Grace, Through the Years
Pt.2
Matt and Festus headed out, looking for the two escapees. He knew Kitty was worried but he knew she'd have been more worried had he told her the wire he received told him the men he and Festus were hunting were two he had put away and had threatened revenge on him. He was hoping to find them quickly and get them back behind prison walls.
It was early on in the week and Dodge was unusually busy. There were several new faces around town. Doc made his normal stop to have coffee with Kitty. Pushing through the batwing doors, he smiled. "Ah, morning, Sam."
"Morning, Doc. Coffee's hot. Oh and Ellie made hot sweet rolls."
"Oh, lady after my heart."
"Help yourself. Miss Kitty should be down."
"I'm right here and I think my feelings are hurt, Curly."
"They are?"
"Yeah, I thought I was your favorite." She replied, now smirking at him.
Rubbing his upper lip, "Oh now, now, I think you grown ladies have to take a step aside. My heart has been stolen."
"OH? Is that a fact?"
"Yes, Ma'am. My heart belongs to one curly red headed, blue eyed little lady named Gracie."
Just then from the landing, "That's me, Pap-Pap!"
Smiling up at her. "Yes, young lady, it is."
Quickly she ran to the top step, threw her leg over the banister and slid down the rail. "WEEEEEEEE!"
Kitty inhaled deeply. "G-R-A-C-E!"
Doc and Sam just snickered. Slapping them both on the arm. "Don't encourage her."
"It's fun, Momma." Grace said, now grinning up at Kitty. "Momma, I'm gonna go play." And out the door she went.
"But, I…"
Grace was out the door like lightening. Running straight down Front Street , waving to Burke, Mr. Jonas, Mr. Bodkin, she was headed to meet up with her friends, most of which were boys. Their idea of playing, consisted of climbing trees, fishing, playing ball and an occasional fight.
On this day, one of the boys decided to suggest to Grace that only boys were good at climbing trees, that girls were sissies and would get stuck and cry. So they had a contest to see who could climb the furthest up the old oak tree behind the church. In no time at all, Grace was up the tree like a squirrel. Billy Harper got about half way and decided he couldn't go anymore.
Just then Rev. English's wife came out yelling at him to come down. She said that he didn't belong up there. Quickly he looked at Mrs. English. "But… But she made me do it. Gracie made me do it, Ma'am."
"What? Billy Harper, what are you saying?"
"Mrs. English, Gracie Dillon made me come up here. She's up there."
"Grace? Grace Dillon, you come down this instant."
Huffing, "Yes, Ma'am." Grace sighed, climbing down.
"Now, you children, you know better."
Walking away , Grace looked at Billy. "Now who's the sissy?" She said sticking out her tongue.
"You take that back, Gracie."
"No! No, I won't."
"I'll pumble you, Gracie."
'You just try it." Her little face scrunched up as her fist clinched at her side… Billy, turn pushing her and before you knew it the two were rolling on the ground, tussling.
Before long, Miss Pry came along. "Now, now, stop that, you children! Stop that right now!" Then she noticed one of them was not only a girl but that it was Grace. "Oh my word! Come now. What is this? Young ladies shouldn't be behaving in this manner. But should I be surprised? I expected more of the Marshal. Come with me, young lady." She said, grabbing Grace by the arm.
Grace was now covered in dirt and her hair was all disheveled and was being drug by the arm down Front Street. Entering first the Marshal's office and finding no one Miss Pry then headed across the street, seeing Sam sweeping the front.
Sam quickly said, "Gracie?"
"Hi, Uncle Sam."
"Miss Pry?"
"I brought this child. I was looking for her…" clearing her throat, "parents."
"Well, Miss Kitty is in her office. Gracie, what happened to you, Honey? Miss Pry I think you can let go of her."
"Yes! You can let go of my daughter. Gracie, what on earth happened to you?" Kitty was now reaching out to Grace.
Miss Pry was scrunching her face. "This… child and another wretched child were brawling on the ground over by the church. Not quite the proper thing for a young lady but then I wouldn't expect…"
Interrupting her, "I'll handle this, Miss Pry." Tilting her head with a tight jaw. "And regardless of what you expect, her father and I will see to her as we see fit. Thank you! Grace, your room. NOW!"
