Chapter 7

Now was not the time to think that he was a father. Matt had to get down to business as a Marshal. As any Marshal would do, Matt needed to ask questions. The first question he had to ask, but was afraid to ask, was in regards to the baby's father. Matt was beyond fearful that it would be revealed that he was the father.

"Did Melinda say anything about a husband?" asked Matt.

"She was Miss Melinda Yates. She said she wasn't married," answered Doris.

"Did she say anything about the baby's father?" Matt asked, his heart pounding.

"She told us the baby's father had no idea she was pregnant. She never gave a name and we didn't ask. We figured it wasn't any of our business. She said she wanted to have her baby in Dodge City so the two of them could start a new life. The baby was supposed to be born in early June, about a month from now" said Doris as she looked down at the baby she was holding.

Matt let go of the breath he didn't realize he was holding. It had not been revealed that he was the father of the baby girl that Doris was holding. Not that Matt would have denied his daughter, his own flesh and blood, but he was grateful that he had time to figure out what to do.

Kitty walked over to Doris. "May I?" she asked, holding her arms out towards Doris.

Doris looked at Kitty's outstretched arms and gently placed the baby in them. Kitty took one look at the baby girl in her arms and her heart completely melted. She felt an instant attachment to this baby.

"Oh Matt. The poor little thing. Her mother died after giving birth to her and her father has no idea she exists. Not even a day old, and she's an orphan," Kitty softly said, not taking her eyes off the baby.

Matt tried his best to maintain his composure. He continued to be Marshall Dillon. "Did Melinda have a traveling bag of some sort? Maybe there's something in there that will give us more information about her."

Jim climbed up and brought down Melinda's suitcase. He handed it to Matt. "This is her suitcase, Marshall."

Matt took the suitcase. "I'll take this to my office and see if I can find anything."

"Marshall, Melinda was able to breastfeed the baby right after birth. The baby hasn't had anything since then for a few hours," said Doris. "There's also a few items of baby clothing and a blanket in the suitcase."

Matt opened the suitcase and found the items. He pulled them out. At that moment the baby started to cry. "Kitty, take the baby over to Doc's and have him make sure she's okay."

Kitty took the baby items from Matt and headed towards Doc's office with the baby. Matt watched Kitty walk away with the baby. He wanted to go with them, to make sure his daughter was healthy, but he knew he had to continue being the Marshal.

"Marshall, what's going to happen to the baby?" asked Doris. "Will she have to go to an asylum for orphaned children? I mean if my husband and I were half our age, we would take her as our own. But we're not young anymore and taking care of a baby now just isn't possible."

"We'll do the best we can for her," Matt told Doris. "Will the two of you be staying in Dodge?"

This time Norm answered. "Doris and I will be staying at the Dodge House."

"Good. If I have any more questions, I'll know where to find you," Matt said. "I'm going to take this suitcase to my office and go through it and then I'll head over to Doc's office to check on the baby."

Matt entered his office and put the suitcase on his desk. He opened it up and started rummaging through it. He found Mike's reticule and emptied the contents out of it. There was nothing in there that would identify Melinda as Mike Yardner or him as the baby's father. The other things in the suitcase were just clothing items and other items a woman would need, nothing in the form of identification.

While Matt was thinking of how to handle this whole situation, Doris' words suddenly hit him. Would the baby have to go to an asylum for orphaned children? There was no way he could let his daughter end up in a place like that. He then remembered Doris saying if she and her husband were younger, they would take in the baby as their own. If there was a younger couple interested in adoption, would he be able to handle knowing strangers were raising his daughter? He knew the answer to that. He wouldn't be able to handle it. He would always wonder about her.

Why was he all of a sudden having these feelings? He always told himself that a lawman had no business having a family. However, seeing his daughter, knowing she was a part of him, changed everything. He wanted his daughter to be in his life and he wanted to be in her life. But how was he going to explain he wanted to raise the baby to Kitty, without telling her he was the biological father? He still didn't have the courage to do that. Matt finished examining Mike's suitcase and went to Doc's office.

Meanwhile over at Doc's office. Doc had just finished cleaning the baby. She wasn't completely clean from her birth. Doc measured her, weighed her, and listened to her heart.

"It looks like she weighs six pounds and 12 ounces and is twenty inches long. Her heartbeat sounds strong too. I'd say she's a healthy newborn," said Doc, putting away his stethoscope.

"That doesn't seem like the size of a baby born a month early," said Kitty.

"A month early? I've seen babies born a month early. Their skin seems to be a bit thinner than full term babies," stated Doc.

Kitty took in the information and walked over to the examining table. She got the baby dressed in a little gown and wrapped her in a blanket. Kitty was smiling the entire time and Doc took notice. He had never seen her so happy. He knew that baby needed a loving home and that Matt and Kitty could provide one.

"When was the last time she had any liquids?" asked Doc.

"A few hours ago. Her mother was able to breastfeed right after birth," answered Kitty.

"We'll get her some goat's milk," said Doc.

"When Matt comes, I'll send him to get some. He should be here anytime," said Kitty as she gently rocked the baby in her arms. "Doc, do you think it's crazy that I want to be her mommy?"

"Not at all. I think you should get Matt to stop playing with guns, get married, and give this little girl a family," Doc responded.

"Easier said than done. You know how Matt feels about marriage and a family. I've known that for twenty years. I've been with him for so long because I'd rather live a life loving him than a life with a man I didn't truly love just to have kids. But Doc, I'm pretty sure my time to have my own kids has passed, and this is my last chance at motherhood," Kitty said. Tears were pooling in her eyes.

"Kitty, I'm afraid you're right. Your time to carry a child of your own probably has passed. I know you and Matt did everything you could to avoid pregnancy. Those preventive ways have more than likely made your uterus a hostile place for a pregnancy," Doc softly said.

"Doc, as much as I want to be Abby's mommy, I also know that no judge is going to allow a single woman to adopt a baby. A judge is going to make sure she goes to a married couple."

"Abby?' Doc asked, catching that part of the conversation.

"I've named her Abigail Melinda. I've always loved the name Abigail, Abby for short, and Melinda is after her birth mother."

"Kitty, talk to Matt. You already have such a strong attachment to that baby in your arms. For heaven sakes you've already named her."

"You're absolutely right, Doc. I want Matt, this baby and I to be a family. I want Matt and Kitty Dillon to raise Abigail Melinda Dillon.

Just then the door opened and Matt walked inside. He saw Doc sitting in his chair and Kitty holding the baby. "How's the baby? Is she healthy?" he asked.

"Abigail Melinda Dillon is a healthy newborn," said Kitty.

Abigail Melinda Dillon?! Matt's eyes became as wide as saucers.

TBC