He lounged in the tufted leather wingback chair. His belly was full from son of a gun stew and his skin was warm from the fire. Matt let his arm dangle from the chair, and he touched silky fur. "She's coming back," he spoke to the canine and patted Murphy's head as he pitifully whined. He leaned over and stared at the dog, catching his gloomy chocolate eyes. "You know, she has the same effect on me," he whispered conspiratorially. "Murphy, suas leat." Matt swore as the dog jumped into his lap. "Murphy!" he bellowed. "Seas suas," he ordered, grimacing as the seventy-five-pound animal stood up on his thighs and dropped his paws onto his shoulders. Matt realized he'd blundered the Irish commands as the dog barked in his ear. "Kitty!"
Kitty entered the parlor and put her hands on her hip, taking in the scene before her. "I'm happy to see that you two are getting along," she said and adjusted the sash of her velvet wrapper.
"Kathleen," Matt grumbled.
"Oh, fine," she replied with a laugh. "Síos leat." Kitty grinned as the dog sprung off her husband and onto the hardwood floor, running to her. "Suigh síos," she instructed and scratched the dog's ear. "Murphy, he's a slow learner. You'll have to be patient with him."
"All right. That's enough, Kitty," Matt griped.
"Leaba leat!" she smirked as Murphy obediently went to his bed in the corner. She poured her ill-tempered spouse a generous amount of whiskey into a tumbler and walked to his chair, offering it to him. "If you're thinking I'll be upset about you not taking me to the circus tomorrow night, I'm not. I had a better offer."
"A better offer." His brows rose as he scoffed and set the crystal tumbler on the end table.
"He informed me I'll have to lay off the sarsaparilla. I'm bringing my own nickel just in case I'm too expensive for him."
Matt bit back a laugh as he realized who her date would be and gently pulled her onto his lap. "Don't run off with Doc while I'm at the bank," he advised and sipped his whiskey as she sat on his thigh and let her free arm hang on his shoulders.
"Don't get shot," she returned and combed her fingers through his hair. She narrowed her eyes and twisted her mouth into a judgmental frown. "I thought you were gonna get a haircut today," she stated as she plucked her fingers through his uneven shock of waves.
"Well, I did. What do you mean?"
"Matt, it's uneven."
"You know old Teeters. He does more talking than he does cutting."
"If I were you, I'd go get another haircut or get my money back," she told him. "Louie could have done a better job."
He chuckled and finished off his whiskey. "I don't know about that, Kitty. I gave those tickets to Ben and Nancy."
She nodded in approval and relaxed into him as his hand caressed the small of her back. "I spoke with Henry. He and Celia are fine with us giving Charlotte the horse."
"I caught her sleeping with the mare a few nights ago," he divulged. He had recognized that Raven was the young girl's heart horse. The Quarter Horse had a soul that complimented Charlotte Tolliver's own.
"What? Matt, you didn't leave her there. Did you?"
"Well, no. I woke her up and took her home," he said and heard the frantic knocking at the front door as the Irish setter woofed. He sighed and hoped he wouldn't have to ride the five miles into Dodge City. He rose from the comfortable chair after Kitty slid out of his lap and answered the door.
"Marshal! Is Charlie here?" Jesse Tolliver asked, fidgeting with the brim of his hat.
"No. What's the matter?" Matt inquired and let the youngster inside. He glanced at Kitty as she came to stand beside him.
"She's gone. Pa and Ben are out looking for her. Pa told me to come here. I checked the barn and the stalls. Raven's gone," he said in a worried rush.
Kitty swallowed the lump in her throat and wondered what had caused Charlotte to run off. She listened to Matt question Jesse as she retrieved his holster.
Jesse stepped closer to the lawman and craned his neck to look at him. He chewed the inside of his cheek and spoke quietly, "Marshal, it's all my fault. I told her that Raven was being sold. I was teasin' her."
Matt dropped his hand on Jesse's shoulder. "It's not your fault, son. You didn't know you'd upset her enough to run off. We'll find her," he assured. "Go saddle Buck," he told Jesse and looked over his shoulder at his returning wife. He took his holster and fastened it onto his hips.
"Matt," she murmured and gripped his arms, looking into his eyes. "You gotta find her."
He nodded his head, putting on his hat and coat. "We'll find her," he said and kissed her forehead. "Stay here if she comes," he instructed and walked out the door.
