do not own these characters

Matt took on extra work to put money away for the baby. He was headed back
to Dodge after being gone for two weeks. Tired and sore, he decided to stop
for some real food. He had been eating nothing but Kitty's hard biscuits
and jerky for the last four days. Matt felt a little guilty about spending
money on himself, but he was having trouble staying in the saddle. He
thought some real food was needed. He tied his horse to a hitching post,
looked up and saw the cutest little outfit in the general store. He held up
two fingers about six inches apart, thought the outfit was a little big.
Little Kitten would grow into it. As he walked into the store he spotted a
shiny ring. The ring was not as big as Kitty's rings normally are. He kind
of liked it. It had a blue stone in the center with clear stones around it.
Matt figured he would be unable to afford it . The store keeper saw him
looking at it. Asked if she could help. Matt looking a little embarrassed,
asked about the outfit in the window. She said it was 50 cents, came with a
hat and booties, in both pink and blue. He did not know if he wanted pink
or blue. When she ask about the due date he did not seem to know. She asked
if this was his first grandchild. "No" Matt replied " it is my first child
" The store keeper "I have one in white. Maybe it would be best." Matt
sadly asked about the ring. "It is twenty three dollars." "Oh well" Matt
said " I will take the outfit." The store keeper showed him some smaller
rings. Matt could not see Kitty wearing any of them. As he turned to leave,
she said "She will love any ring you buy her." Matt "Money is kind of
tight right now." The store keeper then showed him some used rings. She
said he could buy her one of them for now, then get her a better ring
later. Maybe for their anniversary. Matt picked out a ring. The store
keeper polished it and put it in a real fancy box. Matt paid six dollars
for it. He decided to try and shoot a rabbit for dinner.

Matt was still admiring the fancy box, when he heard a shot from a
derringer. He felt pain in his back. Still holding onto the bag with the
outfit and the box with the ring, he went for his gun. Turning he heard
Sally say "I do not know how you found me, but you are going to wish you
hadn't." Another shot, blood came out of Matt's side covered the bag and
the box. Matt shot and Sally went down. Matt felt the floor as it came up
to hit him . He looked at the box tried to wipe the blood off of it as he
passed out.

Kitty and Sam had been working long hours doing any thing they could to
keep the Long Branch open. Kitty cut her orders in half causing shortages

and high shipping cost. She ordered a cheaper brand of whiskey than the
Long Branch normally served. Causing some of her regulars to go to other
bars, also forcing her to lower her prices. Getting girls was difficult.
The pay was lower than other places in town. Kitty being sick and tired,
was a little short with them. The girls they hired did not stay long.

Kitty had a bad headache as she went over the books trying to find a way to
pay for the shipment of beer she ordered. Festus came in. He looked sick.
"Miss Kitty, Doc. says you should come to his office, now if you can" Kitty
seeing the tears in Festus eyes did not even close the book before rushing
out.
Doc. " Come in honey sit down" Kitty put her hand over her mouth as Doc.
sat her down. He told Festus to get her a cup of coffee. "Just tell me" she
cried as she doubled over. Doc. took her hand. "I got a telegram from the
Marshall of Beaver, He wants me to come, Matt has been shot I do not know
how bad. They do not have a doctor,so it might not be bad at all. Matt is
asking for a kitten." Kitty turned to Festus. "Tell Sam I am going."

Doc. finished packing what he thought he might need. Kitty was waiting for
him in the buggy. She did not bring anything. "Where is your bag?" Doc.
asked. "Let's just go." Kitty said not wanting to tell Doc.. she sold most of
her dresses. They did not fit any more. The one she had on was so
tight, she had cut it on the sides, and put in extra material. Doc.: "We may
be there for a while." Kitty was almost crying. "Lets just get there." They
took the train. It seemed to be the slowest train she was ever on.

Doc. did not want Kitty making the trip. She was older then most first
time mothers. She also had health problems, He had not talked to her about
it yet. He had told her years ago not to have children. Now he wished she
would have tried for a child when she was young. He knew she was aware of
the problem as she would change the subject every time he brought it up.
She was trying real hard to be happy, so he gave her and Matt the gift of
this time.

The train seemed not to be moving at all. Kitty finally spoke. "Doc I
thought I would go to the hospital to have this baby." Doc. responded, "I
think that's a good idea, a lot safer for you and the child." Kitty raised
her head in defiance. "They won't have me, they said I am single, A saloon
girl." Doc. looked disgusted. "Did you try that one in Pittsburgh? They
take unwed mothers." Kitty tried not to cry. "Yes they said they would
take me if I signed over the child. - Me being unfit to raise it. They
will find it a good home. I want this baby. Doc. will you help me?
I will work really hard to make this child a good home. You have my word on
that, Matt or no Matt." Doc. understood a women gets moody when she is with
child. "You will be a great Mother, the child would be lucky to have you as
its mother." Kitty turned her head looked out the window. "That is not
what you and Matt said, when Matt brought me that baby years ago." Doc.
took her hand. "We were wrong. Can you forgive us?" Kitty looked out the
window a long time "I can forgive you." Doc. knew it was not so, a woman
never forgives something like that.

