Forging a Family

Matt and Kitty had bought the Higgins place nearly three months ago. They had married the very same day in a small ceremony at her rooms in the Long Branch. Doc, Festus, Newly, Sam and the girls were there of course as well as Judge Tom McGee. After the wedding, Matt and Kitty signed the adoption papers for Libby, Maddy, and Kit.

News had quickly spread of Matt and Kitty's marriage and the adoption of the three McNeil girls. Everyone in Dodge had been a bit shocked at first but happy nonetheless. Most people knew that Kitty had always been Matt's woman but never expected them to marry. They knew how Matt felt about putting others in the line of danger and just didn't figure he would ever risk it with a family of his own. All the same, Dodge citizens celebrated the newly formed family.

The newly renamed Dillon Ranch had been fixed up from its rundown appearance to the nicest place around. New fencing had been put up to keep in the newly purchase cattle. The old barn had been transformed into a workroom for Matt while a new barn had been built for the horses Matt planned to buy the next time he went to Hays. The house had been painted white with green trim for the windowsills, shutters, and porch. The roof had been redone and painted green at Kitty's insistence. She also arranged the inside of the house and all the new furniture that had been ordered.

Matt had caught Kitty and the girls gone to town and decided to surprise them. He had heard Kitty talk of her childhood and the many nights she spent swinging on the porch swing with her mother. He knew how much it meant to her so he had secretly built her one and hung it while she was gone. With the help of Festus he built the girls a tree house out in the front yard and had some swings dangling down from a couple of the branches. He couldn't wait for his girls to see what he had been up to while they were shopping.

Matt was sitting on the front porch when Kitty and the girls came home. He saw their delighted faces when they saw the tree house and chuckled when they ran off to investigate it instead of greeting him. He and Kitty watched as the girls played. "I have never seen a staircase on a tree house before," Kitty said amused by the thought of his cautiousness when his girls' safety was questioned.

"I didn't want Kit to be left out. There's a ladder on the other side if they want to use it," he offered before turning her towards the newly added swing on the porch. He watched as tears filled her eyes and ran down her cheeks. "Do you like it," he asked suddenly unsure.

She nodded before saying, "I have always wanted a porch swing. It's lovely Matt."

"I'm glad you like it," he said and ushered her to swing with him.

Minutes passed as they watched their girls play in the tree house. Kitty grabbed Matt's hand and slowly moved it to rest on her belly then asked, "Do you think we will have moments like this when the new baby arrives?"

It took Matt a few minutes to comprehend what she had just said. A new baby? It was just too good to be true. He stared at the hand on her belly before asking, "New baby?"

She smiled then replied, "I visited Doc today. He thinks I'm going to have twins."

"Twins," Matt repeated then added, "That's wonderful Kitty."

She sighed in relief then snuggled closer to him. "I hope they are boys," she whispered.

"I will be happy with either," he stated honestly. "Just as long as they don't have your temper," he said playfully.

She laughed then kissed him passionately. "Let's go play with our girls, Cowboy!"