A Change in Plans

An ATC for "The Foundling"

by Lilyjack

Thank you, Dear Readers, for all for the kind, encouraging notes and PM's. Now that I have my life back after this five-month odyssey (with my plotting partner AZgirl66 at my side the entire journey,) I may actually have time to respond to you. Thank you for your patience. ;-) I hope you enjoy this final "bonus" chapter that was all AZ's idea a few months ago, in spite of my protests that the story was already too dadgum long to begin with. Now I'm glad she made me write it. Thanks for inspiring me to go outside my comfort zone, AZ, to challenge myself and to be a little adventurous. And now: Meanwhile, back in Dodge...

Chapter 45

"Return to Dodge"

Five years later…

Kitty deeply inhaled the cowtown air, a smell she'd never quite forgotten. She stiffened her spine and straightened her shoulders to buck up her nerve. Puffing a windblown curl off her face, she hitched two-year-old Russell higher on her hip. He was a beautiful boy with delicate features and an olive complexion, thick, dark hair that curled, and his mama's blue eyes. He gazed at his unfamiliar surroundings suspiciously, sneaking a comforting thumb into his mouth, hoping his mama wouldn't notice. Kitty pensively glanced down at Quint who was brushing the dust off his dark traveling suit.

'Hand 'im to me, honey," he said, dusting off his hands and then reaching up to grab the toddler. Quint took Kitty's hand while she hopped down off the train onto the platform at Dodge City. She brushed the trail dust from her traveling clothes as well, a beautiful blue suit that suddenly reminded her of the day she had left here five years ago and never returned. Until today.

She'd received a letter the previous week, one that had asked a lot of her. But considering who had written it, she couldn't have said no if she'd tried.

Dear Kitty,

It seems I'm getting along in years now, and I reckon my time on this old Earth is limited. No man knows how much time he's got, but I don't want to take a chance that I'll never see you again. I realize I let you down all those years ago when you wanted a baby and I didn't listen, honey. I'm mighty sorry about that. But I want to see with my own eyes the beautiful family you and Quint have made together. I'm real proud of you for taking life by the horns and accomplishing what you wanted. I thought I knew you for all those wonderful years we were together, but I'm ashamed to say I didn't look deep enough. Men are selfish sometimes, and we see what we want to see…what's on the surface, not what's underneath. I care for you more than you'll ever know, and I hope you'll return to Dodge just for a visit so I can see you at your happiest.

With love,

Doc

The penmanship was shakier than she'd remembered it; Festus had wired a month previous that Doc had suffered a mild attack of angina. Newly had written soon after reassuring her that Doc had made a full recovery but, after encouragement from his friends, he was going to advertise for a young physician to join him in his practice. Doc had finally decided to slow down a little.

Now she was in Dodge, nervous as a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs wondering how she'd be received. She wanted her little family to make a good impression on old friends. "Asper Tribe," she addressed them. "Gather round." Then she pretended to count them one by one to make sure they were all there. "I believe we're missin' one, Daddy," she observed in seeming consternation.

"Me, me! You fergot me, Mama!" exclaimed four-year-old Quint, Jr., hopping up and down excitedly. The handsome little boy was the very image of his daddy with shiny black hair and dark eyes offsetting olive-colored skin.

"Oh, there you are, son," Quint replied straight-faced. "I thought we'd lost you back in Springfield." He winked at Kitty.

She shot him a wry, conspiratorial look.

"Nossir, not me," Quint, Jr. piped up earnestly. "I'se too fast to lose." The boy prepared to take off down the platform to demonstrate his exceeding swiftness. Kitty made a grab for his arm before he could escape, reeling the little boy back to her side.

"Very good reflexes, Mama," Quint remarked.

"Born of years of practice," she replied drily. Then she cleared her throat. "Asper Tribe, now I want you all to listen to me real close."

A chorus of small voices saying, "Yes, ma'am" duly replied.

"You all know why we're here-to visit with some of Mama's and Daddy's old friends." She bent down to straighten Quint, Jr.'s crooked collar while all three children nodded earnestly, even little Russell, following his siblings' leads.

"But while we're here, you are to stay close to one of us, either me or your daddy. I don't want any of you bein' carried off by a…" She squinted her eyes against the bright prairie sun as she considered. "…a buffalo or somethin'."

Quint, Jr. asked soberly, "They gots buffaloes in Dodge?"

