A light rap on her bedroom door the next morning, made Kitty check her appearance in the mirror once more before turning toward the door.
"Kitty, it's Doc!"
"Doc," Kitty said opening the door. "It's kind of early for you, isn't it?"
"I need to talk to you, Kitty," Doc said stepping into the door way.
"About what?" Kitty asked softly.
"Festus is back," Doc replied slowly.
"And Matt?" Kitty said quietly.
"He found Matt," Doc said turning around to meet her eyes. "I don't know how to tell you this..."
"Matt's dead!" Kitty said in shock as Doc shook his head no.
"Matt's alive," Doc said quickly. "But he's not himself right now."
"What do you mean?" Kitty said evenly.
Matt stretched in the bed before rolling over to pull Mike closer to him and caress her body.
"Good morning," Mike said turning over to face him.
"It is a good morning," Matt said with a wiry grin as Mike slid out of bed.
"Hungry," she said slipping into a robe.
"For?" Mat grinned mischievously.
"Breakfast," Mike replied slightly exasperated. "Sakes alive, if it was up to you, we'd spend all day in bed."
"That's a bad thing?" Matt replied with a broad smile.
"Yes!" Mike said starting for the door. "There's work to be done!"
Matt laughed and laid back as he heard the woman moving around in the other room and then the rustle of the coffee pot and frying pan being placed on the stove.
He couldn't remember when he'd been more content. But then, he thought amused, he didn't remember anything beyond these few short weeks.
Matt knew that should have concerned him but for the moment, he was happy to not worry about it as Mike poked her head into the door way.
"Well," she said putting her hands on her hips. "Are ya just going to lay in there all day or are ya going to join me."
"Coming ma'am," Matt said sliding naked out of the bed.
(Dodge)
"I can't believe it," Kitty said slowly. "After all these years..."
"I'm sorry, Kitty," Doc said patting her hand. "I can't imagine how you must feel."
"Feel," Kitty said absently. "I don't feel anything."
"Well," Matt said taking a seat as Mike placed a plate on the table in front of him. "This looks great!"
"Glad you like it," Mike said taking a seat next to him.
"I'll get started on that barn after breakfast," Matt said digging into the eggs, bacon and potatoes.
"I can help," Mike said with a nod.
"If you want to," Matt replied evenly.
"We'll do the hinges first," Matt said walking toward the barn after breakfast. "Then the windows."
"Alright," Mike said adjusting her hat. "I'll get the hinges out of the wagon."
Matt headed into the barn as Mike headed over to the wagon. A rumble in the distance made her look up and she screamed. "Dan!"
Matt ran out of the barn toward the woman as she pointed behind him. Whirling around, Matt watched as several riders rode toward the farm kicking up dirt and debris in their wake.
"Get inside!" Matt yelled propelling the woman toward the house.
Once inside, Matt grabbed the rifle and handed the revolver to Mike. "Keep it loaded and make the shots count," he said as Mike nodded.
"Shouldn't I try to talk to Starcourt?" Mike asked.
"It's been my experience that doesn't always work," Matt replied nonchalantly.
But before Mike could reply, the riders were in the yard outside the house.
Sutler barked as a man got down off his horse and looked around.
"Starcourt," Mike said watching from the window.
"I've given you plenty of time to leave, Mrs. Yardner," Starcourt yelled harshly.
"She ain't leavin Mister and neither am I," Matt yelled back as he opened the front door.
"I heard Mrs. Yardner had a man here," Starcourt said crossing his arms.
"What's it to you?" Matt asked meeting his eyes.
"I'm willing to make a very reasonable offer on this place," Starcourt said looking around. "But, you should know, my patience is very thin."
"I don't care about your patience, Mister," Matt said stepping forward. "Mike isn't selling and she isn't leaving!"
"Sorry to hear that," Starcourt said with a nod of his head aimed toward a man on horse back near the corner of the house.
The man slid off the horse with a torch, quickly lit it and threw it onto the wooden roof of the house.
"No!" Mike yelled as smoke started to seep into the house.
Matt slammed the front door shut as he grabbed Mike's arm. "Out the back door!"
Mike followed as Matt opened the back door and ran outside. The man who lit the torch was waiting for them but Matt was ready.
Pushing Mike to the ground, Matt fired the rifle just as the other man drew his pistol.
Grabbing Mike's arm, they ran for the thick brush behind the house as Starcourt and his men surrounded them.
