After Matt, Festus and Burke checked the fifth homestead that the hill man remembered being in the same area that the Bonner's rode to and not finding anything, Matt really started to worry.

"We might have ta check out a little further, Matthew," Festus said looking just as worried as Matt felt.

Robert tried to move as fast as he could but he worried about Kitty's condition. After everything she'd been though, the last thing he needed was for her to go into labor on the trail.

As night started to fall, Robert looked over at his companion. "I think we should stop and rest for a bit," he said. "It's getting late."

"I'd rather...," Kitty said taking a quick breath. "I want to keep going."

The physician quickly realized that the ride was becoming more than Kitty could handle when she suddenly swayed in her saddle.

"No," Robert said sternly before climbing down from his horse. "We're stopping!" he said taking the bedroll from his saddle. "I don't think the cowboy, Jude stole this horse from will mind if we burrow a few of his belongings."

Kitty let Robert help her down from the horse and only after she was on her feet did she realize just how tired she was.

"Lean on me," he said slowly leading her to a fallen tree in a small grove. "This looks safer than being out on that trail, don't you think?"

"Yes," Kitty said wearily as Robert spread out the bedding. Helping her to sit down, elicited a sigh of relief from the pregnant woman.

"I'm going to bring the horses in closer and see what else those saddlebags hold, maybe if we're lucky, I'll find us some coffee," Robert said with a grin.

"How far you reckon we are from Dodge, Matthew?" Festus asked when they stopped to let the horse's rest.

"I'd say about ten miles," Matt said looking around. "I wonder, could we have missed something?"

"I don't think so," Burke replied quickly shaking his head. "This is the way they came, I'm certain of it!"

"Alright," Matt said with a determined nod. "We'll keep going until we can't see the trail no more!"

"We're in luck!" Robert said returning to where he left Kitty.

"You found coffee?" she asked in surprise as Robert nodded.

"I'll make us a fire and have a pot brewing faster than you can say, a rat run over the roof of the house with a piece of raw liver in his mouth."

"You sound just like your father," Kitty giggled as Robert smiled.

Finishing the pot of coffee, he handed her a cup before he took a seat on the log next to Kitty. "How are you feeling now?" he asked gently putting a hand on her shoulder as he sipped his coffee.

"Alright," she said sitting a little forward. "Of course, this log isn't the best for my back but it'll do."

"I'm sure it's not," he replied with a wiry grin. "Once we're back in Dodge, I think we'll both feel better. In the meantime, why don't you try to get some sleep, I'll keep watch."

"I think, I will," Kitty said with a slight nod before settling back on the bedroll.

Robert took a blanket he'd found in Kitty's horse and covered the woman with it before moving away from the camp fire. He was sure the Bonner's would be out for hours from the amount of the sedative he'd given them. He really wasn't worried about encountering anyone on the trail at this late hour but he wanted to be prepared nonetheless.

After some time, Robert returned to the camp fire just in time to see Kitty thrashing and whimpering in her sleep.

"Kitty," Robert said kneeling down, he gently put a hand on her shoulder.

She awoke with a start and looked around before tightly squeezing her eyes shut. "It was just a dream," she said quietly as Robert nodded.

"Try to get some more sleep," he said patting her shoulder as Kitty nodded. Laying back with a sigh, Robert watched her grimace before her eyes suddenly flew open. "What's wrong?" he asked gently as Kitty's eyes met his.

"The baby," she said with an anguished cry. "I think...the baby's trying to come!"

Matt hated to admit it, but the further they traveled in the dark, the more treacherous the trail became. "I think," he said after his horse took a misstep. "We may have to stop."

"I hate ta say it, Matthew," Festus replied. "But, I think yer right!"

"Alright," Matt said looking around. "We'll set up camp here and head out at first light!"

After the first few hours, Kitty's labor started to intensify and Robert knew without a doubt the baby would arrive by morning. He also knew that this was not the most ideal time for Kitty to be having the baby but there wasn't anything he could do to stop it. The baby was coming.

"Alright," he said taking Kitty's hand after an extremely intense contraction. "I don't want you to worry about a thing. You can do this, Kitty."

"No," she said shaking her head wearily. "It wasn't supposed to be like this!"

Robert had to keep her from becoming panicked so he smiled reassuringly and squeezed her hand before he spoke. "If Matt could be here with you right now, I know he would be. But, until he finds us, the only thing we can do is bring that baby safely into this world. You're not going to quit on me now, are you?"

"No," Kitty said managing a slight smile before another contraction racked her body.

"Breathe though it," Robert prompted as Kitty pulled on his arm and gritted her teeth. "It's not going to be much longer now!"

*Happy Birthday America!* :)