Unshown Moments for 20 Miles from Dodge, Season 10

Matt paced Front Street like a lion pacing a cage. Kitty had been gone a long time now and he missed her. He hadn't said anything to anyone about how much he missed her but he hadn't had to. Those few, who really knew him, understood his feelings for Kitty Russell went deeper than words. Of course, that didn't mean there hadn't been words. There had been, just not exactly words of love.

"Kitty, are you sure you have to go to Wichita for that wedding?" He'd asked the night before she was to leave on the stage. "You know, they can get hitched without you being there." He'd said that last in jest but the look she threw his way was a heavy indicator that she hadn't taken it take way.

"I'm the maid of honor, Matt." She sighed as she stuffed another piece of clothing in her trunk. "Maid as in a single lady standing up for the bride." She arched a brow when she said it and dense as he could sometimes be, when it came to her, he knew what she meant.

"Kitty," He sighed, not wanting to get into this discussion, but not wanting her to leave either, at least not leave mad at him. "Look, I… I just… I'm sorry." He sighed. "It's just I'll miss you and I really hate the thought of you taking that long stage ride there and back alone."

"You could go with me." She eyed him intently as she said it, knowing he wouldn't do it.

"Kitty," he sighed again, a bigger one this time. "You know I can't. I mean…"

"Yes, I know what you mean." She shook her head at him. "And I know you wouldn't come even if you could. You don't like going places with me and I guess, like it or not, I have to accept that. But it's not going to stop me from going anywhere. Now, I promised Leighann I would be at her wedding and I will be there." She emphasized her point by slamming her trunk closed and casting a glare in his direction as she did so.

"Now wait a minute." He got up off the settee, he'd been sitting on, and ran an agitated hand through his hair. "I never said I didn't like going places with you. It's not that at all. It's just that I have a job. And I can't just take off when the whim strikes me, you know. I have responsibilities and…"

"Well, you can just go take care of them then, Marshal Dillon. It's perfectly clear that I'm not one of them." Kitty turned her back on him as she returned to her closet and pulled out a hat, placing it in a box.

Matt stood for a moment, staring at her back, knowing she wouldn't turn around. "FINE!" He snapped as he grabbed his hat and left her room, slamming the door behind him.

He'd made it back to her room before she'd left for the stage station the next morning and had escorted her there, apologizing the entire way. She'd accepted his apology and even made one of her own, but he'd felt like there was still an underlying tone of hurt in her goodbye at the stage and he hated that she'd left feeling that.

Taking another look down the street, and still not seeing the stage, he shook his head, knowing that if she didn't come back to him, badge or no, he'd go after her.

"Good day, Marshal."

Matt looked up to see Mr. Jones, over at the leather goods shop, smiling at him. "Uh, hi, Mr. Jones."

"Pretty day, ain't it?" He smiled at the lawman. "Betcha it'll be prettier when that stage gets here and Miss Kitty gets off. Huh?" He gave Matt a sly wink. "Speaking of which," he went on when Matt didn't reply, "ain't that stage kinda late? I mean, I know it's not on time usually but this is late even for it."

"Yeah," Matt nodded. "You're right." Snapping the brim of his hat towards the man, Matt turned and headed to the telegraph office. Something was wrong. He could feel it. He had no idea what, but he could feel that Kitty was in trouble. That feeling had been growing in him all day and it was now boiling over to the point that he was going to find out where it and she was no matter what he had to do.

Barney must have sensed the urgency in the big man in front of him and so he wasted no time in sending the inquiry, relaying the urgency to the recipient. When he handed the Marshal his reply, he saw the man's mouth turn down at the news. "Something wrong, Marshal?"

"Maybe." Matt answered as he turned and headed for the Long Branch. He'd seen Festus headed that way and he knew it was time to ride. But just as they were heading to the stable, the farmer brought the stage in and Festus found the blood on top of it. His own blood ran cold seeing that. All he could think of was that Kitty was out there, somewhere, and he needed to find her. He didn't just want to find her. He needed to.

Later that night, after Festus had ridden back to town for more searchers, he sat next to his fire, pulling his coat a little tighter against him and drank hot coffee to ward off the cold night. He thought about the beautiful red head that held his heart. Going on a three week trip with her to a wedding for someone he barely knew had been impractical at the very least and right down hard considering his job and dislike of such things. But right then, he wished with all that was in him that he'd gone. That no matter what the circumstances, she was with him where he could protect her, or at least die trying. Sitting there, not knowing where she was or who had her or what she was dealing with was harder than taking a bullet.

After Festus came back and settled down to sleep, Matt continued to stand and stare off into the dark, dark night. He knew he should rest, but he couldn't do it. He doubted he'd ever be able to rest until he found her. Until then, he'd stand his lonely and silent vigil, praying for her safety and vowing to find her and bring her home at any cost. "Hold on, Kitty." He whispered into the wind. "I'm coming. Do what you have to, to protect yourself until I get there. I'm coming."

Across the miles, high up in the hills, Kitty settled down next to the fire that Shay had ordered built and wrapped her arms around her knees. She didn't know where Matt was, didn't even know if he knew yet about the stage, though she suspected he probably did. But as she stared into the fire, she could see him there, standing tall and strong and telling her to hold on.

"I'm coming, Kitty." She heard the words as plain as day and she had to quickly glance about her to make sure he hadn't really been there. Glancing once again at the fire, she saw him yet again. "I'm coming." He repeated. "Hold on. Do what you have to, to protect yourself until I get there. I'm coming."

With a soft smile, she nodded, not knowing or caring if anyone else saw her. "I know." She whispered. "I know."

END