Kitty paced in front of the fireplace and chewed her thumbnail until it was in the quick as her mind raced with every horrible outcome. She knew her worry was nothing compared to Celia's fretting over her missing daughter. Kitty blew out a breath and glanced at the clock. Matt had been gone for over an hour. She pushed herself out of the leather chair, deciding she couldn't sit idly by any longer. She put on her slippers and cloak, calling to Murphy as she retrieved a lantern. Kitty hurried down the porch steps and looked at the night sky. She was thankful the moon would give the men enough light to search for Charlotte. "C'mon, Murphy," she said and headed towards the stables.
The Irish setter faithfully stayed at her side on the journey to the stable. Kitty set the lantern down and opened the doors. She picked the lamp up and stepped inside, quietly looking into the stalls. She heard broken sobs and soft nickering. "Sna sála chugam," she spoke in a quiet tone to the canine and looked over the door, spying a weepy Charlotte with her knees drawn to her chest and the horse comforting her. Her sniffling shattered her heart. Kitty pulled the door and hung the lamp on a hook. "Charlotte, you have everyone worried sick," she said and pulled the door closed behind her. "Are you hurt?"
"Let me alone," she wailed and shook her head. "I don't wanna see you!"
Kitty put her hand on Raven's neck and sighed softly as Charlotte scooted away from her. She eased onto the hay and scrutinized her, making sure she didn't have any cuts or scrapes. "Charlie, honey, what's the matter?"
"Let me alone, please," Charlie begged and shivered from the drop in temperature. She wished she'd grabbed a coat before she'd left her house.
She resolutely shook her head and unhooked her cloak, edging closer and draping it over the brunette. "Charlie, talk to me. Where have you been?"
"No, Miss Kitty," she hiccupped, choking down a sob. She didn't want to hold a conversation with the lady that had a hand in breaking her heart. The girl wanted to shove the cloak off her, but the fabric was warm and smelled like vanilla and amber. She sunk into the warmth and drew the cape closer around her.
The redhead plucked straw out of Charlie's disheveled braid and touched her arm. "Your pa, brothers, and Matt are out looking for you," she informed her and observed the Quarter Horse step closer and nudge Charlotte with her muzzle. "Where have you been? Why'd you leave? Charlie, anything could have happened. You could have," she trailed off.
She lifted her head and heatedly glared at the redhead. "You don't care. You don't! You're selling Raven!" she howled with fresh tears spilling out of her eyes. "I thought we were friends," she susurrated.
"Charlie," Kitty spoke softly and rested her hand on the girl's shoulder. She put her hand back as soon as Charlotte pushed her hand off. "I don't know who told you that, but we're not selling her."
"You're lying. Jesse said you're," she stopped as Kitty interrupted her.
"No, sweetheart. We're not selling her." Kitty wondered why Jesse misled her, but she knew from Charlotte's stories that the boy had a mischievous streak a mile wide. He loved to tease and pull pranks.
Charlotte looked up and turned her head, staring at Kitty. "What?"
"We're not selling her, sweetheart," she reiterated.
"You promise?"
Kitty made a cross over her heart and uttered, "Cross my heart," she pledged and grunted as the girl threw her arms around her, hugging her with all her strength. Kitty smiled tenderly and smoothed her hand up and down Charlotte's back.
"I'm in so much trouble," she moaned into Kitty's shoulder.
"I'm not sure how much trouble you'll be in, but I know you being safe will go a long way, Charlie."
She rested her head against the woman's shoulder and fiddled with the sleeve of the cloak. "After Jesse told me she was being sold, I-I wanted to ride her one last time and spend time with her. I didn't tell anyone. I didn't want Pa to tell me not to go out. It's so pretty out tonight, and I didn't want to stop if it would be my last time taking her out," she explained, wiping at her eyes. "Miss Kitty, I love her so much."
"I know you do," Kitty responded and pressed her lips to crown of the girl's head. "That's why she's yours." She nodded her head as Charlotte stared at her with wide, surprised brown eyes. "I decided a while ago to give her to you for your birthday. Oh, honey," Kitty soothed as Charlotte buried her face into her and began crying all over again.
"Thank you," she whispered repeatedly to the redhead and pulled away from her, springing to her feet and throwing her arms around the horse's neck. "We'll be together forever, Raven," she said, smoothing her hand up and down the blaze of white.
