Masks We Wear?
Matt woke at about Dawn, gingerly slipped out of the bed,…
not wanting to wake Kitty… quietly , he dressed, and was planning a
trip to Jim Dolan’s office,… he wanted to have a talk with John Chapman … He was still angry, but now had his head
about him more…. To Matt this was still unfinished Business ! Just as he was about to Drop his hat onto
his head, and walk towards the door….
Hey Cowboy? Sun’s not even fully up yet!... where you
off too.? Ahhh Kit, Honey Go back to sleep
.. I didn’t mean to wake you… Of course not… Matt?... you haven’t answered my
question? Look Kit… I just need to
finish up some of this paper work and…
Oh, No You Don’t Mister! This
isn’t your case.. What are you really up
too.? now she was up…
Ok , Kit I still want to talk to
Chapman…. There are still some things I need to say to him….. shaking her
head,.. and exhaling… Now, Matt… Please
don’t go and do something …. Turning and taking her by the shoulders …. Kitty ,.. I’m not going to lose my
head.. I Promise… Frowning ,.. she
looked him in the eye… Why don’t that
make me feel any better? Look , I’ll be back as soon as I
possible and we’ll go to breakfast,… besides ,I owe you a Picnic in the Park …
might be the last one for a while … weather’s changing…? learning up on knees,.. wrapping her arms
around his neck,… I’d much rather you
crawl back in here with me… ? He
leaned in Kissed her hard… then,
smiled sheepishly… Woman ... what you do
to me? I won’t be long ,..promise! Kitty fell back into the covers .. and
snuggled with Matt’s pillow…. OH Cowboy!
Matt knew he’d find Jim Dolan in his office bright and
early,.. fact is he probably slept there…
he and his deputies took turns doing that .. And now,… They had two
Prisoner’s to watch…
Entering the jail house office… Morning Jim, sorry to show up this early.. couldn’t sleep so I… smile
up at him… I know Matt.. I kind’of
expected you… so how is Kitty? Quickly exhaling ,.. she was quiet upset last night … Jim walked across the room,.. Coffee?
Yeah sure sounds good to me… Matt answered. But,Jim? There were thing he said to Kitty , that I
just think … now rubbing his jaw,..
well They were just plain … Handing
Matt the cup of Hot Coffee,.. What
Matt? Hurtful! Just Plain Hurtful! Well what did he say? Jim now wondered what John could have
said that was worse than what had already happened. Jim… Wayne Russell, … Yes,
Matt what about Russell? He’s Dead!...
or at least that ‘s what Chapman told Kitty?
You mean she didn’t know if her own Father was Dead or alive? ,No see that’s what I was trying to explain
to you … she hasn’t seen him… in …
Geesh…. Years… He wasn’t a
Father! Jim, Wayne Russell was always a smooth talker,..
Kitty’s Mother came from a well to do New Orleans family.. she Married
Russell,.. Kitty says She Loved him!,.. but, he was always away,… the Family
sort’a dis-owened her for marrying him…
then when Her Mother Died … Kitty was young maybe 12 years old.. ? Her Father showed up, took her to a
friend,… Jim Chimed in Ahhhh … Paneca
Sikes Huh? Yeah,… from what Kitty says
.. Paneca took care of her as best she could… Russell disappeared,.. Kitty
never saw him again,.. till …. Till when Matt?
Oh, about a few years after Kitty was in Dodge,… she had just bought
into her business.. and he appeared… wanting to get to know his daughter , so
he said? Turns out … he just wanted her
Money!... Good Gracious Matt? Well,
Kitty saw through him, and stood her ground… and he had the good sense to get
on a stage… and leave town,.. and then
What? Jim asked. Nothing ,.. she never saw him
again! We even had a Visit from Paneca
… but she stayed long enough to take
what she could ,… Kitty overlooked it … the old woman was Ill… she just slipped
out of town never telling Kitty where she was going,.. not even a Goodbye? And
Chapman says … no one seems to know of her whereabouts? Doc Adams had told Kitty her heart wasn’t
going to sustain her much longer.. so the best I can figure . is …. Shaking his head,… Yeah your probably right
Matt. Say ,Jim,.. have you gotten anymore
from those two?... No more than we already know … except for ,… this Jean’
Jareau was a part of all this … can’t find him anywhere? Matt put down his empty cup….I need to talk to those two? ... Matt , now
smiling,.. you’re a pretty big fella’,..
so Please?... Matt already knew what
Jim Dolan was thinking and worried about…. It’ll
be fine… geesh, you sound like Kitty!
Oh, Thanks!... laughing.
Matt opened the door to the area where John and Maryellen
were being held,…. They of course had them at opposite end of the hall… It
wasn’t often they had a woman prisoner,…
this was awkward housing her while they had a Man there as well…. Matt Kicking at the Cell!... Chapman get
up! Come’on get Up! Were gonna talk!... Now sleepy-eyed,… and struggling to pull
himself up ,.. and awake… Matt? I know
your Upset… Shut up Chapman,… and
Listen!... About last night… Again
John jumped in…. Matt let me just say I
never wanted any harm to come to Kitty..
