Trip to Murder Conclusion
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Despite his best efforts to corral her and keep her in bed, Sheridan found himself instead, pacing with the anxious red head from one end of the tiny room to the other, always keeping an eye on the door, praying it would open soon and their nightmare of the last few days would be over.
When at last it did creak open, Matt stood there, a worried frown on his face. "Dr. Sheridan, can I ask your assistance?"
"Of course," Sheridan answered. "What's wrong?"
"What happened?" Kitty came up beside him, worriedly scanning his body for new wounds. "Are you okay?"
"Calm down, Kitty." Matt reached for her arm, as Sheridan grabbed his jacket and his bag, and came up beside him. "I'm fine. Not a scratch on me but Sean's been hurt. It's not too bad. In fact he refused any help what so ever. He's upstairs right now, helping Timothy lock the men up that we arrested. I just thought it wouldn't hurt if he was checked out."
Studying his face for a second, Kitty practically collapsed into his arms, tears she'd been refusing to shed, escaping down her cheek. "I was so worried." She sobbed.
Sheridan gave her a sympathetic glance as he stepped past them to the door. "Marshal, I'll go upstairs and have a look at young Mr. Flannery. I believe you have more important things to attend to here."
Matt nodded as he cradled Kitty close and led her back over to the cot. For several long moments, neither one spoke nor felt the need to. The past few days had been harrowing for them but it was now over and they would be free. All they wanted to do right then was savor the moment with each other.
When Kitty's tears finally subsided, she pulled back and looked up at him. "I was so scared, Matt. I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you. I couldn…"
"Kitty," Matt silenced her with a soft kiss. "I can't promise you, I'll never die. But I can promise you, I'll do everything in my power to stay alive and by your side as long as possible. I kinda like the lady I share my heart with."
Kitty looked up him with a half smile. "Only kinda?"
"Well," Matt returned the grin and upped it one with a longer kiss. "Maybe a little more than that."
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Four weeks later, Matt and Kitty stood at the train station, waiting to board for their return trip home. They decided not to tempt fate and ignored the idea of a stage trip home. Their original two week stay, had by necessity, been extended to give Kitty and Matt both time to recuperate and deal with the legal issues that arose from their ordeals.
Thanks to the files Kitty had found and the information already complied by Sean, as well as the additional paperwork and testimony given by Peat, Owens was swiftly tried and convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of James Peat and Sean's father, Captain Sean Flannery, Sr. The other corrupt officers, working with Owens, were handed down varying sentences depending on how deeply involved they were.
Being able to afford better attorneys than the others, the formerly esteemed senator and Frank Peat had managed to get their trials delayed and justice postponed for a while longer. But whether they ever spent time behind bars or not, it was pretty much a forgone conclusion that the life they'd had previously, was over.
Kitty, of course, testified in Owens trial and signed numerous depositions as to what had befallen her since that fateful day she had stepped into the warehouse. Matt had done the same and both were assured that once they returned home, they would not be forced to come back and testify should they ever get the senator and Peat in front of a jury.
Herman confessed to putting poison in the water bottle and owned up to the fact that he had told Owens that Sean was involved with the Dodge City couple. But, as Sean suspected, he had done those evil deeds under complete duress. Owens had threatened to have his son killed in prison, should Herman fail to help him.
His coming to the house, and warning them, had been an attempt to mitigate the harm he had done. He had hoped they would leave and never come back.
When they had appeared back at this restaurant he had taken the desperate measure of putting something in their water. His real intentions were not to kill, however. He had thought, they would merely be sickened and, having no other recourse, seek medical help, which would attract the police to them and away from him and his son. The knowledge that Kitty almost died by his actions, weighed heavily on the old man.
In light of his situation, and the fact that she genuinely was fond of Herman Schneider, Kitty refused to press charges against him or testify against him. He was arrested but given probation instead of jail time. Sean promised to keep an eye on him and help him to deal with the enormous amount of guilt he felt.
Dr. Sheridan, having never been actually charged with anything, returned to his practice with a newfound respect for the people who made their lives in frontier towns like Dodge City. He had never known people, like Matt and Kitty, who could endure such trouble and still come out smiling and ready to face whatever else was tossed at them.
