A/N I would like to once again thank the reviewers I can't message personally.

Chapter Ten

Four days later

Old habits die hard, and after twenty years of protecting Dodge, making the rounds of every building on the farm at night came naturally to Matt. Occasionally Chester, accompanied by Joe, took over the job, but for the most part he shouldered the responsibility of protecting his property and loved ones personally. It seemed particularly fitting that he should be doing so now that, as of the day before, the farm belonged to him and Kitty free and clear. Mr. Bodkin had driven out last evening to report that the bank draft from Wayne Russell had cleared and the money was in their account. He accepted their supper invitation and afterwards, with Chester as a witness, they had signed the final documents to pay off the mortgage. Tonight, he and Kitty had given a dinner party to celebrate. Doc, Festus, and Newly had all ridden out from Dodge and, on a rare evening away from their brood, Will and Bess Roniger had joined them, along with Chester and Joe. Kitty had outdone herself, and, worn out after spending the whole day in preparation for the party, had made her apologies an hour earlier and gone to bed along with Maddy, leaving Matt to see their guests off. Matt suspected the real reason was that her heart just wasn't in the celebration. The Ronigers left soon after, to get back to their own kids, and Newly had to get back to town. Doc wanted to check on a patient who lived along the way and whose baby was due any time. Festus decided to keep him company and the two took off down the road arguing about whether or not Doc had actually planned on sneaking off to fish by himself. Matt had walked along with Chester and Joe to the cabin they now called home and stood talking for a few minutes about the work planned for the next day before bidding them goodnight.

Once alone, he continued the farm rounds, checking to make sure each building was secure, stock was accounted for, and nothing was amiss anywhere. Stopping to make sure the corral gate was locked; he considered what Russell's gift might mean for them. So far, Kitty had been unwilling to discuss the money beyond paying the mortgage. He doubted Kitty would object to increasing their livestock, but he was still determined to earn his own way when it came to the business side of the farm. He could accept Kitty's father paying off the farm and finally giving her the security she'd never had as a child, and as far as he was concerned, the remaining money belonged to Kitty, too. If need be, she and Maddy could live well, if somewhat frugally, on that, along with her other money and what Hannah still owed on the Long Branch, for many years to come. He suspected there might be some battles about that in the future, with Kitty taking the opposite point of view, but nothing they couldn't work out. Kitty's emotional state, though, was another matter. She was still hurt over her father leaving without saying goodbye in person, and so far hadn't read his letter, declaring that she wasn't interested in anything else he had to say. He sensed, though, that she was eaten up with curiosity about the parting message contained in the letter, and he was beginning to regret not encouraging her to read it. He looked at the faint light glowing in the bedroom window, wondering whether Kitty had simply left it there out of habit or if she was still up. If she was awake when he went in, it was time they had a talk.

Maddy had been asleep for an hour and although Kitty had gone to bed, despite her exhaustion, she was still awake. She had even tried reading the incredibly boring novel she kept in her bedside table for just such a reason, to no avail. It seemed that sleep wasn't going to find her anytime soon, so she slipped back out of bed and padded over to the window to check on Matt. She could see the light from the lantern he carried moving on the opposite side of the cabin and knew it would probably be awhile before he finished. With a sigh, she moved the lamp to her dressing table, sat down, and pulled out the top left side drawer. It was time to do what she'd been avoiding for days. She unfolded the letter and began reading.

My Dear Kitty;

If you are reading this letter, I trust that by now you have spoken with your banker about the business transaction we made before I left Dodge City. Although my intention was to ensure you and your husband no longer have the debt of your farm to concern yourselves with, please understand that it is a gift and feel free to use it in any manner you wish. I also extend best wishes for a long and happy life together for the two of you and Madeleine.

I fear no apology for my past behavior is sufficient, but I must make the attempt. Deserting you and your mother was inexcusable and I shall not even try to defend it. I can't begin to apologize enough for attempting to steal from you. It was very much a crime of opportunity made by a desperate man. I will spare you the full details, but suffice it to say that some very poor business deals along with a heavy gambling loss caused me to believe it was the only way out of my situation. It took being called a crook by my daughter, a young woman who had only known me a few days, to see myself for what I was. I returned to New Orleans deeply ashamed of my actions and managed to keep my business by legal means. Although I was at first angry at being found out, my reason for never contacting you again was guided purely by being too cowardly to apologize for what I'd done and ask forgiveness. I told myself you were better off without me in your life.

