"I said three days time, Lawton." Salmon said annoyed by Lawton's outburst.

"You have no right. I demand that that whore hangs by her neck now." He yelled at them.

Festus shoved Combs out of the way and suddenly struck Lawton in the jaw. That was pretty much all it took. Lawton was out like a light. Matt grabbed Festus from behind and pulled him away. He then stepped back and watched as Comb and Jenkins help Lawton back onto his feet.

"I'm not going to say it again, Lawton, I'm the law here right now, and I'm not going to repeat myself." Salmon said angrily.

"I want that saddle tramp arrested for assault." Lawton said.

"It was self defense." Matt said.

"Agreed." Salmon said.

"Excuse me, your honor. May I speak with you a moment." Matt said as he let go of Festus. "Go stand over there with Kitty, for a moment." Matt said quietly.

Festus walked over to Kitty who was sitting in the chair surrounded by Doc, who knelt in front of her and Ma and Jules on either side of her. Lawton walked over to her and she looked up and stood up to meet him.

"You'll hang soon enough, you filthy whore." He said sneering at her and Kitty hauled off and struck him across the face. Lawton pulled his hand back but was suddenly stopped by one of the Texas Rangers.

"You've had your say, Augustus, now leave before I let that 'saddle tramp' tear you apart." Jaxson Thompson said to him. He knew Augustus from his soldiering days and they were not on friendly terms.

Lawton looked at her. But Kitty just stared back at him. He was going to get what he wanted, but she'd be damned if she would give him the satisfaction of showing fear.

Lawton and his cronies headed out of the courthouse. A small dark figure stood back in the corner. Watching the proceedings and Lawton's taunting of the woman. He could be such a cruel man to the people who worked for him.

Matt stood talking with Salmon Chase. The place was pretty much empty of spectators except for Doc, Festus, Ma, who was trying desperately not to cry. Jules who knelt beside Kitty holding her hand as Kitty just stared at her own boots. She was too young to hang for the death of such a despicable human being, but one thing was for certain, he deserved to die. Kitty realized Matt's boots where in front of her and mere inches away. She looked up into the most beautiful pair of sky blue eyes, she had ever known. Matt could feel the tension leaving his body so quickly just by looking at his beautiful woman with her fiery red hair, and sapphire blue eyes. Matt kneels down in front of her.

"Kitty," he said in an almost inaudible whisper. "Kitty, I asked Mr. Chase to marry us and he has…." She interrupted him.

"No." She said looking sadly at him.

"Kitty?" He asked her.

"No, Matt, I won't let you do it. I can't. Don't you understand, they're going to hang me. I won't do that to you." She said touching his face. "I love you for wanting to do that, but…" She didn't finish as he stood up abruptly.

"No. I don't want to hear anything from you but Yes." He said pulling her small frame to her feet. "I have loved you every since I ran into you. I thank Jake everyday for running past you. You have my heart and soul and there is nothing I can do or want to do to take it back. I love you, Kathleen Russell and I aim to marry you. Right here, right now." He said pulling her towards the center of the room. Everyone was in a flury. The sadness threatened to over-whelm the joy but they gathered around the two of them. Kitty stopped arguing with Matt. She could only look up at him in amazement.

Before she realized it, she was saying I do. She had no idea where the little bouquet of daisies came from as she looked at her hand. Matt leaned into to her and looked into her beautiful blue eyes, waiting for permission to kiss her. Kitty smiled and she leaned upward to meet him half way.

"I now pronounce you man and wife." Chase finished. "Matt, why don't you take your bride over to the Lansing Hotel. I'll have Jaxson and the others there to keep a watch over you." He said.

"I'm not planning on running away." Matt said indignantly.

"They're not to keep you from running away with Kitty." He said to him. "They're there to protect you from Lawton's men." Chase finished.

"He's already gotten what he wanted." Festus said from the back of the crew. It was at that time that Kitty saw the hurt and sadness in them all. But Festus was also angry, very angry. Kitty slowly stepped over to him and reached up and touched his cheek, the stepping up on tippy toes, she kissed is cheek.