Quint cleared his throat, answering, "Not so many nowadays, son, but your mama and I just want you to be safe."

Kitty nodded in agreement. "Now that bein' said, I think it might be high time for you three to go run off some of that steam you've been buildin' up on this long trip."

"Where can we run, Mama?" Quint, Jr. asked in anticipation. "Where the buffaloes won't git us?"

Kitty looked to Quint.

He offered, "Why don't you all go over to that clearing right there and play a little while, and I'll go see about our luggage?"

"That sounds like a fine idea," Kitty replied.

"Here, take our little man, honey. It shouldn't take me too awful long."

"Can we run off our steam now?" Quint, Jr. asked anxiously.

"Yes…" Kitty began, settling Russell on her hip.

Quint, Jr. let out a war whoop and grabbed his sister's hand, but Kitty latched onto his jacket sleeve first. He froze.

"Just don't get out of my sight, you hear me?"

A subdued "Yes'm," quickly followed.

"If you can't see me, I can't see you."

"Then we'll be in big trouble," Quint, Jr. remarked ominously.

"Twubble," Russell echoed solemnly, placing his hand on his mama's cheek. He nodded and repeated, "Big twubble."

Kitty kissed the toddler noisily on the forehead and instructed, "Come on, Aspers."

The children ran to the grassy clearing, giggling and racing one after another. Kitty set down Russell and let him run after his brother and sister as fast as his chubby legs would carry him. She looked over her shoulder at Quint, still standing there gazing after his family. Kitty, seeing no one watching, threw him an impulsive kiss. He wordlessly placed a hand over his heart, gave her that beautiful sparkling smile of his, then headed for the depot to check on their things.

Kitty was thankful that she was wearing sensible broadcloth as she removed her stifling gloves and hat and placed them at the base of a scraggly cottonwood. The traveling skirt could easily withstand chasing after her little ones in the tall, dry prairie grass. Desirous of burning off as much mischievous juvenile energy as possible during this opportune outdoor break, she initiated a game of tag that soon degenerated into a pile of squealing, giggling children with Kitty the base of the pile. She was laughing just as hard as her children were, attempting to sit back up after being unintentionally flattened by an overenthusiastic Quint, Jr., who now squeezed her ribs in a bear hug so tight it rivalled the corset she wore. "Oh, son, Mama can't breathe," she laughed. "Help me up."

It was at that moment that a large shadow loomed overhead. Kitty squinted against the blinding sun, shading her eyes with her hand. Her children froze, ceasing in their efforts to assist their mother as their gazes followed hers. Her eyes focused, and she caught sight of him, all six foot, seven inches of impressive height, and for a moment he looked just like he did twenty-odd years before. She remembered him as he had been when she'd fallen in love with him at first sight, a heroic figure wearing a badge with a handsome face and beautiful body. The thought made her belly flutter and her heart squeeze tight just like it used to when she was just a girl.

But then her mind's eye sharply focused. She watched as he moved closer and offered his hand to her. There was a limp in his step from one too many gunshot wounds. The collective memory of those shootings, waiting while Doc operated on him, time after time, shook her, waked her, and made her realize she could never live that life again. It hurt her that they'd grown apart, that they hadn't been able to grow and change together. But then she looked at the three sweet faces gathered round her, and she realized that things happen for a reason and that it must all have been for the best.

Kitty placed her hand in his and felt herself effortlessly pulled to her feet. Matt Dillon may not have been the formidable man of his youth, but he was still as strong as an ox. Kitty self-consciously busied herself at brushing the grass and dust from her suit, thinking that she must look a sight with curls falling out of their updo and a sheen of perspiration on her face. And she wasn't wearing face paint as was her custom when she was a saloon owner in Dodge, she thought. That had fallen by the wayside when she settled into the relatively sedate lifestyle of a wife and mother living on a quiet residential street in St. Louis.

She stopped fussing and looked at him looking at her.

"You look beautiful, Kitty," he earnestly murmured.

"Oh, Matt," she began. "I'm a mess. I just…"

"No," he interrupted. "I mean it. You look good. You look happy. I see it in your eyes."

She caught her breath. "Well, Matt, I…"

"Mama!" Quint, Jr. appealed urgently. He tugged at her sleeve and she leaned down to listen to his request.

Straightening, she sighed, casting her eyes around the clearing to the nearby small grove of cottonwoods. "Matt, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna hafta take Quint, Jr. behind a tree over there."

