At Last

PT.3

Between Nathan Burke, and several other town gossips, news of Kitty Russell exiting the stage with a bundle in her arms traveled through Dodge and probably most of Ford county faster than greased lightning.

Hannah took baby Jamison over to and up the side stairs of the Long Branch to Kitty's old rooms, giving her time to spend with Doc.

"Kitty, I didn't know you were here."

Standing, nodding. "Hannah wired me. I came as soon as I could."

"Of course. How is he?"

"He's… He's…" Her chin was quivering and Matt was wanting to reach out and hold her.

"Kit… Look, he's strong. You know Doc."

"Matt. We… I… I can't." She covered her face.

Not thinking, he wrapped his arms around her. "Ssshhhh, it's going to be ok."

"Now there's a nice picture." Doc's cracking voice rung out.

Kitty quickly backed away. "Oh, I… I… Curly, you're awake. How do you feel?" She was now turning her back to Matt.

"I'm worn out and tired. But, look, why don't you two go talk?"

"Oh, Curly…"

"No, don't you dare tell me, young lady, that you have nothing to talk about. Either of you. Now Matt, do this ol' man a favor and you two sit and talk." Then he pulled Kitty close. As she was down close to his face, he whispered. "Then bring me my grandson." And winked.

She kissed his cheek and returned the winked.

Just then Ben entered. "Don't want to chase you fine folks out, but Dr. Adams needs his rest."

Picking up her hat, "Ok, Curly. I'm staying at the Long Branch while I'm in town so I'll be back." Looking at Matt, "Come on, I'll buy you a beer." Once in the outer office, she looked around.

Ben leaned in. Miss Kitty, Miss Hannah… Well, they went to the Long Branch."

"Thank you, Doctor."

Entering the Long Branch, Kitty's eyes met Hannah's. Hannah's eyes traveled to the landing that led to the upstairs rooms that she once occupied. "Kitty you're all set up in your old rooms. I left them just as you had them. All is safe and sound." Winking at her.

Pouring them both a drink. "How's Doc?"

"Worn out, tired. Hannah, how'd this happen?"

"Well, Matt, tell her you were with him."

"Well, we were arguing and…"

"Wait. Arguing? About what?"

Rolling his eyes. "US!"

"What about us?"

"More like… Kitty, can we do this in private?" Exhaling. "Kitty, please?"

"Oh, alright. But later. I'm exhausted and I'd really like to take a hot bath and Jam… ah, I have a few things to do."

Nodding, "Ok, maybe we can have supper."

"Oh, uh…"

"That's a great Idea." Hannah blurted out, smiling at Kitty.

"Hannah… Ok then, I'll come by at 7."

But before Kitty could answer, he was out the door.

Now with hands on her hips, "Hannah Dobbs, what on earth was that?"

"It's called, bite the bullet."

"Oh, it sure will be."

"Kitty, Matt does know about…"

Exhaling, nodding, "Yes. Well, he did. See, Hannah, before I left, when Matt was shot and he'd left town, I suspected I was with child. Then when he came back, I thought he'd decided to hang up the badge, so I told him my suspicion. We knew I couldn't stay in Dodge as long as he wore the badge and he still wasn't ready to take it off. I couldn't stay and watch him shot down in the street again and I couldn't ruin his reputation either, so I left."

"But you had that little boy up stairs?"

"Well, I told Matt. He knows I love him and he knows where I, we, are whenever he is ready to take off the badge. But that had to be his choice. It couldn't be because of me or Jamie. No ultimatums. His family would be waiting for him."

"So, you're saying you still love him?"

Huffing out a huge breath, "Oh, Hannah, no one ever loved a man the way I love Matt Dillon."

After a hot bath and change of clothes, Kitty sat feeding Jamie, cuddling him. She was sitting in the large stuffed chair by the window, the very window she'd sat by so many nights waiting for his father to return from long, long night, weeks and even months out on the trail. She was working her fingers gently through the ringlets of reddish-brown curls that filled his head, as he smiled up at her with his sparkling crystal blue eyes.

"Well, Jamie, not how I thought this would happen but you're going to meet your poppa. You have his eyes, his smile, his hair." Smiling down at the precious little face, "You are our miracle." Kissing his tiny little fingers, she lifted him up placing him in a small makeshift bed Hannah had made for Kitty to use, shielding him from the light so he would sleep.

Matt arrived at 7. Hannah directed him to head to Kitty's room, smiling. "You remember the way?"

Smiling back, "Yeah," he said taking two at a time. Stopping in front of her door, inhaling then knocking.

"It's open."

As he entered he set eyes on a beautifully set table for two, taking his mind back to memories of many private suppers for two.

Then as she showed up in the doorway, "Hello, Cowboy."

