Unshown Moments from Gold Mine S 11 (2)

"Matt, if you say 'I told you so', I'll never speak to you again." Kitty snapped as he reached out and helped her out of the sluice pond.

Matt wisely kept his mouth shut and simply pulled her out, making sure she was standing on her own before he released her hand, as he looked around. "Where's Thad?"

"Thad!." Kitty gasped as it dawned on her that she hadn't seen him since the Gibbyjohn's had started shooting at her feet.

Quickly turning, she spotted him a few yards away, still lying on his back, cradling his injured arm. "Oh, Thad." She rushed to his side, followed closely by Matt and Richard. "Thad, are you alright?"

"I… I'm alright, Miss… Mis…" Thad's voice failed as he passed out.

"Matt?" Kitty looked up at him in alarm. '

'Stay with him, Kitty." Matt told her as he looked over at the wagon sitting beside the still burning shack. "I'll get that wagon hitched up and we'll get him to town."

Kitty mutely nodded, as Matt pulled on Richard's sleeve and the two went to hitch up the wagon.

On the way to PickAxe, Matt glanced at the back of the wagon to see Kitty sitting with an unconscious Thad's head in her lap. "He okay?" He asked.

"The bleeding's stopped." She answered. "But he still hasn't come to."

"We'll be in town shortly." He told her as he snapped the reins, urging the horse on.

When they reached town and located the barber, the town's only excuse for a doctor, they sat quietly beside each other as the tall, thin man quickly examined the young man. Kitty had told him everything that had transpired, ruefully admitting that her trek through the sluice pond that day was her second one since arriving there.

"You okay?" Matt asked, looking down at her ruined clothes and worried expression.

"Yeah." Kitty nodded, looking up at him. "I… I'm sorry, Matt." She dropped her head. "It's my fault that Thad was hurt and…"

"Now, wait a minute." Matt gently placed a hand on her arm. "The only fault lies at the Gibbyjohn's feet. They're the ones that shot him."

Kitty looked up gratefully at him. "But he wouldn't be here if you hadn't sent him to rescue me and you wouldn't have done that if I hadn't of gotten mad at you and come alone."

Matt grinned. "Well, that's true."

Kitty lightly slapped his arm. "You didn't have to agree so quickly, ya know." She reluctantly returned the smile and dropped her head. "I'm sorry, Matt. It's… it's just that…"

"I know, Kitty." He answered. "And it's alright. Just promise me, you won't come to a place like this alone again."

Kitty raised her head and grinned up at him. "Deal." She answered. "Next time you can come with me."

End.