Growing Old With Kitty 3

by Lilyjack

Chapter 9

"Another Chance"

The grain of the polished wood shone softly as Kitty smoothed her hand over the sides of the cradle, gently testing the rocking motion. She traced the lovingly hand-carved, delicate flowers at the head of the piece of furniture, her eyes burning with unshed tears because she realized Mr. Blessing had intended to lay his own babe in this small bed, many years ago. But it was not to be. Both mother and unborn child had been lost in a terrible fire, the child never given a chance at life.

"I want you to have it," the rancher said firmly, his voice gruff with emotion. He couldn't quite look her in the eye.

Kitty couldn't look in his eyes either. Wordlessly, her arms crept round the old man's rough neck. He patted her back and she heard a small, strangled sound escape from his throat.

She couldn't imagine the pain he'd lived through—losing his beloved young wife Juliet and child at the same time, especially in the cruel manner they'd perished. The anger and loneliness and despair must have been crippling. She wondered if anyone could ever recover from such a blow.

But after all that Leland Blessing had given her—a home and a job when she had none-she could try and provide him some happiness, companionship and, yes, even family of a sort, in his old age. She was getting her second chance with Matt, and Mr. Blessing was getting a second chance for a family with them, she hoped.

Kitty attempted to squeeze him tighter, to comfort him, but her swollen belly, as usual, tended to get in the way of everything nowadays. She looked down at her protruding stomach, sniffing and laughing and swiping at the corner of her eye.

Loudly clearing his throat, Leland Blessing shook his head and chuckled, too.

"Thank you, Mr. Blessing," Kitty said simply. "Thank you so much. It's beautiful."

Mr. Blessing held up his hands, uncomfortable with the praise. He blustered instead, "You just worry about gettin' that little one into this world safe and sound, you hear?" He scrubbed a hand over his whiskery face. "Where's Moses? He needs to load this in the wagon for you. I don't want you liftin' anything."

"He's outside tending his flock, sir." She laughed. "I think he loves spending time with those chickens as much as he enjoys playing with Daisy."

"They are indeed his pride and joy. We're gonna have to start sellin' the eggs in town, the hens are layin' s' many."

She exclaimed enthusiastically, "Oh, I think he'll like that idea. We may have a young entrepreneur in our midst. Those chicks he raised are so tame they'll eat out of his hand."

"Maybe after the baby's born..." Blessing began.

Kitty pleaded, "Oh, you can let him start now, sir. It won't take him long to take the eggs into Brushy Heap. I promise I'll stay right here. Besides, the nosebleeds have nearly stopped."

Blessing's face sobered and he took her hand. "Child, I want you to always have someone right with you from here on out, comprende? Your time is not that far off..."

Kitty bit her lip, stilled her own protestations. She knew that her boss' fears were born of a terrible reality, of personal experience.

"I don't care if it's your husband, or me or Moses, but always somebody, you hear me?" Earnestness flooded Leland Blessing's careworn features. "Promise me."

Her answer came softly—simple yet solemn. "Yes...I promise." She could refuse nothing to the old man who'd helped her in her hour of need.

"Good," he stated matter-of-factly, patting her arm. He trusted that the issue was closed. "I hear that Freddie and Celia will be stoppin' in for a visit today. That young man's certainly come up in the world."

Kitty's eyes shone with pride at her friend's accomplishments. "Yes, sir, he sure has."

Blessing proclaimed in disbelief, "From cook at this ranch—and a mighty bad one I might add—to part owner of the Beaver Township Gazette. That newspaper has a lot more folks who read it than just his little Bugle did."

"Yes, Mr. Blessing, it does. And Freddie has big plans for getting the paper delivered to all of Rasco County."

"You don't say?" Blessing ran a hand over his gray head, looking pleased. "I'll be dadgum."

"We'll invite them for supper, don't you think, sir? He can tell us all about it."

"You go right ahead and invite them, Kitty, and I'll be there. What's Freeman cookin' tonight?"

"I hear it's country ham, sir." She smiled, because she knew that was Mr. Blessing's favorite.

"Well!" He remarked expansively, patting his belly. "You know I'll be there on time. Hope we have red-eye gravy to go with it and maybe some mashed potatoes."

"I'll check with Freeman and make sure that's on the menu." She gave Leland a little wink and he chuckled happily. "See you at supper?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," he proclaimed, jamming his hat on his head and loping bowlegged out the door. "Moses!" he called loudly. "Come help me load up this cradle in the wagon!"