Kitty smiled to herself and groaned as she pushed herself off the straw. She dusted herself off and watched the pair. She heard Charlie's stomach growl. "C'mon. Let's get you up to the house and get you some supper."
"But, Miss Kitty," she whined.
She fixed a stern look on her face and put her hands on her hips. "No, ma'am. You're not sleeping out here. It's too cold, and you're hungry. Your mama wouldn't forgive me if I didn't take good care of you," Kitty concluded, grateful the girl didn't argue and took the lamp off the hook. She listened to Charlotte finish telling Raven goodnight and stepped out of the stall. She wrapped her arm around Charlotte's waist, leaving the stable and walking back to the house to wait for the men.
He snapped out of his short-lived nap as the buckskin made the lone decision to trot. His wind chapped face twisted in pain from the ache in his thighs and the throbbing in his upper arm. Matt secured his grip on the reins, straightening in the saddle and blinking his tired, irritated eyes. He focused on his surroundings and patted the horse's shoulder. "All right, Buck," he said, grateful the Quarter Horse had learned the way home to the O'Sullivan ranch. A part of Matt couldn't get used to the ranch belonging to him and his wife. He shook his head and grit his teeth, feeling every muscle in his body burn and sting as the horse propelled into a gallop. Matt was relieved to see Ben coming out of the barn as he dismounted the horse, smirking as Buck huffed out a pleased breath.
Ben stared at Matt as he took Buck's reins. The marshal had been on the trail of a duo that robbed a stagecoach. He assumed it hadn't been an easy task from the appearance of the giant man. He was filthy from the miles, had his arm in a sling, and a fist sized bruise on his chin. "Did you get 'em, Marshal?" the oldest Tolliver son inquired.
Matt grimly nodded and moved his arm, adjusting the sling. "Yeah, Ben. Take care of Buck for me. Would you?" he asked, not waiting for a reply and heading towards the house. He yearned for a hot bath and meal, uninterrupted sleep in a soft bed, and most importantly his wife. Her smile and embrace could heal him better than anything else. He ambled along the pathway and squinted in the setting sun's light.
Doc gazed at the slow-moving marshal as he sat in his buggy. He wondered who had removed the bullet from Matt's arm. The physician chomped on the piece of hard candy in his mouth and rubbed his ear. "Glad you're back," he said.
"What are you doing here, Doc?" Matt asked. "Kitty all right?"
"She's fine. I brought her home, and we had dinner. Chili and cornbread," he supplied. "Kitty's becoming quite the cook."
Matt dipped his head and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
"You'd know that if you'd retire and have supper with your wife every night."
The younger man's jaw tightened. He turned his head and stared at the lowering sun as he tried to calm his temper.
Doc knew he'd struck a nerve as he watched Matt lower the brim of his Stetson. "Matt, you could have let Festus or Quint go after those men."
"I'm the Marshal. It's my responsibility."
Doc shook his head. "When are you going to put the most significant job first, Matt?" he questioned and keenly stared at the man. "You have a wife that needs you. She needs you here with her."
Matt met the older man's eyes and felt his anger rising. "You don't know what my wife needs."
He realized how close he was to getting clobbered, but he pressed on. "Soon enough, you'll have a child that needs you. Are you going to be here for her or him?" Doc chewed his bottom lip and thought he'd broken through to the stalwart lawman since he'd fallen silent. He cleared his throat. "Let me have a look at that wound, Matt."
"No. You're not needed here, Doc. Your opinions aren't either," he ground out and raised his hand, slapping the horse's rump. Matt listened to the physician's fading swear words as he stepped into the house.
"Hello, Matt," she greeted with a smile and looked at her husband with the gentlest set of blue eyes as she closed the distance between them. Kitty helped him out of his saddle coat. She was careful of his injured arm and sighed at the sight of his dried blood on the torn sleeve of his shirt. "Ben's taken care of Buck. There's a hot bath waiting on you," she told him as his arm snaked around her and drew her against him. Kitty rose on her toes and kissed him softly on the lips. Her fingertips brushed against the stubble and bruise on his chin. "Does it hurt?"
"Not anymore," he whispered and buried his face into the crook of her neck, breathing in the delicate scents of her perfume and relishing the feel of her against him.
