My Twisted Heritage

Chapter 14

Gunsmoke

Spoilers: Twisted Heritage/Not really any spoilers, I really don't follow the original idea

too much.

The wire Doc and Festus received confused them somewhat, but they didn't care how many people he brought as long as Kitty was one of them.

Three days later, they came to Dodge. Matt drove the buckboard down Front Street, heading for the Long Branch, where he knew that Doc and Festus would be waiting. Some of the people said hello and other just stared at Kitty. She felt uncomfortable about their staring, and pulled her shawl around her belly. Matt gently reached across Tracy to take Kitty's hand in his. She looked up at him, her blue eyes shining. He smiled as he pulled up in front of the Long Branch. Doc and Festus comes out of the Long Branch and walk up to the edge of the sidewalk.

He stops the buckboard and pulls back the break. "Hi Doc, Festus."

"Hey Matthew." Festus said coming up to the side. Matt jumps down then turns to help Tracy down. He gently sets her down on the ground. A few people walking in the street saw Kitty and stopped to stare at her. She looked over at the two women who then whispered and started walking away.

"Kitty?" She turned to Matt. He could see that she felt embarrassed. "Come on." He told her. She slowly got up and walked over to the edge of the buckboard. Carefully she stepped down, with Matt's hands securely on her waist. He gently brought her down to the ground. "Kitty, this is Doc Adams, and this is Festus."

Doc and Festus then realized that she had no memory of them.

"Hello Kitty." Doc said as he held out his hand. She looked at his hand, then took his hand and turned it up right as she examined it.

"I remember, you saved my life." She said looking at him.

"Well, I guess I have, a time or two." He smiled and she smiled at him.

"Hello Miss Kitty." Festus said.

"I wish I could remember more, I seem to remember you, wearing a top hat and tails, and this ungodly contraption, called a wagon." She looked at him.

"Yes, well, that thar was one of my idea's, for a business venture." He said.

"More like a hair-brained scheme." Doc quipped. Kitty laughed at the two men.

"It weren't neither, Doc, ya' ole' goat." He said arguing with them. Matt just laughed he gently put his arm around Kitty and she shook her head at the two men.

"If you two will stop the arguing, Doc, you think you could take a minute and take a look at Kitty." She looked up at him, startled. "Just to make sure you and the baby are fine."

"Of course, Kitty, why don't you come with me." He said taking her arm.

"Matt?" she said a bit nervous.

"I'll be right up. Festus, take Tracy over to Jonas' and get her a peppermint stick." He said giving him a penny.

"They're my favorite." She said looking up at Matt.

"Mine too." Festus answered as he took her hand and headed for the store.

Matt headed for doc's office. When he entered, they were not in the outer room, but in the other room. So he sat down in a chair and waited.

Doc examined her then told her to get dressed and to come out into the other office when she was finished.

"How is she, Doc?"

"Oh she's fine, Matt. She's a strong healthy woman having a strong healthy baby." He scratched his head. "That baby has a very healthy heartbeat. I'd say, you're about 30 weeks along." He goes over and pours himself a cup of coffee and Kitty comes out of the room. She smoothed down her clothes and walked over. "Okay, are you gonna fill me in?"

"I was in a stage hold up. I was shot."

"Yes, I saw the scar on your side."

"I was, a bullet had grazed my scalp. Doctor?" It dawned on her how far along he said she was.

"Kitty, you have never called me doctor, it's just Doc." He smiled. She sat in the chair and he came over and looked at the side of her scalp. "It must have been pretty bad. That would explain the memory loss."

"You said 30 weeks, that would make it 7 ½ months, which means…..I was pregnant when I left Dodge." She looks at Doc confused.

"Exactly." Doc said looking at her as she thought about this. Matt stood by not really comprehending until they said she was pregnant prior to leaving Dodge.

"Then, it is my child." He said looking at her. Kitty stood stunned and the tears began to flow. "Kitty, what's wrong?" He said taking her hands and helping her to sit in the chair.

"I've betrayed you in the worst possible way. I've been with someone else while I carry your child. How could you ever forgive?" She cried as Matt knelt down in front of her.

"Because I love you, Kitty." He gently placed his hand on her belly and lovingly caressed her. "You are my life. You are my world. I was so lost without you here." He kissed her gently on the mouth. "Doc, Kitty and I are married now. We were married in Riverton three days ago."

"Well, we pretty much guessed that, when you said you were bringing your family home, Matt." He smiles. Festus and Tracy come up the steps and into the office. "Well, it took you long enough." He said looking at the two of them with peppermint sticks hanging out of their mouths. Tracy smiled and rushed to Kitty.

"Mama, Uncle Festus is so funny." Kitty smiled as she kissed the top of Tracy's head.

"So, Doc, did ya' tell 'em?"

"No, I thought we'd take them over together."

"What are you two conspiring?" Matt asked.

"Well, we done figured, that if you was bringing Kitty home and your family, then you needed a proper home."

"What did you's do?" Kitty asked suspicious of these two codgers.

"Well, that old Wheaton place on the edge of town,"

"The old two story house?" Kitty asked remembering.

