AN: Thank you readers for sticking with the story. I deeply appreciate it. To the guests who commented, I wish I could thank each of you personally. Whether you liked what I wrote or not, I thank you for your interest.
Matt was quiet as he and Kitty drove from Mary Croft's. After a few minutes, he reached up, unpinned his badge and shoved it into his pocket. Kitty looked at him questioningly but his focus remained resolutely fixed on the road ahead. Neither of them spoke and the silence grew heavy and uncomfortable. An hour went by and Kitty could no longer stand it, "Matt, we have to talk."
"I know."
Glad for the acknowledgement, she went on, "Matt, what are you going to do? You know I'm talking about your badge. Are you going to resign because of Charlie?"
She waited for an answer. It didn't come.
"Matt, remember when I said that when you take that badge off for good, Doc wants it to be for the right reasons?"
He gave an almost imperceptible nod.
"Matt, I want that too. Listen to me. Any lawman would have returned fire just like you did when Charlie started shooting, but few if any would have delivered that note. They wouldn't have seen the point, but you understood. That's what makes you a special kind of lawman, a special kind of man."
Still staring straight ahead, his voice was low, "I guess years of marshalling have taught me some lessons."
She touched his arm, "Hard won lessons."
He took a deep breath, "I guess I've got a couple of years of marshalling still in me."
He looked at her, "Willing to wait a while longer?"
"I'm not waiting Matt."
She watched confusion cross his face.
"I'm not waiting. I'm living. I'm living a life that's rich with people who are dear to me, a business of my own, and best of all the man I love. I'll be more than ready for the next phase of my life when it comes, but in the meantime I'm not waiting, I'm living."
She leaned over and kissed his lips. He pulled the carriage to a stop, took her in his arms and kissed her long and deeply. They smiled at each other and drove on chatting happily. Their occasional moments of silence were the comfortable kind.
They'd almost reached Dodge when out of nowhere Kitty cried, "The Long Branch!"
Matt was startled, "What's wrong?"
"Matt, I left a note giving the Long Branch to Sam. The paperwork was in my safe. All he had to do was bring it to the land office to file change of ownership. I don't own a business anymore."
"Now Kitty, you gave Sam the saloon because you thought you weren't coming back. He'll understand that things have changed."
"Matt Dillon, I will not go back on my word. I'm not the kind of person who takes back what I've given, even if a situation changes."
Dodge
Festus leaned on the bar of the Long Branch as Sam poured him a beer. They'd spent an hour sharing their worries about Kitty Russell and their concern for Matt.
Festus took a long sip, "I jus hope Matthew an ole Doc got ta Miss Kitty afore that yahoo got wedded ta her."
"We did."
Heads turned sharply towards the door. Festus smiled, "Doc, ya ole scudder. When'd ya git back? Matthew an Miss Kitty here?"
"I just got in on the train. Matt and Kitty had something to do but will be back soon. Festus, Matt wants you to do something. Get to the Ronniger farm and tell Billy and Greg that Miller went back to England, and they have one hour to get out of Kansas. If they don't they'll be arrested for conspiring to commit blackmail."
"Hold on Doc, con what?"
Doc was about to repeat himself but thought better of it. "Festus just say that David Miller is gone and if they don't leave now they'll be arrested."
"Don't Mathew want ta actual arrest em?"
"Matt thinks it would be a hard case to prove, so wants them gone and scared enough to stay away. Festus, after that go to Hazel Lake and tell the Ronnigers they can go home."
"I'm on it, Doc."
As Festus hurried out, Doc looked at Sam guiltily, "I have a confession Sam. I saw a note on Kitty's dresser addressed to you and read it. My question is did you?"
"Yes, no."
"Sam that was yes or no question, not a yes and no question, but I'll take your answer as yes. Did you already file for change of ownership at the land office?"
Sam shook his head adamantly, "No Doc. I couldn't accept the idea that Miss Kitty wasn't coming back. I didn't even look at the papers in her safe."
Doc rubbed his mustache, "Sam, I have a feeling that Kitty will want to stand behind what she said in that note."
"I don't want her to. I want to own a business some day, but not this way."
"Sam, we both know that stopping Kitty from doing what she thinks is right is near impossible."
Sam nodded miserably.
