Nothing like taking time off from work for a death in the family to give you time to write... And nothing like being an emotional mess to really get the creativity flowing.


Wyatt would be the first to admit that he sometimes made rash decisions. The night he managed to coordinate his special night with Mattie was to be Thursday. But here it was Tuesday, and he hadn't seen Mattie more than to say "good evening" in almost five days. He had made up his mind not to pay for her services anymore, but he wasn't sure how he was going to make it another three days without the finer points of her feminine charms. And he certainly couldn't talk to her about it without ruining the surprise and the solemnity of the occasion.

He told himself to keep away from the saloons, but really he just needed to avoid the Long Branch, because that was where she would expect to see him. He didn't like any of the other saloons as well as the Long Branch, but the last place Mattie would look was one of the establishments attempting to appeal to Texas cowhands. He headed for the Alamo Saloon.

It wasn't liquor that Wyatt was after. In fact, he normally only touched the stuff on special occasions. But he did see something appealing at the bar - a pretty little thing by the name of Francis Bell, better known as Frankie. She was easily the most attractive article in the room, and Wyatt headed right for her.

"Good evening, marshal," Frankie said with a smile that would shame sunshine.

"That's flattery, Miss Frankie," Wyatt responded. "I'm only an assistant marshal."

"Well, assist me to a drink, would ya?" She leaned closer to him and said, "these Texans are such a rowdy bunch. I've been pinched and had my skirts tugged so many times tonight, I'll go home tore up and black an' blue if something isn't done."

"We can't have that," Wyatt said, closing the twelve inches or so of space between their bodies and putting an arm around her in a protective manner. He called to the bartender and bought Frankie a drink of her choice.

Frankie sipped her drink happily and not too subtly leaned back against Wyatt as she did so. "My, you make a woman feel safe, Mister Earp. Are your brothers as tall and strong as you?"

"About half of 'em," Wyatt said, smiling. He liked how playful Frankie was. And what was the harm of enjoying a little flattery now and then?

"How many brothers do you have, anyway?"

"Five, or so says the rumor. But one of them's a half brother."

"Oh, that's a lot. Any sisters?"

"Seems like there was one or two." He was grinning now.

She tipped her chin to the ceiling to look at him backward. "Oh, you're joshing me, Mister Earp."

Damn, if she isn't a cute little thing. "Why don't you call me Wyatt, since we're being friendly?"

"All right." She reached up and brushed her fingers down the side of his face. "Wyatt. I like bein' friendly with you."

For some reason, Wyatt felt a breathy sort of heat coming into his chest. This little filly was really quickening his pulse. He had the romantic evening all set up for Mattie, but here was Frankie being so sweet and... tempting. I'm going to hell.

"Maybe we oughtta go on bein' friendly somewhere a little quieter," he heard his own fool mouth say.

"I'd really like that." Frankie tossed back the rest of her drink and took Wyatt's hand.

Straight to hell.


After they did the deed, Frankie leaned on Wyatt's chest and traced one finger lazily over his skin. Sometimes his face, sometimes his chest... She smiled at him and gave a little sigh, causing her round, pleasing breasts to rub against his ribcage.

Wyatt could do little more than stare in appreciation. He knew he shouldn't be there. He shouldn't be enjoying Frankie Bell's company at all. His conflict kept him quiet.

"I'd really like it if you stayed the rest of the night," Frankie said softly. "You really do make me feel safe." She leaned down to kiss his chest.

That little kiss sent a something like a telegram down to Wyatt's groin, urging the troops to take up arms for another skirmish, but he forced himself to breathe slow and steady. He was in enough trouble. "I shouldn't," he said.

"I'd feel a whole lot better if you did. And ever so grateful." She punctuated her point by dragging her fingertips over his nipple.

Wyatt shivered. The troops were definitely mustering. Damn it. "Well... I'd have to leave at first light." There went his own fool mouth again.

"Oh, thank you, Wyatt." She laid another kiss on him. "It means so much to me." She kissed over to his nipple and flicked her tongue out.

He made an involuntary sound and grabbed fistfuls of the bedsheets. "Uh... it's my pleasure, ma'am." My pleasure that's sending me straight to hell.


Doc allowed himself a satisfied smile when he saw Wyatt come into the Long Branch on Thursday. He was tempted to get up and go tease his friend about the handsome dark suit he was wearing, complete with immaculately tied ribbon at his throat. The man looked like he could just as easily be a doctor, a lawyer, a preacher, or an undertaker. But today, of course, he was a lover.

