Despite Matt's plan, when the young couple reached the cavern with the overhead hole, they were stunned to see that the recent cave-in had shifted more than rocks and support timbers.

Beneath the beckoning white light was a small bubbling pond formed by a chasm that the earth had opened. And the cave beyond was now completely blocked by large boulders, trapping them in the cavern.

They both stared up at it initially in dismay, knowing the opening was now unreachable, but then Matt carefully lowered Kitty to the ground and began to undress. He pulled off his heavy boots, his socks, shirt and pants as she watched in confusion.

Standing there clad only in his long john bottoms, he knelt down and grabbed Kitty's upper arms, pulled her close and kissed her.

"Honey, this water is coming in from somewhere outside of the cave. I think it's our way out! I'm going in to find out."

"Matt?..." Her tone was querulous and uncertain.

"I'll come back. I promise." He smiled reassuringly and then quickly waded into the cold clear water until he could dive down and search for the opening.

Kitty kept her eyes riveted on the pond until after several unending minutes Matt's head broke the surface. He came out gasping for breath and flopped down beside her.

She crawled over and put his head in her lap, stroking his wet curls until he could speak.

"Kitty…there's a tunnel…I think it leads outside…the water gets lighter and lighter in color. Take off your skirt, petticoat, boots, and corset. Let me rip those tight sleeves off your blouse."

He was sitting up now and when she handed him her thin white blouse, he removed the sleeves and handed it back after she had removed her constricting undergarment. He held onto it long enough to appreciatively admire her, and the young woman found herself blushing in pleasure.

Buttoning on the skimpy, see-through blouse, Kitty now looked at Matt appraisingly.

"Matt. Do we have to try it immediately?" Her long red hair had come loose from its tie, and her face was smudged, but sitting there wearing only her white silk panties and that almost-blouse, she looked as alluring as she ever had.

Now he looked at her face closely, recognizing what her eyes were saying.

"Well… no… Kitty. I guess not." He moved closer, put his right arm around her, and kissed her deeply, his other hand caressing her tantalizing, barely concealed softness as he pulled her down on top of their discarded clothing.

"Cowboy, just in case the swim…doesn't work. Hold me close one more time."

"It will, Darlin', it will. And I gladly will."

They both slept a little afterwards, arms around each other, Kitty awakening first. She loved to watch him sleep, all cares and responsibilities gone from his face that now looked like a carefree boy. Then his pale blue eyes slowly opened and met hers.

"Ready?"

She nodded and he helped her to her feet and then over into the water.

"Kitty. I'm going to take you down to the opening, then push you inside. I don't know how narrow it gets, so I don't want to block your way. No arguments."

Before she could protest, he kissed her deeply, looked in her eyes and told her to take three deep breaths, hold the fourth and go under.

Watching each other's eyes, the two did just that and Matt pulled her under on the fourth breath. Then he quickly pushed her to a small tunnel and guided her inside, shoving with all of his strength.

Kitty swam as fast as she could, aware of the narrowing of the tunnel even as the water got lighter and brighter. With her lungs screaming for air, she exited the tunnel into another body of water and swam upward towards the light. Breaking the surface, she sucked in air and looked frantically around for Matt.

Without hesitation, she dove back down and saw Matt struggling to exit the tunnel where it was at its narrowest. His head, right shoulder and arm were out and he was desperately trying to pull his torso free.

As she swam down to him, he looked up at her and sadly smiled in farewell.

"NO! I am NOT having that!" She grabbed his arm and pulled with all of her might and as he was going limp, managed to yank him free.

Pulling him to the surface, she pushed his head up before her own and managed to get his limp body to the nearby shore.

"MATT! Don't you do this! Don't you leave me!" she yelled as she dragged his upper body out of the water and angrily pounded on his broad chest in her disbelieving grief.

The big young man suddenly gasped in a big breath and started coughing up water. Stunned, Kitty quickly turned him on his side and used her fists on his back until he stopped spewing out water.

"Kitty," he gasped, "You came back for me." He said it without surprise, and his eyes looked at her in the special way reserved for only her.

"We MADE it Matt, we made it!" she sobbed through joyous tears.

"We made it, thanks to you." He smiled up at her and she flung herself on his bruised chest.

"OOF! You sure are a rough woman!"

He kissed the tears from her eyes and they laughed in joy, holding each other close.