Authors note: Thank you guy for all the love and support! I'm so glad you guys are still enjoying this story.

I'm sorry that I didn't have earlier, but I had family in town so I didn't have time to write or edit. This chapter did go completely different than what I had expected but that's okay. I thought it was all set and ready to go it was only to be 1,000 or so words and I ended up with 2,600+ words. So I hope you guys are okay with the wait. I'm sorry if there are any spelling/grammar mistakes, I was up all night trying to finish this. because I feel like I have been working on this chapter forever.

And I know you guys really are wanting to know what is going to happen. So with that being said, here is Chapter 8

The month of August had now given way to September.

One evening night, Kitty sat down in the library enjoying the quietness of the house to herself. The girls were asleep in their beds while Sarah had gone over to her sister's house for the evening.

The grandfather clock chimed, telling Kitty it was 7:00. She rubbed her tired eyes; she hadn't realized she had been reading for the past two hours. "No wonder my eyes are so heavy."

With that, she turned down all the lights, and she made her way upstairs.

Kitty checked in on the girls before turning in for the night. Slowly as She opened the door, Lady's ears perked up, and she was now sitting up looking at Kitty, who only smiled as she pressed her fingers to her lips. The dog understood the command and laid back down on her blanket. Lady was always so faithful in watching over the girls as they slept.

Kitty stood in the doorway, watching her girls sleep. She hugged herself, wishing Matt was here standing next to her, taking in this scene.

Kitty's eyes landed on a picture of her and Matt hanging up on the wall.

They were standing in each other's arms, and a loving gaze on both of their faces. They had that photo taken in St. Louis several years ago. Bethany was only four at the time, and Maddie wasn't even a twinkle in her mother's eyes yet.

Their trip was going so well. Until Matt received word, he had to escort the outlaw, Monk Wiley, back home to Dodge City. Then everything took an unexpected turn as they were heading home when the stagecoach wrecked. Kitty switched Matt's and Monk's identities before the gang of outlaws came down and found them.

Kitty softly chuckled as she thought about every adventure Matt had taken her on. Whether he planned on it, or not.

Matt often wondered what happened to her copy of the picture. She'd always tell him, that she must have lost it in the wreck. But all the time it was here, hanging in the girls' bedroom. It had never left St. Louis with her.

Kitty gently whispered to the girl, as she closed the door behind her, "I love you, my precious girls."

Once Kitty entered her room, she let out a sigh of relief as she slipped off her shoes and she began to rub her sore neck and back.

Over the past few days, she and Sarah had been getting the garden ready for fall. Pruning flowers, harvesting vegetables, and plenty of other things.

Kitty would admit she forgot how much work went into having a garden, but if she were ever able to have one of her own, she'd do it in a heartbeat.

She walked over to her window and opened it, letting in the cool late summer night air. Kitty could tell the seasons were beginning to change as an autumn's chill mixed in with the late summer breeze. The air was so lovely and so fresh that she closed her eyes and lingered there for a moment.

And upon opening her eyes, a beautiful sunset with colors of pinks, purples, blues, yellows, and oranges all faded into one another. Creating the most beautiful picture, as the sun told the world goodnight until it be morrow.

The last sliver of sunlight reflected off the little band on Kitty's left hand. With a sigh, she looked down at her ring finger where a simple silver band rested. The wedding ring, she bought it years ago. It was only for show, nothing more.

But it was a lie she would let everyone believe, including herself.

"If only I would have just told Matt years ago. I wouldn't be in such a mess now."

She thought as she turned back to her room.

The thought Of Matt, the girls, church, the song, and the still small voice entered her mind.

She felt overwhelmed by everything, as it was crowding in around her. Kitty held on to the brass frame of her bed as she sat down. The thought of having to tell Matt the truth about the girls and everything else in between. Honestly, it scared her half to death and made her feel sick to her stomach. But Matt had every right to know about his daughters.

Thinking about the girls that slept in the room next door, they were both such precious gifts. Why did she keep them from Matt all this time? She sighed in frustration at herself,

It was for the same reason that she and Matt never married. He always said he had a job, and he had to do it. He never wanted to leave her a widow with children to take care of, not the way his father had.

And what if something happened to her; who would be there to take care of their children?

