Disclaimer: Just taking our friends out to play, Will put them back when I'm done!

Grace, Through the Years

PT.1

A/N: I'd like to thank all my readers and kind reviewers through my many stories. I really appreciate the loyalty and support. You all make this all worth doing.

I'm going to back up a bit and fill in the years between, "His Heart Beats in Mine" and "Laced by Blood".

GRACEGRACEGRACE

Sitting a rambunctious, five year old Grace down on her bed, Kitty was trying to convince her that physical force was wrong, after Grace had balled up her tiny fist and rammed them into Sargent Holly and yelled at him to stay away from her Momma because her Poppa "doz'in like him and if'in he don't, Poppa will lock um'up. " She stood her ground, feet planted, legs parted, fist balled up, one on each hip, head shaking, bouncing the dozens of red curls all over. She meant business!"

"Grace, now listen to me, Young Lady. Com here. Let's get you changed and ready for bed."

"OHHHHHH Momma!"

"Don't you, 'Oh Momma' me. Come on." Now lifting the dress over her head.

"See? If you'd just let me wear regular clothes, not these fluffy things, it wouldn't matter if I got dirty." Now throwing her little chubby arms across her body and staring at Kitty with a pouty look.

As Kitty turned with a night gown in hand, the look on Grace's face was burning right through her. Exhaling, sitting beside her. "Gracie Sweetheart. Look, I know you want to run and play and well…" nodding, "yeah get dirty." They both giggled. "But Sweetie, you are still a little girl and sometimes you have to be a little girl. There are just some things little girls don't do. Time for you to get some sleep."

Hanging her head, "Ok, Momma." Sliding the gown over her head, slipping under the blanket.

"Ok, your Poppa will stop in to kiss you good night."

"Momma! Butterfly kisses." Leaning in, they exchanged fluttered butterfly kisses. "Love you, Momma."

"Love you, Gracie."

Matt, once again doing his best trying to drink Festus' coffee, was going over the morning mail. Slowly, out of the corner of his eye, but pretending not to notice, he saw the door slowly creep open.

Holding up a poster, he let the figure enter the room. "Well now, is there something I can help you with, stranger?"

Now standing before him, in her little overalls, plaid shirt, cowboy boots and hat with loose curls popping out from under the bottom, she had, in her pockets, two carved wooden guns. "I'm Grace Maria Dillon. I'm your dep'ty. I gonna help you catch bad guys."

It was all Matt could do not to burst out laughing. "Well now, I was wondering when I was going to get another deputy.

Gracie Honey, Poppa, don't have any bad guys to catch right now. Maybe you and your friends can guard outside, ummm, say for Momma? But I don't want you playing inside the Long Branch. You know you can't run in and out there, right?"

Rolling her eyes, "Yes, Poppa." She turned and ran out.

Running into Festus on Ruth, she smiled. "Hi, Uncle Festus. I'm a dep'ty like you! I'm helping Poppa."

"That's good and you be hep'in me too, Gracie. You and me be a workin' with yer Poppa."

"YAYYYYYYYY!" Gracie yelled.

Festus pulled her up onto Ruth as he rode down to Moss Grimmick's.

As they rode, she looked at the mule. "Nice Ruth." She rubbed his ears.

Sitting, having a quiet supper, Kitty knew something was wrong. "Ok, Cowboy, out with it. You're extremely quiet and have barely touched your food. That's…"

Waving his hand, he tossed his napkin aside. "Kit, looks like I'm going to have to…"

Shaking her head. "Where to? And how long?"

"Kit, I'm not sure. These two may be headed for Dodge and I'd rather find them before they do. They escaped from Leavenworth two days ago."

Now furrowing her brow, "Matt…"

Shaking his head, "Kitty, Festus is going with me. Newly will be here. I'm meeting up with Sheriff Reilly from Wichita. He's heading this way hoping to head them off."

"Matt, I…I…" Exhaling. "Please…"

Reaching for her hand, "Kit, I will, I will." Now turning, he scooped up Grace. "Hey, can Poppa get a big hug from his favorite girl?"

Snuggling her little arms around his neck, chuckling, "Poppa's favit' girl. Hahaha"

Kitty just looked on smiling, watching how tightly he held Grace to him. She knew how much leaving her meant to him. Leaving both of them was the hardest thing ever.

While putting Grace to bed he explained he had to take a trip with uncle Festus and he needed her to be a big girl and look out after things while he was gone. He needed her to help Uncle Newly."