Doc turned to Kate, who had just brought him a fresh bottle of whiskey. "Don't Wyatt look a picture," he said, still smiling.

She followed his gaze and also smiled. "It looks like he intends to do everything to the fullest."

"Yes, indeed. Let's hope Mattie won't keep him long."

"She'll be here. I might have spread a rumor that Wyatt's been avoiding her because he's embarrassed to show how infatuated he is, but that he's aiming to get over it now."

"Get over it? Won't that make Mattie cross with him?"

"It will until she sees him. Then, all of that will go away."

"You've sure gotten invested in this. It's right nice of you to help out my friend in this way."

"I know." She kissed his cheek. "And besides, I placed a bet that Wyatt won't get over her at all but will make her his girl tonight."

"Damnation, you are a tricky little devil, aren't you?" He kissed her lips and rested his hand on her thigh.

At the bar, looking antsy, Wyatt glanced in their direction. After a look around - no doubt checking to see if Mattie had made an appearance yet - he approached their table. "Doc, you better watch yourself... you're going to force me to arrest you for public indecency."

Doc dropped his gaze to the hand on Kate's thigh. He looked back up at Wyatt and inched his hand upward.

"Hey now..."

Kate giggled. "Don't get distracted, Wyatt. I'm sure Mattie will be here any time. And don't worry. You look dashing." She winked at him.

"Well, thank you..." Wyatt was clearly trying not to look toward Kate's lap, but his eyes flicked back to Doc's hand once more before he could stop himself. "Just you two behave so I don't have to be interrupted tonight."

With some reluctance, Doc removed his hand from Kate's thigh and put his arm around her shoulders instead. "For you, Wyatt." He said. "We'll be indecent some other night."

The joke landed right, and Wyatt smiled a little. But then Kate couldn't help herself.

"Maybe then we can all be indecent together."

Wyatt froze, the picture of indecision.

Mercifully, that was when Doc spotted Mattie coming into the saloon. "You'd best get on now - here comes your lady friend."

Wyatt looked over his shoulder and immediately straightened up. He took a deep breath. "Right. Well. I'll see you." He walked purposefully back toward the bar, meeting Mattie about halfway down.

Doc kissed Kate's temple softly. "You mustn't tease him so," he said. "Tonight's very important to Wyatt. Fluster him too much and you'd spoil your own bet."

"Yes, I know." She sighed. "I just like to see his eyes go wide."

"Poor boy. Doesn't stand a chance against you." Doc knew perfectly well that Wyatt was older than himself. His close walk with death made him feel about twice his age, so just about everyone in Dodge was a boy or girl to him.


The evening went perfectly. Mattie was delighted when she saw the hotel room set up like a first-class dining room, complete with a bouquet of silk flowers standing in a glass bottle. The fiddler played romantic tunes so slow and pretty that Wyatt forgot about everything other than the beautiful woman sitting across from him. They engaged in casual conversation, Mattie telling him how pretty things looked, and she couldn't believe the trouble he'd gone to. Near the end of the meal, she returned to the subject of his unprecedented efforts.

"It's awfully sweet, Wyatt," she said, looking up at him shyly.

He reached across the table and took her hand. "I wanted to do something especially nice for you because... I want to ask you to leave the line. I want you to be my girl."

She looked a little shocked for a moment, but then she smiled. "Oh, Wyatt... yes, I will."

"You won't see anyone else from now on?"

She shook her head, still smiling.

Wyatt got up and went around to pull out Mattie's chair. She stood and he kissed her. The fiddler smoothly transitioned whatever he'd been playing into a sentimental old Irish tune popular with dances of the day.

Mattie leaned back to look at him, and there were tears in her eyes. "I'm so happy," she said.

"So am I." Wyatt kissed her again.

A minute later, he sent the fiddler away and had the dinner things cleared out. Wyatt locked the door behind the porter and immediately hung up his jacket. Mattie was his now. It was high time to reclaim his territory. As it turned out, the territory was quite eager to be reclaimed.

It wasn't until the next night that all hell broke loose.


About time I gave you a cliffhanger. What hell shall break loose next time? Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed Doc being sassy. I don't know if it will be public, but more indecency is definitely on the way.