Kitty entered her room above the saloon. She felt old, tired, and just plain melancholy. To make matters worse, frost had made an artist painting of white ice flowers on her window. She wondered how cold it was out on the prairie. Matt is used to cold blustery day's, he will be alright, she thought. She put some wood in her morning stove and checked her wood supply. He would like a warm fire to dry his boots when he gets back. Filling her teapot from the water bucket, she started to put it on the stove, then stopped. Knowing the pot would dry up if she set it on the stove. It was not likely he would make it back before the teapot went dry. A strong wind rattled the windows. She went to place a blanket over the window to block out the cold, then thought better of it. He would not be able to see his way home if she blocked out the light.
She laid down on her large bed, knowing she would be needed downstairs. The saloon was full, with half drunken lonely cowboys. Almost falling asleep, she heard his voice. "Sorry Kitty."Jumping up chilled to the bone she looked around the room. She just saw shadows of a long-term relationship as the gas light from outside was distorted by the frosted window. She was suddenly mad. "You get your butt home!" she yelled. Realizing no one was there, Kitty went downstairs. Drunken cowboys were better than shadows of ice.
The buckboard went under a low hanging branch full of ice and snow, knocking Matt to the ground. He felt the ground hit him. Felt the wagon stop as its wheel rolled up on him. He knew he had to get up, but was too tired. He saw her once again dressed in that white gown. She laid down beside him. She smiled and moved in close so he could feel her hot breath on his face. He smiled. "I am sorry Kitty. I am so tired. I don't think I can make it home." She suddenly reared up. "You get your butt home!" she screeched.
The next thing Matt knew, strong hands were pulling him from under the wagon. He heard sleigh bells and children's voices. He felt warmth. His nose, fingers, and toes started to sting. As he opened his eyes, he saw red and yellow flickering lights. Realizing he was laying by a fireplace, he struggled to get up.
A small voice excitedly rang out. "Pa, Pa, he is awake. He is moving." "Hey, take it slow there. Welcome back. You had us worried for a while." A beautiful woman brought him some warm broth. "Drink it slowly." The marshal thanked her. Sitting up he realized he was in some kind of meeting house. "How did I get here?" he asked as his pounding head started to clear. A small man dressed in a much too small suit coat with many patches and who looked like he would be more at home in a field plowing than in a meeting house said. "I am John Hillard. You were blocking the road to town. My son brought the buckboard in. We dressed out that elk. Hey that guy you're with, is he Ok? noticed you're some kind of lawman and he has marks on his wrist." Matt smiled. "He is not an outlaw. Thank you for helping us. I thought I was a goner." Matt heard children singing Christmas carols. "Where are we?" John offered him some coffee. "You're in Wapam and this is the town hall. We are getting ready for the Christmas pageant."
The warm meeting house smelled of cottonwood and candles. It was decorated with paper garland and in a corner five young girls making and wrapping small gifts. A group of young boys was chasing each other. The ladies were fussing sewing costumes.
John offered the two men his home for the night. Matt's mind went to Dodge. The Cowboys would be heading down to the train station to get Kitty's Christmas tree. He thought about how excited she was when she ordered it all the way from Pittsburgh - a Douglas fir evergreen. By now the cowboys would be two sheets to the wind, carrying the two-story tree through the stockyards, dropping it a few times, and falling all over each other. He thought about last year when the tree got to the Long Branch, they tried to bring it in top first. Realizing that would break the tree up, it was decided to turn the tree around. With some cowboys going one way and others going the other, it became a tug of war with the tree losing. By the time the tree was put in place, it lost most of its needles. It also took down the front sign from both the Dodge House and the Long Branch, and broke the glass
door and chandelier of the Long Branch. Seeing the tree finally in place gave all a sense of accomplishment. This was short lived as the tree fell down smashing two tables and countless glasses and bottles. He remembered Kitty saying she would never buy another Christmas Tree.
"Thank you for your kindness, but I want to get back to Dodge,"Matt said offering his hand. John smiled. "That is what the man who was with you said. He is making some trades to ensure your trip home. You might as well enjoy your coffee while he gets things ready. The trail is treacherous in the dark." Matt wondered what Tom had to trade. Perhaps meat from the elk. The fireplace was hot, and his back could use some rest. "Maybe it will be better to leave at first light." As Matt waited by the fireplace he read several Christmas cards and delighted in the care everyone made in making them.
The Children sat next to him as they waited for their part in the program. The children seemed to be whispering to each other and pointing at him. The oldest boy came to Matt. "Men don't wear pins." Matt explained It is not a pin. "I am a U.S. marshal. It is my badge." The little boy said, "I have four cents." Matt smiled. "That is a lot of money. "A little
girl with long tangled hair and big eyes said, "I have a ribbon." A little boy gave Matt a very sticky piece of candy. The little girl asked, "What is a badge?"
Matt smiled. " It stands for integrity. That is it ensures that everyone gets a fair shake. Vigilance, that means keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties and preventing it. Courage, to stand up for what's right no matter what. Unity, that is the advancement in life through peace. and justice, that is genuine respect for people through fairness with honor, uprightness, and decency."
