Finnis McGinnis: Flame Series #23

Chapter 4

At Last A Smile

Calleigh watched her mother and siblings go into the Prairie Rose and then walked across the street to the jail. She was hoping to invite her husband to join them in a bite of lunch. Newly wore several hats, but with Matt out of town, today's choice was that of Deputy.

He looked up when he heard the creak of the heavy wooden door. His face was instantly lit up by a colossal smile. It was hard to believe they were no longer newlyweds, the way each was so excited when seeing the other.

Deputy O'Brian pushed his chair back and walked around the desk. Calleigh met him halfway with a kiss.

"What do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Dr. O'Brian?"

Calleigh leaned back in her husband's strong arms, letting her fingers trace along the letters on his badge. "This is the most depressing holiday I have ever seen. First of all, there's no snow. Just this nasty gray fog suffocating everything. Hadley won't stop crying because of Bootsie. Cooper wants his daddy home for Christmas… and Kitty." She rolled her eyes in despair. "She blames herself for losing Bootsie, not to mention she…"

"…wants Matt home," They finished in unison.

"Doc and Festus are not exactly in a festive mood either." Newly added. "They've been trying to cheer up the kids, but it's just not working. The more frustrated Doc gets, the more agitated he becomes with Festus."

Calleigh laughed as she left Newly's embrace. "That feud has been going on since I was a little girl. Like Cooper says, Poppy just likes to sound tough, but he loves that scruffy little man."

Calleigh sighed, as her thoughts drifted to the melancholy group across the street. "Anyway, I came to see if you have time to join us for dinner? It might help cheer the kids a bit."

Newly slipped his arm around his sweetheart as he escorted her to the door. "I would like that, but first I have to go down to Emmet's Saddle shop. You go ahead and I'll meet you there."

0O0O0O0O0O

Kitty took the seat with her back to the window so that the kids could watch the people outside. She was beginning to think that nothing was ever going to bring a smile to those little faces, when all of a sudden, Cooper bolted upright in his seat.

He reached over and tapped his hand on the highchair tray. "Hadley, look!"

Kitty turned to see what had sparked a bit of interest in her children. Standing at the hitching rail stood a snow-white mule with a brown streak like a mask across his eyes. As if that wasn't unusual enough, the chubby man beside him was decked out in a green suit with a shiny red top hat.

"Can we go out and see the mule, Momma?" Cooper was already standing beside his seat. Before Kitty could answer, he became even more excited as he pointed to something else. "Look! Calleigh's talking to him. Can we go Momma, please?"

Kitty made no attempt to slow the boy down, as she plucked Hadley from the highchair. By the time she got outside, the funny dressed man had already introduced Cooper to Bandit.

Calleigh stood behind the boy as he touched the white fur. "Hadley, come see." She motioned for her mother and sister to come closer. "This is Finnis McGinnis. Mr. McGinnis this is my mother, Kitty Dillon and my sister, Hadley." The young redhead grinned with her next introduction. "And this, family, is Bandit."

The man in the colorful suit leaned closer to the toddler. "Would you like to sit on him?"

Hadley wanted to hang on to her pitiful pout, but her curiosity was overpowering it. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and the ringlets bounced as she nodded up and down. Kitty carefully placed her onto the back of the mule.

The toddler leaned over wrapping her arms as far as they would reach around the furry neck. Bandit's ears wiggled and twitched as he let loose a long, high-pitched, heeeeeawww. The sound of Hadley's giggling brought immediate smiles to her mother and sister.

Meanwhile, Cooper looked wistfully at the long, white face. His hand moved restlessly at his side. "Go ahead," Finnis coaxed. "You can pet him. He's very gentle."

"He's so soft. Ruth's hair is really hard." Bandit could sense the boy's quiet, more reserved, nature. His ears continued to twitch and he nickered softly as he turned his head to nuzzle the boy's cheek. Cooper's face lit up behind a broad smile. "He likes me."

"Of course he does. I'm guessing that you are a very good little boy." Finnis turned his attention to the tiny redhead. "And how about you? Are you a good girl?"

Hadley studied the man in the bright-colored clothes. "Uh-huh. Awe you Santa Caus?"

Both hands went to his belly as Finnis burst into laughter. "No, sweetheart! I don't have a sleigh or reindeer. Just that wagon across the street and this old mule." He noticed his admirers were beginning to shiver. "I wonder if I might join you for a bite of dinner?"

"We would love that." Kitty agreed, as she pulled her daughter down from Bandit's back. She was so grateful to see her children happy, the least she could do was to buy the fellow lunch.

TBC