Kitty tiredly slid into the chair across from Pentz, and leaned back in her seat. "You have something to say to me?" He took a sip of whiskey. "As a matter of fact I do, and it's good news for both of us. Last night a couple of men stopped by, the Bonner brothers, Jude and Virgil." "Hold on." Kitty looked up and frowned. "I've seen those names in the papers, the Bonners are criminals." Pentz laughed. "I keep forgetting you can read. Yep, they're criminals." His face lit up with admiration. "Those brothers and their dog soldiers rampaged their way through Kansas, but the law couldn't put a finger on them. They disbanded their gang and came back here to plan their next moves. Over the years, they've stopped off at the Lucky Lady now and again. You must have been upstairs working the other times they were here, because last night was the first time they saw you. They took a shine to ya Kitty, liked your figure and your red hair. They pay top dollar, and I'm pleased to say, they're waiting up in your room. Pentz licked his lips. Kitty slowly shook her head, she'd never done a threesome, it felt like a step in the wrong direction. Besides she chose who she took upstairs, she had that much control of her life. " Pentz leaned forward, his eyes were inches from her. "Like I said, Kitty, they pay top dollar and I like to keep them happy. So, I guarantee you $5 from seeing them this one time. That's more than you make in a week. That $5 and your regular money will be a nice sum." Kitty glanced over at the staircase that led up to her room. $5 plus her usual could add up to $8 or even more – she could pay off the doctor, take the stage out of town, and find work somewhere else. Anywhere had to be better than this. She pushed herself up from the table, gave a curt nod and slowly walked to the stairs. As she took the first step, she realized how spent she felt. Long years of callous indifference, meanness and cruelty had sapped her strength, killed the fight she had inside. Her heart sank as he realized that if the Bonners had a streak of cruelty in them, she'd be done for. But what difference did it make, nobody cared one whit what happened to her.
Pentz watched Kitty go up the stairs and sipped his pricy whiskey. No need to tell her the Bonner brothers were brutal men, who took pleasure in savaging women 'til there was nothing left of them. Like the others, he'd sent to the brothers, Kitty would never recover. That was too bad because she was still bringing in money. On the other hand she was getting older, and there'd be diminishing returns. The main thing was, the Bonner's paid top dollar, which was a nice boost to his assets. As for Kitty, even if she survived the night, she'd be useless, he'd have to fire her. He wasn't a nursemaid after all. He'd evict her to make room for someone younger. She'd probably wander off half crazed just like the others. Jay Pentz picked up his high-priced whiskey bottle and refilled his glass.
Time seemed to stop for Kitty. Pinned down in bed, face bruised, legs spread open, her brain let out a silent scream just before her body went limp. She tried desperately make her mouth form words, as if speaking would prove she was human. "No, please, no, stop."
"Kitty, it's a dream. You're safe. It's a dream."
Her eyes popped open. She found herself staring at the kind blue eyes she's seen so many years ago in Dodge, before she'd continued on to Denver. But how? She searched his face and saw fatigue, concern and worry. Her nightmare faded away. This man was not a distant memory. She loved him and she knew him - understood his goodness and his strength. "Matt, yes, I – I was dreaming." She looked into his eyes and remembered what she'd heard him say before she fell asleep. "Matt, you were talking to Doc, you said what happened to me was your fault." He took her hand. His eyes were filled with pain. "Kitty, if I hadn't let myself get close to you, fall in …."
"Shss." She lifted an arm, it felt like lead, and touched a finger to his lips. "Love didn't do this to me, evil did. Evil will attack the good, the decent, and the kind no matter what you do or don't do. But it's the love we share, and the caring and kindness in our lives, that make us strong enough to fight against it. That's why when evil showed it's hideous face and roared, it couldn't turn you into a murderer or erase the woman I am. I'm strong enough to heal Matt, because of you and your love for me, and because of all that surrounds me here in Dodge." He look deep into her eyes and saw the fire there that made her Kitty Russel.
The End
AN: I know the site is still wonky. I've been trying to answer comments via pm, but you won't get notification! Thanks for reading.