Matt inched his chair closer to Kitty's bed and leaned forward. The nurse who'd shown him to her hospital room said she could wake up at any time. He watched her breaths go in and out. She looked so vulnerable. The purple bruise on her jaw twisted his heart. He knew a fist mark when he saw one. Oh Kitty – I wish you'd waited until I got back from Hays, maybe this wouldn't have happened. He ran his hand though his hair - who was he kidding. He would have asked her to wait until he had time to go to New Orleans with her, and she would have said she couldn't wait 100 years. Then she would have added that she was a big girl and could take care of herself. That would have been that. They were two strong willed people, and it was the kind of thing Kitty got fired up about before talking it through. Of course that was mostly his fault. When it came to his oath and badge, he didn't see a choice but to do the job the way he knew it had to be done. He'd accepted that when he took the oath. Of course he'd planned to carry the burdens of the job alone. He hadn't meant them to spill over onto a wonderful woman who deserved better. That's why he'd tried to resist her at first, but damn she was something.

"Matt." Kitty opened her eyes. "I am glad to see you, Cowboy." She slowly and gingerly sat up.

"How do you feel?"

"Well, awful sore and extremely hungry."

"Fixing the first part will take time, but I can do something about the second. The doctor said he'd release you when you woke up, if you felt up to it. I brought you some clothes. I um – talked my way into your hotel room."

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow and resisted an urge to smile. "Show me what you picked out. Come on, spread it all out." He nervously spread the clothes across the bed, and smoothed each item out. She eyed them critically and slowly nodded, "Perfect, just perfect, not too fancy but stylish enough to make a woman feel good."

Greatly relieved, Matt exhaled loudly. Kitty smiled and shook her head. "Matt, I've seen you single handedly take on 10 Texans with guns, how hard could bringing me clothes have been?" "Kitty, I – well – it's just." She laughed, "Never mind. Give me a hand, I'm not moving too great." He gently helped her into her clothes. She'd just finished buttoning her blouse when she noticed her hairbrush in the duffle bag. "Matt, I can't believe you thought of that. Talk about perfect. Cowboy, I'm too sore to reach around, will you brush my hair for me?"

"That will be my pleasure."

An hour later they were sitting in the Happy Day Bistro. Matt watched wide-eyed as Kitty ordered the biggest meal he'd ever seen her eat. She giggled, "Now you know how I feel watching you, just about every day." As they ate, they filled each other in on what they knew. Kitty set her fork down, "So you've had the key all along. Max gave it to you in Hays, when I was still in Dodge."

"Yep, but I don't know what it goes to. Max left a notebook behind, but it doesn't really say."

"I know that part. There's a wall safe in the place where Clarice and Paul held me. The safe is well hidden, but it's there. I want to open it."

"Of course, but lets wait until tomorrow to give the police a chance to – to – clean things up."

"Good idea, anyway I've had enough excitement for one day. Let's think about our immediate situation. We both have hotel rooms, but something tells me yours won't be much to my liking."

"You're right about that. I could escort you to your hotel and forget to leave; I don't think anyone will notice. But I should sleep in a chair. With you being so sore and bruised, I don't want to take a chance on rolling over and hurting you."

"Matt, I need to be in your arms. I need you holding me."

"Holding you sounds awful good, but I could accidently …." He saw her face and took her hand, "All right, I'll just be careful not to hurt you. Let's get back to your hotel. Charles Street is right around the corner."

The Police Station

Clarice sat in the police captain's office and sipped water from a glass. Her chance at riches had disappeared, her house would be foreclosed on, and she no longer had Paul to help her scheme. She took a deep breath to fortify herself. She'd talked herself out of difficult situations before, and she could do it again. She slowly looked up into the police captain's eyes. He was young and handsome, maybe that would help.

"Captain, I – it's hard – but – I'd like to tell you what happened to me."

He nodded with a look that betrayed nothing, "I wish you would."

"I don't need to remind you that I am a respected member of New Orleans society. My murdered husband was from the Benet family. His people came from France to fight in the American Revolution. I'm of the Le Croix family. We've been in New Orleans for generations. We are honorable people." She sighed shakily "My dear husband and I were kidnapped by a porter, a lowlife who said his name was Joe Jones. He forced us into that basement at gunpoint to rob and extort us. He was going to do more than that to me. When he looked at me with lust, my husband knew what was on his mind and struggled to get the gun. That's how my dear, brave husband died. I can describe Jones. I will never forget that dark-skinned man – tall, and thin, with flecks of gray in his hair. He'll be easy to find at the railroad station." She looked up at the captain and smiled coyly, "I assume I can go now."

"I'm afraid not. I have a sworn affidavit from a US Marshal named Matt Dillon, and a signed confession from Lieutenant Roget. He admits to taking bribes from you to falsify your sister's cause of death."

Clarice set her shoulders back in resignation. "I'm a practical woman. I accept that you have proof and I'll be put on trial. I suppose I'll survive few months in jail."

The captain was stunned, "Mrs. Benet, you and your husband committed murder, kidnapping, assault, bribery and probably more. Those are offenses that could mean life in prison or even, I hate to say it, hanging."

"A woman can't be hung. Especially a society woman." She looked at him smugly.

"You'd be surprised."

She saw he was serious. Her mind raced. There was a tunnel Roget and some other crooked police officers used. She jumped up, threw her glass in the captain's face and raced from the room. By the time the stunned captain drew his gun, she was gone. He tried to follow, but she seemed to disappear. How was that possible? There were more secrets to this building than he knew. Another conversation with Lieutenant Roget was in order.

Clarice knew exactly where to find the small door that lead to a tunnel. Roget had explained its usefulness for anyone who wanted to come and go unnoticed. She went through the door and crawled for a few feet. After that she was able to stand. No one seemed to be following, so she slowed down to make a plan. She'd get to her house, pack everything that was valuable, and take a train somewhere – San Francisco or maybe east to Boston. She'd sell her possessions to survive until she regained her footing. She was smart, crafty and good-looking. She'd do fine. Feeling better, she continued through the tunnel. When she got to the door at the end, she tried to remember where it led. It didn't matter, she'd just continue on her way. She pushed through the door and walked up a flight of steps. The street sign said, Charles Street. She smiled at the irony, the Column Hotel was on that street.

"Hold it." She turned to the voice. Her jaw dropped. It was Kitty and that man who saved her. She turned and ran. No one was going to put her in jail much less hang her. She ran full speed, but heard the man's footsteps closing in. In a panic, she turned the corner without looking. A horse neighed and reared. She staggered back and fell. The horse's hooves crashed down on her head and neck. No one could survive that. No one would want to.

The driver of the hansom cab jumped down, "She came out of nowhere." Matt walked over, "It's not your fault." Kitty ran up beside him. He pulled her close. "It's an ugly sight, you sure you want to look?"

"Matt, the way she died can't possibly be as ugly as the way she lived."

The police captain appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, "Marshal, it seems I am in your debt again."

"Just keep doing what your doing captain. I wish you the best."

Matt put the hand on the small of Kitty's back. "Let's get to your hotel. I'll hold you in my arms all night. Fact is, I need that too."

TBC