Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and have never treated a head wound, so let's just pretend I know what I'm talking about here. I am also not anti-cow, but I did some research and these types of injuries are not uncommon.

Chapter 7

It was after eleven in the evening when Matt and Doc got back into town. Both men were exhausted, but Doc more so. He was physically tired and even more emotionally drained.

There wasn't a feeling in the world that compared to having a man's life in your hands. Especially when that man is a friend of yours, and his pregnant wife is pleading with you through tearful eyes to save him.

Doc was fairly certain he knew what had happened before they even got there. Living in a cow town, he had seen his share of injuries perpetrated by unpredictable livestock. Bulls were known to have a particular nasty temper, and a pregnant heifer could be just as dangerous. A sudden innocent movement could be misinterpreted, resulting in a powerful kick to the head before a man knew what had hit him.

A hoof-sized mark on Jonathan's forehead convinced him this was the case. Doc was relieved to find that though the blood looked bad, it had actually come from a rather small cut inside the bruise, likely created from the impact of the hard, rough hoof. Had it come from any other opening it would have indicated internal bleeding, which would have been much more serious.

After cleaning and bandaging the cut, he and Matt had carefully moved Jonathan inside, where he vomited after being laid upon the bed. Doc quickly turned him over so he wouldn't aspirate, and Sarah and Abigail both began to cry at the hideous sight. It was then that he asked Matt and Abigail to wait in the kitchen.

Jonathan's pulse was strong and his breathing was normal, both good signs. Doc hoped it was a simple concussion, and the man's youth and excellent health would work in his favor. But he didn't want to promise anything and told Sarah he would know more after Jonathan woke up.

When he finally did, he had a massive headache and didn't remember a thing about what happened. But that wasn't unusual with this kind of injury and his other cognitive functions appeared normal, so Doc told Sarah and Abigail that he was cautiously optimistic that Jonathan would make a full recovery. He needed a lot of rest, and Doc gave them a list of symptoms to look for that would indicate he might need further treatment. He didn't expect that to be the case, but he wanted to make sure he didn't miss anything.

Sarah and Abigail shed tears of relief, hugging both men and thanking them for their help. Sarah insisted on making everyone a late dinner, and Doc and Matt accepted out of politeness more than hunger. They were both tired and ready to get home.

Matt had taken the reins for the ride back, knowing that Doc needed to rest. Doc had fallen asleep shortly after they left, and Matt took advantage of the quiet time to do some thinking.

Six months. That's how long Abigail's great love had given her before he decided that the burdens of her obligations were greater than his patience or desire to be with her. And that was with the knowledge that she had committed to marrying him and taking up the life he wanted as soon as she was free to do so.

Six years. That's how long his great love had lived in the shadow of his duty, with no promise that it would ever change. Standing by him through every disappointment that had put her life on hold. Feeling her heart race every time a gun was drawn on him, praying every time he had to ride out in pursuit of a criminal. Waiting for him when he returned, with blue eyes that saw into the depths of his soul and a kiss that made the long ride home worth every grueling mile.

He had an important job to do, and that had to come first. He figured he had given up his right to a family life the minute he accepted it. The sacrifices she had made to be with him on those terms were just as great, but seldom mentioned.

It's just the way it is. Abigail had unwittingly helped him to understand how Kitty had felt that day. He had said it so casually, in a tone that showed no understanding of the fact that she knew exactly how it was, and sometimes it overwhelmed her. With six little words he had managed to trivialize six years of her life. Perhaps had he just held her and told her how much he cared that she was hurting, she wouldn't have ended up in the arms of another man.

Matt awoke the sleeping doctor beside him as they stopped in front of the livery. He told Doc to go on up to bed, he would take care of the horse and buggy. Doc gratefully complied.

Matt walked out of the livery and looked toward The Long Branch. It wasn't quite closing time and he knew she would likely still be in the saloon. He was tired, but he couldn't wait any longer. He had to see her.

Only a few stragglers remained, a couple at the bar and a small group sitting at a table in the back. Kitty glanced at the clock, eager for the night to be over. She had relieved Chester for several hours at Doc's that afternoon, talking to Angus about his predicament and promising to be there for Martha and the kids no matter what happened to him. After that she had come back to work and hoped for word on Jonathan, but Matt and Doc were not back yet and she worried that it might be serious if they were still out there.

She thought about what Matt had been through. Since making the long trip home from Topeka, he had dealt with the shockingly unpleasant Ad Bellum situation, been forced to shoot a man he knew and liked at The Lady Gay, and spent morning to late evening tending to an injured friend. And this was all in the span of two days. She wanted nothing more than to hold her weary man in her arms and make it all better. She wondered if she still could.

It was with that thought that she looked up to see Matt Dillon entering The Long Branch. She could tell he had just gotten back by his haggard look and stiff walk, and she was grateful that he had at least come by to let her know how their friend was doing. Whether there would be more to his visit, she had no idea.

She gave him a smile that let him know he was a very welcome sight, a smile that immediately lifted the weight of the world off his shoulders. He walked up to the bar and tipped his hat to the vision in the green dress who was still the most desirable woman in Kansas.

