The stage went sliding around on the ice, then rocked violently toward the right. Kitty rolled over onto Matt. Then the stage rolled left. Matt braced himself so he would not squash Kitty. Then the stage hit a large bump. Matt hit his head on the roof sending both to the floor. Kitty, while in great pain, laughed. "I think Tom is trying to kill us," she said as she tried to regain her seat. Another bump and she was back on top of Matt. Matt said, " Maybe we should give up and stay here." Kitty laughed. "You would like that, wouldn't you?" Matt smiled. "Uh huh."

His hand found it's way to her bare leg. She swatted his hand. "Keep those hands to your self, Marshal or I might have to yell for help." Matt smiled. "Ha... Kitty, I have been thinking about you and me and I think it is time we.." Just then the stage slid sideways, rolled down an embankment, and turned over on its side. Matt sounded alarmed. "You ok?" Kitty rolled out the door. "Yeah, You ?" She grabbed her shoulder and laid in the snow. Mat: "I am Ok. You see Tom?"

Kitty: "Up there." Matt stopped a moment to check her, then went up the hill to were Tom jumped clear of the stage. "Tom, You ok?" Tom rolled over. He was in in a lot of pain. "I think I broke my leg when the stage rolled on it." Matt checked him. "I would say you got both legs broke. This hurt?" Tom screamed, " AAAAA!" Matt looked around. The horses were gone with little chance of catching them. The stage was in pieces. It would not provide much cover. Up the road, he saw nothing but snow covered trees. Down the road, he saw the bridge covered with ice. And on top of that, it started to snow heavy. They had little food and no water. Kitty struggled up the embankment and sat beside him.

She waited in silence for Matt's instructions. Matt: "Tom's legs need some splints. We can make something out of the stage." Walking toward the stage he said, "I think a sled is the best way out of here. We can use the door." Pulling the stage apart, he gave Kitty some boards to use to make the splints. "Tie his legs together on a board." Kitty headed toward Tom. Matt started rocking the stage. He fashioned a toboggan using the door and the seats. He tied Tom to it. "I will pull, you sit on the back and push with your feet. "Now which way to go?" Tom pointed down the hill. "My grandparents live just down the ridge. Matt, there is one thing you should know. My grandparents are old fashioned. They won't welcome aaaaa, you see they think any woman aaaa, well aaaaa."

Kitty spoke up. "A saloon gal won't be welcome."

Tom: "They're not bad people, they just have a different view about."

Kitty smiled. "Don't worry about it. I am used to it."

Matt: "If we are going to survive, that is our best bet."

Kitty: "Let's get going. I promise not to make any trouble. I know better than to try and buck a person's beliefs."

Matt pulled the sled through the deep snow. Kitty found pushing with her feet was not helping as she could not get any leverage in the snow.

She got off the sled and walked with Matt. Her long dress proved to be very problematic.

The day was giving way to night and Kitty was getting slower and slower. Matt told her to get on the sled and rest. "Just for a minute," she said. Her legs hurt. That did not worry her much, but she could no longer feel her feet and when she tried to talk, her mouth could not find the words."

Matt decided they had to holed up for the night. Spying a grove of evergreens, they made beds of pine needles under the canopy of the large pines. Tom said the farm was not far, so after using the sled to protect the camp from the wind Matt said, "See you later Kitty." Then he headed out into the dark night, using the north star as a guiding post.

Matt fell in the deep snow unable to go any father. He could not breathe. His chest burned, his legs seemed to stick to the ground. His arms were unable to pull him even to crawl. "I will rest for only a second he thought."

Then he saw her. It was Kitty, yet not. "Get up," she demanded. "Get up I say!" Matt rolled over to get a better view. He saw snowflakes floating gently from heaven to earth. In among them was a white angel. "Who are you? From where have you come?" he asked.

"I have come from nowhere, for I am just energy," it said.

He did not understand at first. "You look like Kitty."

