Golden Opportunity 

	The clock in Doc’s office chimed five-thirty.  Matt was late.  Kitty frowned a second and then shook the notion out of her head.  Just because he wasn’t there on the dot like he had been for the last week didn’t mean he wasn’t coming.  She was just used to him being there with her supper already.  There were good points to her being shot.  Matt had spent every meal with her since he’d gotten back from hunting down Jake Baylow.  It was spoiling her.  With a little sigh, she went back to her reading.  Doc had her practically weighted down to the bed.  He knew she would get up and move around before she was supposed to if he didn’t.  Still she was getting restless.  Lying around was for ladies of leisure and she’d always been a working girl.  She liked it that way too.  Bill Pence had come up every day with a tally on the books and a tale or two of how all the cowhands were disappointed that Kitty wasn’t there to brighten up the place.  She’d chuckle and smile.  It was nice to be missed.  Stretching a little she was trying to pull the pillow up from behind her back where it had fallen.  Doc picked just that moment to come in and see her in the act of exerting herself, “Here now!”
	“Aw Doc, I was just trying to get the pillow.  It doesn’t hurt,” she insisted like a little kid who’d been reprimanded by her mother. 
	“Now you know how it feels to be stuck in here against your will,” Matt Dillon said from the open door.  He set the tray down on the table next to the chaise Kitty was on and flashed her a wink and a smile.  
	“You shut up.  You’re late,” she pouted and gave him her best hurt female look.  It didn’t last a long time.  She grinned slyly, “What’s for supper?”
	“You hungry?” Doc asked a little surprised.  She’d had a bird’s appetite since she’d been shot.  
	“Will it get me out of here faster?” she bargained. 
	“It might, then again, it might not,” he replied.  
	“Oh you…” she grumbled but the meal did smell good, “What is it?”
	Matt pulled the kerchief off to show her, “Liver and onions, mushrooms, corn, and mashed potatoes.  If you finish that up you’ll get the dessert.”
	“Mmmm,” she practically growled and took an appreciative sniff.  Something about those mushrooms seemed a little different, but she wasn’t gonna tell Doc about it.  If Matt had gotten mushrooms braised in brandy and butter past Doc, that was fine by her.  She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a drink or the last time it had been so long between drinks.  Her shoulder was pretty stiff still from where the bullet had entered it to lodge between her heart and lungs.  Matt had requested the meat be cut up for her before they sent it so she could just dig in. 
	Doc couldn’t hide his grin as she started in on the meal.  At least her appetite had returned.  “I didn’t know you liked liver and onions?”
	“Normally I don’t but this is really, really good,” she said and popped one of the mushrooms in her mouth.  It went down sweet and smooth, “Ooooh, these are delicious. Thanks.”
	“You’re welcome,” Dillon chuckled and settled down to his own plate of the same thing.  He thought she liked liver and onions, but he didn’t really pay attention to what she usually ate besides fried chicken and boiled eggs.  She’d turned her nose up at that so he picked something more flavorful.  The fact that he made sure to tell Delmonico’s to liberally spike it had done the trick.  She’d eat anything dunked in brandy.