POV: MATT'S LOVE STORY

A wonderful and handsome man suggested I write POV's for Matt and Kitty about "Matt's Love Story". So, here are my ideas of how they were feeling and how it was resolved. I had wonderful help on this journey by a number of experts and I want to thank them for their input and agreeing to be characters in this fan fiction. I couldn't have done this without the help of my excellent BETA the Amazing Andrea. You made this a much more coherent and richer story. You are all the best.

CHAPTER ONE: THE LONG ROAD HOME

As I neared home, I slowed Buck's pace almost to a standstill. The left road, straight ahead, led to Dodge City, Kansas, my home for the last 20 years. The other road led up to Boot Hill our local cemetery. I turned my Buckskin to the right. As we climbed to the place where so many non-residents and some residents had found their final rest, I knew deep down I was avoiding the inevitable; going home.

I had not been home for over a month and you would think I would be anxious to get this very weary journey over and done. Yet what awaited me in the town, I could see in the distance, was so complicated. People I loved and cared for were there wondering whether my luck had run out for good this time and if I was ever coming back. When I had left chasing a suspected killer no one, myself included, would have believed this journey could have turned my world upside down.

For the last twenty years I served first as a Deputy Sheriff and then as United States Marshal for this Kansas territory. I made wonderful friendships and found a woman whom I love with all my heart. You would think this would make a man want, to hurry

to see these people, but as so often happened in my life it is not an easy journey.

It all began about a month ago when I started tracking the suspected murderer, Les Dean. The trail had twisted and turned until I found myself into the Arizona Territory. I was hot and tired, and it was difficult staying awake in the saddle at times. The last thing I remembered of that time trailing Dean was the red hot burning of the bullet from out of nowhere.

The next thing I remembered was opening my eyes in a nice warm cozy house. Once I could focus I saw an attractive blond moving around the room. When I spoke, she turned around, she smiled, and mentioned that I had finally surfaced. I was still groggy as to where I was and why. What was really disconcerting was when she asked my name, where I was from, and I couldn't remember. I can remember trying so hard to remember but everything was a blank. The last thing I remembered was getting shot.

She told me her name was Mike and I remember saying something like she was the most attractive Mike I had ever known. As I said she was attractive, had a nice smile, and I was grateful for her care. It was frightening to not know my name or anything else about my past, yet she seemed to, sort of, accept me for what she saw. She said she would call me Dan.

She wasn't a big woman and I was amazed when she explained how she got me to her home. I am a big man and few people could have accomplished such a feat although he said I was some help. I really had no idea how much time had passed, were I was, or why.

My health was her first priority at that time and once I could move around, I tried to help out around her ranch. She wasn't very happy at first, but we seemed to settle into a routine, and we got along fine. Then, as things can't remain static she approached me about what my future held, and I admitted I would like to stay around. Again, things changed, and Les Dean arrived at the door. Of course, he remembered me immediately.

That was also the night I slept with this woman named Mike. The next day Dean told her who I was. It was soon after she revealed my true identity, Matthew Dillon, United States Marshal, located in Dodge City, Kansas. It had to be such a difficult thing for her to admit when it seemed what might have been taken as a relationship beginning.

The past came rushing back when she called me Matt, although if I thought about it carefully there were small signs of returning memories. Then they would skitter away as fast as they came. It was certainly baffling. At the same time she revealed that Les Dean had been sent by her neighbor to kill her so he could get her land. At that time he also admitted to being the one who had shot me and left me for dead. It seemed the gunfighter had changed his mind and was giving back the money he had been paid for the murder. As my past rushed into my memory I went into Marshal mode and I was going to protect the woman who had saved me.

She tried to stop me, but I had to go and explained that Dodge had 20 years of my life and I had responsibilities. I did not talk about all the other memories that came back of a beautiful redhead, a crotchety doctor, a scruffy looking deputy, and all the rest. Yet, I had to make sure Mike would be safe. I told her I would come back and we would talk but she told me to get out.

Ultimately Dean was killed and the man who wanted Mike killed was defeated. Then there she was sitting on her horse next to Buck. I thought she changed her mind and we would talk it over, but that did not happen she rode away as I called her name. As I rode toward my home I berated myself for taking the easy way out and did not follow her. I told myself it was easier on her because I knew I would have to leave again. I had no idea what awaited me back in Dodge. Yet I had no idea what would have awaited me back at Mike's ranch.

I had been gone a long time and there was no communication with any town person during that time. There was a certain redhead who was not going to be happy, but most of all worried. I had faced the wrath of this woman in the past and it was not a pleasant experience. I hated the idea that I'd caused her so much anxiety and that I was likely to hurt her yet again. Doc would also have plenty of questions about my health and what happened, but what should I say? How much did I want to reveal?. I did have amnesia, that was true, but would it be believed? How much was really known about the condition? Would I be believed? How did I feel about what had happened? I certainly wasn't returning to Dodge, a hero and lots of explanations were going to be expected. My problem was while I might have my memory back, but I didn't have all the answers yet.

As I sat there on Boot Hill, I looked at the town I had seen grow tremendously. I had lived there most of my life, I had given it my life blood literally, and it was where the woman I had loved for so many years waited for news of me. I'm sure she was worried whether I was still alive, and I was apprehensive. They would have questions and would expect answers. That was the hardest part - what was the best way to respond for all concerned?

My thoughts whirled over and over with no resolution. Kitty, what would I say to Kitty? Would she know something was different about me? After all these years she could usually sense these things. Would she understand and be so glad to see me alive that nothing else mattered? What if she turned against me and could not forget or forgive? It was with a heavy heart I headed home and a fear of all that had happened while I was gone. I patted Buck and said, "time to go home boy and I hope we have a home to go home to, and an understanding woman waiting with her arms wide open."

It was almost as if my faithful horse understood just what we had gotten ourselves into and for a change he wasn't hurrying toward his home either. Mile by mile we headed toward a future that had never been more unsure.