Apart 26 - B

AN: Okay this is the 2nd ending and the last of it. If the first wasn't satisfying then I hope this one is.

"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 and 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 offered to do most of the work himself or get one of the town's women to help, but Kitty had refused. Matt and now the children were her responsibilities, as she saw it 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 she had done. Though he still thought Matt needed another few days in bed, he declared him to 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."

Doc smiled briefly then sobered. "And you?"

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. He can pretty much take care of himself now so let him. When he's completely well, let him take care of you too. You will need that."

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've got more than Matt to think of here." Kitty had already told him everything that happened and why.

Moving up onto the porch, she took a seat on one of two wicker chairs. "I know." She sighed. "There's the children and…"

"And you and..." He interrupted as he moved over and took the other chair on the porch. "You can't keep going like you are, Kitty. You seldom rest or eat proper. Every time I see you, you're either running after the youngsters or tending Matt's needs. It's time you attended to your own."

"I am." She smiled gently. "Dr. Nearing examined me this morning before he packed up to go. I'm a little underweight, and a little weak but otherwise I'm okay."

"Does Matt know?"

Kitty shook her head. "Not really. Before I was taken, we suspected it and we were going to go together to the doctor but... Anyway, with so much time passed, I'm sure he's forgotten about it. When Daniel took me, and did what he did..." She took a calming breath of air. "I just assumed I was mistaken or I would've lost it right away. Then later when I kept getting sick at my stomach and I realized I really might be... I wasn't sure if maybe I had been all along or who…" She took another breath. "I needed to know first before I talked to Matt."

"He didn't need to know." Warner remarked as he rocked back in his chair and planted his feet on the porch railing. "He wouldn't of cared and you know that." Kitty's silence was her answer. "Kitty." Warner sighed. "I know this has been a trying time for you. You've been taking care of two kids not yours and nursing him when you weren't tending to them. You hardly sit down for more than a minute before you're up and going again."

"I had to, Mr. Warner." Kitty started to protest but he waved her off.

"I know what you did was needed and to be honest I doubt me or anyone else could've done as much. But it wasn't easy on you and I know that. And I know that what that Grayson fella did to both of you, well, that wasn't easy to deal with either. But it's over if you'll let it be. Daniel Grayson's dead. And even if he hadn't a got himself shot he'd be locked up for the rest of his days. He don't ever need to be a shadow in your life again if you don't want him to. It's up to you, girl. You got a man in there that I'm sure is willing and I know two little ones that would jump at the chance. What about you?"

Kitty offered her friend a soft smile. "I think I need to talk to them." She said as she rose from the chair and made her way inside.

Franklin crossed his arms against his chest with a smile.

TBC