Matt nodded understandingly. But Kitty noticed his gaze was riveted to the small five-year-old redhead with a sprinkle of impish freckles across her nose. She was staring back at him with big, violet-blue eyes, her expression sober, fathomless.

Kitty interjected, "Lucy…" Kitty reached down to pick up Russell and settle him in her arms. "I told you all that we were comin' to Dodge to see old friends. This here is…"

The big man interrupted. "Matt, Lucy. My name is Matt Dillon. I'm real pleased to make your acquaintance."

Kitty breathed deeply, feeling herself relax. But then Quint, Jr. tugged on her skirt, calling, "Mama!" and she quickly took the boy's hand.

"Matt," she offered. "Why don't you and Lucy wait for us over there in the shade? We'll be right back."

He gazed at her silently, then nodded and invited Lucy, "Let's us go sit on that log over there."

"Yessir," Lucy piped up politely. They both glanced over their shoulders at Kitty as she hurriedly took the boys to the edge of the clearing.

Five minutes later, Kitty was standing behind a tree with Quint, Jr., helping him button the fly on his trousers. He hadn't gone on the train when she'd told him to, so now he was learning how to rough it out on the prairie. "I kin do this 'un, Mama," Quint Jr. announced, struggling with the last button.

"Okay, son, but…"

Kitty could hear voices, and she stood up straight, listening. It was Matt's deep, booming voice and her Lucy's sweet soprano. She stepped out from behind the tree to look. Matt sat on the fallen log in the shade alongside Lucy. They were quietly talking.

Quint, Jr. appeared at her elbow, proclaiming, "I did it all by myself, Mama!"

She quickly put a finger to her lips, whispering, "Quint, Jr., why don't you, uh, get Mama a big pile of sticks? Just like that one right there." She pointed.

"You need sticks? Like that one?"

"Yes, son, lots of 'em. Can you do that for me? Make the pile right here."

But Quint, Jr. was already speeding around, hard at work, searching for the perfect sticks for his mama.

She reached down to pick up Russell and plant him on her hip, quietly moving closer to the intimate conversation in the shade. She didn't want to interrupt, but she wanted so badly to hear what they were talking about. Kitty looked at Russell, put her finger on her lips. He mimicked her with his chubby finger on his mouth, his eyes shining at her.

Matt and Lucy couldn't see her approach, but as Kitty got closer, she could hear them. Matt's voice rumbled like an old bear, but it was gentle and kind. He was dressed just as he had been five years ago, wearing his faded red shirt and tan vest. He held his sweat-stained hat in his hand, but his hair had considerably more silver running throughout than the last time Kitty had seen him.

Five-year-old Lucy looked especially tiny and feminine next to this giant man. She wore a charming little white ruffled pinafore over a blue dress the same shade as her mother's suit. Lucy always tried her best to keep up with her athletic younger brother, so the dress was already smudged with dirt from their romp in the clearing.

Lucy was mature for her age, smart as a whip, and even bookish and dreamy at times, already reading even though she wouldn't start school until September at the prestigious Country Day School in St. Louis. Quint had always promised Kitty he would send Lucy to the best schools, and he'd kept his word. Kitty couldn't believe her little girl was old enough to go, but five years and two more children had flown by. It left her breathless to think about it, and the thought of not having Lucy by her side during the school day made her heart ache.

Lucy seemed an old soul to Kitty, with a big heart and caring ways. She was always looking after her younger brother, Quint, Jr., helping Kitty to make sure he didn't get run over by the milk wagon in the street or some such, and Lucy also set quite a store by her baby brother Russell, wagging him around with her the best she could. Luckily, she was a bit tall for her age, with long legs and long arms. Kitty could see that she might be taking after Matt in that way.

Their conversation seemed to be quite animated. Kitty froze to listen, touching her lips to sweet Russell's forehead, rubbing his back to keep him quiet.

ljljljljlj

"Did you know my name is Lucy Rose Asper, but no Junior on the end like my brother? He's the onliest one with Junior on his name in my family."

"That's a pretty name, honey." Matt's throat felt tight, his chest ached, looking at this beautiful child, the one he'd made with Kitty. Long, ropey red curls tumbled down her back, shining strands that'd worked their way out of her ribbon now wispy around her face. Her skin was porcelain with a smattering of freckles on her nose, her cheeks flushed pink from running and playing with her brothers and mother earlier.