Matt was surprised when she said, " I do for she is my child. It was her ceaselessly blurring the boundaries of existence, that sent me to you. She has chosen you as her protector, so you just get up!"

Matt began to laugh. "You're as bossy as her." The being looked angry, put its hand on its hip, and tapped her foot. "More action, less talk. Get up!"

Matt's face got sollum ."I am lost. Tom is dead. I am dead, and she is dead."

The being yelled in a very familiar voice, "I will guide you. You are not dead. She is not dead. The child that grows inside her is not dead. Get up Now!"

Matt looked into the deep dark sky. Could it be? He thought of the days before the trip. Yes, all the signs were there. Including Doc and Kitty whispering and the silence between them when he was within earshot. He thought of Festus bringing Kitty milk. He thought It seemed strange at the time, her hating milk. He thought about Sam and how overprotective he had become. He tried to remember the last time Kitty kicked him out of bed saying it was not safe for him to stay. "Kitty is with child?" The being once again yelled, "Get up!"

Dates were running through Matt's mind. "She can't be ...things have not been good between us. We have hardly... only a few times since."

The being flew through him then turned and flew through him again. "Get up, you alone can save her and the child."

Matt: "I have a child?"

Matt started moving through the snow. The being walked beside him until he saw the light from the farm. The being began to float off. He ran toward it. Matt asked, "Do you live on the north star?"

The being was mad. "Can you believe a woman as smart as my Kathleen could believe such a thing? It was that woman, my husband's friend. Start walking"now!" And it was gone.

Matt knocked on the door, fell through it when it opened. Mr. Harper (Tom's grandfather ) dragged him over to the fireplace. Once Matt was able to move, they lit out.

Finding Kitty and Tom was not easy, as the snow covered the sled and weighed heavy on the tree limbs. It seemed they had been searching for hours when Matt spotted a small piece of lace that ripped from Kitty's dress hanging in the tree. Matt started running. "Kitty, Kitty!" he yelled as he dug in the freezing snow.

Kitty, hearing Matt's voice, began yelling and digging. "Matt, Matt!" Matt started digging faster. "Thank God!" Soon Kitty's head appeared. Cheers of joy and relief slipped from the old marshal's lips. Kitty was fully alert and helped to dig Tom out.

The huge pine tree provided a dry teepee keeping the wind and snow out. The nest of old pine needles helped keep the two from freezing.

Tom's grandmother was overjoyed when she saw the horse coming. She put extra wood on the fire and set out cookies and sweet bread. She brought the foot pan and filled it with warm water. She thanked God for her grandson's safe return.

Kitty's dress rolled the snow up under it filling it out. Ice hung from the fringe, making a prism of rainbows that danced around her giving her an angelic look. Matt could not stop staring at her, as he wondered is she.

Mrs. Harper welcomed them all. Tom introduced Marshal Dillon And Miss Russell. "Miss?" Kitty did not feel like fighting. "Yes Madam, I am Kitty Russell. I run the Long Branch saloon in Dodge. I wish to take refuge in your barn."

Tom protested, "It is very cold outside, and she saved my life."

Mrs. Harper stood, head high in the air. "You must recognize my husband. He goes to the Long Branch every time he goes to Dodge. "Kitty then looked at Mr. Harper. "Let's go, Matt," she said. "It was not my intention to bring dishonor to you home."

Tom again protested. Mrs. Harper then agreed to let her stay in the barn "with the other livestock".

Matt was mad as a wet hornet. Kitty just wanted to get this night over. Both were surprised when Mrs. Harper brought dry clothes and hot food and blankets to them. It was then Kitty explained, she never kept company with Mr. Harper. It did little to no good to ease the woman's mind.

The dress Mrs. Harper brought was a plain Sunday meeting dress with a high necked trimmed with lace and pearl buttons. "Your dress is wet. You will catch your death. I only have two dresses," she said, then left. The dress fit Kitty around the hips but the buttons stretched at her breast.

