AN: In Oct. I posted Back from Mary, one explaination for Kitty's behavior after giving up baby Mary at the end of the TV episode, The Foundling. Reader, themarshalswoman09 suggested a followup and I wrote After a Year. 52shari suggested another glimpse and I thought, why not. Here's a one chapter send off of our favorite couple. Into the future they go! Happy New Year!
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Muffled laughs and the faint tinkling notes of Camptown Races, floated up to the 2nd floor of the Long Branch. Familiar background sounds for Kitty, as she sat at her vanity brushing her hair. Her internal clock told her it was almost closing time, but Sam would handle it just fine. She'd been downstairs earlier to take the pulse of the place and make her presence known, but it had been a while since she'd been the closer on a week night, much less taken a shift behind the bar or carried a tray of drinks. A thriving saloon meant having staff for that, which gave her more time and energy to tend to the business end of things - inventory, ordering, planning, pricing, banking, payroll and such. She found that stuff damn satisfying, but it didn't mean she made herself scare in the saloon. That would never happen. Her saloon was her domain, and she was proud of it, besides she relished getting gossip from the locals, hanging out with friends, hearing strangers tell about their lives and hopes and dreams. Of course it wasn't all smooth sailing. The Long Brach was a saloon after all. It wasn't crazy wild like the old days when bullet holes and broken windows were a regular occurrence, but on some nights fights broke out, and things got out of hand. That's just the way it was.
"LAST ROUND, CLOSING TIME." Sam's announcement was loud and clear. The noise beneath her dwindled until even the sound of Sam's footsteps disappeared, and all was quiet. She set down her brush and stared into the mirror. Her soft, shiny hair hung down to her creamy, bare shoulders. The low neckline of her blue negligee revealed the curves of her breasts, and the thin, gold chain around her neck glittered against her skin. A gold wedding ring hung from chain, and glistened in the light. She fingered the ring and smiled. In her 8 months of marriage to Matt, everything and nothing had changed. They'd been keeping their marriage a secret to everyone but Doc, but she was sure folks had their suspicions. After all there were plenty of clues. The corner room at Ma Smalley's, that had been Matt's for over 18 years, was suddenly available. And it was surely noted by shopkeeps and shoppers alike, that when purchased items for herself, she often bought things for Matt – everyday type things. But, Matt was still a US Marshal, and she still ran a saloon with living quarters on the second floor. Yep, everything and nothing had changed. She smiled to herself, and ran a hand across her belly. It wasn't even slightly swollen but would be soon. Change was coming. She stared at herself in the mirror while still fingering the ring. Matt had been in Hays for over a week, testifying at trial. She'd had time to do a lot of thinking. When he got back tonight, they'd be doing a lot of talking.
Matt crossed the town line into Dodge, and rode directly to the stable. He climbed down from his horse somewhat stiffly. Long days in the saddle, after countless hours in a courtroom sitting in a too-small chair, had left his back stiff and leg achy.
"I'll take your horse Marshal." Moss Grimmick took hold of the reins. Matt put up a hand. "You don't have to do that, Moss. At this time of night, I expect to fend for myself." A smiled broke through Moss's wrinkled face. He'd been on earth a good long while, and after all was said and done, Matt Dillon was one of the very few men he held in high esteem. "I don't mind, Marshal. Besides ya been gone more than a week. I'm sure you're eager to get home to your wif…. to Miss Kitty." Matt sighed and thanked Moss as he walked away. He was starting think that his marriage to Kitty was no more of a secret than their long relationship had been.
"Maashall, h-h-how ya doin." Matt turned with a shake of his head, "Hello Louie."
Swaying on his feet and grinning broadly, Louie Pheeters tipped his hat and stumbled forward. Matt reached out and gently steadied him. "Saloons are all closed by now. What's in that bag there?" Louie frowned at the satchel under his arm, as if he forgot he was holding it. His eyes widened. "Oh yeah – Mrs. Delmonico gives me bags with leftovers. I ain't hungry now, but Ma Smalley don't mind me restin' in the hammock on her back porch. I might eat somethin' when I get kinda settled in. I just gotta remember which way ta walk. Ya wouldn't happen ta know, would ya Marshal?" Matt smiled and took Louie's arm. "Come on, I'll walk with you. Just don't forget to eat something from that bag after we get there." They headed down the empty street with Matt's strong grip keeping Louie on his feet. They got to Ma's back porch, and Matt watched his shaky companion ease into the hammock and open the bag. Satisfied that poor Louie was safe and eating, the marshal hurried along in the darkness, with the town asleep around him. His footsteps echoed as he raced up the back stairs of the Long Branch fumbling for this key. A door swung open. "Welcome home Cowboy, I heard you coming." He wrapped his arms around Kitty, standing barefoot in her negligee, and used one foot to shut the door behind them. Hands moving up and down her back and buttocks, he pulled her into a long, deep kiss. "It's good to be home. That trial took a lot longer than it should have." He hung his hat and gunbelt on a hook. "It was all about land rights, and forged signatures. The prosecuting attorney made the same point, 8 ways to Sunday. I reckon he liked the sound of his own voice. If Judge Brooker hadn't made him move along – we'd still be there." Matt sunk down into a comfortable chair. Kitty put a glass of brandy in his hands and sat across from him. He took a sip. "Thanks Kitty, now what are you waiting to talk to me about?"
