The sky had begun to lighten when they halted in front of the jail and for the next few hours the Marshal and his deputies busied themselves with getting their prisoners locked up, drawing up more charges, and sending one very important telegram.
But once that was done, Matt let himself listen to his growling stomach.
Directing his footsteps towards Doc's, he gave Burke an apologetic smile. "Sorry. I meant to tell him you were in here."
"Don't sweat it." the freight manager looked sincere, "A few broken ribs aren't anything to knowing that crew is locked up." He smiled grimly, "Besides, I saw him when you pulled up. He looked rough."
"Yeah…hopefully, Ma has 'em in better order by now." the Marshal thought of Kitty, "I'll tell him I'll bring breakfast here if he can come look at ya."
"I appreciate it."
Taking the stairs two at a time, he was soon embracing his beautiful redhead.
"You should be in bed, sweetheart." He looked over her bruised face with pained eyes.
"We need breakfast first." she countered, kissing his nose, "I heard your stomach before you came in." Nodding at the sleeping Festus, she added, "Besides, I had to check on him and bandage Doc up."
Matt eyed the sleeping Ma Smalley, "You should've let her tend to you both."
"Actually, she did." she kissed him again, "She hovered over us like a mother hen until just a few minutes ago."
"Good." Matt was relieved.
Leaning in, he returned her kisses with one that lasted until Doc can in from the other room.
"You're looking a little better." Matt grinned.
"I feel better." Doc gave them a relieved look.
"Because...ah," the Marshal went on, "Burke has some broken ribs. I told him I'd bring breakfast if you'd—" He cringed at the look his lover gave him, "I mean if you can't, I—"
"Who's gonna argue with free breakfast?" Doc grabbed his medical bag.
"Come on, sweetheart." Matt followed with the picnic basket, taking Kitty's arm before she could protest, "Let's leave those sleepyheads and get the food."
"Matt!" She squealed when he swept her into his arms to run down the stairs, "There's people on the street!"
"Good." he kissed her lips, "Let 'em take note."
Laughing freely, she let him carry her until they were almost to the restaurant. "Put me down, you big lug." She gently extracted herself, "You have to carry the food."
"I do?" he held onto her, "What about you carrying it while I carry you?"
"That's tempting…" she acknowledged, "But, no."
"Well, darn…" He relented at the door.
"I'll have two boiled eggs with mutton and a side of corn cakes." she said, "Get Doc the same."
"What do you want to drink?"
Coffee, black. Same for him."
"Yes, ma'am." He repeated her order to a waiter, adding flapjacks, sausage, and coffee for himself and a big fruit basket for them all to share.
"Doc's basket is kinda small for all this stuff…" He muttered as he packed.
"I'll carry the fruit."
"Thanks, honey."
"My pleasure."
"Matt...?"
As they walked back to the jail, she finally asked the question that'd been needling her, "What's gonna happen to the Stroms?"
"Well, Rick's gonna face more charges." The Marshal's relaxed nature vanished in a heartbeat, "And I wrote up charges against the Judge, Cal, and Mark too."
"I won't lie, Kit." he continued, "With the charges they're facing, especially with Calvin Sr. being a judge, they might hang for what they've done. At least, the Judge could."
"Well, I've sent more than a few people to the gallows in my day." she sighed.
"Going after a Marshal's woman is not recommended." He gave her a quick kiss before opening the door. "The wait is over! Breakfast is served."
"Boy!" Doc shook his head appreciatively, moving his chair to the table as his friends emptied their baskets, "I haven't heard finer words all day!" He gave the sedated Burke a glance, "Did you bring him anything?"
Matt frowned. "No...should I have?"
"Nah, he'll be out for a little while anyways." Doc shrugged, "He'll be alright with rest. It's not as bad as we thought."
"That's good." Matt gave his redhead a pointed look. "Rest will be good for all of us."
She cocked an eyebrow.
"Alright, alright," Doc read the silent message, "None of that at the breakfast table—"
"What? You not old enough?" Matt made his redhead giggle.
"You think my patient will get any rest with that kinda talk?"
"He better be asleep." The Marshal savored his first big bite.
"I'm not..." Burke was staring through half-raised eyelids.
"Well, you should be!" Doc scowled, "You need it."
"Well, there are guests in the other room..." Kitty reminded them.
"I'd just assume they heard us having fun." Matt's face darkened, cutting a glance at the door between the rooms.
"Nice spread ya got there…" Burke mumbled longingly.
"Go to sleep, Burke." Doc growled, "Someone will bring you some broth later. It'd hurt your ribs to chew this anyways."
"Oh, joy…"
"I, for one," Doc turned back to the table, "hope no one else needs a doctor today because this one intends to take a good long nap."
"Same here." Matt glanced at Kitty again. They were all wolfing their food down now, "I hereby make it illegal to break a law today."
"I don't see why you can't make that declaration every time we go out." she frowned.
"Never thought of it before." he grinned suddenly, "But I'm definitely gonna start."
"You'd better!"
"I'll second that!" Doc grinned.
Author's Notes: LovingmesomeMK: Thank you! I too love it when M&K verbalize how they feel about each other.
LeighAB14: Thank you! Lol. I think Judge Strom is pretty crazy in the TV version too!