The Long Road Home 25
I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.
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The day wore into evening and Kitty continued to sleep. Her fever had not returned but her color had and her arm was beginning to show signs of healing. Sitting beside her, Matt watched her sleep, thankful that it was a peaceful sleep of healing, rather then the fitful sleep of illness.
He had been worried for a while there that he would be leaving those mountains alone and the thought staggered him. Never completely comfortable with the expression of emotions, he had almost wanted to cry when he realized she would indeed survive. Ruefully, Matt thought back to what he had told her about them being out there together and alone.
This was one time he was glad they hadn't been alone. Magnus had pretty much saved Kitty's life, and the law man was mighty grateful for it.
Thinking of Magnus he wondered where he was. He had left several hours before, saying he wanted to check out the area around the cave. Matt knew he did but he also suspected the man mostly just wanted to be out in the open and alone.
Several years before, when he had visited Dodge, he had stated he couldn't stay because it wasn't uncivilized enough. Matt knew that things hadn't changed for the frontiersman. He could tolerate town and being around people but his heart was outside, alone in the wild. Matt felt that way too sometimes. The difference was though, he had a certain someone that made staying in town around people worth the while.
As he sat there gently caressing Kitty, Magnus came back in.
"Marshal?" he asked "How's Miss Kitty?"
"She appears to be doing alright?" Matt answered and looked levelly at his friend. "I want to thank you for that, Magnus."
Magnus blushed and turned his back on the man as he took his coat and hat off. "Aww now, Marshal," he almost stammered. "I didn't do that much."
Matt grinned at the man's embarrassment with the praise. "What did you find outside?" he asked, changing the subject.
Magnus turned around to look at him, a slight blush still coloring his cheeks. "Well, Marshal, as far as company we ain't got any. Ain't seen no sign of nothing anywhere around here."
"Well, I'm awful glad to hear that." Matt told him. "What about the weather?"
"The weather is fine, Marshal. O' course, in these mountains you cain't always tell."
Matt nodded thinking about that. "Yeah, you're right, Magnus. What about traveling. You think we could get out of here if the weather does hold?"
Magnus looked thoughtful for a moment before he replied. "The snow is awful deep up here, Marshal." He said finally. "But I went a ways south today and I think the going will be a lot easier that way."
Matt liked the sound of that but he heard a hesitation in the other man's voice. "What are you not saying?" he asked.
Magnus looked at him for a moment then looked over at Kitty. "The snow's deep up here, Marshal, makes it hard for anyone to get around."
Matt understood. "You mean we've not had any visitors because of the snow. But if we leave here, than those 'visitors' might come?"
Magnus nodded. The realization hit Matt just then that they were between the proverbial rock and the hard place. The cave they were in, provided shelter and the mountains and rough terrain as well as the heavy snow kept unwelcome guests from their door.
But they weren't home . And until they got home they really wouldn't be safe. They had to leave their temporary shelter for the unknown danger to the south. He sat in silence for a few minutes, trying to decide the best thing to do, when Kitty spoke up making the decision for him.
"Shelter and safety or not, I vote we go home." She said startling the two men.
"Kitty?" Matt questioned. "How long have you been awake?"
"Long enough to know what we need to do." She said as she struggled to sit up a little.
Matt reached over and helped her moving the saddle a little to support her back. "Well, Kitty, it's not that easy. With your leg and the snow and…."
Kitty reached over and patted his arm. "Matt, nothing worth anything is easy to get. I want to go home, Cowboy. I want to go home."
Matt looked down at her and smiled. "Alright, Honey." He told her. "Give us a couple of days to get ready and we'll go home. I promise you, I'll take you home."
Kitty smiled up at him tears glistening. "Thank you, Matt. Thank you."
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For two days, Matt and Magnus worked feverishly to get ready to travel. Magnus had gathered some sturdy branches and using a couple of blankets, he and Matt made a travois in which to carry Kitty. She, of course, protested, stating she could ride but after a couple of hours of just sitting up, she was tired enough to admit defeat.
"Alright I'll ride like you want me to." She told Matt. "But only till I get my strength back. We can go faster if I'm riding on the back of the horse rather than behind him."
Matt grinned at her. "Yeah, well, we'll talk about that later." He said, as he reached down and quickly placed a kiss on her lips.
"You know, I sure will be glad to get home." She said as their lips parted. "I miss you."
Matt looked at her curiously. "Miss me? I've been by your side practically every minute for the last 3 weeks. How could you miss me?"
Kitty reached up and kissed him again, deeper and longer. "That's what I meant by missing you." She said, when she pulled away leaving him almost breathless.
Matt reached for her and pulled her up tighter into his arms. "Oh, I see." He grinned and bent his head towards her for another kiss when they heard Magnus coming in. "Hold that thought," he told her.
"Oh don't you worry, I will." Kitty grinned.
Magnus came in, knocking snow off of his coat as he entered. "It's snowing again, Marshal," he said as he took off his coat.
Matt and Kitty's grins disappeared. "How bad?" Matt asked afraid of what the news could do to their plans.
"Aw it ain't bad, Marshal." Magnus answered not seeing the look that passed between his friends. "It'll make going a little slower tomorrow, but we can still get out of here."
Kitty didn't realize, till right then, that she was holding her breath. Letting it out, she looked over at Matt then back at Magnus. "Are you sure?" she asked.
"Ahh now, Miss Kitty," Magnus hurried to reassure her. "If'n it weren't safe, I'd a told you so."
Kitty looked hard at him for a moment and saw the truth in his eyes and her heart took a leap. In the morning they were finally going home.
TBC