Kitty woke early she turned her head to gaze lovingly at the slumbering form of her Cowboy. It had taken 20 years for him to learn that the badge kept her safe and it had been the arrival of the then 16-year-old Tom some 8 years ago to start him on the road to their marriage 6 years ago. The sound of the baby cooing in the crib brought Kitty out of her reverie she rose and slipped her bare feet into her slippers lifting her second born son.
"You have your father's appetite," Kitty whispered.
She returned to bed with the boy suckling on her breast. Matt stirred beside her opening an eye to gaze at his adorable wife and not for the first time wondering why he hadn't married Kitty sooner.
"I think I'm jealous of all the attention Johnny's getting," Matt said.
"Oh Matt, you're incorrigible."
"Nope I'm just a man in love with his wife."
"Have you heard from Bill or Ted recently?"
Matt smiled remembering the two former stage robbers who'd helped save Mary Jane when her brother Frank tried to kill her. He'd offered them positions as his deputies and for a while they had taken him up. They knew that he really only needed so many deputies during Roundup. They returned to Colorado taking up positions as deputies for Marshal Edwards in Springfield.
"Marshal Edwards keeps me informed if they can't. Apparently they're patrolling the mines near Springfield there's been some robberies in the area."
Finally, satiated Johnny cooed happily against Kitty's breast.
"If he keeps feeding like that he'll grow up as big as you and Tom. Now he's fed I'll go start the breakfast."
She lay Johnny on the bed next to Matt. Rising she dressed quickly in a simple gingham dress. Matt's eyes followed her as she left the room.
"Johnny your mother is the most beautiful woman I have ever known inside and out."
"You little devils you wait till your Pa and Grandpa get up!" Fred yelled from the barn.
Matt smiled looking down at Johnny. He rolled up to sit on the side of the bed. He dressed quickly looking out of the window. He saw Galen, Matthew and Tess. They were taking it in turns to ride Buck around the corral. He lifted Johnny up to nestle against his chest.
"Looks like I'm going to have to tell those three that Buck is getting to old to be ridden like that."
Matt had retired Buck shortly after marrying Kitty and now rode a bay gelding. Johnny grabbed Matt's badge in his right fist. Matt smiled and carried the infant down to the kitchen. Mary Jane took Johnny to the high chair where he sat with his biscuits. James Mary Jane's 18-month old son was in his high chair with a bowl of ham and eggs.
"Good morning Matt," Tom said stepping into the kitchen.
"Morning Tom."
Tom stuck his head out of the door and called the children in to eat breakfast.
"Sometimes I think we shouldn't have taught them to dress themselves or taught them how to ride."
The kids raced in seeing Matt they wrapped their arms round his legs. He tried looking stern knowing that he was failing.
"What did I tell you about Buck?"
"Not to ride him he's too old."
"Why did I just see you riding him?"
Kitty watched Matt trying to be stern and forbidding knowing that he was failing as a smiled tugged at his mouth. Matt gave up trying and returned their hugs. They laughed as he tickled them until Kitty started putting plates of ham, eggs and fresh made biscuits on the table.
"Fred's going to drive us in to get the supplies," Kitty said.
"Can we come to the office?" came a chorus of voices.
"Don't you always?" Matt said. After breakfast Matt and Tom picked up their hats and left for the office.
Wilbur Jonas looked up from his ledger smiling as he saw Kitty and the children come in with Fred.
"Well now who's for a stick of candy?"
Jonas was already handing them a red and white striped candy stick. They thanked him solemnly with their mouths full of the sweet flavoured stick.
"Kids you know better than that?"
"Oh I don't mind Mrs Dillon. Now what can I do for you?"
Kitty handed a list over to Jonas. Pretty soon Fred was able to start loading the wagon. Kitty took the kids with her to the dress shop she wanted a new dress for the social in a couple of weeks. Once that was ordered they started for the jail, They were halfway across when men burst out of the bank. They jumped on their horses and raced out of town knocking Tess over as they went.
"Tess!"
Kitty knelt at her side.
"Galen go get your Pa and Tom."
Galen ran into the jail.
"Pa! Tess is hurt!"
Matt and Tom jumped up and ran out to where Kitty knelt at Tess's side.
"Oh Matt she's so quiet."
"Tom get Tess to Doc's office."
Newly had by now joined them.
"Newly help Doc, I'll find Festus."
Tom crouched lifting Tess into his arms he carried her to Doc's stairs Newly led the way up. He opened the door. Doc jumped up seeing Tess so still in her father's arms.
"My God! Put her on the table. What happened?"
"Bank was robbed the men who did knocked her over when they rode out."
Doc examined Tess while he talked.
"Head injuries are always tricky. Especially in someone so young."
Doc turned as Matt and Kitty came in.
"How is she Doc?" Matt asked.
The strain Matt's voice told Doc everything.
"She'll be fine. You know I'll do all I can. You go get them Matt."
"Tom you stay here. I sent Fred to get Mary Jane. I'm going to get Festus to help me track them. Newly I want descriptions of those men sent to every lawman within 3 days travel. Kitty I..."
"I know Matt," Kitty said.
Matt slammed out the door he was as mad as all get out. He could track those men easy enough alone. He wanted Festus along so he wouldn't give in to temptation and just plain kill them. Festus met him at the bottom of the stairs.
"I jest heared Matthew. How's Tess?"
"Doc says she'll be fine. I want you to come with me after those men."
Festus and Matt fetched their mounts from the stables and rode out. The people of Dodge watched them go.
