Thank you readers who stuck with this long, somewhat convoluted story. This is the final chapter. Guests who commented, I would thank each of you personally if I could.

On with the show.

Dodge 5 Days Later

It was dusk, and Kitty sat alone in the Long Branch surrounded by Matt's love. She heard the bat wing doors and smiled as she looked up, knowing it was him.

"Hello Cowboy, I've been expecting you."

He gently kissed her forehead before pulling a chair close, and sinking into it.

"I stopped by the post office to get your mail for you."

"Thank you Matt, but you don't have to keep doing things like that. I'm feeling much better and can get around fine."

"It's no trouble Kitty." He pulled an envelope from his pocket. "This was the only thing there."

He set an envelope on the table. The writing on it was ornate but unfamiliar to her. She carefully ripped the envelope open and pulled out a letter. Surprise lit her face. "It's from Molly. I thought I'd never hear from her again. I'll read it aloud."

Dear Kitty and Marshal Dillon (Kitty I know you'll share this with him, so I went ahead and included his name.)

When I left you outside the cabin, I rode south planning to get to a town with a railroad station, and take a train to a far away city. I figured I'd get saloon work there, and try to trick another unsuspecting rich man into marry me. I don't know exactly what happened, but I kept picturing you in pain and somehow made a turn. I found myself in Dodge knocking at Doc's door. After that, I could have taken the train from Dodge, but figured if I did, Dillon could find out where I was headed and come after me. I got on my horse, not sure which way to go, and the strangest thing happened. The next day at dusk, I found myself riding onto my mother's farm. She always said that anything was possible at dusk, and when I rode up she looked like she was witnessing a miracle. Funny, I remembered my mother being a hard woman. Now I see her as a woman who's had a hard life. Looking back I don't know how she managed to keep us fed and clothed. I remember times she pushed her plate of food to me, saying she wasn't hungry, so that I could have a second helping. There is so much that I didn't understand. Mama is old and frail now, so I'm staying here to help her and keep her company. Meanwhile I've gotten to know the neighbors and some of the folks in the near by town. There are no rich men, as far as I can tell, but there are some decent ones, and there are some real nice women. I don't expect to find the kind of love you have with the marshal, but I think I can have friends, real friends. Kitty you showed me that friendship, trust, encouragement and love are real things not just words. I will be grateful forever.

Your friend,

Molly

PS: Now the marshal knows where I am, but I hope he doesn't come to arrest me. If he does I will face whatever comes my way.

Kitty folded the letter. "Matt, are you going to go and arrest her?"

"Kitty, she committed crimes, bad crimes. Even with the extenuating circumstances of helping us, under the law she deserves jail time."

"You didn't answer my question. Are you going to arrest her?"

Matt looked into Kitty's eyes and saw she was ready to argue for her friend. He thought about what they'd been through, Molly's actions both good and bad, Kitty's miscarriage and the letter she'd just read.

He sighed deeply. He was a lawman, not a judge and jury, but sometimes a lawman had to make choices. "Kitty, I don't see how serving jail time would teach Molly anything. You've taught her what's important and real. You showed her how to live a good life. Jail would do nothing for her."

"Cowboy, I'm glad we both see it that way." She put her hand on his. "Matt, on another matter, I never asked you what happened with the money you found in the hole."

"I handed it over to the state. The attorney general has been putting ads in newspapers asking that anyone who has been a victim of blackmail contact him. Two people have, including the one who buried that money, so it was returned to him."

Kitty laughed, "I guess the others are too embarrassed to step forward, but at least they know they can stop burying their money. Maybe they'll go dig it up themselves."

Matt gave a wry grin, "Either that or some struggling farmers will dig it up accidentally. I'd love to see that."

They laughed together but Matt grew serious and took Kitty's hand "You went to see Doc this morning, right?"

"Or course, just like I was supposed to. Cowboy, I am fine and Doc was very encouraging. He pointed out that even though I lost the baby, we now know that he was wrong about Bonner making me unable to conceive. Now we know I can, and according to Doc, miscarriages are more common than people think, and most women carry to term afterwards."

"That's wonderful, Kitty. Doc told me something similar."

"Matt, what would you have done? I know you figured out I was pregnant, but what would you have done when I told you?"

Her question was met with silence, but she waited patiently. Years with Matt had taught her that he would only speak when he had gathered his thoughts."

"Kitty, I always thought I knew what I would do, but when I thought we were having a baby, I wasn't so sure. It's funny how sometimes we think we know what we'd do under certain circumstances. Reality makes things less obvious." He leaned closer, "Kitty, that's the long way of saying I don't know - give up the badge, keep the badge, ask the war department for a different job or a different location, become a rancher – I just don't know. I only know I love you and we would work it out."

She nodded slowly, "Oddly enough that makes sense to me. But next time, I hope it happens when we have a plan in place."

"Plan or not, we'll make it work. I love you."

"I love you too."

Matt heard sounds coming from outside. He looked over his shoulder. Dusk had turned into night. The saloon girls and bartenders had returned and cowboys were starting to wander in.

"Kitty, I'd better get back to work."

"Me too. See you later?"

"You know you will. I love sharing dusk with you, but the wee hours of the morning have a certain magic too."

She grinned, imagining him naked in bed, "They do indeed Cowboy, they do indeed."

The End