Matt gently took Kitty's arm and the group headed out of the courthouse. They headed over to the hotel, where they found a table of food waiting for the small party. They ate and drank coffee and tea and tried to speak of other things, other than her impending death.

Augustus Lawton sat by his fire. It was too warm for such fires, but he needed the comfort that they often bring. "You went into town today, Bella." It wasn't a question it was more of a statement of him knowing what went on at all times.

"Yes. I wanted to see the outcome of the trial. You never tell me anything." She said trying to sound stronger than she felt.

"I only want to keep you from the horrors of this trial, Bella, you don't need to hear that….that woman's lies about our son." He said tossing his cigar in the fire.

"I know, Gus and I truly appreciate it, but you can't keep me hidden from the sun. I'm a big girl." She said smiling slightly at him. "I wanted to know what she had to say, that's the only reason I went there. Oh and to buy some new lace from Mr. Kinley's Mercantile." She said trying to get off the subject.

"New lace, whatever for?" He asked her.

"I was thinking of perhaps, new curtains in the drawing room. I really don't like that cream color lace, so I bought a beautiful pure white." She said as she continued her needlepoint work.

He smiled at her and sat back in his chair. "Gus?" she asked and he hummed a yes to her. "Do you mind if I go to Taylor. I was thinking of getting away for a couple of days, I haven't seen my sister Tildy in a year….." She trailed off.

"That's a wonderful idea, Bella. I'm sure Tildy would be delighted to see you." He said and things couldn't get better with her going away, everything would be just fine. That woman would hang for killing his only child and Bella would not have to be a witness to this.

Matt lay in the bed beside Kitty. Both of whom were still fully dressed. Matt held Kitty tightly against his chest as she cried. "I don't want to die, Matt." She said as he tightened his grip on her. "I love you, so very much and my heart is breaking because, just as we find each other, we are about to lose each other. You have always been my bestfriend, and the one who holds my heart. I want you to make me a promise." She said to him.

"If I can, I will." He said waiting for her to continue.

"Don't let this stop you from doing what you love and what you do best, don't stop being the lawman that you are. Your integrity and compassion are two of your qualities that I have fallen in love with. I want you to find someone, Matt. In a while, I want you to let go of me and my memory and I want you to continue living and loving." She said softly against his chest.

"How am I suppose to let go of you, Kitty. How do I let go of the one good thing in my life. The one person who made me feel so alive. How? I have waited my whole life for someone like you. And here you are, and you want me to let go? How?" He said as tears fell down his face and voice cracked on that last word.

Kitty sat up and looked at him. She gently touched his cheek. "You just do, Matt. I don't want you hating anyone or seeking revenge. I want you to continue to uphold the law and live your life to the fullest." She smiled slightly at him and she leaned in and kissed him on the mouth. Her own tears fell upon his cheek to mingle with his. "I don't want you to be there, when the end comes, Matt."

"Don't ask me not to be there." He told her.

"I don't want….I need you there, but I won't ask that of you." She started but he stopped her.

"I know you wouldn't ask that of me, but please don't make me leave you here alone." He pleaded with her.

She could see the pain in his eyes and the pleading in his voice. "Okay, I won't ask you to leave." She said laying her back on his strong chest. Her ear pressed against the place his heart lay and the sound of the strong rhythm slowly lulled her into a peaceful sleep.

Matt stood by the gravesite. Doc to his left and Ma at his right arm. Festus stood beside Ma and hand his arm around her waist to keep her from falling. She was crying as the pastor began with the prayer and spoke words of love and joy to the few onlookers. Matt could not believe that his life was at an end. His one and only love lay lifeless in a pine-box. His heart clenched as Ma and Doc began to retreat, but he and Festus stood by the grave, and waited as the men began to lower the casket into the ground. His heart clenched and he cried out her name, pleading with the powers that be to bring her back "NO! God No, you can't do this." He cried out gasping for air, he woke with a start. Sweat pouring down his face. Kitty quickly walked over to the bed.

"Matt?" She asked not really needing to know what was wrong, because she knew what it was, he had called out her name.

"I…I was just having a bad dream." He said as she sat down on the bed facing him. She reached over and took the small towel that sat on the nightstand and she gently wiped his brow.