"Chester told me about Jonathan," she said. "Please tell me he's okay."

"He's okay," Matt replied. "At least Doc thinks so. He took a nasty blow to the head, apparently from an irritable cow, but he's awake and Doc doesn't think there's any permanent damage. He just needs lots of rest."

"Oh, thank God," she said, taking a deep breath. "I spent some time with Angus Farley today. He feels really bad about what he did."

"Yeah, I bet he does," Matt said. "Too bad that won't keep him out of jail."

Kitty looked up at tired eyes and two days of stubble, wanting desperately to rub his rough cheek with her soft hand, but knowing she couldn't. There were people around.

"How are you doing, Matt?" she asked with a tone of affection he hadn't heard in too long. How he had missed that voice.

"I'm fine, Kitty. What about you?" he returned.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Well, to be honest, the past few days haven't been that great. But I haven't been shot or kicked in the head by a cow, so I guess things could always be worse."

Matt broke out laughing, and she smiled at his response. She could still make him laugh.

Matt looked directly into her eyes. "Look, I know it's late," he began, "but I've been wanting to talk to you for two days, and I'm not going to rest easy until I do. Can we go somewhere private?"

"Sure," she replied. "I've been wanting to talk to you too." She turned to her barkeep, who couldn't help overhearing the conversation taking place on the other side of the bar. "Sam, can you close up?"

"Yes Ma'am," Sam said, happy to see his boss smiling again, and knowing the reason why.

Kitty led Matt into her office. Her room would have been more private had the staircase leading up to it not been in plain view of the stragglers.

Closing the door behind them, they faced each other in silence for a few seconds before they both started to speak at the same time.

They each stopped abruptly, waiting for the other to continue. Finally Kitty continued. "Let me go first."

"Alright," he said.

"Matt, I'm sorry. I know that doesn't even begin to make up for what happened, but I don't know where else to start. "

"Kitty…" he began.

"No, wait," she said. "Please let me say this before I lose my nerve. I know you had to go to Topeka, I really do. I had no right to lose my temper like that. I just love you so much and look forward to every moment we can spend together. When these things happen I'm so frustrated and disappointed, and sometimes it's hard to keep it all in. And then it didn't seem like you even cared that we couldn't go together. I know that's not true, but it's how I felt at the time. Like taking me to the sociable was such an insignificant event that you didn't even understand why I wouldn't be happy to go with Doc and Chester instead. It's not an excuse, Matt, I acted horribly. It's just an explanation."

She had tears in her eyes and was trying not to break down.

"And then when I met…" She couldn't even bear to say his name. "I mean, it was a terrible mistake," she continued. "I regret every second of it. I wasn't thinking, at least not rationally. Even if he hadn't…"

She stopped, swallowing hard as she thought about the final act that had so violently played out before them. "It wouldn't have mattered, I could never have loved him the way I love you. I could never love any other man that way. I don't know if you even care, but I didn't sleep with him. I couldn't…" she trailed off, looking down as tears fell down her face.

Matt put a large, strong hand under her chin and slowly lifted it up until their eyes met. "Is it my turn now?" he asked softly.

She bit her lip and nodded.

"Honey, I'm sorry too," he said. "I really did want to go to the sociable with you, more than anything. I'm sorry my job gets in the way so much. I can't help it, but it does. You know I'd rather be with you than on some bumpy stage to Topeka. But mostly I'm sorry that I haven't been more sensitive to what you go through to be in my life. God knows it's not easy, and I know it too. The last thing I want to do is take that for granted. I love you, Kitty. I don't know what I would do without you. I honestly don't."

"But how can you ever forgive what I did?" she asked, her voice quivering.

"Shh," he mouthed quietly, moving in closer. "I can forgive you…" he whispered, pausing between words to lightly press his lips on hers,"if you can forgive me…for making you forget…what it feels like…to be the most beautiful…amazing…wonderful thing…that ever happened to a hopeless lawman."

Kitty closed her eyes and melted into his embrace, allowing the brief gentle kisses to evolve into one long, passionate kiss. The painful memories of the past few days escaped them both, replaced with the anticipation of much better memories to come.

Matt pulled away slightly and glanced toward the door to the saloon, where he heard voices. "Isn't that place closed yet?" he asked impatiently.

"Doesn't sound like it," Kitty chucked. "That's probably Sam telling those men it's time to go home."

"I could go kick them out" he offered. "We have ordinances in this town, you know, and I am the Marshal here."

"That you are, Cowboy" she said with an arched eyebrow. "Tell you what…let me help Sam close while you go freshen up, and I'll meet you back upstairs."

"Is that a hint?" he asked, referring to the suggestion he freshen up.

"Well, sort of," she laughed. "You just spent an entire day on a cattle ranch in the heat. Need I say more?"

"You need not," he returned with an understanding smile. "I'll be back soon, looking and smelling like the kind of man you deserve."

"And what kind of man is that?" she asked.

"Me," he replied. "And only me."

TBC