Blood Moon 3

**All errors are mine. Just read through them and pretend it's perfect. :) I don't have a beta. :(

Kitty opened her eyes to piercingly bright sunlight that reflected off the snow and streamed through her bedroom windows. She immediately felt Matt's absence. Snatching up her robe, she hurried to the kitchen and saw that Matt had already fixed his own breakfast and gone. He had left her a note in quick, scratchy handwriting, leaning against the salt.

You looked so peaceful that I just couldn't wake you. See you around noon. – M

She couldn't stop the smile that lit her face. Some days, Kitty couldn't believe how different everything was now. For most of her life, the mere idea of being up this early would cause her to curl into a ball. Now, she was a wife and mother—and rancher. Her heart and life were full of joy that she thought would never be hers.

Tucking Matt's note into her pocket, she set about fixing her own breakfast. She had plenty to do today; she'd been planning to go to Dodge for a few necessary things and maybe stop in to see Hannah. Since she'd completely sold her interest in The Long Branch, she wasn't able to catch up on news and other women's company. She was also worried about the fall off in Hannah's business. Kitty knew she'd gotten out just in time, but it hadn't been a calculated move on her part. When she'd gotten married, she had all she needed and was tired of it and didn't need the aggravation. Although she truly believed that it wouldn't have mattered to Matt if she'd kept her share, she wanted to show him that she was all into this new life that they were building together.

When she did tell him that she'd sold all of the saloon to Hannah, he'd felt a burden lift that he hadn't confessed. No more would she be dealing with drunks; no more would he worry and wonder who was going to saunter in and recognize her, a retired marshal's wife, and give her grief. Matt hadn't told her, but, at least here in their home, he felt she'd be safer. He damn sure owed her that and a hellava lot more.

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"And so, I told her, Matthew, that she was jest wastin' her time, iff'n she wuz want'n me to court her. Phish! I am too set in my ways to have to deal with no woman. I mean exceptin' for Miss Kitty or Lena, o' course."

"Of course." Laughter rumbled up from Matt's chest. "I told you that if you kept on accepting free meals what was goin' happen," he said. "I have heard of men being led around by things other than the heads on their shoulders, but never by their stomachs. It's not like you don't get fed or have plenty to eat."

The two old friends had been riding the fence line for going on two hours. The entire time Matt had listened to Festus' rationalizing why his latest conquest should have known he was not the 'settlin' down kind of man.'

"You don't understand, Matthew! This woman has the cookin' skills of a witch, I'm a tellin' you. She can whup up the most delectable dishes. Thangs that I never even heared of, and stuff why I'd a' never thought about eatin'. I don't care, though, how many free meals that a man eats—"

Matt interrupted his friend. "Look at that," he told him, gesturing down toward the bottom of the field, near the creek. Something lay unnaturally still, alone, and away from the herd. He nudged Buck and trotted down, his fears confirmed.

Climbing down from his horse, he knelt down by a dead calf. Festus soon appeared beside him.

"If I didn't know better, Matthew, I'd have to say a mountain lion or somethin' killed this calf. Some critter has just plum tore the innards out of it."

"I see it, Festus. Could be a wolf, I guess. I don't see any scratch marks although it's torn up pretty good. It would be pretty unusual to have a big cat this far from the mountains. No cover for it. Most of the time a cat would leave scat, too. How long do you think it's been dead?"

Festus was already scouting for sign, answered, "Hard to tell with it bein' as cold as it's been. I'd say a week, could be more."

"Yea, I agree. Let's split up, go up and down the creek on the off chance we do see something. If you run into any of the boys, tell them to keep an eye out for tracks or any other signs. And send one of them down here to take care of this. We're lucky we haven't had coyotes."

Without waiting for Festus' answer, Matt rode off, down the creek, his eyes scanning all around him.

