AN: Thank you readers who stuck with the story and a big thank you to everyone who took the time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts, reactions and ideas. Guests, I'd respond directly to each of you if I could!

On to the finale.

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Dodge City

Matt stepped out the door after telling Doc where he'd left a letter for Kitty, in case things didn't go his way. He wished the letter expressed all that he felt, but no matter how many times he re-wrote it, he knew his letter still fell short. Eyes straight ahead, he ignored the crowd that had gathered at a safe distance, and shoved all thoughts and feelings aside. With four long strides he took his stance across from Ash, and his awareness shrank down to two things - his gun hand at the ready and his eyes on Drake, watching for the slightest move. It came. Ash drew in a flash. The bullet flew wide. Matt fired a split-second later. His bullet hit Drake square in the shoulder, the right one. Ash staggered back from the bullet's force, the pain, and stunned surprise. His gun fell from his hand. It was over in mere seconds.

Matt shoved his gun back in its holster. "Festus, help Ash up to Doc's." The crowd dispersed, relieved yet mystified. They'd seen their share of gunfights, but this one would be talked about for years. The gunslinger fired first, but somehow missed. Unheard of. Then Marshal Dillon's bullet hit a shoulder, like he was being careful. It made no sense, but then again, things happen in a gunfight.

Festus helped Ash to his feet, and they followed a confused looking Doc to his office. Matt picked up Drake's gun and signaled Billy to join him in his office. With the door shut behind them, Matt sat at his desk and spun the cylinder of Drake's gun, to remove the remaining bullets. "Blanks, but even blanks can do a lot of damage." He turned the gun over and slowly pulled off the strip of lead he'd attached there. "I wasn't sure this would be enough to unbalance the gun and throw off his aim, but he would have noticed anything heavier."

Billy nodded. "He almost noticed even that, but doubted himself and figured it was his imagination."

"You did the right thing, Billy, bringing me your brother's gun in the wee hours of the morning to ask if I could rig it some how. When you woke me before dawn with the idea, you saved my life." Matt shook his head and flexed his right hand. "The way things are, I couldn't have out-drawn him."

"Funny thing is, you can't be sure of that. You probably didn't draw your gun like usual, knowing you were aiming for his shoulder. That may have slowed you down a beat. The main thing is, no one is dead, and Ash being wounded will give him time to think." Matt nodded and handed Billy his brother's gun. "You can give this back to him. I don't think he'll be using it any time soon, but he's used to having it."

"Marshal, should I tell him the truth about what I did?"

"That's up to you, but he'll be wondering why his gun pulled out crooked, and his shot went wide."

"What if I tell him, and he hates me for it."

Matt put his hand on the young man's shoulder. "In my opinion, facing Ash, and saying straight out what you did and why, will earn his respect like nothing else. But like I said, it's up to you."

"I know, but I'll think about what you said." Awkwardly holding his brother's gun in two hands, Billy left the office. Matt closed the door and flexed his right hand. It was healing but not back to where it was. Would it ever be?

Two Days Later

At her window seat on the eastbound train, Kitty watched the flatlands of Kansas fly by. Just over a week ago, she'd told Matt in no uncertain terms, she was taking a trip that would last for months. She smiled to herself. Her journey had been brief, but it had given her more that she could have hoped for. She'd left Dodge gripped with fear and anxiety, but in a new place, with new people she was able to take a fresh look at life, love and making choices.

NEXT STOP DODGE CITY KANSAS

Kitty smoothed back her hair, and grabbed her hat from the empty seat beside her. She donned it at a stylish angle, no mirror needed, though she had a small one in her purse. A goodbye gift from Joanne - Carry this with you Kitty. When you look in it you'll see an amazing woman. Kitty leaned back in her seat. Oh Joanne you are amazing. Things would have been so different for you and for Edward too, if he'd understood that when you fall in love with someone special, you don't try to make them fit some mold, you cherish who they are.

Dodge - Matt's Office

Matt leaned back his chair, hands behind his head. A wry smile tugged at his lips. The price of breakfast had been 2 lectures from Doc. The first was on letting the doctor examine his hand more often. Matt rubbed his right arm and flexed his hand. He couldn't see how Doc's poking and prodding, 4 times a week instead of twice, would improve his draw any faster. Matt sighed heavily. Doc's second lecture was about Kitty. About how she might not come back, and how he should have stopped her from going in the first place. Matt leaned forward on his desk. Doc didn't understand that Kitty wanted and needed this trip. Her mind was made up. There was no stopping her. As for not coming back, she….

"Dillon." Matt looked up. Ash Drake slammed through the door, right arm in a sling, gun-belt tossed over his left arm. Matt searched the man's face to gauge his mood. "Morning Ash. How's the arm?"

