Authors note:
I hope you guys enjoy my story, one thing I do want to say is I'm a slow writer at times, but I am trying to get this story done in a fast but well-done matter.
I do apologize for the mistakes in grammar and punctuation mishaps, I'm still new at this but I'm learning. :)
with that being said I hope you guys enjoy Hidden Secrets.
Chapter one Leaving Dodge.
Kitty Russell stood in the emptiness of the Long Branch. Everything had been packed up and stored away for the new owner.
This place had been her home for the past twenty years. This place held many memories.
Talks with Doc, countless beers shared with friends. Chester, Quint, Festus, Thad, Newly, and others.
Moments shared between her and Matt.
"Oh Matt," she whispered his name as she looked at the place where he stood this morning.
She sighed heavily, looking about the empty barroom.
She could remember the many times this place had been packed full, with cowboys coming in from cattle drives, soldier boys on leave, or men coming in for a good old time.
But today, everything stood still. The building was empty. It was so quiet that the only noise that filled the air was the sound of Kitty's footsteps while she walked across the old wooden floor.
Many barrels lined the back wall. They were carefully packed with straw and contained the beer mugs, shot glasses, and other breakables, while the chairs were stacked high on top of the card tables.
Kitty signed the last of the papers this morning, turning the ownership of the Long Branch saloon over to Miss Hannah Cobb, who would be arriving in a few days.
She picked up her carpetbag, which sat upon one of the barrels near the office door.
Then entering the office, she left a note for Hannah on the roll-top desk and made her way out the back.
She closed and locked the door behind her for the last time.
Sighing, Kitty held the keys close to her chest.
The last look of the Long Branch didn't feel like home anymore. She couldn't understand why but it felt more like a place of the past, a haunted house full of old memories and ghosts.
Kitty made the walk over to the Dodge City Bank.
Doing her best to keep her head held high, as she would pass by many Dodge citizens, who would ask when she was leaving or would say how much they would miss her.
She could only nod in response. Because she wasn't ready to cry, not here, not now, not yet.
The red-haired woman sighed with relief when she entered the bank building.
Thomas Jones, a bank teller, was the only one in the bank.
He smiled as Kitty walked in and nodded to her,
"Good morning Miss Russell. Mr. Botkin is in his office."
She only nodded, letting out a sigh as she knocked.
"Come on in." Mr. Botkin answered. He softly smiled when he saw Kitty standing there.
"Kitty, please come in, have a seat."
Kitty could only smile as she sat down in the chair across from the bank owner.
"Henry, I just came over to drop off the last set of keys to the Long Branch. As you know, I signed the papers this morning, turning the ownership over to Hannah Cobb."
Mr. Botkin sadly nodded.
"Yes, You and Matt were in here earlier," He said as he took hold of the keys, playing with them for a moment before looking up at her,
"We are going to miss you around here."
Kitty tightly pressed her lips to gather and nodded.
"Thank you, Henry. The feeling is mutual, but I think the change will do me some good."
The older gentlemen only nodded as he stood up when the lady did.
Kitty held out her hand to give him a handshake.
"Goodbye, Henry. It's been a pleasure doing business with you."
Kitty smiled as Mr. Botkin walked her to the door,
"Fair well, Kitty, and Good luck in St. Louis."
She nodded a thank you, then walked out of the Dodge City Bank.
From there she took the well-known path to the Marshal's office.
When Kitty reached the office, she stood there on the boardwalk looking at the small building, letting the picture stay imprinted in her mind.
It was then, movement in the corner of the office caught her eye. She could see Matt working at his desk.
How many times had she seen him working like this? But this was the first time, in a long time since she had stopped and admired him through the window.
She stood there and watched him for a few moments as she wiped a few tears away.
Then when she reached for the doorknob, the knob started to turn itself.
"Kit?"
Matt Dillon said as he stood in the doorway of his office.
Kitty was startled by the door opening so quickly that she jumped.
Matt chuckled as he scratched his scalp. He didn't mean to startle her.
"Oh, hi Cowboy!" she said, half smiling at him as her cheeks turned a soft pink,
She tried to hide her embarrassment of being startled, but she knew Matt saw right through it.
Matt only smiled as she entered the small office.
"Kit, is everything okay?"
Kitty turned and looked up at the man she loved.
"Why do you ask that, Matt?"
"Well, I-I almost thought you weren't going… I mean well I noticed you standing out there, so I…"
Matt realized that he was stumbling over his words. He decided it was better to let the words fall where they may.
Kitty placed her hand on top of his. Matt held on to hers.
She knew what he was saying, and she knew he didn't want her to leave.
He was scared that she wouldn't come back to him.
Kitty smiled at him to calm that fear in his heart.
Matt gave a squeeze as he released her hand.
An awkward silence filled the air, leaving them both unsure of what to say to one another.
Kitty let her eyes travel around the room. She wanted to remember everything about this place, but it wasn't the place as it was the man with the badge that she cared about the most.
She then turned to him, wanting to memorize his stature and look.
