Ordinarily, Matt was perfectly content to let Kitty go about her business unimpeded by himself. He loved her dearly and would literally do anything to defend her, but he wasn't about to smother her.

But this morning, Doc had come into his office to report that she'd completely ignored him on the sidewalk. Soon after, Chester said that she'd practically stepped on him without saying hello. That was enough to raise the Marshal's curiosity and he'd gone to the Long Branch to find out what was bothering her. All he'd gotten there was a report from Sam about how she'd come down, taken a drink, and left with barely a word to him. Finally, as the Marshal was walking around looking for her, Moss Grimmick had tracked him down to report that she'd left town at a full gallop.

That was the last straw for Matt. He didn't really mind if she'd been too preoccupied to acknowledge her friends but leaving town suddenly, without a word, put him on a high alert.

He didn't even have to think about what to do next. He just got on Buck and rode out. It didn't even matter to him that he was supposed to be on a stage to Topeka at noon. He had to set eyes on his girl and make certain she was well.

What did she mean telling Moss "straight up" when he asked her where she was going? Matt wondered as he tracked, not forgetting to be grateful that, at least, she wasn't alone at three in the morning this time.

Finally, he spied her sitting on her mare at the top of a gently sloping hill and gave Buck his head to catch up.

"There you are…" he spoke lightly as he pulled up, intending a teasing admonishment before realizing that she was crying, "Kit, what's wrong?"

"Maybe if you thought hard enough, you'd figure it out." She cut him a dark glare.

His big hands tensed on the reins; that wasn't the answer he was expecting. "Are you hurt?"

She stared back in wide-eyed astounded silence. How could he not know?

"Doc told me you walked right past him this morning, then Chester said—" His mouth went dry; she looked even angrier now. "Sam said—" he tried again, "Moss told me you rode out fast—I just wanted to make sure you're alright."

"Well, I'm sure glad the troops are workin' hard this morning."

"Kitty, what happened?" he nudged Buck a step closer, "You were okay last night."

"Was I?" She bristled like an angry cat before the tears started flowing again.

"But, Kitty…"

The look in her eyes triggered something, "I told you, I have to go to Topeka. The annual Marshal's meeting is— I just don't have a choice, is all. You said it was okay—"

"Matt, can't you tell when a woman is lying?" her anger flared again. Turning away for a moment, she cried, "You know, for a man who prides himself on his sixth sense, you sure know how to blow it sometimes!"

"I'm sorry, sweetheart." his face flamed, "I really am. I just have to go to Topeka. If you really want to go to that Sociable, Doc and Chester will take you. You'll have fun with them. I'll tell 'em to—"

"Matt!" she gasped, as sobs strangled her voice. "Don't you get it?" she pleaded, "I don't want to go with Doc and Chester. I wanna go with you!"

"But, Kitty—" his mouth was dry again,"I can't—I've got to go to Topeka."

Her fury returned in a heartbeat. She whipped her mare's head around and gave the animal a hard bump with her heels, "Then you'd better get going, Marshal. I wouldn't want you to be late!"

The mare stepped off into a lope before she'd finished the sentence, but seconds later the good bay threw her head and reared in panic. Matt fired his gun in the same nanosecond his eyes found the rattlesnake but the next moment Kitty lost her balance and tumbled to the ground, landing on her back with a hard thud near the still twitching reptile.

The squeak on her lips died before it was born. Matt couldn't remember a time when he'd dismounted Buck faster. He yanked her backwards and fired again, silencing the snake for good this time.

"Kit!" His eyes conducted a quick search for obviously broken bones, "Are ya hurt?"

"I'm fine!" She immediately struggled to get out of his grasp and back on her feet; the fear was gone and her anger returned.

"Now, Kit," he disagreed, holding her tenderly but firmly, "You just got bucked off your horse. I think you'll be okay, but you oughta sit and catch your breath for a minute."

"I'm fine!" she bristled again, finally mustering enough fire to pull away. Staggering to her feet, she wobbled then landed back in his arms.

More tears fell; he was right.

"Come on, sweetheart." he murmured, easily scooping her up and moving them under a stand of trees, "We'll just sit a minute to let you get your wind back then we'll head back together." He settled her onto his lap and let out a relieved sigh. Then he saw a fresh round of tears.

"Kit, are ya hurt?" His eyes swept over her again, hands reaching to explore.

"I'm fine!" She repeated a third time, bristling less effectively with the sobs rising in her throat.

"Just sit a minute, Kitty. You'll be fine and then we can go home." he repeated tenderly, having to work hard to keep frustration from needling his mind. Why couldn't she be sensible about this? Her horse just threw her!

"I-I just don't want to be here." she muttered, refusing to look at him.

It didn't take a genius to understand that what she really meant was that she didn't want to be with him and that took him aback. In just the time it had taken for him to scoop her up and bring her into the shade, he'd convinced himself that he could fix this spat by spending a little time with her before he left.

"Kitty…" he dared to put his mouth against her ear; his voice low and growly, "I was disappointed too when I got that telegram to come to Topeka."

She jerked back, giving him a resentful glare. "You don't have to go that far, Matt. I know darn well that you don't like dances."

"Well, it's more like I just don't feel especially comfortable at them." he countered, his arms stiffening around her for fear she'd try to get up again, "But what I do love—and, mind you, I love passionately—is spending time with you. I was looking forward to holding you close while we danced, holding your hand under the table while we ate, sharing an ice cream float with you." He put his mouth against her ear again, "Dunking a few of the torches in a water trough then kissing you in the dark while everyone else is trying to get the lights back on."

He heard her soft snicker and felt encouraged to continue, tucking a loose strand of red hair behind her ear, "Kit, you're the most beautiful woman in Ford County—no, all of Kansas—and any man who doesn't think so is only fit for the insane asylum so, yes, I assure you, I was very much looking forward to taking you to the Sociable."

She thought she should cry again. He wasn't backing out of his trip. He was putting the badge before her again. But, try as she might, having him so close she could feel his soft breath on her neck had stopped the waterworks.

"I bought a new dress for it…" she mumbled, looking at the ground, "Same as last year and we didn't go. Same as our trip to Witchta but we didn't go. Same as every time we plan something then don't do it." There was pain in her voice now, and a few tears slipped.

"Kitty…"

He caught the tears then held her chin between his thumb and forefinger, staring deeply into eyes that sparkled with sadness. His mouth was dry again and he desperately wanted his next words to be the right ones.

But what if it all went wrong? There were so many details that had to go exactly right for this crazy little idea that just popped into his head to work out. Time was of the essence too. But he had to do something about this. He had to be sure she knew how much he loved her.

"Listen, sweetheart," he forced himself to speak, "the stage leaves in a few hours. It'll be less than that by the time we get back to town, but the last time I checked, it wasn't full. Could you...would you...pack a quick bag and come with me?"

Her eyes widened in surprise. That wasn't what she was expecting! Then that magical smile that made him weak in the knees spread across her face and she reached up to pull his head down for a kiss.