do with his daughter's change of plans. If he couldn't get his daughter to change her mind about owning a saloon, maybe the Marshall could. Wayne decided he would speak with the Marshall when he and Kitty returned to town. Certainly Marshall Dillon cared enough about Kitty to see that she not be part of the saloon business.

"Well, we've been gone for some time now," Wayne pointed out. "We should probably head back to town." Kitty nodded in agreement, while Wayne steered the buggy back towards town.

Wayne and Kitty arrived back into town an hour later. Wayne got down from the buggy and walked around to help Kitty down. "I did enjoy the ride. I know it's going to take time for us to see eye to eye and to get to know each other."

"See eye to eye," Kitty repeated. "You are dead set on not having a daughter as a saloon owner."

"Kitty, you are not the type of woman that would own a saloon," Wayne said with a shake of his head.

"Oh, what kind of woman am I?" she asked. Kitty was eager to hear her father's answer.

"You are a lady," he said, taking her hand in his.

Kitty looked her father in his eyes and removed her hand from his. "Am I? I thought we already discussed this."

"Of course you are and you're going to remain one," Wayne replied. "It's a good thing I came here when I did."

Kitty walked past her father and then turned to face him. "It just so happens you're too late. I'm not quitting for you or anyone else. I've had it too rough to give up everything now that I have a chance to live decently and be somebody."

Wayne gently grasped Kitty's upper arms. "But I can take care of you, Kitty. You know about my freight business."

"Funny," Kitty laughed a humorless laugh.

"What?" asked Wayne.

"You offer me help for the first time in my life that I don't need it," Kitty answered. "I have to change my dress."

"I'll take you to your room," Wayne offered.

Kitty refused the offer. "I'm safe here. People know me." She walked away.

Wayne watched his daughter walk away. She was probably safe because of her connection to the Marshall. Wayne walked away from Moss Grimmick's stable and over to the jail. He was getting nowhere in convincing Kitty to get out of the saloon business. But maybe with the Marshall's help, Wayne would have better success.

Wayne opened the door of the jail and walked in. "Marshal," he addressed Matt.

Matt had been using the barrel of his pistol to hammer a wanted poster on the bulletin board. He turned towards the door when he heard it open. Matt holstered his gun. "Hello, Mr. Russell."

Wayne extended his hand to Matt, who accepted it. "I hope I"m not bothering you."

"Not at all," Matt replied. "Would you like to take a seat?"

"No," Wayne replied. "I've been sitting for the last hour or two."

"Checking the country over?" Matt questioned.

"Partly," Wayne responded. "But I wanted to get Kitty alone so I could have a talk with her."

Matt had an uneasy feeling as to why Wayne Russell had come to see him in the middle of the day. "What's on your mind, Mr. Russell?"

"Marshall, I need your help," Wayne answered.

Matt knew where Wayne was going with the conversation, but questioned him anyway. "My help?"

"With Kitty," Wayne replied. "It's for her own good to give up the saloon life. Between the two of us we might be able to convince her of that."

Matt listened to Wayne, already making the decision not to help. "I don't know, Mr. Russell. Kitty's a pretty strong-minded woman."

"I know," Wayne agreed. "That's why I need your help. Certainly you agree that a woman like Kitty should not own a saloon"

"I'm sorry, but I can't help you," Matt decided. "It's up to Kitty to make her own decision. As far as owning a saloon, people don't think any less of her. In fact, a lot of people are proud of her. You and Kitty will have to settle this yourselves."

Knowing he wasn't going to get any help from the Marshall, Wayne decided to leave. "Very well then. I appreciate your frankness. Can I buy you a drink?"

"No thanks," Matt turned down the offer. "I've got things to do around here. Tonight, maybe."

Wayne took Matt's hand and shook it. "It would be my pleasure."

"Goodbye," said Matt. He watched Wayne Russell leave the jail and could not wait until that man left Dodge City. Matt couldn't put his finger on it, but for some reason he did not trust Wayne Russell.

Strike two. Wayne struck out when he tried to talk Kitty out of being a saloon owner and he struck out again, when he went to the Marshall for help. For a moment Wayne considered getting help from Kitty's other two friends, Chester and Doctor Adams, but dashed that idea. Asking them to help him would probably result in strike three. Wayne Russell decided the best course of action was patience. He would give Kitty time to change her mind.

Kitty, still wearing the same dress, sat at her vanity studying her reflection in the looking glass. She was not a vain woman, but Kitty knew she was a beautiful woman. That credit went to her mother. As Kitty sat there, she thought about other women saloon owners she had seen in New Orleans and as she traveled to Dodge City. There weren't too many of them, but the ones she had encountered weren't too attractive. She wondered if they weren't attractive to begin with or if owning a saloon did that to them. How long had these women owned their saloons? Kitty did not plan on owning the Long Branch the rest of her life. She would not let a saloon rob her of her beauty, beauty her mother passed down to her or of her future hopes of someday getting married and having a family.

Her mother, Kitty once again thought about her mother and what her father had said during their buggy ride. She couldn't disagree with him. Her mother would not approve of her owning a saloon. Kitty closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths. When she opened her eyes, she stared intently at her reflection. Kitty told her father that she wasn't quitting for him or for anyone else, but maybe she should quit for one person. Maybe she should quit for her mother. Making her decision, Kitty stood up and walked to her chifferobe to change her dress. She would walk over to the Dodge House and tell her father she would quit the saloon business and go back to New Orleans with him. She would leave Dodge City.

TBC