I own no part of Gunsmoke.

Kitty just got the Fire to flicker when Brett came to her. "Matt would like to talk to you." The concerned look on Brett's face made Kitty fear for her life. She stood up nice and tall, adjusted her dress, fixed her hair, then slowly walked over to the buckwagon. Matt gave her a reassuring smile as he held out his hand.

Kitty wanted to run. "Are they going to hang me? "She asked as she sat next to him.

"No, Bonner is still alive; the lawman is not going to press charges. If we get out of town before Bonner dies, you should be ok. "

Kitty looked a little confused. "So why do you look like someone stole your beer? "

Matt's eyes looked sad. "Doc. Is not coming. He has returned to Dodge. We do not have a lot of information, but it sounds like the whole town burned." Kitty closed her eyes. "Was anyone hurt?'

Matt pulled her close. "A lot of people. We do not know who. Kitty, Front Street was hit hard."

Kitty watched a crow fly high into the air. "The Long Branch? "

Matt lowered his eyes. "Uh, Huh."

Kitty started wetting the moss she had gathered the day before to put on his leg. "Well, I know Sam's ok, for he works by the door. He could get out easily. The last time the Long Branch caught fire, we talked about escape routes." Matt could not hide his fear and the sadness growing in him. "Unless he was trying to save the girls. They found some bodies at the Long Branch, but we don't know who they were or how many bodies. The truth is we do not really know anything. "

Kitty closed her eyes, Sam the girls, the sadness was overwhelming. After a few moments, she looked up at him. "Let's go to New Orleans. Start over; we can get a house by the sea, sit on the porch, and watch the ships as they roll in. It is always warm in New Orleans."

He patted her shoulders. "I could get a job picking cotton, and you can sell seashells in the town square. No, it would be too hot for me. We could go to Denver. Move high into the hills. So high, no one would bother us. The mountains are beautiful when the snow gets to be about three foot high, and the air is crisp and clean."

She smiled. "We could start an ice business and sell to all the saloons in the valley. But I am not thrilled with the cold. How about Pittsburgh?"

Matt smiled. " Pittsburgh is good. I could get a job in a mill, and the Vanderbilt's are always looking for maids. I hear it has three rivers running through it, and the air turns red when the sun goes down. "

Kitty shook her head. "I don't think I would be a good maid."

Matt hugged her. "We cannot run away from this. I want you in Dodge if Bonner dies."

Kitty nodded. "I know, just sometimes I wish the world had a place for us."

Matt cringed as he moved toward her." Whatever we find in Dodge, we will face together."

Kitty's eyes turned softer. "Let me look at that leg."

Matt looked upon her with pride. For life had dealt her a bad hand, she was handling it with grace. That is except for shooting Bonner. He still had not got that clear in his mind. He tried hard not to flinch as Kitty removed the bandage. The wound was closing, but the surrounding leg was red. It felt hot to the touch. She felt his head. It also felt hot, too hot.

Festus was having troubles of his own. Dodge city looked like an ash pile. The streets were filled with half-burnt logs and broken glass; smoke filled the air.

The bodies of the dead were placed on a chuck wagon for transport to a designated location for temporary burial. Festus organized a first aid station and went around collecting any cloth that could be used as bandages. Festus tried hard to give the impression he was in control and knew what he was doing, but under his breath, he could be heard asking God for help and for him to send Doc, Matthew, and Kitty home, as he was lost without them.

Worse were the people who had no place to go. Women were standing in the street with their children, clinging to them in shock. Most of them had little to no food, money, or housing. Festus organized a Schouler group to go around to collect everything that could be used for something. Mr. Morgan, a local horse trader, offered his barn as temporary housing. Festus got the parson from the church to organize food distribution. He was pleased to see how many people showed up to donate raw materials. Those who had nothing pitched in to help cook.

After getting food and housing, Festus asked the outlying farmers and ranchers to help clear the roads. The line of buckboards and wagons stretched on for miles. They started with Front Street and worked their way to Fourth Street.

The first wagon to roll into Dodge after Front Street was cleared was a beer wagon with a delivery for the Long Branch. Half of the Long Branch bar had survived the fire but had dropped into the cellar.

Sam called to Festus as he walked pasted. "Hey, how about helping me set up this bar."

Festus was overjoyed to see his old friend "Sam, you old goat! I thought you were dead. How? Where? We found bodies."

Sam sat on a half-burnt log. "When It looked like the Long Branch was in line to be the next building to burn, I got all the girls out and took them to my house. When I returned, the whole thing was engulfed. I could do nothing. The fire was coming out all the windows, and the roof was on fire. I could see the downstairs was not touched yet. I thought about trying to retrieve some of the stock. Before I could get in, the gun shop exploded and sent lots of debris through the Long Branch. The heat made putting water on it impossible, for it turned to steam before it got to the building. I figured I needed to tend to the girls as my home is too small. I built them a lean-to across the railroad tracks. The Long Branch was gone when I got back, and the fire was down on Carson Street. I joined the firefighters for the next three days. Then I had to help my wife feed the girls. I fell asleep for a while. Now I plan on setting up the Long Branch for when Miss Russel returns. I found some chairs on the ash pile that I figure on fixing, and most of the old bar didn't burn." The two friends worked most the rest of the day. By nightfall, the Long Branch was back in business.