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Kitty watched as Moses pulled the wagon up to the wooden steps Matt had constructed just for her. The simple two-step box enabled her to climb up into a buggy or wagon so much more easily as her ungainly girth had increased. She'd been very appreciative of her husband's thoughtfulness when he surprised her with it one day about six months into her pregnancy, and she'd enthusiastically shown him precisely how grateful she was at noon that day when she'd met him at the cabin for a little private "dinner." Matt had happily discovered how pregnancy could increase Kitty's "appetite", as it were, and he felt like a kid in a candy store at times. Some days at work even, he couldn't stop grinning, and the boys would look at him strangely, wondering what secrets he possessed. He was a gentleman and he'd never tell...

Moses reached out a hand to steady Kitty's ascent into the wagon, the precious cradle safely loaded in back. She never knew when a dizzy spell would hit, and it was better to be safe than sorry. But she would be ever so glad when she'd had this baby and all the males around this place would stop treating her like a blasted, fragile china tea cup. She sat down awkwardly, smoothing her skirts, when she heard Moses ask curiously, "Who dat?"

Shading her eyes, Kitty saw a man riding up on a shaggy sorrel mount who'd seen better days. He wore a top hat and tailcoat over a fancy embroidered waistcoat and was checking the time on a gold watch at the end of a fob.

Kitty waved and called out in greeting, "Judge!"

"Kitty! Kitty Russell Dillon! How are you these days?" hailed Judge Emmett Nation. "Well, I can see how you're doing. Doing your part to increase the population of my county, I see!"

Kitty couldn't help but laugh at the old rascal's remark. She shook her head at him as he rode up alongside and removed his hat. "Yes, Judge."

"You and your young man wasted no time..."

She took on a scandalized tone, "Judge! Why the very idea!" But her eyes sparkled mischievously.

"I am teasing, my dear." He reached for her hand, bowing to brush a gentle kiss on her knuckles. "You look ravishing! Motherhood suits you."

"Oh, Judge, I think you're teasing me again."

"Au contraire, not this time." He stroked his gray beard thoughtfully. "You are glowing. I think you must be very happy."

"I am sir," she earnestly acknowledged, her expression beaming. "I've never been happier in my whole life."

"And that is what counts. Ol' Leland is thrilled beyond words with this baby, I'll have you know. You would think it were his own grandchild. He's talked of little else in his letters to me."

Kitty's heart swelled happily in her chest. "Mr. Blessing has been so good to me...to us. I can never repay him for his kindness."

Judge Emmett Nation admonished, "Kitty, dear, I think you have already repaid him more than you realize. You have brought great joy to Leland Blessing's life."

Kitty's expression sobered as she listened.

"My friend has had a hard row to hoe, and there were times when I think he, indeed, did not want to go on living. But now, things are very different, you see."

"He's like family to me," she admitted softly. "The family I never had..."

"The feeling is likewise, my dear. He seems at peace now. You have yourself to thank for that." The old judge patted her hand and looked to her companion who had been sitting patiently, quietly listening. "And who is your young friend here?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, where are my manners?" She turned to the boy. "Judge, this is Moses Jones, the son of our new cook. Moses works here on the ranch as well. Moses, this is Judge Emmett Nation."

"How 'do," Moses greeted the judge politely, bobbing his head. His expression turned curious. "You a real judge?"

"Pleased to meet you, Moses. And yes, I am a real judge."

"You ever hang anybody?" he asked in wide-eyed wonder.

Kitty choked back a laugh. "Moses! You shouldn't ask the judge such a question!"

"It's quite alright, Kitty." The old man's eyes sparkled and his lips twitched. "I've never hung anybody, son, but I've been closer to the business end of a rope than I would care to admit."

Moses' face screwed up in puzzlement. "Sir?"

Kitty interrupted, "Never mind, Moses. Suffice it to say, Judge Nation is not a hangin' judge." She shot the old man a calculated look.

Emmett Nation quickly cleared his throat, vast amusement evident in his features. "Well, I will let you two be on your way now, if you will only tell me where my friend might be at this hour."

Kitty answered, "He was in the house just a few minutes ago. Does he know you're comin'? He hadn't mentioned a visit to me."

"No," the old man grinned. "It's a complete surprise. I have some business nearby and thought I'd take the opportunity to stop in and have a drink, or perhaps even two, and talk over old times. Old soldiers love to rehash old battles, you see."

Kitty warmly smiled, "I'm glad you're here, Judge. He'll be very happy to see you. Perhaps you'll stay for supper?"