"I know. I know my love. It's okay, Matt. It's okay." She said pulling his huge trembling form into her arms and she held him like that for a long time until finally he convinced her to come back to bed. She lay down, beside him and he held her as they both drifted back into an uneasy sleep. Neither of them really wanting to sleep or wanting to wake, knowing what the morning held for her and him.

Ma helped Kitty dress in her deep blue dress. She was shaking and Ma had to button the sleeves for her. Her hair hung in one long thick braid down her back. Ma would stop and wipe her tears with her hanky and Kitty continued to just button her dress. Kitty looked down at her shaking hands and took her gold band off. "No Kitty, you can't take that off." Ma argued.

"I can't take it where I'm going. I want you to give it to Matt, Ma. I have something else for you to give him." Kitty said going over to the dresser and pulling out the lace hanky Matt had bought her last year for her birthday. She hands Ma the hanky and Ma opens it, to find a red lock of her hair with a blue ribbon on it. Ma broke down, she couldn't hold back any longer. Kitty gently wrapped her arms around her. "I want to thank you Ma, for making me feel welcomed in Dodge." She said pushing Ma back slightly to look at her. "I want to ask a favor of you, Ma." She said.

"Anything, Kitty, anything." Ma said between gulps of air.

"Take care of Matt. He's going to need his friends when I…when I'm gone." She said trying to hold her own sobs at bay. "Don't let him dwell on this too long. He needs to keep living, for himself and for me." Kitty said. Neither women heard Jules step into the room. She wore a simple brown dress. There were circles under her eyes, she had not been sleeping, which Kitty had noticed on all of them.

"I, I don't want to interrupt, I.." Jules said but could not finished. "I'm sorry Kitty." She said breaking down. "I wish I had been the one to kill that bastard." She said angrily. Kitty just took her hand and held Ma's hand with her other. The three women stood like that for a few moments, until the church bell began to signal the time for the deed. Kitty held her chin high and took in a deep breath. She would walk down the street with her family and friends beside her and she would not let this dirty little town see any fear in her. They were nothing more than a town of cowards and she was no coward. She would die holding her head high. Sherriff Rogan knocked gently on the door and Jules opened it, no words were said, she pulled the door opened and Kitty saw Matt, Doc and Festus along with Mike and the three Texas Rangers there to protect her. She thought it seemed quite silly that they would still be there considering she was about to die. Why would she need protecting now. The thought made her laugh inside.

"Well," she said with a slight lump in her throat. "Shall we?" She said walking out of the room and heading for Matt. She could see that her big cowboy had red rimmed eyes as did Doc and Festus. Matt gently took her arm and they headed down the hallway and down the stairs to the lobby, then out the door. The street itself was clear of people, most of whom decided to watch from sidewalks, many of which unable to look at the group of people heading down the street for the Gallows. It seemed to be miles away, each step was a torturous step. But she continued with her head held high. Matt had her arm in his and Festus was on the other side of her. Doc and Ma were walking behind them with the Rangers taking up the rear. They reached the steps of the gallows and Kitty took the railing and looked up at the man standing by the rope with a hood on his head. She didn't care about him. She looked back at Matt and nodded to him. "I love you." She whispered to him.

"I love you, Kitty." He said just a bit louder than she.

"Let's get this over with." Came Lawton's voice from behind Doc.

"Mr. One of these days it's going to end for you. I only hope I'm able to witness it." Doc said with such venom that it startled Ma. But she understood.

Lawton just looked at Doc with contempt.

Kitty continued up the steps and moved over towards the hangman. He held a hood and began to put it on. "Please?" She asked him, not wanting to lose sight of Matt.

He looked over at Salmon chase who nodded his agreement. "Kathleen Elizabeth Dillon, you have been found guilty of murder by a jury of your peers and have been sentenced to hang on this day, Sunday June 7th Eighteen hundred and sixty-eight." He said and the hangman put the noose over her head. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

No one really noticed the buckboard roaring towards the gallows, until it pulled up and a petite blonde stood up and cried out.

"Stop! Stop, you can't hang her, she's innocent. She didn't kill Devon." Bella Lawton said to the dismay of her husband. Augustus pushed through the crowd heading for her.