Soon they were warm, snuggled between the bales of hay. Sharing the blankets they laid in silence, for both were too tired to talk.

Looking out a hole in the barn roof Matt spotted the north star. He then spoke: "You got your Christmas wish. We are alone and no one has shot me."

Kitty laughed. "I think I will work harder on my wish next year."

Matt rolled over so he could look her in the face. "Kitty, are you with child?"

Kitty turned looked away from him. "Everyone seems to think so."

Matt: "What do you and Doc think?"

Kitty: "Doc did some tests said I should see a Doctor in Hays. He thinks something is wrong with me inside, but he did not tell me what. Maybe he did I just did not understand him. I did not want to hear what he was saying. He was talking about Bonner, and that I can never carry a child to term."

Matt turned her toward him and held her as she cried.

They borrowed Mr. Harpers slay. The trip back to dodge was fun as the horse pulled the slay over the glittering snow.

Kitty was waiting in Doctor Adams' office. Pitiful, Kitty thought as she looked at Doc's Christmas tree. In truth, it was just a branch that got caught in the wheel of Doc's carriage. Doc brought it home and put it in some water with sugar. That had been two months ago. The branch against all odds lived. Now it had a place of honor standing guard over the Christ child in Doc's small nativity.

Kitty took off her necklace and wrapped it around the tree. She put another log in the old potbelly stove. Doc would be cold when he gets in. She would wait another half hour. If he was not back by then, she would have to go to work.

Sitting down and removing her lace-up shoes, she rubbed her ankles. The rawhide must have shrunk from being wet, for those shoes did not hurt when she first bought them. Soon she fell asleep.

It was very late when Kitty was awakened by a small child poking her with a stick. She jumped up and cried out in fear. Matt came running, gun in hand. Confusion ensued as Mr. Wilson, the child's father, started hitting the child in the head. Doc hit the father, sending him to the floor."You're nothing but an old quack. We should not have come here," he yelled.

"Put that thing away," Doc yelled at Matt.

The father got up and dragged the child from the room. The wife started out. Doc grabbed some bandages and told the woman to keep the cut clean and change the bandage every day. "It's all that whore's fault," Mrs. Wilson said looking at Matt. "She should not have yelled at my Tommie. A grown woman being afraid of a child!"Mrs. Wilson rushed out slamming the door behind her.

The vibration from the door slam caused the heavy necklace to slide off the tree, hitting the child figure sending it to the floor and smashing it.

"What's going on here?" Matt asked.

Kitty rubbed her head. "I fell asleep. The child startled me."

Doc: "You two have been jumpy lately. I think you two should take some time off before the marshal here shoots someone for looking sideways at you Kitty."

Kitty was struggling to get her shoes on (which Doc Noted). "I am game, but not tonight. I told Sam I would be back in an hour. What time is it?"

Matt got Kitty's coat: "I went past the Long Branch. It was packed, but Sam seemed fine."

Kitty: "Sam is good at his job. I don't know what I would do without him. I was to relieve him hours ago."

Doc: "I need to examine you. I need to do a follow-up."

Kitty was hurrying out the door. "I was here Doc, you weren't. I don't have time tonight."

Just then they heard the sound of a window breaking. Matt ran past Kitty and was halfway down the stairs when Kitty, in a hurry, slipped on some ice and rolled down the stairs bringing Matt with her. Kitty landed on Matt's bad leg. The Big Marshall struggled to his feet. "Are you ok?" he asked as he helped Kitty to her feet. "Yeah," she said. Matt limped as he ran across the street(which Doc Noticed)

Matt started throwing men out the Long Branch window. Festus came running and was almost knocked down as another cowboy flew through the other saloon window. Festus disappeared into the crowd of fighting cowboys. The fight continued until Sam (who was knocked out at the beginning of the fight)came to grab his shotgun and fired both barrels. The sound was so loud it stopped the fight. It also brought down half of the ceiling.