"But, Momma…"
"Grace! NOW!"
"Yes, Ma'am." Grace was now hanging her head as she slowly walked up the stairs.
"Oh, Miss Kitty." Sam shook his head.
"Sam, some people will never change. I guess I'd better have a talk with a certain young lady."
Upstairs, Gracie was dropping her clothes when Kitty opened the door. "Ok, Young Lady."
"Momma, it was Billy's fault. He started it first. He dared me to climb the old oak. He said only a boy could do it without crying. Then Mrs. English made us get down and Billy blamed me for getting caught and yelled. He said I made him do it. Then he pushed me so we got to fightin' and ol' lady Pry…"
"GRACE!"
"Well, okay, Miss Pry came and pulled me by my arm and said sum' thing about spectin' some thin' like this from the Marshal. What did she mean, Momma?" Grace was now lookin' at Kitty puzzled.
"Just never you mind. Let's get you cleaned up. You, young lady, have got to stop fighting with boys. I've told you time and time again. When your Poppa gets back…"
"Ah, Momma, you don't know. I just have ta."
"No, Grace, you don't. You are a young lady and you have to start acting like one. In the tub with you!"
Down in the saloon, Sam started getting busy. The room filled up fast.
After cleaning Grace up, Kitty looked at her daughter. "Now, listen to me. You stay up here in your room. Momma has to help Uncle Sam. I'll be back in a while and we will have supper and you stay here and think about what I said."
After Kitty left, Grace was upset that Kitty didn't understand her side of what happened. She was sure her Poppa would. Maybe Pap-Pap would. He always understood. Grace finished getting dressed then snuck down the back stairs and up Doc's stairs. Tapping on the door and seeing him sitting at his desk, Grace entered.
"Pap-Pap. Hi, Pap-Pap. Can I come in?"
'Sure, Honey. I always have time for my favorite girl."
"There's that word again." Now frowning.
Tugging on his ear, "Ah, what's wrong, honey?"
"Momma wants me to be a girl, a young lady." She wiggled her body as she said it. "Pap-Pap, I'm Gracie."
Laughing, "Yes, honey, you are and we love you."
Jumping up on his lap, "Pap-Pap, why does Momma want me to wear dresses and all that fluffy stuff?"
"Well, Honey, that's what little girls and ladies wear."
Scrunching her face, "UGH! Then I want to be a boy. I like my pants and boots, like Poppa. And I like fishing, and climbing tree and riding Buck and swimming in the creek."
Nodding, "Oh, I see and you think your Momma don't like those things?"
Shaking her head. "Nope!"
"Well, Honey, your Momma does like fishing and riding and swimming. Ok, so maybe not climbing trees. But your Momma's just busy. Just like Poppa. But I'm sure if you ask, they would do that with you."
"Really?"
Nodding, "Really."
Sam and Kitty were swamped in the saloon. One man sat quietly at a corner table watching every move. His friend stood at the end of the bar closest to the door.
Kitty walked towards the back corner table. "Another bottle?"
Slowly looking up, "Busy night, Red?"
"Looks that way, cowboy. Just passing through?"
"Maybe. Depends on what I find."
"Well, Dodge is a nice town. Hope you find what you're looking for." Kitty replied.
"Think I already found part of it." He said, reaching for her hand.
Pulling back, "Sorry, Tiger, not on the menu."
"Oh, that's to be seen, Red."
Kitty furrowed her brow, walking away with a sick feeling in her gut. As she reached the bar, she looked at her bartender. "Sam, how long's that man been here? Do you know?"
"Oh, maybe two hours. Something wrong, Miss Kitty?"
"Uh, not sure. I just have a bad feeling. Sam, it's slowing up. I'm going to check on Grace."
"Sure thing, Miss Kitty."
Kitty disappeared through the office doorway and up the back stairs. But she was quickly back out on to the landing. "Sam? Sam?"
Looking up, "Yes?" He knew by the look on her face something was wrong.
TBC