"Go home, Bella!" He yelled at her. "Boyd, get her out of here." He said frantically. Boyd and another of his men headed for the buckboard, but not before Festus got in the way. Matt made his way over to the small woman who still held the reigns of the horses. "Get home, woman." He told her and reached for the reigns, but she pulled them out of his reach.

"No! I won't let her hang for something she didn't do." She said as he stood there barring her exit from the buckboard. He started to climb up into the buckboard, but Matt grabbed him from behind and shoved him. He then gently took by the waist and helped her down. She looked up at the big man and a tear fell down her cheek. Matt quickly guided her over to the gallows to Salmon Chase. The noose had been removed from Kitty's neck but she hadn't moved. Matt took her up to the Judge.

"Bella, what is the meaning of this?" He asked her confused.

"She didn't kill Devon." She said.

"How do you know that?" He asked her. "Do you have proof that she didn't kill your son?" Matt looked at the woman, realizing now who she was.

Bella reached into her deep pocket and pulled out a kerchief that was wrapped around a rather larger bowie knife. She opened the kerchief and held it up for Salmon to see.

"Who killed Devon, Mrs. Lawton?" Matt asked her and the frail woman looked up at him.

"I did." She said simply There was an audible gasp from the witnesses.

"Matt!" Doc yelled as Kitty hit the floor passing out. Matt rushed to her side and gently lifted her slight form into his strong arms.

"Sir?" He asks the Judge.

"Go on, get her up to the hotel, we will meet you there and get to the bottom of this." He said as Matt headed down the stairs with his precious cargo and headed for the hotel.

Matt, Doc, Kitty, Ma, Michael, Jules and Salmon sat at the table in the private dining room of the hotel. Lawton stood by the fireplace, his hand on the mantle and his head hung in shame.

"Tell me what happened, Bella?" Chase said quietly.

"I..I was in town, when he came in with Miss Russell, she was on foot, and tethered to his horse. They went into Jenkins' Bathhouse. Mark left, as soon as Devon was out of sight." She swallowed. Matt poured her a glass of water and she drank it down. "I went behind the bathhouse without anyone noticing me. It was quite simple since I'm usually invisible in town. No one really notices me unless I'm with Gus. So I went in the back. I heard everything that went on. She pleaded and begged with him and he..he just…laughed at her. He…beat her repeatedly and…" She looked over at Kitty who sat with her head down, not wanting everyone to hear this story again. "He wouldn't stop. I didn't intend to kill him, but when he brought her into the back rooms, I saw the absolute terror in her eyes. She didn't see me, I was in the shadow, but I saw what he had done to her. I remembered what he had done….to me." She said with disgust.

"Bella?" Chase asked. Lawton gulped, it was about to be announced to the entire town, what his son had done.

"I found a gold locket in his drawer, the same locket that Beth wore, but went missing after her murder." She reaches into her pocket and pulls it out, handing it to Michael Rogan. "When I confronted him, he became very angry with me for going through his things….he ….he hit me and then he…." She gulped unable to finish.

"It's okay, Bella." Chase said gently touching her hand. "I understand."

"I brought the knife into town to get rid of it. I wanted to sell it, or give it away. I hated the damn thing. Before I knew what I was doing, I was standing there with the knife in my hand and I stabbed him." She hung her head and began to cry.

"You knew this and you would let an innocent woman hang for this?" Chase asked Lawton angrily.

Lawton looked up surprised.

"No, Chase, he didn't know about it. He didn't know, I swear." Bella said pleadingly. Suddenly Lawton was by her side.

"I'm so sorry, Bell, so sorry." He said as she wrapped her arms around him.

"You needn't apologize to me, Gus." She said to him but he only hid his face in her neck.

"Now what?" Festus said.

"Now I send a wire out to Washington to inform them of the changes that Miss Russell is innocent and hopefully they won't want to press charges against Mrs. Lawton. I think she's been through more than enough." Chase told them

"Yes, I think she has." Kitty said as she stood and walked over to Matt. "Is this real?" She asked him and he pulled her into his arms for a bearhug.

