I watched "The Foundling" today this is what happened after Kitty gave away the baby.

I do not own any part of Gunsmoke.

Kitty tried her best not to cry on the long cold bumpy ride. The wheels made a sweeping sound like the one made by Mary's toy. Each turn of the wheel taunted her. Reminded her that she had made the biggest mistake of her life.

When they turned off the driveway onto the road, Kitty looked back. All she could see was the roof of the farmhouse. She wanted to yell stop go back get my baby. She could no longer hold the tears. Matt seeing tears tried to comfort her saying "Marry will be all right "Kitty snapped at him. "I know that If I did not think that I would not have let her go". She then went into Saloon Gail mode smiling and asking Matt about his most recent trip. He told her all about a raging gunfight, but She heard nothing just smiled as Matt talked. Matt recognized this self-protection trick. Went along with it, for her tears was more then he could stand.

The sun was shining and she was sitting next to her man yet a ball of ice formed in her gut getting bigger with every turn of the wheel.

Matt stopped at their special place under a shade tree by a bubbling brook. He got out went around to help Kitty out, but she just sat smiling as tears ran down her face. Matt did not know what to say. He just got back in the buggy and drove back to Dodge. He pulled up in front of the long Branch told her he would take the buggy back to the stable and return. He got out ran around to help her out. She looked up "so that is my place, all that I am good for" Matt was stunned he was afraid to say anything. Kitty got out of the buggy without Matts help. Pushed past him. Walked in the long . looked up he could tell by Kitty's face she was experiencing a horrible, impossible pain. Kitty patted one of her girl's shoulder. "fix your hair"
Moving through the bar she complained about the bar being dirty . and refused to extend credit to a regular.

Kitty had tears in her eyes and a sick feeling in my stomach. She walked slowly through the full saloon feeling longer than ever before. Climbing the long steep stairs she seemed not to have the strength to make it to the top.

Matt entered the saloon. Doc stopped him. "she needs some time " Matt looked concerned "She only took care of the baby for two weeks. Doc. rubbed his mustache. "It only takes a moment,"

Matt started up the stairs. He felt so guilty about killing Eli Baines, that he did not. take Kitty's feelings into account. The stairs squeaked as his weight barred down on the step. He suddenly became aware of his loss. It occurred to him for the first time he could have had a hand in raising the baby if Kitty had kept it. A few more steps.,and ice ball started to form in his stomach. He did not want to go any farther as the stair became very steep and lonely. He wondered if Kitty could ever forgive him, for not backing her. How could he put Maylee Baines needs ahead of Kitty's.

Kitty was cooking as he entered her room. She sat in silence as Matt eat. The food was cooked well, but Matt did not feel like eating and Kitty just played with her food. Both jumped a little when Sam knocked on the door" Marshal they sent word you're needed at the jail" Matt looked into Kitty's sad wet eyes "Festus can handle whatever it is" Kitty patted his hand "go, Matt, I am tired I think I will take a nap. " Matt stood "see you latter kitty?" she smiled nodded.

It would be two hours before Matt could return. He found Kitty rolled up in a ball holding one of Mary's blanket. She made no attempt to hide the tears. Matt sat on the bed " rubbed her back "I am sorry Truly sorry, I did not mean for you to get hurt."Kitty rolled over facing him. I never ask to be a saloon girl. I just did what I had to do. I would have been a good mother " Matt tried to comfort her "I know you would" Kitty "why didn't You support me /Why did you think the baby would be better off with anyone else but me, even the state home"

Kitty looked up at him. Her eyes were puffy and red. Her makeup smeared with tear lines when she asks "Matt why can't we have a child?" Matt grabbed his hat stared into it "were not married" Kitty sounded mad "O really... don't you ever want to have children? "Matt shifted his feet " someday after I retire"Kitty moved to the far end of the bed "Do you know how old I am? How old will I be? Matt, soon I will be too old"

The sound of a shooting came from the street.

Matt stood up. "You know how I feel. I am truly sorry you got hurt" He left saying "I will see you later Kitty.

Kitty watched the door close. She stared at the door for a long time then said "just leave the money on the table"

Matt did not return that night. He was happy to see Kitty sweeping the sidewalk in front of the long branch in the early morning light. He walked up to her "I thought you had people who do that"She smiled rolled her eyes "don't you think I can handle it" he smiled "you want to get some breakfast?" Her eyes were red and puffy again. " I intended to clean the windows Matt looked at the window, although dusty they were the cleanest windows in Dodge"the windows will be here when we get back"

Kitty did not say much, ate even less. Doc. and Festus sat at a table on the other side of the restaurant. Festus wanted to join them, Doc. stopped him. Festus did not argue like he normally did for he too, was feeling the loss. If KItty would have kept the child. He would have been called upon to help out, something he had not realized he was looking forward to. Doc. growing tired of watching Kitty play with her food approaches "I want to see both of you in my office" Kitty said she had to get back to the Long Branch, pushed past Doc. and left.

In the weeks to come live at the Long Branch was ruff as the boss would not put up with anything. The girls started dressing better and paid more attention to the customers. The girls made sure no ones drink went empty and every man was having a good time. The bartenders were not immune to Kitty's foul mood. No glass sat empty on the bar, all washed until they sparkled. the bottles behind the bar were dusted often throughout the day, and no one dared to be caught with a dirty apron.

Doc. Festus and Matt were having coffee at the jail. Matt sipped his coffee watched Kitty cleaning the Long Branch window's for the fifth time this week. " I never intended to hurt her, I can not believe how hard she taking it."
Doc. shook his head "Everyone deals with grief differently, yet she should be showing signs of it easing up. " Festus sat drinking he coffee said nothing as Matt and Doc. tried to figure out why Kitty was so mad at them. In the end, it was her decision to give up the child. Matt, maybe we should tell her that if it came to a court fight she would have lost. actually, I was glad she gave up the child thought it would save her grief" Festus finally spoke up "In all my born days I never hear such stupidity. She is not only morning the loss of Mary" Matt was about at the end of his . turned on Festus "what's that you say, talk plain"Festus got up took his hat off a hook "she is morning her unborn children. I make her out to be pushing fifty. I never heard of a woman having a first child after fifty. She has Doyenne Syndrome although she has no caus. As a nookie-bookie, she is a master., but she is over 21 and that makes her an old maid., Not having a child makes her unfruitful. " Matt was getting mad stood to his full height., "Doc stood between them "let him talk he is saying it wrong, but he has the right idea.'
Festus move to the door so he could make a fast getaway. "There is no moving on, or getting over it. There is no fix, no solution to her heartache. There is no end to the ways she will grieve. For she has a broken heart, there is no, going back in time. For as long as she breathes, she will grieve. It is a continuous loss that unfolds minute by minute over the course of a lifetime. When she recovers from that loss she will greave for the grandchildren that should have been but will never be born.
This grief will last forever. Whats more it is you two's fault. Festus than ran out the door leaving his friends stunned