Matt never could bring himself to do that to Kitty. He always said he loved her too much for that.

Sure, if he would have known about Bethany before she was born, Matt would have married Kitty without any questions or hesitation. She knew he would have done the right thing by marrying her. But Kitty never wanted to force Matt into marriage simply because her being pregnant with his child. She was always afraid he would feel trapped in their marriage.

But those precious, darling girls, they were a part of her and Matt. When she was pregnant with them,

Kitty would find herself falling in love with them with each movement and kick they made as they grew inside of her. The thought of giving them up for adoption was not an option she'd make; she was keeping those girls.

Kitty had planned on telling Matt when she was pregnant with the girls, but each time she thought about bringing it up, the timing was never right. Matt would have to leave town after some outlaw. Some kind of accident would happen. Such as him being shot, injured badly, or something else. Or they would argue over something.

Kitty shook her head, thinking back on each argument they had about marriage, a home, children, and his job. She could now somewhat understand Matt's outlook on things. As she thought about the kidnappings, shootings, outlaws, and the countless other things that she had faced with being Matt's woman.

If the girls, would have ever been brought into the world their father lived out. It would have been dark and terrifying for them, even more so than it had been for her and Matt.

Sure, Kitty wanted to keep her children safe from all those nightmares. She did it, but at what cost?

Had it been worth keeping them a secret from their father?

She sighed and looked at a picture of Matt that sat on her dresser.

"Could He ever forgive me, for what I have done, and all the secrets I have kept from him?"

A quiet stillness filled the room,

"Be still and know." Kitty smiled; she was starting to know that voice, it was so peaceful and calming. But the truth was a scary thing to face.

"A lie is easy, and the truth is hard." She could hear Matt's voice, echoed in her ears as she could remember him saying that, once upon a time long ago.

Kitty looked at the picture, then to her writing desk, she knew what she had to do.

But if she had the chance to go back ten years ago maybe even before and make things right,

She would.

Kitty exhaled; taking the pen in her hand, she looked down at the blank paper that stared back up at her.

What was she going to say? With a sigh, she pressed the pen to the paper,

"Dear Matt..."

She bit her lip. That was too formal. She scribbled over what she had written and tried again,

"My dearest." She sighed again, scratching out another line on the paper.

"Ugh! Why is this so hard?!"

Frustrated, she crumpled the paper and tossed it into the trash bin.

With a new sheet of paper, she took a deep breath and tried once again.

"My Beloved, Cowboy."

Well, that was the start, but her mind went blank on what else to say.

"This is going to be harder than I imagined," Kitty rubbed her temples, but it didn't help.

Her mind was so muddled that if she wrote anything, it wouldn't make sense.

With a long sigh, she placed the pen back in its holder, with that, she made herself ready for bed.

That letter was going to have to wait until she could find the right words to say.

Kitty climbed into her bed and soon drifted off to sleep.

It was early in the morning, at the Dillon household. Birds were singing outside the window while chickens were cackling in the yard as an old barn cat scurried past them.

Kitty moaned as she felt someone nuzzling her neck, gently coaxing her to wake up.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Matt said with a smile as he kissed her.

She snuggled under the covers a little more as the bed was so warm and inviting, but Matt's loving arms as he wrapped her in his tight embrace was too.

"I'm not ready to get up yet," She mumbled.

Matt laughed as he kissed his wife again,

"Well, we could stay here all day. I could ride over to Will's to see if the girls could go over there after school. I'm sure Bess wouldn't mind looking after the baby for a little."

"Matt..."

Kitty looked at her husband, who had a twinkle in his eyes. She was about to say something when she heard an infant's cry breaking the silence.

"That sounds like fun, Cowboy. but right now, there is a child of ours that needs me," she flipped the covers back, but Matt stopped her. "You stay right there; I'll go get the baby."

Before Kitty could protest, Matt had left the room.

She softly chuckled, how much she loved that man of hers. He was a loving, caring father and husband any woman could ask for

Kitty looked around their room. It was a spacious room, with a large four-poster bed, with a feather mattress and pillows all around. Homemade blankets that laid upon the bed. Family pictures that hung on the walls. She smiled; this place felt so much like home compared to her past life at the Long Branch.