"All done," Ben announced as he jogged down the stairs. He swiped his hand through his hair and diverted his eyes to the hardwood floor since he'd interrupted a private moment.
"Thank you, Ben," Kitty stated and rubbed her hand up and down her husband's back. She bid him goodnight and patted the middle of Matt's back. "Go get cleaned up, honey," she instructed and pressed her lips to his head. She felt him regretfully let go of her. Kitty knew he'd stay in the bath until the water was frigid and his skin was shriveled like a prune as she watched him walk up the stairs. She drifted into the library and busied herself with accounting. Kitty glanced at her spouse as he came into the room with a bowl filled to the brim with chili and piece of cornbread stuck in his mouth.
"Kitty, this is delicious," he praised and dropped onto the leather sofa, pushing the begging Irish setter away with his socked foot.
"Glad you like it," she replied and double checked her math.
Matt stretched out on the couch and watched her. He scratched his unshaven chin. "Kitty, I didn't shave. I used some of your fancy face cream."
"All right, Matt," she responded.
He sighed, realizing she was too focused on the ledgers and documents on the desk as he polished off his second bowl of chili.
She leaned back in the chair and chewed on the pencil. She'd always thought she'd been clever at making money, but she wasn't on the same level as the Widow O'Sullivan had been. The woman had been a shrewd investor in her time. She had holdings in mines and railroads. Kitty shook her head and reminded herself that it was now hers and Matt's holdings. She tossed the pencil onto the desk and bit her bottom lip. "Matt, we could retire sooner than we thought," she uttered as she folded her hands over her belly.
Matt bristled at that word. He hated it. He wasn't ready to hang up his boots or be put out to pasture. He had twenty years or more left in him. His eyes darkened as he turned his head, narrowing his eyes on his wife. "Retirement," he scoffed. "Your partner already tried it, Kitty."
"Partner?" Her brows wrinkled in confusion.
"Oh, don't play dumb, Kathleen. I suppose that's all you and Doc discussed while I was gone. I'm surprised at you."
"At me?"
"Yeah, you," he rumbled and stood to his feet. He walked to the desk and braced his palms on the solid wood, fixing his eyes on her as he leaned forward and ignoring the pain shooting through his arm. "You put Doc up to do your dirty work," he growled.
She arched a brow at him and wondered if he was fevered since he was talking out his mind. "Matt, what are you talking about? I didn't put Doc up to do anything."
"You want me to retire."
"Stop putting words into my mouth, Matt."
"I thought I knew you better. I didn't think you were the kind of woman to get someone else to tell me what you want."
Kitty pursed her lips and pushed herself out of the chair. "Matthew Wyatt Dillon, you know exactly what kind of woman I am," she returned curtly. "Until you can remember what kind of woman I am, you can sleep somewhere else." She marched to the door and stopped, turning back to look at him. "I don't want you to retire. I only want that when you want it," she enlightened him before slamming the door behind her.
Matt blew out a frustrated breath and ran his hand through his damp hair. He glanced at the clock and decided he'd give himself five or ten minutes before he bolted up the staircase to seek his better half's forgiveness. "Hell," he muttered to himself and hurried out of the library. Matt flung open the door of the master bedroom and strode towards the vanity, placing his hands on her shoulders and catching her astounded eyes in the mirror. "My memory came back," he whispered.
"Quicker than expected," the redhead added.
Matt grinned as the anger faded from her beautiful face.
Doc had told her that she would start slowing down whether she liked it or not. Neither had expected the common cold to put her into bed for over a week. Kitty tuned out his lecture as she sipped her tea with honey and lemon. He'd scolded her as soon as he saw the ledgers scattered over the duvet. She sighed and set the tea cup on the nightstand as he launched into a rant on her using a Haggen remedy to alleviate her symptoms. Kitty rolled her eyes as he mentioned skunk cabbage. "Doc," she spoke sharply and fluffed the pillow behind her. "It's elderberries, water, a cinnamon stick, cloves, ginger, and honey. No skunk cabbages."
The physician scratched his chin and scrubbed his hand down his cheek. He wouldn't admit that Haggen medicine had most likely helped his patient. He let go of her wrist and returned his watch to his pocket. "I don't want you to overdo it."
