Authors Note: Once again, forgive any and all errors. I have had friends go on the net and read this story, and they have told me it's a little long winded. But if I try to by pass too much, I think I may just miss the point. I promise you, we are almost near the end.

The ride to Hays City took two and half days. For the most part, it was uneventful, until Jude Bonner began his ranting again, about how he took the Marshal's woman. His men laughed and snickered. All the while taunting the Marshal, in an attempt to provoke him into killing him. Jude would have preferred it that way. It was better to die in battle, or at the hands of your enemy rather than to die at the end of a rope, under the white man's law.

"Come on, Lawman, you know you wanna kill me for takin' your woman." He said, but Matt continued to ignore him. "She was sweet, Lawman. So ripe for the takin' and she smelled like roses." He continued but Matt just tried to ignore him. "Hey, K'Lingy, wasn't that the sweetest white woman you've ever tasted?" He yelled across the iron wagon. Lt. Hanson saw the Marshal's hand on his gun. He knew that this man's words were cutting right into the Marshal. He knew from personal experience how it felt. His wife had been raped 7 years ago, by an Indian and left for dead. She was traveling from Boston to Kansas to be with her husband. She traveled with her father, mother, two older brothers and a younger sister. They had all been killed. She, her mother and sister were violated and left to die. It was unfortunate that she was the only one left to survive and tell of the story. It took almost 4 years before she'd even allow him to touch her. Now, things were almost back to normal, except for the times when she'd wake up in a cold sweat. Sometimes gasping for air, other times fighting an invisible ghost. "Wanna know what I did to you're pretty little woman, Lawman? Should I tell you how she begged and pleaded with me, begging me to stop?" He said, but it was the last thing he said, because Lt Hanson had had enough. Looking back, Matt saw that Bonner was slumped forward and that Lt. Hanson was placing his rifle back in the saddle holster. No one else said a word as they too had grown tired of Bonner's boasting. To the men escorting the Dog Soldiers, such and act was heinous and only something an animal would do. They fought for freedom, and honor, whereas the Dog Soldiers fought for Profit. Matt nodded to Hanson who only nodded in return. The prisoners became quiet as they knew they were out numbered and as that Deputy had said, the day they were captured, they might end up being fodder for the buzzards.

Hays City was a two-day ride out under normal circumstances, but Mother Nature had seen fit to throw in a rain storm in their path. It was mid summer and the rain was cool, but beating heavily on the Soldiers as they sat in their mounts. But still they continued on. Matt's mind whirled in the silence and his thoughts were on one person, Kitty. He thought of the first day they had met. Well, actually, they had only seen each other. It wasn't until some weeks later he had the honor of making her acquaintance. The day she came into Dodge on a stage and stopped for dinner, was the day that he was remembering. The stage passengers usually had a good hour or so to sit and eat, but the new driver was behind schedule and it ended up they were being forced to swallow their food and leave. Kitty sat at her table, alone, reading the local paper and sipping her coffee when this big man walked into Del Monicos. He had to be just about the biggest man she had ever laid eyes on. Matt remembered looking in the pretty redheads direction and she quickly averted her eyes as not to be caught staring at him. He had to remind himself to breathe when he first saw her. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever set eyes on. She had the most beautiful red hair, which at the moment, was pulled back and up, in a French twist. He had only gotten a glimpse of her eyes, but they were blue. That was no mistake. The bluest, clearest eyes he'd ever seen. Her lips were painted a soft red color, her cheeks were pink and her skin was flawless. He realized that Doc was already sitting at their table and looking at him kind of funny. He cleared his throat and headed for Doc.

"What's so funny, Doc?" Matt asked him.

"Pretty little thing, isn't she?" Doc said to Matt.

"What are ya' talking about, Doc?" He said trying to ignore Doc's words and his eyes as well.

"That little Redhead over there. She's not pretty at all. I'd say she's down right lovely." He smiled up at Matt. "Why don't you go over and say hello?" He prodded.

"Look, Doc, why don't we just order something to eat and leave it at that." He said looking at the menu. "Besides, she can't be more than 18 years old." He said. Doc saw the stagecoach driver come in and look around.

He walked over to Kitty and leaned over. "Miss, we're leaving." He told her.

"Oh, yes, of course." She said getting up and placing her money on the table. She then proceeded to follow the man out the door, but not before looking in Matt and Doc's direction one more time. This time, both men were slightly embarrassed, as they had been caught watching her.

