At Last

PT.6

Hearing footsteps on the stairs, she quickly tried pulling herself together, opening the door. "Cowboy, please?" Now eyes widening. "Ohhhhh!" Quickly, the door slammed open and she was shoved back into the room.

"So, Dillon was right. You lived. HAHAHAHAHA!"

Swallowing hard, "BONNER! What are you…"

"I said I'd be back to finish the job. Well, I'm here pretty lady."

Kitty's heart was racing. The nightmare was replaying over and over in her mind. "Oh my God, not again. Please not again." She was doing her best not to let the fear in her paint across her face for him to see. She also was hoping of all hope that Jamie stayed sleeping in the small alcove just out of view.

Matt sat with Doc. Doc could tell from the look on Matt's face things hadn't gone well between them. "Matt, I'm going to say this and I want you to listen to me. I know Kitty can be stubborn and I know her temper but I also know that young lady loves you with everything in her, just as you love her. This is no longer just about the two of you. There's a beautiful young boy, my grandson to be exact, who needs both his parents, two great parents in my opinion. My very smart, professional opinion. So, I'm going to tell you this. Get up and go over there and talk to Jamie's momma. Don't you dare let her leave. Damn it, don't let the last twenty years be for nothing."

Matt looked at the man he now revered as a father and smiled. "You're right, Doc. I'm going back over there and weather she likes it or not, we're going to straighten this out. I love her, Doc."

"Well, for heaven sakes, don't tell me. Go tell her!"

Laughing, Matt stood and headed back to the side stairway.

In the room above the Long Branch, Bonner lunged towards Kitty, grabbing her by the hair, tossing her around the room like a rag doll. He made sure the doors were locked so no one from either end could walk in. Hannah and Sam were calling out to her.

"Miss Kitty! Miss Kitty, what's wrong? Are you alright? What's happening?"

Several times she screamed out for help. Obie, Burke and several others could hear the noise from the street. Running, they grabbed Matt as he left Doc's office.

"Hurry, Mr. Dillon. It's Miss Kitty. Someone's up there."

Taking the stairs, two at a time. "Kitty? Kitty?" Kicking the door in, Matt saw that Bonner had Kitty pinned to the floor, choking her. Jamie was crying. This now caught Bonner's attention.

"HA HA! A KID!"

Matt and Bonner were now going blow to blow. Kitty was trying to pull herself up off the floor and catch her breath. Bonner and Matt were pounding one another's heads into the floor. Kitty noticed Matt looking like he lost consciousness. Bonner crawled towards her, tossing her by the hair aside and heading for Jamie.

Screaming, "NO! NO!" She reached up to her nightstand, pulling herself up just as he grabbed the cradle. He reached in and started to reach for Jamie, then he heard…

"BON-NER! LEAVE MY SON ALONE!" Along with the sound of a barrel clicking. Just as he looked over his shoulder for the sound he heard, he quickly heard the snap of the trigger. He hit his knees.

Matt was coming to, rushing towards Kitty as she rushed to Jamie. She was pressing Jamie to her breast, calming him. "Momma has you. You're alright. Momma has you."

Now Matt was lifting her to her feet as she looked down at Bonner.

As he gasped for air, with a tight jaw, she said, "I believe it was you that made this deal. YOU LOSE!"

He tried with his last breath to speak but all he could do was inhale then close his eyes for the last time.

Matt lifted Kitty's chin. "Kitty? Kit Honey, are you…" He was cuddling she and Jamie close.

"I am now. I am now."

TBC