Author's note below. Enjoy the chapter.

Newly rested his head on his folded-up coat, making it a makeshift pillow for the time being. He closed his eyes as he listened to the soothing sound of the train clicking and clacking as it made its way home to Dodge City. Most of the passengers in the train car were sleeping peacefully, but there were a few night owls that stayed up late into the night. Along with a small group of cowboys at the end of the car who couldn't sleep, so they played poker to pass the time. They used matches for money and a small suitcase for their poker table.

Newly would occasionally stir from his slumber when the train would come to a stop for water or its passengers, but he didn't mind it being a quiet ride home. He felt like this past week was enjoyable, yet he was returning with so many questions that filled his mind. Sure, Kitty told him everything. But he couldn't help but wonder, what would Matt have to say about all of this? Newly found himself stuck between two thoughts, he could understand Kitty's side of things, but if he were Matt, would he be upset with what Kitty did? And how would the Marshal react to finding out he was a father, to two sweet but mischievous little girls. Newly sighed as he shook the thoughts from his head. He moved his hat that once covered his eyes, his mind was full of thoughts that he couldn't go back to sleep.

Newly could only smile as he could overhear the conversation coming from behind him,

"Dadburn it, James! You cleared me out." A young cowboy sighed as he looked over at the cowboy who sat next to him. The tall man only softly chuckled, as not to wake anyone else. "My pleasure, Dave. I'm glad I could help you out." with that James took his coat and stuffed it behind his head then he leaned back. Dave looked over at him, "Hey what do you think you're doing?" James looked at his partner, as he lifted his cowboy hat, "I'm tired and I'm going to sleep." Dave rolled his eyes "I could have gone to bed three rounds ago, but you just had to keep playing." James shrugged his shoulders "Well, I was awake then, and now I'm tired. So good night." With that James closed his eyes.

Dave sighed as he put the cards away and put the suitcase back overhead. Then he sat looking out the window. "Great, now I'm wide awake, and everyone else has gone to sleep." Newly could only smile.

That was a never-ending story with sleep and trains or so it seemed to Newly, but it was his favorite way to travel. He and Patricia wanted to take the train back to PA to visit his family and then see hers before they started a family of their own, but sadly it never happened. With a sigh, Newly crossed his arms and before he knew it, he had drifted back to sleep.

Mr. Flask (the train conductor) was making his rounds, waking people up for their stops. He walked over to Newly,

"Mr. O'Brian," there was no response so Mr. Flask tapped him, "O' Brian this is your stop." He said gently shaking Newly awake. Newly moaned and opened his eyes wide. "Uh? Oh, Thank you Mr. Flask." The gentlemen only nodded as he made his way back up and headed to the other cars. The young man yawned and stretched, he looked out the window it was as dark as midnight and the sun wouldn't be up for at least another few hours. He raked his fingers through his hair, as he gathered his belongings then he waited as the train pulled into Dodge.

It was a bone-chilling morning, as Newly stepped down off the train, from the glow of the moonlight he could see thick frost on the windows, rooftops, and grass. He could even see his breath in the light of the lamppost. Most of the trees had shed their leaves, only a few remained but it wouldn't be long when all the trees would be bear and winter would settle in soon. Newly picked up his bag and made his way to the Gunsmith shop. He smiled as he could still see the stars, the big dipper, the little dipper, Orion's belt, and others.

Newly's keys jingled as he unlocked the door, he let out a sigh. It felt good to be home, but it felt so quiet, so empty, and so still. Newly moved back into the shop shortly after Patricia died.

Newly still owned the ranch, he didn't have the heart to let it go, for that was where his beloved wife was buried, but the idea of living there alone with the memories of her was just too hard on him.

Newly thought about selling the ranch a few times but it just hurt too much.

Staying here at the Gunsmith shop, being a deputy, and studying under Doc all helped keep him busy from having to deal with the pain and the loss of missing Patricia.

Newly let his eyes adjust to the darkness before he made his way back to his room, where he lit a lamp letting the small bedroom fill with light, he tossed his bag on the bed as he hung up his cowboy hat. At that moment he watched as the bag rolled off the bed onto the floor where the latch broke and a doll's arm stuck out.

"What on earth?!"

Newly thought as he walked over to the bag and saw the arm, he then picked up the item to find Lucy, then looked inside his suitcase to see Bethany's doll, Amanda. She had a white piece of paper folded up and tucked under her arm. He could only smile and chuckle, "So, that's what Beth was up to. That crazy girl."

He unfolded the note and began to read. "Dear Uncle Newly, we are sending our dolls: Amanda and Lucy to you. So, they can bring Daddy here to St. Louis to meet us and surprise Mama. Please make sure he brings them back here with him when he comes. With all our love Bethany and Maddie."

Newly chuckled, then shook his head, as he looked at the dolls. Those little girls weren't asking for much, but it would be easier to ask a mountain to throw itself into the mist of the sea right now than to accomplish this task. That seemed near too impossible for him to do.

With a sigh, he set the two dolls on his dresser as he looked at them. The only way he could do what Bethany and Maddie asked was to tell the Marshal, but wasn't that Miss Kitty's place to tell Matt? The thought played over in his mind. Maybe he should just send the dolls back to the girls, That would be easier. At that thought Newly shook his head.

