Circa 1873

This is the conclusion to , “Todd’s In Trouble.”

To catch you up on my story, thus far….

Sunshine MacGillicutty and boyfriend, U.S.Marshal Matt Dillon, have left Dodge City and have traveled to her home in Virginia. Todd Yates, Sunshine’s brother, is suffering from a particularly tough bout with depression.

Matt has left, returning to Dodge. For complete details, please read the last installment:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070908154025AAlP45v

And now, PART 4 , the CONCLUSION ……

“Todd’s In Trouble”

Subtitle…… “Love and All It’s Possibilities”

Frederick and Dannie Yates could see marked improvement in Todd’s condition. Not only was the depression lifting, he was returning to the healthy, happy young man he was before all the trouble began. They credited their daughter Sunshine with the miracle.

She had stayed on when Matt needed to return to his job as U.S.Marshal in Dodge City. She knew it was time well spent but she also knew it was time to go home ….. As much as she loved her brother, Matt had become such a part of her soul that her very being yearned for him.

After church service on her last Sunday in Virginia, Sunshine noticed how Todd was paying a great deal of attention to a young lady who was visiting her relatives. Her name was Karen Taylor, and she hailed from Raleigh, North Carolina.

It had been a long time since Sunshine had seen her brother this happy. He and Karen were smitten with each other.

Sunshine to her parents…… “Well. It appears that our dear Todd no longer needs me. ” She smiled as she put the last of her clothes in the suitcase.

Frederick Yates:” When will we see you again, daughter?”

Sunshine:” When you and mom come out to Dodge…THAT’S when!!”

Dannie Yates:” Oh, how exciting!! I can hardly wait to meet Festus and Doc.”

Frederick:” And let’s not forget Miss Kitty.” He laughed as he handed Sunshine one of her blouses.

Sunshine:”Yes. Good old Miss Kitty. Right about now she is trying to get her claws into Matt.” She smiled and closed the suitcase.

Dannie:” Why did you ever let him go back without you?”

Sunshine:” Oh, mother. Matt and I are committed to each other. Neither Kitty nor Kevin can drive us apart.”

Dannie looked uncertain…… ” Did you send him the telegram letting him know your plans?”

Sunshine: ” Yep; And he sent me a return telegram almost immediately. Wanna know what he said, mother?”

She took it out of her pocket and cleared her throat………

“Dear Sunny.Stop. (5) My body’s aching. Stop. Get on that train and DON’T stop until you are in my arms again.

Love, Matt.”

Dannie, quite the Southern lady, was rather alarmed at the mention of his “aching body.”

Dannie:” Oh, dear. Oh, dear.”

Sunshine smiled broadly……. “Oh, dear, indeed!!”

CUT TO COMMERCIAL

Meanwhile in Dodge…….. Kitty knew that she only had a few more days to coax Matt back into her arms. So far all attempts had proved futile.

Matt was sitting in the Long Branch sipping on his beer while Kitty went on and on about all the “glorious” days that they had shared.

Kitty:” (2) Enough of reminiscence and such happy memories.

Matt…. I want you to march up those stairs with me right now.”

She held his arm as she started toward the stairs.

Matt:” Kitty. You know I love Sunshine. And you know I’m faithful to her. Stop all of this.” As he got up to leave, Kitty said:” Just what IS it that draws you to her,so?”

Matt smiled:” She has the power to go where no one can find me.” (Bonus line)

When he reached the swinging doors, two of the dancehall girls yelled out to him. Matt just smiled …. “(4) Goodnight you moonlight ladies.”

He went back to his office before heading out to the farm.

Festus:”Now Matthew. Don’t you worry none. When Miss Sunshine gets home, I intend to take over here until……. well….until you ….. What I’m trying to say….”

Matt:”Until I’ve had my fill??!!! Festus……. I swear….That day will never come.” He put some papers away and then opened the door…… (3) Isn’t it amazing, a man like me can feel this way ?” He smiled and took out her telegram and read it for the tenth time that day…… (1)” Lord, I’ll be there, yes I will!”

