Matt turned back around toward the windows when he heard a loud noise. Festus son and cousin Henry Haggen were done digging Kitty's grave and would soon be heading back up to the house after putting her in it. He wondered how he was going to take the two men. But when he sought out Michael's advice in the matter, Matt was perplexed to find he had disappeared once again.

"Looks like I'm on my own," he said with a disbelieving sigh.

Matt figured it would be a good idea to gag Festus first so that he couldn't scream and alert his cohorts. "Don't go away now," he said with a wiry grin aimed at the hill man's angry look before heading to the front door.

The Marshal figured, the best way to take the two men would be as they entered the house. That way it would be totally by surprise. Henry was the first to enter, but Matt waited until both me were inside before slamming the door. They both turned around to find Matt's gun level with their chests.
P
"First one moves gets it, understand!" Matt said reaching for Henry's gun.

But, Festus son was just as stubborn as his father. While Matt was preoccupied for just a split second, it gave the youngster the opportunity to draw his gun while throwing himself into Matt and Henry. Coming out on top from sheer brute strength, Matt found himself starring down the barrel of the boy's gun.

"This makes me in charge!" he said with a nod toward Henry as they
Lscrambled to get to their feet. "Take his gun!"

Henry grabbed the weapon quickly before he handed it to the younger man. "What ya gonna do now, Matthew?"

Matt clinched his jaw as the boy smiled at his older cousin. "I think it's time we got rid of the problem," he said pulling the hammer of the gun back.

Matt awoke with a start and looked around the camp. The fire had died down to just some glowing embers which cast the only light. Looking up, he ll
marveled at the night sky and all the stars.

"Didn't expect to find you awake," Michael said returning to the camp with some fire wood. "It'll be morning soon, you'll want some coffee before heading home."

"Guess, I had a bad dream," Matt said sheepishly trying to shake what happened from his mind as Michael smiled.

"He pulled the trigger," Michael stated nonchalantly. "In case you were wondering."

Matt closed his eyes thoughtfully as he remembered the hurt he felt when Kitty died. "Just tell me one thing if you can," he asked as Michael stood up. "Will things be normal when I return to Dodge?"

"Depends," Michael replied evenly. "On whether you're ready to forgive yourself."

"Forgiveness is easy," Matt said wearily. "Forgetting takes time!"

Ridding into Dodge in the dawns early light, Matt stopped at the stable and pulled his horse inside. He was some what relieved to find his stall empty and the stable itself neat and tidy as it should be. But it didn't completely put his mind at ease as he headed down the boardwalk. The Long Branch's doors were open, the lights were on and voices could be heard from within.

Tentatively stepping up to the doors, he peered inside to find Kitty and Festus wrapped in each other's arms in a tight embrace.

Kitty's eyes flew open when a floor board creaked near the door. Breaking the embrace, she whirled around and sucked in a deep breath as Matt hesitantly stepped inside the saloon.

"Oh, Matt!" She cried before rushing into his arms. "Where have you been! You've been gone for three days! We were all worried about you!"

"Three days?" Matt said as Festus stepped forward.

"That's right, Matthew! I tried trackin yer trail but I just lost it bout a couple miles away from the gorge. Where ya been?"

"Not sure," Matt replied quietly. "I guess, it was time to come home."

"You look tired, Matt," Kitty said looking into his eyes. "Are you hungry?"

"No," Matt said with a sigh. "I'm not hungry or tired."

"Alright," Kitty said skeptically. "Festus, go tell Doc that Matt's back."

"Sure thang, Miss Kitty," Festus said with a nod aimed at the Marshal. "You let me know if you need anything, Matthew."

"Thanks, Festus," Matt replied watching him go before turning back to Kitty. "Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you.

"You did," Kitty said slightly annoyed. "But, your back now. Come upstairs and get some sleep. I'll make sure you're not disturbed."

"Sounds good," Matt said wrapping his arms around her. "I missed you!"

"And, I missed you to," Kitty replied. "Now, c'mon. Let's go to bed, I'm exhausted."

"Well," Doc said later at breakfast with Matt at Delmonico's. "That's quite a dream you had."

"Yeah," Matt replied picking at his food. "Only thing is, I don't know if it was a dream!"

"Of course it was!" Doc said angrily. "If you ask me, you were to hard on yourself over that stage coach accident and the hurt manifested itself into your dream."

"I hope your right, Doc," Matt said with a sigh. "I just can't help but think about what all your lives turned out to be without me."

"Well, I find it highly unlikely that Kitty would go for anyone other than you!" Doc said with s swipe of his mustache. "Especially not with Festus!"

"What makes you so sure," Matt said quietly. "I saw them hugging last night!"

"So," Doc replied flabbergasted. "Kitty hugs everyone and as upset as she was, why Festus was probably just trying to comfort her is all!"

"It does make sense," Matt said pushing his plate away. "I have to write a report on what happened. I'll catch up to you later."

"Alright," Doc said shaking his head as he watched him go.

Matt's mind wandered as he walked down the boardwalk toward the jail. He still had so many unanswered question but he thought better of telling Kitty and Festus about his 'dream'.

"Was it a dream?" he mumbled to himself as a dismembered voice answered back.

"Perhaps," Michael said from the shadows of Matt's office.

Coming into the light, Matt finally got a good look at the man. With almost angelic features, he was assuredly no one the Marshal had ever laid eyes on before.

"It was just a dream!" Matt said sternly before taking a seat at his desk.

"If that's what you wish to believe," Michael replied. "Then that is what it will be!"

"What else could it be?" Matt asked as Michael moved toward the door.

"Come now, Matthew," he said with a mischievous grin. "Why question something you already know the answer to."

*End! Thank you all for reading, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year*