Doc was standing on the small porch outside of his office, looking out at the soft, rosy color rising up from the setting sun. Squinting, then shading his eyes, he spotted the approaching mule, horse, and their riders. Barely touching the handrail, he rushed down the steep steps and out into the middle of the dirt street.

"Wal, Doc! I never seen ya movin' so fast! Got an angry customer chasin' ya?" Chester grinned and Kitty lightly slapped his hand.

The small man stared up at his three dearest friends with tears in his eyes. "Harrumph! Just out for my usual walk! Kitty, are you all right?" She had pulled the bandana from her head, but the sharp-eyed doctor noticed her paleness and how she leaned back against Chester.

Matt had dismounted and already had her by the waist as he swung her off and into his arms. "Come on Kitty. Up to Doc's we go!" She was too tired to protest and felt so safe in his arms that she just sighed and relaxed.

"You too, Chester! Let me take a look at that cheek of yours!" Doc ordered as he followed Matt's long legs up the stairs to his office.

Two hours later, Chester had eaten enough for a man with two stomachs, washed up, and was sound asleep on his cot in the Marshal's office. As Doc had tended to his swollen cheek and eye, Kitty had simply stated that Chester had saved her. The details were his to tell in his own time. As was Kitty's story to Matt.

Kitty had nibbled on toast and tea, bathed with Matt's help, and was curled up against him in the big brass bed. Her sprained wrist was snuggled rewrapped, and Doc was content that her head injury wasn't serious. He would have preferred to watch over her at his office overnight, but knew that was impossible. He handed her a few packets of pain-relief powders that he knew she wouldn't take, and had shaken his head as he watched Matt carry her to the back stairs to her room above the Long Branch. "There are some treatments much better than what I can give her," he thought with a wistful smile.

They lay together quietly, content for now to feel and hear each other's heart beats. Before they both fell into an exhausted sleep, she reached up and gently felt his closed eyelids.

"Yes, Darlin','no more than I would miss my eyes.'" Reaching up his hand, he took hers down to his mouth and kissed each fingertip before laying it over his heart.

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One week later, Matt stood at the batwing doors of the Long Branch, looking in at Kitty drinking mid-morning coffee with Doc. As usual, after only a moment, she turned her head and her luminous blue eyes met his. They exchanged their special smiles, and he pushed through the doors and walked over to their table.

"Doc. Kitty."

"Sit down Matt. Would you like a cup of coffee? Or a beer?" She searched his face, wondering why he had come by so early in the day after their morning coffee together. "He's probably going to leave town for a few weeks, again," she thought with sad resignation, determined to be cheerful. She never wanted him to leave without remembering her smiling.

"Matt" The old doctor quietly watched, always hoping and praying for these two young people he loved like his children to be happy together.

"No thanks, Kitty. I was wondering if you could come outside with me?" He was now holding his Stetson in his left hand, and held out his large right hand to her. He was smiling the little boy smile she could never resist.

"Uh…all right. Excuse me, Doc?" Standing up, she put her hand in his and let him lead her out front. Moss' small rental buggy and bay horse were there, a lead anchor weight on a strap clipped to the harness. Kitty could see a picnic basket and two fishing rods behind the seat. A large bottle of champagne was wedged between two thick blankets. "Matt?"

"Kitty, I made a vow a week ago, too. I want to really try to spend more time with you, and to not disappoint you so often. When you and Chester were missing…well, I almost went crazy. Please come on a picnic with me, Honey. It's a beautiful day. YOU are beautiful." His light blue eyes shone as he implored her. When he saw her glance back towards the saloon, he quickly added, "Bill said he and Clem will be just fine."

"Oh Matt!" was all she could say as tears ran down her smiling face.

"Don't cry! Please don't cry! A woman crying…geez." He lifted her up into the buggy, quickly unclipped the weight and put it in the back, then climbed up into the driver's seat. Kitty dabbed at her eyes with her hankie as they sat close together on the ride out into the country. She put her hand on his thigh after they left town, and they both felt as light as the few puffy white clouds in the bright blue Kansas sky.

End.