Kitty put the letter down for a moment shaking her head. "Long on excuses, short on apologies," she sighed, and resumed reading.

As for the matter of my cutting our visit short, I had every intention of having dinner with you and your family tonight and leaving on tomorrow's stage, but after speaking with several Dodge City residents, including a very colorful deputy who obviously thinks the world of you, I realized that I forfeited the right to be a part of your life a long time ago. I confess I was a little jealous upon learning there was another man who has assumed my place as your father, but I have only myself to blame for that. I also worried that you would turn down my gift if I offered it in person. I don't wish to appear as though I'm trying to buy your forgiveness, because no amount of money can make up for a lifetime of neglect. There is no ulterior motive; I simply want you to have the money because you deserve it.

One last thing in closing before I must continue my journey west. My apologies for intruding into your life the way I did yesterday. You need not fear any further intrusion from me.

Although I'm not worthy to call myself this, I remain your proud father,

Wayne Russell

Her father's letter had addressed a number of things that had been bothering her about both his visit and the money he'd given them. She'd probably never know whether his attempt at an apology was sincere, but maybe it didn't matter. Whatever the motivation, he had increased her and Matt's ability to provide for their children in a way that he hadn't for her. And most of all, he'd given her back her mother. "I don't know if he's changed or not," she whispered, picking up the photograph from the top of her dressing table. "I think he just never knew how to be a father."

Matt climbed the stairs wearily, treading as lightly as possibly to keep from waking Kitty and the baby. On entering the bedroom, he saw without much surprise that Kitty was up, sitting at her dressing table holding her father's letter and her mother's picture. Not for the first time, he noted with some pride that they seemed to have had the same thought. She didn't speak or look up even when he sat down to pull his boots off, and he wondered if she had nodded off in her chair after all. When he saw her wipe at her eyes with the back of her hand, he understood. Kitty sniffed softly, then cleared her throat. "Everything all right out there?"

"Yeah." He crossed the room to stand behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. "You read it?" She nodded, turning her head to glance up at him. "Feel any better?"

"Some." She leaned her head back against him. "I said he could be a pretty smart talker. His letter said all the right things, if the person reading the letter was looking for a reason to forgive him."

"That's one way of lookin' at it, I guess."

Kitty propped the picture against her mirror and folded the letter. She slipped it back into the drawer and stood up, turning to face Matt. "I think maybe he gave us the money because of Maddy," she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I suppose we'll never really know for sure."

Matt nodded slowly. "I'll always be grateful to him for that, for Maddy's sake."

"Mmmhmm," Kitty murmured, pulling him closer.

"You know, in a way, we already had him to thank for all of this." Matt gestured around the room, toward Maddy, and then at the two of them. Kitty knew immediately what he meant and smiled one of her private smiles up at him. It had been the night before Wayne Russell had arrived in Dodge the first time that had been a turning point in their relationship. Her new partnership with Bill Pence had finally, to her way of thinking, allowed her to give herself to Matt freely rather than continuing to earn her living by selling her body to other men. Any lingering doubts Matt had were outweighed by his need to comfort her in her anxiety over meeting her father. That night, for the first time, they had become as intimate physically as they were in every other way since their friendship had started.

"Oh?" she asked innocently. "You mean you don't think this-" she reached up and pulled his face down to hers for a long kiss-"would have happened anyway?"

"Well, sure," he stammered, with the same boyish grin she'd fallen in love with, before returning the kiss.

"He's still kind of far down on my list of people to thank, Matt, even after what he just did for us."

"Is that a fact, Mrs. Dillon? I don't suppose your husband is on that list anywhere." Matt raised his eyebrows in mock consternation.

"Oh, he is, Cowboy. That's a fact." Their eyes met and held. "Now, what do you say we turn in for the night and talk about that list some more?" Matt said nothing. In answer he put one arm around her shoulders to draw her closer. Cradling her cheek with his other hand, gave Kitty a long, slow kiss before dropping his arm down to her waist and pulling her toward the bed so she could tell him about the list.

END

A/N In the Season 2 episode Daddy-O, the word "proud" is used eleven times and the word "pride" is used once.