Hello again, it's on to Chapter 4. I've taken a bit longer because I wanted to get a little more than the small chapter's I've been posting. I hope that this is much better for you. Enjoy!

KR

"She's my baby." She said taking a deep breath. "I know I owe you both an explanation, I'm just….I'm just so tired right now. Please don't hate me, Matt." She said as tears fell down her cheeks. He didn't know what to say. All he could do was pull her into his arms and hold her and hope that she wasn't losing grip of reality. Questions burned in his mind, but, as she leaned against him and sobbed, he couldn't ask not one question. He needed to comfort her. She was his entire world and he would do whatever was necessary to keep her there, in his arms, in his life.

Her body seemed to stop heaving with her sobs. Doc and Matt had no idea of what to do for her. Matt just kept his arms tightly around her. Doc finally poured her a little whiskey and they sat her in the chair and as Matt knelt in front of her, Doc watched as Matt handed her the glass and she sipped at it. When she seemed to calm down, Matt took the glass from her hand and gently sat it on the desk. "Kitty, you don't have to say anything right now." Matt started

"I do, Matt, I need you and Doc to know the truth." She said as she looked up at the old gentlemen who stood by her right side.

"You just take your time, Kitty." Doc told her. "That man is still unconscious in my room. I put him there to keep him safe from those who wonder in to get a look." Doc said dryly.

"Good idea, Doc." Matt said

Kitty wrung her hands on her lap, then took a deep breath and looked up at Matt. "You know that my mother died when I was 11 years old, that's how I ended up with Panacea. She was a friend of my mother's and she took me in and took care of me. When I was 14 years old, I went out riding with Jenny Holloway, she was my best friend. I had just gotten the sweetest little filly from Panacea. And Jenny and I wanted to explore." Kitty gets up from her seat and walks towards the door. "I never heard them coming up on us as we sat having a picnic lunch, but once they were almost on us, Jenny and I got onto our horses and tried to outrun them. I thought if I could help Jenny escape, she'd bring the whole town down on them. But she didn't. We were taken to their camp and put to work. Two days later, Jenny had escaped, She was brought back by one of the young braves. Three months later, she escaped again. That time the young brave that brought her back nearly beat her to death. She was bedridden for weeks. Then she was promised to that same brave as his mate." Kitty got up from her seat. "She was only fourteen years old and terrified. She took her life before Litso Mai-coh (Yellow Wolf not perfect but I'm not Navajo), could claim her."
"Litso…."Matt started.

"Yellow Wolf is the English translation." Kitty told him.

"Yellow Wolf? Who is he in this story?" Doc asked Kitty.

"He's White Eagle's half brother. His mother, was a white captive, and Walking Bear took her into his tent to keep her safe. But she raised Yellow Wolf to hate his father and when Little Dove, White Eagle's mother finally had her first child, she had taught him to hate everyone. Most of all, White Eagle." Kitty said as she walked over to the door and slowly cracked it, to make sure that Shayona was still sleeping. "She killed herself when he was just a young boy and he had idolized his mother." She said sadly.

"You never tried to run away?" Matt asked her. Kitty walked over to the chair and sat down again.

"I waited for almost a year, I wanted to learn what they did to track you, I wanted to be smarter. In that time, I was raised as Chief Walking Bear and Little Dove's daughter. I was not mistreated by the others, neither was Jenny, until Yellow Wolf, she had been treated like one of the tribes children. The Navajo are a peaceful people Doc, they just want to live their lives and let other's live theirs. They believe that this land doesn't belong to anyone in particular. They take only what they need and can use and waste nothing. Yellow Wolf was a, I don't know what you'd call him, but he was hateful. He also set his sights on me. That's why I ran away the first time. White Eagle and two others came after me. It took them three days to find me, but they did and brought me back to the tribe. I was punished." She said her mind wondering back to the time in the camp.

"Punished? How?" Matt asked her alarmed.

"I was, I was not allow to speak to anyone in the tribe or be spoken to. I was invisible. At first, I was ok with it. But as the days wore on, I became even more lonely. After about a month, I ran away again. White Eagle came after me alone. He didn't speak to me the entire trip back to camp. No matter what I did or said he ignored me. I ran away again and they found me again. After a while it was a game to the braves, but still no one talked to me." She looks down at her hands. "I was so alone. I decided to run away and this time I was going to get home. But this time they sent White Eagle and Yellow Wolf out to find me." Taking a deep breath she calmed the terror inside of her. "Yellow Wolf managed to find me before White Eagle and he beat me. I couldn't fight him, he was too strong for me. I remember screaming, he was on top of me and then he was off of me. White Eagle beat him so badly, I thought he had killed him. He then came to my side and begged me to forgive him. He wasn't to blame for his brother's actions, but he felt guilty. He brought me and Yellow Wolf back to the camp. I was placed in the teepee with White Dove and Blossom took care of me. They spoke to me and I cried. I just cried. I was about 15 years old by this time. I never tried to run away again. I knew no one in the tribe would hurt me, except for Yellow Wolf, but I was afraid of a repeat beating anyway." She said feeling like a coward.

