Disclaimer - I don't own any characters. I just like to make stuff up. On with the show.

In the fading light, Matt paused on his long ride home and looked out over the endless prairie. It was dusk, no longer day but not yet night, and the stillness made him hold his breath. He pictured Dodge City. The business of the day would be over, but nightlife not ready to appear. It was an in between time, a time of day he and Kitty valued sharing. For 10 or 15 minutes, while time stood still around them, they'd sit in the back of the Long Branch and talk, just the two of them. Then Kitty would have to set up for the night and he'd have to get back to work, but those few minutes lifted their spirits and eased their minds.

Matt shifted in his saddle. When Kitty's spirit and soul were sorely tested, dusk was one of the things that reminded her of the small treasures that made life good.

He flicked the reins. Time was wasting. He had to get home.

Dodge City

All was quiet in the Long Branch. The afternoon customers were gone and the night crowd hadn't arrived. With the saloon girls and bartenders on break, Kitty was alone in the Long Branch. She sat a small table in the back surrounded by Matt's absence. He was on his first real trip since Jude Bonner and his dog soldiers. Six months had passed since that horror - half a year - but it was still all too easy to conjure up the sneering, hateful faces of the men who held her down while Bonner raped her. She'd struggled, kicked, bit and screamed for as long as she had the strength, but after a while, as each man took his turn, all she could do was try to send her mind to another place.

Recovery was a battle to say the least. Matt stayed close. He held her, reassured her, dried her tears and tried to make her smile. Months went by, and he managed to stay in town. Then the wire came ordering him away. She saw the worry in his eyes, "Matt, it's your job."

"Isn't that my line?" He tried to smile with little success.

"Matt, we've been doing a pretty damn good job of putting Bonner behind us. It's been six months. This is the next step. It's part of re-claiming our lives."

Now, sitting alone in her saloon she kept Matt's image fixed in her mind. After the hell of Bonner and his dog soldiers, it was Matt's love that reminded her that she wanted and needed to live. Six months after that hell, the bruises on her body were all but gone, the bullet wound was almost healed, and her soul – well – her soul would always carry a scar. The miracle was that the scar was changing. Like a rock under a waterfall, the sharp edges were slowly getting worn away. Yet still, moments of fear and panic rose up in her throat without warning, and nightmares claimed her just often enough to make going to sleep an act of courage. She wanted Matt home, and thankfully she knew he would be soon.

"Oh Kitty." A lilting voice cut through the quiet. Kitty looked to the top of the stairs and was pleased to see a striking, dark haired woman smiling down.

"Molly, you're early for work."

"I was ready and bored, and I figured you'd be here." She started down the stairs. "It seems you're always sitting at that table this time of day."

Kitty smiled softly, "I like to enjoy the glowing light, and the peace and quiet of dusk."

"I know what you mean. My mama always said there was a magic to this time of day that left space for possibilities." Molly grinned, "As a kid I had no idea what she meant, but it was the only time of day she wasn't a grouch, so I loved it."

Kitty laughed. She loved having Molly around. She'd arrived just hours after Matt left 10 days ago and made quite an entrance into the saloon. She'd marched in wearing a bright red dress, black hair piled in curls and silver bracelets dangling from both wrists. "Hello Miss Russell, I understand you own this place. I'm Molly McLaughlin. I'm looking for work and by the looks of this crowd, you could use another woman." Noting the word "woman" instead of the usual "girl," she looked Molly up and down. Molly had a glint in her eyes, "I'm aware of my age, mid 30's, but I know my way around a gambling table, bar and bedroom a lot better than any girl. I can handle men and situations. I'm still good looking, if I do say so myself. Just like you're a good-looking woman who blew out 20 candles on her birthday cake some time ago." Kitty laughed and hired her on the spot. Within days Molly McLaughlin was a valued employee and a friend.

Kitty stood. "Molly, I'm glad you came down early. I can use some company, and look at you. You're wearing another lovely necklace. You have such beautiful jewelry."

