Apart 26 - A

AN: Most of you want both endings so I will post ending 1 and then ending 2. And one more time THANK YOU! You all have been more than kind and if I named all of you, I would have to have another chapter just for that. But I do want to give a special thank you to NevadaRose for those pms with wonderful insight and thoughts and SingerMe for steering me back on track when I strayed out of character for Kitty.

"You know, I'm perfectly able to shave myself." Matt groused as Kitty leaned in, straight razor in hand and scraped it down the side of his face. "My left arm is hurt, not my right." He'd been awake for two days and she'd been waiting on him hand and foot and he was worried about her. His worry though, sounded like grumbling. Kitty wasn't fooled.

"Hush." Kitty scolded. "I'm almost done and I haven't nicked you once." Kitty rolled her eyes at him as she finished up and then gently wiped his face with a towel. "There ya go, Cowboy. You're done, so relax."

Matt reached out with his good arm and grabbed Kitty's hand before she could move away. "Thank you." He smiled, his words meaning for more than the shave.

Kitty wordlessly brought his hand to her lips and kissed it before moving away to put up the shaving items. He was still weak but he was alive and breathing and she was happy. It could've been so much worse. He could've been dead, lying in the ground next to Donnie and Mack and… Daniel.

Daniel, who'd been carted unceremoniously away, the night he was brought in, was shot the next morning. According to their kind new friend, Sherriff Franklin Warner, he'd been shot trying to escape. Kitty wondered about that. From what Warner told her, he was hurt badly, worse even than Matt. But when she gave it a little quiet thought, she realized that evil couldn't easily be killed by a beating. And you couldn't give a snake a chance to strike back at you. You had to stop it cold before you got bit. Shaking her head, she banished all thoughts of the devil that had hurt her, Matt and so many others. She had other, better things to think of. She had two kids and Matt to tend to. And more often than not, when Franklin would come in of an evening, she'd have dinner prepared for him and waiting. He was being good to them by taking them and their animals in, she wanted to repay him however she could.

Franklin had tried to convince her to rest and had even promised to do most of the work himself or get one of the town's women to help, but Kitty had refused. As she saw it, Matt, and now the children, were her responsibilities and she'd allow no one else to take it on. Franklin offered no more and allowed her to take the lead. Besides, the only woman in town, who'd actually been willing to come and do some of the work, was Helen Mans. The same woman that'd offered to take the kids in exchange for their animals. Franklin doubted that would work real well.

Almost a week later and Matt was antsy to leave the bed and get back on his feet. But Kitty refused to allow it. The doctor from North Platte had finally arrived and she wasn't about to let him out of there until the doctor said so. After a careful examination of Matt's wounds the doctor was amazed at the job Kitty had done on them. Though he still thought Matt needed another few days in bed, he declared him to be doing very well.

"You know, I don't think there's a doctor that could've done a better job at stitching him up and tending to him." Dr. Hal Nearing remarked as Kitty and he stood outside of Franklin Warner's house and he prepared to head back to his home.

Kitty laughed. "Well, I know one that would disagree with you. But I'm glad Matt's doing well."

"And you?" The doctor asked.

Kitty's smile disappeared as she dropped her head. "I'm… I'm fine."

Dr. Nearing shook his head as he reached out and took her hand. "You're going to need to start taking better care of yourself. You're not as strong as you think." Kitty nodded without looking up. Dr. Nearing continued gently. "He can pretty much take care of himself now so let him. When he's completely well, let him take care of you too."

Kitty simply nodded, shook the doctor's hand and sent him on his way. She made no promises.

Standing in the doorway, Franklin Warner frowned as he leaned against the door frame. "Doctor's right, ya know. You're a strong woman, but even the strongest can't keep going the way you are."

Kitty climbed up to the porch and sat down on one of two wicker chairs. "I'm fine." She sighed. "A little tired, but I'll be okay."

"You're a stubborn woman, Kitty." He shook his head at her as he moved up and took the chair next to hers, rocking back and placing his feet up on the porch railing. "You figure out what you're going to do with those two little ones?" Kitty had already told him the truth about everything.

Kitty nodded. "I have some friends back in Dodge that I think might take them in. They're good people and loving people. If anyone could raise them right, it'd be the Ronnigers. I'm pretty sure they'll take them."

"What about you and Matt doing the honors?" He watched her from under the brim of his hat, giving her space to consider her answer.

Kitty pursed her lips, finally shaking her head. "It wouldn't work. Matt's not one for marrying or having a family and I live in a saloon. Not a good place to raise two children, even were the courts to give me custody, which I doubt. Besides, the Ronnigers are good people. They have other children and they would be best for Beau and Sarah."

"What does Beau think?" Franklin stared out into the yard.

"Beau hasn't said too much of anything." Kitty sighed. "He's been as sober as a judge. Of course, I understand. The way he lost his parents was horrible and I'm sure it'll take him some time to get over it, if he ever does. From what he told me, the men you buried out there were the same ones that killed his parents. Them being dead makes sure that they won't ever come back, but it won't make his nightmares about it go away. And that's all the more reason to see if the Ronnigers will take him and Sarah. If anyone could help them through this, it'd be them."

Franklin nodded, casting his eyes down for a moment before finally looking over at her. "And who's going to help you through this? You got anyone besides Matt?"

Kitty shook her head as she got to her feet to go back inside. "I don't need anyone else, Mr. Warner. Matt will do."

TBC