Matt

Matt stormed into town with the names of 4 locations on his lips, and raced to the telegraph office. His first wire went to his superiors in Washington DC. He got an immediate response. It was time to organize, and it was up to him. Hot, tired, covered with trail dust and stained with the blood of the boy he just buried, Matt steeled himself for a long night. Scribbling on the telegraph office pad, as fast as he could think, he ripped off pages and handed them to Barney. "I need you to send these right away, and then they'll be more." He wrote telegrams to just about every lawman in the territory – organizing, giving instructions, building enough manpower to descend on four, separate hide-outs simultaneously, and crush the Reynolds gang once and for all. Messages flew back and forth. Matt kept notes, tallies and plans on one long sheet of paper, crossing out and re-writing until it would be unreadable to anyone but him. He looked up from writing another message, and saw that Dodge City's long time telegraph man, Barney, was starting to flag. The volume of messages in and out was at least 20 times what he was used to. Matt slipped through the low gate, to Barney's desk and put his hands on the man's shoulders. "It's a lot to handle, I know. I also know when you took this job, more than 15 years ago, you were hoping to be part of something important, sending and receiving messages that made a difference in folks' lives. Well Barney, if we do our job right, here and now, we're gonna save lives and stop a lot of bad things from happening. I know you can do it."

Barney stared into Dillon's eyes. It was true, when he trained to be telegraph operator he thought he'd be doing something important. Turned out, except for wires for Marshal Dillon now and then, most messages were mundane, although he grew to enjoy the gossip he could find in them. This was different, it was a chance to be part of something bigger. "Marshal, I'll keep at it all night, if that's what you need."

Matt gave him a pat on the back. "Let's get it done." He handed Barney another message, before going back to his scribbled notes. In truth, he was fighting his own impulses and frustrations. He'd always been man of action, used to taking risks. That had been his life for more than 20 years. This was different, he was away from the real action, and putting others in harm's way. The thought of sending men to their possible deaths, tied his stomach into knots, but it was what his duty demanded. He had to step back and co-ordinate the effort, so all 4 hideouts could be hit at once.

The tapping of the telegraph machine barely stopped for hours. Finally Matt knew the pieces were in place, everyone ready to go. He also knew his next message would risk the lives of a lot of good lawmen, and the regular folks who joined their posses. His jaw clenched. "Barney, send the same word to all leaders: Go.

It was done. Now the hardest part. Sit and wait. The sitting didn't last for long. Matt started pacing back and forth. An hour later reports came in. 52 men arrested on Spear Hill, 48 rounded up near Colby Caves. A posses found 42 at Red Dirt Cove, and the Shelby sheriff and his men surrounded a whopping 64. Two hundred and six men were stopped from joining together, and going on the worst crime spree the west had ever seen. Matt let out a long slow breath. "Barney, you deserve a medal." The tired operator beamed. "Marshal, these last two wires just came in."

"Thanks Barney, fine job, go get some rest." Barney nodded with a proud smile. He had a great story to tell anyone who'd listen, when he got up in the morning. Matt stepped out of the telegraph offices and looked at the two final wires. One was from Washington DC and said simply: Well done, Marshal Dillon. †he other came from the sheriff of Shelby. Two Reynolds brothers escaped, may be headed your way. All other gang member secured. Matt shoved the wires into his pocked. He could handle two men. He left telegraph office feeling fulfilled but empty, the one person he needed share the whole thing with, had left Dodge, left him, and wasn't coming back.

St. Louis

With a diamond ring sparkling on her finger, John and Kitty, walked home from the park hand and hand. "Kitty, I know we just got engaged, but I am a man who likes plan ahead, so I have some thoughts."

Kitty smiled up at him, "Making plans sounds good to me. What are you thinking?"

"Well, I'm hoping to have a relatively short engagement, perhaps 5 or 6 weeks. That way we can have a fall wedding, before the Christmas holiday festivities begin."

That sounds perfect, John. Of course, I'll rely Elmira to help with wedding preparations."

John smiled, "She will love that. Another thing – we'll should start house hunting fairly soon. It might take some time to find exactly what we want." Kitty frowned, "Leave your mother's? Won't she be lonely in that big place by herself?"

"We'll help her figure something out. But it's important that you be the lady of our own home. to decorate, plan parties, chose the servants to hire. Besides we'll need more room for children." He smiled, "I assume you do want children. Johnny would love being a big brother." Kitty nodded, "I'd like that so much, and frankly John I'm not a young girl, as you know, so we should actively work on having a baby as soon as we're married." She smiled slyly. "If you don't mind."John laughed and gently kissed her lips. "I think that can be arranged."

The continued walking arm and arm. He looked at her, eyes glowing with happiness. "Ironic, isn't it my love, that we first drew close looking at business ventures for you to enter into. Now it turns out your foray into business will be short lived. You'll be occupied with planning a wedding and preparing a home, and once we're wed our household and social lives will be in your hands." He lifted her hand and gallantly kissed it. "Out of fairness, you should tell your business partner, sooner rather than later, that you'll be leaving." They reached the front of house, John lovingly took her by the shoulders "Oh Kitty, so many things to look forward to – a wedding, a new home, a growing family." His lips caressed hers, and lingered. When they finally pulled apart, she put a hand on his cheek "I love you John."

The entered the house and went up the spiral staircase, he to his 2nd floor apartment, she to her forth floor room. She closed the door behind her, heart beating with excitement. A wedding, a home, a stepson and, hopefully, more children. There was so much to look forward to. John assumed she'd give up the Sweetwater Cafe, and she wished she didn't have to. She loved the challenges and satisfactions of making a business work. But most married women didn't work outside the home, unless they were poor and had to. It would be a great embarrassment, for a man of John's social status, to have a wife in business, so of course she would conform. Other things would be new to her too. Not having her own money, for one thing. John would pay for house hold expenses of course. But if she wanted to buy a new gown, or a hat she'd have to ask - or maybe he planned to give her a clothing allowance. In either case the whole idea of having to go to John, to be able to spend money, would take some getting used to.

She sat down on the big leather chair, and glanced down at her hand. The diamond was large, the setting beautiful and ornate. She briefly wondered if John picked it out, or if he had the jeweler choose it. Her eyes feel on the red box that sat on the table beside her. Inside was the necklace Matt, and then John had given her. She put her hand on the box and sighed. She'd never feel, for another man, the way she felt about Matt. There was no point pretending otherwise. But she loved John in a different way, and over the years that love would grow. They would have a good life together.. Kitty pushed herself up from the chair, and got into a nightgown. It was plain white, and made of cotton. She got into bed and fell asleep thinking about the future.

TBC