Chapter 20 What's Kept In The Dark….
Before Matt left for Dodge, he and Sarah did make arrangements for him to visit her. Matt told Sarah he would see her every few weeks and when his work brought him that way. Sarah wanted a set schedule of when Matt would be seeing her, but Matt told her he couldn't give her a schedule. People in Dodge would start to question why he was leaving Dodge every few weeks on the same day. The days would have to be sporadic. When asked how she would know that he was coming, Matt said he would send a telegram to her, but he would send it to her as her brother.
Matt returned to Dodge late night of the second day he was gone. He took Buck to Moss' stable and went to see Kitty. Matt wasn't sure if she was in her room or downstairs in the Long Branch. He was too tired to go to the Long Branch, so he went to Kitty's room. If she wasn't there, he would wait for her. There had been other times when Matt returned from a trip and waited for Kitty to finish up downstairs.
After closing the Long Branch, Kitty walked upstairs to her room. She still helped Sam close the Long Branch, but it had been a while. Tonight she helped him so she could keep her mind off Matt and why he left. She didn't hear from him, so she assumed he and Sarah didn't have to wait until tomorrow to get married. Kitty realized Matt never told her when he would be back. She was surprised to see him when she opened the door.
"Matt!" Kitty exclaimed as she went to him. "I wasn't expecting to see you. I assume you went through with the marriage."
"Yes. We were even able to find a house for Sarah to live in," Matt replied.
"I just hate the fact that you're married," sighed Kitty.
"Kitty, I'm not legally married," said Matt. "My plan worked. Sarah and I married under false names. There wasn't even a witness. She never even questioned it."
"You said you were able to find her a house," said Kitty. "Where is the house?"
"It's just outside of Garden City," Matt answered. "Sarah and I made plans for me to see her every few weeks."
"I know that you're not really married, but I hate that you are going to be seeing her," said Kitty.
"It's the only thing I can do to keep her out of Dodge," Matt explained. "If I don't go there, then she's going to come here."
Kitty knew Matt was right. He had to keep Sarah out of Dodge and going to her was the only way to do so. Kitty wondered how long that arrangement would work. Would Sarah realize that she and Matt aren't married? Would she show up obviously pregnant or with a baby and demand more from Matt?
Fort Wallace
Jamie had spent as much time in San Francisco as he was allowed searching for Sarah. San Francisco was a big city, but Jamie was hoping he would be able to find his bride. Unfortunately luck was not on his side and he returned to Fort Wallace. He thought about requesting for more time, and going to Boston to see if Sarah was there, but changed his mind. Jamie read Sarah's letter again. She had asked Jamie to give her time. It was very hard for him, but if time is what she wanted, then time is what he would give her. He just wondered what she told her family.
Garden City (Several Weeks Later)
Sarah was on her way to Doctor Plowman's office for a routine checkup. Sarah really liked Doctor Plowman. He was very knowledgeable in his practice. Any question that Sarah asked Doctor Plowman, he was able to answer. This was her third time seeing him.
During her second appointment, Doctor Plowman asked Sarah about her husband. Seeing Sarah's reaction, Doctor Plowman realized it was a sensitive subject and regretted asking her. Sarah however reassured the doctor that it was fine that he asked. She knew that Matt would never come to an appointment, so she had to make up a story to explain her absent husband.
Sarah decided to tell Doctor Plowman that her husband was a traveling businessman and he made a living traveling all over the country. She used to travel with him, but when she found out she was pregnant, she decided to stop traveling. She didn't know how traveling would affect the baby. Sarah went on to say that her husband wasn't around because he was traveling out east, but that she hoped he would be back in time for the birth.
Doctor Plowman helped Sarah up onto the examining table. Sarah pulled up her shirt, revealing her stomach. It had definitely grown over the last several weeks. Doctor Plowman was surprised at the growth, but had to tell himself that every pregnancy is different. The baby seemed to have a growth spurt. He used his hands to measure the growth of the unborn baby and used his stethoscope to listen to the baby's heartbeat. After he finished, Doctor Plowman gave Sarah a new, more accurate due date.
Sarah left the doctor's office happy that the baby was healthy. She was also happy because Matt was coming to see her. He was supposed to be arriving later that evening. She had received a telegram from her "brother" that he was coming to visit. Matt had not seen her for several weeks, and Sarah wondered how he would react to seeing her stomach. The last time he saw her, her pregnancy wasn't showing.
Matt left Dodge City in the early morning hours and rode off to Garden City. This was going to be his first visit with Sarah since their "marriage." The closer he got to Garden City, the more he dreaded the trip. Matt really didn't know what to expect from Sarah. He didn't know what her next move was. At the moment, he wished the world would just swallow him up. The only problem with that wish was then he would never see Kitty again.
The sun was setting when Matt rode up to the small house where Sarah was living. He dismounted Buck and took him to the barn. Inside the barn, Matt gave Buck a a quick rub down, fed him some oats, and gave him some water. Matt didn't plan on staying with Sarah, but he felt Buck deserved to stay in the barn while Matt was there. Matt finished attending to Buck and walked to the house.
Matt knocked on the door and waited for Sarah to tell him to come in. When he heard her, Matt opened the door and stepped into the parlor room. He shut the door behind him. When he saw Sarah, he was surprised. He wasn't expecting to see the size of her belly.
Sarah noticed Matt's stunned look. "Is something wrong, Matt?" she asked.
"You're pregnant," Matt stated dumbfoundedly. It was as if this was news to him.
"Of course I am," said Sarah. "You knew that I was. Even your Doctor Adams confirmed it. I wasn't lying about my pregnancy. I'll even show you my pregnant belly."
