The Foundling, My Way.
Is there anyone else out there who did not like the way Kitty's feelings were disregarded in this episode? It ticked me off to no end. Matt and Doc had just decided that Mrs. Baines would be a more suitable mother. As Festus would say, "Foot!" Or as I would say, bullshit!
So at the end of the episode, Kitty concedes defeat and gives the child to that Baines woman. I wonder if the fact that they pretty much disregarded Kitty's feelings, was the reason that Amanda Blake left the show. It Wouldn't surprise me one bit. Kitty went from Matt's woman, to Matt's friend. What a hock of crap. Anyway, I digress. I'm writing this over only from the time that she decides she wants to keep the child. This is going to be a fight, but I promise, not too long winded to lose interest. Btw, any errors I apologize for in advance. But if you have read my stories, you know that I am full of errors. LOL
And so it begins….
Kitty sat in her room holding the infant that Matt had handed her just hours ago. She had finally rocked the child to sleep. Looking at the sleeping round face, she thought about how much she had missed, being the Marshal's woman. She had never been married, because she had waited for Matt all those years. And here she was, 39 years old, no children, no husband to speak of. And an infant in her arms that didn't belong to her. As she looked at the tiny sleeping angel, she wondered what her circumstances were. Who was her mother or who was her father for that matter? When she realized she had been lost in thought, she looked down at the baby in her arms who was staring up at her. Blue met brown, and something seemed to happen in the span of a few seconds. The baby smiled and cooed at her and it melted her heart. "Hello there." Kitty said smiling at the baby. "My name is Kitty. I don't suppose you have a name, but then again, Matt didn't tell me anything about you, why would that big lug tell me your name?" The baby smiled at her and Kitty smiled back. "I'm not even sure if you're a boy or a girl, but with such a sweet face you have to be a little girl." As if on cue, Kitty felt the wetness seep through the diaper. "Well, I guess I'm about to find out aren't I?" Kitty gently took the baby over to her bed. She took a large bath sheet from the drawer and laid it out, then laid the baby on the bed. She then laid the baby down, unhooked her clothes and unpinned the diaper. She then took the wet diaper off and placed it on the nightstand. Then she went into her drawer and retrieved a towel which she would use as a makeshift diaper until she could buy some at the general store in the morning. She took the basin and a rag and gently cleaned the baby up then placed the fresh clean diaper on her. "Well now, that wasn't too bad. And since I now know your gender, I think I'll call you Mary. For the time being anyway." She said leaning over the baby and talking to her. Placing the baby on the center of the bed, Kitty went over to her dresser, pulled out a drawer and placed the contents neatly on the setee. She then lined it with two blankets . Placing Mary in the makeshift cradle, she then decided to go look through the box she had in the bottom of her closet. It was a box of baby things that one of the girls had left there. The young woman worked in the saloon while she was pregnant. She had been working there until her husband would get out of prison. He would only be gone for a few months, so Kitty offered her a job until he returned. When she became too large for working in the saloon, she stayed in her room and became a seamstress for the women working in the saloon. She and her baby, stayed at the Long Branch for two months after the child was born. Kitty had bought a lot of clothing for the child. As she opened the large box, expecting just a few outfits left behind, she found quite a few outfits with a note on top for her. Taking the note she read it.
Dear Miss Kitty,
I want to thank you for all of the things that you gave me for Lillian. The outfits are so beautiful. I've left you a few of them including a few things I made. I just know that one day, you will have need of them yourself. I'm keeping you and the Good Marshal in my prayers.
Love Lillith
Kitty smiled at the note. She then continued to look in the box. The clothing that Lillith had made were absolutely beautiful. The tears began to fall down her cheeks. All these years, she had been the Marshal's woman and they had always been so careful. This little girl was her chance, perhaps her only chance. Taking the beautiful knitted blanket out and a night dress for the baby, she went back over to Mary who was smiling up at her. That made her heart melt even more. She gently lifted the baby from the make-shift cradle and changed her into the warmer night dress and clean nappy. She then wrapped Mary in the warm blanket. And laid her on the bed, deciding that she would prefer the baby sleeping next to her. Laying the drawer on the setee, she then turned the lamp down some by her bed. Climbing into bed, she gently lifted the baby into her arms and sat against the headboard. "I think it's about time you went to sleep little one." Humming softly, she cradled the baby to her breast and watched as Mary fidgeted for only a few moments before falling deep into sleep.
