A strong gust of wind blasted Thad into the Marshal's office.

Matt whirled around as the door cracked shut. "What's wrong?"

"Trouble...at...Long Branch!" the answer came in puffs, "Two...cowboys...they're—"

"Let's go."

He didn't need to hear anymore. Strapping on his gun belt, Matt went through the door ahead of the younger man.

Shoving through the batwing doors less than a minute later, the Marshal was instantly reminded of the time a very misguided mountain man named Orkey had proposed to his lover. Now, like then, she and Sam were the only ones in the room when he arrived on the scene. The bartender was putting up chairs while Kitty made tabulations behind the counter.

"What was that again, Thad?" Thinking back to the befuddled look on Chester's face, a tiny smirk threatened to appear.

"Oh, leave him alone, Matt." Kitty shook her head, walking around the counter.

"What happened to those guys who were causing all the trouble, Miss Kitty?" The tall blond blinked in confusion.

"I heard some fellers are causing a ruckus in here!"

Festus crashed into the room and skidded to a stop, looking like he'd been blown in by a tornado, "What in tarnation—"

"That's what I heard too." Matt was really smirking now.

"Now, just a minute..."

There was a slight tone in Kitty's voice as Thad's face reddened. Her eyebrows furrowed, "Matt, when I can't handle a couple bad boys then I'm closing up this place."

"So you did have trouble?" The smirk was gone in an instant.

"Just some drovers." she shrugged smuggly, "They had more than they could handle so we told 'em they better head out."

"That's right." The bartender was grinning too.

Matt frowned at them. "You know I want rowdy drunks spending the night in jail."

"Like I said," she smirked, "if there's ever a day I can't handle the guys in here, I'm closing this place up "

"Well, just make sure you tell me first." he flirted lightly, tipping his hat, "and close up for the night, will ya? I'll be back after rounds."

"Sure."

"You go ahead up, Miss Kitty." Sam nodded at her, "I'll take these empties to the cellar then lock up for ya."

"Thank you, Sam."

The Marshal took her arm as she crossed in front of him, intending to escort her to her room as the bartender went out the back door. Nodding at his deputies, he said, "You guys go ahead and start. I'll catch up directly."

"Will doer, Matthew." Festus answered, "Come on, Thad."

"I'm a big girl, Matt." she gently pulled away at the stairs, "You hurry and do your rounds. I'll be waiting when you get back."

He tightened his grip for a moment, giving her a quick kiss before releasing her. "Love you."

"I love you too, Matt."

Watching until he heard her deadbolt lock, his hand had reached the batwing doors when a strange thud made him pause. Whipping his head around, his eyes focused on where the sound had come from. Her door.

"Kit?" His deep voice rang loud enough for her to hear.

There was another thud. Louder this time. Then a third and a crash.

Matt was off and running, pounding up the stairs with a racing heart. The sound of multiple footsteps behind him indicated that his friends had also heard and returned to help. There was another crash before they hit the landing.

Forcing the door open with an adrenaline-fueled twist, the Marshal and his posse jerked aside when a gunshot flashed in the darkness. Enraged at the sight of a strange man looming over his lover's slumped body, Matt was still lucid enough when he returned fire to know that he wanted Kitty's attacker alive when this was over.

He fired at the man's gun hand then followed up with a hard fist. The assailant's head snapped back as he went down.

"Kit!"

Moving with lightning speed, he let his friends cover the unconscious man as he knelt to cut through the towel strangling her throat and haul her into his arms.

"Sweetheart," his voice was rough as she gasped for air and sobbed, "I'm here, honey. I'm here. It's over." Holding her close to his heart, he gave her a quick kiss before he could think clearly. "Sam, go get Doc. I'm taking her to my room."

"You bet, Marshal."

"You guys take him to jail." Matt shot daggers at the sprawled out man, "I'll have Doc look at him once I know Kitty's alright."

"Will doer, Matthew." Festus nodded smartly, "We'll finish rounds too. You two have yourselves a nice quiet night." Scowling at the man, he added, "Don't worry. I'll personally take care of this yahoo tonight!"

"Thanks." Matt rose with his lover in his arms.

"I'm alright, Matt." Her voice was raspy as she burrowed into his chest, seeking the comfort of his beating heart.

"Let's let Doc be the judge of that, honey." His thumb caressed her cheek as he headed for the door, "Come on, let's get you outta here."

The deputies took their cue and began hauling her assailant to his feet. As they did, he started coming around.

"Mister…" Festus put his gun into the man's ribs, "You better keep both eyes wide open 'cause if you so much as blink the wrong way, I'm gonna be on you like ugly on an ape."

*⁓8⁓*

Doing his best to shield her from the elements once they were outside, Matt slipped his hat over her disheveled hair and tucked his wool coat around her. Her body quivered as he pressed her even more closely to himself.

"He was one of the guys I threw out." she murmured against his cheek, gripping his thick shoulders tightly.

"Shh, Kitty." he nuzzled her, "No more talk, sweetheart. I want Doc to look at your throat." His eyes flashed at the memory, "That towel was awful tight."

Even though she felt fine, Kitty obliged him and made no further comment. They met Doc and Sam at the door and soon their old friend was hovering over the woman he'd come to view as his adopted daughter, tenderly examining all her bumps and bruises.

"I'm awful glad you were so close, Matt." he finally stepped back, "You got to her before he did any serious damage."

"That makes two of us, Doc." The Marshal finally allowed himself a tiny smile.

"Three…" Kitty murmured, already feeling sleepy after drinking the powders their old friend had given her.