"I haven't, Doc. I am feeling better," she stressed. "Have the girls settled into Ma Smalley's?" she inquired. She'd worked out an arrangement with Ma for her girls to take residence there. Ma had jumped at the opportunity to have steady income during the winter.
"Kitty, I don't want you worry about what's going on in town. I want you to worry about recuperating."
"Doc, have they?"
"They have. Festus helped move the girls in," he told her, knowing she wouldn't let the question go.
Kitty nodded and rested a hand atop her belly. "And you're coming for Thanksgiving," she stated, "If you and my husband are back on speaking terms."
Doc mumbled under his breath. He listened to Kitty run through the prospective meal and found his mouth watering, especially at the mentioned of ginger cake with whipped cream. He remembered Matt, Festus, and Quint allotting time in their schedules for a hunting trip. "Don't you worry about me and that husband of yours. I'll be at dinner. Who's cooking?" he wondered aloud. He knew Kitty had made strides in cooking, but he doubted her skill at handling a full holiday menu.
"I am," she replied, smirking at his skeptical expression and looking to the doorway as Celia came in. "Celia, tell him that I'm capable of preparing a Thanksgiving meal."
"She is, Doc. She's a fast learner, but we'll be sharing the responsibility," she assured and took the lunch tray. She was pleased to see that Kitty's appetite had returned. "Let me fix you a cup of coffee before you head back to town," Celia offered with a warm smile. She knew the redhead was tired of being fussed over.
"That would be wonderful," he said and stood up from his spot on the bed. "Kitty, ease back into your routine. I mean it," Doc added sternly.
"I'll make sure she does, Doc," Celia pacified him as she ushered him to the door, glancing behind her and winking at Kitty.
Kitty mouthed her appreciation to the woman. She threw the covers off her body, sliding out of bed and stretching her back. She reached for her robe and froze as she heard a brisk knock. She scrambled back under the covers as the door swung open. Kitty let out a sigh of relief at the sound of Charlotte's enthusiastic voice. "I'm glad it's you, Charlie," she told her and took a look at the girl. She chuckled and knew Charlotte had been in the attic as she took in the ruffled silk drawn bonnet that was older than both of them. "Charlie, are you doing what I asked or playing dress up?" Kitty inquired. She'd asked Charlotte to clean and organize the attic.
"Both. I gotta show you something I found," Charlotte excitedly told her and bounced to the bed. "Miss Kitty, you're gonna love it."
"Is Doc downstairs?" Kitty asked as she grimaced and shifted uncomfortably.
"Yes," she answered and plopped onto the bed next to Kitty. "He and Ma were going down the stairs before I came in here. Miss Kitty, you alright?" she asked, seeing her wince again and hearing a short gasp.
Kitty pushed her fingers gently into a spot over her ribs and nodded her head, squeezing Charlotte's fingers to assure the girl. "She's stretching her legs out into my ribs. I swear she got a foot stuck last night."
"May I feel? Ma told me not to ask because it's not polite, but I've never felt a baby before."
"Of course," Kitty replied and took Charlie's hand, placing it on her belly and smiling as Celia laughed in surprise at a strong kick.
"I hope it's a girl," Charlotte announced softly and felt another strike under her palm. "Boys are awful."
The redhead snickered. "You'll change your mind, Charlie. A boy will come around that won't be so awful one day," she sagely told her. "Now, what do I have to see?"
"Oh! C'mon," she urged, jumping up from her spot and pulling Kitty with her. She walked with her to the attic, stopping whenever Kitty stopped to catch her breath or cough. "Miss Kitty, maybe this wasn't a good idea. Maybe you need to get back into bed."
"No," she spoke quickly. "Charlotte, I'm fine. A little exercise won't hurt me. I've been in bed for too long."
Charlotte remained on the step and deliberated on continuing until Kitty jabbed her finger into her ribs. She led her deep into the top floor and let go of Kitty's hand. "Ready?"
Kitty answered with a short nod of her head as she stared at the sheet covered piece of furniture. She coughed as the dust stirred from the yank of the linen. "Oh," she rasped and stepped closer, trailing her finger along the inlaid mahogany rocking crib. "It's beautiful," she murmured and crouched down to examine marquetry panels. She gazed at the birds, flora, and cherubs on the panels. Kitty delicately wiped at her eyes as she thought about the babies that Saoirse had loved and rocked in the crib. She'd had another one to the cradle's history.