"I don't blame you." Doc said pouring her a whiskey and handing it to her.

"When I was 16, I was promised to White Eagle. But he courted me for the next two years, until I was old enough to be a mate. I wasn't in love with him, but I did love him, for being so gentle and caring. But my heart never belonged to him. Not to any man, until you, Matt. White Eagle knew this, but he tried so hard to change my heart When I found out I was pregnant, I was scared, afraid that she would be treated like Yellow Wolf, but that stigma was brought on by his mother and his hatred for his own people. She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. I fell in love with her the minute they put her into my arms and I've never stopped loving her." She said swiping at a tear that fell down her face

"Shima?" Came the little voice from the opened door way. She saw Kitty and smiled the most beautiful smile, one that matched her mother's smile and she ran to her. Kitty lifted her into her arms and the baby made herself comfortable in her lap. She strained to look up at the tall man standing before the chair. Then smiled at him. She then looked at Doc and he smiled as he gently knelt down to speak with her.

"You sure are beautiful, just like your mama." He said.

"Ma…ma" She said to him and placed her hand on her mother's heart.

"Yes, Mama." Kitty said smiling at the golden eyed baby.

Doc touched her brow and checked her eyes.

"Can I take her home, Doc?" Kitty asked and it surprised Matt completely. But he didn't say anything to her.

"I don't see why not. But I want you to make sure you give her plenty of water. She's still a little dehydrated." He said as Kitty stood up with Shayona in her arms.

"Te iisdi kushda" (Not actual Navajo, this is made up.) Shayona said to Matt. Kitty smiled at her.

"What did she say?" Matt asked gently taking Shayona from Kitty's arms.

"She said, you are good for me." Kitty told him as she headed for the door. Matt just stared at her and then at the baby. Shayona smiled brightly at him and that was all it took for him to see Kitty in her smile and he was in love too. She captured his heart too. Matt smiled at her and gently took Kitty's arm and led her down the stairs to the saloon. As they headed down Front Street, they were met with stares from all around. Matt just held his head high as he walked beside his beautiful woman and her daughter. The three of them headed into the saloon. It was early and there would not be too many people in the saloon. Kitty stepped up onto the sidewalk with Matt still holding her arm as she stopped and looked up at the doors. She then looked up at Matt and then at Shayona and she smiled proudly at them and stepped down into the Saloon. There were probably twelve customers in the saloon drinking coffee or just chatting with the girls working in the saloon. Sam was at the Bar, cleaning glasses when the room quickly fell silent. Matt lead Kitty over to the bar and Matt sat her down on the bar. "Sam, this is Shayona." She said looking up at Matt and he smiled at her. "She's my daughter."

Sam didn't miss a beat, he started cooing and talking to her and Shayona smiled at him and giggled. Sally made her way over to the baby now sitting on the edge of the bar. "Miss Kitty, she's absolutely beautiful." Sally said holding her hands out to the baby who immediately went to her. Sally took her over to the other end of the bar where several of the girls gathered to play with the baby. Some of the men couldn't help but watch. Sam had disappeared into the other storage room and he came out with a glass of cold milk for Shayona. Matt and Kitty just exchanged looks as they began making such a fuss over the baby. Matt looked at Kitty and her expression was a mixture of love and pride and even sadness. Gently he placed his arm around her shoulder and she looked up into his deep blue eyes.

They were brought out of their reverie when Shayona called to her. "Mama?" She said looking around for Kitty. She saw her standing there with the big man in the hat and she reached out to her mother and called her again. "Mama?" she said and Kitty was at Sally's side instantly with Matt right beside her.

"Why Miss Kitty, that littlin' thinks you're her Mama." Juke Toms told her.

Kitty gently lifted Shayona from Sally's arms and pulled her close to her chest. "That's because, I am. She's my daughter." Kitty said as they all became quiet.

"You tellin' us a story Miss Kitty?" Juke asked her. "You cain't be her mama, she's Indian." He said as if it weren't already obvious to those around them.

"Why can't she be her Mama?" Sally said in defense of Kitty. "She's beautiful like her Mama," She said getting in Juke's face.

"I..I didn't mean nothin' by it, Miss Kitty." He said not wanting to insult the Marshal's woman. Kitty smiled at he tried to squirm out of this.

"It's alright, Juke. I understand your wondering, but she is my daughter and…" She started but Sally interrupted.

