Chapter 14 The Plan

*Author's Note: I want to thank "Guest" for your review (May 18th). I am so glad that you're enjoying the story.

Arizona Desert

They were two or three miles out into the desert, when Matt brought the horses to a halt. Mike's ranch was north of town. Matt drove the opposite direction of Mike's ranch. Matt thought it would be best to do so. After bringing the horses to a halt, and setting the brake, Matt focused his attention on Kitty. He noticed the tears in her eyes and it completely broke his heart. Matt absolutely hated to see Kitty crying, especially when he knew he was the cause.

"Kitty, talk to me," said Matt. "Tell me what I can do to make things right. You know how much I hate to see you cry. It tears at me something fierce."

"I don't know what to do, Matt," Kitty sniffled. "I'm so torn on what to believe. Part of me wants to believe that you didn't sleep with Mike Yardner and that you're not the father of her baby. But then I see evidence stacked against you, and there's another part of me that believes you could be the father."

"Kitty, Doc didn't say that he thought I was the father," reminded Matt.

"True, but he didn't say that he thought you weren't the father," Kitty pointed out. "To me, that's almost like saying he thinks there's a possibility you could be the father. If he thought for sure you weren't the father, he would've said so." Kitty was quiet for a moment. "What did you want to talk about? I mean I know you want to talk about Mike's accusation. But what specifically do you want to talk about?"

"We need a plan," Matt answered.

"A plan? What do you mean by a plan? Are you saying that you think it's possible the baby's yours?" Kitty asked, her questions coming one right after the other.

"Kitty, I can deny that I slept with Mike or that I'm not the father until I'm blue in the face, but I'm never gonna convince Mike that none of it's true," said Matt. "You and Doc may believe me, but Mike won't."

"Isn't it enough that your own wife believes you?" asked Kitty.

"A part of you believes me," Matt reminded her. "I don't know what Mike expects from me. No, I take that back. I do know what she wants from me. Without an ounce of doubt, she wants me to stay here with her. She wants me to marry her and raise the baby with her."

Kitty was suddenly starting to panic. Was Matt about to tell her that his plan included staying in Arizona, marrying Mike Yardner, and helping Mike raise the baby? Did Matt feel he had no choice? Kitty hoped that Matt didn't already have a plan all set without telling her.

There was an even bigger question. How did Matt plan on marrying Mike, if he was still married to Kitty. In order for Matt to marry Mike, he would have to get a divorce from Kitty. Divorce was one thing Kitty would not consider. She loved Matt with all her heart to just give him to Mike Yardner.

"Is that your plan to marry Mike Yardner?" Kitty asked. Her temper was starting to heat up. "Because let me tell you something, Matt Dillon. I have no intention of giving you up to that manipulating, little hussey."

"Kitty, are you serious?" Matt asked with shock. "Do you really think I planned on marrying Mike Yardner? Kitty, you are my one and only. Marrying Mike Yardner never crossed my mind."

Relief flooded through Kitty. She threw her arms around Matt and looked into his eyes. "You had me worried. So, what's your plan?"

"You know my reasons for not marrying you, but then doing so secretly," Matt said. Kitty shook her head yes. "Okay, so I was thinking I could convince Mike I can't marry her because it would be too dangerous for her and the baby to be associated with me."

"I don't know, Matt," said Kitty, her voice full of doubt. "Something tells me Mike isn't going to go for that."

"I think it will, if I let her know people could use her and the baby to get revenge on me. I'll make her believe that it would devastate me if anything happened to her and the baby, and that's why I can't be seen living with her and the baby. I'll tell her I'll make trips out here to see the baby," said Matt. He was hoping Kitty would agree with this plan.

"Why do you have to make trips out here?" asked Kitty. The minute she asked the question Kitty knew the answer. "Never mind. We don't want her to make any trips to Dodge City with a baby that she claims is yours. It might also help if you offer her financial support."

"True, but I can't offer too much," said Matt.

"We can offer her financial support," Kitty offered.

"You'd be willing to do that?" Matt questioned.

