Chapter 29 "Thanksgivings Through The Years" (Part 1) Kitty reflects on her different Thanksgivings.
Present Time
Kitty sat at the desk in the corner of their parlor room as she went over the Thanksgiving menu, guest list and recipes/notes, while Matt sat on the couch reading the newspaper and Ruby sat next to him playing with Annie and Lulu. The menu consisted of turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash, biscuits, cranberry sauce, and apple and pumpkin pies. For the last few years that menu of food had become tradition at the Dillon house. The guests would be Doc, Festus, and Newly. It had also become a tradition for those fine men to join the Dillons for Thanksgiving. Kitty's recipes for the turkey, mashed potatoes, and biscuits had notes she had written from Bess Roniger.
It was last week when the five of them were sitting in the Dillons' parlor discussing everyone's role in the Thanksgiving dinner. Each person had the same role for the last few years. Matt would go out and hunt for a turkey. Kitty would roast the turkey and make the mashed potatoes and biscuits. Doc would bring the pies. He always had Delmonico's make the pies for him. Newly would bring the cranberry sauce. He used his mother's recipe to make it. Festus wanted to help, but cooking and baking really weren't one of his talents. So, it was determined that he would go hunting with Matt and field dress the turkey that Matt shot. Ruby had been playing with her blocks while the adults were talking about Thanksgiving. She had heard everyone had a job, and she wanted a job too. Kitty told her she could be the special kitchen helper. That made Ruby beam with excitement.
As Kitty continued to look at her Thanksgiving notes, her mind wandered back to when she first heard about Thanksgiving becoming a national holiday. It was back in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln had declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. She was just a teenager, in the care of Panacea Sykes. It was during the Civil War, and she was living in Pan's gambling house. Kitty remembered reading about Thanksgiving in a newspaper one of the patrons had left in the lobby.
New Orleans, Louisiana 1863
"Panacea, did you read the newspaper?" asked Kitty.
"No, dear child, I haven't" Panacea answered. "I really haven't had the time. Is there somethin' of importance in there?"
"Well, Abraham Lincoln has made Thanksgiving a national holiday," Kitty said. "Mother and I celebrated Thanksgiving before she died. I thought maybe we could celebrate Thanksgiving this year."
"Kitty, honey, there are more important things to do than to stuff our faces with food," Panacea replied. "I don't know why Abraham Lincoln would declare Thanksgiving a national holiday now, especially with this war goin' on between the states. I really don't see what we have to be thankful for. Now, go and get those glasses off the tables for me."
"Yes, Panacea," said Kitty quietly as she walked away from Panacea.
Kitty grabbed a tray from the bar so she could use it to carry multiple glasses. She really wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving with Panacea. Kitty walked around collecting the empty glasses and putting them on the tray. She knew if her mother was still alive, they would be celebrating Thanksgiving. Oh how she missed her mother.
Present Time
It was times like this that Kitty wished her mother was still alive. But if she was, would Kitty have ever met Matt Dillon? That answer was simple, probably not. Kitty always believed things happened for a reason. She truly believed Matt was her soulmate and that they were destined to meet. Unfortunately for that meeting to take place, Kitty's mother had to pass away. That sad event would lead to Kitty leaving New Orleans. Kitty was certain she'd still be there if her mother was still alive. She would have no reason to leave New Orleans. Kitty let her mind wander back to her first Thanksgiving in Dodge City.
Dodge City, Kansas 1867
It was late fall and Kitty had been in Dodge City, Kansas for less than a year. She had arrived in the spring. Her plans were to stay long enough to make enough money to go to San Francisco. That was almost eight months ago and she was still in Dodge City. But she had a great reason for still being there, Marshal Matt Dillon. He captured her attention that first day in the cafe and since then he had captured her heart. During these last eight months she and Matt had become close. One evening they were sitting at a table in the Long Branch sharing a drink, and Kitty brought up Thanksgiving.
"Matt, do you have any plans for Thanksgiving?" Kitty asked. She was hoping for a no.
"I really haven't thought about Thanksgiving," Matt responded. "I guess I don't have any plans. How about you?" Matt took a drink of his beer.
"Not at the moment, but I'm hoping to have some Thanksgiving plans," said Kitty. Kitty took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to ask Matt if he wanted to spend Thanksgiving with her. "If you don't have any plans, would you like to spend Thanksgiving with us?"
"I'd think I'd like that," said Matt with a smile. "But who's us?"
"Oh I was thinking about asking Doc and Chester. They've been so kind to me, and I thought it would be nice to ask them," Kitty answered. "Do you think they would want to come? Maybe they already have plans."
"I know for a fact that they don't have plans. And trust me. Since Thanksgiving involves food, Chester will be there. I'm not sure where that man puts all the food that goes into his mouth. As far as Doc is concerned, I haven't seen him turn down a dinner invitation from a pretty girl," Matt replied. "Speaking of food, what do you plan on having?"
"Well, since Thanksgiving is in a few days, I was thinking of getting food from Delmonico's. I know it won't be your traditional Thanksgiving meal, but there really isn't too much time to get a turkey," said Kitty.
"I don't think it matters what food you have," said Matt. "Just as long as catfish stew isn't on the menu."
Kitty laughed. "Don't worry. It won't be. How do you usually celebrate Thanksgiving?"
"To be honest, I really haven't celebrated Thanksgiving," said Matt. "It's not that I'm not a thankful person. It's just that I'm not always around for Thanksgiving. Being the Marshal has taken me away from Dodge City around Thanksgiving."