Kitty was sitting in the wrecked saloon, taking inventory. Sam was calling out the damage as Kitty wrote it in her journal. When she added it all up, Kitty realized she was out of business. "I am expecting a delivery on Thursday. I will send a telegram. Maybe I can get them to send extra. I'll get Festus to board up the windows and fix the staircase. The store will give me tables and chairs on tic. All in all, I think we should close until Thursday. I don't know about you, but I am awfully tired. I think I am getting too old for this."

Sam laughed. "You don't know what old is."

Kitty smiled. "At any rate, I think you, me, and the girls could use some time off."

Sam dumped a dustpan of broken glass in a barrel. "It sounds good to me. The girls won't like it."

Kitty: "I will talk to them."

Doc stepped through the Long Branch window with little difficulty. Matt followed but had to hold onto the wall and struggled to get his leg in.(Doc Noticed.)

Kitty smiled at Sam. "Good thing we locked the door. You never know what rift raft might wander in."

Matt sat on a crate. "Festus said your money box is missing."

Sam looked embarrassed. "Yeah, it had the whole take from yesterday in it. I am sorry Miss Russel. We were so busy, I never had a chance to do a money drop."

Kitty smiled. "It is not your fault. You worked 19 hours. If it is anyone's fault, it's mine. I fell asleep leaving you stuck."

Matt put his hand on Sam's shoulder. "We came to see if anyone wanted to go to breakfast. Why don't you come along?"

Kitty sat down and looked at her journal. "I need to stop at the bank. Today is payday."

Matt lowered his head and took off his hat. "I guess you did not hear the bank was broken into, robbed last night. It is closed while they figure out how much was taken. Festus is getting our things together. We will be heading out right after breakfast."

Kitty tried to smile. "Oh Matt."

Matt looked sad. "We figure they used the Long Branch fight as a decoy."

Kitty looked around. "They did cause more damage than most fights. They smashed the storage room, the ice room, the saloon floor, and some of the rooms upstairs."

Matt rubbed his leg. "We have a few guys in jail, mostly locals, a few out of towners. I have no way of proving they had anything to do with the bank robbery."

Delmonico's was empty, as everyone in town had a cash flow problem (due to the bank robbery). Kitty ordered tea and toast.

Matt smiled. "Order anything you want. My treat. I finally got paid yesterday."

Kitty looked a little pale. "My stomach is a little upset."

Matt put his hand on her shoulder. "The bank will reopen tomorrow. They are sending money from Topeka, and I will get these guys and the money."

Kitty smiled. "I know you will. How long do you think it will take? Will you be home for Christmas?"

The bank clerk came in and handed Matt a note. "Festus asked me to tell you, you're needed at the jail. Seems one of those men arrested last night got him all upset. Miss Kitty, when the bank opens we will be paying off 10 cents on the dollar. But if you can wait, you may get a higher return. But if we get a run on the bank, you might get less."

Kitty looked at Matt. "I will talk to the girls. But unless I can ensure them work, they will have to go elsewhere and will want to be paid. I never missed a payroll before. I have no money to fix the Long Branch." When Kitty went to get up, she almost fell. Matt had to catch her. (Doc noticed.)

At the jail, Festus was beside himself yelling about his uncle Joe and some yahoos. Matt had trouble making hide nor hair of anything he was saying. Matt thought it kind of funny until Festus said, Bonner. Matt stood up to his full height as Festus explained one of the men in the cell was arrested with the Bonner gang. No one could place the man at any of the unlawful deeds the Bonner gang did. Along with him testifying against Jules Bonner, this got him a light sentence with time off for good behavior. He was not wanted.

Festus brought Bill Richards out. "Tell the Marshall what you been telling me."

