Chapter 49
They each retreated to their own rooms to contemplate what Doc had so strongly suggested.
He lay atop his covers, Stetson hanging from the bedpost, as was his holster. His boots had been kicked to the floor and lay where they'd dropped. His feet clad in mismatched socks were crossed at the ankles, and his hands were clasped behind his head. He stared unblinking into the dark trying to conjure up happier memories to soften the gloom that had descended on him. That night the memories wouldn't come and he was left with the awful ache of a broken heart.
Sydney paced. Clad in her proper Victorian night gown, her bare feet padded back and forth across Ma's prized hardwood floors, her arms folded across her infuriated bosom. One phrase he'd uttered kept repeating itself in her thoughts, "your principles are safe with me."
In the morning after a taciturn breakfast where neither shared thoughts beyond, 'pass the cream', they inspected the Heitzer's rooms. The main room was larger than the two of theirs put together. Bright sunny windows over looked Ma's flower garden. The beds in the main room were a bit smaller than what they'd occupied in their old rooms, but bigger than the jailhouse cot upon which Matt Dillon had spent so many nights. There was a large wardrobe for Sydney's meager collection of clothes and overall she was pleased with the change, except of course for the fact she had to share the room with her husband.
The sitting room, where Matilda was to sleep, had white painted woodwork and a window with a window seat bracketed between floor to ceiling bookshelves. The smaller room was separated from the bedroom by chintz curtained French doors.
The move was executed that afternoon.
With her belongings in place, Sydney surveyed the room. The close proximity of the twin beds bothered her. She was above all a private person, and this was an infringement on that ideal. She glanced at the large wardrobe which stood against the wall, and an idea came to her, "I'd like the wardrobe moved so that it stands between our beds."
He shook his head. "What are you talking about? It's supposed to be against the wall." His shoulder was beginning to ache as well as a half dozen other old in-the-line-of-duty wounds to his body. "That thing weighs a ton!"
"I don't care. I want it between our beds. I demand some privacy. I have no desire to see you sprawled out on that bed first thing in the morning."
He shook his head hardly believing his ears, "… you think I can't wait to sneak a peek at you in your high necked flannel nightgown? I've seen it before Sydney, and managed to hold my desire in check."
"Mr. Dillon, you are disgusting, your mind is in the gutter!"
He actually laughed, "I wasn't the one who started this conversation seems to me your mind was in the gutter before mine was."
She stomped her feet, "Just move the wardrobe. Mr. Dillon. I will see to getting Matilda settled in."
He watched her leave with a small smile his face. He'd actually gotten the best of her on that one. The smile remained until he turned and looked at the wardrobe and realized Sydney was the winner in this situation. He eyed his adversary. It was five feet tall, five feet wide and three feet deep. Matt shook his head, and then with a grunt he put his shoulder to the piece of furniture and began pushing it across the floor. Thankfully it was fitted with casters which lessoned the work.
GS GS GS
Matilda loved her new room. With the book shelves there was room for her precious toys from her mother; the tea set and her doll Miss Kitty.
"We shall have to see about filling up the rest of the space on your bookshelves." Miss Tuttwell told her.
"With what? More toys? Angel Louise has a whole room filled with toys."
"Matilda, what does one usually find on book shelves?"
It was beginning to be a little joke between them, the asking and the stating of the obvious. It brought a smile to both of their faces.
"Books!" Matilda answered. "What kind of books?"
"School books, when session begins in the fall, but whatever else suits your fancy. What would you like to learn more about? There are books to take you on great adventures, or tell you about the lives of little girls long ago or far away. I have several such books and if you promise to take good care of them, I will gift them to you. We shall explore their stories together, shall we?"
"I'd like that. I don't read so good yet you know."
"You have greatly improved from the little girl I first met. I'm proud of you."
"You are?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Sometimes I'm naughty …"
Kitty Russell's daughter looked at her with soulful eyes. This child who had been through so much and had weathered each storm life tossed her way with a dignity few grownups could lay claim to. Sydney Tuttwell realized something quite amazing. She loved the little girl. She loved her as a mother loves her child. Sydney opened her arms and said simply, "Come."
GS GS GS
He was thankful it was Saturday night. Riding herd on Dodge was a far piece more relaxing than being in the presence of Mrs. Matt Dillon. She could make him madder faster than any female he'd ever met. It was late when he made it back to the boarding house. He took off his boots in the kitchen, helped himself to a couple cookies from the jar on the cupboard and then tiptoed up the back stairs. He almost stopped at his old bedroom door. He grimaced at the thought of climbing in bed with Grandpa Heitzer. He realized he'd get a warmer welcome there than climbing into bed with his own wife.
