The ride back to Dodge seemed to stretch on for hours to Matt. All he could think about was the last time he saw Kitty. Barely conscious, battered and bruised, he had told her with as much love as he could muster that, he needed her!

And with each word he willed her to live, to fight and to stay with him.

Now, as he, Festus, Newly and most of the men in Dodge, brought in Jude Bonner and his dog soldiers, Matt didn't know if Kitty was still alive or dead. Matt had asked Doc to do the best he could but the Marshal wouldn't know the out come of his plea until they rode back into Dodge.

But he had made a promise to himself while standing over Bonner. With a large rock in his hands ready to bash the man's head in, he had asked the almighty to spare Kitty's life and he would spare Bonner's.

Matt shuddered when he thought about all Kitty had endured. The rape, the beating and then being shot on top of it. Such mistreatment would have already killed a lesser woman but this was Kitty Russell and she was as strong a woman as they come.

The lights of Dodge brought him out of his reverie and back to reality.

"Festus," Matt said climbing down off his horse. "Get Bonner and his men over to the jail. I'll be up at Doc's."

"Will do, Matthew," Festus said leading the horses toward the jail. The hill man looked at Newly as Matt walked away.

"She'll be alright," Newly said with a nod.

"Sure she will," Festus said replied as convincingly as possible.

Matt bounded up the steps to the physician's office and quietly opened the door. His heart sank when he seen Doc's empty exam table.

"Matt," Doc said getting up from his chair.

"Where's, Kitty?"

"She's alright," Doc said quickly after noticing the agonizing look on the Marshal's face. "I moved her to the bed in the back. I figured she'd be more comfortable there."

(One day before)

"In less, I'm an awful fool," Bonner said meeting Kitty's eyes. "I got something he wants back to, bad!"

Kitty watched tied up as Bonner continued.

"I lose, he loses! Easy as that! I ain't gonna lay a hand on you but if I hear that boy is hanging, woman, you dont mean nothing to me."

And then to Kitty's horror, the news Bonner had hoped not to hear came from one of his men.

"They hung him, Jude!"

Kitty cried out when Bonner grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet.

"I told you!" Bonner yelled angrily. "Now lady, you don't mean nothing to me!"

At first, she had fought Bonner who decided to have his way with her in retaliation for his brother's hanging. But then she realized to her horror that she was beginning to respond. She tried to jerk away, but Bonner had her pinned in a way that made any resistance on her part indistinguishable from active cooperation.

Kitty tried to bring her body under control! 'Think of who's doing this!' she told herself.

But it was too much for her, for anyone.

Feeling the woman's inner flesh clenching around him, Bonner thrust all the way in and let himself climax.

Shuddering convulsively in ecstasy as his manhood pulsed deep inside her, he collapsed onto Kitty's heaving chest.

'Oh, God,' she thought, utter despair washing over her. 'I'm lost. He has me now. He'll be able to do anything he wants. I'll never escape.'

(Dodge)

Kitty tossed her head back and forth as the dream progressively got worse.

"Kitty!"

She came to with a start and shrank from the man's touch.

"Don't," she said meeting Matt's eyes. "Touch me."

Matt slowly pulled his hand back before taking a seat next to her bed.

"We got him, Kitty," Matt said gently.

Kitty blinked slowly, letting Matt's words sink into her abused and befuddled mind.

"Did you hear me?" Matt asked gently. "We got Bonner! He's in jail!"

"I heard," Kitty said squeezing her eyes shut.

Matt got up slowly and stepped out of the room.

"Doc," he said in whispered tones. "Is she going to be alright?"

"I think so," Doc replied swiping at his mustache. "But it's gonna take time, Matt. Lots of time and..."

"And what?" Matt asked worriedly.

"Love, Matt," Doc said meeting his eyes. "She needs to feel she's loved!"