Before the both of them got ready to leave, Sheridan insisted on giving them a final examination. His report to Matt's superiors was succinct and clinical in its wording. "Marshal Matthew Dillon appears to be in superb physical health and ready to return to his duties as constable for Ford County, Kansas."
The report he gave to anyone else, when he spoke of the gallant US Marshal and his beautiful and brave companion, was much different. Anytime he referred to them, it was always with a certain amount of awe, affection and admiration for the two. He determined both publically and privately that he'd never met two finer people than the lawman and his lady.
Sean Flannery, Jr. agreed with the good doctor. Though he knew how very much Kitty loved Matt, he had still been a bit smitten with her; something he doubted would change anytime soon. But watching her as she stood beside her man and watching the way the man held her arm and looked softly into her eyes, he knew they belonged to each other.
Stepping up on the platform, he put a hand out to Matt and gave Kitty a quick hug. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to thank you two for all you've done." He smiled at them. "But if there ever is anything you need…"
"You helped us as much as we helped you." Kitty reminded him. "If not for you, me and Matt could be in jail for murder right now or worse."
Sean shook his head. "It sure was a mess." He sighed.
"Yes, it was." Matt agreed. "But it worked out in the end. The murderer has been caught, crooked business men and politicians as well police are in jail and the right man has been named Captain." Matt reached over and tapped the Captain's bars on Sean's uniform.
"Well, I don't know if I'm the right man or not." Sean shrugged. "But I can promise you, I'm gonna do my best. At least I won't be totally on my own. I have Timothy to help me as well as others."
Matt nodded. "I have a feeling your best will be plenty good enough. You're a good man."
"I agree," Kitty smiled at him as she rose on tiptoes and placed a kiss on his blushing face.
"All Aboard!" The conductor could be heard calling from the entrance of the train as he waved a hand. "All aboard for parts west."
"Well, that's us." Matt said, reaching out his hand once again to Sean. "You take care of yourself, Flannery. And if you ever get to Dodge, stop and look us up."
"I will do that, Marshal. And if you're ever back here, the same goes for me." He smiled, giving another short hug to Kitty, before she and Matt climbed aboard the train and disappeared from his view.
After finding their seats and getting settled, Kitty sighed as she laid her head on Matt's shoulder. "I'm gonna miss him, you know?"
Matt arched a brow. "Oh?"
Kitty grinned at his expression. "You know what I mean. He truly was a friend to us when we really needed one."
Matt nodded, and shifted slightly to wrap his arm around her shoulder. "Yeah, he was. But then so was Dr. Sheridan and that young Timothy fella. I'll always be grateful to them for what they did for you. If they hadn't…"
"Stop that." Kitty sat up and looked at him, a grave expression on her face. "It's over, Matt and I'll tell you what you told me. You said you couldn't promise how long you'd live, but you promised to stay alive as long as…"
"Possible and by your side as long as possible." Matt finished the sentence for her. "And I meant that, Kitty. But my job is inherently dangerous. It's a real possibility I could die any day. But you shouldn't be a part of that. You should never be in that kind of danger."
Kitty took a deep breath. "Matt," she said as patiently as she could. "What happened to me here had nothing to do with your job. I would've still stumbled on that murder and still been in danger from Owens without your badge having anything to do with it. Don't you see? You can't protect me from everything by pushing me away."
Matt shifted his gaze away from her, clearly uncomfortable with that thought.
But Kitty wasn't willing to give up the conversation just yet. Placing her hands on the side of his face, she gently turned his eyes back to hers. "Danger, or no, all that matters is that we're together. Whatever happens to me, or you, we can face it as long as we face it together."
Matt studied her face for a second as he raised a hand and tucked a small strand of russet hair behind her ear. "By golly, I believe you're right, Miss Russell." A twinkle came into his eyes as he bent his head and brushed her lips with a soft kiss. "That really is all that matters. But I want you to promise me something."
"What?" Kitty tilted her head with an arched brow.
"Promise me, you won't go into any more warehouses alone anytime soon." He grinned broadly.
Kitty broke out into laughter. "I promise, Marshal Dillon. From now on, I will only go in, if you're there with me."
Matt joined her in the laugh as he settled against the back of his seat. "Deal. Now let's go home where we belong. This trip was murder."
The End