"Miss Kitty?"
Sam stuck his head into her office, interrupting her paperwork. "The Marshal is here."
"Really?" She rose immediately.
"You mean we're still on for our picnic?" she continued, stepping into the barroom with a glowing face, "No shootings? Bank robbery? Stage holdup? Horse thieving? Lynching? Urgent business out of town?"
Kit…"
Matt's beaming face colored as he held up his hands, ignoring the smirking bartender. "I told you I was taking this afternoon off and I meant it. Festus and Doc can handle this town while we go have some fun." He nodded towards the counter, "Sam too."
She took his arm, happy tears misting her eyes. It'd been almost six months since Mace Gore's gang had almost taken him away from her and sometimes, even now, she couldn't believe he'd lived.
"Take care of this place, Sam." She flashed a big smile.
"I will, Miss Kitty." He was beaming too.
"So, where are we going?" She settled into the buggy with the basket of food he'd packed between them.
"You'll see."
Clapping the reins over the horse, he laid a big hand inconspicuously over hers while keeping his eyes straight ahead. Waiting until they were a couple miles outside of town before leaning in to kiss her, he let the horse meander across the road as he concentrated on his passion.
"I think you better check your driving skills, Marshal..." she snickered, pulling back when the mare put her head down to graze in the middle of the prairie, "Or maybe I should take over?"
His face colored even more deeply than when she'd teased him in the bar but he gave her one more quick kiss before clapping the reins again. "You don't know where we're going, sweetheart."
"Well, do tell?"
"Nope." he grinned, "It's a surprise...but we're close. Just hang on a few more minutes." His face colored again, "In fact, we'd almost be there if I hadn't—"
"Been kissing me?" she snuggled closer.
"Exactly." He looked down, smirking.
"You know," she tilted her head up, "I think we could be headed back to square—"
"Nope."
Matt pulled back just before their lips met, lasting long enough to see the horse up to a thick stand of trees next to a bend in the river. He hopped down and tied the mare to a tree while she collected the basket.
"I can carry it, Matt." She smiled as he helped her down, reaching for her light burden.
"I know." he gave her another quick kiss, "Let me."
Leading her through a maze of thick underbrush and trees, they entered a small clearing. "I've always thought this place would be fun for camping." he explained, "Nice and private, shady by the water—but it's too close to town to stop, so I figured I'd bring you out here for a picnic."
"It's lovely." she murmured, admiring their surroundings for a minute before regaining the wit to help him spread the huge checkered blanket.
They quickly settled in but instead of going for the food he took her in his arms again, kissing fervently.
"Have I ever told you how grateful I am that you're my girl?"
"Yes, but I love hearing it." She leaned into him.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Makes me feel special."
"I'm so grateful you're—"
Wild shrieks snapped his head up.
"Stay here, Kit…"
In an instant he was a lawman again, bouncing to his feet and creeping through the trees. But less then a minute later he came back laughing.
"What is it?" Her eyebrows arched upwards.
"It's the just Johnson kids trying out a new kite." He grinned.
"Really?" She snickered.
"Yeah, funny I didn't recognize some kids' fun screaming." He flopped down and took her in his arms again, "Now, where was I?" The childish screams faded from their consciousness, "I'm so grateful you're my girl."
"I can tell you're hungry…" she murmured, enjoying his attention.
"I am…" He broke off long enough to answer.
"What if the kids come in here and find us?" She suddenly remembered that they weren't entirely alone.
"Why would they do that?" He pulled back, hearing the playful shirks again.
"Well, you said yourself," she shrugged, "this is a cool little place. Perfect for fort building, I'm sure, with all these trees and scrub."
"Well, you sure know how to spoil a guy's fun…" he muttered, scowling as he reached for the basket and began unloading the contents.
"Depends on how old he is, I guess." she smirked, reaching in to help him.
"Well, I'm old enough."
"Well, I know that."
"What if I promise to make it up to you later?" She continued after a few moments of silence.
"I'm counting on that!"
Their playful banter dropped off as they dug into the steaks and potato salad. Then when Matt went to the river to collect the wine bottles he'd left there to chill the night before, his eyes wandered upward. Taking in the thick green canopy over their heads, they came to rest on a thick low-hanging branch. Inspiration took hold and he decided the drinks could wait.
"What are you doing, Matt?" Her eyes widened as he put his big hands on the branch and hefted himself up.
"Have you ever climbed a tree before, Kit?" He stared down at her with a huge boyish grin.
"What?"
"Have you ever climbed a tree?" Reaching a hand down, he said, "Come up here with me, sweetheart."
"Girls didn't climb trees in New Orleans." she murmured, an almost scolding look in her eyes as she stepped out of her shoes and gingerly took the big hand he offered.
"Did you ever do it though?" His grin spread wider.
"Maybe…"
Her scolding look turned into a smirk as he lifted her up. Then there was an awkward moment when she thought he might topple over and land on top of her but her handsome beau somehow managed to recover his balance and settle her beside him. His mouth quickly found hers again.
"Oh, Matt…" she sighed, leaning into him, closing her eyes.
"I'm awful grateful you're my girl, Kit." he whispered against her lips.
"I'm awful grateful you're still around so I can be your girl." She opened her eyes, her grip tightening around him.
He responded in kind and it was a few minutes before either of them could speak again.
"You know, I kissed my first girl in a tree like this one."
"Really?" She didn't care in the slightest.
"Yeah…"
Gently, he gathered her in his arms and nimbly returned to the ground. Cradling her as he stood on the blanket, the playfulness left his eyes, "I kissed my first girl in a tree and I wanna be able to say I kissed my last girl—my only real girl in a tree."
"Kit, I had a lot of time to think while I was recovering from those bullets." he continued, wiping a few sweat-damp strands of red back as he caressed her face, "and I found myself coming back to the same conclusion, no matter what."
"What is it, Matt?" She gripped his hand as a tingle shivered up her spine, her blue eyes wide as she held her breath.
"It's—" He paused to lightly brush her lips again before setting her on her feet and dropping to his knees.
"It's that I love you so much that I don't want to just go on forever like we have been."
Her eyes widened even more when he produced a small diamond ring from his coat pocket. "Kitty, I don't want you to just be my girl anymore. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?"
"Oooo...Matt…" Her hand went to her mouth as tears leaked down her face. "I-I—"
"Kit...what is it?"
The look on his face snapped her out of her daze. "Oh, yes, yes, I'll marry you, Matt. I-I just can't believe this is happening." A sob broke though her hand, "I've loved you for so long but I knew—"
He bounced to his feet enveloping her in a tight hug. "I know, sweetheart, I know how much you've wanted more. I-I'm sorry I took so long. That it took almost dying for me to realize how right this is." He kissed her hard several times, "It won't be any easier being a Marshal's wife, honey…"
"I don't want easy, Matt." she gripped him tightly, "I want you. I've always wanted you."
"You have me, sweetheart." he whispered against her soft skin, "You always have. You always will."
Suddenly, childish feet dashed by the thicket, startling the horse and them.
"Sorry!"
Jeffery Johnson, the eldest boy, yelled without slowing down, making the two hidden lovebirds laugh.
"You know, Kit…" Matt stared down at her with a big grin on his face, "That's gonna be our kids doing that to somebody one day."
Her eyes glowed. "I can't wait."