It was high noon at the Long Branch though the clock said half past eight the piano stopped from fear itself and leaned against its fate The cards lay down in silence the whiskey held its breath for Marshal Matt was standing there more pale than sudden death No outlaw drew a pistol no bandit crossed the floor no shadow moved on Front Street no boot kicked in the door But Miss Kitty looked across the bar and gave that little smile and every chair in Dodge City moved back another mile High noon at the Long Branch no bullets in the air just one tall man with a shiny badge and too much heart to spare High noon at the Long Branch the West stood still and wide for the bravest man in Kansas had a sentence stuck inside Festus whispered, “Matthew, now don’t you turn to stone a man can’t court a lady with a cough and a monotone” Doc said, “Check his breathing” Chester dropped his cup and Kitty said, “Good evening, Matt” and that just finished him up He’d stared down men from Texas he’d faced the desert sun he’d ridden into ambush and never turned to run But one soft word from Kitty one sparkle in her eye and Marshal Matt stood frozen like a cactus asking why High noon at the Long Branch no bullets in the air just one tall man with a shiny badge and too much heart to spare High noon at the Long Branch the West stood still and wide for the bravest man in Kansas had a sentence stuck inside Then somebody coughed near table three the fiddle gave a squeak and Festus said, “Dear mercy, this may take us all next week” The piano man played softly like a funeral for pride while Matt looked at Miss Kitty then looked somewhere outside She poured him one for courage though courage was his trade he held that glass like evidence of every choice he’d made He said, “Miss Kitty, I was wondering” then paused and cleared his throat and half the town of Dodge City began to take a note High noon at the Long Branch no bullets in the air just one tall man with a shiny badge and too much heart to spare High noon at the Long Branch the West stood still and wide for the bravest man in Kansas had a sentence stuck inside Miss Kitty leaned in closer not too much and not too near the kind of distance women know when men are ruled by fear She said, “Take your time now, Marshal” and smiled behind the glass that line alone made poor old Matt forget the world could pass He said, “You run a fine place, Kitty” and Festus slapped his knee Doc groaned, “That is not romance, that is taxidermy” The chorus from the corner nearly fell into the gin for Matt had fought the battle and lost before beginning High noon at the Long Branch no bullets in the air just one tall man with a shiny badge and too much heart to spare High noon at the Long Branch the West stood still and wide for the bravest man in Kansas had a sentence stuck inside Then Kitty laughed so gently that the lamps began to glow she said, “Thank you kindly, Marshal” as if she didn’t know And Matt looked almost happy or as close as he could get like a thunderstorm at sunset trying hard to not be wet So write it in the records and carve it on the rail the fiercest fight in Dodge City was not with gun or jail It happened by the whiskey where the brave become the small when a woman waits in kindness and a man says nothing at all High noon at the Long Branch no bullets in the air just one tall man with a shiny badge and too much heart to spare High noon at the Long Branch the West stood still and wide for the bravest man in Kansas had a sentence stuck inside Yes, high noon at the Long Branch and nobody hit the ground but if silence had a smoking gun Matt Dillon fired a round Miss Kitty knew the meaning Festus knew it too and Dodge City kept on laughing at what love can make men do
