This chapter contains
a busload of dialogue and plot from the Gunsmoke episode Daddy-O,
Season 2 (June 1, 1957) written by John Meston.
Matt grinned widely when he spied his favorite saloon
proprietress standing at the end of the bar.
“Well, hello, Marshal!” Bill Pence exclaimed.
The sound of Kitty Russell’s merry laugh as she extended
welcoming arms made his heart squeeze happily in his chest. She cried warmly, “Hey there, Matt!”
Matt encircled her in an embrace, inhaling the heady scent
of her skin and hair after an interminably long absence. Today he appreciatively breathed in her
subtle fragrance…like fresh, line-dried linen and prairie flowers in the warm
afternoon sun.
In the past three long weeks, he’d missed her more than he
could say. He’d lain awake nights,
reliving their short, sweet time together as lovers, and he wondered if she
were doing the same. He had found it confounded
difficult to concentrate during the court trials in Hays City, his thoughts
repeatedly drifting to vivid images of Kitty and the soft sounds she made when
Matt touched her honeyed skin.
He broke from his reverie and grinned down at her dancing
blue eyes, declaring, “Well, I hear you’re a big businesswoman now.”
“That’s right.” Her
broad smile held secrets meant just for him that raised gooseflesh on his arms.
“That’s wonderful…” He was indescribably pleased in that
instant, and he shook Bill’s hand enthusiastically. “Congratulations, Bill. I hope you both make a million.”
He was happy to the tips of his toes that Kitty could run
this saloon now, and he would never have to watch dejectedly as she took
another man up that staircase to her bedroom again. He would personally see to that.
“Aw, thanks Matt,” Kitty smiled.
He exclaimed, “If the price of whiskey hasn’t gone up, I’ll
buy you a drink on it.”
Kitty clarified, “Oh, it’s gone down, and the first one’s on
the house.”
Bill filled three shot glasses with whiskey. “You got it.”
He admitted, “I gotta’ give her credit—we’re making more money than
ever.”
“Yeah?” Matt’s
stomach did a happy little flip that Kitty was already experiencing success in
her new venture. Everything was gonna’
work out just fine.
“Why, come on in, Cuthbert!”
Bill greeted the old man as he delivered Kitty a telegram from the
depot.
“Russell and Pence, huh?” Matt repeated giddily as he sipped
his whiskey, savoring the burn in his throat after the long ride back to Dodge.
“Yeah, I’m the only man in town with a female partner… I mean…a lady partner.” Matt and Bill grinned at each other and
clinked glasses.
“Oh no.” It was
Kitty, reading her telegram.
“What’s the matter?” Matt questioned.
“Trouble?” Bill joined in.
“Excuse me.” A
distracted look on her face, Kitty made a quick exit up the stairs to her room.
“What’s that all about?” Matt asked Bill worriedly. Just
when things were going Kitty’s way…
“I got no idea, Marshall.
She wasn’t expecting any news I know of.”
“Well, she sure got some.
I’ll see you in a minute.” Matt
determinedly headed upstairs to see what had put an unceremonious halt to their
celebration.
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