"You know, you're now married to me," He said smiling at her and she at him. "You are stuck with me, my love." He said lovingly.

"I am happily stuck with you as you are with me." She kissed his cheek and he hugged her tightly. Festus and Doc were right there with them and as Matt let go, Doc pulled her into a hug as did Ma, Festus, Jules and even Michael Rogan hugged her. She smiled through the tears.

Three days on the train, three long days, but she was alive. She sat beside Matt, her hand in his. She laid her head on his shoulder. Across from them sat Doc and Ma. Festus and Jules sat on the other side of the isle. Matt looked down at their joined hands, her left hand in his right and he lifted it and kissed the gold band she wore. Kitty looked up at him and smiled. It wouldn't be long now, they would be back in Dodge. Kitty was happy to be going home, but she was also anxious, because she was sure the whole town would know what that animal had done to her. Matt knew what she was feeling. He could read her like no one else. "It will be alright, Kitty, I promise you." He said softly as she lay her head back onto his shoulder and he kissed the top of her head. She knew that he would make sure that everything was alright, but it didn't stop the apprehension. As they pulled up to the station, Kitty saw most of the town folk had come out to greet her. Which was a good sign indeed, since the station was more than six miles from town. She saw her friends from the Ladies Auxiliary, Newly O'Brien, Sam, Burke, and many others from Dodge all gathered on the sidewalk to welcome her home. Matt was the first down the steps of the train and he turned around to help Kitty down the steps. She watched her feet as she stepped down and then hung her head as she held onto Matt. Bess stepped up to Kitty and gently touched Kitty's shoulder. Kitty looked at her and saw the love in her eyes. Bess pulled Kitty into her arms and held her tightly as both women cried. "Kitty, I'm so glad you're home." She said pushing her back to look at her. She wanted to say how sorry she was for what had happened but Kitty stopped her with just the briefest of smiles. The women gathered around Kitty, hugging her and welcoming her home. Linda held her son tightly and cried as Kitty hugged her and kissed the boys forehead. He smiled up at the beautiful redhead.

"He knows you, Kitty." She said as she handed her bundle of joy to Kitty. Kitty smiled as she held the baby in her arms. Matt stood beside her looking down at the two and his hear ached to understand this feeling of pure love between a child and a parent.

"Kitty?" Came the surprisingly happy voice of Kerry White.

Kitty looked up startled and for a brief moment terrified, but that quickly changed to anger. Gently handing the child back to his mother, she watched as Kerry made her way over to them. Jules quickly stepped in front of Kitty, blocking Kerry's path. "Excuse me, I want to speak with Kitty." She said to Jules. Jules stared at her. She had seen Kitty's fear and then her anger and she knew right away who this woman was.

"I don't think so." Jules said standing her ground. No one made a move, but instead they stood to see what would happen.

"Who do you think you are?" Kerry asked her indignantly.

"I know, that I am Kitty's friend and you are not." Jules said staring at this creature, this woman whom she would love to plant in the ground.

"I don't know who you are…." Kerry started.

"But I know who you are and what you've done. And if you think for one minute I'm going to let you near Kitty and attempt to apologize to her for the misery you've caused her, think again, honey." Jules said defiantly.

"Get out of my way." Kerry said to her.

"It's alright, Jules." Kitty said from behind her. Jules looked back at Kitty and saw the fire in her eyes. Jules moved aside and Kerry stepped past her and up towards Kitty.

"Kitty…" Kerry said smiling brightly and walking up to her, but before she could say more, Kitty struck Kerry in the jaw and Kerry crumpled to the ground. Her hat falling over her face as she lay sprawled on the hard ground. Everyone was silent for but a moment then they began laughing and stepping away from an unconscious Kerry. Matt lead Kitty towards a buggy, and everyone headed into town. The conductor of the train, looked at the woman left alone on the ground and scratched his head.

Home At last.

Kitty sat in the chair waiting for Doc to finish writing in his book. "I was right, wasn't I. I'm with child?" She asked him, terrified of the answer.

Taking off his glasses he set them on the desk. They had only been home for about 2 months. She was still trying to deal with the aftermath of the events. "Yes, honey, you are." He said trying to figure out how to help her.