Brett, noting Matt's temperature, felt it best to stop at a farmhouse they had just passed with the hope of getting some help for Matt. He told Kitty his thoughts and reminded her she would still be in the territory and subject to the law of the land. Without hesitation, she said, "Let's go." Brett stopped just outside of the farm's gate. Something did not look right, yet nothing looked out of place; perhaps that was the problem. "How is Matt doing?" Kitty shook her head. "He passed out. We need help." Brett tried to dismiss his feelings as he drove down the long driveway.

Brett's feelings of danger were soon realized. As he pulled the wagon up to the front door, a man who looked like a farmer came out to greet them. While the two men talked, several men, surrounded the wagon. Then a man with a shotgun leveled it at Brett. Brett dropped the reigns and raised his hands. "We have nothing of value, just came to water the horses. Whatever is going on here is none of our business."

The man with the gun signaled his partner, who rode up to the wagon. Seeing Kitty, he began to yell, "Hey now, lookie who we have here! " He drew his lasso, circled Kitty, and pulled her toward the back of the wagon. Kitty knew Matt's gun was in her hatbox; she kicked it toward him as she was being dragged. She did a header off the back of the wagon. Pain shot through her as she struggled to get up. The highwaymen allowed her to get to her feet, then dragged her to the front. "Lookie lookie. Look who I got here!" The man on the porch said, "Watch him, "approaching Kitty. "It can't be. By god, it is! The marshal's woman. Hey, check that wagon. Who else in there?"

The horseman dropped the rope. "He's here. It's the marshal. Looks like he's hurt bad." The man holding Kitty said, "Well, ant that too bad. You remember me, don't you, honey? You and I had a good time last time. I been thinking about that. I thought of new things we could do." He moved in close. Although in a state of apprehension, Kitty got her arms loose enough to slap the man hard. The man wailed back. He spat in her face and yelled, "We had you pretty well-trained last time. I guess we will just have to start over with you. Hey, I wonder if there is a bounty out on you. I heard you shot some lawman. Wouldn't that be a hoot if after we teach her how a real woman should act, we get paid to turn her into the law for proper punishment?" The highwaymen started whooping and hollering. The man grabbed Kitty by the hair and dragged her into the house. "Tie those men up, then come. Let's have a party," he said as he Kicked the door shut.

Mat had regained consciousness and assessed the situation. Some of the highwaymen were tying up Brett. None too gently, I might add. Others were holding guns on Brett. They seemed to have forgotten Matt. Perhaps because they thought he was unconscious, he posed no threat. Matt slowly retrieved his weapon from the hatbox. Using the wagon seat, he leveled it at the ruffians. "Hold it...Go ahead, try me, for it would be my pleasure to blow you all to hell," Matt yelled, startling the outlaws. The outlaws momentarily took their minds off Brett. Brett grabbed one of the men's six-gun. "Sounds like a good idea to me," he said as he cocked the gun.

The highwaymen started to back off. "Take it easy, Marshal. We are not wanted by the law. You hold no paper on us. We were let go all legal like."

Matt was having trouble seeing, but he recognized the man's voice. It was one of those Dog soldiers that picketing let loose. "Ride out before I forget I am a lawman. It would be my pleasure to hang all of your heads on a stick so the buzzards could feast on you." The highwaymen debated the idea of fighting it out and wondering If the good marshal might shoot them in the back for what they did to his woman. Just then, the door flew opened and hit the side of the building.

In the doorway stood Kitty. Her face was bruised, her dress was ripped, a rope hung around her neck, and a gun was held against the temple. The ruffian yelled, "If you value this woman, you will throw down your gun." Matt rubbed his eyes, for he could not see the man clearly. Kitty started to yell, "Shoot me, Matt. Don't let them take me. Kill Me, Matt. Shoot me!" The highwaymen pulled the rope tight on Kitty's neck. She began to choke. "Please kill me, Matt," Kitty yelled.

She heard a wishing sound. Pain shot through her as the ground raised up and hit her. The rope tightened. Blood filled her eyes, so she could not see. She rolled up into a fetal position. The sound was deafening as many more shots were fired. Kitty covered her ears as the sound pounded in her head. Then she heard horses riding fast, followed by several more shots. Followed by deafening silence.

Matt rolled off the buckboard. Trying to make it to Kitty, he stumbled, holding on to the wagon. Brett was checking to make sure all the outlaws were indeed dead.

Matt bent down and cradled Kitty's blood-soaked head in his hands. He wiped the blood from her eyes. "Kitty," he shook her a little. "Kitty."

Slowly Kitty opened her eyes. In a very hoarse voice, she asked, "Matt, are you ok?'

Matt smiled. "Yes, we are both ok. Can you get up ?" Brett came over. "Nice shot. I didn't think you were going to take it."

Matt looked up. "I didn't." The farmer walked over. " I made the shot. You ok, Miss?"

Kitty hurt all over. With Matt's help, she dug the rope from her neck. "OK." she made it to her feet. "Let's go home."

Brett said he needed to take the bodies into town and talk to the sheriff. "You and Matt stay here to get some rest. We have a long way to go yet. I will bring a doctor back with me if I can."