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Kitty was sitting in the old rocker by the fireplace that she'd shipped all the way from New Orleans, sentimental value, she had told her husband when he asked why she didn't buy a new one. This one had been the one she'd used when Lena was a baby.

She was deep in an animated conversation with Bess Roniger when Matt rode back for dinner. He could hear the laughter before he walked onto the porch. He kicked the snow off his boots and used his hat to dust off his pants before he entered the house.

"Well, this is a surprise! Bess, how are you? I hope your family is well," his face, chapped and red from the cold, expressed his delight.

"Matthew Dillon, it's so good to see you! I was overjoyed when I heard that you and Kitty had bought this place and decided to settle down." Her plump cheeks turned pink with delight. Mrs. Roniger had recently returned to Kansas after spending time near Chicago. One of her daughters had had a difficult delivery and sickly infant, and, of course, she'd gone to help out.

"Thank you, Bess. How about you and Will come over for supper sometime? We'd love to have you," Matt said.

"That's just what we've been discussing. That, and how happy that I am to see her, too," Kitty said. Her cheeks were also colored with pleasure at seeing her old friend after so long. "I'd love see the children again-but they're not children anymore, though, are they?"

Bess beamed, "No, they're not, and a few of them still live close by. A picnic down near that lovely creek of yours would be wonderful this summer. We'd all enjoy that, Kitty. I know one of the children especially who'd like to see you."

"I'd like to see her, too," Kitty said, thinking of a young, feral girl whom she'd met after a terrible accident, and was later was adopted by Bess and Will.

"Well, I hate to rush off just as you got home, Matt," Bess said, as she rose to leave. She was as pleasantly healthy and effervescent as ever. "I promised Will that I'd be prudent with my visiting time. He'll be worried if I'm not back well before dark comes on, especially as cold as it's been."

Kitty picked up a basket beside her chair and held it out for Matt's inspection. It was filled with canned beans, corn, and preserves. "Look at these delicious gifts that she brought us. I can't tell you how much it means to see you, Bess, and thank you so much."

Mrs. Roniger pulled Kitty into a tight hug. "Honey, I am so happy you're finally back home for good. I can't wait to meet that daughter of yours. Life around here just wasn't the same without you."

Walking her out, Matt helped her climb onto the seat of her light sleigh. When she situated herself and tucked a large quilt over her lap and legs, Bess looked down at the weathered face of the former lawman. "It fills my heart with joy to see you two finally settled down together right where you belong. And having your daughter—with both of you." Her eyes grew moist with emotion. "I want you to know something; I'm proud of you, Matthew Dillon. And Doc Adams would be, too."

She slapped the reins against her horse, moving toward home.

Matt watched her until she was out of sight, musing about what she'd said. Doc had told him more times than he could count that he needed to settle down with Kitty. The old doctor was especially loquacious about it when he'd had a snootful and it was only the two of them. Matt had always ignored him, or parried back with, "If you like marriage so much, why don't you do it." Oh, but he'd listened to the old man. He had loved him like a friend and a father. He sincerely hoped that somehow Doc knew that finally he and Kitty had a home and family now.

Standing still, the cold sank deeply into his joints. Matt reentered the house and was immediately enveloped with warmth and the smells of home. He stood silently watching his wife putting their lunch on the table and was amazed at how full his heart felt.

"Hungry," Kitty asked, feeling his eyes on her.

"Starved, actually," he answered her, smiling. He used the warm water Kitty had poured into an old basin, on a wash table near the kitchen door, to clean his face and hands. He rehung the old towel left there for him.

"Coffee or water first," she asked.

"Water," he answered, pouring it himself from the pitcher on the table. He drank two large glassfuls by the time Kitty placed his food down, along with her own.

"What's wrong," she asked, after he was halfway finished eating without saying ten words. The deep V wrinkle between his eyes was evidence of his concentration. She peered at him over the top of her coffee as he stared at her quizzically. "I know something's wrong, so out with it."