"That's right. That thar's the one." Festus said. He went over to her and knelt in front of her. "Well, we fixed it up. Put a new roof on it. New floors, doors, windows, paint, new fence and all. It looks brand new."

"For what?" Matt asked him.

"For you, Kitty and Tracy of course." Doc said.

"Doc, that place has been abandoned for years, no one even knows who owns it." Matt said looking confused.

"Well I own it, Matt." Doc told him. He walked over to the drawer and pulled out the deed to the house. Looking at it, he walks over to Kitty and hands it to her. "Think it of a wedding gift." He smiles at her.

"Doc, we can't,…" She started but he wouldn't let her finish.

"Let me do this, Kitty."

"Doc, I don't understand how you got it all done in less the 5 days." Matt said looking confused.

"Well, that's cause we didn't do it alone. The whole town pitched in. Dirk gave us the wood for the roof and the floors. Jonas gave us the door and windows. Ma' Smalley made curtains for every room. Everyone pitched in." By this time, Kitty had tears running down her face.

"I don't understand, why?"

"Cause, Miss Kitty, we love you."

"Oh, Festus." She cried as she threw her arms around his neck.

"Thar! Thar, Miss Kitty, no need to cry." He kissed her on the forehead, then stood up and helped her stand.

"Can we go see it now?" Tracy asked

"Of course we can." Doc said and they began to head out of the office. Matt pulled Kitty to him and led her out the door. When they came to the top of the steps, most of the town was out there waiting. Kitty reached for Matt's hand.

Sam was there along with Burke, Jonas, Moss, Louie the young girls from the saloon and other women and men from the town. Matt and Kitty made their way down the stairs. She felt so self-conscious that she squeezed Matt's hand. They began to applaud, and yell, Welcome Home Miss Kitty. Sam gently leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"Welcome home, Miss Kitty."

The girls gave her a quick hug and Matt continued to usher her through the crowd. Festus and Doc were waiting with Tracy on the side lines. Finally, they head for the new home. Most of the towns-people had dispersed, giving them their privacy. But Doc and Festus took them home.

The house was a two-story home. Three bedrooms on the second floor. There was a room that was decorated for a little girl and the room off of the Master bedroom, was a nursery. It was beautifully done. Lace curtains and white walls. There were little wooden toys all over the room. Toys for a little boy. The master bedroom had Kitty's furniture from her room at the Long Branch. Even her tub had been moved there, with a large wooden divider to hide it in the corner. She walked around each room, touching things and smiling. Finally, they headed down stairs. Kitty went to the kitchen, which was large. She took a coffee pot and when she opened the pantry, she was surprised at how well stocked it was. She found coffee and sugar and made coffee for the men.

The evening passed quickly and dinner was done. Kitty and Tracy had finished the cleaning up. Doc and Festus and Matt had helped cleaning up the dining room which made Kitty laugh. She hadn't known any of them to be so helpful before. But she kept those thoughts to herself as she did dishes. Then after all was done, she had made more coffee, but Doc and Festus had to get going. Kitty smiled, said thank you and they left the new family alone.

"You, young lady, I think it's past your bedtime." She told Tracy, who yawned in response.

"Yes, Ma'am." She headed for the stairs. "Mama?"

"Yes Tracy?" She said looking up at her.

"Will you and the Marshall come say good night?" She asked. Matt smiled.

"Yes, honey, we'll be right up." She said. Tracy smiled as she headed up the stairs.

Matt got up and locked the front door. He then proceeded to dowse the lanterns except one. Taking Kitty's hand, he led her upstairs to bed. After tucking their daughter in, they went to their own bedroom. Matt began to get undressed. Kitty didn't move, she felt self conscious and nervous. He had only gotten as far as taking his vest, shirt and boots off. Walking over to Kitty, he gently begins to unbutton her blouse, then allowed the soft material to slip down her arms. He took the blouse and laid it on the chair behind him. He unbuttoned her skirt and allowed it to fall to the floor. She stood before him, in her slip, her rounded belly protruding slightly. He gently caressed her belly and she watched his hand move over her. Matt, stopped and she looked up, to see the love shining in his eyes. Leaning down, Matt kissed her passionately the first time in almost a year. It was warm, yet desperate and passionate. Her hands rested on his strong bi-ceps. Coming up for air, he leaned his forehead against hers.

"I just want to hold you in my arms, Kitty. I won't push you into something you're not ready for, but please, let me hold you tonight." He said, his hand still rubbing her belly.

She splayed her hand across his chest, remembering the feel of his hard chest under her touch. Without saying a word, she kissed him again. This time her arms wrapping around his neck and his around her back pulling her securely against him.

Lying in bed, he pulled her against his bare chest and she laid her head there, listening to his heartbeat. They fell into a deep warm sleep in each other's arms. He had another chance to love this woman, and he would not hide it. Of course, precautions would have to be taken. He knew all too well the cost of enemies. But he was not going to waist time. He loved her. He would love Tracy and raise her as his own child loving her with all his heart because she was a part of their lives.

All was right with the world again. Love was in his arms once more.

Author's Note: Well, did I redeem myself? Is all right with the world once again. I do apologize for the long road home, but I had to do something to spice it up. Hope you have enjoyed this one.

Thank you,

Kathleen Russell