Molly laughed. "Thanks, it's funny considering my mother is totally anti-adornment. The only jewelry she owns is her wedding ring. Not that that did her any good, my father walked out when I was a baby."

"I didn't know that Molly." Kitty's eyes grew sympathetic. "My father was pretty useless too. Do you see your mother often?"

"No, in fact it's been a number of years. We've never seen eye to eye on things, as you might imagine. I'm sure she's still on the farm in Missouri praying for me." Molly lifted a hand, "Not that I mind anybody praying for me, it's just annoying to watch. Come on, let's set up and I'll tell you about a midget I worked for in San Francisco - called himself Short John Silver."

Kitty laughed. Molly was such fun. Even her endless questions were fun to answer. She'd heard of the notorious Dodge City and its so-called "town tamer" Matt Dillon, before she arrived, and was curious about every detail. Frankly, it was nice to be able to talk to a woman her own age about Matt. She didn't reveal anything too personal, but she suspected a woman of Molly McLaughlin's experience could read between the lines. What of it? She and Matt were certainly the worst kept secret in Kansas.

Matt

Matt rode on in the dark before reluctantly admitting it was best to stop for the night. His horse was worn out, and anyway, riding on a cloudy, moonless night was a recipe for veering off course.

He stopped under some big trees, confident he'd reach Dodge before Kitty had cause to worry. He'd sent a telegram saying he'd be back tonight or tomorrow, and he was close enough to arrive mid-morning at the latest.

Leaving Kitty had been tough, but she assured him she'd be fine and reminded him she hadn't had a "bad night" in weeks. On bad nights she trembled in bed and cried inconsolably. The early sun would appear before she fell into an exhausted sleep. At first, every night was a bad night and he did all he could to help her. He'd be up half the night with drunken cowboys and the rest of the night assuring Kitty that he loved her, and that Bonner and his men were dead. Doc starting fretting about him. Between his job and looking after Kitty, he barely had time to eat or sleep. Doc kept telling him he'd be no good to Kitty if he wore himself into the ground, but his old friend didn't know the true cause of his weariness. It was guilt. Guilt and despair at his own weakness were eating away at him. He knew damned well that the only way to protect Kitty from vengeful men who hated him, was to leave her. Yet he couldn't bring himself to do it. Over and over again he came close to wiring the War Department to ask for a transfer. He was sure he'd be offered another territory, and would accept it as soon as Kitty was back on her feet. That was his plan, but every time he headed towards the telegraph office his courage failed. He was on his way again when he found himself veering to Doc's office.

"Doc, Bonner happened to Kitty because of me. You've seen her courage and strength. Well Doc, I don't have the courage to do the right thing. The best way I can protect her is to leave her, but - but I – well, I'm counting on you to give me a push. Drag me to that telegraph office if that's what it takes."

The look in Matt's tired eyes squeezed Doc's heart and he silently pointed to a chair. Matt sunk into it and Doc put a hand on his shoulder. "Matt, listen to me. Bonner failed because of what you and Kitty have. Don't let him succeed from the grave."

"What do you mean?"

The bottled up rage in Doc erupted. "Damn him to hell. That black-hearted bastard wanted to destroy you both, but he failed. He couldn't destroy Kitty's love for you and he couldn't turn you into a murderer."

Doc slowly let out a breath. "Matt, leaving Kitty would rip your heart out, but you'd do it if you thought it best for her. I'm saying it would destroy you both and give the devil a victory. Forget sending any telegram. Do you hear me? By golly Matt, I know you want to do what's right and what's best for Kitty. I'll tell you what's right and what's best. Go to her and hold her, remind her that the black-hearted scum failed. Then rest together, both of you rest."

That was months ago and now, not for the first time, Matt thanked his lucky stars for granting him such a wise and true friend.

He unfurled his bedroll beneath a tree, tugged off his boots and set his gun belt to the side. He'd be up and on his way by daybreak. Sleep came quickly.

SNAP

Matt's eyes sprang open. Someone was there.

TBC