Possession Chapter 3, "Turning a Corner"

Marshal Matt Dillon waited until well after midnight to show up at the Long Branch, which was still bustling even at this hour.  The clamor of shouting, raucous voices competed with the pounding of the keys of the upright, as the energetic new piano player performed a merrily rousing rendition of “Camp Town Races.”  Matt knew Kitty would have her work cut out for her, waiting on the dozens of customers who visited the saloon nightly to wash the prairie dust out of their parched throats.  Allowing a rowdy group of whooping young trail hands to pass through the entrance, Matt remained outside the swinging doors looking in, searching for a particular lady’s familiar fetching form. 

Through the large crowd of gritty cowboys, scruffy farmers, well-groomed townspeople, and gaily-dressed saloon girls, he spied Kitty standing in a dimly-lit corner with cattle rancher Edward Marion Morris, an enormous bear of a man known for his high living, large appetites and good humor.  Matt’s heart sank as he watched Big Ed drawing Kitty near to whisper in her ear, coaxing her with a thickset hand caressing her bare arm and holding a large wad of greenbacks enticingly in the other.  Matt watched hopefully, heart in his throat, when she laughed good-naturedly and shook her head, starting to back away.  But a cajoling Ed persevered, pulling her close and sliding the bills suggestively into the green satin, form-fitting bodice of her revealingly low-cut dress.  Matt felt like he’d been punched in the gut when Kitty coyly gazed into Ed’s expectant brown eyes and smiled prettily. 

Marshal Dillon felt physically ill as he watched her take Ed’s well-muscled arm and lead him out of the secluded corner.  But, to Matt’s surprise, she steered the burly man directly to the crowded bar and beckoned to Sam the bartender.  Ed looked bewildered himself when she deftly reached into her dress above the generous swell of her bosom and extracted his money, placing enough on the bar for two whiskeys and thrusting the rest firmly into Ed’s shirt pocket.  She stifled his roar of protest, placing brightly-manicured fingertips over his lips as she tiptoed and spoke urgently into his ear for several moments.  Ed’s bushy eyebrows crept up his forehead as she talked and his expression slowly but surely turned to one of disappointed resignation.  Kitty gave him a quick apologetic hug, but he returned it enthusiastically with an embrace of enormous proportions while she gave him an affectionate peck on the cheek.  The two clinked glasses and sipped their whiskey, Big Ed giving Kitty an occasional amiable pat on the back with a beefy yet gentle hand.  Meanwhile Matt released a pent-up sigh of relief that they were not climbing the stairs to Kitty’s bedroom.  He wasn’t entirely sure if he could best Big Ed in a fight or not.

“’Scuse me, Marshal.”

Matt jumped.  “Huh?  Oh, sorry, Ben.  Go on ahead,” apologized Matt as he stepped back to allow the elderly man to enter the saloon. 

“Awful pretty girl, ain’t she?” Ben chuckled knowingly as he shuffled forward.

“Ahh…what?” Matt stammered, flustered at being discovered spying on Kitty.  “Oh, yeah, uh…yes, sir.”  Caught, red-handed.  “Yes, she sure is,” he repeated, puffing out a large breath.

“Awful pretty on the inside, too, if you ask me.  A real nice gal,” Ben winked.  “I’d be keepin’ an eye on her, too, if I were still as young as you.”

Matt stared down at the sidewalk self-consciously and cleared his throat as Ben continued, “Yep, you better keep a close eye on that purty little red-headed gal, Marshal.  Come and have a beer with me?”

“No…thank you though, Ben.”  He gave a sheepish chuckle.  “Maybe later.”

Ben cheerfully joined an old friend at the bar as Matt finally crossed the threshold into the saloon.  He stood motionlessly, thumbs hooked in his waistband, until he caught Kitty’s attention as she neatly downed the last of her whiskey.  Her eyes shone when she noticed him observing her, and she hurriedly gave her apologies to Big Ed Morris. 

Matt watched her set down her glass, refusing to take her eyes off him for an instant.  Her cheeks blushed rose-colored as she crossed the smoky room, weaving between patrons, ignoring the shouted invitations from drunken cowboys, never breaking their powerful invisible connection.  They stood gazing at each other, neither of them speaking.  Finally realizing they might be behaving curiously in this very public place, they glanced around quickly to make sure no one had taken any notice. 

Matt gestured toward a lone vacated table in the back of the crowded saloon and pulled out a chair for her.  He quietly regarded his stunning red-headed companion while she sat gracefully and smoothed her flounced and feminine skirts.

“You’re lookin’ mighty pretty tonight, Kitty.”  Matt’s usual compliment sounded innocent enough, but the fervent look in his eyes told a different story entirely.  Kitty chewed on her lower lip as his scorching gaze seared a palpable trail across her body she swore she could feel clear through her dress. 

All she could manage in response was a low, breathless, “Thanks, Cowboy.”  She could tell by the look in his eye that he was thinking about last night, and she flushed with self-conscious pleasure at the memory.

Matt was, in fact, thinking about last night.  He was thinking about how Kitty Russell looked underneath all those feminine flounces and ruffles.  He was remembering how soft and yielding she’d been as he undressed her slowly in her upstairs bedroom.  He was recalling her shining red hair and how heavy and thick the curls felt as they tumbled free into his eager hands.  He was reliving the smooth, velvety touch of her enticingly perfumed white skin when she rested gloriously naked in his arms.  He was mentally kicking himself for leaving such a magnificent creature vulnerable and alone in her bed…  But, honest to Pete, he’d had to get started on his plans, and quickly.

Matt rubbed his face to clear his head, then questioned earnestly, “What time do you get off tonight, Kitty?” 

“I’ll be free in less than an hour, Matt.”  She found herself utterly distracted by his luxurious mop of dark curls, itching to reach out and run her fingers through them, but unable to act upon her impulsive desire in this noisy, crowded barroom.

“I’ve got to meet with someone at the Lady Gay in a short while, but then I’ll be back.”  He appraised her flushed expression and then quietly requested, “Will you wait for me?”

“I’ll wait for you, Matt.”

As he rose from his chair, Kitty fleetingly sensed Matt’s fingers lightly stroke the tender skin on the back of her neck, making her shiver deliciously, and then he was gone.

To be continued...