Yes, it had been her home for twenty years, but this was the home she longed for and wanted for so long.

Kitty laughed when she heard Matt tell the girls that they needed to get dressed and go down and do their chores before breakfast and school. Matt entered the room. He stood there bare-chested; Kitty guessed it was because of the baby. But in his arms, he held a small bundle wrapped in a little yellow blanket.

"Somebody was fussy, wet, and wanting mama this morning." Matt sat down on the bed and handed the three-month-old baby to his wife.

Kitty smiled as she took the baby to nurse.

She couldn't see the child's face, but she could tell the child's hair was a combination of both hers and Matt's.

As the baby nursed, Kitty let the little hand grasp tightly to her finger. While she gently kissed the peach fuzz hair.

She smiled up at Matt, who was admiring her and the child.

"Alright, Matt, what is on your mind?"

A smile spread across the ex-Marshal's face.

"I was just thinking how beautiful you are, and how we should have another one."

Kitty could only laugh at Matt's remark as he leaned in and kissed her. It was then the baby took its hand and pushed Matt away. "Hey now."

Matt looked at the baby, who was in a milk coma. He leaned down and kissed the baby's soft hair. Kitty smiled at him, then looked at the baby,

"I think someone is ready for Daddy to burp and change them again,"

Matt gave her a funny look. Kitty looked at the baby,

"Tell Daddy if he wants any mama time..."

"Say no more, Mrs. Dillon. I'll take it from here."

With that, he scooped the baby back up in his arms and left the room.

Kitty could only smile as she made her way downstairs to start on breakfast. The girls were already outside doing their chores.

It wasn't long when the house smelled like eggs, bacon, toast, coffee, and biscuits.

"Say, that smells good."

Matt came down with the baby and laid it in the cradle. He came up behind Kitty and kissed her.

He tried to snitch a bit from the skillet, only to have Kitty smack his hand away.

"Ouch!"

"Oh, you'll live. It will be ready in 5 minutes, can you let your daughters know. Please."

"Yeah."

Kitty could only smile as Matt pulled on the dinner bell.

"BETHANY, MADDIE, BREAKFAST!"

Matt came walking back into the kitchen with a smile on his face,

"What is so funny?"

"Maddie was telling the rooster; he was going to go into the stew if he doesn't quit chasing after mittens the cat."

Kitty could only smile while her husband set the table.

It wasn't long before everyone was sitting down to eat. Matt turned to Maddie, "Maddie, it's your turn to say grace."

Everyone had their heads bowed and eyes closed, all but Kitty as she took in the scene of her family.

All sitting together, under one roof.

Kitty yawned and stretched as she slowly opened her eyes. She didn't want to wake up from that dream. Everything in it felt so real. Like she could reach out and touch it. Hold it close and never let go.

She swallowed the lump in her throat as she thought of Matt, the girls, and the sweet baby.

Could it be like that? What was Matt going to say when he finds out?

Kitty looked over at her writing desk as thoughts and phrases filled her mind.

The sun was peeking over the horizon as she sat down at the desk. With pen in hand, she began to write.

"My Beloved, Cowboy,

So many days and nights have passed since we've last seen each other. How I miss your smile, your tender touch, your laughter, and your voice. There hasn't been a day that's gone by that I don't think about you.

Cowboy, it was nothing you did that caused me to leave Dodge city or you. Believe me, Matt, that was the hardest decision I've ever had to make.

I had my reasons why I left everything behind, including you it was not easy.

Matt, there is something I need to tell you. But its, not something that I can explain by pen and paper or telegram.

I guess what I'm trying to say, Matt, is would you come here to St. Louis? I would return to you in Dodge, but I am unable to at the moment.

Oh, Matt, I found the letter you put in my carpetbag, four months after you put it there.

Cowboy, you know how I lose things in that bag.

I love you, Matt. Nothing will ever change that.

Until we meet again

With all my love,

Kitty."

With a sigh of relief, Kitty put the letter into an envelope and wrote. "Matt Dillon, Cowboy of my heart."

She then set the pen down she wasn't ready to go out and mail that letter just yet,

She wanted to give it a few days to make sure she was ready to send it to Matt.

So Kitty left the letter sitting on her desk, where she could see it every time she passed by.