Matt uttered a sigh of relief when Robert gently eased him into a chair inside the clinic. "How's Kitty?" he asked looking up at the young physician.

"She's a little perturbed but I think once she finds out your alright, she'll be okay," Robert said putting his bag on a table before taking Matt's hands. He shook his head at the bruises already forming and the abrasions from the fight. "How's your back?" he said reaching into his bag for some alcohol.

"Painful," Matt gasped with a wiry grin.

"After I clean up your hands, I'll give you something for the pain."

"Doc," Kitty said pacing the floor of the ward upstairs. "I got to go down there!"

"He's being taken care of," Doc replied gently patting her arm. "He'll be along in a minute."

"That man," Kitty said harshly. "Now, why didn't he tell us he had feelings coming back to his leg?"

"Kitty, you know Matt," Doc said with a swipe of his mustache. "Better than anyone, he doesn't want to disappoint anybody but especially you. And if he had told you, and things didn't work out the way he wanted them to, well, I think he just thought what you didn't know wouldn't hurt you."

"You're right, I suppose," Kitty said shaking her head. "It just would have been nice to not have to worry so much."

"Better?" Robert asked as he put a used syringe on the counter.

Matt nodded as Robert took his pulse. "Good," he said standing up. "I'm going to go get Kitty. You need to let that morphine take affect before you go climbing stairs."

"I think you're right," Matt said ruefully. As Robert left the room, Matt squirmed in the hard backed chair to get comfortable. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but himself but the fight with Bonner had taken a lot out of him and he didn't know how much more he could have taken."

"Matt," Kitty said walk though the door of the clinic alone. Kneeling by his knees, she took his hand in hers. "I saw everything! Are you alright?"

"Just sore, Kitty," Matt said brushing back a stray lock of her hair. "And, I'm sorry, that I didn't tell you sooner what I had planned. I know you were worried!"

"Well, of course I was," Kitty said shaking her head when she remembered the fight. "I though Bonner was going to kill you!"

"It'd take a better man than the likes of him to kill me, honey," Matt said with a smile.

"All the same," Kitty said perturbed. "Can we not have any more secrets?"

Matt nodded before he answered. "I swear, from now on, you'll know everything!"

Kitty smiled wearily. "Now that your leg has gotten better, I suppose you'll want the badge back?"

"Nope," Matt said shaking his head before he met her eyes. "That badge belongs to Newly! I'll uphold the law as a Judge but I'm done being a lawman."

"Promise?" Kitty asked as Matt nodded.

"Promise," he said as Kitty stood up to give him a kiss.

A few weeks later, Vera, Festus and Matt had fully recovered. But, Robert was right, Matt walked with a slight limp and on some days still needed the help of his staff but for the most part, he was as fit as could be expected.

The appointment to take the Judge's exam had been set. Now, Matt, could finally relax as he, Festus, Newly and Doc sat around a table at the Long Branch.

But then, Barney came in to deliver a telegram. "It's from the Governor," Newly said meeting Matt's eyes. "He's appointed a special counsel to represent Jude and Lafitte Bonner because he doesn't believe they'll get someone in Dodge to be impartial."

"Imagine that," Doc quipped before sipping his beer as Newly continued.

"The attorney will arrive tomorrow along with a judge to hear the case," he said as Robert walked though the doors of the Long Branch.

"Will you listen to this!" Robert said angrily. "Althea just sent me a telegram. She's on her way here tomorrow and you won't believe why!"

"Let me guess," Matt said looking up. "She's representing Jude and Lafitte Bonner!"

"Yes!" Robert replied in surprise. "How'd you know?" he asked taking a chair from a nearby table.

Newly waved the telegram he'd received as Robert shook his head.

"I can't believe she's representing those murder's," he said angrily before looking at Festus. "She's got to know Jude almost killed you!"

"Wal, maybe it ain't her choice, son," Festus reasoned looking at Newly. "It did say that the governor appointed someone. Now, that don't sound like it was her choice."

"I hope you're right," Robert said in frustration. "I'd hate to think she's doing it just to further her career or something. I mean, how can you defend people like that?"

"That's a question you'll have to ask her," Doc said as Robert nodded.

"And I will," Robert replied folding up the telegram. "Just as soon as she steps off that train!"

Finally, the train pulled into the station as Robert and Newly waited patiently on the platform. He didn't take any extra care in dressing that morning. It wasn't his intention to impress Althea. He wanted to show her that he was just like anyone else.

The only thing he wanted to know, was if it was her choice to defend the Bonner's.

Althea smiled when she seen him as she stepped off the train. "I didn't think you'd be waiting for me?"

"I just figured, you needed someone to meet you," Robert replied as Newly moved off to meet the Judge when he stepped onto the platform. "Can I walk you to the hotel?"

"Sure," Althea said following his lead before stepping into place beside him. "How are things going?"

"Good," Robert said glancing toward her. "Matt and my Pa are doing alright, but I need to know something?"

"What is it?" Althea asked stopping when Robert did.

"Did you voluntarily accept this case or where you ordered to take it by the governor?"

Althea met his eyes before she spoke. "I don't want you to feel that I've betrayed your family or friends by taking this case on but the simple fact of the matter is this. Those men need defending and no one else was going to do it. So in answer to your question, yes I did take the case, voluntarily because the law is my life and I won't make any apologies for it!"