"And if anyone of you cowpokes don't like it, there's the door." Sally finished for her. She went over to Kitty and took the baby from her and hugged and kissed her cheek. "Miss Kitty why don't you and the Marshal sit and have a drink and the girls and I will look after," She stopped because she didn't know her name.

"Shayona." Kitty said smiling at Sally headed for the bar and set the baby on the edge as the girls all cooed and talked baby talk to her. Shayona was taking in the attention and loving every minute of it. Matt led Kitty to their table in the back in the corner. Matt pulled the chair out for Kitty to sit down and then sat beside her. Sam sent a beer for Matt over and a cup of coffee. Which they were both grateful for. Kitty watched as Sally and Ginny were enjoying time with Shayona.

"So, you fell in love with her when they placed her in your arms?" Matt prompted her to continue.

"Yes, she looked into my eyes first and I..my breath caught in my throat, I had never seen eyes like hers and she seemed to be mesmerized by my own. I couldn't help but love her. She was my soul." She said watching Sally play peek a boo with Shayona. "But I couldn't stay. I needed to get home. Realizing this, White Eagle talked his father in giving me my freedom. But on one condition." She looked back at Matt sadly. "I would have to relinquish my claim to Shayona. And I could lose my rights as a member of the tribe. But I didn't want to lose either, but I needed to get home. I needed to be back among my own people." She took a sip of her coffee. "I wanted her to be raised with her people, she'd be happier there among them. Just like I thought I'd be happier with my own kind." She squirmed in her seat. "I was labeled dirty, a whore, a squaw. I was treated worse than dirt. I wanted to go back to her." She said pointing at Shayona." But I had been blind folded on the horse as I was led away from the village." She said sadly. "I searched for almost a year and I had no luck in finding White Eagle or his people" She swiped at a tear that fell upon her cheek. She raised her hand to wipe it away, but Matt had already reached up to wipe the tear from her cheek. "I went back to New Orleans for a few months then I left and came here. I gave up hope of ever finding her. I made my life here in Dodge." He smiles at her and she smiles lightly. "I've never looked back. Except to wonder about her and how she was doing."

"Ma-ma?" Shayona called to her mother. Kitty smiled as she got up and went over to her and the girls, with Matt still sitting there watching her. She gently reached over and took the baby into her arms.

"Come on, Little Miss, I think it's time for bed." She said heading towards the stairs. Matt watched as Kitty as she headed upstairs. Shayona looked over her mother's shoulder and smiled and waved to Sally and Sam. Sam waved back and the room lit up with laughter as the patrons began to poke fun at Sam.

"Awe shut up, you're just jealous cause she likes me, and none of you cowpokes." Sam said wiping beer from the bar.

Matt shook his head at the people in the room and headed out the door. He would make his rounds, check on White Eagle and then perhaps he would come back and visit his beautiful redhead. He loved her more than anything, and he could, as a man understand why any man would be so enamored of Kitty. She was beautiful, smart, brave, saucy and spoke her mind. He was definitely a lucky man. He prayed that this White Eagle didn't hold any part of Kitty's heart because if he were to lose her, he would be lost himself.

Kitty sat in her rocking chair by the window. The lantern had been turned almost completely off. The window was opened and she hummed softly to the sleeping child in her arms. She could not believe that Shayona was truly here. She gently traced her brow, her pink bow shaped lips, her tiny nose. She was her baby and she was home. And she would fight tooth and nail to keep her there.

The big man entered her room noiselessly, but she knew he was there. He gently took the baby from her arms and gently placed her in the bed. He then took Kitty's hand and stood her up. With meticulous slowness, he began to unbutton her clothing, removing each layer and kissing each spot bared by the removal of the clothing. As she stood there, naked before him, she just watched as he caressed her thigh, her hip than her waist working his way up to her naked breast. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Her pale skin was slightly freckled and he intended to memorize each and every one of them if the fates gave him the time. Kitty smiled up at him, as he returned his gaze to hers. Kitty slowly began unbuttoning his shirt and helped him out of it. Then she began to work on his britches, starting with his belt. And slowly torturing him as she began to undress him further. Suddenly, she stood in front of him, both were naked as the day they were born. Kitty's small hands gently caressed his solid chest and Matt's hands grasped her hips. Without warning, he lifted her and turned, pressing her against the wall as his mouth devoured hers. She suddenly gasped into his mouth as he made complete contact with her. He was a rather largely built man and she needed a few seconds to relax and give him complete access. It had been almost three weeks since the last time they made love because he had been in Cimmaron for a trial. This love making was slow and deliberate and he made sure she knew that she was his and he was hers.

TBC

I hope that this little chapter will keep you interested in the story. I love this idea and I love writing FanFiction for Gunsmoke.

KR