Moon Glow

	He hadn’t slept well at all.  Those crazy dreams kept waking him up leaving him not only breathless but just a little aroused.  But when he had stopped by the Long Branch before closing time, Bill Pence told him Kitty’d gone to bed an hour earlier complaining with a headache.  Matt knew she’d had a pretty long night the day before so he’d not even bothered checking on her.  Tossing in the bed so that he faced the ceiling he wondered how much longer it was gonna be till dawn.  By the way the moonlight lit the floor it’d be a while yet.  The moonlight started him thinking about the night he and Kitty had taken a midnight walk.  It’d been a hot day and the night hadn’t cooled off much.  She was too hot to sleep even though it was after midnight, and he’d taken her on his rounds with him.  The moon was full and big and made everything bright and inviting.  They’d ended up at a pond a few miles outside Dodge.  No one was around and it was only natural that they go skinny dipping.  She’d been soft and sweet and delighted at his touch, and without the thin walls of their rooms to keep them mindful of others they were able to find out just how much passion they had for each other.  He’d howled for her and because of her, and they’d both almost drowned making love in the water.  It had been the most heady sexual experience he’d had, and the mere memory only added more frustration to his already fevered body.  Grabbing the pillow behind his head, he punched it a couple of times and tried to think of anything but Kitty Russell and with a groan akin to pain he tried not to think of how much he really wanted to howl again.  

	The sun was barely up and Kitty gave up trying to sleep.  She was too excited about her new riding outfit and hat.  Besides, it was her day to go out for her secret riding lessons.  She planned a trip out to the pond that Matt had taken her to a while back.  Just thinking about that night made her unable to sleep.  Putting the finishing touches on her hair, she put the new dress on.  She’d had it made especially for the occasion.  This was gonna be the big day.  She was gonna show Matt Dillon how much of a lady she could be.  Kitty Russell was determined that she’d be as much of a lady as she could get, even if it was just outer trappings.  She wanted Matt Dillon to be proud to announce her to anyone he had to or wanted to.  He’d never tried to hide who she was or what she did for a living, but now that she had some stake invested in the Long Branch and Dodge City, she had other reasons for becoming more respectable.  She was an established business woman now, and she made money, more money than she ever thought she could make.  She could afford to give herself some things that only money could buy.  So she’d done a little reading on what ladies in the South and the East did in their leisure times.  Southern ladies rode side saddle and took up community projects.  Eastern ladies joined committees for public good and hosted teas and bake sales.  She didn’t know anything about bake sales and she didn’t intend on starting a tea room in the Long Branch, but she could learn to ride a horse properly and she could do some good for the town with the money she made.  She could also try her hand at joining a few committees now that she was beginning to be more accepted by the town ladies.  Part of that she owed to Matt Dillon.  When he claimed her as his woman it had essentially knocked her out of contention for their husbands or beaus.  With her out of the running they could be more friendly and less paranoid, as if Kitty’d take two looks at their fuzzy-faced, paunchy-bellied husbands anyway.  She’d asked Moss Grimmick about a side saddle, and he’d made arrangements to get her one.  They were a little rare in such a harsh terrain.  She’d sworn Moss to secrecy wanting to practice in private before falling off and breaking something when Matt saw her.  At least that way he could pick her up when she hit the ground.  Now she was ready and for the piece de resistance she put the new hat on.  The white scarf trailed down her back and accented the lovely blouse that peeked out of the black velvet riding habit.  If she didn’t know better she’d have sworn she was a lady right down to her red satin bloomers.  

