You know my thoughts
Before I open up my mouth and try to speak
You know my dreams
Must be listening when I'm talking in my sleep

I hope you know
I love having you around me don't you know?

"Thankful" Sung by Kelly Clarkson, written by Kelly Clarkson .

Chapter Twenty

In their room at the Dodge House, Kitty prepared to take a bath while Matt lay stretched out on the bed, hands behind his head. "I think I'll wash my hair, too," she said, brushing it in front of the mirror.

Matt sat up. "While you're doing that I think I'll go talk to Festus and Newly, before the news has a chance to get out. If you don't mind," he added.

Kitty put down the brush and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "No, I don't mind, but don't forget this is the last night of our honeymoon, Cowboy. Try not to get so involved in marshaling that you come back way too late. If anything happens just let Festus and Newly handle it, please?"

Matt pulled her close to kiss her goodbye. "I'll do my best, honey."

Kitty sighed as she watched him walk out the door. She guessed that would have to do. It was going to be a long two weeks trying not to worry that something would happen to make him change his mind, or worse.

Matt found Newly and Festus both at the jail office.

Festus looked up from the gun he was cleaning. "Matthew! Just get back into town, did ya?"

"This afternoon. Had to take care of a few things and get Kitty settled in at the hotel."

"Marshal." Newly got up and shook Matt's hand. "We weren't expecting you back until tomorrow. How was your trip?"

"Fine, just fine." He sat down at his desk. "There's something I need to talk to both of you about." He filled both men in on his decision to resign in two weeks' time, telling them he hoped they would stay on as deputy once he was gone.

"Wal, Matthew, thet depends on who t' other fuller is. Cain't see m'self deputyin' for some stuck-up polecat like t' one they sent over t' summer when ya wuz laid up with yer arm. But don't you worry none. I aim to stick around Dodge my ownself an' help you n' Miss Kitty out with th' young'un."

"Young'un?" Matt stared at Festus, sure he hadn't told him about the baby yet.

"Now, Matthew, I know they ain't been no official 'nouncement, but I know blame well yer fixin' t' be a pa. I kin jes' tell the way Miss Kitty looks so happy lately they has to be more to it then jes' gittin' hitched up with you!" That was true enough, but there was also the talk that had been going around town the last few weeks. Festus was content to act like his Haggen sense was what clued him in. Someone else could tell Matthew about the gossip, if they was a mind to.

"All right, Festus, it's true," Matt growled.

"How is Mrs. Dillon feeling?" Newly asked.

"Fine, about like you'd expect at a time like this." Suddenly Matt realized he had the perfect approach to what he had planned to ask them. "There's something you two could do for her, if you can. I'd rather not leave her alone any more than I have to. If you could see to the out of town business, I know she'd be mighty grateful."

"Oh, fiddle, Matthew, you know I'd do anything for Miss Kitty. You don't even hafta ask me!"

Newly grinned. "You can count on me, Marshal. Tell Mrs. Dillon not to worry about a thing."

Festus had finished cleaning and reloading his gun and stood up, holstering it. "I b'lieve I'll go git started with rounds now," he said, heading for the door. "I 'spect you'll be wanting to git back to Miss Kitty, Matthew, so I'll see you tomorrow. Newly, I'll see you directly."

Matt pulled some paper and a pen from his desk and began writing his formal resignation. "Newly, I'm going to recommend you for the job. That is assuming you want it, of course."

"Truthfully, Marshal, I'd have to give it some thought before accepting it. But I'd appreciate the recommendation just the same, if you're still willing to give it."

"I'll do that, "Matt said, nodding. He finished the letter and read it over, making sure the ink was dry before stuffing it into the envelope. "All ready for tomorrow's post."

"Speaking of that, there's your mail. And Miss-Mrs. Dillon's. Festus and I took care of everything official, but it's all there if you want to have a look at it."

"Tomorrow," he said, glancing through the unopened envelopes, which were for Kitty except for one addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Matt Dillon. "I'll take these over to Kitty when I go. Anything happen around here while I was gone?"

Newly suppressed a grin while relating a few minor incidents that had taken place that week. No more than a month ago, those would have been the first words out of the Marshal's mouth when he got back. Of course, a month ago, it hadn't been his honeymoon he was returning from.

Kitty had left the lamp burning for him, but Matt wasn't surprised to see her already asleep, her hair fanned out around her on the pillow to dry, when he returned to their room. He didn't think he'd been gone much over an hour, but he'd forgotten that "way too late" came around earlier in the evening for Kitty than it used to. He debated whether to wake her as he set the mail on the table and started getting ready for bed. Knowing how disappointed she always was when he just let her sleep, he decided he'd better give it a try.

"Mrs. Dillon," he said softly, while kissing her neck and shoulder. "I'm home." Kitty murmured something unintelligible. "Can I get a goodnight kiss?"

"Uh huh," she said, but made no move. Matt decided to try another tactic.

Clearing his throat, he said, "Buy you a drink, Miss Russell?" in his best Marshal's voice.

Kitty sat up, gasping indignantly. "Matt!" Seeing the same little-boy grin on his face he'd had the first time she ever heard those words from him, she started laughing. "All right, I'm awake!"

"Got your attention, didn't I?" He pulled her close for a kiss. "Forgive me?"

"This time," she said softly, returning his kisses. "But only because that was the first thing you said to me after Bill introduced us." Between kisses, she asked him how his visit to the office went.

"Oh, fine, fine. Festus and Newly send their love."

"Oh, I'm sure that's exactly how they put it." Kitty rolled her eyes at him.

"They picked up your mail for you. Want it?" He was still kissing her.

"Tomorrow." Still kissing.

"Well, we got a letter, too."

"We did? You mean, addressed to us both?"

"Yep."

"Matt, why didn't you say so? I want to see that one!" Kitty disentangled herself from his arms and went to the table. The letter in question was on top of the stack. Mr. and Mrs. Matt Dillon.

She sat down on the edge of the bed, staring at it. Matt watched her with amusement.

"You gonna open it, or just look at it all night?" he finally asked.

"Oh," She laughed softly, carefully lifting the flap of the envelope. She started reading and then looked at him, smiling. "It's from Bess!" She finished reading the short letter. "She's sorry she couldn't get back from her brother's in time for the wedding, but she's back now and she's invited us for Thanksgiving dinner! Matt, I completely forgot Thanksgiving is this week!"

"I didn't even think about it at all," Matt said sheepishly.

"Oh, you never do." Kitty looked at him pointedly, but smiled as she continued. "You just show up and eat, if you're even in town instead of running some outlaw around the state."

"I'll be there."

"We'll see," she said, winking at him. She put the letter down on the bedside table and put out the lamp. "Now, where were we?" she asked, snuggling closer to him.

Matt pulled her closer and breathed in the scent of her freshly washed hair. "I think you were right here."