"Turn Back Time" This story contains some MM/ATC to "Marry Me" (Season 7)

Part One (The Missing Moments)

Matt and Kitty sat at their table in the Long Branch. Matt had stopped by earlier at the beginning of his rounds, but he didn't stay. When he was there earlier, Matt told Kitty he would stop by again at the end of his rounds and have a drink with her. That's just what he was doing, enjoying a drink with his girl.

"How's Dodge tonight?" Kitty asked, taking a sip of her beer.

"Thankfully it's very peaceful," Matt replied as he took a drink of his rye whiskey. "Since it is so peaceful, I think I'll sleep over in my room tonight. It's been a while since I've slept there. If I'm gonna pay rent for it, I might as well use it."

"So don't plan on you tonight?" Kitty questioned. Matt shook his head no. "When do ya plan on retiring to your room?"

"I'll wait until the saloons close," Matt answered. "But until I leave, I'll go over to the jail."

"Well then," said Kitty. "I guess I'll see ya tomorrow."

"Count on it," said Matt as he took Kitty's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. He finished his rye whiskey and got up to leave.

Thirty minutes after Matt left, Kitty decided to retire to her own room. Before heading upstairs, Kitty asked Sam if he could handle things in the bar. Sam reassured her that he had everything covered and would lock up before he left. Determined Sam could handle the customers that were still there and lock the place up, Kitty went upstairs. She was completely oblivious to what lay ahead.

The next morning Sam was on his way to the jail. Something was not right, and he knew it. Sam had been down in the bar getting ready for the day and realized that Miss Kitty should've been downstairs by now. Concerned, he climbed the stairs to the Long Branch balcony and walked down to her room. Sam knocked several times and called out her name. He received no response. He even tried turning the door knob. It was locked. That was when Sam decided to get the Marshall.

Sam arrived at the jail and opened the door. Both Matt and Chester were inside, but there was no sign of Kitty. Sam had hoped that Kitty had left the Long Branch before he arrived and was with the Marshall. However, it didn't appear as though that was the case.

"Good mornin', Sam" said Matt. "Chester just made a pot of coffee. Help yourself." It never occurred to Matt as to why Sam was at the jail.

"Thanks, Marshall, but I'm here to ask if you've seen Miss Kitty," said Sam. "I knocked on her door and called her name a few times, but I didn't get a response."

Matt became immediately concerned, but maintained his composure. Getting all flustered would not help the situation, if there was one.

"Did you check her door? Was it locked?" Matt asked.

Sam shook his head yes. "I did and it was locked. I didn't know if I should've broken in or not. I decided not to and came here right away."

"The three of us will head on over to the Long Branch," said Matt. "Sam, did Kitty say anything to you about going somewhere today?"

"No sir," Sam responded. "Last night she told me she'd see me tomorrow."

"Miss Kitty said the same thing ta me, Mr. Dillon," said Chester.

"Yeah, she said the same thing to me," sighed Matt. "I guess we can determine she didn't plan on leaving town." They arrived at the Long Branch. "Chester, why don't you look around town, while Sam and I go investigate upstairs."

"Yes sir, Mr. Dillon," said Chester. "I'll meet ya back at the Long Branch."

Matt and Sam walked into the Long Branch. Both were hoping they would see Kitty standing at the bar. That was not the case. Disappointed, both men went upstairs to Kitty's room. Reaching her room, Matt grabbed hold of the doorknob and turned it. It was still locked.

"Kitty!" Matt called out, knocking at the same time. "Kitty!" Matt received no response.

Matt wasn't sure why he called Kitty's name and knocked. If she was in there, she would've responded to Sam when he knocked and called her name. Enough time had been wasted. Matt used his shoulder and the side of his body to get inside. It was evidently clear that Kitty was not inside.

Matt was relieved and concerned at the same time. He was relieved that he didn't find Kitty's lifeless body inside. There was that possibility that someone could've gotten in her room and was waiting for her. After seeing the state of Kitty's room, his level of concern was at an all time high. You could tell there had been a struggle. There was no doubt in Matt's mind that someone had taken his girl. That someone would pay.

"Marshall, do you think that young hillman came back for her?" asked Sam. He too saw Kitty's room and figured someone probably took her against her will."

Matt nodded his head. He was about to say something, but heard Chester calling his name. Matt and Sam walked out of Kitty's room and saw Chester and Doc standing downstairs. Sam figured that Chester must've told Doc about Kitty.

"Anything?" Matt questioned Chester.

"No," Chester replied. "I went ta Moss Grimmick's and the stage depot. No one's seen her."

"The door was still locked," said Matt. "We had to break in. There was a scuffle inside."

"Do ya think she was kidnapped?" asked Doc.

"Doc, do you know of any hill people that might've moved to the area?" Matt asked. Doc shook his head no.

"Mr. Dillon, do ya think that feller from the other day come back again?" Chester asked.

"I don't know what else to think," said Matt.

"What are we gonna do?" asked Chester with angst in his voice.

"We're gonna search every inch of the prairie until we find her," said Matt. "Come on."

Irrational Matt wanted to mount Buck and take right off. He didn't want to waste any time looking for Kitty. Luckily rational Matt took over. He went to the jail and got enough supplies for at least one night, if not two, out on the prairie. Upon leaving, Matt asked Sam if he saw what way the man went after Sam threw him out. Unfortunately Sam did not see the direction the man went.

"Mr. Dillon, do ya have a plan on where ta search first?" asked Chester.

