Unshown Moments for Little Girl S 6

This is for MaryRoseEllen

Doc watched Matt and Charity leave with a smile. Matt looked a little nervous to be in charge of the little girl. Oh, it was one thing to take several of the little boys out to teach them how to track or let them follow him in the daytime as he walked about the town. But those kids weren't his responsibility for more than an hour or so. Charity was something else.

Chuckling, Doc stepped over to his desk and picked up the book he'd working on when Matt and Charity showed up. But his mind was still on the lawman and the little girl. And those thoughts led him to another girl, not quite so little.

Doc sighed as he thought of Kitty. She loved Matt. If Doc knew anything, he knew that. And he was pretty sure; Matt loved her. He just wished Matt wasn't so set on never getting married. He and Kitty could have a little girl like Charity of their own, if he'd just open his eyes to the possibility.

But as soon as that thought struck him, Doc shook it away. That wasn't going to happen. At least it wasn't going to happen right then. Maybe in twenty years or so when Matt was tired of playing with guns and bad guys, but not right.

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"Kitty?"

Kitty heard Matt's voice and turned with a smile until she saw him standing there with a small little girl beside him. "Uh, hello?" She offered an uncertain smile. "Um, who do we have here?"

"Oh, uh." Matt answered. "This is Charity Gill. Charity, this is Miss Kitty."

"Good to meet you, Charity." Kitty nodded towards her but looked to Matt for more information. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Well, I need some help." Matt told her. "You see, I found Charity out there on the prairie and… well, her pa died you see, and she didn't have any other family out there and so I…"

"Uh, Charity?" Kitty interrupted him. "I bet you're probably thirsty, aren't you."

"I guess." Charity shrugged.

"Well, you know, I bet my friend Clem outside just might have some milk. Why don't you go see? Huh?" She looked up pointedly at Matt who quickly nodded.

"Uh, yeah, here, Charity. I'll show you." Quickly Matt opened the door and showed Charity where to go and then came back to Kitty.

"So, you found her on the prairie, huh?" Kitty asked, as she went back to her inventory. "What do you plan on doing with her?"

"Well, that's why I'm here." Matt ducked his head. "I was kind of hoping you would take her."

"Me?" Kitty arched a brow. "In a saloon?"

"Well, not actually in the saloon." Matt shrugged. "But you know, here somewhere. I can't really take her with me everywhere I go, ya know."

"And just exactly what do you plan on me doing with her?" Kitty stopped and rolled her eyes at him. "I can't take her everywhere I go either."

"Well, I know." Matt shrugged. "But if you could just watch out after her and all until I can find her a permanent home. I was going to ask Ma Smalley or Mrs. Stevens but they're both out of town for a suffrage meeting. I couldn't think of any where else to take her."

"Yeah, I heard about the meeting." Kitty nodded, as she counted another case of whiskey. "Most of the women in town went."

"Yeah." Matt sighed. "All but you." Suddenly he frowned. "Say, why didn't you go? If memory serves me, you've always thought women should have the vote."

"I still do." Kitty nodded. "But I have plenty enough to keep me busy right here. I run a business, remember."

"Yeah," Matt nodded. "And actually, I'm glad you didn't."

"Oh?" She grinned over at him.

"Yeah." Matt nodded. "So, what do you think? Can you take her for a while?"

Kitty glanced over at him. "You surprise me, Matt."

"Well, Kitty, You're about the only woman left in Dodge. I thought you'd want to help."

"Well, I'd love to, but not in a saloon." Kitty answered.

Though Matt suggested she keep the child in her room, he knew she was right when she disagreed with that idea as well. The saloon wasn't the place for Charity but he was running out of ideas. However, after Kitty suggested Dora Henry, his countenance brightened. Of course! Mrs. Henry would be the perfect person to care for Charity. After bidding Kitty adieu and leaving the saloon with his pint-sized charge, Matt's heart was lighter knowing the child would be taken care of.

But there was a small part that would miss the little girl with the big eyes and smile. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to wonder what it would be like to have a child of his own, of his and Kitty's own. For he knew there could no other woman he wanted a child with. What would it be like to have a little girl with big blue eyes and reddish brown hair look at him like Charity did? But just as quickly as the thought struck him, he banished it to the furthest reaches of his mind. Maybe in twenty years he could think about that but not then.

Kitty watched Matt and Charity as they left with a small pang of longing. Matt was good with kids and she knew in her heart that he'd be even better with one of his own. One of their own. But she also knew, that it wasn't to be, at least not then. Maybe in twenty years or so, but not then.

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Matt walked into the saloon with a confident and easy smile, making his way quickly over to where Kitty stood at the end of the bar. "Evening, Kitty."

Kitty took a slow look around and pointedly looked at the floor behind him. "I don't see your shadow so I assume Dora Henry took her in?"

Matt nodded. "Yeah, she sure did. I have a feeling Charity will be just fine there."

"Well, good." Kitty smiled. "That mean you're free for the evening?" She winked and his grin widened.

"Unless something comes up." He answered. "Why? You have any ideas for the evening?"

"I might." She smirked.

"Oh?" He leaned in closer.

"Um hum." She grinned. "I still have some inventory to do in back. Want to help me lift some more heavy crates?"

Matt's grin disappeared and he shook his head at her, making her laugh. "See ya later, Kitty." He said as he turned and left the saloon, headed back to the jail to find Charity waiting for him. Resigned to looking after the child, he took her into the jail to sleep, knowing it would be later than he wanted when he next saw Kitty.

END