Matt had watched quietly from nearby, wondering if he should approach, if he would be welcome. But he couldn't resist. He had to talk to Kitty. It'd been so long since he'd last spoken with her, since their heart-wrenching goodbye kiss in St. Louis. But seeing Kitty's lovely, innocent family here now, he knew without a doubt it had all been for the best, despite the pain and loneliness, the loss of his beautiful Kitty.

And much to Matt's surprise, Lucy had plopped down right beside him with no hesitation, placing her doll on the log between them. He found himself charmed, delighted, as she chattered animatedly, her blue eyes sparkling.

"Guess what?" Lucy announced, twirling a white wildflower between her small fingers.

Matt waited patiently for the girl to continue.

She then informed him politely, "You're 'posed to say, 'What?', Mister."

"You can call me 'Matt', Lucy."

"Okay, Mister Matt. Guess what?"

Matt chuffed out a laugh. "Well, let's see if I can do it right this time…" He cleared his throat with some ceremony and obligingly inquired, "What?"

Lucy beamed appreciatively, her pretty rosebud mouth turned up at the corners, her tiny baby teeth white and even. Then she declared wonderingly, "Did you know my Mama and Daddy gots the same name as me? Asper. And so does my dog Mo. Mo Asper, that's his name, Daddy says. Daddy says he named me Rose cause he kissed Mama by the rosebush in the garden, but I'm not 'posed to tell Mama he told me." She paused, reflecting deeply, then wrinkled her freckled nose at him. "You won't tell, will ya?"

"Course not," Matt assured her. The thought of Quint kissing Kitty made his chest tight for only a moment because the charming storyteller sitting beside him soothed his pain like a salve.

"You are tall, Mister Matt."

"That I am, Lucy."

"You are taller than my Daddy even, and he is very, very tall."

"Well, honey, I imagine I'm taller than most folks in these parts."

She looked up at Matt earnestly with those vibrant violet-blue eyes. "I bet you eated your peas when you was little instead of feedin' 'em to your dog under the table." Lucy brushed flower petals from her pinafore, explaining, "Mo likes peas and I am real glad."

"I bet you are, little lady. Say, is that your doll?"

"Yep," she answered quickly, picking up the porcelain doll who looked somewhat the worse for wear, as if she'd been wagged around by the child for a considerable time. She smoothed the doll's long hair beneath her fingers. "And guess what?"

This time Matt was ready. "What?" he answered correctly.

"Me and her, we're zactly the same age. Her name is Lulu. Lulu Jr. on account a' she's the spittin' image a' me, my mama says. See, she gots red hair just like me."

"I can see that. Where'd you get it?" But Matt knew exactly where she'd gotten it. He'd spied it in the general store the week following his visit to St. Louis five years ago. He'd asked the clerk to pack it up and ship it to Lindell Boulevard.

"My mama, she says…" Lucy stopped to thoughtfully contemplate, her pale brow wrinkling as she recalled. "She always says somebody real 'portant gave it to me. She won't tell me who though. She always makes her eyebrow go up like this when I ask." Lucy demonstrated by pushing one of her own brows up with an index finger.

Matt couldn't help but chuckle. He'd been on the receiving end up that arched brow more times than he could count.

Lucy added, "She said, maybe one of these days."

"Is that a fact?" Matt quietly pondered, wondering how Kitty could ever entertain the thought of divulging the true father of her child without it causing major complications in Kitty's life. Society didn't cotton to women who flaunted the unspoken rules of society, becoming pregnant out of wedlock, he thought with chagrin. The ramifications for Lucy would be just as bad, if not worse.

"Yep, she sure did." She looked at him, scratching her nose thoughtfully. "You think she'll tell me when I'm big?"

"I don't know, honey. I guess that's up to her, but maybe it's just best if you don't know. Sometimes Mama knows best."

The child's face suddenly lit up as she cried, "Daddy!"

Matt's stomach lurched at the sound of it, his eyes opening wide.

Then he glimpsed Quint approaching, his hands jammed in his pockets until Lucy raced to jump into his arms. Matt's old friend was subdued, almost cautious in his manner. Matt didn't blame him seeing as how they'd parted five years before. Matt was the first to reach out. "Quint," he greeted him, grasping his hand firmly.

Quint's face wore a look of relief, and he smiled as he shook Matt's hand.

Then someone else spoke from behind. "We're back…" The rich, husky sound of that voice always turned him inside out. He hadn't heard it in five years. Five long years, and it was going to take some getting used to, hearing it again for the precious week she'd be here. Kitty held the sweet-faced youngest tyke on her hip, and the boy was playing with a silver bracelet on her wrist, one of those with little trinkets of all shapes and sizes attached.

