Matt

Matt splinted Long's leg as best he could to stabilize it and buried Hooker. He pieced together a travois, tied it to his horse and then tied Long to the travois so he could drag him into Hayes. He took hold of Hooker's horse and headed off, thinking that it was one of the most luckless "easy" assignments he had ever had.

He rode for about 8 hours when he finally arrived at the Hayes City sheriff's office early in the morning. Sheriff Dale Rogers walked out, "Matt, glad to see you. I was wondering where you were, and I got a couple of telegrams from Dodge asking about you. Is that Hooker?'

Matt got off his horse, "Nope, Hooker is dead and buried. He tried to escape and I had to shoot him. Here are the possessions that he had on his person. This here is Mr. Long. He aided Hooker in his first escape attempt."

Rogers shook his head, "Sounds like a complicated trip, and don't take this the wrong way Matt, but you sure could use a bath."

Matt laughed, "Sure can. I'm turning custody over to you. I'm going to send a telegraph and then I'll come back and give my report. After that I look forward to a bath and some sleep."

Dodge City Early Morning

Festus ran into Delmnico's looking for Doc and Kitty. He figured they were having breakfast there.

"Miss Kitty, here's a telegram from Matthew."

Kitty took the paper from Festus and read, "Finally reached Hayes. Everything all right. Be back tomorrow morning. Matt

Kitty looked up with a smile that no one had seen for well over a week, "Well – how about that. Guess you two were right all along."

Later that Night

Doc, Kitty and Festus were sitting at a table and Sam brought over their drinks. Kitty looked at Doc, "You know Doc, I got to Dodge six months or so after Matt became marshal. So I'm curious. Did you know he was in Dodge as marshal when you settled here?"

"No Kitty, I had decided to settle here about a year before Matt arrived. It was a really wild town, and I'm not even sure why I picked it. Maybe, I was just tired of traveling around and I sure didn't want to go back to Baltimore."

Kitty nodded, "It was pretty wild when I got here, and Matt had already tamed it some. How did you two reconnect when he got here?"

Doc thought for a second, "As I recall, I was up in my office leaning over my desk when I heard the door open, and voice say, 'You said you wanted to check this shoulder.' Well there is no mistaking that voice. I turned around and there he stood. I started to ask him what he was doing in Dodge, when I saw the star. 'Matt, you did it didn't you? – became a lawman?'

Matt nodded looking a little pleased, "Yep, Doc. I lied about my age, like I told you I would and got hired as a deputy. After a time I became the sheriff of Abilene, and now I've been appointed to marshal of the Kansas territory out of Dodge City. What do you think?"

"I remember being concerned. I had already developed a liking for Matt that ran pretty deep, 'Matt, I have to be honest. I think you won't survive. More experienced man than you have tried and failed to tame this town. You might want to give accepting this job another thought.'

"I'll never forget the look that Matt gave me. He was so filled with confidence, determination and yet a sense of reality. He said, 'Doc, I guess I'll have to count on you to keep me alive. See you later."

Kitty nodded, "Doc, you have done that on several occasions."

Doc looked thoughtful, "I suppose I have, but Matt has succeeded where many others have failed. I don't think I've met another man who could do what he's done and continues to do."

Kitty smiled, "Well here's to you Doc and to Matt."

They downed their drinks and Kitty stood up, "And gentlemen, it's time to close up. I'll see you both tomorrow.

Dodge City 2 hours later

After closing up the saloon, Kitty was glad that she had hired Louie to haul up hot bath water to her extra large tub. She made sure that she paid Louie after the saloons were closed for the night. She had at least some hope that he would buy food with it in the morning.

Kitty had undressed and was about to step into the tub, when she heard a knock at the door. She quickly put a robe on and moved towards the door when she heard a key turn – it was Matt.

There he stood muddy and weary looking, but in her eyes there had never been a more welcome sight.

She ran over and put her arms around him, "Cowboy, I thought you'd be back tomorrow."

He kissed the top of her head, "I really wanted to get back, so I decided not to bother to clean up and rest in Hayes. I rode right out."

Her smile and the way her eyes were lit up as she looked up at him, made him glad that he did.

"Cowboy, fortunately there is a hot tub waiting in the other room. You should go ahead and get in."

"Wasn't that water for you? Maybe we can get in together."

Kitty looked Matt up and down, "Matt, maybe you don't realize just how muddy you are – and I don't feel like taking a mud bath. Tell you what, you get in that tub and I'll make us a snack and then pour us some brandy."

A little later Kitty was putting bread and cold chicken on the table when she looked up. Matt was standing there barefoot, wearing just his jeans, his hair still damp from the bath. She stopped and looked at him – relishing what she saw.

"Something wrong Kitty?"

"Not at all Cowboy, just glad your back. Sit down."

They sat close, instead of across from each other, as Matt told her about his trip.

After they ate they moved into the other room. Matt sat in a big, comfortable chair and pulled Kitty onto his lap. They cuddled as they drank brandy.

"Matt, do you remember the first times you met Doc?"

Matt was kissing Kitty on her neck, "Of course – Texas and Oklahoma – but why are we talking about Doc now?"

"Well Doc was telling Festus and me about those times. Kind of interesting, what did you think of Doc?"

"Doc was a man who liked to poke his nose in everyone's business, and who had no sense of direction, just like now."

"MATT"

Matt smiled, "All right, all right. I learned to value Doc and his friendship early, and I value both more and more as time goes on. That's the truth. Now can I go back to what I was doing?"

Kitty smiled, "Of course Cowboy, and by the way I have a question. Does anyone but me know that you got back sooner than expected?"

Matt thought for a second, "No. No one was at the stable when I got in, so I put my own horse up. No one will notice I'm back until someone notices my horse is here. Hmm that is if anyone thinks to ask at the stable."

Kitty kissed Matt deeply on the lips, "Cowboy, we're going to have a nice long morning."

Matt kissed her back, "You are one smart red head."

The End