The Beginning of the Rest 3

I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.

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The next morning Matt rose early, dressed and left the room without disturbing Kitty as she slept. Yesterday had been a trying day for her, in many ways, and he was determined to make this day better.

Once on the first floor, he found his way to the kitchen by the tantalizing smell coming from there. "Good morning, Matthew." Homer greeted him from the end of a table laden down with food. "Sit yourself down and grab you a plate. My Bertha's one of the best cooks in Nebraska."

Bertha turned from the stove, a slight blush on her cheeks at the compliment and smiled at Matt, handing him a plate. "How did you and your wife sleep last night, Matthew?" she asked.

"We slept fine," Matt answered. 'Been better if we'd been in our own bed.' He thought, but didn't add, even though he knew he needed to broach that subject.

Bertha saved him the trouble. "Well, good. But I spect you and Kate would sleep better in your own home."

Matt looked up gratefully at her words and the ham she placed on his plate. "Well, yes, Ma'am." He said. "Kate kinda wanted to have a place fixed up before the baby got here."

"Well, don't you worry none about it." Homer smiled over at him. "As soon as we eat, I'm gonna show you the house and let you decide what needs to be done. Then I'll round up some men and we'll get it fixed just right so's that baby will have a proper place to be born in."

"I sure would appreciate that," Kitty said from the doorway. "I really appreciate your hospitality but it would be nice to be under our own roof."

Matt rose quickly, went to Kitty's side and escorted her to the table. "How are you feeling?" he asked, worriedly. "You alright?"

"I'm fine, Matthew," she answered, flashing a happy smile his way as he seated her.

Bertha grabbed a plate and slipped ham and eggs and biscuits on it, placing it before her. "Can I get you anything else?" she asked.

Kitty shook her head. "Oh no, please I'm not sure I can eat all of this."

Bertha shook her head with a chuckle. "Maybe you won't but that baby will."

Kitty grinned looking over at Matt. "Well that could be true if it's anything like its father."

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After breakfast, Matt left Kitty in Bertha's capable hands and followed Homer out and down to the end of Maple Street. Just on the very edge sat a small house with a big porch and an even bigger hole in the roof.

Saying nothing, Matt slowly walked around the house and noted 2 windows knocked out as well as the back door hanging by one hinge. Though large, the yard surrounding the house obviously hadn't been attended to in some time and he was almost positive a bush shouldn't be growing in the middle of the front walk.

"I know it don't look like much, Matthew," Homer said with an appropriately apologetic tone. "But we'll get us some men together from around here and it won't be no time, we'll have her fixed up nice for you and the misses."

Mentally, Matt stood trying to calculate the cost of 'fixing up' the derelict little house. Though Kitty was insistent about using her money to help out in their living, he was just as adamant that they wouldn't. Kitty had worked hard for the money she had and even though Matt Dillon was dead, Matthew Adams wasn't and he wasn't going to live on his wife's money.

Besides, Matt still harbored fears, senseless though they may be, of never living long enough to see his child grown. He knew if that were to happen, Kitty would need her money.

"This house is going to take a lot of work." Matt said as he inspected a slanting post on the sloping front porch. "I'm not sure I've got enough money to pay for it all."

Homer looked at him in confusion. "Money? Why, boy you ain't got to pay for nothing. When I offered you a job, I said we'd provide you a house. Now this old place ain't what I'd call a house just yet, but when we get done with it, it will be. You just wait and see."

Matt cast a doubtful eye in his direction. "Are there any other houses around here that maybe we could rent or something? I mean, I appreciate your generosity in letting us stay the night at your house and all, but my wife and I need a place of our own. And I'm just not real sure this place can be made livable, at least not before the baby is born."

Homer shook his head regretfully. "I'm afraid not, Matthew. Being more of a farming community than anything, we ain't got many houses in town at all and I wouldn't much recommend the hotel. But I meant what I said, son, just don't you worry. We'll have this place fixed up in no time."

Matt shrugged his broad shoulders and looked cynically at the house one more time before starting forward towards the door. "Well, I guess we'd better get started then."

Pushing the front door open, however, proved to be a task difficult even for Matt's strength and when he did and saw the inside of the place, he wasn't sure he'd live long enough to ever see it ready to move into.

Seeing the expression on Matt's face, Homer chortled. "You look like you stuck your foot into a beehive, son."

Looking around, Matt nodded. "I feel like I did. This place is about ready to fall down."

"Won't be when we're done, Matthew." Homer reassured him. "I promise you. You and the Mrs. will love this place when we're done."

TBC