Matt remembered staring at that bracelet when he was standing on her porch in St. Louis. He'd stared at it because he couldn't bear to look at Kitty while she was crying and unhappy, when she'd been angry with him, even though he reckoned he deserved it. He'd spied a little blue heart on it then, and the image had been seared in his mind all these years because he figured Quint had given her that little blue heart. Now he noticed the bracelet had many more little trinkets than last time. He wondered what they all were. He realized he'd never know.

Matt watched her as she rounded the log and went to stand next to Quint. "I'm glad you're back, Kitty," he intoned, and he wasn't talking about being back from taking her boy behind a tree. He told her so with his eyes, and she gave him a bittersweet smile.

Quint cleared his throat and spoke up. "Festus and Newly are over at the depot, findin' somebody to deliver our luggage to the hotel. They were fussin' because the train was early, and they missed us. I told 'em I'd come get you and meet 'em back there, but…" He gazed at Matt and Kitty and said, "I think I…forgot somethin'." He gave Kitty a tiny understanding nod and continued, "How 'bout I round up all the kids and take 'em with me? Here, gimme Little Man."

Kitty handed over the little boy who wrapped his arms tightly around his daddy's neck. Quint placed a hand on top of Lucy's blazing red hair. "Come on, sugar. Quint, Jr., let's go. We'll be back in a little while, Kitty… Matt…"

Matt, grateful for the time Quint was giving him alone with Kitty, stuck out his huge hand to shake once more. "It's good to see you again, Quint."

Quint nodded soberly. "Same to you, Matt." He touched Kitty's hand and she grasped it tightly before he walked away, looking over his shoulder.

Then Kitty said, "I see you've been talkin' with Lucy."

"Yep."

"Well…" Kitty busied herself with straightening her jacket, still rumpled and dusty after roughhousing with her children. Her tone was decidedly casual. "Whatta you think of her?"

"I think you've done a fine job with her, Kitty."

Kitty stilled her nervous attempts at appearing nonchalant. She answered with a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Matt."

"You did the right thing."

She pressed her lips together tightly, looking up at the cloudless sky to hold back the tears. "I appreciate that, Matt. It means the world to me, it really does."

"She's a fine girl. You should be proud."

She looked into his blue eyes that seemed to have faded over the years she'd known him. But they were just as earnest, equally as kind as the first day she'd met him. "I'm real proud of her, Matt. It's scary, tryin' to be a good mother when you lost your own pretty young and haven't come across too many motherly role models in your life. But I had plenty of help. I was fortunate, I know. Our housekeeper Violet, she's like family. She's been by my side with all three of my children, and my neighbor Lottie is a good friend. She was with me when every one of them were born. And Quint…" She looked over Matt's shoulder, unable to look into his eyes when she continued. "Quint's been a good husband, a wonderful father, Matt. He loves us all. He loves the children equally."

Matt nodded, unable to speak at first. He swallowed hard but speared her with his unflinching gaze. "So you're happy? I need to know for sure."

"Yes, Matt. We're very happy."

"That's all that matters, Kitty."

A ghost of a smile touched her lips. "You're a good man, Matt Dillon. I wanna thank you for the railroad stocks you've been buyin' in Lucy's name. Yeah, I know they were purchased by an 'anonymous' buyer. Least that's what the certificate that comes in the mail says." She cut him that familiar, coy look out of the corner of her eye. "But I know who they're from. Somebody who wants to make sure his daughter has a solid future."

A smile twitched at the corners of his lips. "I don't reckon I know who that could be," he innocently pondered aloud.

"I don't know, but they arrive every year on her birthday. I haven't told Lucy about 'em yet." Kitty bit her lip. "Maybe I can tell her someday."

"You don't have to, Kitty. She doesn't need to know. I wouldn't want her to have to suffer the consequences." Matt wasn't just talking about stocks.

"I know, Matt. I want her to know everything, but she doesn't really need to know. I don't wanna confuse her or hurt her." She crossed her arms, her gaze falling on the bracelet on her wrist. She touched it, her fingertips drawn to the small blue turquoise heart.

Matt observed her movements but said nothing.

