Unshown Moments for The Pillagers, S13

"Kitty. You alright?" Matt grabbed her arms, gently holding her as he scanned her form for injuries.

"Yes." Kitty took a deep breath of relief. "I'm alright. They… I'm okay. That boy…. Newly. He… he protected me."

Matt glanced around them, seeing Newly prodding the only remaining bandit towards the wagon and Festus slowly making his way down the slope towards them. Manez and the other two men were dead. Looking back down at Kitty, he smiled. "You had me worried, Red."

Kitty buried her head in his chest. "I'm alright... now."

Once the prisoner was secured and tied on top of his horse, Matt secured Buck behind the wagon, helped Kitty up onto the seat and then climbed up beside her. Despite the young man, Newly and the prisoner riding behind them, Matt wrapped an arm around Kitty and pulled her close to his side as he started the wagon on its way.

For several moments, both of them were quiet. When Matt finally did speak, his voice was low and soft.

"I really was worried about you. When Newly told me that Manez had you..."

"I wasn't worried." Kitty smiled up at him. "I knew you would come."

"But Manez…"

Kitty laid her hand on his arm and gently squeezed. "Manez was a bandit and a murderer and a lot of other things but he wasn't a fool. He knew hurting me or Newly either one wouldn't help his brother and that was really the only thing he wanted."

"You sayin' he didn't want you?" Matt looked down at her, not believing that there was a man anywhere that wouldn't want her.

"I'm saying he wanted his brother to be taken care of more." Kitty answered. "Matt, nothing happened to me. Okay?"

"What about those bruises on your right wrist." Matt nodded to the faint purple marks on her wrist.

Kitty shook her head and pulled her sleeve a little lower. "They're nothing. Honestly, Matt. I'm fine."

Matt looked down at her and nodded. "Alright. But…"

"But nothing." Kitty said sternly. "I am safe and I am with you. And nothing else matters. Okay?"

Matt shook his head with a grin. "Yes, Ma'am. But I wouldn't mind if you didn't take any more stage trips alone."

Kitty returned the grin. "I'll make you a deal, Marshal. I'll stop taking stage trips if you'll quit chasing outlaws."

Matt's grin disappeared as he snapped the reins against the horse's flank. "Let's go home, Kitty."

End.