Epilogue

Matt and Tom had pooled their resources to buy a small horse farm on the outskirts of Dodge. They'd enlarged the house so they could all live with a modicum of comfort. They'd even worked out a schedule where Newly and Festus looked after the town at night while they looked after things in the day. They had a hired hand to take care of the farm when they were in town. The only time things changed were if they were on the trail or at Roundup when the herds came up. Tom was in the barn with Fred Walsh tending to milking the two cows when Matt arrived home from Hays.

"Howdy Matt how was Hays?" Tom said.

"Oh fine. Trial went off right nice. How's things been here?"

"I think you ought to go into the house. Kitty's got a little surprise for you. I'll see to Buck."

Matt gave Tom and Fred a quizzical look. Fred shrugged and carried on with the milking. Intrigued Matt thanked Tom and headed for the house. Kitty smiled as he entered.

"Howdy Cowboy. Wait there," Kitty said.

She disappeared to the bedroom lifting her day old infant son from the cradle that Matt had carved as soon as he'd known of the pregnancy. She returned to the kitchen and placed the infant in his father's arms. His smile practically lit the room.

"Tom suggested we call him after Doc but I wanted to wait for you to see him."

"What did Doc think of that?"

"He didn't say much just rubbed his mustache and mumbled about other patients needing him."

Matt smiled down at his son he turned to Mary Jane as she moaned. He handed Galen back to Kitty and caught Mary Jane as she fell he guided her to a chair.

"I'd better go get Doc," Matt said. "Are you alright Mary Jane?"

"I will be the baby's coming earlier than I expected is all."

"I'll send Tom in," Matt said. "Looks like I'm about to become a grandpa."

Matt left quickly fortunately Tom hadn't got round to unsaddling Buck. He sent Tom in and mounted to ride the 2 miles into Dodge. He knocked at Doc's door.

"Matt come in. You been home yet?"

"Yeah Mary Jane the baby's coming."

"Right you go on I'll be there directly."

Matt left to back out to the ranch while Doc fetched his bag and went to the stables to get his buggy. He arrived at the ranch shortly after Matt. Kitty was getting some water boiling on the stove. Tom took Doc to Mary Jane who looked pale against the sheets.

"Right young lady let's get this child born."

Mary Jane smiled, Doc shooed Tom out. Matt watched as Tom paced the living room. He had missed the birth of Tom and now Galen so he suspected that he would have been the same.

Doc helped Mary Jane ease the child a boy out and was examining him when he saw the second child coming. He stopped and eased the twin out a girl.

"Well I'll be twins. You've got a son and a daughter."

"Doc take them to see their grandpa."

"What're you going to call them?"

"The boy will be Matthew after his Grandpa and I figure on calling the girl Tess after Tom's ma."

"Good idea."

Doc carried both infants down to see Matt and Tom.

"Twins a boy and a girl. Why don't you go up Tom?"

Tom was half way up the stairs before he thought to ask their names.

"Well Mary Jane decided the boy is Matthew after his grandpa here and the girl she named Tess for your ma."

"Here Matt take hold of your grandkids."

Doc realized that the only day he recalled seeing Matt so happy had been when he'd married Kitty at the same time that Tom had married Mary Jane. Matt had proven to be a fine father to Tom even if it had been 16 years after Tom's birth. He had no doubt he'd prove to be the same to little Galen and a good grandpa to Matthew and Tess. Matt had a look of wonderment on his face as he gazed down at his grandkids.