She raised a quizzical eyebrow. He shrugged. "I know the look." A smile tugged at her lips "Well then - no point beating around the bush. Matt, we're gonna have a baby."
It took a moment for her words to register. A slow smile crossed his face. He took her hands. "That's wonderful, when?"
"Well, there's no test to prove it or predict a date, but given my monthlies and other signs I'd say I'm 8 or 9 weeks along. Matt, it means we have to get serious about making plans for where we go from here. My first question is, are you taking off the badge? You've always said being a lawman and having a family don't mix."
Matt leaned back in his chair. "That's true." He paused for a moment, and gave a short nod. "I'd be good at horse ranching. We could get us some property. There's good land to be had near the Kansas/Oklahoma border or even just into Oklahoma. I could get good horse stock pretty easy by…." He saw her expression and frowned. "What's wrong?"
"Matt, do you have your heart set on ranching?"
"Well no, not really." He shook his head. "I was just thinking of things I could switch to kinda fast and support a family." Matt watched her face, and ran his fingers through his hair. "Kitty, you look ready to burst, better let it all out."
She bit her lower lip and paused briefly before speaking. "Matt, when I got to Dodge, all those years ago, that cold and rainy morning, I stayed because of you. We both know that, and I truly can't see myself here without you. But we've been in Dodge for 20 years, I-I've build a life here and I – we have people here we care about. Matt, I want Doc to see me through this pregnancy and deliver our baby. And I want to be near Bess, with her wisdom about raising kids. I – I want to see Newly and Festus be uncles." She laughed lightly, "And Jonas at the General Store - for years I've seen him sneaking lollipops to kids, and I've watched Mr. Demonico putting extra ice cream on their plates. Matt, I want to be part of that. And little Mary, who made me feel the pull to motherhood. She and our child will be less than 3 years apart. They could be friends." Kitty took a breath but couldn't stopped the torrent of words she'd been storing up. "And the Long Branch, I've built it up for years, and running it gives me real satisfaction. Matt, I love you so-so much, and I want this baby very badly, but when I think about my day-to-day life, I can't see me spending my days baking bread and – and taking care of a household. That's great for some women, and others think it's the only life a woman can have. If I'd married when I was 18 or 19, I'd probably think different but I …. Oh Matt, I don't even know how to say what I'm feeling – and – and I don't see how it would work anyway. We can't raise a child in these rooms, and a saloon woman with a baby would be frowned on, even a married saloon woman. Besides, what would you do in Dodge City when you take off that badge, and what about your enemies finding you? There's so much to consider, but Matt, life on a ranch – I just….."
She looked over at Matt and realized she'd been speaking non-stop for minutes. Matt's face was unreadable, fingers laced in front of him, he was listening intently. Seconds ticked by. He took her hands, and pulled her onto his lap. She rested her head against his broad chest. He brushed a stray hair from her face. "Kitty, I have to face the fact that if an enemy of mine wants to find me, he will, no matter where I am. There's some comfort in knowing that a lot of my enemies are dead, in jail or getting too old to act on their hate. After all, I've been marshal here for 20 years - 20 years - - that 's a long time of protecting folks in these parts, going through droughts together, leading posses, looking for lost kids, knowing a crowd's gathered outside Doc's whenever I get shot, just hoping and praying for my life." He paused and shook his head. "I always thought it would be my duty to walk away from all of it, when it came time to raise a family. But maybe that kind of thinking's wrong." He looked into her eyes for a long moment. "Let's think about this - if we stay, we start with letting folks know we're married, so we can look for a house in town, even if we rent at first. As for you mixing a saloon and motherhood - maybe there's a way around that. You've been real creative in making changes for years, with things like free lunch, morning coffee, having low-stakes poker tables to give cowhands and shopkeeps the fun of gambling without a lot of risk. You could make even bigger changes. What if you converted the Long Branch into a restaurant, but kept some gambling nights to keep your old customers happy, and other special things?"
