"An Unexpected Thief"
Author's Note: I started this series a year ago. This story has been swimming around in my mind, so I decided to type it out and update the series. It takes place early in Matt and Kitty's relationship.
Kate and Olive sat at a table in Delmonico's enjoying their lunches and the conversation between Marshal Dillon and Doc Adams. They never would have expected to hear that bit of information, but it was like music to their ears. The two Long Branch saloon girls would use it to their advantage.
"Are you sure that Kitty Russell is a thief?" asked Doc in belief. He couldn't believe what Matt had just told him. Kitty seemed like a sweet, honest girl. Doc never would have pegged her as a thief. "Keep your voice down," Matt said through his teeth. He did not want the rumor that Kitty was a thief to spread through Dodge City like a wild prairie fire. Matt wanted to confront Kitty in private about the matter. Little did he know that Kate and Olive had overheard Doc. Doc brought his voice down to a whisper. "Do you mind explaining?" He swiped at his mustache. "Not here." Matt stood up and tossed a few coins on the table to pay for both his and Doc's meals. Doc also stood up. "Well, then I'll meet you at your office and you can explain it to me there." Doc needed to hear more about this unexpected piece of information that Matt had just shared with him. "I don't have time right now," said Matt as he and Doc left Delmonicos. "I have to ride up to Elkader. I'll be back in a few days. Besides, I'd like to confront Kitty before I go into further details with you." Doc sighed. It was going to be a long few days.
Kate leaned over the table and whispered to Olive. "Did you hear that? Kitty Russell a thief? We can use this to our advantage." "What do you mean?" asked a confused Olive. "Let's go back to the Long Branch," Kate replied. The girls paid for their meals and left Delmonico's. Kate and Olive walked into the Long Branch and ascended the stairs. They entered Kate's room. Olive was eager to hear Kate's plan. She did not know what Kate had in mind, but Olive was certain she was going to like it. "Alright, you have me on the edge of my seat," Olive told Kate. "How do we use Kitty Russell being a thief to our advantage?"
Kate tried her hardest not to roll her eyes. Sometimes Olive could be on the dense side. "If Miss Kitty Russell is a thief, Bill Pence is not gonna wanna keep her around. He has a reputation for running an honest saloon. Employing a thief would ruin that reputation. Bill fires Kitty and she loses her job." Olive interrupted Kate. "She could probably get a job at another saloon." "But probably not in Dodge City," Kate pointed out. "I can't see her wanting to stay here after the Marshal confronts her. With Kitty gone, Marshal Dillon would be available again."
Matt Dillon had been in Dodge City for close to two years. Kate and Olive arrived in Dodge six months before Matt did. In the two years that Matt had been in Dodge, not once has he shown interest in either girl. Kitty Russell arrived in Dodge a year after Matt arrived. It did not take long for him to show interest in her. Both Kate and Olive were well aware of this. Olive was also aware that there was a slim chance that Matt would someday show interest in either of them. If he had not shown any interest yet, he probably never would. Apparently Kate still thought there was hope.
"We don't even know what she stole or if it's true," Olive stated. "Where did Marshal Dillon get his information?" "I can't answer that," Kate shook her head. "But we can help with more evidence." "How?" Olive was curious, but she had a feeling that what Kate was about to say would be how they would use Kitty as a thief to their advantage.
"We take personal belongings from our room and sneak them into Kitty's room," Kate answered. "We tell the Marshal that we've noticed things have been missing from our room, but didn't know what to make of it. Being in the business that we are in, it's possible that some of the men we bring upstairs could swipe something. But at Delmonico's we overheard Doc mention something about Kitty Russell being a thief. Would it be possible to check her room for our missing stuff?" Olive briefly thought about Kate's words. "I think the Marshal knows that Kitty isn't really our favorite person. We can't seem too eager to have him check her room for our missing items." "Good point," Kate agreed. "We'll act as if we don't want to believe she could ever do such a thing and then tell him we hope he doesn't find anything."
Doc sat up in his office, contemplating over what Matt had shared with him at Delmonico's. How could Matt tell him that Kitty Russell was a thief and then ride out of town? Someone must have reported to Matt that Kitty had been stealing. But who would report such a thing? Mr. Jonas? Did Kitty steal from his store? Bill Pence? Did he witness Kitty stealing money from the cash register? One of the saloon girls? Did Kitty steal from them? There were so many questions, and Doc could not answer a single one.
The next day Kate and Olive were able to place a couple pieces of jewelry of theirs in Kitty's room. They placed them in the bottom of Kitty's jewelry box. They made it look as though Kitty had hidden the stolen jewelry. Matt needed to find them, not Kitty. If she found them before he did, she would wonder how they got there. "Marshal Dillon should be back in the next day or two," said Kate. "We'll go and see him when he returns."