Sarah slowly lifted her shirt and revealed her belly. As Sarah stood there with her bare stomach showing, Matt just stared at it, unable to say anything. Sarah took Matt's reaction as a good thing. She thought he was lovingly staring at her stomach and coming to terms that he was the father, but that's not why Matt was staring. He was deep in thought. Matt still held onto hope that Doc had gotten things wrong and Sarah wasn't as far along as he said she was. But now seeing Sarah's belly, it looked as though Doc was probably right.
"I know you're pregnant," Matt said as he got himself out of his train of thought. "I was just surprised at how fast your stomach grew. I wasn't expecting that."
Matt and Sarah ate supper together. While they ate, Sarah told Matt that she and the baby were healthy. After supper Matt took Buck out of the barn and rode into town. He would stay at the Sunflower Hotel and return to Sarah's house in the morning, before heading back to Dodge City.
Dodge City
Matt returned to Dodge the next evening and went straight to Doc's office. He wanted to ask Doc questions about Sarah's pregnancy, questions he wasn't too sure he could ask in front of Kitty without upsetting her. Matt just prayed that Doc was in his office. There was a chance he could be at the Long Branch having a drink with Kitty or Chester or both. Matt didn't want to go to the Long Branch to find out. There was light on in Doc's office, so that was a good sign, but sometimes Doc left a light on. Matt knew there was only one way to find out if Doc was up there.
Matt climbed the steps and opened the door. To his relief, Doc was sitting at his desk. The office had no patients. Doc looked up to see Matt standing there.
"Matt, you're just in time," said Doc. "I was heading over to the Long Branch to have a drink with Kitty. I'm sure she'll be glad you're back. Although I'm surprised you're not already over there."
"I wanted to ask you a question before I went," Matt replied.
"Sure, go ahead," Doc instructed.
Matt hesitated before he got up the nerve to ask his question. "I went to see Sarah today. When I saw her, she had a pregnant belly. It was like her belly had popped out since the last time I saw her. I will admit that I had been hoping that you were wrong about how far along she was, but seeing her stomach makes me believe you're probably right."
"Are you thinking you might be the father?" Doc asked.
"I don't know," Matt said, shaking his head. "Is it possible her stomach suddenly grew because she's carrying a bigger baby, meaning that it could be mine?"
"Matt, you're asking me if the size of the baby will determine paternity," Doc stated. Matt nodded his head. "It can, especially if there is a definite difference in size between the possible fathers. But I wouldn't solely rely on that. I've seen lots of pregnant women's stomachs grow suddenly, but then slow down. That's probably what's going on with Sarah. Don't dwell over it."
Over the next few months, Matt continued his visitations with Sarah. It seemed with each visit, her pregnant belly grew. Sarah was seven months pregnant the last time Matt had visited her. Sarah kept asking if he would be there when the baby was born. He told her he didn't know if he would be or not and didn't want to make any promises.
Matt realized that after Sarah gave birth, he would still have to make the visitations. The end of the pregnancy didn't mean the end of the visitations. If there was only a way to prove who the father was. Matt was starting to regret not contacting Jamie. However, it seems too late now. How would he explain not contacting him sooner?
One evening Kitty was visiting Matt at the jail. He had a lot of paperwork to catch up. Matt was sitting at his desk and Kitty was sitting at the table. She was going to have to make a trip to Garden City and was preparing to tell Matt of her trip.
"Matt, do you remember Lou Hettler?" Kitty asked.
"Of course," Matt replied. "He's your whiskey drummer. Why do you ask?"
"He was supposed to come to Dodge this week, but isn't able to," said Kitty.
"Why not?" Matt asked.
"His big toe is infected from an ingrown toenail," Kitty replied. "I need to order more whiskey, so I have to go to Garden City to see him. I'm leaving on tomorrow's stage."
"You're just now telling me?" Matt questioned.
"I know how you feel about me going on stages. I figured the less time you had to think about it the better," Kitty answered.
The next day Kitty took the stage to Garden City. She met with Lou and ordered the whiskey she needed. Kitty pondered whether or not she should take the overnight stage back to Dodge or to stay in Garden City and take the stage the next day. She chose to stay an extra day. Kitty decided she could use the time off.
The last five months had been nothing but stressful. She had a feeling things were going to continue to be stressful. Sarah's baby was due in a few weeks and they still didn't know how to prove whether or not Matt was the father.
While Kitty was in Garden City, she came across Doctor Plowman's office. Kitty could feel a headache coming on and wanted to ask the doctor if he had any headache powders for her. She went to his office and walked inside.
"Hello, can I help you?" Doctor Plowman asked Kitty.
"Yes, I can feel a headache coming and I was wondering if you had any headache powders," Kitty answered the doctor. "I'll be taking the stagecoach to Dodge and I really don't want a headache on the trip."
"I do have some packs. Let me get them," said Doctor Plowman as he went to his cabinet. He got the powders and gave them to Kitty.
"Thank you," said Kitty as she accepted the powders. "Sarah James told me you were a great doctor." Kitty was now lying.
"You know Sarah James?" Doctor Plowman questioned.
"Yes, she and I are both from back east. I know her husband." Kitty was telling the truth. They were from back east and Kitty did know Matt, even though he wasn't Sarah's husband. "I can't believe she's going to be having that baby in a few short weeks." Doctor Plowman looked at Kitty.
TBC
*Author's Note: To all of those that I can't send a private message, I really do hope you're enjoying the story. When the idea for this story came to me, I always knew where I was going with it. I still do know where I'm going. Everything will be revealed in the next chapter, which will be the final one.