THE SHOOTING: FLAME SERIES #19

Chapter 14

The Silent Giant

Corabeth glanced over at Max at the sound of the approaching buckboard. He shifted the weight of his giant frame from one foot to the other and licked his lips in a nervous gesture. Max hadn't let anyone into his world since Sam died. At Corabeth's insistence Matt was sitting on the bench next to the house. He wanted to walk down the road to greet them but his head would still get fuzzy after he stood too long. The trio watched anxiously as the dust began to stir at the end of the road.

Cooper was leaning so far forward, Kitty had to grab on to him to keep him from falling out of the buckboard. She couldn't scold him, as she was as eager as he was to get to Matt. "I can see the house!"

"You can see it just as well sitting down." She gently pulled him back beside her.

"Festus, I heard you tell Momma that my daddy reminds Mr. Max of his son. Do you think he'll like me too?"

Festus wrangled the reins as they started down the uneven road. "Course he will. Yur the likenest little boy I ever seed." The scruffy man cast a wary glance at the beautiful redhead beside him. "Cooper you do member what we talked about? Max don't talk like you an me."

I'm not sure anyone talks like you, Kitty mused with a smile.

"I remember. Momma showed me some pictures in a book. They make letters with their fingers."

"Zactly. And you member bout them scars?"

Kitty brushed her fingers lovingly through the thick brown hair. Festus had wanted to prepare the boy for his first meeting with the kindhearted giant. The best way he knew was to bring up Sally Folken. Sally made the prettiest cakes in town. Weddings. Birthdays. Anniversaries. Everybody went to her if they had a special occasion. Cooper loved going to her house because she always used the extra batter and frosting to make free cupcakes for the kids in town. As a child, Sally had gotten burned by a kettle of scalding water. It left one side, from her neck to the tips of her fingers, permanently scarred. Most of the children had grown up with Sally, Cooper included, and her marred skin was never an issue.

"I remember." Cooper tried to settle back in the seat. "Does it hurt?"

"I don't believe so." Festus nodded toward the house. "Who is that big man I see sitting on that bench? You kin bet that Corabeth's got her eye on him a makin him sit still. She's not one to be crossed." He finally reached the house and pulled the wagon to a stop. Before Kitty could stop him, Cooper jumped out of the wagon, running full speed toward his dad.

Matt was too weak to pick him up but he was more than ready when the boy leaped onto his lap. It didn't go unnoticed by Corabeth that all the while he hugged his son, his eyes never left those tearful ones of the beautiful redhead.

"Daddy we were so scared when Buck came home without you." Cooper settled comfortably on his dad's knee. "And then those men came and-"

"Cooper! Sweetheart, we'll tell Daddy all about it later." Kitty knew it was too late. She could see that look in Matt's eyes. But for now, he was just happy to have his family around him. She turned with a sheepish smile to her hostess. "I want to thank you for saving my husband's life. Festus told us all what you did for him."

Corabeth took a step forward. Matt had not exaggerated, she was beautiful but it was the boy that captured her attention. So much like their Sam.

"Corabeth Keever." She said as an old but sturdy hand was offered and quickly accepted by a younger grateful one. "It was Max that found him and toted him home. We doctored him up as best we could. So this must be Cooper?"

Kitty motioned to her son to come forward. "Cooper, this is Mrs. Keever. She's been taking care of your daddy."

"Pleased to meet you ma'am." His curious blue eyes wandered around the front yard. "Where's the big man that carried my daddy?"

Corabeth suspected her husband was lurking somewhere near the sugar maple tree at the corner of the house. As excited as he was, he was also fearful of their reaction. She motioned for him to come forward. "Max come and meet these nice folks." The big man took a step aside the trunk of the tree and finally ventured forward.

Cooper took the last steps necessary to bring them together. His small features were solemn as he stared at the scarred disfigured face. The prolonged silence brought a bit of tension to the small gathering. Finally, a smile broke and his face lit up. "You have brown eyes just like my brother Newly. All the rest of us have blue eyes but you're special just like him."

A mutual sigh of relief was a welcome sound. Kitty saw the look that passed between the old couple. Her son had just given them a gift. One that would stay with them for a life time.

"See Momma."

"I do." Kitty shared a proud smile with her husband. "What is it Calleigh says, like warm molasses."

Cooper took Max's hand and brought him closer to the others. "Did you really pick up my daddy?"

