It had been four months since "Dan" had come into her life and two months since he walked out of her life. In the two months that he was there, Mike Yardner had fallen in love with "Dan". During that time she had no idea he was Matt Dillon, US Marshal of Dodge City, Kansas. She was not the only one who did not know who he was. He did not know who he was either. He had been shot, the bullet grazing his head, and that caused him to lose his memory.

Matt wouldn't regain his memory until after Mike had addressed him by his actual name, Matt. Hearing his name was all it took for Matt to realize he had a life in Dodge City and that's where he belonged. Mike looked back to that day when she called him Matt and wondered if she had made the right decision. She would always wonder about that, but she couldn't change things now. Mike would just have to be satisfied with the memories she created with "Dan".

Mike was convinced that all she had left with her time with "Dan" was her memories, but maybe she was wrong. Maybe she created more than just memories with "Dan". While "Dan" was with her, they spent one night together in her bed. That was eight weeks ago and Mike could feel changes going on in her body. She tired easily, felt nauseous, and the most telltale sign was that she had not had her monthly cycle in two months. Mike knew her cycle was like clockwork. She felt that there was no doubt that she was with child. She was going to be a mother.

Mike knew she had to be pregnant. She was too young for the change. Mike did not need a doctor to tell her she was pregnant, but she did want a doctor to monitor her pregnancy. She wanted to make sure her unborn child remained healthy. Mike had not been aware of her pregnancy for too long, but already loved the child growing inside of her.

Being pregnant was not a problem for Mike. She would have this baby and raise it. The dilemma was whether or not to contact the baby's father. Who was the baby's father? Was it "Dan" or Matt Dillon? Deep down she knew that Matt Dillon would have never slept with her if he still had his memory. In fact he wouldn't have stayed with her for as long as he did if he hadn't had lost his memory. Matt Dillon had another life with his woman. Mike knew there was no room for her in Matt's life. She really did not want to cause problems between Matt and his woman. Mike made her decision. She would not contact Matt or "Dan".

After Mike had learned that "Dan" was Matt Dillon, US Marshal, she did some research. In her research, Mike learned that Matt Dillon was a legendary US Marshal with awesome responsibilities. She also learned that he had enemies all over the place. Mike had to make sure nobody knew that the child she carried was the child of Matt Dillon. She didn't want to put her child in any danger. Her child would have the last name of Yardner, not Dillon. Most people knew Mike was a widow, but did not know when Johnny Yardner died. She would tell people she became pregnant right before he died.

Seven months later Elizabeth Ann Yardner made her way into the world. It had been a long and painful labor. That was all forgotten the moment Mike laid eyes on her newborn daughter. She felt a love for her daughter like no other. This baby instantly filled a hole in Mike's heart that she didn't realize was there. Mike no longer felt alone in life.

Years passed and Beth was the light of Mike's life. They were celebrating Beth's twenty-first birthday, and Beth was getting ready to blow out the candles on her cake. Before she did, Beth closed her eyes and made a wish. Wish made, Beth blew out her candles.

"What did you wish for?" Mike asked.

Beth never believed that sharing her wish would cause it not to come true. "The same thing I've wished for since I can remember, that daddy is celebrating with me in Heaven."

Mike smiled at her daughter. She had always told Beth that her daddy was Johnny Yardner and that he died before she was born. Beth accepted that. She had no reason not to accept it. But now that Beth was twenty-one years old, maybe Mike needed to make some new decisions. Maybe it was time for Beth to know the truth.

"Mother, is something wrong?" Beth asked with concern in her voice. "You were a million miles away."

"Oh no, sweetheart. I was just thinking that I can't believe you're twenty-one years old," Mike lied. "Where did the time go? Anyway, let's enjoy this cake."

Later that night Mike went to her bedroom to settle down for the night. She was in bed, but sleep would not come. She kept on thinking if she should tell Beth about her real father and if she should finally contact Matt Dillon. Mike knew Beth deserved to know her real father and Matt deserved to know he had a daughter. However, she didn't know how each would react. This information had been kept from both of them for so long. Twenty-two years ago Mike felt that not saying anything was the right decision. She didn't think it was fair for Matt Dillon to take on the responsibility of "another" man's child, even though Beth was biologically his. Mike felt she had kept Beth safe by not letting anyone know she was Matt Dillon's child. Sleep finally came, but it was a restless sleep.

Morning came and Mike finally came to a decision. She would write a letter to Matt Dillon and send it to Dodge City Kansas. Mike knew that there was a chance she would disrupt his life, but he should know about his daughter. In her letter she would ask Matt to return to the ranch because she needed his help. She did not want to tell him about Beth in the letter. He should be told in person.

Mike would wait until she heard from Matt before she would say anything to Beth. Mike didn't even know if Matt was still alive. He was a US Marshal. There was a chance that he could have been shot and killed in the last twenty-two years. He had been shot when she found him. If Matt was no longer alive, she didn't want Beth to suffer the loss of two fathers.

Mike walked over to the desk in the corner of the living room, sat down, pulled out a piece of paper, and began to pen her letter.

Dear Matt,

I am probably the last person you expected to hear from. I would not have contacted you, but it's important that I did….

Mike finished her letter and addressed it to Matt Dillon in Dodge City, Kansas. She made sure to put her return address on it. Letter in hand, Mike hooked up the wagon to the horses and traveled to town to mail her letter. After she mailed the letter, it would be a waiting game. She hoped she would get a response and wouldn't have to wait too long.

The End

(If you've seen the movie, "The Last Apache", you know whether or not Matt received the letter.)