The Rescue 31

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Though they were not in a church, and had no music or all the decorations normally associated with a wedding it didn't diminish the joy of the day or the love felt by all in attendance. While Constance stood off to the side singing a slightly off key version of Beautiful Dreamer, Festus and Matt stood near the counter with Buster and Maizie on the other side pensively waiting.

"You about ready?" Doc asked when he made it back to retrieve Kitty and walk her 'up the aisle' so to speak.

Kitty nodded with only a slight tremble to give away her emotions. "I am." She took a deep breath. "Is Matt…"

"Matt's more than ready." Doc smiled. "I think he's finally realizing what he's been losing out on all these years and doesn't want to lose out on any more."

Kitty looked down before raising questioning eyes to Doc. "I know he loves me, Doc. He's proved that in more ways than one. But are you sure he's doing this because he wants to? I don't want him to feel trapped by me and the baby."

Doc chuckled as he took her hand. "The only thing that ever trapped him was that badge of his. This freed him, Honey. He can now do what he wants to do, what he thinks is right without worry about what the law says. Kitty, he is finally doing what's best for him as well as for you. And no matter what happens from here on in, he and you will be better off together."

Kitty gave him a teary eyed smile as she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Take me to him. Will ya, Doc?"

Out front, Matt tugged at his collar and looked around. Although the Atkins girl was doing her best; her off key singing was getting on his nerves and he was beginning to wonder what was taking so long for Kitty to come out.

Suddenly Constance stopped mid-verse of her solo and looked towards the curtained off area which led to the store room. All eyes turned in that direction to see the curtain pull back and Doc walk through with a vision on his arm.

Kitty was, to just about everyone there, the loveliest bride they had ever seen. Her dress, though not white and lacy was still a very pretty light blue with puffed sleeves and a high waist to accommodate her condition. Her hair was down, tied with a blue ribbon and though she wore makeup, it was not the thick makeup she'd often worn at the Long Branch but just a light amount, meant to accentuate her beauty.

Smiling from ear to ear, Matt stood and watched as Doc guided her towards him and placed her hand into his when they reached his side. "You are so beautiful." He said hoarsely. "God, I love you, lady."

Kitty beamed up at him. "I love you too, Cowboy."

"Unh, huh." Buster cleared his throat and a small laugh was heard as Matt and Kitty turned back towards him.

"We are here today," Buster said using his most authoritative voice and words written down for him by Doc, "to join these two people together in holy matrimony." Smiling at the couple in front of him, he directed his attention to the small group assembled there first. "Who gives this woman to this man?"

"I do." Doc said proudly.

Buster nodded at him as Doc stepped back beside Atkins and his children. Turning back to Matt and Kitty he smiled and looked back down at the paper in front of him before setting it aside and addressing the soon-to-be newlyweds.

"Doc, wrote me a bunch of fine words to say at this time and I'll read em to ya in a minute." He paused, wanting to express his thoughts properly. "But I wanna say this first. I ain't known you two as long as Doc or Festus here, but I know you two are special and I'm pleased as punch to be able to stand here and marry ya up proper. I think you two are some of the finest people I ever met and I know you're gonna be happy."

Matt looked down at Kitty then back at Buster. "We already are." He said softly.

Kitty locked eyes with him and nodded. The only thing she could see right then and the only thing she could hear was Matt. Most of Busters following words were nothing more than a drone in the background. She wasn't really aware of much, until Buster reached out and touched her arm.

"Repeat after me." He said. "That is, if ya don't mind."

Kitty blushed and glanced over at Buster with a slight grin. "Yes, sir."

"I. Kitty, do solemnly swear to take thee Matthew as my lawfully wedded husband…"

After the words had been spoken and the vows were repeated, Buster paused for a moment and looked down at the two people standing before him. All that was left for him to do was pronounce them man and wife. But he had one thing that he needed to say. One thing, he wished he'd had said to him, on his wedding day.

"Now, afore I announce you two as wed, I got a little something I want to say to ya. It's something I knew, figure we all know, but we don't much give it a great deal of thought. But I want you to think about it and I want you to try and always remember it."

Matt and Kitty tore their eyes away from each other and turned to Buster, interested in what he had to tell them.

"Now, I know," Buster continued, "that you two has been together for a while now. You've been on the same road but I figure you weren't always going in the same direction. A few months ago, though, something bad happened. Something that forced you two to head the same way and stick close together."

Matt gave Kitty a reassuring squeeze of the hand when he saw her expression. He knew how painful the whole thing was for her.

Buster did too. "Now, I sure am sorry for that bad stuff, but you two need to remember it. You ain't out of the woods yet and ya got a ways to go afore ya can settle yaselves down somewhere and call it home with no worries. But as long as you two stick together, and as long as ya remember what's important in life, you'll be alright. Don't forget to love each other. Don't forget that the one beside ya is the most important thing in your life. And don't forget to stop ever so often and tell em so. I don't want you to maybe someday wake up and the other'un not be there and you be sorry that you didn't tell em how much ya loved em."

Kitty looked up into the clear blues eyes of the man she loved with tears slowing rolling down her cheek. "I don't want that either." She said. "Oh, Matt, I do love you."

Matt nodded. "I love you too." He answered.

Buster nodded with a satisfied smile. "Just remember to say that often, and you'll be alright." Raising his head, he looked at the others in attendance. "Well, if ain't none of ya got any quarrel with it, then I now pronounce you, Man and Wife. Mr. Dillon you may kiss yer bride."

As their friends gathered around them, Matt and Kitty sealed their union with a kiss.

TBC