Max nodded and smiled as the boy introduced him to his mother. "This is my momma."

"Kitty Dillon." She offered quietly as she took his hand. "I don't know if your wife would mind if I gave a kiss to the man that rescued my husband but I have to risk it." Kitty rose up on her toes and placed a kiss to his cheek. "I hope I do this right." She said as she made the sign that Festus had taught her. "Thank you"

Corabeth reached over placing her arm around their guest. "Kitty why don't you and Matthew go sit a spell while I get dinner on. I know you must have things to talk about."

"Oh no I'll help-"

"No you won't…" The older woman shushed her toward the marshal. "Now you go on! Max take Cooper and Festus to see the kids. Our nanny just had two babies." That was all the information Cooper needed to drag Festus toward the barn.

Questions

Instead of the bench, Matt led her back behind the small house where they could be alone. He still had enough strength to pull her up into his arms, his lips eagerly capturing hers. In those moments, he wasn't sure if it was the kiss or his weakened state causing the dizziness.

"When Buck came home without you, I was so scared." Kitty wrapped her arms tighter, struggling not to cry.

"I have missed you so much. I wanted to go back with Festus but…" He chuckled softly. "…But Corabeth wouldn't let me." He kissed her again; the first time was out of need, this time desire. As he pulled back, his lips wandered up the curve of her neck. "You want to tell me about the men coming?"

Her body stiffened in his embrace. Matt held her away from himself to look into her eyes. "It was Strom Medix and his gang." She watched the muscles in his jaw tighten and his eyes grew dark. "Honey its over. They were pretty brutal to Newly but Calleigh's taking good care of him. Doc had already taken Hadley with him so she was never in any danger."

Matt was in a complete state of confusion. "Why was he at our house? Was it because he thought I was dead? Where is he now? Did he touch you or Calleigh!"

Kitty tried to calm him with a gentle hand to his cheek. 'Can we do one question at a time? One of his men did shoot you but they didn't know who you were at the time. It was just an ambush for money. It wasn't until they found the badge that they knew who you were. Strom decided with you dead our home would be a safe place to hide out while they waited for a job they were going to do in Wichita. Strom was shot but he is still alive. The rest of his crew is dead."

Her answers should have put him at ease but there was still one unanswered. Kitty's blue eyes hid behind a row of black lashes until he forced her chin up. "Did he touch you or Calleigh?"

"No."

There was too much hesitation before she answered. Matt's gaze wandered over the gorgeous woman in his arms. His daughter was equally beautiful yet both were unmolested. Why? If there was one thing he knew about his wife it was how protective she was of her family. Had she struck a bargain with that thieving murderer? "Do you want to tell me about it?"

Her smile came with a gentle sigh. "No. It doesn't matter now." She leaned in to kiss him again. "What does matter is how he was shot."

"Oh?" The tiny word matched his confused expression. "I guess I figured Newly or Calleigh…"

"Calleigh wasn't armed when Strom's men forced their way into the house. They had already ambushed Newly and he had taken quite a beating. Before we knew what was happening, they had us all covered. Strom used Cooper as his shield…he didn't hurt him Matt." She quickly laid his fears to rest. "Our son piqued his curiosity with his polite manner and courage to stand up for what he believes." Kitty paused again to stroke the stubbly cheek of her hero. "He idolizes you Matt. It was Cooper that shot Strom Medix. Everything started to fall apart, there was shouting and one of them let it slip that he had shot you and…" Kitty offered a helpless shrug. "Cooper started to cry and ran to his room. At least that's what everyone thought. Actually, he went into our room and got one of your guns. It was his shot that caught Strom's men off guard and Calleigh took down two and…I killed one."

"You? You killed one of the Medix gang?"

Kitty nodded. "He was getting ready to shoot Calleigh."

Matt held her at arm's length again. The cool breeze carried with it the sound of Cooper's laughter and the bleating of baby goats. The sweet smell of apple blossom courted the hearty aroma of Corabeth' stew. It was a perfect afternoon and he was not going to spoil it with more questions. "So while I was lying around here sleeping my family was capturing one of the most wanted gangs in the territory. Exactly who is the lawman in this family?"

Kitty slid her arms around the muscular frame she loved so much. "I think your job is safe for a while Marshal Dillon." She confirmed her words with a kiss.