CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: Home Again Finally

Here we are at the end of our story and then maybe not. I am debating about continuing the adventure. No more cliffhangers and yet there could be more to resolve. Thank You, Thank You, for all the wonderful reviews you made my heart glad and I did smile a lot as I read them. Thank you so much Dodge City Angel, my Beta, for all you added to this adventure. You were absolutely right. I hope this ending does not disappoint any of you.

Back At The Long Branch….At Last:

Kitty would sleep a little and wake up and sleep a little and wake up. The new day never seemed to come and when it did, it seemed to take forever for Matt to come and get her. Doc kept claiming he knew nothing about anything.

When they finally entered the saloon, there was a big Welcome Home sign and people rushed to greet her. It was so heartwarming, but she wanted to be alone with her Cowboy.

There was Festus and Abelia with big smiles on their faces sitting at their favorite back table. After hugs of welcome Hannah, who was working behind the bar, brought over sandwiches and a couple bottles. "You sure could do with some feeding up."

"Yer right Miz Hannah," Festus spoke up. "Ole Matthew has been starvin' hisself for weeks now."

Kitty raised her eyebrows as she looked at the big man. "You haven't been eating. Well we'll have to see what we can do about that."

Matt looked a little embarrassed but admitted reluctantly, "I guess I have been a little preoccupied."

"Preoccupied," Doc exclaimed as he approached their table, "he has been downright mean."

Leaning toward him with a wide grin and sparkling blue eyes she announced, "well I guess I've got my work cut out for me."

Abelia spoke up. "Kitty, we are so glad to have you back. These men have been drivin' me crazy. When we get a chance, I have some stories to tell you."

"Now Belia," Festus said, "it warn't as bad as all that." The two women just looked at each other. He went on, "Miz Kitty, all ah wanted ta do was pick ya up and give ya a big hug ah am so happy ta see ya alive. Belia tol me she'd ah…skin me alive iffin ah hurts ya. But ya air a sight fer sore eyes.

Leaning toward him she put her hands on his cheeks and kissed him gently and then told him, "Festus, I actually can't wait for a new Haggen story and to hear you and Doc grousing at each other.

Everyone laughed as Abelia told them not to encourage him. Festus ducked his head and said, "Aw, Belia ah ain't that bad. That started the laughter all over again.

After an hour or so Matt took her by the hand saying, "you are looking mighty tired Miss Kitty," and then he led her upstairs - in front of everyone! Something strange was definitely going on!

As they got to her door he pulled her key out of his pocket. He held the door for her and she noticed flowers in the vases, candles lit on the mantle, and lamps turned down low. Next to the settee was a bottle of champagne, chilling, and two glasses. On the bed lay a beautiful white silk and lace gown.

For a moment, she couldn't speak. Then she looked up at him questioningly. "How did that dress get there?"

Taking her hand, he led her to the settee and helped her to sit down. "Sarah had stolen the letters you left behind, so when we found no sign of you, I went all through your rooms looking for clues. I found the dress in a big box in your storage area."

"Alright, so why is it on the bed?"

Taking both of her hands in his, he explained, "It looked like a wedding dress and you are going to need it, because I'm asking you to marry me, Kathleen Russell."

He had taken her breath away and she stammered, "Matt…..I….I….uhm…."

He was pleading with her. "Don't say NO. Please don't say NO. Listen, next May - it's almost November now - I have to send in my paperwork to continue as U.S. Marshal. Well…. I'm resigning."

"Matt…" she began, "we have so many things to talk about."

He held up his hands. "LATER! I've done a lot of thinking. While you were gone there was no one to talk to, no one to hold, no one to come home to. You see, what I realized, Kitty, is that YOU are home. No matter where we are, when I am with you, I'm home. So please say you'll marry me."

Tears ran down her cheeks unchecked. He looked so touchingly sincere that she had to answer him now. Sliding her arms around him, she whispered, "Welcome home, my love, welcome home."

Fin

I researched various herbs used at this time for healing and for this FF. Castor Oil is really called Palma Christi and I have used it externally for years. If you have any interest look up Edgar Cayce/Castor oil treatments. LeClair, Ill. did exist. In 1818 it was called Edwardsville, and is now Ferguson. The village of LeClair was started with a plumbing factory that was way ahead of its time. The employees of this company town could own their own homes, were offered reasonable working hours, an education, and various forms of recreation. I figured having a healer in the area and a lady barber was also feasible.

I believe if the powers that were had brought back KR/AB in season 20, the show would have gone on longer and that upsetting season would not have existed, and the movies, if even conceived, would have been watchable.

Thanks for reading and reviewing my story of what happened after Kitty disappeared from Dodge. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.