A familiar greeting, something he hadn't heard for so long. "Kitty, everything, it looks well…"

"Come on in."

Now taking three large steps closer towards her, wanting to take her in his arms.

"Hungry?" She asked.

He stood quiet at first seeing her standing before him. Every inch and fiber of him wanted her. "Ah, yeah, thanks Kitty for agreeing to supper. We have so much to talk about."

Arching her brow, "Do we?"

Twisting his face, "Honey, please?" Pulling out her chair, then slowly sliding his hands up to her shoulders.

"Yes, we have a lot to talk about. Well, Cowboy, foods getting cold and Ma and Hannah went to a lot of trouble."

Now reaching across the table, grabbing hold of her hand. "Kitty, I'm not worried about the food. Ah, Kitty, I hate the way we left things."

"Is that a fact, Marshal? Oh wait, you're not Marshal anymore, are you?" She blurted out with a sarcastic tone.

"Honey, please? Don't do this." He pleaded.

Now with a tight jaw and piercing eyes. "DON'T DO WHAT?" She quickly stood tossing her napkin at the plate and starting pacing the room. "You sure have a conveniently short memory, Mister Dillon!"

"Short memory?"

"Yeah, yeah that's right. Twenty years, Matt. Twenty years. Oh, it was just as much my fault. I went along with it. I agreed. I knew how things had to be as long as you wore that badge. I knew what that badge meant to you, to this town, and I was proud of you and what you did and what you stood for. But twenty years of our lives, Matt? I loved you more than any woman ever loved a man. And last year, when…" Now she began to choke up, trying her best now to let him see the tears building. "When Doc said you may never use that arm again and you still refused to… Damn it, Matt! You still chose that damn badge over u…" Now her face was buried in her hands, she was shaking her head trying to shake off the tears.

He wrapped his arms around her.

"DON'T! You made your choice when you chose that badge!"

"Kitty, you left Dodge. You just up and left."

"No, no, Matt. That's just what I'm talking about. Short memory. Did you forget our last night together, the night you returned?"

Now smiling, "Yeah, Kitty, Honey, it was well, ummmmm…"

Smacking his chest, "No, not that. The rest."

"Oh, uh, yeah… Ah, Kit, I… I…" He was at a loss for words. Now they both let their minds drift back to that very night.

It was late. Matt made his way on Buck down Front Street, still with one arm in a sling. Dodge was quiet. He noticed the lights on in the barroom in the Long Branch and the doors still open. As he made his way across the boardwalk and peered over the batwing doors, there was no need to scan the room. There she was, sitting all alone at a table, working on the book of the days earnings.

Just then, as always, her senses kicked in. Turning slowly, now seeing her Cowboy filling the doorway. At first no words were needed between the two. Then, "Oh, Matt!" She sighed making her way in his direction. "Are you alright?"

Nodding, "Yeah, Kitty. I'm fine. Say, is it too late for a drink?"

Cracking a slight smile, "No, not at all. I was just finishing up here." Grabbing two glasses, "Matt…"

"Kitty, I'd rather not talk about it tonight."

"Ok." They sat quietly finishing their drinks. He held on to her hand. "Cowboy, are you staying?"

"Yeah, Kitty, I'm staying." Then he began to stand and walk towards the door.

"Cowboy?"

"Huh? Kitty, I guess I'll see you in the morning."

"Thought you were staying."

"Oh, uh," now looking at her face, he just smiled, turned and locked the door. Kitty grabbed a bottle and two glasses and they walked arm and arm up the stairs.

Once in her room, saying nothing, Kitty poured them both a glass of brandy. "Here, Cowboy, let me help you with those." She said as he sat and removed his boots then helped with his vest and shirt. "Still hurt much?"

"No, little stiff, but I'm ok." He answered.

They sat on the settee, sharing a drink. Gently, he wrapped his good arm around her pulling her close, nuzzling the nape of her neck. "Ummmmmm, I miss this."

"So do I, Marshal." She said, giggling.

Gradually, he worked loose some of the buttons of her dress.

"Marshal? Are you trying to seduce me?"

With a sheepish grin, "Is it working?"

"Uh huh."

"Good. Then, yes Ma'am!"

Now she burst into laughter. "Well, let's move this over here and get comfortable." She said leading him to their big brass bed.

After a beautiful dance of intimate lovemaking, the two lovers lay entwined in one another.

"Matt, what's next?"

"Huh?"

"What are you gonna do next? We both have decisions to make."

Now leaning back, "Kitty, Honey, what are you talking about?"

"Cowboy, we need to talk. Ya know before all this happened, remember I had a picnic planned for us? I had something important I needed to talk to you about."