"I guess you're smiling because Bonner will be hanging?" Hanson said, bringing Matt back to reality.

"Excuse me."

"I said, I guess you're smiling because they're gonna hang." He repeated.

"No, I was just thinking." Matt said softly.

"Thinking about your woman. Remembering how things used to be?" Matt looked at him in stunned surprise.

"My wife, 7 years ago. She was coming to Kansas with her family, to be with me. They were attacked and all killed except for my Jenny. Somehow she survived. And I thank God every day that she did." He looked down at his hands. "Remember that love, Marshal. It's the only thing that will get the two of you's through this. When she tries to walk away, you hold on even tighter." He then allowed his horse to slow down and fall behind Matt.

He hadn't been holding on of late. In fact, if anything, he'd been pushing her further and further away with his actions. What had he been so blind about? He still loved her with all his heart. And he knew that she loved him as well. But something kept gnawing at him and he wasn't quite sure what it was. He was feeling things he has never felt before. Anger, denial, in some odd way, he felt as though he was in mourning. Mourning his loss of intimacy, his loss of privacy, the loss of the way things used to be. 'God how he longed to be home, to be lying next to her, feeling her heart beating against his. Feeling the warmth of her breath on his skin. Or just the gentle-strength of her arms around him.' She knew how to make him feel as though he were coming home for the first time, every time. No matter how many nights in a row, he had been able to slip away and spend with her, she had always held him and he felt as though he had just come home from some long arduous journey. Her arms were his haven. Her love was his light in the dark. Would he ever be able to love her like that again? Would she be able to love him? What if she couldn't forgive him for what had happened to her, after all, it was his fault. He had only himself to blame for this one.

Kitty sat in her room, listening to the silence. The room was flooded in darkness. She could barely see her hand in front of her. As she sat there in the big comfy chair by the window, she leaned back and closed her eyes.

"My, my, Marshal Dillion sure does know how to pick his women, don't he?" His hard angry mouth descended on hers and she attempted to pull her hands free, only freeing one hand which she attempted to us to push him away. "It's time we got better acquainted, Reds."

"No!" She says trying to push him away. He lifts her into his arms and carries a thrashing Kitty over to the grassy area. He puts her down and pulls her arms behind her back as he kisses her again. This time, she bit down on his lip, causing it to bleed.

"Fight me all you want, Reds, I like it that way." He said shoving her down on the ground. He held her by the wrists with one hand, above her head and she struggled to pull free, not realizing that his other hand was busily wondering up her skirt and relieving her of her under-garments. She felt the thin material being ripped from her body.

"N-Noooooooo!" She cried as he brutally penetrated her.

Kitty slammed her hands over her ears as if she could shut out the nightmare that revisited her now even in her waking hours. The truth of the matter was, it was eating away at her, and the fact that Matt had not come to see her, made things even worse. He had left for Hays City almost 3 days ago. He left without seeing her, without telling her that he loved her. He had never left Dodge without telling her that. As she sat there, she began to think things over, maybe he didn't love her at all. Maybe he didn't want her, after all, she'd been gang raped and brutalized by Bonner and his men. Who'd want a woman who's been passed around like some whore. She was no better than a common whore. Dirty and used were the words that ran through her head. She felt dirty, and no matter how many times she bathed, she could not wash away the dirt that was embedded under her skin. Defeated, she lowered her head as she began to weep. He didn't love her anymore. Plain and simple, he didn't love her.

Matt sat at the table eating in the small restaurant. His food sat in front of him as he leaned over the table and sip his coffee. Two of the officers that had escorted the Dog Soldiers in, were sitting at the table talking. Matt was once again thinking back to he first actual meeting. Kitty was at the Long Branch. She had been hired only two weeks ago, as one of the saloon girls. And already, he had heard from people around town, mostly male patrons of the pretty little redhead at the Long Branch. However, on this particular occasion, he was being summoned to the Long Branch. A fight had broken out and a disgruntled customer was holding one of the females, threatening to cut her throat with a broken bottle if she didn't admit that she cheated. No female was going to get the better of him. The female in question, had been playing poker with some of the customers.

Matt entered the saloon, to find the man holding the redheaded object of his affection. His arm was around her waist with both arms pinned under it and the broken bottle was against her throat.

"Warren, let the girl go. We'll go and talk this over." Matt said as he stood with both his thumbs hooked in the front of his belt. Warren could see the relaxed gaze in the young Marshal's eyes. He didn't even flinch when the jagged edge of the bottle slightly cut into the beautiful redheads neck.

