There's no love, like your love

And no other could give more love

There's nowhere, unless you're there

All the time, all the way

"(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" Sung by Bryan Adams, written by Bryan Adams, Robert John 'Mutt' Lange and Michael Kamen

Chapter 18

Three days later, the Dillon's buggy drove into Dodge City, its mud-caked wheels barely turning by the time it reached Grimmick's stable. "Afternoon, Hank," Matt said to the thin old man who shuffled out to meet them. "Can you take care of the horses for me? I'll be back later to collect our things and try to clean that mud off."

"Sure thing, Marshal," Hank said as he watched Matt step down carefully from the buggy, then turn to help Kitty out. "Mrs. Dillon," he greeted her, touching the brim of his hat.

"Hello, Hank," she said, giving him the briefest of smiles. Matt put his arm around her.

"Much obliged, Hank." As they walked away, Hank heard the Marshal ask his bride, "Are you sure you're up to walking…" Come to think of it, Miss Kitty-er, Mrs. Dillon did look a mite peaked. So did the Marshal. The two of them must have had quite a honeymoon, he reckoned. He stood watching them awhile longer, wondering why they were going in the direction of the telegraph office and not the Long Branch, the Dodge House, or even the jail. Well, more than likely the Marshal had to let Washington know he was back in town, he decided, turning to lead the Dillons' horses into the stable.

At the telegraph office, Matt interrupted Barney, having Sunday dinner with his family in their living quarters in back, to send a wire to Washington DC.

"Can't this wait until tomorrow, Marshal?" asked Barney, after the usual pleasantries about the Dillons' return to town had been exchanged. "I'm really only open for emergencies on Sunday."

"No, it can't!" Matt growled. "It should have been sent out weeks ago!" He pulled Kitty closer to him as he handed Barney the message, giving notice of Matt's resignation effective two weeks from that day, that they had worked on together before leaving their honeymoon cabin.

Barney raised his eyebrows as he read it. "And just remember that's confidential information!" Matt added with a steely gaze.

"Of course, Marshal," Barney said nervously as he began to transmit the message. He'd sent other resignations from Marshal Dillon in the past, but he had a feeling this would be the last one, based on his recent marriage to Miss Kitty and the talk surrounding it. If Mrs. Dillon's appearance at that moment was any indication, the rumors might well be true, for her face had a slightly greenish tinge under her makeup and she looked as if she were about to- "Is your wife all right, Marshal?"

Matt took one look at Kitty and wasted no time. "Barney, we've been traveling all day and haven't had lunch yet," he barked as he guided Kitty toward the door. "If you get a reply on that today, we'll be staying at the Dodge House."

"Are you hungry or sick?" he asked Kitty as they walked away from the telegraph office.

"A little of both," she said. "I think I'll feel better if I eat something."

"Well, then, I'll take you to Delmonico's."

"Just so it's not catfish stew," Kitty amended, trying to will her stomach not to turn over at the thought.

Delmonico's was empty as the waiter greeted them. Cutting off what was sure to be a long welcome back speech, Matt said shortly, "Just bring out whatever you've got in back, Joe, as long as it's not catfish stew. Kitty needs to eat something right away. And get her a cup of tea."

Joe had heard the rumors as well, and asked no questions as he turned toward the kitchen. "Just have a seat anywhere, Marshal."

Matt pulled out the nearest chair for Kitty and sat down himself after making sure she was comfortable. Kitty touched his arm lightly. "Matt, there's no need to order people around like they were outlaws. I know you have better manners than that."

"Sorry, Kitty. I guess I'm just mad at myself. I should have gotten you a room before I went to the telegraph office."

"Well, that's as much my fault as it is yours. I did make you promise to go there as soon as we got back to town."

"Yes, you did. But I still should have remembered to get you something to eat. I didn't think it would take us as long as it did to get back, with all that mud." He shook his head. "I promised Doc I'd take care of you, but nothing has gone right since the wedding. I guess I'm a better marshal than I am a husband."

"It's not Doc you need to make happy, it's me, and you've been wonderful. Stop blaming yourself, Matt. Nothing that's happened was your fault. Well, you did give me this baby, but I hope that's not one of the things you think has gone wrong."