Matt woke with a start. His head was fuzzy and he had no idea where he was. When he sat up on the cot, he realized he was in the jail. Then he frantically looked about for the baby. Then realizing he had given her to Kitty, he relaxed for a moment. But only a moment. He remembered how difficult it had been out on the prairie, no sleep because she was constantly fussing. Kitty was going to kill him, of that he was sure. Grabbing his boots, he put them on, then grabbed his gun belt putting that on then his coat and hat. She was going to be so mad at him. He quickly left the jail heading for the Long Branch. Taking the alley, he went to the back door which he knew would be locked and fumbled for his key. Quietly he entered the dark hallway and turned and locked the door behind him before heading into the saloon. Taking a match from his pocket, he struck it on the wall. Sitting on the end of the bar was a candle. Not a lamp, as it would throw too much light, but a small candle. Enough to light his way up to her room. He then reached into the inside breast pocket of his vest, knowing that the key to her bedroom was tucked away in there. Listening at the door, he was surprised that it was quiet inside. Slowly opening the door, the candle still in his hand, he entered her room. Walking over to the bed, he looked down and saw the most beautiful sight his eyes had ever seen. Kitty lay o her back, the covers had been pushed down her legs. Her night dress had ridden up about mid-thigh. But the most beautiful part, was her gown had rucked itself down over her breast. Which would have been completely visible to his sight had the infant not been snuggled against the warmth of the motherly breast. He knelt down beside the bed and looked at the baby that lay awake, but quite content against his very favorite pillow. Smiling, he gently caressed her head. "I see you are enjoying my favorite pillow too." He whispered to her. Matt felt a chill coming on in the air. Standing up, he gently pulled the blankets up over Kitty and the baby. Then he went over to the wood stove and quietly added wood to the fire. He then saw the makeshift cradle on the setee and went back over to the baby. Lifting her into his arms, he watched as Kitty stirred, but did not awaken. Matt took the baby, rocking her for a bit, he finally got her back to sleep and then placed her in the cradle. "You're so tiny." Smiling, he headed over to where Kitty still lay sleeping. He slowly began to undress and proceeded to climb into the bed to lay beside her. His face came to rest on her naked breast. His other hand slid the night dress down over the other breast so that he could tease the nipple while caressing the heavy globe. Within minutes, he was fast asleep.
Kitty woke with a start. She knew the heavy body laying on her was not the baby, but that of the love of her life. She realized he had relieved her of her night dress sometime in the night. She was lying naked beneath him. Half of his body lay covering her. He too was naked. She slowly untangled herself from the big sleeping Marshal. Padding naked over to the setee, she peered in to see that Mary was still asleep. Smiling down at the child, she pulled the blankets back up over her. She then turned back to the bed to see Matt sitting up on his elbow, watching her. At first, she was a bit embarrassed. But Matt pulled the covers over his hip showing her that he wanted her very much. Smiling, she climbed into the bed and Matt pulled her tightly against his naked form. His mouth was sweet, and his tongue flicked out to taste her lips. Before she knew it, he was deeply embedded within her. She moaned as he moved to that age old rhythm they had created together years ago. A rhythm they knew well.
When the morning sun came into the room, Matt realized he had stayed too late. But instead of panicking, he gently sat up, kissed his beautiful redheads breast then her lips. He got up and got dressed then went over to the cradle and saw the baby looking up at him. He smiled at her as he buttoned his shirt. Then turned and quietly slipped out of the room.