Doc thought for a minute, "Where is that note?"
"Right here." Sam reached under the bar and pulled it out. It was heavily creased and stained.
"Sam, I think the best you can do is put it back on Kitty's dresser and pretend you never saw it."
Sam held up the smudged piece of paper, it smelled of beer. "You think she'll believe it?"
Doc sighed, "It's all we've got."
Kitty & Matt
It was after dark when Matt pulled up in front of the Long Branch. "I'll get some men to take your trunks upstairs, then I have to take care of a few things. I'll meet you upstairs later. It's funny, your trunks never even made it out of this carriage."
Kitty squeezed Matt's hand and went in the Long Branch. It was just about closing time and the last few customers were straggling out.
"Hello Sam."
A broad grin crossed the bartender's craggy face, "Miss Kitty, welcome home."
She wanted to be direct and marched over, "Sam, let's get right down to business. What I said in that note still holds. I don't give things and then take them back. This is not up for discussion."
Sam made a show of looking confused. He kneaded his brows and lifted his hands, "Miss Kitty, I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. What note?"
Kitty shook her head. Sam Noonan was the worst liar she'd ever seen. "Sam do you expect me to believe you didn't see the note I left for you?"
Trying for a look of innocence, Sam raised his eyebrows, "I surely didn't Miss Kitty."
Kitty stared at Sam. He stared back without so much as a blink. She had a feeling she was being out played, "Sam, it's time closing time. Let's lock up."
After wiping the counter and locking the doors, Sam said goodnight and went home a happy man. Kitty took the day's receipts to her office. When she opened her safe she saw the documents inside were untouched. She went upstairs. Sure enough the note was on her dresser. It was heavily creased, smudged, stained, and smelled like beer, but it was where she'd left it. Kitty smiled. Her life was indeed filled with wonderful people.
She was unpacking her trunks when she heard a knock. "Come on in Matt."
He walked into chaos. Four trunks were open. Dresses, skirts, blouses, stockings, and undergarments were all over. Kitty was lining up her shoes in the bottom of the closet, looking flushed and happy. Her hair was down and clinging to her face.
Matt smiled and opened his arms, "Come here please."
She rushed into his arms, glad beyond measure to be home really home. He whispered in her ear. "It's awfully late, maybe you can finish unpacking tomorrow."
He unbuttoned her dress and ran his fingers up and down her back.
"Matt I think you're right, and I'm kind of warm aren't you?"
They slowly undressed kissing and touching. Kitty gently placed her hand on Matt's still sore wound, "We have to be careful Cowboy."
He lifted her hand and kissed her palm "Not too careful."
In bed they explored each other's bodies, knowing what they'd almost lost. He entered her and they exploded with passion and pleasure. Breathless and sated they lay side by side.
Matt adjusted his pillow and felt a prick. He looked and saw a note pinned to the pillowcase. Dear Matt, I wish you all the best. Please be well. Kit.
"Kitty, this is exactly like the note I found in the jewelry box."
She giggled, "I put them in places you'd be likely to find them. I forget how many. We may be finding them for months."
Matt laughed but Kitty turned serious. "Matt, do you think David will send for his carriage and horses?"
"Nope, it's likely he'll want to forget everything about Dodge. Besides, it would cost more than they're worth to get them to England."
"So Matt, would it be a crime if I sold them? I mean they aren't really mine."
"If you're asking if a US Marshal would arrest you, the answer is no. Why do you ask? I know you wouldn't want money that had anything to do with Miller."
She searched his eyes, hoping he'd like what she was about to say. "I thought we could send the money to Mary Croft with a note."
"Note?"
"Yes, maybe – We wanted to be sure you knew that the money Charlie stole went back to the bank, and the people he shot lived. Charlie made bad choices, but he loved you and his sisters. We're sending this money in his name.
Matt looked at Kitty, "No signatures."
"No signatures."
A look of peace crossed Matt's face, "Let's do it. Kit, I don't know what I'd do without you."
She smiled, "Cowboy, you just called me Kit."
"I reckon that box with the carved letters is in my mind right now."
"I can see why. I guess we never know what a gift can come to mean."
He pulled her closer, "Or a note."
She nestled in and smiled with contentment. Life was good.
The End