"I was thinking we'd do a five mile radius around Dodge," said Matt. "We'll go east first. I figured this guy is from the hills in Tennessee and that's east from here."

"Do ya think he's taking her back ta Tennessee?" asked Chester.

"No," Matt sighed. "But I'm not sure how west he came before he settled down. He's from the east. Might as well start that way."

Matt and Chester headed east and started searching. They were trying to look for clues, but had no idea what clues to look for. There were so many wagon and horse tracks, but they didn't follow any of them. They had been riding and searching for several hours.

"Mr. Dillon, are we gonna stop here for the night?"

"Chester, there's a moon out tonight. We can do a lot of looking."

A couple more hours of riding and searching passed. Chester knew that Matt wanted to keep looking, but thought that wasn't the best idea. Usually Chester agreed with Matt on things, but not this time. Chester knew it would be best if they stopped for the night. Chester gathered up his courage and told Matt what he thought.

"Mr. Dillon, I really think we should stop for the night and rest," said Chester.

"Chester, I've ridden through the night plenty of times," said Matt. "I have every reason to do so now."

"I know ya have, Mr. Dillon," said Chester. "I don't wanna disrespect ya none, but I don't think it's a good idea to do that now."

"Why not?"

"When ya ride through the night, yer usually returning from Hays or some place. Ya get back and ya go ta bed ta get a couple hours of sleep. Ya won't be getting sleep when mornin' comes this time. I'd hate for ya to be tired 'n exhausted when we find Kitty. What if ya end up in a gunfight?"

Matt listened to Chester. He had a valid point. The last thing he wanted was anything that might put Kitty's rescue at risk, especially if that anything was him. He wanted to be prepared when they found her.

"Yer right, Chester," said Matt. "We'll settle down here for the night. There's a creek just over yonder. We can use that to water the horses and refill the canteens."

Matt and Chester made camp. They started a fire to heat up some coffee and a pot of beans. They also had some jerky. There was no need to keep the fire going. It was a warm night. All the riding must've worn Chester out. He fell asleep soon after they ate supper.

On the other hand, Matt was having trouble going to sleep. He knew that sleep was the best thing right now, but his mind and heart would not let sleep come. All he could think of was his girl. Was she scared? More importantly, was she alright?

Matt had hoped if she was taken by the hill guy that wanted her for wifing, then he wasn't harming Kitty. Matt remembered Kitty telling him the guy took an instant liking to her. He prayed that it was working in Kitty's favor. Then again there was a good chance that Kitty's temper had made its presence known. How would that man handle her temper? Matt shuddered as he thought about it. Right now he needed to get some sleep. Matt closed his eyes and fell into a restless sleep.

At first light, Matt was awake. He looked over at Chester who was still sound asleep. Yesterday's ride must've really worn his assistant out. Matt didn't want to waste anymore time. He went to wake Chester up.

"Chester, we gotta get goin'." Matt was rolling up his bed roll. "There's some coffee in the pot."

Chester opened his eyes and stretched, almost forgetting why he and Matt were out on the prairie. "Oh that's right! We gotta find Miss Kitty."

Chester packed up his belongings and had a quick cup of coffee. He and Matt rode off and resumed their search. Up ahead they could see a cowboy riding their way. Matt decided he would ask the cowboy if any hill folk lived in the area.

"Howdy, I'm Marshall Dillon from Dodge City," Matt told the cowboy. "You wouldn't happen to know any hill folk that live around here?"

"Sure do, Marshall," the cowboy answered. "There's a shanty a couple miles east of here with some hill folks."

"Much obliged," said Matt as he and Chester continued riding east. The cowboy had given them some good news. They hoped they were that much closer to finding Kitty.

At the Cathcart Shanty, Orkey was in the back bedroom taking care of his pa. Kitty kept her distant. She knew without a doubt that Orkey and Sweet Billy's pa had cholera. Kitty was still counting on Matt to find her. And when he did, she didn't want to expose him to cholera.

Kitty was sitting at the table, when she heard Matt's unmistakable voice calling her name. She wanted to leave the shanty and run outside, but wasn't sure if she should. Kitty was still trying to decide when Orkey came from behind the curtain and told her to go.

"Ya best go to him, Miss Kitty," said Orkey. "Hearing that voice, I reckon he's a big man. Right now, I don't want no scuffle or ruckus in here with pa being so sick."

"Thank you, Orkey," said Kitty as she ran outside.

Kitty was so relieved to see her cowboy. She ran straight into his arms and put her arms around his waist. Matt did his best to gather her in his arms, but it wasn't easy while he was holding a rifle.

Matt too was relieved. He was relieved that Kitty appeared to be unharmed, and that she had told him that she was alright. Had she been harmed, Matt would've made sure her captors paid. He would've made sure Kitty saw justice.

"Does Orkey know yer out in the air?" Sweet Billy asked Kitty.

"He sent me out, Sweet Billy," Kitty replied. "He wants you all to please be quiet." She then turned to Doc. "Their pa's got cholera, Doc."

Doc looked at Kitty and shook his head. He started making his way towards the house, but Sweet Billy stopped him, saying that Orkey was the one that tended to their pa. A short time later Orkey slowly came out of the house. One could tell by his mannerism that it was likely that their pa had died.

After Orkey had "released" Kitty from their upcoming nuptials, Kitty, Matt, Doc, and Chester headed back to Dodge. Matt and Chester rode their horses, while Kitty rode in the buggy with Doc.

TBC in an ATC