Family of the Heart

PT.2

Burying her head in Matt's chest, "Oh, Matt, this can't be happening."

Pressing his lips against her curls, "Shhhhh, Honey, we'll work this out. You'll see."

Sam and Ellie were getting ready for the dinner rush. A lot had changed with the Long Branch. With prohibition, the saloon was no longer. Sam had taken it over fully and with the laws changing, he and Ellie had converted it into a restaurant. Sam figured the way Ellie cooked, the town could do well with another one.

Several customers drifted in for coffee and tea. As Sam was arranging tables, after cleaning up, he took notice to a rather fancily dressed man entering. Eastern dude, or so he thought. "Good afternoon, Sir. What can I get for you?"

"Good afternoon to you. I'd like a cup of tea. Maybe something sweet? Oh, and if you're of the mind..."

Sam turned. "Of the mind to what?"

"Answer a few questions?"

"Well, if I can." Sam answered.

Bringing the man a cup of tea and some danish Ellie had baked, "Well, what sort of questions can I answer for you, Mr..." stopping.

"Singleton. Martin Singleton. So, as you may have guessed, I'm new around these parts."

"Yes, I guessed that." Sam said, now curious.

"Well, I like finding out things of any particular place I visit. So maybe I can ask you about Dodge."

Smiling at the man, "Well, I'll try. Dodge is my home and I've lived and worked here for many a year."

"Well then, I guess I've chosen the right man." Sipping his tea, "Mr..."

"Oh, Noonan. You can call me Sam."

Nodding, Sam. How long have you lived here in Dodge?"

"Ummmm," now counting back, "oh, thirty years or so."

"And you've run this business all these years?"

Smiling, "No, the Long Branch, it's a restaurant now, but only for several years. It was once a saloon before."

Suddenly, both men said, "Prohibition."

Nodding, "Um, the Long Branch." Singleton repeated. "Seems I remember hearing of this place then. Run by a woman. Am I correct?"

"Yes, Sir. Miss Kitty. She owned this place and I worked for her. Couldn't ask for a better boss."

"So, this Miss Kitty, what does she do now?"

"Oh," Sam stopped and thought, "she has a family. I bought the business from her when Marshal..." shaking his head. "I mean Mr. Dillon retired." Sam was now wondering why this Singleton was so interested in his former boss.

Singleton could see the change in Sam's demeanor. "This Miss Kitty, she's..."

Sam now stared at him. "She's a friend and a very good one. Can I get you more tea?"

"Oh, Sam, I apologize. I didn't mean to say..."

"Mr. Singleton, why these questions about my business and my fri..."

Suddenly, Newly entered. "Hey, Sam, has Festus been in town this afternoon?"

"Why, yes. He and Mr. Dillon were here earlier."

Singleton kept a close ear on the two men's conversation upon hearing the name Dillon.

Now looking up as the door opened. "Hey, Uncle Sam."

Turning, "Gracie Girl."

Quickly, she hugged him. "Boy, what a day."

"Gracie, about done for the day?" Newly asked.

"Yeah, Uncle Newly. Carter's boy broke a leg falling out of a tree. He was my last patient of the day. Now I know why Pap-pap was so tired."

"Heading home?"

"Yeah, Momma is probably going crazy out there with the children."

Shaking his head, smiling, "Now, Grace, you know Miss Kitty loves all those kids." Newly chuckled.

Now Singleton perked up.

Grace noticed his attention to their conversation. Leaning in close to Sam and Newly. "Do you two know that man?"

"No, think he's from back east, maybe." Sam answered. "He seems to have a big interest in Dodge and Miss Kitty."

Peaking over her shoulder, "Momma? But why?"

"Don't know, Honey. I was wondering that too."

Grace turned and walked towards this new stranger in town. "Hello, I'm Dr. Grace..."

Standing quickly, extending his hand. "Well, hello. I'm sorry you said, Doctor?"

"Yes, Dr. Grace Dil... oops, sorry, Owens. Still not used to my name change." Before he could respond, "So, I understand you have an interest in Dodge City and my momma?"

"Your momma?" He repeated.

"Yes, Kitty Dillon." She said now staring directly at him.

"Ah, well, I was speaking to Sam here and he was telling me all about Dodge and this business he has and that this Miss Kitty use to run it."

"And? Mister…."

"Oh, excuse my poor manners. Martin Singleton, Miss..."

Stopping him. "It's Mrs. Owens. Dr. Owens. Maybe you can tell me what your interest is."