She took a fortifying breath and murmured, "I need to say somethin', Matt. And you need to hear me out. I just…" Kitty swiped at a tear that rolled down her cheek. "I just wanna thank you, Matt. You see this little heart on my bracelet? Yes, Quint bought it for me, but I think a' you every time I look at it. It's Lucy's birthstone. And I wanna thank you for the best gift anyone has ever given me. Lucy is the light of my life. She's my sweet girl and I don't know where I'd be today without her. I'll be forever grateful to you."

Matt nodded his head at her, his brow furrowed thoughtfully, his throat tight. "And that means a lot to me, Kitty. I do think it's all turned out for the best. And I want you to know, honey, if you ever need me, if Lucy ever needs anything, you know where to find me."

ljljljljlj

Several minutes later, Quint returned, grinning from ear to ear, with his old friend Festus in tow. "Look what the cat dragged in!" Quint called out to Kitty and Matt.

Festus, neighing like a horse, was carrying Quint, Jr. on his back with Lucy dancing happily all around them. Festus's whole face lit up when he saw Kitty. She opened her arms wide and engulfed him in a hug while her son protested at the untimely waylaying of his steed. Kitty quickly silenced her little boy with kisses all over his face. When Festus protested that Lil' Quint was gettin' all the lovin', Kitty obliged Festus by kissing him soundly on his whiskery cheek. Then Festus proceeded to pick Lucy up by the waist and swing her around and around while the little girl squealed in delight.

Quint smiled, enjoying Festus frolicking with his children, but Kitty noticed his glance flicking over to Matt. Kitty sidled next to her husband, slipped her arm through his. She whispered, "Don't worry, Quint. He can never steal her away from you. She's got you wrapped around her little finger. That bond can never be broken. Don't you wonder…is he feelin' a little sad at what he missed out on? Or utter relief that he escaped the noose in the nick of time?" She gave Quint a lopsided smile.

He couldn't help but laugh.

"Why don't you and Festus go wash the trail dust outta your gizzards, Quint? I wanna take the children to see Doc. Maybe we'll meet you back at the Dodge House later?"

"Sure, sweetheart. If you need me, we'll be at the Long Branch."

ljljljljlj

"Hello, Doc." Kitty had promised herself she wouldn't cry, but at the sight of him, sitting there in his desk chair, hunched over shuffling papers like old times, her blue eyes swam with tears. He gazed up at her, and a look crossed his features she'd never seen before. She added in a throaty voice, "I've missed you, Curly."

"Hello, Kitty…" Laying his pen aside, Doc swiped his hand over his mouth, composing himself before he could continue. "I reckon I've missed you, too." He rose to greet her, a little bit thinner, his eyes a bit more faded, but he was the same old Doc. He opened his arms, and she went to him. They embraced tightly, clinging to one another, both fighting back tears.

Then Doc spied three small faces peeking from behind Kitty's skirts. He loosened his hold on his old friend and contented himself with an arm wrapped around the back of her waist as he exclaimed airily, "Well, well!" Doc dashed the back of his hand beneath a teary eye. "What do we have here?"

Kitty gazed down at her wide-eyed children. Lucy stood in the middle, holding both her brothers' hands. They were all three a little dirty and disheveled from their romp in the clearing across from the depot, but there was no denying their heritage. Lucy was a pale, lovely blossom standing between her two dark-haired, handsome little brothers.

Doc's lip trembled as he took in the sight. He scrubbed a hand over his jaw and declared to Kitty, "Just look at your remarkable family, Kitty. Just look at you! You've never looked more beautiful to me than you are right now."

She laughed, hugging his neck, "Oh, Doc, I look a sight, straight off the train from Springfield, and you know it!"

Doc leaned down toward Kitty's children, asking, "Now who is this beautiful little girl who looks just like her mother?"

"This is Lucy, Doc…"

Lucy attempted a curtsy, but it was difficult with her brothers' hands in her own. Blowing a wayward red curl off her forehead, she announced in her pretty, lilting little voice, "Lucy Rose Asper, Doctor Adams. Pleased to make your 'quaintance. This here is my little brother Quint, Jr."

Quint, Jr. stuck out his small, grimy hand, grinning. He piped up, "Howdy, Doc."

Doc, in turn, grinned over his shoulder at Kitty. "This 'un's the spittin' image of somebody else I know."

Kitty graced him with a crooked smile. "I know, Doc."

Lucy soberly continued, "And this is our baby brother Russell."

Russell quietly slipped his thumb into his mouth and hid his face against his sister's arm. She explained, "Russell's a mite shy. He don't talk too awful much to strangers."

