Chapter 7

July 1883

It had been ten years since Nathan was born into the rough and wild times of the western Kansas frontier. Thus, it was no surprise when Kitty learned her man would not return. They buried him, placing his badge and gun belt on the headstone to honor his service to his community, state and country. Tears filled her eyes as she watched Nathan square his shoulders and picked up the emblems that did so much to define his father.

"Mama," he said, looking at her. "I think pa would have wanted me to have this."

Kitty nodded at her son. "I think you're right."

As the years passed many began to refer to Kitty as a lonesome dove. She didn't marry again, but remained in Dodge City where her husband was buried. The only things that kept her going were her faith in God, knowing how to fight and the son that was the product of the love she shared with Matt. However, she never learned how to deal with the lonely nights. Still she was glad Nathan could grow to manhood under the watchful eyes of Doc, Chester, Quint,

Festus, Thad and Newly. Nathan grew to have an angel's heart and a hand that drew as fast, if not faster, than his father's. He proudly wore his dad's badge.

~August 1893~

Neither Nathan nor Thad were in the empty marshal's office. It still had Matt's touch just as when he'd occupied it and she'd stop by. She sighed as she looked at the stack of papers, a telegram on top. She read it.

"Gore gang heading through Dodge. Stop. Robbed bank in Spearville. Stop. Responsible for death of Marshal Matthew Dillon. Stop."

She sat down to ponder the contents. Still absorbed in what it said, Kitty jumped when the door swung open.

"Ma, I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"Well that's a nice way to greet your mother," she quipped with a smile.

Nathan walked over to kiss her hello. "Sorry, Ma. I didn't expect to see you until I stopped at the house."

"I just thought I'd wait here for you," she replied with a smile. "Say, how about we go get something to eat?"

Nathan nodded as his stomach growled. Kitty headed for the door. Her son followed.

The next night Nathan sat in shadow in his office, Thad waited in hiding by Doc's office and Newly was unseen on the Long Branch balcony. Nathan grew alert at the sound of horses walking.

"Hold it right there," he told the now stopped group of men.

"What do you think you're doing, boy?" the leader snarled, spitting on the ground.

"You and your men have a choice. You can come peacefully or we have a gunfight. Either way you land in jail. Again, it's your choice."

The leader laughed. "Well, since you put it that way.." he said jumping off his horse and shooting.

Nathan laughed as the bullet whizzed by him. "All right, have it the hard way," he said diving for cover.

The shots rang out in Dodge City, but when the smoke finally cleared the outlaws lay dead at the marshal's feet. The event was immortalized.

But legend tells to this very day,

The shots were comin' from an alleyway.

Though no one knows who held the gun,

There ain't no doubt if you ask someone

In Dodge City.

Once Kitty saw the men who'd killed her husband were lying dead at her son's feet she headed back to the farmhouse she and Matt once shared. Upon reaching her home she placed Matt's gun back in its holster where Matt used to keep it.

The End

I hope you guys enjoyed ~ A Lonesome Dove in Dodge~

I did base it off of Garth Brook's Song Lonesome Dove, and I also did a Gunsmoke Video on it (my youtube name is the same as my pen name.)

The video is Gunsmoke~ Lonesome Dove ~ here is the link if you would like it watch?v=TkX8tqi9iTw&t=34s