I swear! I had no idea Jareau involved
her till after… You pretended to be
our,… her friend , she trusted you,… even when I didn’t and I never trust you
once I saw you around Kitty! Yes, Matt I’ll
admit .. I do Love Kitty … Chapman
If You … Matt? I know .. now after all
these years where Kitty Love and
loyalty lies… Sometimes I sure don’t
know why ,… But , That beautiful Woman Loves You! And Now ,… It don’t matter what happens to
me… Don’t you dare play the …. No! I’m not … I just I have nothing
anymore … that’s all… I had always hoped
that someday Kitty would see … see that
a Life sitting around waiting for you.. wasn’t good for her … and then she
would realize I could have given her al the thing she ever wanted. But she’s bound and determined to…. Chapman
!... I aut’a Matt’s temper was
beginning to flare…. Just shut-up .. you
don’t get to talk about Kitty to me!
Her father,… tell me about that?
Nothing to tell , he’s dead! ,… wayne died about two years ago … I told
Kitty … Yeah I know. Matt said clinching his teeth. Matt,
I didn’t know … she didn’t know? Well
she didn’t and … why’d you tell her about.. Maryellen? Kitty
didn’t need to know that. Now
looking smug,… well now Marshal,… who is
really bothered by that … Kitty?... or You? Now Matt lost it … slamming John against the cell bars… Why Chapman I aut’a … Jim
heard the commotion… came running…
Matt! Stop!.... Come’on you said….
Tossing John to the cot… ahhh I know what
I said. Matt Look .. let me handle this , ok? Maryellen was listening from down the hall…
then hollered Matt?... Matt? Wait
can I speak with you? Looking over at Jim,… and rolling his eyes,… blowing
out a puff of air… he walked to her cell…
Good Morning
Matt. Morning Maryellen,.. not sure how
good it is…? Smiling shyly,.. Oh now Matt? What was it you wanted?... Matt you have to help me… I can’t go to
Prison… Matt I’m a woman… this is all your fault you know? Matt , opened to answer her, but, before
he could,…he heard, IS THAT SO? Then
as he turned to follow the sound of the voice,… Kitty was standing in the hall
way ,.. tight jawed,.. and hands on Hips…. Jim
close behind her,… Sorry Matt!... I
didn’t get a chance to say anything.
Don’t you mean warn him Jim? … Oh Kitty no… just let him know you were here
that’s all…. Uh huh? Maryellen ?...Go on … I believe you were about to tell Matt just why this was all his
fault? Oh ahhh. Kitty? That’s My Name alright,… But then I’m sure
Father …didn’t say to much about me during all the Pillow talk now did he? Oh,
uh. You know about Wayne and Me? Kitty
I,.. I… …. Kitty turned to Matt and Jim…. Boys ,.. we need a bit of
privacy .. if you don’t mind? Matt
knew that look on her face… Matt don’t leave me alone with her… She
Crazy!.. Matt Jim Please…? Jim tugged on Matt’s arm… maybe we better
step out here … Jim didn’t want to know ..what was going to happen…. Kitty, Honey Please?... Matt Leave! …
tossing his hat in his hands,.. he joined Jim in the outer office…..
Now, as for you!.... Kitty
,… I didn’t really mean what I said there… it’s just that … I loved Matt ..
when we were back in Texas. Loved !?…
you couldn’t have be more then,… oh hell knee high to a grasshopper? Then I didn’t have William for Long… Yeah so you sure latch on to My father.. real
fast.. Kitty Wayne was lonely!... he
needed a good woman,… kitty saw RED! I was there for him. He said he never loved another woman
after Annleise… Don’t you Dare speak
her Name ….! And don’t you think for a Minute you could
ever fill My Mother’s shoes in My father’s Life!.... Oh, I never thought that. You never could … why you were no more then a plaything… I want to know one thing from you?....kitty
said in anger… How ?... and where ….
Where is he? Where is My Father? He’s
dead Kitty.. ! I know that you sniveling little … Tramp! Where is he
,his the words stuck in her
throat…..Gr-ave? Oh,..
New Orleans ,. In St. Anne’s church
cemetery. Paneca Sikes said ,.. that’s
where he always wanted to be put to rest…. With a tearful smile,… Good Ol’ Pan,… she remembered …. She
remembered to put him with Mother…
How? How what? Maryellen asked. Oh,… Pheumonia , John said
His heart just wasn’t strong enough ….
Kitty turned, started to walk away…. Then quickly turned back,… with a
cold ice-peircing stare…. Matt is Mine! We have spent a lifetime together… and I’ll
do anything … absolutely anything to protect him… as he would me… And
Maryellen,… I don’t care what it take to do that … even to killing Trash like
You! Mark My Words! Then turned and left.
Rejoining Matt and Jim in the outer office….. Jim, Cowboy! Kitty you alright ? of course … I am Now ….Matt Huffed,… Maybe I should ask if…. Stopping him… NO! maybe you shouldn’t? Jim …
Have a Pleasant day… Cowboy … you walk me back to the Hotel… ?... sure Kitty… Jim we’ll talk later… Jim
Nodded ,with a smile. Walking
…outside … Kitty stood hands on her hips… taking in a deep breath… Ummmmmm
,.. Fall,… what a wonderful time of year?
Then with a sideward glance….
Hey Cowboy let’s go feed you…
What do ya say?... patting his stomach,.. Sounds good to me! Kitty
laugh out loud a deep hardy laugh.. The
two walked arm in arm .. the five or so Blocks to Planter house.
TBC
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