"What about you, young lady?" Doc inquired seriously. "Are you shy like your little brother there?"

"Nope. Mama, she says I never met a stranger. Don't you, Mama?"

"Mm-hmm…" was Kitty's knowing answer.

Doc turned back to look at Kitty, his eyes sparkling. He let out a genuine laugh that flew straight through her and stopped, warm and beating, in the middle of her chest. For the first time, she began to feel like her children might have an extended family, a home away from home.

ljljljljlj

The place was empty except for a broad-shouldered, golden-skinned man standing at the bar with a bottle and two glasses. Kitty breathed in, the smell at once familiar and foreign to her now. Stale tobacco, corn liquor and the scent of hard-working, hard-drinking men over everything. She slowly walked to the bar, sliding her hand over the dark man's back. "How about buyin' a lady a drink?"

"Depends on the lady." He raised a brow rakishly. "But if she's you, I'm definitely interested."

"Much obliged. Where's the owner? I hear she's a lady."

"You don't say… But I heard she's nothin' compared to the previous owner." He broke out in a grin, revealing, "Floyd said she was at the bank. He went back inside the office for a few minutes. Said he'll be right back."

"Good to hear Hannah Cobb is puttin' money in the bank. I hope she's makin' a success of the place."

"Probably not as good as you did." He eyed her over the top of his glass, a secretive smile curving his lips.

"What?" she inquired, taking in the expression on his face.

"Funny standin' here with you after all these years…what? Fifteen maybe?"

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

"You know, I was pretty young back then."

"Yes, you were."

"You barely looked at me."

"Oh, that's not true, Quint."

"Well, you were warm and friendly all right, but you didn't look at me the way I wanted you to. You were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen in my life, dressed in fancy clothes and runnin' your own business. That's pretty impressive for a half-breed come straight off the prairie."

She smiled at him, took a sip of her whiskey. She wasn't accustomed to drinking too often anymore with three children to look after, a household to run, and a growing business's finances to tend to. The whiskey burned its way down her throat and into her belly. "I think you did alright for yourself, Quint Asper."

He sidled close. His shoulder and hip touched hers warmly as he murmured softly, "Who'd have ever thought that green Comanche kid would one day be takin' that beautiful saloon owner back to his hotel room?"

"Oh, is that what you're plannin' on?"

A beat as his eyes shifted to glance sideways at her. "Yep."

"What else are you plannin', Mr. Asper?"

"Well, Mrs. Asper, I'm plannin' on takin' off that fancy dress you're wearin' right now."

"But I happen to like this dress."

"I do, too. You look quite beautiful in it. It matches your eyes. But I remember standin' here years ago, wonderin' what you looked like under those fancy dresses of yours. Thinkin' about it sometimes made it hard for a smitten fella to sleep at night."

"Really? I had no idea." She took another sip, enjoying the burn. She raised a brow at her companion. "But now you know."

"Yeah…" He gazed at her. "Now I know."

"Well, I happen to know somethin' else. Festus dropped by Doc's. He couldn't stand to miss out on Doc meetin' the children. So I guess he left you in the lurch here?"

"Not even the prospect of a free drink could convince him to stay."

"That is really somethin'. Well, I was gonna suggest… I know Doc and Festus will be occupied for some time, I'm sure. They were plannin' on takin' all three young'uns to the new ice cream parlor in town."

"Ice cream parlor? Well, whatta you know? Dodge is comin' up in the world."

"You want some ice cream, too?"

"Oh, I can think of somethin' I want, and it's not ice cream."

"No ice cream, Mr. Asper?"

"Nope."

"Well, I can't imagine what that would be."

"Well, lemme tell you…" Quint looked over his shoulder and then back toward the office door. Not a soul in sight. He leaned closer to her, his lips, his warm breath brushing her skin. He whispered softly in her ear, his fingers threading through her hair at the base of her scalp. Her cheeks flushed pink and her lips parted as he spoke.

"Why, Mr. Asper…" she breathed in a playfully scandalized tone. She placed a thoughtful finger on her chin, adding contemplatively, "Since the children will be occupied, maybe we could…?"

Offering his arm, he quickly finished for her, "After you, Mrs. Asper."

She brushed her fingers over the graying waves at his temples and whispered in his ear, "I'm ready whenever my hot-blooded Comanche is ready. Lead on…"

end

ljljljljlj