The Rescue 25

Debbie W, I have no idea where the name Percival came from. It just seems appropriately stuffy enough for him. And I am glad you are enjoying the story. As for Matt involving Kitty, I've always thought he did that in most things. They were a team.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I know when it happened." Kitty said as Matt lay beside her, holding her while she played with the button on his shirt. "It was our first night alone in the cabin. Remember?"

"I remember." Matt said, kissing her on the forehead. "I wasn't thinking about anything but you that night. Sure never thought about you getting pregnant. I might not have been so… enthusiastic."

Kitty pulled back from him slightly and looked up into his light blue eyes, uncertain of what she saw. "Matt," she finally sighed, pulling even further from his embrace and sitting up, avoiding his gaze. "I told you to leave me that day you rescued me from that stage coach. And I still mean what I said. You don't have to stay with me. With Hill and his men and Brody dead, nobody, but these people here, know you helped me. They won't tell anyone. You can still leave." She looked away as she said it, not wanting to see it in his eyes if he should want to go.

Matt sat up quickly and reached for her arm, gently forcing her to turn and look at him. "Leave? Why on earth do you think I'd want to leave? Kitty, I told you, I love you. I'm not leaving you, especially not now."

"But, Matt," she protested. "If you're not happy about this, then I don't want you to feel like you're being forced to stay. You don't have to, you know. You don't."

Matt dropped his head with a weary sigh. "I have done very little, since this thing started, that I had to do." He told her. "No one forced me to pull you from that stage, or anything else I've done since. I'm here, Kitty Russell, because I want to be. And as for me being happy…" he paused just long enough to make sure she was looking at him. "I am very happy, and scared and worried and all the other emotions that go with news of this sort. Us having a baby is going to complicate things. But we'll deal with it. As long as you're alright, everything else we can deal with."

Kitty only needed a second to look into his eyes to see the truth of his words shining there. "Oh, Matt." She cried, throwing her arms around him again.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They talked the rest of the afternoon and way into the evening, a feat for the reticent lawman. But he had to make sure that Kitty had no lingering doubts of his allegiance to her and their soon to be baby. When he was sure of that, he decided to change the subject to one a little happier.

"I was thinking about Christmas being right around the corner. Like I said, I already have my Christmas present. But what about you? What would you like for Christmas?"

For some reason the question struck Kitty as heartbreaking and her face crumpled as she thought of all they'd gone through and lost since September when she'd been falsely convicted of murder. Pulling away from Matt, she wrapped her good arm around herself and paced away toward the window, trying hard not to cry but losing the battle anyway.

"Kitty?" Matt asked with concern. "Honey? What's wrong?" He asked as he stepped over to her and gently turned her to face him, seeing the tears.

"I'm… I'm sorry, Matt." She sobbed as he pulled her back into the protective circle of his arms. "I… I just… I'm sorry." She didn't know how to tell him how she felt because such a torrent of emotions swept over her right then that it was hard to concentrate on any one of them.

Glad to have Matt beside her, with Festus there as well, she was never the less saddened, knowing she'd most likely never see Doc or Sam again, or any of the other people in Dodge that she'd grown to love. Thrilled at knowing she was carrying the child of the man she loved more than anything, she was also terrified of the thought that something could happen there in the middle of nowhere. She'd have very little help to save her baby or maybe even herself.

Happy that she'd been saved from hanging, she was still a wanted criminal and most likely would be for the rest of her life. She would always be looking over her shoulder, as would Matt and their child.

Burying her head in Matt's chest, she cried for all the things she had and all that she lost and all the things that she would never ever have a chance to have.

Matt stood holding her tightly, not understanding the reason for the tears and uncomfortable with them but knowing that right then, it didn't matter. His job was to hold her and let her know how much he loved her and later they would figure everything else out.

When her sobs finally subsided, Matt pushed her slightly back and brushed her hair out of her face, tenderly tucking a strand behind her ear as he took in the beautiful women in his arms. Gone was the harsh makeup and form fitting, sequined gowns of the Long Branch owner.

Instead he held one of the loveliest women he'd ever laid eyes on. Brilliant blue eyes, gloriously bright auburn hair, soft freckles covering her cheeks and nose and the most tempting mouth with a lovely smile. She looked younger and more vulnerable then he'd ever seen her and his heart squeezed in his chest at his desire to protect her. "You okay now?"

Kitty sniffled as she nodded. "I will be." She answered. "I just got to thinking of everything we have and don't have and I… I just felt like crying. I'm really sorry, Matt." She sniffled again.

Matt hugged her tightly and chuckled. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Honey. But you know, you still haven't told me what you want for Christmas."

Kitty pulled away and looked up at him with a soft, serene smile. "I already have it." She said as she rubbed her stomach then reached up, pulling him down for a kiss.

TBC