The List Conclusion

Just wanted to say Thank You to everyone for your kind remarks. I do appreciate them, and YES SusyQ, I love happy endings very much.

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The day of the wedding was beautiful and sunny. Not a cloud in the sky. It was as though God had decided to make the day perfect for two people who had waited so long to be together.

"Well, you about ready?" Matt slapped Dave on the shoulder as he came beside him while he stood awkwardly by the altar. "I talked to Kitty a couple of minutes ago and she said Jean is just putting on the finishing touches. She also said she was beautiful."

Dave nodded with a frown. "She's always been beautiful." He sighed. "And I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

Matt looked at him a little quizzically. "You mean you don't want to get married?"

Dave realized how it sounded and shook his head. "Oh, no, that's not what I meant. I think I want this perhaps more than Jean does but I… I… I don't guess I'll understand why Jean has held on this long or how I got to be so lucky as to be the one she held on for. I know I don't deserve her. I've done a lot of things that make me less than worthy of her and yet she still loves me."

Matt's mind went to Kitty and realized he and Dave had a lot in common. "Yeah, well, she does love you though." He smiled. "And in a few minutes, she's going to be yours forever. You can't do anything about the past, but you can the future. Just be sure to make her future worthwhile and the past won't matter."

Dave nodded, a smile replacing the frown. "I guess you're right, and I do intend to make her future a good one." He looked around to make sure no one was near. "I'd appreciate you keeping this under your hat, until I can talk to Jean, Marshal, but I bought the old Marsden farm south of here for a wedding present for Jean. I want us to have a place of our own outside of town and a solid place to start our future."

"That's great," Matt said with a smile just as the music started. "Speaking of the future, here she comes now."

Dave turned to see Kitty gliding gracefully down the aisle holding tightly to the youngest Ronniger girl as the child tossed flower petals on anyone within her reach. Behind them was the woman he had thought he would never have and would never deserve. Dressed in a full length white satin dress with tiny white beads around the cuffs and bodice, with a halo of flowers in a circle around her head holding the bridal veil, she was a vision.

When she finally reached his side, he had to reach up and wipe away a tear that had collected in the corner of his eye as he realized that in a few minutes she would be his. Taking her arm in his, he held tightly as the ceremony began and the minister gave them their vows to repeat.

When he finally pronounced them man and wife, Dave pulled her into his embrace and softly pressed his lips to hers, deepening the kiss when she enthusiastically responded. When their lips finally parted and they turned to the people gathered there, and were announced as Mr. and Mrs. Dave Shipman, there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

Later that afternoon at the reception, Doc and Matt stood near the back of the room watching the other guests and of course the handsome couple swaying happily in each other's arms.

"Give you any ideas?" Doc slyly asked, cutting his eyes at the big man next to him. "Seems like Dave there is happy he took the plunge."

"I'm not Dave." Matt replied sharply. "Excuse me. I'm going to get some more punch." As Matt headed in the direction of the punch bowl he was followed by Doc's chuckle.

"Hello, Cowboy." Kitty came up alongside him. "Buy a girl a drink?"

Matt's irritation disappeared as he looked down at her. "Sure." He replied. "You having a good time?"

"Sure am." She smiled. "Jean made such a lovely bride and Dave is so handsome. They really make a nice couple."

"Um, hum." Matt nodded; handing her a glass of punch. Noticing the wistful expression on her beautiful face as she watched the happy couple, he dropped his head, knowing what she was thinking.

"Excuse me, Marshal."

Matt looked up to see Jace Sherman standing in front of him. Tall, well-built, chiseled looks and owner of the one of the most successful ranches in Ford County; he was a catch for just about any woman. And right then he only had eyes for the woman standing beside Matt.

"Sorry to interrupt you, Marshal, but I just wanted to ask Kitty here for a dance." He turned his dimpled smile and brilliant green eyes on the pretty woman, silently begging her to accept. "What do you say, Kitty? You've danced with everybody but me and the Marshal, here. I figure it's my turn."

Matt winced slightly. What Sherman said, stung. Kitty hadn't danced with him, it was true, but it wasn't her fault, it had been his. In fact, he realized, a lot of things was his fault. "Uh, sorry, Jace." Matt spoke up before Kitty could form a reply. "It's actually my turn. Come on, Kitty." Taking her hand he led her out onto the dance floor, before she or Sherman either one could say anything.

Kitty arched a brow at him as he escorted her out onto the floor. "OK, Cowboy. What's up? I know it's not because you love to dance. What's the matter? Afraid Jace is going sweep me off my feet?"

Matt looked away and took a deep breath. She didn't know how close she'd come to the truth in that statement. "Yes." He answered truthfully. "I guess I am."

Shocked, Kitty pulled back from him and stopped. "What? Matt, you should know better than that."

Matt studied her face for several moments and Kitty could tell he was trying to make up his mind to something. Finally he took her hand and turned towards the front where the band was still playing. Leading her right up front, he motioned to Sam to stop playing then raised his hands as the dancers turned to find out why the music stopped. "Folks! Folks, can I have your attention please?"

The question was moot since he already had it from most of the party goers. "I… uh, know this is a reception for Dave and Jean and all and I don't wish to do anything to take away from that. But,.." He paused and looked down at Kitty's puzzled face. "Well, since you're all here, I thought you should know that in the morning, I'm going to be sending a letter to Washington and resigning my job as US Marshal."

Cries of, "No." and "You're kidding me." And "That can't be. What would we do without him? Say it isn't so." Were heard all around the building. Kitty said nothing. She was too stunned to say anything.

Matt gave her a loving squeeze of the hand, he still held, and raised his voice again. "Folks, hear me out if you would. I've been Marshal here for over 20 years and I think it's time I quit and enjoyed life while I still can. Now, I know you're worried about your safety, but you shouldn't. I have already identified someone to take over for me and I think he'll do an even better job than me."

"That's not so." Several voices cried. "No body can do as good as you."

Matt smile in gratitude but he shook his head, raising his voice yet again. "I appreciate that everyone. It means a lot, it really does. But you see…" He paused and looked once again at Kitty's still puzzled face. "I got a reason for quitting. Actually I've had this reason for some time but I was just too stubborn to acknowledge it. And now… well, now I'm hoping I'm not too late."

Matt pulled Kitty closer to him and reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a small black box. Opening it, he carefully handed it to Kitty. "Kitty Russell." He said with all the solemnity that the occasion called for. "Will you marry me?"

A hush fell over the crowd and it seemed to him later that everybody had stopped and held their breath as they waited for her answer. Including himself.

Kitty stood in stunned silence. Though they had discussed this topic at Jean's dance, she had never expected him to actually do it. For several long moments she stood and stared at the tall man in front of her and then at the ring in the box he held.

"Well?" He finally prodded. "Will you?"

Kitty's smile would have lit up the barn and the countryside had there been no lamps or moonlight. "YES!" She practically shouted as she took the box and threw her arms around him.

Doc stood at the back of the barn with a satisfied smile on his face as he watched the entire town press forward to congratulate the two beaming people up front. Reaching into his pocket, he took out a piece of paper and carefully unfolded it. Pulling a pencil from the same pocket, he made a small mark across some of the words on it's surface. "Well, there's one more off my llist." He shook his head with a sigh. "I hope those two work fast. I still have grandkids on this list."

The End