Moses volunteered proudly, "My pa is a good cook!"

The judge fastened his gaze on the boy. "Well, in that case, I think I'll have to take you up on it. I can't pass up an excellent meal!"

"We'll see you at supper then, sir. Moses, let's head to the cabin."

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Kitty and Moses sat on the front stoop of the cabin, enjoying the fine weather and bright sunshine. A gentle breeze blew the prairie grass in waves while white, puffy clouds scudded across the sky. The two companions laughed at Daisy, chasing little yellow butterflies nearby and barking when she could not catch them. Suddenly the dog stopped, alert, noticing a figure mounted on a smoky gray horse in the distance. She raced happily toward it. Matt was headed home.

Kitty sighed and rested her back against the wooden door, placing her hands on her round belly, thinking, it won't be long now. Soon she and Matt would have a child. Her heart thrilled at the thought, like it did a hundred times a day. After being with Matt for eighteen years in Dodge, she'd given up hope that this could ever happen. She rubbed her swollen belly again gently to convince herself it was not a dream.

"Well, hello, Cowboy..." she called gaily as he approached.

He doffed his hat and grinned back at her. His smile always made her shiver a little in appreciation. Her young man was so handsome he fairly made her heart ache.

"How 'do, ma'am..." he replied gallantly, a twinkle in his eye.

"I've got something inside I want to show you," she announced.

He arched an eyebrow hopefully, but she cast a wary glance at young Moses and said, "It's not what you think, Mr. Dillon. We have a gift for the baby from Mr. Blessing."

Matt had the decency to look appropriately abashed. "Oh! Yeah, I uh... Let me put Smoky in the barn and I'll be right in."

Moses smiled thoughtfully, "I take him for you, Mr. Dillon. You go 'head. Me and Daisy stay out here."

"Thank you, Moses." Matt nodded.

Kitty reached out her hands for Matt to help stand. "Yes, thank you, Moses. You can ride back in the wagon with us a little later for supper, alright?"

"Yes'm, that sounds good. Mr. Dillon, my pa cookin' us a fine supper tonight."

Kitty dusted off the back of her dress and added, "And Freddie and Celia will be eating with us, too."

Moses added, "Don't forgit the judge."

Kitty placed her hands on her hips. "Oh, we can't forget the judge. That's for certain."

"The judge?" Matt shoved his hat back on his head. "Judge Nation is here?"

The boy informed Matt, "He saw Miz Dillon, and he say you and she di'n waste no time..."

Kitty interrupted, "Moses, you don't have to repeat everything you hear. Please, go tend to the horse and play with Daisy awhile and then we'll head to supper, alright?"

Matt repeated questioningly, "Waste any time...?"

She cut him short. "Never you mind. Come see what Mr. Blessing made."

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Matt and Kitty sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at the beautiful cradle Mr. Blessing had given them. Kitty said quietly, "He made it for his child, Matt. But he wants us to have it now. That means a lot to me."

Matt put an arm around her, rubbing her back just like he sometimes did when she complained that it ached. "I know it does, honey. He's been real good to us."

In her hands she held a small baby's gown, smocked and embroidered with delicate leaves and buds, a tiny ribbon tacked to the neckline. It was the very gown she had seen in Mr. Blessing's cedar chest in the ranch house on the first day she met him. That very day, he'd given her a job even though he hadn't known her from Adam, and he'd let her wear his late wife's clothing because all she had to wear was a saloon girl's dress. She'd discovered the gown in the trunk with Juliet Blessing's clothing and had wondered then what had become of the baby. But now she knew.

Mr. Blessing hadn't given her the infant dress face-to-face. Like the pretty party dress he'd once left for her on her bed in the cabin, he'd laid it out carefully on top of the quilt for her while she was away. "I think Juliet probably made this," she murmured as she closely examined the stitching. Matt carefully took the little garment from her, holding the tiny thing awkwardly in his huge hands. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight.

Then it happened. "Oh!" she exclaimed and held her belly.

"What?" Matt asked, quickly laying the baby's gown on the bed and turning to her. When she didn't answer, he repeated helplessly, "What is it, Kitty? Are you okay? You want Moses to go fetch the Widow Lindy?"

"No..." Her eyes were wide as her hands slid over her abdomen. "Give me your hand," she instructed gently. "No, farther over. Here."

It was Matt's turn to look astonished as he held his warm hands on Kitty's swollen stomach. "I can feel it." His voice became a whisper, "I can feel our baby."

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