By half passed seven the baby was beginning to fuss. Kitty woke immediately stood grabbing her robe and quickly put it on. She went over to Mary and lifted her into her arms. "I think someone is hungry." She said taking the baby and heading down into the saloon. It was still too early for Sam to be there. She knew that there would be some milk in the ice-box. She bought milk every other day for the Saloon, because she liked milk sometimes in her coffee. She took the milk and warmed it up in her small pot. Testing it with her pinky, making sure is was warm but not hot, she removed the pan from the stove. She poured the milk into the bottle and headed back up stairs with the baby. Sitting down in the chair, she laid Mary against her breast and placed the nipple in her mouth. Mary began to drink from the bottle, all the while, watching Kitty as she did. Kitty spoke softly to her. "You are such a precious little one." She said and Mary stopped sucking and smile around the nipple of the bottle. "We're gonna have to buy you some things today." Kitty said thinking. "A basinet, maybe a cradle and some clothes and more blankets." Kitty smiled at her. "I think I'm gonna like this. I get to teach you how to shop." Kitty laughed to herself.
Festus leaned over the pram, talking silly talk to the baby, when Doc snuck up on him. "Where's Kitty?" Doc asked.
"Back there." Festus said as Doc headed for the back room.
"Hello Kitty, can I talk to you for a minute." Doc asked
"Sure, doc, what is it?" Kitty said
"Well, Matt just came back from seeing Mrs. Baines and well, she wants the baby." He told her.
Kitty looked at him for a moment. "I'm keeping her, Doc." She replied which surprised Doc. Kitty walked out of the store room and back over to the clerk. "Just give me about four yards. I want to make sure I have enough. I think that will be all for now." She told him.
"Okay, Miss Russell. Let's see, the pram is twelve dollars, the material, the nappies and extra bottles, that's thirteen dollars and seventy-two cents." He said looking at his figuring. "Will that be all?" He asked her.
"I may need a cradle, but let's hold off on that for now." She replied as she reached into her purse and pulled out a change purse and gave him the money. Doc had left the store in search of Matt.
About two hours later, Kitty sat in her room. The basinet was close to the bed. She had not gone down stairs after speaking with Matt. He seemed to feel that the baby would be better off with the Baines woman. In fact so did Doc. But Matt's reasoning was out of guilt. He felt so badly about killing Eli that he was trying to make amends even though Mrs. Baines had said that she knew the marshal was not responsible for her husband's death, he still felt guilty about it. Doc felt that Mrs. Baines would be better off with the child because Kitty owned and operated a saloon. It was the first time that he had felt this business would be a hindrance for Kitty, especially now if she tried to raise the child.
Kitty couldn't believe her ears, Doc and Matt were both against her keeping Mary. And she wanted the child as much as the widow Baines. She decided if Matt wouldn't help her, then she would file her own petition for custody of the baby. His reasoning was, that he didn't want her to get hurt, and he didn't think that she was up to the full time job of taking care of the child. However, she had been taking care of the child for almost two weeks when Doc and Matt had come to her about Mrs. Baines. She knew the circumstances of Mr. Baines' death, but that didn't mean she was the only one who could care for the child. And Doc had examined the baby and said that she was healthy and happy. Kitty had so much to think about.
Matt and Doc had told her their beliefs. Now it was her choice. She walked to the back room in her office. Mary lay in the basket just looking around. Mrs. Baines came into the office and saw the basket unattended. Quietly she walked over to the basket and picked up the child. Kitty came out of the back room and saw her holding Mary in her arms. She felt saddened for the woman. But then she heard Mrs. Baines talking to the baby. "You are such a precious little thing. You shouldn't be here in this dirty saloon. You should be living with a mother who can give you a nice home and a Christian up-bringing."
"You needn't worry about her soul, Mrs. Baines. She will attend church with me. And as for a nice home, Mary and I are moving into the Dodge House until I find a home better suited for the two of us. AND, as for this saloon being dirty, it may serve liquor, and house gamblers, but this saloon is far from dirty. And this is not a saloon where the dance hall girls sell their favors to men." Kitty said walking over to Mrs. Baines. She then took the baby from her arms. "I understand you being alone and wanted this child. But I'm afraid, I'm not about to give her up."