Matt didn't know whether to be thankful or to curse her ability to read him. He turned his chair to the side so he could look straight at her.

"I haven't had a chance yet," he commented, with a small smile. "I'm glad that Bess came today. I know it can get lonesome out here." He didn't add especially for a woman, but she understood. She elevated one eyebrow and waited for him to tell her what was still bothering him. Finally, he said, "We found a dead calf down at the creek." He shook his head and wrinkled his nose as if he smelled something vile. "I've not seen anything killed like that in a long time around here."

"Killed how?" The way he said it made Kitty want to rub her hands over her arms as if she had goosebumps. "You don't know what killed it? You couldn't tell by the tracks or bite marks?"

Matt took a long drink of water before answering. He didn't want to lie to Kitty, but he also didn't want to unnecessarily alarm her. He decided on honesty; his wife was a strong woman.

"It was too…. ripped up. I swear it looked like a mountain lion had been at it, but that doesn't seem possible. They're high country animals. The wind and snow, along with the other cows had already wiped out any trace of tracks, so we really couldn't find any sign around where we found it."

"Could you tell when it happened?"

"Damn near impossible with this cold. Maybe a week more or less."

Kitty pushed her plate away and rested her arms on the table top.

"It couldn't have been last night? Maybe that's what kept you up?"

Matt looked into her intelligent, blue eyes that had spellbound him from the beginning. Reaching over, he placed his hand on her arm, squeezed lightly, trying to reassure her. "I don't think so, Kitty. I don't remember anything in particular rousing me."

"It's unnerving." She picked up their plates and placed them into the dish pan. "I don't have to tell you to be careful."

Matt laughed and nearly coughed out coffee he'd been about to swallow.

"What's so funny," she asked, whirling around.

Coughing to clear his throat, her husband got out of his chair and embraced her warmly. He planted a kiss her on her forehead. "No. You don't have to tell me to be careful. I got the message. You'd kill me if I got hurt."

She peered up at him through her lashes and gave him a one-sided smile. "Well, I wouldn't kill you, but you'd be very sorry."

Matt pulled her into a sweet, soft kiss. He enjoyed being married, kissing her any time of day, not concealing their relationship out of propriety or fear.

"My, aren't you affectionate today," she said, in a husky voice.

"Would you like to know how affectionate I can be, Mrs. Dillon," he breathed into her ear. He reached down with one hand and squeezed her rear. His loud laugh at her surprised yelp was interrupted by a thunderous pounding on the back door and the sound of Festus calling his name.

"Damnation, he has terrible timing," Matt growled. "Come in, Festus," he called, as he released Kitty.

Festus didn't notice Matt's disappointed expression or Kitty's flushed face. The former deputy removed his hat as he entered the house.

"Festus," she asked warmly, "How about a cup of coffee?"

"No, thank you, Miss Kitty, and I'm plum sorry to interrupt you all's dinner."

"What is it, Festus," Matt asked. "Don't tell me another dead calf?"

"No, it's worser than that. Newly sent that new deputy of his'n out c'here. He wants us to come take a look at something. That Hensley woman, out by Settler's Creek, well, she's dead. Newly says it ain't from no natural causes, either."

Kitty wanted to spear him with sharp blue eyes, telling him without saying it that this was no longer his responsibility. She also knew that Newly wouldn't have sent for the former marshal on a whim, so it must be serious. Instead, his wife's brief smile indicated that she understood.

Matt placed his warm, heavy hand on Kitty's shoulder. "I'll be back for supper. If not, I'll send word if I can. Tate and Ash will be checking the herd, and Grady will be working around the barn. I'll tell him to check in case you need something. Til then, I'd prefer you stay inside or near the house?"

Before he stepped out the back door, Matt stopped abruptly, looked back at her, and added, "Keep the doors locked."

Kitty's face was serious when she nodded and started to speak. Before she could, he smiled and interrupted, with "Yes, I'll be careful."