Truth be told, he was at the train depot an hour before it’s scheduled arrival. When it finally pulled into Dodge Sunshine was the first to get off. She ran into Matt’s arms. When they finally let go of each other, the train had already pulled out and Festus had put her suitcases in the buggy.

Festus:”Uhhh….Matthew. I guess I’ll see you again in a few days.” He tipped his hat and was on his way.

On the ride to the farm, Sunshine had both her arms around Matt.

Try as he may, he couldn’t make the horses go as fast as his heart was demanding.

Sunshine:” I missed you SO much, baby. (8) Whisper something soft and kind. Would ya?”

Matt spoke in a voice so soft, that only Sunshine and God, himself, could hear……….” My heart was breaking when I had to leave without you, Sunny.” He leaned down and kissed her head.

Sunshine:” I have just the right medicine (7) If your broken heart should need repair.” She held his face in her hands and kissed him. Matt would have pulled the buggy off to a secluded spot but it was beginning to rain.

Matt:”(6) You are my only one, you are my only one, darling Sunshine.”

When they finally got home, Matt carried her to their bedroom. They spent the evening making love and making dreams come true.

Hours later, as they lay in each other’s arms, Sunshine told Matt about Todd’s recovery and about his new friend, Karen, from Carolina. She hummed a tune that Matt had never heard before.

She said that on the train ride home, she had written a song for Todd. Matt asked her to sing it to him.

She closed her eyes, strummed her guitar and sang the sweet words celebrating love and all it’s possibilities:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn8tixOYiZ0

☼ ‘s message……. P.S. Good story, Guinness. Thumbs up!

Lucilla, I love you!

We had been crazy about each other all through high school and everyone, including us, had thought we were destined to be married. Then my country called and I answered. For all those years I was listed as M.I.A., I never stopped thinking of her. It was truly beyond words to find out that she had married. I didn’t blame her. She was young and a woman needs love. Still, no matter how many years have passed, I look at her picture every night and think, “You are the only one, you are my only one.” Then the invitation to our class reunion had come in the mail. To have a chance to see her again, well, Lord, I’ll be there, yes I will!

There she is as lovely as if it were only yesterday. I’m nervous. Isn’t it amazing, a man like me can feel this way? Bravery placed my steps to face an enemy that could kill me with bullets, but my feet refused to take me across the floor to this woman who owns my heart. My body’s aching to hold her in my arms again, but she belongs to another. Oh, she has seen me and is heading my way!

Somehow we are dancing slowly and the rest of the world becomes shadows. She tells me she is a widow. I whisper something soft and kind into her fragrant hair. We end up out in the garden on a bench made for lovers. As the music spills outside, we talk, but we both know that we’ve had enough of reminiscence and such happy memories. Quietness reigns as I look into her eyes filled with the light of the full moon and James Taylor distantly sings, “If your broken heart should need repair…” The kiss is gentle then deepens into a passion that burns and consumes me as if I were 18 years old again. In my mind I know she will be coming home with me, so I will say goodnight you moonlight ladies for she has the power to go where no one can find me.

His ex-wife smiled from the side of the room. “My body’s aching” [5] for him” she thought, but would she let him know how she felt? NEVER! “Enough of reminiscence and such happy memories.” [2] she reassured herself. “It won’t do anyone here any good at all.”

But her gaze kept returning to him, he looked so proud and full of love for the birthday girl…she was drawn. She caved, sidled up to him and breathed “whisper something soft and kind” [8] to me … please?” He obliged, and bent down, lips to her ear…”If your broken heart should need repair…” [7] and he kissed her lobe softly.

In their distraction, 5 year-old Julie had disappeared down the hallway of the catering palace.

“Julie..JULIE!” She screamed.

“Relax” he urged.

“You don’t understand” she stuttered, “sh… shee shee, has the p…p p…pow power to go where n..n..no one can find me!” [B] He grabbed her wrists and brought her back to earth.

“Isn’t it amazing a man like me can feel this way.” [3] he wondered to himself, she was such a case. Once she’d calmed down, he brought her to the ladies’ room door, from which Juliette emerged, looking proud.

“Ok, I’m done here.” he said, “and, goodnight, you moonlight ladies. [4] Call me next weekend!” he waved high fives with a huge grin, and was off.