Kitty's eyes lit up. "I could have Friday night poker, and Saturday morning family breakfast. Maybe even music night with Sam playing his fiddle, while we serve meals. The second floor could be private dining rooms. Matt, the Long Branch could be a really special restaurant. I could…" Her face dropped, "What about you? What would you do in Dodge without the badge. I want you to be happy."
Matt smiled crookedly. "In Topeka, during that endless trial, Judge Brooker and I did a lot of talking over dinners. I confided in him about our marriage. He had a lot to say about the future, and it was pretty obvious he was thinking of me – of us."
The Judge grabbed a roll from the bread basket. "Times have changed in the 20 years you've been marshaling and I've been a circuit Judge. Back then Dodge had hold-ups, hostages and drunken cowboys a plenty, but you and Chester had lots of time to sit outside your office jawing, even napping."
Matt took a sip of coffee and smiled at the thought of Chester. "Yep, and Chester sometimes played a game with string, that I never quite figured out. Then the herds came through more regular, and the stage coach made two stops a day. That time for jawing disappeared. It seemed like every thieving gang, murderer, con-man, card sharp and gunslinger in the country found his way to Dodge."
Brooker chewed on his roll and nodded. "And just about every trial I heard back then was for murder, armed robbery or horse theft. But, at the same time, families came to settle, and you made it safe for them. Then the train came through. More shops sprang up, and businesses opened, some with ties to the East. Things changed over time, and now most of my trials are contract disputes, forgeries, inheritance challenges and the like. I'm not saying we're totally free of murderers and robbers, but our jobs are not what they were 20 years ago, or 10 or even 5. Times change and it's damn foolish to pretend otherwise."
After recounting the conversation he'd had with Judge Brooker, Matt looked at Kitty. "By golly, when I came to Dodge, the war between the states was fresh in everyone's mind. Now, it will be 1900 before we know it."
"What are you saying, Matt? What does that mean for us – you – that badge?"
"Kitty, the Judge is right, the job has changed over the years and I think I can do it a while longer, even with a family. Part of that is using Festus and especially Newly more." He saw the uncertainly on her face. "Kitty, I'm not talking about a long time. A younger man should have the job, and Brooker had other ideas about my future." His face reddened. "I think you'll laugh."
Kitty shifted on Matt's lap and looked into his eyes. "I guarantee I won't."
"Well, according to Judge Brooker, if Dodge City proper grows by another 62 people, the state dictates a mayor be elected. He figures I already do a bunch of things a mayor usually does, so when the time comes maybe I…." Matt shook his head. Kitty reached up and touched his cheek, "You'd be elected in a heartbeat, and I'm not laughing. Matt, the need to help and protect is part of you. What else did he say?" Matt shrugged, "Just that I've picked up a lot about the law, and maybe could be a lawyer – he'd lend me the books and usher me through. I'm not sure I'd like all that sitting in a courtroom, but I guess it's a possibility."
They both fell silent. The future suddenly seemed filled with possibilities they'd never considered. Kitty gently kissed Matt on the neck. "Well – seems like we're staying in Dodge, and you'll be wearing the badge a little while longer while we make some more decisions." Matt set his large hand on Kitty's belly. "And this little one will know a lot of love and caring from the folks who've been our family for 20 years."
Matt reached around Kitty's neck and removed her wedding ring from the chain. "I love you Kitty." He slipped the ring on her finger. "Tomorrow we'll start telling folks we're married."
She raised an eyebrow, "And everyone will be SO surprised." They chuckled, and she squeezed his hand. "And Matt, we'll talk to Doc about the baby, then I'll start making plans to convert the Long Branch to a restaurant." Matt nodded, "And we'll look for a house in town."
"Matt, Judge Brooker is right." Kitty snuggled into her husband's broad chest, taking comfort in the pulse of his steady heartbeat. "Times change and we have to change too, but that doesn't mean changing who we are, or what and who we care about. We just have to open our eyes to possibilities, and know that our past has prepared us for our future."
"That's pretty deep for a red head." Matt grinned and waited for the response he knew would come.
"I'm a pretty deep red head."
"One of the many reasons that I love you."
The End (I can't say they lived happily every after, only that they loved, laughed, really fought some battles, and after all was said and done, would not have changed a day, not one.)