"Of course not."

"And I'm feeling much better since we sat down, so you can just quit your worrying. Here comes Joe with our food."

"The cook didn't have anything ready yet, but the chicken soup was just made today." Joe set a bowl of soup in front of each of them, along with a pot of tea and two cups. "Would you rather have coffee, Marshal? And the cook is working on supper if you want anything else."

"Thanks, Joe, the tea's fine. Why don't you bring me a steak and whatever you've got to go with it. Do you want anything else, Kitty?"

"The soup's fine for now," she told Joe, "but can you wrap up a couple of sandwiches for us to take along? Oh, and Joe?" Kitty gave Matt a sidelong glance. "The Marshal's sorry he was so grumpy when we came in. We're both tired from our trip home, and he wants you to know he appreciates you bringing this out so fast."

Matt rolled his eyes at this. "Yeah."

"You're welcome, Marshal, Mrs. Dillon."

"If it isn't the newlyweds! When did you two get back in town?" Doc stood in front of them.

"Afternoon, Doc! Why don't you join us?" Kitty smiled at Doc and Matt noticed with some relief that her face was returning to its normal color.

"Hello, Doc! Pull up a chair. We just got back."

"Well, now what's happened to the two of you?" Doc asked, noting their bedraggled appearance. "You look like something the cat dragged in!"

"Well, I'll tell you, Doc, we'd have been better off trying to drive through all that snow than the mud we had to get through after it all melted. We kept getting mired down, even with Buck hitched to the buggy instead of Lady, and he wasn't too happy about that, believe me. I must have had to get out and push a dozen times."

"We were just coming to see you, Doc, after we got done eating," Kitty said in between spoonfuls of her soup. Matt looked at her in surprise. We were? "Matt had an accident a few days ago cutting wood. You ought to have a look at it, make sure he didn't break anything open pushing the buggy, especially with all that mud he got into."

Matt scowled. "Well, fine, but first he's gonna look you over and make sure you didn't do any permanent damage to your back and shoulder."

Doc looked at both of them incredulously. "What in thunder happened out there? What about your back and shoulder?" he asked Kitty.

"She got hurt helping me into the cabin."

Doc sputtered incoherently and his face turned red. He scrubbed at his mustache furiously. "Kitty, if you're finished with your soup, I'd like to see you up in my office, if you don't mind," he said calmly. Too calmly.

"Sure, Doc," she said, starting to get up from the table. Matt stood to help her with her chair.

"Doc, I think it can wait until we're both done here. I've got a steak coming."

"Oh, stay here and eat your steak. I'll deal with you later!" Doc stomped out of Delmonico's without a backward glance at either of them.

Kitty raised her eyebrows. "He'll deal with you later?"

"Something tells me I'd better come along with you now," Matt said, scowling again. He threw some money on the table, calling "Joe, I'll be back in a while for that steak!"

"You did what?"

Matt had been waiting for at least half an hour while Doc examined Kitty in the other room, presumably getting the whole story from her as well, or at least as much as he was willing to listen to. From the sound of things, it was time for him to intervene. He threw open the door in time to hear Kitty trying to reason with him. "What was I supposed to do instead, Doc? Pull him up into the buggy? Or ride into town and maybe get thrown somewhere while he bled to dea-" Kitty started crying then and Matt pulled her into his arms.

"That's enough, Doc!" Matt snarled. "You all right, Kitty?"

She nodded, wiping her eyes. "Yeah," she said quietly.

"You don't have any reason to talk to Kitty that way! If you have something to say about what happened out there, you say it to me! You told me not to go upsetting her but you sure don't have a problem doing it." In spite of his harsh words to Doc, Matt's hands on her back were gentle and soothing. How did he do that? Kitty wondered.

"Well, as a matter of fact, I do have some things to say to you!" Doc bellowed, his face livid. Matt gently pushed Kitty out of the way and stood facing Doc.

Kitty was horrified. Doc was as angry as she'd ever seen him, and Matt was close to reacting as he had any time a cowhand got too insistent with her at the Long Branch. In a minute the two men she loved most in the world were going to come to blows over her unless she did something to stop it.