The Rescue 27

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Christmas morning dawned bright and early and cold. Matt rolled over in bed to find that Kitty was already up and gone, something he couldn't remember happening since the last time he'd been seriously wounded and she was taking care of him. And other than his leg, which was almost healed, he wasn't wounded.

Worried about her, he got up quickly and got dressed. Exiting their new temporary home, he made his way through the storeroom and into the main body of the trading post. No one was at the counter but he heard noises coming from the Kitchen/dining area. Walking around the corner, he found Kitty and Maizie animatedly talking and laughing while they worked side by side.

"Well, good morning." He greeted them. "You two are up awful early."

"Christmas dinner doesn't fix its self, Matt." Kitty observed. "Maizie and I have a lot to do to have things ready before then."

Matt looked at the food laden tables and chuckled. "You two expecting an army?"

Maizie turned and looked at him with an arched brow. "There are four men, two women and two children here. I hardly think we have too much. Besides part of this is breakfast. We assumed you all would want some."

Matt wanted to argue that there were currently only three men there since Festus was currently out on an errand but he decided against saying anything right then. And anyway, breakfast did sound good.

However his hunger was temporarily forgotten when he heard Kitty hiss in pain and drop the pan she'd been holding. "Kitty, you okay?" He quickly stepped over to her and took her arm, trying to direct her to a chair.

But Kitty pulled back and shook her head. "I'm alright, Matt." She reached up and gently massaged her sore shoulder. "I just moved my arm a little too fast and jarred my shoulder."

But Matt wasn't convinced. "Sit down here, Kitty. You need to take it easy."

Kitty gave him a glare as she backed out of his reach. "I am not helpless, Matt Dillon. I am fine. I just jarred my shoulder a little. Don't treat me like a child."

"Kitty, I am not treating you like a child. I just don't want you hurt anymore. I think you need to take a break and rest." He protested moving towards her again.

"Matt, I am not an invalid." Kitty said through clenched teeth. "Don't treat me like one."

Just then Buster came around the corner, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and looking at them with confusion. "What's going on?" He asked taking in the angry look Kitty was currently throwing at Matt.

Maizie knew what was going on and she had an idea of where this was going. She decided to step in. "Uh, Gentleman, we appear to be running low on firewood. Would you two go out and get us some, please?"

Matt watched Kitty for a moment longer before glancing over at Maizie. He knew what she was doing and figured she was right. He, more than anyone, knew how stubborn his red head could be and he really didn't want to argue with her, especially not on Christmas morning. "Sure." He shook his head. "I'll go get my coat. Come on Buster."

Kitty said nothing as she watched the men go, sorry for her sudden anger but glad Matt wasn't hovering over her any longer. Finally though, when he disappeared from view, she pulled out a chair and sat down with a sigh. Her shoulder was really beginning to throb with the pain radiating down her arm and the burst of energy she'd awoke with, was now almost completely gone.

Maizie shook her head at her with a grin. "You are one stubborn woman, Kitty Russell."

Kitty nodded. "I know. And it's gotten me into trouble a time or two but I hate to be babied. I am not a china doll and Matt knows that."

Maizie shook her head again as she sat down next to Kitty. "No he doesn't, Kitty." She said. "What he knows is that in the last few months you've been hurt in a number of ways and you're now carrying his child. To him you're even more fragile than china and he will do anything to keep you and that baby safe."

Kitty guiltily dropped her head. "Oh, I know he cares about me, more than I deserve. But I've always taken care of myself and it bothers me more than you know to have to depend on anyone, even Matt. I just…" Her words faltered as her tears began and she dissolved into tears.

Maizie reached over and pulled her into a comforting hug, understanding completely the emotions wrapped up in being pregnant and feeling vulnerable when you'd never felt that way before. For several moments the two women sat in silence as one wept and the other comforted.

Finally Kitty pulled away and got to her feet, reaching for a towel to dry her face. "I'm sorry, Maizie. I don't know what came over me. I'm normally not one to just cry at the drop of a hat."

"You're pregnant." Maizie reminded her with a smile. "Pregnancy messes with a lot of things. You'll find yourself doing a lot of things you might not normally do. Including rest more often." She arched brow in meaning.

Sighing Kitty nodded and reached for the apron she had donned. "I guess you're right and I do have to admit, I am a little tired right now."

"Then go lay down for a while." Maizie stood and helped her with the apron and headed her for the door. "We've got most everything done for right now that we can anyway and if I need anything else; I'll get Constance in here. It wouldn't hurt her to learn how to do some of this stuff."

"Are you sure?" Kitty asked. "I feel guilty about sleeping when there's still so much to do."

"Go lay down." Maizie said sternly but without any rancor. "I'll call you if I need you. Otherwise I want you to rest and take care of yourself and that baby. Please?" She added.

Kitty nodded with a sigh. "Alright. I'll go."

Not too long after Kitty left and returned to the back of the building, Matt and Buster came in, arms full of firewood. "Where's Kitty?"

"I finally got her to go lay down and get some rest." Maize smiled at him.

"Good. Festus just got back with her present." Matt told her happily. "He's putting the horses up and will be right in."

Maizie grinned. "Oh, that's wonderful." She told them happily. "Now I know it really will be a good Christmas."

Kitty awoke around noon when Matt sat on the edge of the bed and gently caressed her face. "Hey, sleepyhead." He teased. "Wondering if you'd like to get up and eat something and see your Christmas present."

Kitty sat up with a frown. "Christmas present? Matt, you shouldn't have done that. I don't need anything."

"Well, maybe not, young Lady," Doc said from the doorway. "But I'm here anyway."

Kitty's head shot up and her mouth dropped open in shock as she watched Doc shuffle into the room, a proud grin on his face. "Doc!" She yelled as got up and threw herself into his arms. "Oh, Doc, I missed you." She cried.

For several moments, Doc said nothing as he wrapped his arms around her and just held the woman he thought of his daughter. "I missed you too." He finally mumbled as he pulled away and quickly dashed away a tear. "But I'm here now and I want a look at you. Matt told me what happened to you and about the baby. I want to examine you and make sure you're alright."

Kitty shook her head as she wrapped her arms around him again. "I'm alright now, Doc. I've got everything I want now."

TBC