The Rescue 30

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February fourteenth was in appearance, from the outside, the same as the day before and most likely the day yet to come. But to the people at the Trading Post it was a great deal more. It was the day Matt and Kitty said their vows and put their already completely joined futures under one name. The name of Dillon.

Matt had suggested that perhaps they should use assumed names, but Kitty refused that idea. Matt had, she rightly observed, done nothing remotely wrong and his name bore no shame. It was a good name and one she wanted her child to carry and be as proud of as she was.

The day chosen for the nuptials was more pragmatic than romantic. Though secretly, she was pleased as well that her wedding day would coincide with the most loving day of the year. However, the morning of her big day, Kitty wasn't so sure she'd even be physically able to attend her own wedding.

She woke that morning, as she did most mornings, nauseous and weak. But she pushed past her physical limitations and made herself get up. She was not going to mess this day up by being sick. Maizie had given her a dress and was going to loan her some shoes and with a little makeup, she was going do her best to be presentable enough to marry the man of her dreams. That was, if her baby would let her have a few hours of peace.

Laying her hand gently on her widening middle she looked down to the child that would soon be and spoke softly. "Now listen here, little one. Mama and papa are going to get married today and I need you to behave. Okay? You settle down and maybe we can do this right."

Just as she finished speaking, the baby lightly kicked once more and then was still, as in answer to her plea. Smiling, she sat down and gently rubbed her stomach. "Thank you, baby."

Just then a light tap came at the door and Maizie poked her head in. "Came to see if you needed any help."

Kitty nodded. "All I can get. It's been a while since I've worn much more than jeans and Matt's shirt. And I haven't put makeup on since forever."

"Well, if you go by that big man that loves you, you never need to wear makeup." Maizie grinned. "But I understand. Today is your day and you want it to be special. And we're going to do everything we can to make it that way."

Kitty looked down ruefully at Matt's too big shirt and her expanded waistline and shook her head. "I may take more work than you know."

Maizie shook her head. "Nonsense. Now, I finished the alterations on the dress and I'm pretty sure it will fit you just fine. Even pregnant, you're smaller than I am. For shoes, I brought a pair of mine and a pair of Constance's. Hopefully one of them will fit you. As for makeup, I have some but not much. But then like I said, you don't need much. You are a beautiful woman, Kitty."

Kitty shook her. "I thank you, Maizie. But I'm not so sure about that."

Maizie laughed as she gave her friend a hug. "I am and even more importantly, so is the man you're marrying. So what do you say, we make you realize it too."

As the women began the process of getting ready, Matt stood in the front of the trading post building and looked out the window at the still falling snow, a cup of coffee in his hand, thinking about what the day would hold.

He had, of course, risen at dawn. Needing to burn off nervous energy, he had gone outside, helped Buster and Festus with the animals, chopped wood and carried in several arm loads. When time for the ceremony came closer, he stepped into Doc's room and got himself as ready as he would ever be.

Though his clothing choice was limited to what he had on and a borrowed tie from Percival. Matt had actually taken a bath of sorts and spent several minutes slicking back his hair and dabbing on a small amount of cologne that Buster had loaned him.

To his mind, he would never be a handsome man, as he saw flaws in every facet of his physical appearance. But he knew that Kitty did not see the same image that he held of himself and that she loved him. To the man who thought he'd never have a family, or ever want one, that was all that mattered.

"He shore does look scared." Festus said with a chuckle and a hand to his chin as he and Doc stood in the back watching him.

But Doc shook his head. "No, he's not scared. Or at least not in the way you mean it. But he is taking an even bigger step than he already has and that does give a man, pause."

"Reckon ya might be right there." Festus agreed. "But Matthew'll be alright. He's a marryin' the most wonderfulsome woman in this whole dang country, don't ya see? He cain't get none better."

Doc smiled and nodded. "Well, that is true and I know Matt feels the same way. And I know him well enough to know that he'd never abandon Kitty, married to her or not. Still, marriage for a man like him, is an awful important undertaking."

"Where's Matt at?" Buster asked as he stepped up beside the two friends.

Doc nodded his head towards the front. "Up there."

Buster looked forward and saw the tall man standing rigidly at the window, a cup held loosely in his hand, untouched. "I talked to the ladies a few minutes ago." He confided. "That little girl is lookin' mighty pretty and is about ready to waltz down the aisle, that is, if he is."

Doc smiled. "I think he is." Turning to Buster, he placed a hand on his new friends arm. "You tell Kitty he'll be ready when she is." Glancing over at Festus, Doc took a swipe of his mustache and walked to where Matt stood, clearing his throat to warn him of his approach.

"Looks awful cold out there." Doc observed as he looked out the window at the snow covered landscape.

Matt nodded. "Yeah."

"You thinking about going out into it?" Doc's gray blue eyes watched him closely.

Matt looked down and shook his head. "No. No, I'm tired of being out in the cold, Doc. I want to be where it's warm from now on." Raising his head, he looked over at Doc. "I don't know what the future's gonna hold for either one of us. And I know her getting pregnant wasn't the best idea for two people in our situation but in a way, it was the best thing that could've ever happened. It forced me to think."

Doc took a swipe of his mustache. "Uh, huh. And what did your astute mind come up with?"

"It made me think of how lucky a man I am and how happy I am, regardless of the circumstances." Matt grinned at him.

Doc nodded with a grin of his own. "Good, than what do you say, we make that happiness official, huh? Buster tells me she's ready if you are."

Matt sat the cup on a nearby table. "I'm ready."

But Doc stopped Matt as he turned. "Here," he said as he placed a small black box in Matt's hand.

Matt looked down to see the ring that Doc had won a couple of years prior in a promotion from a whiskey company. Startled he looked up at the grin on Doc's face. "How…."

"When I got that wire from Festus, I figured this just might come in handy sometime." He closed Matt's hand over the box with both of his. "Remember, I said there was fair damsels and brave knights. I meant you two when I said it, Matt. I'm just glad I didn't have to wait as long as I thought I would to give it to you."

Matt stood silently for several seconds overcome with emotion. Finally he nodded. "Thank you, Doc. I promise, I will try to live up to that."

Doc shook his head. "You already have. Now let's go find your fair damsel."

TBC