	Matt watched the cabin till his eyes were beginning to go blurry.  It hadn’t helped that he hadn’t slept well the night before.  Kitty Russell was somewhere in that cabin trussed up or able to walk around he wasn’t sure.  They hadn’t hurt her.  At least he didn’t think they had because he hadn’t heard any screams or yelling from her while they’d been there.  He hadn’t heard any gunshots or sounds of a tussle either. That was good.  The mere notion that they’d lay a hand on her churned his stomach.  Chester Goode snored lightly next to Dillon.  Matt was glad he was along.  It made him remember that he couldn’t just go blazing in there alone and had to bide his time.  He couldn’t get the look of controlled fear that was in her eyes at the bank out of his mind.  She’d tried to assure Matt she’d be okay but he knew better.  She’d never been in that type of situation before and was scared half to death.  All her saloon bravado seemed to leave when she had a gun jabbed in her ribs.  Matt held onto that and the way she looked when he helped her off her horse before they’d gone into the bank and how beautiful she was in both situations.  He wished he’d never gone to the bank.  Why couldn’t they have just gone to Delmonico’s to eat breakfast first?  She’d have never been stuck in this predicament, and Matt wouldn’t be sitting here in the moonlight feeling like his hands were tied.  His lady would be safe in Dodge, and he could concentrate on what had to be done to get back to her.  

	Matt caught Kitty easily before she hit the ground.  The excitement had been just too much for her.  At least he hoped that was all it was.  Chester looked on anxiously as Matt carried her nearly weightless body into the cabin to put on the bunk.  There wasn’t enough food left over to interest a starving mouse and Chester remembered all the rabbits they’d seen the night before, “I’ll go see what I can scare up Mister Dillon.  I do hope Miss Kitty will be all right.” 
	Matt couldn’t help but brush a stray lock of hair away from her forehead, “She’ll be all right Chester.  She’s just exhausted.  I’ll get things set up here while you’re gone.”
	Chester took the shotgun that he couldn’t use to bring down the Gunter brothers and headed out to find some game.  When he left Dillon drew a pot of water, got a fire going, and drug the two dead men over to their horses to tie them on for the trip back to Dodge.  The money was still in the saddle bag.  The Dodge City Bank would be glad of that.  Starting to get a little worn down from the events of the last two days, Matt pulled a chair up to the bunk to sit with Kitty.  She was so tired she just stayed out after she’d fainted.  Matt wasn’t too far behind her.  He’d not slept at all the night before from having dreams about Kitty Russell and last night he couldn’t sleep from worrying about her and watching the cabin for any type of sign to help get her out safe and sound.  Now that she was safe Matt could relax and started to nod off in the chair.  His hand rested on Kitty’s arm as he dozed until Chester got back with the mess of rabbits.  
	
	“Doc I’m fine,” Kitty insisted as he checked her over.  Matt had fretted cause she’d passed out on him and then stayed out so long.  When he told Doc, Doc worried too.  She tried to explain that it was just because she hadn’t eaten in two days and had been in mortal danger nearly the whole time as well.  She was fine.  The three men fussed over her like old maid aunts, but as much as she pouted, she did like and appreciate the attention.  It just showed how much they were concerned.  She sat on the exam table breathing deeply and trying not to beam at Matt who watched her so intently it made her wish they were alone and not laugh at Chester who was talking so fast he was practically clucking.  Doc shooed him away for the third time, “Chester either go sit down or go to medical school.”
	The jailer was amazed, “Why do I need to do that?”
	Doc was frustrated, “So you can finish this exam!  Kitty you’re fine.  A good meal and some sleep. That’s all you’ll need.”
	Matt added, “A relaxing swim wouldn’t hurt either.”
	“A swim?” Chester asked confused. 
	“Or a bath, but a swim’d be better,” he decided.  Kitty knew precisely what he meant.  She smiled thoughtfully, “Yeah that does sound nice.  It was awfully dusty on that trail.  Maybe later after I’ve rested up, wouldn’t want to drown trying to relax.” 
	Matt nearly fell off his perch on the edge of the desk.  Doc and Chester looked at him like he was loco.  “What in tarnation is the matter with you?” Doc demanded.  
	“Nothing.  Just tired and crazy from the heat.  I’d better get rested myself.  I’ll see you later,” he excused and made sure Kitty knew who the ‘you’ was meant for.  She caught it and assured, “Later Matt.” 
	With a wink he was off to make sure he’d be fit to howl.  