Kitty was suddenly worried that Matt wouldn't be around this year. "Will you be around this year?"
"I plan on it," said Matt. "I have more to be thankful for this year."
"Like what," Kitty inquired.
"Like the fact that you're my girl," Matt whispered, waiting for Kitty's reaction. He was relieved when he saw her smile.
"I'm thankful for that too," Kitty whispered back.
A few days later Matt, Kitty, Doc, and Chester celebrated Thanksgiving up in Kitty's room. Kitty did get food from Delmonico's. She got roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn. She figured chicken was close enough to turkey. The four friends enjoyed their first Thanksgiving together. They would enjoy several more Thanksgivings together. When Chester moved to St. Louis, Matt, Kitty, and Doc celebrated Thanksgiving. They missed Chester dearly, but eventually Festus joined their celebration. Thanksgiving continued to be celebrated in Kitty's room with chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn. That menu had become a staple.
Present Time
Thinking back to those Thanksgivings brought a smile to Kitty's face. No one ever complained that there was chicken instead of turkey. It was the company, not the food that made Thanksgiving what it was. But for the last few Thanksgivings, turkey was the meat that was served. Turkey became the meat when Ruby was born. Ruby was nine months old when she celebrated her first Thanksgiving. Matt knew that Ruby wasn't able to eat turkey, but still wanted to give his family a turkey to eat at Thanksgiving. Matt couldn't explain it, but he just thought his family should be able to eat turkey at Thanksgiving time. Every year since Ruby was born, Matt hunted and shot a turkey for Thanksgiving. As Kitty was trying to decide how Ruby could be Mama's special helper, she thought back to last year's Thanksgiving. Actually it was a few days after Thanksgiving.
Last Year's Thanksgiving, A Few Days Later
Kitty was sitting on the couch in the parlor folding some laundry, while her three year old daughter was coloring in one of her coloring books. Matt was at work. Kitty had finished folding the last piece of laundry, Matt's union suit, and stood up. She gathered the piles of folded laundry.
"Ruby, Mama's gonna put this away. You stay out here and color in your book," Kitty told her daughter.
Ruby looked up at her mama. "Okay, Mama." She went back to her coloring.
Kitty left the parlor room to take care of the clean, folded laundry. She was in her and Matt's room putting the remaining laundry away, when Ruby came into the bedroom. She had a sour look on her face.
"Mama," she said. "My crayon don't taste good."
Alarmed, Kitty put Matt's union suit in the drawer and knelt down in front of her daughter. "Ruby, did you eat one of your crayons?" Ruby shook her head yes. "Why? You know you shouldn't eat things that aren't food."
"I thought it would taste like Unca Newy's crayon berry sauce," said Ruby.
"Honey, Uncle Newly doesn't use crayons to make that," said Kitty. "He uses cranberries." Kitty noticed Ruby's confused look. "They do sound the same, but they're not."
Kitty was now concerned that the crayon could make her daughter sick. She knew a trip to Doc's was in order. Kitty told Ruby they would have to make a trip into town to see Grandpa Doc. When Ruby asked why, Kitty explained to her she wanted to make sure she didn't get an upset tummy. Kitty also wanted to make sure nothing worse happened. She didn't share that with Ruby. Kitty and Ruby went outside. Kitty locked the house door, and she and Ruby got onto the wagon. Kitty drove towards town.
Kitty arrived at Doc's office and parked the wagon. She got down from the wagon and then retrieved her daughter. A few times on their way to town, Kitty would ask Ruby how she felt. Each time Ruby would say she felt okay. That made Kitty feel relieved, but she still wasn't taking any chances. She took a hold of her daughter's hand and the two of them climbed the steps to Doc's office. Kitty knocked on the door when they reached the top.
"Come on in," Doc shouted from the other side.
Kitty and Ruby walked inside. Kitty wasn't expecting to see Matt sitting there. He was drinking a cup of coffee. Matt certainly wasn't expecting to see Kitty and Ruby walk into Doc's office.
"What brings my favorite ladies to my office?" asked Doc. Looking at Kitty and Ruby, nothing seemed to be wrong.
Kitty was about to answer, but Ruby beat her to it. "I eated a crayon."
"She did," sighed Kitty. "She thought it would taste like Uncle Newly's cranberry sauce. I explained to her the difference."
Matt looked at Kitty with concern in his eyes. He had no idea if crayons were dangerous for kids to eat. He didn't want anything to happen to his precious little gemstone. He then turned his attention to Doc.
"Doc, is she gonna be alright?" Matt questioned.
"When did she eat it?" Doc asked Kitty.
"Almost an hour ago," Kitty replied.
"Has she complained about an upset tummy or anything?" Doc asked.
"No and I've been asking how she's been feeling," said Kitty.
Doc looked at Ruby and lifted her up onto his examining table. "Honey, how do you feel now? Does your tummy hurt?"
"No, Grandpa Doc," Ruby answered.
"That's a good sign," Doc told Matt and Kitty. "But to err on the side of caution. I'd like to keep Ruby here overnight for observation." Matt and Kitty didn't argue. "I suspect that the two of you will be staying with her."
"We wouldn't be anywhere else," Matt said.
That night Matt, Kitty, and Ruby slept in one of Doc's back rooms. Kitty and Ruby slept in the bed, while Matt slept in the chair. Everything turned out to be fine. The Dillons left Doc's office the next day.
TBC (Part 2 will have the Dillons' current Thanksgiving celebration.)
*Author's note: This story was originally going to be a one part story. But I realized I have enough to make it a two part story.
