Possession Chapter 2, "Taking Inventory"

“Mornin’, Kitty,” intoned Marshal Matt Dillon cheerfully as he straddled a chair turned backwards and plopped down opposite her at the table.  Beside her sat Doc and Chester, eating breakfast on a red-checkered tablecloth at the Long Branch.

“Mornin’,” Kitty murmured to her cup of coffee, eyes cast downward so as not to betray her true feelings with so many wary eyes around.  Stars above, what was I thinking last night, and what must Matt think of me?  She was incredulous that he was behaving so casually.  Men.

But Matt was too busy grinning coyly and diving into the plate of food the bartender had brought him to notice her reticence.  “Sam, can I get some bacon to go with this?” he called out through a mouthful of fluffy buttermilk biscuits and gravy.

“Comin’ right up, Marshal!”

Doc observed wryly, “With that appetite, you must’ve had a busy night last night.”

Kitty’s eyebrows were slowly creeping upward, and she tried not to look directly at Matt.

“Yeah, Doc,” Chester joined in, “Mr. Dillon was in and out of the office for a goodly portion of the night.  He sure was busy doin’….uh, what was you doin’, exactly, Mr. Dillon?”

Matt took a long draw from his coffee cup and announced, “Well, Chester, I had a lot of…business…to take care of.”  He repeated cryptically as he chewed a bite of bacon, “Yep, I was takin’ care of business.”

Doc groused good-naturedly, “Oh for heaven’s sakes, Matt, that’s clear as mud…  What in thunder is that supposed to mean?!”

Chester jumped on Doc’s challenge like a duck on a June bug, “Well, Doc, don’t you know what he means?  He means business.  Forevermore, Mr. Dillon is the Marshal of this here town and…”

Kitty saw her opportunity for escape and rose quickly to the occasion, “If you’ll excuse me, I have a little inventorying to do in the cellar for Bill.  You two boys, please do let me know how this intriguing argument turns out, won’t you?  Good day, gentlemen.”  Matt’s eyes widened in surprise when she stood up.  Why in tarnation was she taking off when he’d just gotten here? 

She was gone in a swish of long lavender-scented silk skirts before Matt had a chance to stand up. 

Doc swiped his hand over his mustache and exclaimed, “Now look what you’ve gone and done, Chester.  You scared away poor Kitty.”

“Me?” Chester grumbled and crossed his arms.  “I b’lieve you had as much a part in this as…”

Hurriedly wiping his mouth on his napkin, Matt interjected, “I, uh… I think I’ll go help Kitty,” but Doc and Chester didn’t pay him any mind as they continued with their bickering.  He headed for the cellar and the unpredictable object of his affections as fast as his long, lanky legs would carry him.

Matt found Kitty counting whiskey bottles by the glow of a lantern and furiously scratching figures on a worn ledger, all the while curiously muttering to herself.  He could have sworn he even heard his own name mentioned.  Matt didn’t intend to make her jump when he sidled up behind her, but she let out a little squeak of surprise when he murmured, “Mornin’, Sunshine” in her ear.  He closed his eyes and inhaled the fresh, clean scent of her shining hair.

“Matt Dillon!” she exclaimed, clasping her hand to her heaving chest.  “You should be ashamed of yourself, sneaking up on a girl like that…”

“Should I?”  He steadily advanced on her as she backed warily towards the wall.  Matt braced his hand above her shoulder, looming over Kitty.  She felt dwarfed by his considerable bulk as his eyes swept up and down her elegant figure, swathed in deep purple silk.  He reached out and tugged loose a red curl, wrapping it around his index finger, inviting roguishly, “My dear Miss Russell, how can I ever make it up to you?”

Kitty was mesmerized by the ardent look in Matt’s clear blue, thick-lashed eyes.  She’d always loved his beautiful eyes…  Suddenly, Matt’s full lips were on hers, kissing her passionately over and over again until she was completely breathless.  “Oh, Matt,” she gasped, but he was pulling her urgently towards him again, enfolding her lithe body against his hard one, kissing her desperately until her lips were swollen and tender.  She felt light-headed and giddy, but Matt’s strong arms supported her as she surrendered her mouth to his impassioned plundering.  

There was a loud knock at the door as a familiar voice called out, “Mr. Dillon, I got something to ask you!”

Matt groaned and lowered his forehead to Kitty’s silken shoulder.  He was faintly aware of Chester’s voice nattering on through the door about settling an argument between him and Doc, but all he could contemplate was the beautiful, breathless redhead in his arms.  He raised her chin with his index finger, forcing her to look into his eyes.  She was attempting to steady her breathing as she contemplated this paradigm shift in the behavior of her dear friend and companion Marshal Matt Dillon, but he cut off any further reflection with a soft, sweet peck on her enticing wet lips.

Chester’s voice intruded plaintively once more, “Everthing okay in there, Mr. Dillon?”

Regretfully pulling away from Matt’s embrace, Kitty Russell smoothed her hair as she hastily answered, “Be right there, Chester!” 

She started toward the door, but Matt caught her arm and breathed expectantly in her ear, “I’ll see you tonight, Kitty?”

Before opening the door for Chester, she answered quietly, “I’ll see you tonight, Matt.”

To be continued...