	The night breeze made the trip out to the pond more enjoyable than the first time.  Matt had a buggy ready for the trip out so they could get there faster.  It was also very nice to ride with her head on his shoulder and the scent of her hair in his nose.  The moon was full and bright again, and he could practically guide the horse blindfolded.  “What is it about the moon Matt?” Kitty asked as she gazed up at it during the ride.  
	“The moon?” he asked not sure what she meant. 
	“Why is it always considered romantic where the sun isn’t?  People do things in the moonlight they wouldn’t dare do in the bright of day.  Like go skinny dipping…” she intimated.  
	“Good point.  We could go skinny dipping during the day sometime,” he suggested. 
	“Hmm, sounds like a winner.  Let’s remember that,” she said and snuggled closer to him.  The air was a little cooler, but it didn’t matter.  She remembered her list of things that ladies did.  Skinny dipping in the moonlight with their unmarried lovers was not on any of them.  She laughed a little. 
	“What’s so funny?” he asked softly and kissed her forehead.  
	“Oh, this silly idea I had to become a lady.  You know I think that’s the reason the Gunter brothers took me along.  I bet if I’d been dressed in one of my old saloon costumes they’d not tried it.  Jed kept saying things like, “I bet you’ve never worked a day in your life.”  I just sat there thinking, “If you only knew what I did for a living you wouldn’t care how well you treated me.” That outfit must have given them some idea that I was more proper than I really am,” she mused aloud.  
	“Good for the outfit.”
	“Huh?” she asked looking up at him in the light.  His face was resolved and a bit hard.  
	“I meant it when I told Chester I’d kill them with my bare hands if they hurt you.  I would have too.  I was about to go crazy with you in that cabin and me only a few hundred feet away all night.  I couldn’t sleep at all,” he revealed.  
Kitty smiled a little, “Worried huh?”
	“Frantic.  Kitty, I’ve never felt so… out of control of the situation.  I just wanted you back safe with me, and I didn’t care how I had to do it.  It would have cost me my badge, but I’d have done it,” he said determined.
	Kitty found it both touching and very exciting at the same time.  “But you didn’t have to.  You got them and I’m here and I’m fine.  I’m more than fine,” she insisted and reached through his arm to caress his leg.  
He nearly leaped out of the buggy at her touch and had to stop the horses before turning to her in the moonlight.  Putting on the brake he stared at her hard, almost cruelly, “Kitty Russell, I’ve spent two nights in a row thinking about you.  When you were taken away and I worried you’d be gone forever it was like someone ripped my entire insides out.  I think I love you.” 
	He’d never said anything like that to her before.  She’d been his woman quite a while and knew how much he enjoyed her company, but he’d never told her he loved her.  It gave his kiss new meaning to her and caught her a little off guard, but she recovered fast enough.  He wasn’t forceful or demanding.  He’d just been scared that he’d lost her.  She smiled for him, “What were you thinking about those two nights?” 
	Matt swallowed remembering the erotic dreams that had kept him from getting any rest two days ago, “Moonlit rides and warm water and how good you feel in my arms and why red is my favorite color now.” 
	She laughed, “Funny that’s what I was thinking about too.  But my favorite color is those blue eyes that were undressing me in Doc’s office while he was trying to examine me.”  
	“Blue huh? I’ll have to remember that,” he said and slapped the horse forward so they could get to the pond.  
	“Did you remember to pack some blankets?” she asked thinking it might get a little cold.  
	“Uh-huh, and a picnic supper and some wine.  Think that’ll keep us from death’s door for a few hours?” he asked hoping they’d be out there all night.  
	“For some reason I don’t think we’re gonna get any sleep tonight either,” she sighed.  “But that’s okay, I don’t like daylight anyway.”
	Matt chuckled and pulled her close, “I’m beginning to prefer the moon glow myself.”