He walked quietly down the hall to the new bedroom. He was surprised to see she'd left a small lamp burning beside his bed. It was an unexpected thoughtful act. He hadn't seen much of Matilda amid all the chaos of the day and now he took the opportunity to view her in sleep. One of the French doors was open, he supposed in an effort to alleviate the strangeness of the new bedroom. He took the lamp and carried it to the sitting room. His daughter was curled up on her side and cradled in her arms was a book! He cast the light toward the book shelf and saw Miss Kitty the doll, still occupied the space she had earlier in the day. He wondered what book could replace the doll in his little girls arms. He took a closer look and saw the title, "Little Women." Matilda stirred and fearful he would awaken her, he moved out of the room.
Leave it to Sydney, he thought, to give Matilda a primer on women's rights. He smiled. He had no problem with his daughter growing into a woman who expected to be treated as an equal partner. Lord knows. Kitty would approve.
He returned to the bedroom and let the light shine briefly on Sydney. Just as Matilda had taken him by surprise so did his wife.
Her hair fanned around her head, her features were soft and her lips had lost their rigidity and were sensuous and full. For a brief moment he felt desire stir but true to his word, he held it in check.
GS GS GS
He hated going to Sunday Meeting. He'd never felt exactly comfortable in church but, since Kitty's funeral the building held only bitter memories. The smell of decaying flowers, lemon oiled pews, and naphtha scented clothing all combined to ignite memories of that horrible day he'd buried Kitty. It had been decided without so much as a 'what do you think of the idea, Matt?' that the three of them would attend Sunday service together as a family.
He grabbed his good jacket from his tiny allotment of the wardrobe. Well at least he'd fit right in with the rest of the worshipers, thanks to Ma, he smelled like mothballs too.
Sydney and Matilda were all ready waiting for him in the kitchen, along with Ma and Grandma and Grandpa Heitzer. Matilda was wearing one of the new dresses Sydney had commissioned Mrs. Helgemoe to make for her. It had been fashioned from the leftover material of one of Kitty's dresses. Sydney was wearing her gray suit with that ridiculous thing she called a hat pinned firmly atop her head. He did notice however that her hair was styled a bit freer than usual and her cheeks had a girlish glow to them. For a moment he thought she might be using face paint. Then he dismissed the idea, however the thought remained with him that she looked different - softer. The vision of her face in repose came to him again and he had to shake his head to get his thoughts straight.
They walked as a group down the boardwalk to the church. Mrs. Smalley and Mrs. Heitzer lead the pack gossiping back and forth. In the middle, Matilda holding Sydney's hand. They seemed different to him today too. He couldn't put a finger on it, but their relationship had changed. At the tail end of the procession, the tall lanky Marshal and the short squat retired farmer. "Looks like a good crop of wheat this year Marshal, long as the grasshoppers don't show up."
Mrs. Smalley and boarders took their usual pew on the left side of the church about half way up. They filed in, first Grandpa Heitzer, then Grandma, Mrs. Smalley, Matilda, Sydney and on the outside aisle the Marshal. In front of them a few pews ahead were Mrs. McGoo and Mr. Hinkle, only a day away from their own nuptial, and several pews in front of them were Cynthia Bodkin and her new husband. Seated directly behind the Marshal and Sydney was Doc Adams. Matt felt a poke in his shoulder. He turned around to give a dirty look to the offender.
Doc leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "Smile at Sydney, the whole congregation has their eyes on you."
Sydney had heard what the old man had ordered and she furrowed her brow in response. Doc gave her shoulder a prod too. "Smile at him," he whispered firmly. She turned instead to Matilda and offered the child a smile. Mrs. Helgemoe had made a small drawstring bag to go with Matilda's dress and Sydney watched as the little girl withdrew a pretty lace edged hanky that Ma had given her that morning. Matilda started to play with the fabric. Pretending, it seemed, that the hanky was a bride dressed in white.
Not liking Doc's directive but feeling he'd best get this over with or endure Doc's constant annoyance throughout the entire service. He gave Sydney's shoulder a little bump. She turned to look at him and he smiled, just as the doctor had ordered. Her eyes narrowed as she regarded him. She wiggled her forefinger coaxing him closer. When his ear was in close proximity to her mouth she hissed. "Kindly get your big foot off the hem of my skirt."
The absurdity of her contrariness suddenly struck him as funny and he nearly chuckled out loud. She did a double take at his effort to rein in his humor and then she got the giggles. Matilda seeing her red-faced parents trying valiantly to stifle their laughs started giggling too, this caused Ma to turn to shush her, which only lasted until she caught sight of Matt and Sydney, both shaking with the effort to still their giggles. Mrs. Heitzer, worried that something was wrong with Ma turned to her friend and then she started tittering as well. Grandpa Heitzer, was already snoring softly and was oblivious to all. However the rest of the congregation noticed the goings on and couldn't help but smile as well.
And as Edsel Pry hit the opening chord of Oh for a Faith that will not Shrink, Doc Adams leaned back in his pew, satisfied that he had accomplished his mission.