Drake shrugged. "Wounds heal, we both know that, takes time is all. Doc says mine ain't as bad as yours was. No matter, I got no need to get my draw back. I'm not a lawman or a gunslinger, at least not any more." Drake dragged a chair in front of Matt's desk and sat. "Billy told me everything - how he took my gun and went to you at 4:00 that morning, to ask if you could fix it so I'd likely shoot crooked. At first I was mad at him and furious at you, but Billy kept talking. I was stuck in that bed so I had to keep listening. I hate to admit it, but I came to see that my plan had a whole lot of problems. Billy did right." Ash set his gun-belt on Matt's desk. "Keep this as a souvenir. I won't be needing it."

"What are you going to do?"

"Me and Billy are heading to Colorado - place called Boulder. The couple who runs the Boulder Times is retiring. Billy's takin' over their business. He worked out fair terms." Drake's eyes lit up with pride. "He'll will be running an actual newspaper. Me - I have enough money to buy some horses and a piece of land out there. I'll start me a ranch. That's why I won't be needing that gun-belt. A rifle's good enough to put down a hurt horse or scare off rustlers." Ash looked Matt in the eye, "I ain't saying thank you, but I'm glad things turned out like they did." He stood to leave but turned back. "Best and smartest thing I ever done was send Billy to school back East. He's a good kid - no - I gotta correct that - he's a good man." Ash tipped his hat and was gone.

Kitty

On the other side of town the whistle blew twice, and the train pulled into the Dodge City station. Kitty stood up carefully and gingerly put weight on her injured ankle. Joanne let her leave the crutches behind with instructions to walk carefully. As Joanne put it. "No need to race anywhere. Make them wait."

Cautiously making her way to the exit Kitty stepped onto the platform, took a deep breath and smiled - Dodge City. She'd arranged for her luggage to go to the Long Branch, so she hurried down Front Street as fast as she dared, with her still tender ankle. She had to reach Matt before lots of folks saw her, and word spread that she was back. A few yard from Matt's office she paused and frowned. The man leaving was familiar, a gunslinger, Ash Drake. Why was he in town, and why was his arm in a sling? Was there a fight - a gunfight? Was Matt involved? She picked up her pace as best she could, and a minute later bust through Matt's door.

He turned sharply in his chair. His eyes lit up. A smile took over his face. "KITTY" He jumped to his feet.

"Hello Cowboy." She closed the door. Matt crossed the room in two steps and wrapped his arms around her. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming back. I would have met the train." She smiled up at him. "I wanted to surprise you, and the look on your face just now was a mighty big reward."

"Best surprise I've ever had." His eyes took in every inch of her face, to convince himself that she was real. She looked up at him. "Matt, was that Ash Drake I just saw leaving?" He nodded, "And it's quite a story." Kitty looked him over with a clinical eye "Well, since his arm is in a sling and you're still in one piece, it's a story I won't mind hearing" She took a step back and winced.

"What's wrong."Matt grabbed her hand. She shook her head. "Nothing. My ankle is still a bit tender. It's my first day walking around without crutches."

"CRUTCHES"

She laughed at the look on his face. "It's hard to believe I've only been gone a week. We both have stories to tell." She stroked his cheek and sighed, "Too bad that - well, I'm sure you have work to do, and I should get over to the Long Branch, and start saying hello to folks."

"Um - Kitty. It's been quiet in the office this morning, and I'll bet hardly anyone knows you're back. We could sneak out the back here, and ride my horse to that spot near Crystal Lake you like so much. Spend a quiet morning there, just the two of us."

"That secluded spot, where the lilac's smell so sweet, and the water glistens like diamonds. Oh Matt, I'd like that very much. We have so much to talk about – past, present – even future." She felt him stiffen and spoke softly. "Matt, don't you think it's time we made some plans? I have a business partner now. I have to let Hannah know what's happening.

"I know, I know, and just before you left you said we've been vague in that area, and you're right. I guess I never thought I'd survive the job this long, and maybe even carried some notion that making plans would jinx it. But, you're right, we should make some plans. It's just - I just don't know, I …." He let out a breath. She look in his eyes and saw an uncertainty there she'd never seen before. "It's all right Matt, go on."

"Kitty, things happened last week that got me thinking about my job, what I'm capable of, this hand of mine. I'm not as sure as I once was, that it will heal completely, but I….." He shook his head.

She took his hand. "Matt we don't have to make every big decision today, or tomorrow or the next day. We can talk about possibilities, the things know we want or don't want.

She felt him relax. He offered a crooked smile. "My guess is that there is no possibility you're gonna want to be a rancher's wife living miles from town. Am I right on that?"

"Dead right, and Matt Dillon there's no possibility you'll want to stop helping and protecting people one way or another, whether you're wearing that badge or not."

Matt let that sink in for a moment and slowly nodded. Kitty reached up and stroked his cheek. "The thing we both want, Cowboy, is us, and we have that. Let's start talking about the rest." She smiled slyly, "And, in that beautiful, secluded spot, with the whole morning ahead of us, we might even find time to do something besides talk."

"There are a lot of possibilities." He smiled and took her hand, and they slipped out the back together.

The End