Kitty looked up from her books and smiled as Abelia walked in.
"Morning Kitty," she said setting a pie dish on the table in front of the saloon owner.
"Good morning," Kitty replied lifting the cloth. "Is that apple pie?"
"Yes," Abelia said smoothing out her hair. "I thought, I would bring you one. I baked two last night."
"What is that," Doc said stepping into the Long Branch. "What do I smell?"
Kitty smiled as the physician sat down at the table. "It's an apple pie," she said lifting the cloth. "Do you want a piece?"
"Well yes, I want a piece," Doc said looking at Abelia. "You have to stop baking like this young lady. Your going to make all of us fat!"
"Festus doesn't mind it," Abelia said smiling.
"Of course not," Doc replied swiping at his mustache. "Your already making him fat!"
"Doc," Kitty said dishing out the doctor a piece of the home made apple pie. "You have to agree, since he's been married his overall appearance has greatly improved."
"Thank you Kitty," Abelia said with a sigh. "Besides, now that I don't have my farm anymore, I'm bored. Cooking and baking while Festus works with Matt is all I have to occupy my time."
"Well, I wish I could help you out," Kitty said absently while looking over her ledger. "But I'm afraid there isn't much to do in this town.
"What is that your working on Kitty?" Abelia said watching the saloon owner pour over the book.
"My books for the month," Kitty said exasperated. "I must have looked at this thing a hundred times today and I can't figure out where I lost a case of whiskey."
"Can I try?" Abeila asked.
"Be my guest," Kitty said sliding the book toward her.
Abelia looked at the books a few minutes before making a notation. "Look here," she said showing Kitty the book. "This week you received five cases of wine but the last week you marked four down and one less on the whiskey this week than last week."
"Wait a minute," Kitty said turning around. "Sam, check the store room and make sure I didn't tally the wine and the whiskey wrong please."
"Sure Ms. Kitty," Sam said stepping into the back, a moment later he returned.
"That's what you did," he said with a grin.
"Well, I'll be," Kitty said changing the numbers. "Thank you Abelia, you just saved me a lot of work."
"Your welcome," Abelia said.
"Where did you learn how to do that," Doc asked curiously.
"My father taught me," Abelia said thoughtfully. "We had a large spread, lots of cattle, horses, and sheep. We had to keep track of everything. I think I was about ten when he first showed me how to do the books."
"That's it," Kitty said. "You can help me out around here keeping track of the inventory and I can pay you a salary every month."
"Really," Abelia said excitedly. "I would love to do that!"
"And you would be helping me out a lot. In fact, you can start tomorrow," Kitty said eagerly. "I've always said this job is more than one person could handle."
"And the best part," Doc said helping himself to a second piece of pie. "You have less time for baking."
"Thank you again Kitty," Abelia said with a giggle as Kitty sighed. "I'll see you tomorrow. I'm going to go tell Festus right now."
"Alright," Kitty said nodding.
Festus filled Matt's coffee cup before filling his own. "What's that yer lookin at Matthew?
Matt looked up from the telegram and sighed. "It says the Dalton gang could be headed this way."
"Yer talkin bout the bunch that's been robbin banks?"
"Ya," Matt said. "Only they just hit a train last night."
"What'd they get away with," Festus said as the door opened.
"Marshal," Abeila said stepping inside as Festus made his way over to his wife.
"Bee," Festus said smiling. "What brings ya here?"
"Well," Abelia said softly. "I wanted to tell you, that I stopped off at the Long Branch and gave Kitty an Apple pie. We were talking about how much work she has to do and I offered to help and she said she could use it."
"Ya mean you want ta work for Ms. Kitty in the saloon?" Festus asked.
"It wouldn't be at night, just during the day while the children were in school," Abelia stated quickly. "And it's just to help keep inventory and track of stock."
"Wal if in Ms. Kitty needs yer help and you wantin ta do it," Festus said with a shrug. "It's fine with me."
"Thank you," she said throwing her arms around his neck.
Festus pulled his wife closer and brushed her lips with his.
Matt cleared his throat as the hillman broke the embrace and smiled. "I'll see ya fer dinner, me an Matthew got some work ta do."
"Alright," Abelia said stepping back. "Bye Marshal."
"Ma'am," Matt replied as the woman left.
"Now, where were we," Festus said absently as Matt grinned.
"They robbed the train," Matt said reading the telegram. "And got away with gold and a large shipment of weapons that was intended for Fort Dodge."