The oldest Richards boy said, "That guy was drunk when we were locked up with him. Not too sure if he was talking through his hat or not, but he said the Long Branch and the bank was just the start of what his new gang wanted to do to Dodge. He said after all you lawmen ride out of town, his second wave of boys will come in to ransack the town,...and Marshall they are going to ambush your riders."

Matt snickered "that has been tried before"

Bill looked concerned. "That's true Marshall, but they have special plans for Miss Kitty. What he said they were going to do to her made my skin crawl. They blame you and her for the end of the Bonner gang."

Matt held out this hand to Bill. "Don't tell anyone what you just told me. I don't want anyone panicking."

Looking at a map he said, "They rode west out of town. The best place for an ambush is the hopper flats. We can circle around through Taylor woods and come up behind them."

Festus was concerned. "You can't leave the town unprotected, and what about Miss Kitty?"

Matt rubbed his head. "Newly, take about ten riders, ones that can shoot good. Go after those bushwhackers. Festus, you get some men to help protect the town. I will go have a talk with Kitty."

Back at the Long Branch, Kitty and the girls huddled around the potbelly stove. The snow and wind was coming through the broken windows. Kitty was explaining the money situation to the girls. They were none too happy. Kitty told them she would have money for them after Matt got back with the money from the bank robbery. The girls did not have as much faith in Matt as Kitty had. When it was all said, Kitty went to the bank and took ten cents on the dollar on just enough to pay the payroll. She left the majority of her money with the bank."

She did not expect a bank run. The bank was robbed lots of times without causing a run. She was wrong. It only took an hour for the bank to fail. It closed with no opening date. Kitty stood in the street wondering what to do. She sent a telegram to stop her shipment, but it was already on its way. Kitty needed money fast.

Some of the girls were talking about a house about twenty miles out of Dodge. Maybe they could get some work, and sit out the girls wanted to use Kitty's surrey because none of them had a horse or wagon. Kitty rode them out to the house.

The house was run by one of Kitty's old friends. She was not surprised to see the woman as she heard about what happened in Dodge.

Kitty and Miss Dolly sat in the dining room. Kitty was not surprised by what Dollie had to say. Dollie sounded sad as she spoke. "I have work for the girls, but I am afraid I do not have any for you. It is not that your not a fine woman. Why any man would be glad to have you, but the word is out about you and the Marshall. Although that would be a good calling card in a way. It could also cause some problems. You're kind of old for this game, and word has it you have been spoiled by that Bonner gang."

Kitty was a little surprised by how hurt she felt. "I was not going to ask for a job for myself. I would appreciate a loan until the Dodge Bank opens."

Dollie smiled. "I had a lot of money in that bank also. I am afraid I only have working capital at the moment. I am sorry Kitty. I am sure the marshal will recover the money given time".

Kitty looked very sad: "The Long Branch has always brought in a good return. In might be willing to sell it."

Dolly shook her head.:" I like it out of town. Besides, I hear the Long Branch needs a lot of fixing up."

Kitty smiled.: "True, I will be back for the girls when I reopen. It might be a while."

Dolly:"All my girls are free to come and go as they please."

Upon returning to Dodge, Kitty tried to get respectable work, but everyone seemed to be in the same boat. No one could afford any more employees.

Then Kitty tried the saloons as a bartender, hostess, or dealer. No luck. In fact, the only one who even considered her was Joe from the Texas Trail. He said he would put her to work giving the Cowboys the mother experience. It would not pay top price but she would eat. Kitty refused, but on the cold walk back to the Long Branch she wondered if things would get that bad. Looking at the dark, cold, broken Long Branch a deep sadness came over her.

Matt helped organize two sets of cowboys, then turned his attention to Kitty. He found her in the smallest room on the second floor. She explained it was the warmest without any windows and in the center of the upstairs. She explained why she was alone. Matt said he would send someone over to stay with her as soon as he found someone who had not been given a job yet.

Kitty smiled. "No need Matt, I can take care of myself."