"Oh yeah, that's right. I'm sorry, Honey. Ya wanna tell me now?"

"Well, Matt, you know all these years we've done our best at being discrete for all the good that's done. And I've been so, so careful, really I have, Cowboy, but…"

Now looking at her puzzled. "Kit, what's wrong?"

"Matt, Cowboy, I'm with child."

"What!?" He now popped up. "You're what?!"

"Cowboy, we're gonna have a baby."

"How?"

Now smirking, "Um, the usual way."

"Oh, Kit, I know that." He said shaking his head. "But... I just…"

"Cowboy, please say something."

"I don't know what to say." He was in shock. "Kit, my job… You know what this will do…"

"YOUR JOB? YOUR JOB? That's all you're going to say? Again about the badge!" She was now livid. "Are you telling me you plan on continuing to wear that badge?"

"Kit, I have to."

"Uh, you have to?" Lips smacked together, jaws tight, head shaking, she jumped up out of the bed, putting up her hands. "That's it! That's it, Matt Dillon! I love you, I have loved you for better then half my life and as promised, your life is your own. I will never give you an ultimatum, never. If you ever decide YOU, and I mean YOU decide to take off that badge because YOU want to, you know where we will be. But I can't watch you try and cheat death anymore. I just can't." Now the floodgates opened. She rushed into the wash room, slamming the door.

"Kitty, wait! Kit?"

It had all come back to him. Now reaching out to take her by the shoulders, "Kit, Honey. We both made mistakes. We both said a lot of things we didn't mean."

Raising her brow, "OH? Mister Dillon, I meant every word I said."

Pulling her closer, "Ah, come on now." Covering her mouth with his, starting out tenderly, then deepening his kiss.

At first, she fought, pressing her hands against his chest, but suddenly she melted into the passion that took over.

As the kiss broke off, he smiled. "See? I knew you still felt something."

"Of course, I do. I never stopped. Matt, if you paid attention, I didn't leave because I didn't love you. Damn it! You're Jamie's fath…"

Suddenly she stopped.

"Go on. What were you saying?"

She turned and walked out of sight. "Kit, don't walk away."

When she returned, Matt's eyes, widened. If Kitty hadn't looked beautiful to him before, she looked more beautiful to him now. When she reappeared, she was holding a bundle wrapped in a blue and white blanket.

"Come here. He won't bite."

Matt took two quick steps. "Kit?"

"Your son, Cowboy. Jamie!"

Taking his fingers pulling back the blanket, "Oh my!"

"Go on, take him. He won't break!."

"Ah, Kitty. He's… He's…"

Smiling, "He's yours, Cowboy. Ours."

"Jamie, huh?"

"Yes, Jamison Matthew Dillon Russell."

"Jamison?"

"Uh huh, after your father. I remembered you told me that was your father's name."

"But Russell?" He questioned.

"Cowboy, I'm alone in New Orleans."

"Oh, uh, yeah. Kit, he's so big."

Chuckling, "What did you expect? He's your son."

For the moment, all anger subsided.

Now looking at Baby Jamie, then looking up at the woman he loved for so long. "Ah, Honey. What are we doing?"

Kitty stayed silent, then, "Cowboy, I told you a year ago. You made a choice. All these years you told me that badge was your reasons, but…"

"Kitty..."

"Et et," holding up her hands. "You took off that badge six months ago and you made your choice again. And as promised, I gave you no ultimatums. You know where we are."

"Wait, Kit. You're not going back."

Chin high and eyes wide. "Yes, yes, Jamie and I have a home in New Orleans."

"Kitty, you can't."

"Cowboy, just as soon as Doc is better, she was now taking Jamie from his arms, "we'll be leaving."

Frustrated, "UGH! Just like that? Can't we discuss this?"

"Someone's hungry." Kitty said suddenly.

"Ah, I lost my appetite."

"Not you." She shook her head as she sat arranging herself to feed Jamie and giving him a side wards glance. "The baby."

"Kitty, I didn't come here to argue with you." He was now raising his voice. "Damn it, Kitty…"

"Matt, please. Jamie."

He knelt down beside her chair, rubbing Jamie's head. "We need to talk about this."

"Matt, I…" Shaking her head and closing her eyes, not wanting him to see her cry. "Maybe you should just go. I need to put him down for the night and I want to check in on Doc."

Nodding, "Ok. But promise me we'll talk." He cupped her face in his hands. "I love you, Honey." Kissing her forehead as he stood.

As the door closed behind him, the tears flowed down her cheeks. "Oh, Cowboy, of course I'll be here. Aren't I always? Old habits die hard. Damn it! I love you too! That's the problem." Then cuddling Jamie tight.

"Jamison, I do love your poppa."

TBC