A Flicker of Light In The Darkness

Chapter 25

Plans for the future

The sound of someone opening the office door diverted Matt's attention from the wanted posters he had been sorting through. "Newly. I thought you were working in your shop today. What are you doing in here?"

"I was wondering if you would want to take a ride with us?"

"Not going to take much convincing to get me to let go of this paperwork. Matt stacked up the posters and set them off to the side of the desk. "Just where are we riding to—and who is 'us'?"

"If you plan on getting those cattle in, you're going to need a bunkhouse and some out buildings. I thought we would ride out there and see where you wanted to build." Newly nervously shifted his weight onto one foot. "The us, is you and me and—the women. I figure Kitty would like to get out a little bit. I'll go by Delmonico's and pick up a basket, so we can have lunch."

"You're still in the dog house over that skunk ordeal, aren't ya?"

Newly's brows arched high and he let out a deep breath. "Been a month and I'm still sleeping with one eye open. I thought maybe this would earn me some points toward forgiveness. I figure she won't go if it's just me, but if she thinks it's for Kitty...well, that will make all the difference." His expression was one of desperation. "What do you say?"

Matt eyed his son-in-law warily. "That was a mighty dumb trick. I wasn't all that surprised with Festus but, I thought you knew better."

"He made it sound so funny; and you know she has a wicked sense of humor."

Matt retrieved his gun belt from the peg and strapped it on. "Wicked—not dim-witted. Alright, sounds like it's worth a try; you go get the lunch and pick up Calleigh. Meet me out at the house."

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"Hey, where's the prettiest girl in the state of Kansas?" Matt yelled into the empty foyer, "Kitty?"

"I'm in the kitchen." Surprised to hear him home, Kitty wiped her hands on the closest towel and turned as her husband entered the room. He tossed his hat onto the counter and wasted no time wrapping her in his arms and covering her face with playful kisses.

"What are you doing home?"

Matt's grin widened as his forefinger brushed across the tip of her nose. "You've got flour on your nose. What are you making?"

"I just put a batch of cookies in the oven." Kitty squirmed around a bit, settling comfortably into Matt's arms, "you didn't answer me. What are you doing home?"

"WE are going on a picnic of sorts." Matt expected his wife's confused expression, "Newly's idea. He's still trying to get back into Calleigh's good graces. We're going into the back forty, to see where to put up the bunkhouse and out buildings. Do you feel up to it?"

"I feel up to anything that will get me out of this house!" Kitty pulled at her apron strings and tossed the garment onto a kitchen chair. "What about lunch?"

"Newly's picking up a basket at Delmonico's. They should be coming along any time." Matt pulled her back into his arms. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he beheld his wife, "You look awfully cute, with that flour on your face and that little apron trying to cover that big belly."

"You are so eloquent, Marshal Dillon." One brow arched high and she wore a mocking smirk "Somehow I think there's a compliment, hidden in there…somewhere." She reached up on her toes and kissed the big lawman. "I think my cookies are done."

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The foursome settled on a grassy section by the creek for lunch. A nice stand of trees provided a comfortable afternoon shade. Matt remembered to bring an oversized down pillow for his wife to sit on, bringing great pleasure to her. Newly, remembered to bring a fresh peach pie, which brought great pleasure to his wife, as well.

"Well, Matt, are we all ready to go into the cattle business?" Calleigh stood looking out over the acres of flat ground. "This is a big jump for all of us." She looked at the other faces, "From marshal, gunsmith, businesswoman and doctor—to cattle barons. Is anybody else scared?"

Matt leaned back against the trunk of an elm tree. His long legs stretched out, with Kitty between them leaning back onto his chest. "This is enough to scare me." He glanced down, and his hands gently circled his future child.

"Learning the cattle business will be a snap. Kitty's made a lot of inquiries into finding us bottom price on that herd." Matt kissed the top of her flame-colored head. "Her wheeling and dealing turned the Long Branch into a winner; she can do the same for us. We're darned lucky that Festus is taking on the foreman job, too. He says he's already got a crew all lined up."

Newly shrugged, "Sounds like we need to start raising those buildings then. What have you decided about the job?"