Matt rode back into Dodge two days later. He had been sitting in his office for an hour, when Kate and Olive walked inside. Matt looked up from the pile of mail sitting on his desk. "Hello, ladies," he greeted. "What can I do for you?" "We're not really sure how to say this. I guess it's because we're in denial," Kate lied. "Well, if you need my help, I can't give you any until you tell me what the matter is," said Matt, slightly annoyed. "We feel bad because we overheard you and Doc talking at Delmonico's the other day," said Kate.
"Oh and what did you hear?" Matt questioned. "We heard Doc ask you if you were sure that Kitty Russell was a thief," Olive replied. "Mmhm," Matt nodded. He leaned back in his seat. "And that's why yer here? Do you want me to confirm that information with you?" "No," Kate answered. "We didn't want to believe that it was true, but we've noticed some of our jewelry has been missing." "How do you know that the two of you didn't misplace it or lose it?" Matt inquired. "Both of us keep our jewelry in a jewelry box," Olive replied. "We make sure we put our jewelry back in there when we take it off. At least that's what I do." "I do the same," Kate confirmed.
"What do you want me to do?" asked Matt. He had a feeling he already knew the answer. "Go to Kitty's room and see if she has our jewelry," Olive stated. Matt really didn't want to do that. He was afraid of what he would find. "Fine. What am I looking for?" Kate and Olive described the pieces of jewelry that they were missing. Both said they were missing several pairs of earrings.
The three of them left the jail and walked over to the Long Branch. Matt followed Kate and Olive upstairs to Kitty's room. Matt lightly tapped on Kitty's door. "Come in," Kitty responded from the inside of her room. Matt opened the door and walked in. Kitty's smile lit up when she saw him, but instantly faded when she saw Kate and Olive. She had no idea why they were with Matt. Kitty ignored them and looked at Matt. "What can I do for you?" "Kate and Olive said they've had some earrings gone missing from their room," Matt responded.
"If you're here to ask me if I've had anything missing, I can tell you that I haven't," said Kitty with a shake of her head. Matt was about to say something, but Kate spoke first. "He's not here for that reason. He's here to see if you have our earrings." "What?! I do not have your earrings," Kitty practically yelled, denying the accusations brought against her. "Well, prove it," said Olive. "Let the Marshal check your room." "He can check all he wants. He won't find your earrings." Kitty was unaware of the earrings in the bottom of her jewelry box.
"Marshal, girls keep jewelry in a jewelry box," said Kate. "You might as well check out the most obvious place first." "Kitty?" Matt looked at Kitty, asking for permission. "Go ahead. You won't find anything." Kitty watched Matt unclasp the hook on her jewelry box, lift the lid, and carefully rummage through the pieces of jewelry that were in there. After several moments, Matt had two pairs of earrings in his hand. Kitty's eyes widened. "I don't understand." "What's not to understand?" Kate asked. "It's as clear as day that you took our earrings." "I did not!" Kitty exclaimed. "The Marshal has our earrings in his hands," said Olive. "We all saw him take them out of your jewelry box." Kitty looked at Matt. "I did not take those earrings."
Matt held out his hand to Kate and Olive. "Take your earrings and get out of here." "We plan on pressing charges," Kate told Matt. "I said take your earrings and leave," Matt repeated. "There will be no charges." His deep, baritone voice told Kate and Olive he was serious. "No charges?" Olive incredulously gasped. "People that steal usually are charged with something."
"I don't believe Kitty stole your earrings," said Matt. "What do you mean?" asked Kate. She couldn't understand why the Marshal would make such a statement. The evidence was in hand. "The other day you told Doc Adams that Kitty was a thief. Now you have our missing earrings in your hand, but you say she didn't take them." "That's right," Matt confirmed. "Now take these earrings and leave." Kate and Olive took their earrings and left Kitty's room. They couldn't understand why the Marshal didn't think that Kitty had stolen their earrings.
Kitty was still trying to make sense of everything, especially the part of Matt telling Doc that she was a thief. "Matt, did you tell Doc that I was a thief?" Matt sighed. "Yes, I did, but…" "Why on Earth would you tell him such a thing? I have never stolen anything in my life." Kitty was now angry. She was quickly losing her temper. "Yes you have," Matt told her.
"I don't know who told you that and why you believe them, but if that's how you feel, you can get out of mmmppph," Kitty's words were cut off by Matt's lips crashing down on hers. She didn't want to, but Kitty responded to Matt's kiss. Matt slowly pulled away. "Kitty Russell, you are a thief. You have stolen my heart." "Do you want it back?" she asked. "No, it's yours to keep," Matt replied. Kitty smiled. "Well, just to let you know, Matt Dillon, you also stole my heart. So I guess we're even." Once again, Matt pulled Kitty to him and passionately kissed her.
'Someday soon, I will give you my body, Matt Dillon,' Kitty thought to herself as she and Matt continued to kiss one another. 'I may have given my body to other men, but I will give it to you with complete and total love.'
Right from the start you were a thief, you stole my heart, and I, your willing victim. ~ Just Give Me a Reason by Pink