"If it meant keeping that deceitful woman out of Dodge, I would," Kitty replied.

Matt took Kitty's hand and looked into her eyes. "Thank you. You know one thing that doesn't make sense to me is that I can remember no other man coming to the ranch, but I can't supposedly remember sleeping with Mike. You would think that if I could remember the first thing, then I should be able to remember the second thing."

"Yeah, I see your point," stated Kitty. "But Mike or even other people could say you're lying about what you remember and don't remember."

"Listen. It's getting pretty chilly out here. You must be getting cold. These deserts cool right down once that sun sets. Let's ride back into town," said Matt as he unhitched the brake.

"Sounds good," Kitty agreed. "There is a nip in the air."

Kitty snuggled close to Matt, weaving her arm around his. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Kitty liked the plan Matt had offered. With Matt's plan, it kind of gave them control over this whole nightmare. Now Matt would be playing with Mike's emotions to get what he wanted. Kitty just prayed that Mike would agree to the plan. She prayed that Matt could convince Mike it would be dangerous to her and the baby for him to stay at the ranch and be a family.

Matt never had to convince Kitty how dangerous he thought it was for him to be married and have a family with her. Kitty could see it in his steel blue eyes. She saw the love and concern for her in his eyes. Matt's eyes were truly the window to his soul, and he opened that window up to Kitty. He opened that window up to his soulmate.

There was one thing with the plan that did concern Kitty. She was concerned that if Matt made multiple trips to see Mike and the baby, then he might grow attached to the baby and even Mike, and want to stay. Matt might come to the realization that he actually likes having a family and want to stay. He might even give up his badge for them.

That made Kitty shutter. She couldn't possibly let that happen. Kitty decided right then that she would never let Matt go and see Mike and the baby by himself. She would make the trips with him. Besides, people might think it peculiar if Matt was making repeated trips to Arizona.

Matt felt Kitty shutter. "Are you okay?"

Kitty didn't want to say the real reason why she shuttered. "I'm fine. I just got a chill."

"Town's just up ahead," said Matt. "When we get there, we'll grab a bite to eat and then head to the hotel. If Doc's still awake when we get to the hotel, we can tell him our plan."

"Something tells me Doc won't go to bed until he knows we're back," said Kitty. Matt agreed with her.

When they got back into town, Matt returned the wagon. After returning the wagon, Matt and Kitty went to get supper at the Cactus Cafe. They each had a steak dinner. While eating, nothing about the plan or Mike Yardner was mentioned. Matt and Kitty both knew that the cafe was not the place to talk about that. They decided they would go to Doc's hotel room after they finished eating.

A half an hour later Matt and Kitty finished their meals and walked back to the hotel. Kitty told Matt that she wanted to freshen up before they went to Doc's room. So, before heading to Doc's room, Matt and Kitty made a quick stop to their room. Their room was right across from Doc's room.

Doc could hear the door across from his room open and close, indicating Matt and Kitty had returned. He was very curious to find out what had taken place between the two of them. However, he didn't know whether or not he should go to their room and bother them. Doc didn't have to decide too long. There was a knock on the door. He got up and went to open the door. As expected, Matt and Kitty were standing there.

"Doc, do ya mind if we come in?" asked Matt. "We'd like to share the plan we're gonna try to use on Mike."

"By thunder, of course come in," said Doc, stepping back so Matt and Kitty could enter. "I've been sitting here wonderin' what was goin' on between the two of you."

Matt, Kitty, and Doc sat in Doc's hotel room while Matt and Kitty told Doc about their plan. During that time, Kitty told Matt that she planned on making the trips with him. She didn't tell him all her reasons. The only reason she gave him was that she thought the people of Dodge might find it peculiar that Matt was making multiple trips to Arizona, especially since Arizona wasn't part of his Marshal territory. Luckily for Kitty, Doc agreed, making it hard for Matt to argue.

"I think it sounds like a decent plan," said Doc. "Let's hope Mike agrees."

"We'll find out tomorrow," said Matt. He said we, knowing that Doc and Kitty would accompany him.

TBC