PT.21

Surviving The Badlands

You could hear a pin drop in the room, it was so silent. Kitty slowly moved her hands up to his face. "Cowboy, I… I… I've always known this wasn't what you've wanted. But to be honest with you, as terrified as I am at the thought of being a mother at this point in my life… Cowboy, I'm, I… I…" Now tears streamed down her cheeks. "Matt, I couldn't be happier."

Suddenly, Matt looked up at her face, snapping out of the shock of the words and realizing what she must have thought of his reaction. Now reaching up and pulling her back to him. "Oh, Kit Honey, come ere'. No." Now hugging her close. "I just… I'm surprised. I thought you said that…"

Nodding, "Yeah, I know I did. But I was wrong. We both were. But with the fall and the bleeding and then when Doc didn't hear a heartbeat…" She sighed. "We thought that… well, we thought…"

"Aw, Honey, are you alright?

Nodding again. "I think so, at least Doc says I am for now. Well, of course, you know Doc. He says I'll have to be very careful and lots of rest."

Quickly, Matt jumped in. "And you'll get it too!"

"Now, Matt Dillon!"

"No, Kitty, if Doc says you rest, you rest." Suddenly he placed both hands on her stomach. "A baby? You're gonna have a baby?"

"No!"

"What? Wait a minute. You just said…"

Smiling back at him. "We're gonna have a baby, Marshal! Matt, I know you're worried and so am I. But we'll deal with this together just like we always have. We'll be alright. Matt, I love you and I love that I'm having your child, our child! Please be alright with this."

"Kit, there's a lot of changes we'll need to make."

"Yes, I know." She said smiling. "But we don't have to do them today."

"Kit?"

"Ummm?"

"When?"

"When what? Matt we have time."

"No, Kit, when will the baby be here?"

"Oh!" Now chuckling. "Doc figures about January."

"Kit?"

"Ummm?"

"That's only three months away."

"Yeah, I know."

"Honey ?" He was trying to hide the smile. "Kit, I have three months to get ready to be a father?"

"Yeah, Cowboy, you're gonna be a wonderful Poppa. Ya know, Curly is thrilled at the thought of being a grandpa."

Letting out a light laugh. "Oh, I'm sure he is." Matt added. "That probably made his day not to say the uncle's this baby will have." Now they both began to laugh.

"And we are worried about what?" Kitty stated.

Later that night, they announced to all their friends their news about the baby. Naturally, Festus proclaimed he would be the bestest uncle this baby ever had. Sam and the girls got together and threw a small party.

Two Months Later

Christmas Eve

As usual, Kitty had planned a Christmas party for all the children of Dodge and the surrounding area. Several of the men in town went out and cut down a huge tree. After setting it up, the girls and some of the customers began decorating it. Sam and Kitty set out a food display for everyone to enjoy.

She always enjoyed this time of year, although it was now getting difficult for her to move around. She was getting fairly large and uncomfortable. Doc was constantly telling her to rest and take it easy, always telling her to stay off her feet, which were always swelling.

As the day went on, everyone gathered. Carolers began singing. Bess and Will came into town to join in on the party. Jake Worth and Matt had piled gifts under the tree that Kitty had purchased for the children and one of the town folks dressed as Santa for the children.

Off to the side, Bess approached Kitty. "Land sakes, Miss Kitty! Shouldn't be long now." Bess said smiling at her.

"Couldn't be soon enough. But Doc says mid-January."

Just then a young boy moved up to her. "Miss Kitty?"

"Yeah, Billy?"

"My brother says you're cooking a baby just like Momma did?"

Trying not to laugh, "Well, you could say that, Billy."

"Well, Miss Kitty, I think yours is done. Your oven's gonna splode!"

Kitty put her hand over her mouth to cover the laugh. Bess grabbed Billy. "Now, Billy, you go on and play. The things these children will say." She said rolling her eyes.

"I don't know. I think he's got something there, Bess. It feels like I'm going to explode."

"Miss Kitty, maybe we'd best get you a chair."

As they sat Kitty in a chair, propping her feet up, she sat and watched, enjoying the faces of the children. Suddenly, she gasped. "Bess? Bess!"

Then Bess turned to see Kitty's expression. "Miss Kitty, what is it?"

"Bess." She whispered. "My water. My water just broke."

Smiling from ear to ear, "Well, land sakes, Miss Kitty. I think it's time."

"Bess… No. It can't be. It's too soon. It's too soon."

TBC