Unshown Moments for Magnus, S1 (1)

This is for Phoenix.

AN: Thank you Well-Mannered Guest for such a wonderful review. I do appreciate that as well as all of them from everyone. I meant what I said, if you know of an episode you'd like to know my opinion of what happened off camera let me know. I'll do my best. If I can't, I'll say so. Also, any other writer who'd like to do the same thing on these (even if I've done something on it) go for. I'd love to see your view of things.

"Thanks for dinner, Matt." Kitty smiled over at the tall handsome man beside her. "It was nice to get away from the saloon for a while." After a morning of dealing with Lucifer Jones and fixing the damage he'd done, Kitty was happy to have a meal with the tall handsome man that she adored.

"You get all the decorations put back that Lucifer Jones tore down?" Matt asked.

"Yeah," she nodded. "At least most of them. We'll have to mend or replace some of them but it'll be okay." Kitty sighed as she took a sip of her coffee. "I'm not sure what I would've done if you hadn't of been close. He was determined to wreck the place."

Matt offered her a shy smile. "I'm glad I was there. I wouldn't have liked it much if Lucifer had of hurt you."

"You wouldn't?" She grinned.

"Nope." Matt grinned back until he saw the couple at the table behind them paying perhaps a bit too much attention to what they were talking about. "Uh, did I tell you that Chester's brother Magnus is in town?" He decided to change the subject.

"Chester's brother?" She asked. "I didn't know he had a brother."

"I didn't either." Matt shrugged. "But he sure does and he doesn't seem to think too much of him."

"He doesn't?" Kitty frowned. "Why not? Is he a bad man or something?"

"Well, I don't think so." He answered as he took a sip of his coffee. "I met him over at the stable and he seemed nice enough. From what I understand he's spent most of his life out in the country and Chester doesn't think he's too civilized because of it, but he seemed okay to me. Just a little rough around the edges is all."

"Huh." Kitty shook her head in some akin to wonder. "I think I'd like to meet this fella. I mean if Chester thinks he's uncivilized, he must be something."

Matt looked up just as he saw the two Goode brothers coming in and grinned. "Well, you're about to get your chance."

After the introductions were made and Matt left Kitty in Magnus and Chester's care, Kitty watched him as he walked away. She couldn't seem to get enough of just watching the man that had so captured her attention and now her heart. Not only was he striking in looks and height, but he had an innate goodness that radiated outwards and drew her in to it.

As Matt put his coat on and paid for their meal, he looked back at the table, watching while Magnus and Chester sat down beside Kitty. It still amazed him how lucky he was to have found a woman like her. Beautiful, smart, witty, and accepting of both him and his badge, he couldn't help but take another look before he walked out of the café and went on back to work.

The only thing that bothered him, as he walked out, was the look on Magnus' face as he looked at Kitty. Matt had already come to trust Kitty implicitly. But he wasn't so sure of Magnus.

Later that evening, Matt was rushing around to get dressed for the Christmas eve party. He was already running late when he heard Mr. Jonas yelling down the street as if he'd been attacked by Indians. Swallowing a groan at the delay it would cost him, Matt finished brushing his hair, grabbed his coat and ran down the street.

The gray haired shop keeper was still yelling, glasses askew and face red, looking about ready to explode when Matt reached his side. "Marshal. Arrest that bandit!" Jonas yelled as he pointed a finger at a small man standing near the entrance to the store, shuffling from one foot to the other, looking as though he was about to pass out from fright.

"Arrest him?" Matt frowned. "For what?"

"He stole a sack of potatoes!" Jonas roared as though it was obvious to everyone but Matt how outrageous the man's crimes were.

Matt looked at the slight man before him wearing ragged clothes and torn hat and holey shoes and instantly felt sympathy for his plight. "Uh, look, Mr. Jonas. Why don't you just let him have those potatoes, huh? I mean it is Christmas eve after all and you couldn't sell them tonight to anyone else."

"Give them to him?" The irate storekeeper let it be known by his glare alone that he didn't like that idea. "No, sir. Now I want him to either pay for those potatoes or you arrest him."

Matt took a deep breath and looked over at the ragged stranger. "Do you have any money to pay for those?" He knew it was a silly question when he asked it.

"No, sir." The man dropped his head sadly. "I ain't got nothing but a wife and two kids who ain't et nothing in the past couple of days and I just had to get something for them. I planned on paying this man back when I could find a job. Honest. But I… I just…"

Matt looked over at Jonas and knew he was unmoved by the sad story. "Alright." He sighed with a slight shake of his head. "I'll tell you what, Mr. Jonas. Why don't you put those potatoes on my bill and throw in a few other groceries besides, you know, flour, coffee, beans."

"You're going to pay for it?" Jonas looked at Matt as though he'd grown a horn or two. "Marshal, this is highly irregular. I mean you don't know this fella. For all we know he could be part of some murderous gang or something."

"Yeah," Matt nodded. "But I doubt it." He looked back at the beggar. "You aren't are you? I mean, a part of a gang or something?"

"Oh, no.. no sir." The man stuttered. "Honest. I just ain't been able to find work is why I done what I done. But I swear, when I do, I'll pay for them taters, I swear I will."

"Yes you will." Jonas spoke up. "But only after Christmas when you come to work for me. Since the Marshal is willing to trust you and pay for the food, I guess I can do that and maybe even throw in a couple of toys for your kids. I mean, after all, it is Christmas and all."

The man's eyes sparkled as he looked at both Matt and Jonas. "Ya mean it?"

"I do." Jonas shook his head at his own generosity or foolishness as he saw it. "As a matter of fact, I'll even let you pick out a gift for each of your kids."

With a sigh of relief, Matt left the grocer and his new employee to pick out what he needed and turned to hurry over to the saloon. It was a cinch he'd missed the first dance with Kitty, but maybe if he hurried, he'd get the last one.

END