Kitty hung her head for a moment, then she looked up and took a deep breath. "Well," she said standing up. "I guess I bess tell my husband." She said trying to smile, but Doc knew it was a futile attempt of hiding the fear she felt deep in her belly. How would she tell Matt she was carrying Devon's child.

"Kitty, honey, I don't think you understand," Doc said but she interrupted him.

"I understand, Doc. I'm going to have a baby. A baby fathered by that animal that raped me." She said as the tears began.

"Kitty, you are only about a month along. This is yours and Matt's baby." He said smiling slightly at her.

"Matt's..our…baby?" She stumbled over the words. Doc went over to her as she began to cry and he gently took her into his arms.

"Yes, honey, yours and Matt's." He said gently rubbing her back.

Matt was at the town fair. Kitty had said she would meet him at the dunking tank. He had known she was upset about something, but said she would talk to him later about it. Doc and Festus came around the side of the tank.

"Dang blast it, stop your pushin' on me, Doc." Festus said as Doc let him up the set of steps to the tank. Matt looked over at the two of them and smiled as he approached them.

"He's not trying to back out, is he Doc?" Matt asked him.

"How in tarnation did I let that purty little redhead talk me into this her contraption?" Festus asked Matt.

"It's easy, Festus, Kitty can talk you, Doc or even me into whatever little crazy idea she has." Matt told him. "Speaking of whom, where is my beautiful wife?" He asked as Festus carefully climbed onto the board where he'd sit. He wore an older type shirt, and slacks with a rope tied around them as not to ruin a perfectly good leather belt.

"She was over at the Cakes and Pies table with Jules," Doc started, "Oh, here they come." He said looking over towards the direction of the table. Both women were dressed in their Sunday best. Jules wore a soft pink gown, while Kitty wore a gown of deep sapphire blue with only made her eyes bluer if that were possible. The three gentlemen stared at the two women as they made their way over to them.

"Hello." Kitty said to them.

"Hello my beautiful wife." Matt said gently taking Kitty's hand and pulling her closer to his side. She smiled up at him.

"Glad you ladies are here, we're about to watch Matt dunk that scraggily fool." Doc said.

"Hey, you ole' scudder." Festus said insulted by Doc's playful banter. But he hid the smile.

"Go ahead, Matt show us how it's done." Doc said pulling Matt over to the target area.

Matt picked up the ball and bounced it in his hand. He then took aim and threw it, but the ball was too far to the right. "Nice try, Marshall." Festus said teasingly.

Matt picked up the next one and aimed again, but once again, he missed. "You a might better with that gun than that ball, Mathew." Festus taunted him. Kitty smiled and stepped over to Matt.

"Cowboy, let me show you how it's done." She said and he stepped back and let her take a turn.

"Hey, no fair. She can't do that." Festus said knowing how this was going to end.

"Hush up, Festus." Kitty said. "You just sit still, won't be but a minute." She said taking aim and then she let the ball go. It hit the target and Festus looked up shocked right before he fell into the large barrel. Everyone laughed as he sputtered and grabbed his hat from the water than put it back on. He pushed the board back up in place and climbed back on the board soak and wet and looking a might like drowned cat, as he himself would say. Matt smiled at Kitty and for the first time since the kidnapping, he saw true happiness in her eyes. He asked her how she was feeling as the other's gathered around to try and dunk Festus. Kitty stepped up on tippy toes and whispered into his ear. Matt stepped back and looked at her, up and down and then lifted her off of the ground in a gentle bear hug.

Once again, all is right in the little town of Dodge

The End

Thank you for reading. I truly hope that you have enjoyed this and I hope that I was able to keep you on the edge of your seats even in this final chapter. It has been a true labor of love, as always. Matt and Kitty are my favorite characters of all time. And I've never witnessed a love, even if make believe, that seemed so real. I have always been a fan and I will continue to do so. Please stay tuned for my next story, I think It's going to be called "Shayonna or maybe Prairie Child." I'm not sure but I know that it has been in the works for some time. I just have to get all my note books together and start. Take care and Thank you all for your support and love. I love Matt and Kitty, always.