"Oh now, don't get me wrong. I was just curious about..."

"Curious about what?"

Newly quickly grabbed Grace's arm. "Honey, how about I ride out to the ranch with you?" He was now trying to distract her. "Sam, here, says your poppa and Festus headed back already."

"Well, ok. Besides I am hungry and quite tired. If you'll excuse me, Mr. Singleton." Turning swiftly. "Uncle Newly, let's go. Uncle Sam, see you in the morning. My love to Aunt Ellie."

As Grace and Newly left, Singleton approached Sam. "Are you all family?"

"Well," now thinking. He was as much family as he could be. "Yes." Then he turned away wiping down a buffet he had added to the room.

On the ride, "Uncle Newly, I know what you were trying to do back there."

"Gracie Honey, I just didn't want to see you light into him. After all, you seemed to be…"

"Mad?" She added. "You're darn right, I'm mad. What's this man asking questions about Momma for?"

"No, idea, Honey."

As they reached the ranch, Newly had managed to get her off the subject and in a better mood.

When they pulled into the ranch, Tessie and Eva and Adam rushed to greet them. "Ma! Aunt Grace!"

"Hi, Kids. Can I get some love?" All three jumped up hugging her.

"Hey? What am I?" Newly laughed.

"We'll give you love too, Uncle Newly." Eva Jumped up wrapping her arms around his neck. "Grandma's making supper. Grandpa's in the stable."

"Go on, Grace. I want to talk with your poppa."

Entering the house, "Hi, Momma. I'm home."

"Grace, just in time. Supper is almost ready."

"Great! I'm starving."

"Of course, you are. You're your father's daughter."

Rolling her eyes and grabbing a cup of coffee. "Momma? Do you know a man by the name of Singleton? Maybe someone from back east?"

"No. No, Honey, I don't. Why?"

Scrunching her face and tilting her head, "Um, Uncle Sam had a customer in the Long Branch. He was questioning him about Dodge." Now hesitating. "And you."

Quickly turning to face her daughter. "ME? What about me?"

Raising her hands in the air and tossing her head back. "That's just it. I don't know. And Uncle Newly pulled me away when I began asking him questions."

"Well, Grace, you do know you..."

Now smirking at Kitty, "Have your temper?"

"No. That's not what I was going to say. And that's enough of that. I'm sure he was probably some eastern reporter looking for a story about Dodge. There's always someone writing something about the life out here. You'd think they have enough." Kitty now drifted into thought, remembering the wire Matt received earlier.

Entering from the hall. "Well now, there's my Gracie."

"Hey, Poppa!" Reaching up to kiss his cheek.

"Ok, supper is ready. Let's all sit and eat while it's hot, huh?" Turning her gaze to Matt.

"Sounds good, I'm starving."

Saying nothing, just letting out a large laugh.

"Uncle Newly? Chet should be back in the morning, right?"

"Should be. He didn't have to stay for the trial."

Kitty glanced at her daughter, remembering how it felt when Matt was away.

"Yay! Pa will be home soon?" Tessie asked.

"Yes, honey, tomorrow." Then under her breath, "I hope so."

After supper and cleaning up the kitchen, "Gracie Girl, let's go in the parlor." Taking her arm, Matt led her through the hall.

"Poppa? Is something wrong?"

"Your momma and I want to talk to you alone."

Mary quickly directed the kids up to clean up, knowing her parents needed to talk to Grace. "Come on kids. Let's go."

Now staring at Kitty and Matt. "What's wrong? I know that look. Poppa, you could never pull off one of Momma's poker faces."

"Ok, Gracie Honey, please sit. Gracie, today when I was in town, a wire came."

"Poppa please…"

He slowly handed it to her.

Slowly glancing down, she began to read.

Chet Owens, Dodge City, Kansas.

As the attorney representing Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Burnett, I am notifying you as to the petition for custody of the minor children, know as Teresa and Eva Webb. There will be a hearing to determine custody of the minor children.

Grace looked up at Matt. "Poppa, NO! What is this? This can't be happening. No! No! They belong to us."

Kitty quickly wrapped her arms around her daughter. "We'll fight this, Grace. We won't let them do this."

"Momma, who are these people? What right do they have? Those girls belong here with all of us. We love them and they love us."

Hugging her tight, "Shhhhhhhh!"

Snapping her head up, "Poppa, can't you do something? Isn't there someone you know? We can't lose our girls."

Matt's jaws were tight. It was killing him seeing Grace in agony this way.

"Poppa, please?"

TBC