LAST WORDS

Chapter 1

Words Spoken in Anger

Kitty waited until the kids had all gone before confronting her husband. She retrieved the gray, enamel pot and quietly walked over to the table to refill his cup.

Matt refused to look up at his wife as she waited on him. He mumbled a thank you and took a drink.

"Damn, Kitty!" He sucked in a breath of air to cool off his tongue. "You could have told me it was hot."

"I just took it off the stove." Kitty returned to the cup she had filled for herself. A nervous half smile struggled to make an appearance, as she forced a lighthearted tone. "Since you're sitting right here, I kind of thought you could figure it out."

Sadly, she was unsuccessful. Matt's sullen disposition only intensified, as he shoved the ironstone mug away and stood up. He stomped toward the door grabbing his hat from the rack.

"Matt, we have to talk about this."

Roughly jerking his hat down over his forehead, the marshal allowed her only an angry glance. "Why? You've already made the decision. What's there to talk about?"

Kitty took a step towards him, but stopped abruptly when she saw his body grow rigid. "Matt, please-"

"Please what? Wait around to pick up the pieces?" Matt turned on his heels and headed out the door. "You're on your own this time, so don't wait for me to come save you."

~ Front Street ~ Front Street ~

Calleigh pulled the buggy up to her husband's gun shop. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a large figure leaving the Prairie Rose. She also noticed the white, ironstone cup in his hand. "Hmmm, looks like no coffee with the wife this morning."

"Morning, beautiful."

Calleigh jumped at the sudden intrusion into her daydreams. But, just one look at the owner of that gentle voice, brought her grin back to its place. Newly held out his arms and she gladly climbed into them.

"Watching your dad?"

"Uh-huh. From the look on his face, he's still upset. Have you talked to him at all?"

The marshal's deputy threw his hands palms up. "I don't want any part of that argument! And you need to keep that little button nose out of it too." He placed a kiss to the tip of that freckled spot.

"But…they're both so unhappy." She allowed him to guide her into the shop. "If he would just listen-"

"Calleigh! Just stop." There was no denying the sharp edge in his voice. "The man is worried sick that his wife will be hurt. Again!"

"Don't you think I know that? I don't like this any more than he does, but it's something she feels she has to do."

Newly shook his head in frustration. "I don't understand this. Aside from Matt, nobody is more protective over Kitty than you. I would think you would be talking her out of this."

"I tried to, at first; but the more she talked, the more I realized we need to respect her decision and support her. Like it or not, the man is her father." Calleigh wormed her way closer into her husband's embrace. "I know what it's like to not have a father."

"Oh Calleigh, it's not the same thing at all! That man walked out on her! Twice! He's not a fa-"

"Hey" A row of fingers gently pressed his lips, silencing his words. "Calm down. Kitty knows that. The man just wants a chance to make peace with her. Honey, Wayne Russell is dying."

"If he's not, he will be, if he hurts her again. Matt claims the man wants to see his grandchildren."

Calleigh suddenly pushed herself back, out of his arms. Her words were preceded by an incredulous grunt. "Well… that will never happen!"

Newly struggled to keep his smirk under wraps. "What happened to your being supportive and-"

"Oh, shut up!" Calleigh's grimace pulled the small grouping of freckles into a fine line across her nose. "Even Kitty said absolutely not. If Russell wants to make peace, she's willing to see him; but she doesn't want Cooper or Hadley involved. She doesn't even want him to meet me. As far as she's concerned, he severed the grandpa line years ago."

"If she feels that way, why is she going all the way to Wichita to see him?"

"Kitty just needs closure."

TBC