No! That would be too heartbreaking for them, and that would break his own heart.

Newly let out a long uneasy sigh, if only he had someone to talk to. He thought for a moment, then he snapped his fingers, "That's it!"

He quickly dumped out all his clothes from the suitcase, then quickly but carefully placed the dolls back in and blew out the light. It was almost daybreak, and Newly didn't want anyone to see him with his bag of goods, so he stayed mostly in the shadows as he made his way up to Doc's office.

When he reached the top of the stairs Newly rapped on the door, he couldn't help but smile as he heard Doc grumbling as he was making his way to the door, "What in tarnation is so important that-"

Newly tapped on the door again. "I'm coming, I'm coming just wait a minute." The old man kept mumbling, "Festus, if you're bothering me about some..."

Doc opened the door, still upset that his slumber was disturbed. He was expecting to see someone else, but he was happy to find Newly.

The young man smiled his smile as he looked at Doc,

"Howdy Doc!"

The older man pulled at his ear, a little embarrassed by his outburst and blaming it all on Festus.

"Why Newly, Welcome home! It's a little early for a social call, isn't it?"

Newly half smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, but I need to talk with you about something."

It was then Doc saw the suitcase in the young man's hand, then he nodded,

"Well, then come on in."

Newly passed the town doctor and set his bag on the table, he then sat down in the chair across from Doc's roll top desk. Doc looked at the young man, something was weighing heavy on his mind and Doc knew just what to do. He poured some water into the coffee pot and started a fire in the stove. He then walked over to Newly and sat down in his old office chair. He looked his young apprentice in the eyes, "Alright Newly, what's on your mind?"

"How did-"

Doc only smiled as he looked at the floor, "Newly, I've known you long enough to know when something is bothering you. You, Matt, Kitty, Festus, and Sam before he died. Would come into my office to talk with me about something that was on their mind, bothering them, or just needing to talk. And being a doctor for as long as I have been, I can tell."

Newly only nodded, "You're not far from the truth Doc."

Newly swallowed, as he looked at the bag then at Doc. "I uh saw Miss Kitty while I was in St. Louis."

The older man nodded his head and slowly smiled. "Did you eh, meet anyone new?"

Newly could only laugh, he could remember Kitty telling him that Doc delivered the girls.

"Yes, I did. Both girls are a sweet as honey but can be mischievous as young pups and can have a temper like their mother."

Doc's smile widened and he nodded, just as the coffee pot sounded that it was done.

"They are their mother's daughters," Doc said as he came back with two cups of steaming hot coffee,

Newly nodded, "Those two girls are a lot like their daddy too."

"Yes, they are." Doc then nodded over to the bag, "What's in the bag?"

Newly sighed, "That's what brought me here, well the girls did or well... I better just show you."

He stood up and walked over to the table and came back with the bag. He set it down and pulled out the two dolls with the note, "This is what's troubling me."

Doc could only smile as he took a hold of the note and read it. "If only things were as simple as the girls think it is." He picked up each doll and traced their face, "You know something Newly; I bought those dolls for the girls when they reached their 3rd birthdays."

Newly shook his head, "I didn't know that." Doc had a twinkle in his eye as he looked at the young man,

"They even call me Grandpa Doc."

Newly could only smile, "You know Doc, Kitty told me the whole story, but I don't understand why she didn't just tell..."

Doc stopped him right there, "Well that was the way she wanted it. There isn't much more I can say other than it's between her and Matt at that point."

Newly nodded in agreement, "Yes, Doc, but what do we do about the dolls, girls, and Matt?"

Doc sighed, "Well, Newly, there isn't much we can do other than tell him. Did Kitty say anything to you about telling him?"

"Well, she gave me a note for him, but I don't know what it says."

Doc nodded his head, "Well, we need to talk to Matt about this. It needs to be someplace, where no one will overhear us." Newly tapped his thumbs together as he tried to think of a place, "My ranch would be the best place, It's not in town and it's quiet."

The old town doc nodded, "That's perfect! Alright, I'll convince Matt to come out there with me later today. There you can give him the note and we can talk to him. Oh, and Newly I would have the dolls and the girl's note with you."

Newly nodded, "Ho-how do you think he's going to take it?"

A still quietness filled the small doctor's office, as Doc rubbed his upper lip. "I-I'm not sure Newly. How would you take it?"

The young man let out a sigh, "I see what you mean. I-I'll see you and Matt at the ranch this afternoon."

Doc nodded as he watched Newly make his way down the stairs and disappear around the corner.

"Lord, we need your help this. Oh, how we need you."

Doc prayed as he made himself ready for the day.

Hi everyone! I am so sorry for the abrupt and quick hideous I took from writing. It was not planned at all. Both my laptop and desktop went down the same week and I just got my laptop back and running. Yes, I also have a tablet too but the only thing I can do with that is drafting. I have also been sick and out of it too,

believe me, though I have missed writing and updating my story just as much as all of you want to read it, so good Lord willing I will have a another chapter out ASAP.

Thank you guys for all the kind reviews!