The Marshall of Beaver met the train and told them Matt had two bullets in him
from a small caliber gun. One in the back, one in the side. Matt was in and
out. "He keeps talking about wanting to see a little kitten." It was clear
the Marshal though Matt's light was on but no one was home. The marshal said
Doc. had a second patient, a woman with a 44 bullet in her chest. She is
in very bad shape. To Kitty's displeasure Doc. said he would look at her
first.

Kitty was sitting in the barber shop, along side Matt when he awoke. "Hi
Kitty you OK?" Matt asked." "Yes, you alright?" Kitty asked as she adjusted his
pillow. "Got you something" he said, as he pointed at the bag sitting on
the table with his gun and hat. Kitty picked up the blood soaked bag. She
pulled out the little white outfit. It was drenched in blood. "O no," he
moaned, "its ruined." " I will wash it and it will be fine." Kitty lied. "It is so
cute." she said with a big smile. "Get the box." Matt told her. She found the
box. It too was soaked in blood. Kitty opened the box,saw the ring, and started
to cry. "I do not want you working so much. I am going to sell the Long
Branch. That will give us the money we need to get started." "No," Matt said.

Doc. entered the room and said Sally had died. The Marshal from Beaver was going
to check to see if Sally had the money from the Long Branch robbery. After
looking at Matt, Doc. said,"The person who put those bandages on you did a good job,
I have to remove the bullets. The barber will assist me." Kitty
sit outside. He again expressed concern for the unborn child. "Just take
care of him." Kitty said The operation went well. Matt was experiencing
some paralysis in his legs. This concerned Doc. He hoped Matt would get the
use of his legs back once the swelling goes down.

Hearing Matt was ok and would be asleep for a few hours, Kitty went to the
general store. Her heart sunk when she was told their were no more little
white outfits. She bought some lye soap. The marshal from Beaver ran into
her as she came out of the store. "So you are the little Kitten." He
looked her over good, then informed her The barber shop owner needed paid.
Matt was not working as the U.S. Marshal when he was shot, so the
government is not going to pay. She said she would take care of it. Kitty
went back in the store and sold the rings she had on her fingers. She received
ten dollars for rings worth at least sixty. Returning to the barber shop
She asked Doc. how long would Matt have to stay. He said until the swelling
goes down, about five days. The rent was one dollar a day. The barber told
her it would be eight dollars for the three days he was already there plus the
five.

Kitty did not have money for a hotel room, if she intended to take the
train home .She was sleeping in a chair at the barber shop. Matt was feeling
better. He was still unable to use his legs. Doc decided to take Matt home
in a wagon with a bed in the back to protect Matt's back. He wanted Kitty
to take the train. Kitty paid two dollars for a bed and to rent a wagon.
Kitty only had money for the train. Doc. did not give money a thought
Kitty always had more than he did.
She watched as the wagon with Matt rolled down the street and disappeared
into the sunset.

It was hot when she entered the station. She wished she could buy a cold
drink, but she only had train fare. Stepping onto the platform she
realized the prices had gone up. Kitty could only afford a ticket to
Sarver. Server was twenty Miles west of Dodge. It was in Ford Co. She knows
everyone in Ford Co. It would not be hard for her to get a ride the rest of
the way. An open air car was a little cheaper than the closed cars. By
taking a open air seat she had enough money for a sandwich. At first the
open air car was great. The wind was cool, and she could see the country
side. Kitty was about to fall asleep when she saw a wagon at a crosroad it
was Matt and Doc. Matt was sitting up,something Doc. had not allowed. He
waved at the train. She waved back standing at her seat. Both Matt and Doc.
gave her the thumbs up. She took that to mean Matt got the use of his legs
back. She thought everything is going to be all right. The train started
up a hill
They laid on a little more steam. Smoke choked her. Sparks from the smoke
stack caught in her hair. Kitty was so happy with the thought that Matt was
going to be alright, the smoke did not bother her. She even thought the
sparks were little exciting as they flew through the air. A man sat down
beside her. "Hello Miss Russell. You don't remember me." Kitty smiled. "Of
coarse. You drew to a inside straight Mr. Sterling." Mr. Sterling replied
"That is me, I am a better player now. I want a rematch." Kitty thought poker
is always risky. Poker without money was deadly. "No thank you," Kitty
said. "Where are you headed?" Mr. Sterling: "I am going to Dodge. Will I find
you in the Long Branch?" Kitty: "Yes, but I do not deal anymore." Mr Sterling:
"I hear the Long Branch has fallen on hard times, maybe I could work a
deal with you." Kitty: "What kind of deal?" Mr. Sterling: "If you let me
buy in I could deal cards. You could sell drinks. We could spend the days
getting to know each other." Kitty said one word - "no." Just then the train
topped the hill. It was flying now. The wind blew off her hat. Her hair came
loose and was being twisted in the wind. Mr. Sterling: "Any woman buying a seat
in an open air car cannot be that choosy, and you're not as young as you used
to be. I am patient. I will buy the Long Branch from the tax man. In that
case, I will not be as nice to you as I would if we made a deal. I might
even put you on the floor. I am sure I could get a few dollars selling
your goods." Kitty was mad now. "I will never work for you, the Long Branch
is not in that bad a shape." She might have been more convincing if it had
not started to rain,
soaking her hair and dress. Mr. Sterling: " yeah I will enjoy having you and
the saloon, yes sir." He put on his hat and went into a covered car.

Kitty was shivering . As the train rolled into Sarver, the platform was dark.

She was cold wet tired all alone and twenty miles away from home