Matt chewed on his lip. he realized she was memorizing everything she could.
He swallowed the lump that rose in his throat, this was much harder on him than he thought it would be.
Matt walked over to the stove and picked up the coffee pot,
"Would you like a cup of coffee?"
Kitty shook her head.
"No thanks, Matt."
Matt half chuckled. "That's alright, it's empty anyways. Festus didn't make any more after he and Doc came over here earlier for their game of.."
Matt let his words trail off again.
Kitty was too quiet. Something was bothering her.
"Kit, sweetheart, what's wrong?"
He asked as he leaned up against his desk.
Kitty bit her lip. Should she tell him what was on her mind and why she was leaving? No!
She has kept the secret this long it can keep for longer.
She only shrugged, then looked away from him and walked over to where his gun belt hung on the peg next to the jail cell door.
"I-I just came from the bank, Matt. I turned in the last set of keys to Mr. Botkin. The Long Branch officially no longer belongs to me."
Matt chewed his lower lip, her saying that made the reality set in.
He walked over to her in two quick strides.
"Oh Kit," He said as he wrapped her in his arms, letting her bury her head into his chest.
She let go of the tears she had been holding back from everyone else.
"I-I'm going to miss you, Cowboy."
Matt could only nod as he held her close and tight.
"Me too Kit, Me too."
They stood there in each other's arms for several moments.
A melancholy feeling filled the air of that small marshal office.
Kitty looked up at her cowboy and stood on her tiptoes, giving him a gentle kiss on the lips.
Matt returned the kiss.
When they pulled away, Matt's gaze was one of love as he locked on Kitty's blue eyes.
"Kitty?" he asked not letting his eyes look away.
"Yes?" she nodded, keeping the gaze.
Kitty could see it in his eyes. He knew there was something she wasn't telling him.
"Why, why are you leaving now? Was it the fact that I-"
Kitty placed her finger over his mouth.
"Oh, Matt it's not that."
Matt wanted to know what was wrong. He wanted to fix it.
"Kit, I feel like there is something you're not telling me."
She looked away from her big tall cowboy. He was right, she was keeping something from him. But she wasn't ready to tell him, there was no need to break the secret now.
Yes, she had two reasons for leaving everyone behind in Dodge, including him.
"Oh Matt, I…"
She bit her lip, "It's hard to explain,"
Kitty could feel him tense up in her response as he waited for her to finish.
"Cowboy, you're just going to have to trust me on this. I will say this much, you don't need to worry about it being another man. You're my one and only. My heart belongs to you."
Matt knew that was the only response she would give him.
The Marshal could only nod as he rested his head atop of hers.
After a few hours had passed,
Kitty looked up at the clock on the wall, 3:50 p.m.
Ten minutes before the train would be leaving.
"Matt, would you walk me to the depo?"
The tall cowboy nodded as he put his cowboy hat on.
They walked arm in arm, Matt held her close not wanting to let go.
When they reach the train station, it seemed that all of Dodge came to say goodbye to one of their beloved citizens.
The Ronigers, Maylee, and Mary Baines, Amelia, her two children, and many others were there.
She kissed Festus, Doc, and Newly (on the cheek).
Kitty gave out as many hugs as she could.
The train whistle blew telling her it was almost time for her to bord.
"ALL A BORD!" the train conductor called.
Kitty looked to all her friends and waved them goodbye one last time.
Then turning to Matt, she gave him a sound kiss.
Letting everyone know that Matt Dillon was her man, and she was his woman.
Cheers, clapping, and laughter filled the air.
She then leaned in his ear,
"I love you, Matt!"
Matt nodded and smiled as he helped her board the train.
He kissed Kitty and slipped a letter into her carpetbag without her noticing.
"I love you too, Kit!"
She could only smile as she watched him stand on the platform and wave to her.
Her heart ached as the train started to pull away from the station.
It wasn't long before the town, the crowd, and even her beloved cowboy disappeared into the distance.
Kitty had rented a sleeper car since the trip was going to last all night, she'd get a better night's sleep in a bed over the benches. But it eased Matt's mind since he wasn't going with her, and it would keep people from bothering her.
She entered the car, setting her carpetbag down she had a little over twelve hours to kill. She opened her bag. On top of her dress and nightgown was a stack of letters.
Almost all of the letters were written in a child's handwriting.
One on top was signed "To Mama."
Kitty picked it up and started reading.
"Dear Mama,
We miss you so much!
Maddie and I can't wait for you to come.
Auntie Sarah told us that you will be living with us.
You don't know how excited we are!
Both Maddie and I have missed you very much.
We can't wait to be a family, the only one that is missing will be Daddy.
Love you so much Mama.
With all our love,
Bethany and Maddie."
Kitty could only smile as she traced the handwriting, as she looked at the short letter,
Bethany's handwriting was improving. She then held the letter close to her heart.
They were the secrets she had kept. They were the reasons she was leaving.
They were the reasons she needed to go to St. Louis.