I'm jumping time forward here. All the events that took place , are in "Grandpa was a Hero"

PT.14

Mother's Love

Conclusion

Another 7 yrs. Later…

Kitty and Sam, now in an empty saloon after a busy night, exhaling a deep breath, tossing the rag she was wiping the tables down with as Sam was turning up chairs. The Long Branch had now converted into a restaurant since the temperance movement swarmed across Kansas. "Sam, just leave it. You're exhausted and it will all be here in the morning. Just go. Go get yourself a good night's sleep."

"But, Miss Kitty…"

Shaking her head and tossing her hands up. "No, Sam, go on it's not that important." She walked Sam to the door to lock up behind him. As he left she heard footsteps, familiar footsteps. "Well, hello, Cowboy. Didn't know you were back."

"Just got in now, Kitty. Left Buck at Moss's. Say, I know it's late and all, but do you think you might buy this tired cowboy a nightcap?"

Shaking her head standing with her hands on her hips. "Well, only if you think the Marshal in this here town wouldn't object."

"Oh, you just let me handle him, and beside I think he kind'a has his eye on you, Ma'am, so he'll probably overlook it."

Now smirking at him, "Come on, Cowboy, I need one too."

Matt locked the doors behind them, while Kitty grabbed a bottle from her private stash and tossing her head to the side towards the stairs, "Follow me." And ascended the stairs with Matt on her heels.

Once in their rooms, his Stetson tossed to the chair, gun belt placed on the hook in its usual place.

The flickering light in the corner of the room next to the window caught his eye. "Kit, you know that light burning in that window is what I look for whenever I'm away. It's my beacon, guiding me to where my heart belongs."

Slowly walking up behind her as she poured two glasses of whiskey. "UMMMMM, I missed you." He whispered in her ear, then nibbled on her neck.

"Well now, Marshal, is that a fact?"

"Yes, Ma'am, that's a fact!" Slipping his arms around her, and taking both glasses and placing them on the table, turning her to face him. "Kitty, honey, every day I think I can't love you any more, well, the next day comes and I find I was wrong! Honey, you are still…."

"Shhhhhhh, Matt, no words. Show me. Show me how much you've missed me and how much you love me."

"Ahhh, I thought you'd never ask." Scooping her up and carrying her to their bed.

Slowly they relieved one another of their clothing, curled up in one another. Matt found he was no longer tired. Instead , he enveloped Kitty into his large arms pinning her beneath him. Kissing her with all the passion he could stir up, then tracing those tantalizing kisses down her body sending her into a whirl of sensational eruptions of passion. Hot flesh to hot flesh. The hunger in them, that lasted for hours, exploded to a point only fireworks on the 4th of July could match.

Lying spent in the early dawn hour of the morning, wrapped in one another. No beginning, no end.

"Cowboy?"

"Hummm?"

"I was thinking," she said as she ran her fingers across his broad chest.

"Oh? Am I in trouble?"

Slapping in a playful fashion, "Oh you, no of course not! I was thinking about us, and our lives."

"Kitty…"

"No, not what you're thinking at all. It's just that Matt, I know now we've made the right decisions. Our life hasn't always been…" now clearing her throat, "well what some would say as ah..."

"Uneventful?" Matt said as he chuckled.

"Ok, that works. But, Cowboy, I wouldn't trade not one day if it meant not being right here with you. We have two beautiful daughters a passel of grandchildren, wonderful friends and most of all at the end of the day… each other. And I couldn't ask for anything more."

He turned to face her. "Honey you're right. It's been rough over the years a time or two…. Ok, maybe more but I couldn't have made it this far without you by my side." Leaning over to kiss her on the forehead. "Kit, you've been a wonderful woman to me. My strength, a wonderful mother to our girls. I sometimes think I cheated you out of a life you wanted."

Now propping up to face him, "Matt Dillon, you have not cheated me out of anything. I told you. I wouldn't trade my life with you and our family for… well, for anything in the world. I love you, Matt Dillon. Don't you forget that."

"Oh, I won't. You won't let me." Now pulling her close into him.

Snuggling up close under his chin, "I do love you, Cowboy, and have ever since I first laid eyes on you."

"Good!"

Snickering at him, "Good huh?"

"Yeah, because I have loved you since that day too. Weather I was willing to admit it or not."

Reaching around him tighter, "Good night, Cowboy."

"Good night, Honey."

FINI