Epilogue

Just Rewards

"Ouch"

"Calleigh hold still! I have to change the dressing." Despite his grousing, Doc winced at the thought of causing pain to his granddaughter. "You are just like your dad." He grumbled, "Stubborn. Mule headed. Thinking nothing can hurt you!"

Calleigh winked at her husband, hoping the older man didn't see the smirk she struggled to hide. "That's because you're such a fine phys-."

"Oh shut up!" Doc tossed the bandages on the bedside table and stood up. "Whatever made you go after Linney Sparks by yourself? You could at least have told someone what you suspected."

Calleigh rolled her eyes, ready to explain yet again. "I thought he was a coward, not a killer."

"Yeah well." Doc swiped nervously at his mustache. "You could have been…" Just saying the words aloud sent a shiver of fear down his spine. It was useless to argue with her. Doc turned his attention to Newly. "I suppose she is determined to go downstairs."

Newly glanced lovingly at his wife. "Fraid so Doc."

"Of course I'm going down." Calleigh threw back the covers. "It's my party."

"Whoa." Newly stood in front of the unruly patient blocking her move. "Hold on there. I think Doc said he didn't want you walking."

"I got hit in the head not the leg. But…" Calleigh hunched her shoulders in a carefree shrug. She reached her arms up in the air. "I sure don't mind be carried by you."

Doc led the couple down the stairs, mumbling and grumbling all the way.

=====()()()()()====

The room burst into applause when the young redhead entered in the arms of her husband. Kitty was instantly on her feet, making a place for Newly to set the patient down. Despite the performance of the wounded woman, she was sharing the title of 'Guest of Honor' with Nina Sharkey.

Nina was not only celebrating the fact that she was cleared of Cobb Styles' murder, but Judge Brooker ruled that enough of her original sentence had been completed and she was now a free woman.

"Would you like for me to fix you a plate?" Newly figured he was wasting his time since the counter was loaded with pies but…

A grin big enough to stretch across her lovely face accompanied her response. "I think I'll start with apple."

"Sit down, Newly." Kitty placed a kiss to the unbandaged side of Calleigh's forehead. "I'll get it." She turned back to the crowd seated around the table. "A fresh pot of coffee is done. Who needs a refill and a piece of pie?"

"Let me give you a hand." Nina quickly left the table and began gathering plates from the cabinet. "I'm so glad she wasn't hurt any worse." A grateful glance was cast toward the young redhead. "I'm so grateful to all of you. I don't know how-"

"Nina." Kitty laid the knife down on the counter and reached over placing a reassuring hand to her friend's forearm. "You have a home here now. What's past is past."

The lady of the house returned to her duties but cast a sly glance at Nina. "I understand Lew has been visiting the cook shack."

Nina slid a firm piece of apple pie onto a saucer. "No, he's just…" Nature chose that moment to brandish the woman's cheeks with a rose colored blush. "I enjoy his company. Do you think that's wrong?'

Kitty offered a wicked smile. "I think that's fantastic. For both of you."

====()()()()====

Calleigh dug into the sweet pastry. She pushed the food to one side of her mouth so as not to slow down the conversation. "I just can't believe he was willing to die for that ring."

Matt held out his cup for a refill and a quick kiss from his wife. "Well, after all he did kill for it."

"Don't sound like he gave it a whole heap a thought but then Sparks never could see past the brim of his hat."Festus shook his head when he offered up a bit more information. "Looked as though he gave that snake a heck of a fight."

"How do you fight with a snake?" Kitty slid a piece of cherry pie under the hill man's nose.

"Not rightly sure. All I knows is, he had a couple of bites on his cheek and a nasty one on his hand, but that 'ole sneaky snake was purty whittled up."

"I'm sorry but I don't feel a bit of sympathy for Linney Sparks. He's a selfish, little man that almost killed my daughter and destroyed my friend." Kitty said her piece but as she started back to the stove something outside caught her eye. A closer look out the window over the sink revealed a rugged wooly man.

As quiet as possible Kitty slipped out the back door. "Bear? What are you doing out here?"

"Sorry ma'am." Bear began to back away as if embarrassment by being caught snooping.

Kitty hurried to close the space between them and grabbed his arm. "You know by now, you are part of the family." She paused for a moment before repeating her question. "Why are you out here?"

A warm smile was trapped between a furry mustache and a mass of waves and curls that hung half way down his chest. It was a smile that warmed the redhead's heart assuring her that the burly man did indeed feel to be a part of the Lady K. "Yes ma'am".

It still wasn't clear why he was standing outside. "Bear. Talk to me." Kitty was learning how to pull the words from the reticent giant

The way she could scold him in that same loving tone she used on Hadley always made him smile. "It worried me when you worked so hard. Too hard." He added sharply. "And Miss Nina was unhappy. Bear turned back to the window, letting his soul soak up the love inside the house. "But everyone is okay now."

Few people would ever know the true spirit of this giant's heart. Kitty was so grateful to be one of those lucky few. She looped her in his guiding him into the house. "We'll always be okay with you protecting us."