FLAME SERIES #20 SO SWEET THE SMILE

EPILOGUE CHAPTER 20

Lovers and Friends

"You have a place in my heart no one else could ever have." F. Scott Fitzgerald

Calleigh nestled closer into her husband's arms. "You perform pretty good for a wounded man."

Newly chuckled and pulled her closer. "Well it was my leg that was wounded not my-"

"Point taken." She injected quickly. Calleigh felt his lips brush across her temple and for a few minutes they lay in a comfortable silence.

Eventually Newly broke the quiet interlude. "You're never quiet this long. What's wrong?"

"I was just thinking about Gaith." Calleigh maneuvered around enough to see her lovers face. "His body is healing nicely but…his heart is another story."

"It will heal too. It'll just take a while." Newly could tell she was bothered by more than Gaith's broken heart. "Calleigh. Talk to me."

Heavy lids shielded her from those probing brown eyes. "I was just wondering if – well if it bothers you that I call you my Newly."

"Did Cicely say something?" He figured it was similar to the comment she had made to him.

"She said it made you sound like you were my pet." Calleigh nervously chewed on the corner of her bottom lip.

Newly tilted her face up and wiped the errant curls from her cheek. "I'm going to tell you the same thing I told her. You own my heart and I will be your Newly for as long as you want me." A long and loving kiss followed his confession. He knew there was still another question that had to be asked. "Is that all she said to you?"

Calleigh took refuge in his comforting brown eyes. "She said you were disappointed that I couldn't give you a son."

"Calleigh I nev-"

"Hush." Her small hand covered his lips to silence him. "I know you would never discuss that with her or anyone else. Someone from town…"

Words and thoughts hung in limbo for only a second before the young lovers uttered in unison, "Burke." They laughed together both knowing it wasn't cruelty that motivated the plabber mouth, as Festus so aptly named him. Nathan Burke just had a desperate need to feel important.

Calleigh let her fingers gently trace the smooth lines of the only face she had ever loved. "We both know it's possible but not probable but we never talk about it."

"That's because we don't have to." The young cowboy caressed her with his eyes. "Calleigh, my heart is so full of love for you that I don't have time to worry or fret over something that I don't have. I already have one blessing it would be greedy of me to pray for a second one."

The infamous grin slowly emerged. "I love you Newly O'Brian."

Lady K Lady K Lady K

"Okay both of you little ragamuffins. Kiss your mother goodnight. She needs some rest and you need to be in bed. "

"I want momma to take me to bed."

Cooper uttered the weary sigh of an older brother. "She can't silly. Poppy said he would spank her if she didn't rest cause she still can't breathe good."

Hadley's giggles were muffled behind two tiny hands. "Momma gets in twouble."

"It's not funny Hadley." Cooper scowled at his little sister. "Momma's hands hurt and she is still full of smoke."

"I'll be able to tuck you in real soon." Kitty promised. "Now how about those kisses?"

Kitty glanced up and for just a second loving blue eyes met. It was a brief connection between two people who were destined to be lifelong soul mates. The link was broken when she was suddenly being smothered in kisses by a couple of little Dillons.

"Hey, be careful there." Matt plucked his daughter up from the bed and reached a hand out for his son. "Cooper, let's go. Say goodnight."

One young voice trailed slightly behind the other when bidding their mother a good night. Matt winked at his wife silently mouthing a few words, "Be right back."

His return wasn't quite as quick as he had planned. Hadley had to be told yet again why momma wasn't strong enough to carry her to bed. Then as always, the Marshal of Dodge City balked when the toddler insist he kiss Bootsie goodnight.

Kitty was struggling with the stash of pillows behind her when he entered the room. "I thought I lost you."

Matt crossed the room and gently moved her injured hands out of the way. "Let me do that." With one hand at her back he plumped up the pillows with the other.

"I'm not an invalid you know." Despite her objections Kitty was glad for the help.

"No but you're not a hundred percent yet. Doc was really worried that the smoke had weakened your lungs and pneumonia would set in."

Kitty reached up carefully placing a healing hand to his cheek. "But it didn't and I am breathing just fine. It's been a week Matt. Everything is healing and we need to put this all behind us."

Matt stared at the hand that was resting on his knee. Even though they had begun the healing process, he could still see them encased in blood and soot, riddled with a myriad of wooden slivers. Ironically, he was reminded of how upset he had been when the stranger left a few red marks on her wrist.

More than anything, he wanted to protect this woman. To keep her safe and out of harm's way. But the thing he was continually forgetting was her incredible strength. His gaze had gradually progressed up from her hands to his face. The swelling was finally gone along with the angry redness that had surrounded her brilliant blue eyes.

"Have I mentioned lately how much I love you?"

Kitty offered a seductive smile as she stretched back on the bed. "Did I mention that I'm not an invalid?"

Matt struggled to swallow the lump in his throat. "Honey, I don't know. I don't think Doc would agree with this yet."

She added a coy twist to her smile and began to methodically undo the buttons on her gown. "Well then let's not ask Doc to join us." Bruised but pliable fingers spread the cotton material uncovering a pair of perfectly shaped breasts. "Just you and me Cowboy."

It was no longer the lump in his throat that was causing his discomfort. The shirt was no problem but the pants were stretched so tight he had to struggle to get them off. Matt quickly slid into the cool sheets beside her. "Honey are you sure. I mean I don't want to lay on- oh…oh Kitten."

Kitty instantly silenced his fears when she rolled over burying her Cowboy deep inside. "Oh I am more than sure." She uttered breathlessly. Kitty could sense his ambivalence. She knew he was trying to restrain himself to keep from harming her.

Matt barely had time to process her wicked smile when she arched back, driving him in deeper while her hips rapidly began to undulate. The marshal was lost. Consumed in a world of white hot passion. Their bodies rocked together each pushing the other closer to edge. She was first to tumble over into ecstasy with him only seconds behind.

Sometime later, they lay back side by side, breathless but satisfied. He finally mustered enough strength to raise up on one elbow and kiss his lover. Kitty was curious about his playful smirk.

"What are you thinking?"

"Yeah you were right." He laughed and kissed her again. "It was much more fun without Doc."