TWENTY-ONE

Matt saw three riders round the bend, and kicked Buck, urging him on. There was no way he'd get to her before they did.

"Kitty!"

Caleb drew his gun, and seconds later a shot echoed through the forest as Kitty jerked and hit the ground hard.

"NO!" His heart stopped.

The other riders slowed their pace, but Matt kept his, so intent on his destination he failed to draw his gun. They were all a few yards away when Matt pulled up hard on the reins and dismounted before Buck had fully stopped, prepared to sprint the last feet to Kitty's side.

"Stop right there, Marshal, or as sure as I'm standin' here I'll drop you and let her bleed out next to your dead body."

Matt drew up short so fast he skidded a few feet in the mud and almost ended up on the ground. His gun hand twitched over his Colt and Caleb cocked his gun again, threatening, "Drop it." Matt yanked out the gun and threw it on the ground a few feet in front of him. His jaw ached from how tightly his teeth were grit together.

"Now where's the money?"

"Caleb, I swear to God…" Matt snarled.

Heart pounding in his chest, his breath heaving in and out of his lungs, white knuckled and nails cutting into his palms with the effort it was taking him to not rush to Kitty's side. She hadn't moved since she fell, and he couldn't tell if…. Was she breathing? The rain and the terror blurred his vision and all he saw was red. Her vibrant copper hair spread out around her face like a halo and the blood blooming across her back.

He couldn't…. Dammit, he didn't know what he'd do, how he'd live with himself if she were dead.

"I don't think you're in any position to do the threatenin' here, Marshal. Now where's the money?"

Caleb smirked, and Matt almost lost control right then and there. But another glance at Kitty, a cautious look at the three men in front of him, and he held it in. He had to hold it together, stall just a little bit longer for Kitty's sake. He had to give Kitty her best chance.

That's all Matt had ever wanted for Kitty – the years of secrecy and furtive glances and sneaking up back staircases, all meant to give Kitty her best chance.

He'd failed her.

"What's this all about, Caleb?"

Caleb growled. "You know, that's almost the worst part. You don't even remember."

"Why don't you remind me," Matt barked. Caleb's machinations had gone on too long for Matt's liking.

Caleb nodded in his brothers' direction, and they moved forward to flank Matt.

"John Singer. His name was John Singer, Marshal."

The name sparked a memory in the back of his mind.

"He'd done some bank robbin', I'll admit that. And Ma said he might've shot a few people, but no one died and our farm was struggling. He was only trying to provide for his family, and you came after him, followed him to our place, and killed him!" Fury shone in his eyes, spittle flew from his mouth. "Ben here," he indicated to the young man on his left, "saw the whole thing and hasn't been the same since. Something in him broke. And for ten years the people in Hays treated us like dirt because of how Pa died, and I had to watch my ma struggle just to keep us alive, and Ben's moods turned violent until he—"

Caleb's breath sawed in and out of his lungs, red-rimmed eyes shining, but Ben sat stoic on his horse. Matt eyed them both then looked to the third brother who ground his teeth together, murder in his gaze. A quick glance back down at Kitty and he turned back to Caleb, a cold feeling growing in the pit of his stomach.

"What happened to your ma, Caleb?"

"She died," he growled. "She died, you sonofabitch, you condemned her when you killed our pa and left like it was nothing! Your job, the law, is more important to you than people."

Caleb blinked hard, and when he looked back up at Matt his expression had gone ice cold.

"Now…the money. I won't ask again."

Matt remembered. He finally remembered everything about that day ten years ago. And guilt churned in his gut. How many times had he left families like this behind? He had a duty to justice, but the cost was high. Kitty, his heart beat painfully. Too high.

With one last, longing look at Kitty lying still on the ground and a glance at Caleb and his brothers, Matt slowly turned and made his way back to Buck where the money hung in a pouch tied to his saddle, fear seeming to slow time.

"I'm the one holding all the cards here, Marshal."

He sent up a desperate prayer that he'd bought Kitty enough time.

Matt stayed his course but threw an arrogant taunt over his shoulder, projecting a confidence he didn't actually feel. "Maybe not all of them, Caleb."

Just then, chaos exploded – a Comanche yell split the air and Matt twisted and dove for his gun, a searing, burning, pain tearing through his shoulder. Shots rang out, he felt a bullet speed past his head, and a cry came from behind him. The horses scattered. Clawing at the mud, his hand found purchase on its target, and Matt rolled over and into a kneeling position, bringing his aim to bear on Caleb, trusting his backup to cover him.

Festus had come through just in time.

The surprise of the attack had done its job, and Caleb only had a moment to realize he'd lost it all before Matt fired, his aim steady and true.

Caleb lie in the road, his body at an awkward angle, rain pouring down on his upturned face, blood bubbling at his lips and speckled across his face to match the freckles standing out starkly against suddenly too pale skin. He could feel the life draining from his body, limbs unresponsive, cold like he had never known. His head lolled to the side, and his heart seized at the sight of his brothers, Harley face down in the mud and Ben's lifeless eyes staring up at the turbulent sky. He tried to call for them but choked on his own blood, tears mingling with the rain. He'd failed his little brothers.

"She must be real proud to have raised a son like you."

I'm so sorry, Ma….

And Caleb's vision faded to black, lost to oblivion.

Ten years of suffering and bitterness finally ended.