PT.14

His Heart Beating in Mine

The house was now quiet. Kitty had fed and put Grace down to sleep. Maggie had offered to stay, if Kitty needed her with all the excitement that had taken place. But Kitty just wanted time alone with Matt and Grace.

Once they were ready to settle in for the night, Matt could tell there was something troubling her, something, he knew, she wasn't saying. She was sitting at her vanity table brushing out her hair, watching him through the mirror. He was watching Grace sleep. Kitty had moved her cradle into her room. After everything that happened she wanted her close by.

Then breaking her silence, "Over a year, Cowboy! Over a year and not a word!"

Now looking up, "Ah, Kit Honey." Now walking towards her, sliding in behind her on the seat, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Honey, I'm sorry but I had… Look, when I realized people thought I was dead, I had to let everyone believe it so I could go on looking for Bonner."

In a hurt and harsh voice, "You could have told me, gotten word to me."

"No, Kit. Honey, for everyone else to believe it, you had to believe it too."

"Matt, do you have any Idea what I was…"

Quickly, he pulled her close. "Sssssshhhhh, I know, Honey. I know and I am so sorry."

"Cowboy, I knew in my heart you weren't gone. I told Doc and Tess you couldn't be gone. I felt it and I'd know and…"

"Honey, you were right. I'm here."

"Cowboy, your heart beats in mine and has for a long time. And then when Grace was born…"

Ssssshhh, come here."

She slowly shifted her around to face him, covering her mouth with his, with a long and passionate kiss. They both just sighed and fell into one another.

As the kiss heated up, Kitty broke apart briefly, staring blue to blue. "Cowboy? Make love to me."

Giving her his famous sheepish grin, he said, "Honey, I thought you'd never ask." Carrying her to the bed. For most of the night, they rekindled what they had lost in the last year or so. Melting into one another, falling into their own world of intimacy, becoming one. No telling where one starts or ends.

Small beams of sunlight streamed through the curtains, stirring one small curly haired little one just enough that she started to squeal. Matt peaked over across the room, seeing the little reddish curls moving around. Quickly, he rushed over and scooped her up, bringing her into the bed, laying her between them.

"There now, that's better." Grace looked up at him smiling as Kitty stirred. "Let's let your momma sleep a little bit. Okay?" Then without warning, a loud laugh came out of Grace. That surprised Matt, which caused him to laugh right along with her. "Well now, you are your momma's girl, aren't you?"

Matt never noticed Kitty watching him. She just sat smiling at him.

He sat playing with Grace's fingers and toes. He leaned in close. "Gracie Honey, you're as pretty as your momma. I'm a lucky man."

Breaking Matt's concentration, Kitty leaned into Grace. "Sweetheart, I think we're the lucky ones. We have this big handsome cowboy all to ourselves." Just then Grace let out another loud laugh!

"Oh, ah, Kit, you're awake?"

"Uh huh."

"I uh… I was just…"

"Uh huh?"

"Well, me and Gracie here were just having a serious conversation."

"Oh I see." Now breaking into a smile. Now Grace was starting to let out small screams. "Poppa, I think that means she's hungry and needs to be changed.

Matt's eyes grew big. "Oh, well, I'll leave you ladies to it and I'll go take care of a few things."

"Where you going, Mister?"

"I told Jackson I'd come down to his office and fill out the paper work this morning. Then, Kit, we need to talk when I get back. OK?"

"I... alright… Matt, don't be too long. And Matt…"

"I know, Kit, I will."

TBC