Twenty-five

Kitty stepped back and stared at Dillon and then at Lilly. Dread hit the bottom of her stomach with a thud, "Matt?" she questioned, fearing he was still confused. "This is Lilly, the ten-day girl. She took care of you when you were at St. Vincent's. She came here to help me get you well."

Dillon winced for although strength had returned, pain was still with him. "Kitty, let me introduce you to Miss Francine Wright … she's one of us, a Wilcox recruit. I've known her a long time … she did some nursing during the war. Took care of me when I was wounded at Chickamauga. She's got more guts than just about any woman I've ever known."

Frankie made a graceful curtsy, and offered an apology with a refined voice, an octave lower than Lilly's. "I apologize Kitty. I couldn't tell you the truth. Mr. Wilcox wanted it that way. I imagine, he wanted to see which side you buttered your bread on. Theirs or ours."

Now it was Kitty who felt weak-kneed and faint. She sat down rather abruptly on her bed. "I don't understand. I don't understand any of this." She looked to Matt, with confusion blurring her vision.

Matt moved to sit close beside her. "Frankie." He said over his shoulder. "Why don't you brew us a pot of coffee, Kitty and I'll be out in a few minutes."

Frankie nodded and left the room, shutting the door softly behind. Alone, together, Matt reached for Kitty's hand. He studied it, turning it over in his own, before bringing it to his lips and softly kissing her palm. Lowering her hand, he grabbed its mate and held tightly to them both. "I hate that you're mixed up in this - I told Wilcox, when it all started, I didn't want you involved."

She inhaled deeply, before responding. "Well, I am involved, up to my eyeballs, as Festus would say."

"We have to get you out of here, we have to get you back to Dodge."

Ignoring his words, she offered a grim smile. "I met another one of your `friends' this morning, Charlie Yeoman."

Dillon swallowed. "Charlie? Things must be moving right along, then."

"He wants me to cozy up to Beaumont Davis."

Matt let go of her hands and stared straight ahead, disconnecting himself from her. It was a typical Dillon move; a gunfight, a range war, chasing bank robbers or cattle thieves, it was always the same, leaving her behind and moving on to battle alone. "No! No, you take the next train back to Dodge. I can handle things from here."

Her reaction too, was predictable."We're in this together, Cowboy."

His tone was stern and all U.S. Marshal. "I can't let you, it's too dangerous." He stood up and with his back to her, moved to the window.

She followed and forced him to turn and look at her. Her voice was soft, vulnerable. "Oh Matt … are you really back? I was so frightened… but I'm not anymore … not with you here."

God knows, he fought to remain detached, but he was caught by the love in her eyes. Her hands found his again, squeezing them gently until he returned the caress. He shook his head, damming his weakness and yet rejoicing at the union which made him strong. They remained that way - silhouetted in the window frame, saying volumes without speaking a word.

There was a knock at the door, before it opened. "Coffee's ready. I am sorry to rush you, but we don't have a lot of time before Kitty leaves for Summerhaven."

His eyes never left Kitty's as he replied, "We'll be right there Frankie." His lips touched Kitty's cheek with a fleeting kiss. "We'll be right there."