Ranch Life 14

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

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Though Matt knew the fault lie with him for their argument, and though he knew he needed to apologize, he distanced himself from Kitty until late that afternoon. He liked to think things out, before doing anything, and this was one thing he needed to think on hard.

He hadn't meant to blame her for the bull's behavior, and he hadn't meant to make her so angry, but sometimes his worry for her overruled his head. The only thing he had been able to concentrate on, was that she had been in danger. Too many times over the years, he had seen her in that condition and he could no longer tolerate even the thought of it.

When finally slump shouldered and heart wearily he trudged up to the house, he was surprised to enter and find Kitty and all three children vanished. Returning to the yard, he hailed one of the men near the barn. "Tim. Have you seen my wife or the kids?"

"Yes, Sir," Tim answered as he walked up. "She had me bring her a rig round front a few hours ago. Said her and the kids were going to town."

"To town?" Matt snapped at the young man. "You let her ride off to town, alone, with three kids? It'll be dark before she gets there."

Tim shakily took an unconscious step away from his employer's wrath. "I'm sorry, Mister Dillon, but she said…. I mean… well she's my boss too, ain't she?"

Matt fairly glowed in ill hidden fury. "Saddle me a horse." He snarled.

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Happily, James sat perched in the wagon seat next to his mother and new friend Luke, helping to hold his little sister as his mother steered the sluggish wagon down the bumpy road to Dodge. He was going to get to see Grandpa Doc and Uncle Sam and Uncle Newly.

He didn't know why they were going, or where his father was, and why he wasn't there, but it wasn't a concern. He didn't get to go to town more than once a week to church. Thinking of that, James looked suspiciously up at his mother. He didn't think it was Sunday, but still…..

"Mama?" he tugged impatiently on her sleeve.

Kitty looked down at him. "What is it, baby?" she asked as she glanced over to her daughter sitting peacefully in Luke's lap.

"We goin' to church?" he asked.

Kitty looked down at her son in curious amusement. "Church?"

James nodded.

"Well no, or at least not till Sunday. Why do you ask?"

"Cause we're goin' to town."

Kitty thought about that for a moment. James was right. Yesterday being an exception, they never ventured from the ranch anymore, unless it was to go to church on Sunday. And it wasn't every Sunday that they made it.

Her life had become bound by the ranch and family and nothing more. She couldn't remember the last time she had taken a trip to somewhere, besides Dodge. Looking over at her children, and seeing Matt so clearly in them, she didn't regret her current life, but still, she couldn't help missing the freedom of her old one.

Smiling down at her son, she embraced him for a moment. "We're not going to church today, sweetheart, we're just going to town for a few days. Your mama needs a little time away from home. But I promise we will go Sunday. Okay?"

James nodded again happily. He liked Dodge and he liked church. He just hoped his papa got there in time to go with them.

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Racing down the road after his wife and children, Matt was in a fugue. All he could think about was that Kitty was out on the road, alone, with 3 children. Rational thought eluded him as his mind centered on all the bad things that could happen. Her encounters with Bravo had stirred a protectiveness in him that, though it was always there, was usually kept in barely controlled check.

Kitty's strength and courage and quick thinking abilities were forgotten as he remembered sitting beside her in Doc's office, holding her hand and praying to God she would live, or watching as some wretched cowhand or sodbuster laid hands on her.

Envisioning all the bad things, had robbed him of the ability to see the many good things. Some distant part of him recognized it, but he was too worked up with worry to care. All he wanted right then, was to reach his family before disaster of some kind could befall them.

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Kitty reached Dodge just as the sun dipped below the western horizon. Pulling up in front of Ma Smalley's, she lifted her children down and took them to the door and knocked.

"Just a moment," she heard a second before the door opened. "Kitty!" Ma happily exclaimed. "Come in, come in."

Kitty held Emily in one arm and ushered the boys in with the other as Ma held the door for her. "I know its awful late, Ma," Kitty apologized, "but I was hoping you would have a room I could rent for a few days."

"Well of course, Kitty." Ma answered. "As a matter of fact I have two rooms, right next to each other, you could have if you want. One for you and Matt, and one for the children." Ma seemed to suddenly notice that the aforementioned man wasn't to be seen and that there seemed to be one too many kids. "By the way where is Matt?" she questioned. "And who is this young man?" she greeted the child with a warm smile.

Kitty shrugged. "Matt's still at the ranch. He had some things to take care of. And this is Luke. His father was hurt and Luke's staying with us until his father gets back on his feet." She really didn't want to go into this with Ma and she was grateful the children weren't chiming in.

If she had of come alone she would've gone to the Long Branch, but she was a little leery of taking the children there. And she sure didn't want to give Howie Uzell at the Dodge House any gossip to spread. Besides, with now three children to be concerned with, she just might need help and Ma was never one to turn her down.

Ma seemed to understand what Kitty wasn't saying. "I see," she remarked. "Well let's get these little ones settled in."

TBC