"Miss. Russell, I don't think you want to take this before the Judge. I have enough money, that I can put you out of business." Mrs. Baines said angrily
"Don't threaten me. I may not have the finances you have, Mrs. Baines, but I can fight just as dirty as you if you make it necessary. There are lots of children out there you can adopt. You just can't have this one." Kitty said as Mary began to feel the tension in Kitty's body. She began to fuss. "If you will excuse me, I'm going to take Mary upstairs and feed her. Have a good day Mrs. Baines." Kitty said leaving the room. She entered the saloon and the patrons saw her with the baby and went about their business. It was two weeks and they had become accustomed to Kitty and Mary. Once she got the baby into her room, Kitty began to cry. The idea of Mrs. Baines destroying her business hurt, but even worse was the thought of losing the one precious thing to her, Mary. She had fallen head over heels in love with the child. There was a knock on the door that brought her out of her reverie. She went over to the door, expecting it to be Sam checking on her, but to her surprise, it was her good friend, Festus Hagan. "Festus, what are you doing here?" She asked trying to wipe the wetness from her cheek.
"Well, I reckon I come to see this here littlin'." He said. "Sam told me, that Baines woman just left here and you seemed mighty upset and all." He said gently taking Mary out of Kitty's arms. The baby had still been fussing, but Festus began to sing to her and his melodic voice put her at ease. "What that ole bitty want anyways?" He asked her.
"Festus, Mrs. Baines is only five years older than me." Kitty said accusingly, with a smile.
"But she ain't near as purty as you." He said finally seeing her smile. "You know, I reckon this littlin' is about the happiest littlin' I ever done set eyes on. I think that's because of you, Miz Kitty." He said watching as Kitty looked at the baby as he held her.
"I think right now, you make her very happy, Uncle Festus." She said smiling at him. Then Festus began to sing: He sang a song he had heard only a year or two ago, "I'll Take you home again, Kathleen." It was a song that made Mary stop and stare into the eyes of her Uncle Festus. It caused a tear to run down Kitty's cheek.
"Mary Kathleen…"Kitty said. "I like that very much. What do you think, Festus?" She asked him.
"I think I like it. Mary Kathleen. Mary Kate." He then continued the song until the baby was fast asleep in his arms. Gently he placed her in the basket Kitty had purchased.
"What do you think, Festus? I mean about me wanting to keep her? Do you think….do you think that I would be a bad influence on her?" She said quietly.
"Oh foot, who's the dang fool who said something like that?" He watched her watching the baby. "It was the Baines woman weren't it?" She still didn't answer. "What makes her so danged qua-lee-fied, any how?" He asked a bit annoyed.
"Doc and Matt seem to think that Mrs. Baines would make a better mother for Mary. She being a good Christian woman and living on a farm, not in a room above a saloon." Kitty said.
"You know what, them two's nothin' but bunkheads. Theys don't know what theys a talkin' about, Miz Kitty. Why that littlin is happy and she looks right healthy, and she sure does love you. Besides, I don't reckon that thar Baines woman has more experience. She don't got no littlin's running around."
"I don't know, Festus, maybe they're all right about this. She's just a baby. What can I give her that Mrs. Baines can't. At least with Mrs. Baines she'd have a good home." She was saying, but he interrupted her.
"You hold on right thar, Miz Kitty. That thar littlin is happy. She's healthy, she got more clothes than any other littlin I know. And you love her. You might not be seein' it, but I see that she loves you too. Why, when I was singing to her, she was plum happy, but when she saw you, well her face just done lit up the room." He said.
"I do love her. She's so precious to me." Kitty said to him as tears fell down her cheek.
"Than thar ain't nothin' more to say about it. You fight , Miz Kitty. You fight with everything you gots for that little itty bitty baby." He said looking back into the basket at the sleeping child. He saw that Kitty was still upset. Gently taking her hand, he kissed her temple. "I'm gonna leave ya be. I think you and Mary Kate could both use a bit of a nap." Kitty smiled at her old friend. He had given her the strength she needed to make the right decision and that was to fight for her daughter. Yes, she was her daughter now. Festus was right, she had to fight for the baby. She had to fight with everything she had. She would get her friends to write letters of recommendations and get the pastor to write one as well. She wasn't even sure why Matt thought Mrs. Baines would be better off raising the child.
TBC
Well, Here is chapter one. Let me know what you think. Either way, I will continue. However, my writing may be a little slower due to my life being crazier these days. Hope you enjoy it.
KR