"No way Marshal, not till she admits that she cheated." He said tightening his arm around her abdomen.

"Miss Russell, please tell him the truth." He asked calmly, attempting to cool down the situation.

"I didn't cheat!" She said angrily. "I can't help it if he's a lousy player." She wasn't really trying to get him angrier, but she wasn't about to admit to cheating. She had promised herself several years ago, when her father had run out on her that she would no longer follow in his footsteps. Cheating cost him his daughter.

"Liar!" He yelled angrily

"Just tell him." Matt pleaded with her.

"I'm not going to admit to something I didn't do, just because some man's pride has been hurt. I won't brand myself a cheater and I won't let him do it either." She said trying to pull free. "If anyone had been cheating it would have been you. You're just lousy at that as well." She was now very angry and trying to make him angrier. "I didn't cheat!"

If Matt was scared, he certainly did not show it. But when he looked into her eyes, he didn't see fear either. He saw fury. Her eyes became the darkest, deepest blue he had ever seen, and he knew that she was furious. She suddenly pulled her knee up and kicked back, driving her heal and the power of her foot, using her thigh for leverage, she rammed it into his knee, snapping his leg backward. He cried out in pain, the bottle slipping and cutting her neck down the right side, about two inches. The cut wasn't deep, but enough to bleed heavily. Warren was lying on the floor writhing in pain as Kitty fell against the table, catching herself. Chester grabbed his gun and kicked the bottle away from Warren's reach.

"You men get him to the jail." He said as he saw Kitty still leaning against the table. He could see now, that all of the color had drained from her face and she wavered. Stepping over to her. He placed his hand on the small of her back. He could feel her body trembling beneath his touch. "Kitty? Are you alright?" He asked her softly. Kitty realized it was him and she straightened up. But she couldn't stop the room from spinning. He saw her falling, and caught her. Gently he lifted her into his arms and headed up the stares with Doc closely behind them. In his hand, was his black bag.

It was two days later, when he confronted her about cheating and they had gotten into a heated argument, in the back room of the Long Branch. She had argue vehemently that she did not cheat. Then he asked her not to deal in the Long Branch again. She saw this a the perfect opportunity. She would agree, but she would have it sealed as a gentlemen's agreement, if you will. "All right, Marshal, I'll do as you ask. Just as long as you understand, I did not cheat." She smiled up at the big lawman. Then shoved him against thee door. She hooked the small wooden stool with her foot and pulled it in front of her and stepped up on it. Before Matt knew what was happening she had him pressed against the wall and her warm moist lips were on his. Matt stood there, at first with his hands handing loosely at his side. They then slid to her waist and he pulled her tightly against his chest. "I promise, Matt. But I didn't cheat." She said whisper soft as her mouth caressed his again. He lost all train of thought holding her against him. Five minutes later, he left the room, his heart in his throat, and his stomach in knots.

Matt stood from the table and Hanson saw the look in his eyes. "I guess I'll be heading back to Dodge." He said laying some money on the table. "Much obliged for your help gentlemen." Matt said leaning over and pulling his hat from the other chair.

Hanson stood and headed after Matt as he headed for the door. "Marshal!" He yelled after him and Matt turned to face him. "Good luck, Matt!"

"Thanks, Jack!" He said as he continued on his way out of the restaurant. He would try to put things into perspective the ride home. Figure out how he would approach Kitty and talk to her about what occurred. Because, in his own heart, he felt responsible for the pain they had caused her. And the night that Bonner described how he had chased her down and how he had taken her there on the grassy patch, was still eating away at his very soul. He felt as though he had put her up on the box and sold her, himself. He was the one who put her in danger. How does he ask her to forgive him? Would she forgive him? Jack told him to hold onto the love he had for her and remember what it was that made them so right for each other. It wasn't just a physical thing. Not that he didn't enjoy making love to her, but it was so much more. It was much more. She was someone with whom he could talk to. She would argue with him and not back down out of fear. He loved it when she'd get angry with him. Her eyes would blaze deep blue and her breast would heave as she fought to catch her breath. Once, she had gotten so mad, that her mouth was dry, as were her lips. Her tongue snaked out to moisten her lips, and his arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her against him. Several hours later, after making mad passionate love, they lay together trying to remember what they had been arguing about. It ended in hysterics, as neither could do so. Mounting his horse, Matt pulled on the reins and headed out of Hays City.

to be continued……