"Okay, Poppa! And I'll take good care of Momma too. Oh, and we'll keep the light on."

He smiled as he looked into the little face that was a miniature of her Mother.

Early the next morning, as Kitty descended the stairs, "Sam, good morning."

"Morning, Miss Kitty."

"Gracie down bothering you so early?"

Shaking his head. "No, Miss Kitty. Why she was up and out the door. Said she had to see Festus. I thought you knew she was up."

"That child!" She headed for the door.

Moss Grimmick's Stable

"Good morning, Mister Hank."

As Hank looked around, he heard the voice but saw no one. Then he realized it was little Gracie. "Well, hello there, Missy! What can I do for you?"

"You can saddle up Buck! My Poppa needs to ride him today. Him and Uncle Festus have to go somewhere and catch some bad guys." She was standing with both hands on her hips.

Hank stood scratching his head, "Well now, you don't say."

"Oh yeah, I do. And I'm gonna take Buck to him."

"Oh, you are, huh?"

"Uh huh. But I need help. Ya know, giy'in up there." She now stared up at him. "Ya know, you go like this." She put her hands together as to show him to boost her up.

It was all he could do not to laugh. "Oh, oh I see. Hummm, that's how it's done, huh?"

"Yes sir, Mister Hank. I see'd it done."

He put Matt's saddle on Buck. "Miss Gracie? Have you ever rode a horse?"

Pouting at him, "Well, with Poppa and Momma."

"Oh, I see." Hank answered.

"But Buck is a good horse. He's Poppa's horse. He'll take me to Poppa."

"Well, maybe I should go with you."

" Mister Hank, I'm five. I'm not a baby. I can do it my ownself. Just you watch and see."

Hank helped her up and slowly walked her out of the stable. She sat on Buck proud as a peacock. Walking down Front Street, saying hello to everyone as she passed. "Come on, Buck Boy, let's go see Poppa!"

Kitty and Sam were now at the batwing doors. Inhaling deeply, "Sam?"

He placed his hand on her shoulder, "Now, Miss Kitty, wait. We don't want to startle her."

"But, Sam…" She was almost at the office.

"Poppa? Poppa?"

Kitty quickly rushed across the street.

Matt heard her voice and headed out the door. "Gracie? What the…"

"Grace Maria Dillon!" Grace turned seeing Kitty rushing at a fast pace.

"Hi, Momma!"

"Young Lady, don't you dare, 'Hi Momma' me!"

"But, Momma, I bringed Buck to Poppa."

"You brought Buck to Poppa. UGH!" Kitty's face was red, stamping her foot and clinching both fists on her hips. "What on earth were you thinking? Grace… Young lady, I should tan your hide! Don't you dare…"

Matt grabbed her by the shoulders. "Kit relax. She's alright."

"Matt, she could have fallen and broken her neck, anything. She's just a little girl."

"Kitty, I know but she didn't. She's fine. You know Buck is gentle."

Tilting her head, her jaw tight. "Matt… Grace, how on earth did you get up there?"

"Mister Hank did this." Motioning with her hand, putting them together.

Nodding, "Hank? Well, guess I'll have me a talk with him?"

"Kit, I'll talk to Hank." Matt gently lifted Grace off Buck. "Thank you, Gracie, for bringing me Buck. But next time I'll do it, ok?"

"But, Poppa, I did it good, didn't I?"

Clearing his throat, looking at Kitty. "Yes, Honey, you did. But, Momma wants…" Then he looked at Kitty again and started again. "Me and Momma want you to wait till you get a little bigger before you ride a big horse. Ok? You understand?"

Pouting, "Yeah, I guess."

"Come on, give Poppa a smile and a kiss and hug."

Jumping up on him, kissing and hugging him.

"Hey! Maybe you should tell Momma you're sorry for scaring her. You know Momma worries about us. She loves us both and doesn't want us to get hurt."

"Yeah, I know, we love Momma too."

When she jumped down, Grace slowly walked over to Kitty hanging her head. She reached for her hand, "Momma? I'm sorry I scared you riding on Buck. You love me and Poppa and we love you."

Looking in her deep pools of blue, quickly melted away Kitty's anger. Scooping her up in her arms and in a tight hug. "Grace Maria Dillon, what am I gonna do with you?"

Grace squeezed Kitty's cheeks, kissed her then laughed and yelled out, "Hugs, Momma! Hugs!"

TBC