Matt sat down on the bed. "This is your old room. I always liked this room...Kitty, why are you avoiding Doc?"

Kitty sounded tired and upset. "I went to my appointment with Doc but he was not there."

Matt pulled her down. With his arm around her, he said, "You knew Doc would be out of town. Are you ok,..., sick?"

Kitty smiled. "No Matt. It is nothing like that. I made the appointment thinking I would have my cycle, so it would be over. I have not got it yet. After I have my cycle, I will let Doc examine me."

Matt looked surprised. "You haven't had your cycle?"

Kitty: "What's the matter, Matt? You scared... I have been kind of irregular since Bonner. Doc told me I might have this problem. I don't think you have anything to worry about. I am just a few weeks late."

Festus yelled up the stairs, "Matthew, we have everything ready."

Matt stuck his head out the door. "I will be down in a second. Kitty, I have to go. I want you to stay indoors. I have reason to believe some riders are going to try and hurt you."

Kitty: "Why? What do they have against me?"

Matt played with his hat. "They blame you for hurting Bonner."

Kitty rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, I hurt Bonner. He might have broken a knuckle on my face."

Festus yelled up the stairs, "Matthew, they were spotted just outside of town."

Matt pulled her close. "Stay inside. Don't come out until I come for you."

Kitty did her best to smile. "I will be ok. You take care of you for me."

Matt got up and went to the door. Kitty laid down. "Matt, would it be so bad if I was with child?"

Matt did not look back said over his shoulder, "You know how I feel."

After Matt left, Kitty's mind started to race. Images of Bonner's camp ran through her head. She gathered the blankets off the bed, ran down the hall, and climbed into the linen closet. She slid a steamer chest in behind her, then pulled the comforters down on her head.

Images of the mining camps, the Texas Trail saloon and Bonner sent uncontrolled fear through her. The room was small and dark, but it was warm and safe.

Matt and Festus stood in the middle of the street and waited on the riders. They knew they were coming. The highwaymen rode fast into town. They stopped for a second when they saw Matt Dillon standing, hand on his gun in the middle of the street. The front rider kicked his horse, pulled his gun, and shot. Matt jumped behind the water trough as the town people open fire. In the blink of an eye, nine outlaws lay dead in the street. Two townspeople had been killed. Six men were injured. Doc was going from body to body.

Matt yelled,"Let's go!" Matt, Festus, and several men jumped on the horses and lit out after the other part of the gang. While Sam and some townsmen moped what was left of the outlaws.

Kitty jumped every time she heard a shot. Then the deafening silence scared her more than the noise. She rubbed her stomach. "He will be coming for us." Then more shooting. Kitty's head was pounding as images of Matt being shot ran through her head. "No!" she screamed out loud. He said he would be coming for us and he will. Something sharp rubbed up against her. Going through her cartridge pleated, three flounced skirt she found Doc's figurine.

The broken glass baby Jesus cut her hand. She rubbed the smiling face of the baby Christ child. Kitty found herself asking the child to protect everyone so no one died this night. That Matt, Festus, Sam, and Newly would be safe. That Doc would find the guidance he needed to do the impossible once again and save everyone. Then to her surprise, she found herself praying for Bonner and all those who followed him. As she did, a great weight lifted off of her. The hatred she had been carrying around for the last six mounts seemed to disappear. She knew Matt would be ok and return. For the first time, she was happy that she might be with child. She found herself smiling, for she knew Matt would be happy also once he had time to think about the child.

Matt returned. He ran up the stairs of the Longbranch, He looked in the small room. He searched all over could not find Kitty. Fear grew inside of him. Returning to the jail he reloaded all his guns. Ask Festus to track however took her.

Festus looked at the tracks around the Longbranch. His heart was heavy when he realized it was impossible. Every horse in town had passed the Longbranch this afternoon. Matt stared at Festus as he realized he could not help her.