The Stolen Conclusion

I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.

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Saturday Night

Kitty appeared for all the world to be sound asleep. But she had heard the man coming, long before she saw him. She knew she didn't have the strength to run. As tired and weak as she was, even Griggs would be able to catch her.

Looking around her, she spied a good size branch lying close by. As quietly as possible, she reached for the wood and brought it to her side, concealing it as best she could. Then settling back down, she lay as still as possible and waited.

She didn't have to wait long.

Griggs thought he was being quiet, and as Kitty didn't stir when he approached, he was sure he had her.

But Griggs, like so many others before him, underestimated her. As soon as he was close enough, Kitty pulled her self up and began flailing at him with the tree branch. She had succeeded in knocking him to the ground, and raised the make shift club for one more blow, but Griggs managed to roll away from her.

Kitty raised the club again, but Griggs had drawn his gun and had it leveled at her. "You best put that thing down," he growled at her, "unless you want a hole in your head."

Kitty dropped the branch and took a step backwards, trying desperately to gain her breath and think of a way out. But she couldn't. She was too tired and too winded.

Keeping the gun trained on her, he clumsily got to his feet and pushed her forward. "Go on woman," he said gruffly "I've got a lesson to teach you about running."

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Matt was slowly making his way cross a small wash, when he heard the sounds of struggle. Stopping he cocked his head and listened intently, trying to discern the location.

When he was sure of the direction, he spurred Buck and raced forward.

The first thing he saw was Kitty, being dragged forward by a man whose girth matched that of his height. Though the man had a gun on her, Kitty was still struggling with him, trying to get away.

Matt quickly concealed himself behind a tree and waited for them to pass his hiding spot.

"You might as well stop fighting," the portly man told her, "You ain't getting away. Besides, like I said, I'm gonna teach you a lesson tonight."

"No you're not," he heard a deep voice say behind him. Griggs turned into the fist of one very angry US Marshal. With one small confused bleat, he fell to the ground, unconscious to all around him.

"Oh Thank God, Matt," Kitty moaned, as he pulled her into his embrace. "He…he was going…"

Matt pulled back to him. "I know, honey," he told her. "I know, but it's over now. It's over."

Matt could feel Kitty shivering in his arms. Gently he led her over to a nearby rock and sat her down. "Sit down here for a minute, Kitty, while I tie him up." He told her.

Kitty nodded, still shaken by what could have happened had Matt not been there.

Matt grabbed the rope from his horse, and used it to truss Griggs with. Just as he finished, Griggs let out a small groan, indicating awareness was returning.

Matt reached down and punched him again, harder, making sure the lights remained out for a while.

Matt returned to Kitty's side and pulled her back into his arms.

Kitty begun to shudder, thinking of what could've been her fate, and clung even tighter to him.

Matt kept a tight hold on her. "It's alright honey," he murmured. "I got you, and I'm not going to let you go."

Kitty sniffled a little and looked up at him. "Promise?" she asked.

Matt smiled as he claimed her in another kiss. "I promise."

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Sunday Morning

Kitty sat on the wagon seat beside Matt, as he steered the wagon onto the road. Matt had found it back a ways, and decided it would be their best source of transportation.

Kitty had her head on Matt's shoulder, and he his arm around her waist. With the events of the previous week, both needed the solace of that physical contact.

Buck was tied behind the wagon and Griggs was tied up in the bed of the vehicle. He had awoken with a headache and a filthy mouth. He now had a rag stuffed in his mouth, and a promise from Matt that should he continue his protests, he would ride the rest of the way to Dodge under the wagon instead of in it.

The previous night, Matt had told Kitty about his assignment in the camp and his surprise at finding her there. He also told her about ignoring orders as he headed out in search of her.

"Matt," Kitty asked, "what's going to happen when we get back to Dodge?"

"What do you mean?" Matt asked, not certain what she was getting at.

"I mean to you." She clarified. "You took off after me with getting permission remember? What do you think Mr. Proctor is going to do about that?"

Matt hugged her a little tighter to him. "Well I'll tell ya, Kitty. I don't know what Proctor will do, but I'm not going to worry about it. As I see it I had one duty more important than the rest and I had to hold true to it."

Kitty looked adoringly up at him. "You mean a duty to find me?"

"Yep," Matt answered as he inclined his head to steal a kiss. "That was the only duty I cared about, and the only one that mattered."

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Two Weeks Later

"Hello, Kitty," Matt greeted her, as walked into the Long Branch and straight over to her side.

"Hey, Matt," she smiled happily at him. "Get you a beer?"

"Sure," he answered, as he reached in his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.

Eyeing it suspiciously Kitty looked at Matt. "What's that?" she asked.

Matt looked at her with a grave expression on his face. "It's a letter from Proctor." He said, his face appearing quite grim.

"Your reprimand?" she asked. Matt nodded. "How bad?" she asked worriedly.

Matt broke into a grin. "He told me not to do it again."

Kitty looked a little puzzled at him until it dawned on her what he was saying. "You mean…you're not…"

Matt grinned even more broadly as he handed her the letter he had just received that morning.

In it, Proctor had praised Matt for his work in the case, and extolled his virtues as a law man. Only the last few lines dealt specifically with his leaving against orders.

'As regards to the charge of dereliction of duty', Proctor had written, 'I find I must concur that you were negligent in your duty at the camp site. However given the extraordinary circumstances you were faced with, I can think of nothing else that you could have done. Had I been in your place, I dare say, I would have at the least, done the same.

Therefore Marshal Dillon, there will be no punishment for the said charge, only a recommendation that you try and restrain yourself should such an occurrence happen again.'

Kitty reread the lines then looked up at Matt. "That's wonderful, Matt," she sighed.

"Yeah," he agreed, "I was pretty happy I can tell you. Of course even if he hadn't of agreed with me, it wouldn't have changed anything."

"Oh?" she asked "It wouldn't have?"

"Un uh." he responded. "Remember Manley asking me if you were worth it?"

Kitty shuddered a little at the memory but nodded. "Yeah I remember, why?"

Matt glanced around the saloon and seeing that no one was paying any attention to him, he stepped around the bar, took her by the arm and led her into the office, closing the door behind him.

Kitty looked at him a little curiously, but said nothing as she watched him lock the door he had just closed.

Pulling her into his arms, Matt looked down into her beautiful sapphire eyes and smiled. "Do you remember what I told Manley?" he prodded.

Kitty nodded again. "You said I was." She smiled back at him.

"Well I meant it, Kitty" he said as he starting trailing kisses across her face and down her neck. "You were most definitely worth it."

Finis