Town Life

I don't these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had than that.

Author's note: This is a continuation of the story Ranch Life which followed For the Love of Kitty and Three Years Later and is the last of this series. Also this story is for my friend Janie. Sorry it took me so long, Janie. I hope you like it. I think this will be the last of any Matt and Kitty married stories from me for a while.

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"Matt! Matt!" Kitty came rushing into the house, trailing kids and packages, her mind on her husband. She had no sooner returned home from town with James and Emily, then one of the ranch hands told her that Matt had gone to the house sick. That concerned her tremendously. Matt was seldom sick, and usually wouldn't admit it when he was.

"I'm in here," she heard him call from the front room.

Quickly crossing the hallway, she stepped into the front room to find Matt lying back in his chair, his feet up and his head back. "Are you okay?" she asked worriedly as she laid Emily down in her bassinette. "James, why don't you go on up to your room and change your clothes." She turned to her son.

"I wanna go out and play." He answered; taking on a tone and expression she knew came straight from his father.

"James," Matt said sternly. "You heard your mother. Go on upstairs and change your clothes."

James heard the tone of his father's voice and decided against any further protests. He still remembered the last time he disobeyed his parents and didn't want another switching. "Yes, sir." He answered sullenly.

Kitty shook her head with some amusement as she watched him trudge up the stairs. "He's getting to be more and more like you." She declared. "Stubborn."

Matt, who had his eyes closed, opened one blue orb and peered at her with a grin. "Yep, and I'm proud of it. But it seems to me, I'm not the only stubborn member of this family."

Kitty giggled in spite of herself and crossed over to Matt, placing her hand on his forehead. "Tom said you came in early because you were sick. What's wrong?"

Matt took her hand off his forehead and pulled her into his lap. "Oh nothing," he sighed, as he kissed her neck. "Just a little tired. How about you?"

"Oh nothing," Kitty said drily, mimicking his tone, "just a little pregnant."

Matt raised his head with a smile and pulled her lips to his in a kiss. "I knew it." He said with a smirk. "What'd Doc say?" he asked.

"He didn't," she answered as she got up from his lap. "Doc wasn't there. Milt Griffin sent for him, something about his wife being sick. Unless he's changed drastically, Milt probably got drunk and beat her up. I heard Newly rode out there with Doc."

Matt shrugged. "Probably right. Milt's a mean drunk. Always has been." He looked at the clock over the mantle. "So if you didn't see Doc, what took you so long in town?"

He missed the warning look she shot him. Though for the last couple of months he had been on his best behavior when it came to being overprotective, he sometimes forgot.

Kitty shook her head, and sighed, reminding herself that he had been trying to control himself.

"Doc wasn't there, but his new partner, Dr. Aldridge was. I really didn't want anyone but Doc to examine me, but Dr. Aldridge insisted, and since he is going to be taking over for Doc, I went ahead and let him. I'll tell you what though, that is an extremely uncomfortable experience."

"Well then what did Dr. Aldridge say?" Matt questioned. "I mean everything's alright isn't it?"

"Yes, everything's fine." She answered. "He gave all of the same cautions and warnings that Doc would give me, but I'm just fine."

But Matt heard something in her tone that told him everything wasn't fine. "What's wrong, Kitty?" He asked as he got up and stepped over to her.

"Oh, nothing." She sighed.

Matt shook his head as he pulled her into his arms. "You forget I know you too well. Something's bothering you, now, what is it?"

Kitty's face flushed a little as she looked down. "You're going to think I'm being silly and childish."

Matt suppressed his grin and shook his head, tugging at her chin until she looked up at him. "Never."

Kitty bit her lip before finally sighing again. "The Kearn's barn dance is in two months and I want to go but… but… well… I…" She faced turned even redder as she dropped her head again.

"But you'll be five months pregnant by then and you're afraid of what you'll look like." He finished for her.

Kitty nodded without looking up. "I know it's silly. Go ahead and laugh."

Matt shook his head as he wrapped his arms around her. "I wouldn't dream of it. And it wouldn't matter if you were as big as a house, you'll still outshine every woman there."

When Kitty didn't answer he dropped a kiss on her forehead and tucked her under his chin. "Remember when you were pregnant with Emily?" He asked. "And that cattle buyer came by to see me but kept hanging around even after he found out I wasn't here. He certainly thought you were beautiful and if I'm not mistaken you were 7 months pregnant then."

Kitty chuckled slightly remembering the short balding little man that sweated profusely and kept licking his lips when he looked at her. "Yeah, I remember."

"And there were several others too. Remember the dude that was going to open another hotel here? He was bound and determined to get your attention. As a matter of fact, I was beginning to think I was going to have some competition there."

Kitty looked lovingly up into his sky blue eyes and smiled, understanding what he was doing and loving him for it. "Not on your life, Cowboy." She pulled his head down to hers. "They couldn't have held a candle to you."

"Good," he grinned down at her. "Then would you agree to go to a dance with me, Mrs. Dillon?"

Kitty chuckled. "I think it's obvious we've already danced, Mr. Dillon. But I would be very happy to go with you anywhere you want."

"That's my girl." He chuckled as he dropped his lips to hers.

TBC