Kitty looked up at Matt, waiting for an answer. "I don't know if I'm going to stick to the retirement date. Kitty and I will talk it over and let you know. From the way everything is falling into place, looks like we're going to be going full-time on this ranch much sooner than we planned."

Calleigh put her hands over her eyes to shield them from the sun, "Who's that coming?" She nodded toward a single rider coming across the prairie.

Within minutes, a young man stopped by their buggy. He was breathless as he searched the faces until he found the one he needed. "Marshal Dillon, my pa needs you out at our place. My brothers are going to kill each other!"

"You're Yager Potts' boy, aren't you?" Matt Dillon disentangled himself from Kitty and then helped her to her feet.

"Yeah, his youngest. You gotta come, Marshal."

"Take my horse," Newly volunteered. "We'll see Kitty home."

"I'll be right with you, son." Matt stepped back, taking Kitty into his arms. "You going to be okay?" She gave him a smile and a nod. "I'll be home as quick as I can." Matt reassured her.

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Matt quietly climbed the stairs leading up to the bedrooms. He had gotten hung up at Yager Potts' trying to stop a gunfight between his two oldest boys. It was almost midnight and he knew—or at least hoped—that Kitty was asleep.

As soon as he stepped inside their bedroom, he saw her lying on the bed. He was leaving a trail of clothes across the room, something she would scold him for in the morning. He stood now beside the bed, staring at his wife. The window above the bed was open and the cool summer breeze drifted through the room; but it obviously wasn't cool enough, as Kitty began to kick at the covers. One long, slender leg stretched over the top and then the other followed closely behind.

Matt smiled, when he recognized that she was wearing one of his shirts again. She complained that it was one of the only things left that would still cover her growing body. She stretched again, arching her back and tossing one arm across the empty pillow next to her. A beam of moonlight peeked through the lace curtains, causing her hair to glisten like copper flames. One loose curl fell lazily across her cheek and he swept it tenderly aside. Matt gently laid Kitty's arm back to her side and eased down beside her, careful not to awaken her.

The Marshal's gaze traveled the length of his wife and he could feel his body beginning to hunger for hers. With the gentlest of touches, he laid his hand atop the mounding belly. Once the morning sickness had subsided, she had become a slave to her sensual desires. It was as if being pregnant intensified everything and she couldn't get enough.

Kitty stirred, softly emitting a tiny whimper and Matt felt a burning deep in his loins. Suddenly there was movement under his hand, bringing a smile of pride to his lips. He leaned down, placing a kiss to the shifting form. His huge hands continued to stroke the movement, "You better not wake your mother," he whispered.

"He already has..." When sleepy, Kitty's voice took on a deep, smoky quality that made Matt ache for her. She laced her fingers together and extended them up above her head, stretching her body. "Think you can help me get back to sleep, Cowboy?"

"I think I might be able to help." Matt leaned down; lips found lips, as they hungered for each other. While his tongue explored the sweetness of Kitty's mouth, his hand began to undo the buttons on the shirt. When he had released them all, he laid the material open, completely revealing his wife's naked body. His hands slid over her breasts, caressing their fullness.

Matt flicked his thumb across a nipple and a breath caught in her throat. He rolled Kitty over onto her side and spooned himself around her—sliding his hand underneath her thigh, reveling in the sensation of muscle cloaked in silken flesh. Lifting it slightly, he let his fingers explore until they unearthed the tiny bud hidden within the patch of copper curls. He pinched it ever so softly between his thumb and forefinger, causing her to body convulse. He continued to manipulate it, eliciting soft moans and cries of ecstasy. In a weak and fragile voice, she called his name, begging for him to complete her. By now his body was also screaming to be satisfied, He held her against himself and began to push into her again, slow at first, then faster, as their bodies demanded more. They climax hard, leaving them both breathless and both satisfied.

Kitty rolled over, snuggling in close and cocooning their baby between them. He felt her shiver when a breeze drifted through the window. Pulling the shirt she had been wearing back together, he began to button it and said, "You should wear my clothes all the time, Kitten. These buttons sure fit my big meaty fingers better than those dainty ones on your clothes." He finished with the shirt and pulled the cover up over her. "Sleepy now?"

Her answer was jumbled into a yawn, but it was obvious she was sleepy. He tucked her in closer to himself and they drifted off to sleep with a shared thought. "I love you more."

TBC