The girl's eyes lit up. "Please sir. Will you sell it to us? I have more ribbon at home in a brighter color." Matt again explained it was not a ladies pin. A little boy began to cry. "I didn't mean to. I just fell." Matt, unaccustomed to crying children, did not know what to do. "Why are you crying?" The oldest girl explained. "He broke our old star. We have no star
for on top of our tree." "I didn't mean to." the boy cried.
Matt took off his badge and gave it to the crying child. The children ran to their father and pointed at Matt. John brought him honey wine and ginger cookies. "The children should not have asked you for your badge. You see, a few years ago I got a glass star. It was Jim's turn to put the star on the tree but our ladder broke. He fell and the star was broken. The children seem to think your badge will make a star for the tree." Matt thought about that for a moment. "Aaa, yes I believe they are right." John said, "I cannot ask you to do that." Matt smiled. "I cannot think of a better use for it." John smiled. "May I ask one more kindness of you? I am too short to put the star on top of our tree. Would you mind?" Matt picked up the crying child so he could pin the badge on top of the tree. The star reflected the light from the candles, sending rays of yellow light around the room. The children jumped for joy.
Matt wondered who was putting the star on Kitty's tree. He remembered one year when a drunken cowboy tried to place the star by standing on a table. The cowboy fell and broke most of the branches on the way down. He broke his leg, got to stay at the Long Branch all winter with Kitty's girls waiting on him.
Matt had his share of popcorn balls and sugar plums by the time Tom returned. Being a little mad for the loss of a full day, Matt gave Tom a stern look. Tom said, "We have some work to do." Matt was starting to lose his temper. "Work," Tom explained. "They need the buckboard to bring coal down from the mine or the people from the village will go cold." Matt now lost all hope of getting home for Christmas. "Where did you get the money for the coal?"
Tom yelled, "You arrested me in front of all my friends and family. You took me to that hell hole. It is only by the grace of God that I won't spend the next nine years of my life rotting in that hell hole. You begrudge me a coat!"
Matt was getting mad. "My coat? You sold my coat? Kitty gave me that!" He remembered the Christmas Kitty got it for him. He was mad and didn't think she should spend so much money on him. He didn't feel the marshal should wear such an expensive coat. He told her he didn't want the coat. That was the first time he saw Kitty cry. She got angry and threw the comb he got her at him saying, "You make me sick! I wanted you to have a warm coat so I wouldn't have to worry so much about you when it is cold out." She pushed him out the door, slamming it behind him to the amusement to all in the bar.
"Where is the comb I bought?" Matt asked dreading the answer. Tom started again. "Yes sir, arrested me in front of all my kids." Matt stopped him."Where is the comb?" Tom felt some uneasy. "I gave it to John. His misses does not have anything. Kitty has lots of combs." Matt was angry, but John seemed so happy. He said he never was able to get his wife anything since the kids came, for they needed so much. It was all he could do to keep them fed
.
Kitty's ankles were swollen, her head pounding, and her dress torn . She kept a smile on her face, as every lonely cowboy in town wanted to dance with her. In between dances, she carried drinks to tables. Sam was having trouble keeping up with orders, as the guy she hired to help him was not much help. In fact, he seemed to be getting in Sam's road.
Kitty received word the train service was suspended for the region. Her Christmas tree would not tree was not all that important. Railroads hired scores of men to dig out the tracks, but it was a waste effort. As soon as they had finished shoveling a stretch of line, a new storm arrived filling up the line and rendering their work useless. The reality of the situation was realized by both her and Doc. No train meant no food supplies. "Once the blizzard goes over, they would get the train through," said Doc. Neither she nor Doc Believed that was going to happen anytime soon.
Kitty took a moment to sit with her friends. She kept staring at the only empty seat in the house. She wondered if he knew the sorrow of his empty chair or how much she missed him. She tried hard to keep down that lump in her throat. A tear was burning her eyes as she struggled to keep smiling. She hungered for him and wondered if he cared. She tried to think of him safe and warm, knowing that was unlikely.
Tom drove the buckboard to coal town. Matt had seen coal towns before, but not one in full boom. The shanty town was covered with black dust. Even the snow was black. The coal tipple was busy when they finally arrived. Tom told Matt they would have to pick the coal from the boney pile. Because the pile had a lot of slage in it, it was a lot cheaper.
The pile was frozen hard. They had to hit the pile with a sledge in order to get any loose. Matt asked Tom where his gloves were at. Tom replied, "Arrested me in front of my wife." Matt threw up his hands. "Save it." The trip to coal town and loading the wagon took about three hours.
Matt's face and hands turned black from the coal dust. As he tried to wipe it off, he thought of the first time Kitty tried to heat the Long Branch with coal. The stove turned bright red. the Long Branch was so hot everyone was going outside to cool off. Someone decided to shake the ashes down, sending smoke and coal ash all over the bar. She spent weeks cleaning bottles.
A group of wagons left the coal tipple. Each wagon was loaded with sacks and a team of horses, and each team broke a trail for half a mile or so until the animals were exhausted. Then the team would drop to the rear and the next in line would break through the drifts for the next half mile. It was a long gruesome trip. Matt kept thinking He was never going to make it home.
Matts anger fell by the wayside with the first house they delivered to. The old woman thanked them profusely, explaining she had not been able to chop up enough wood to keep the house warm and her husband was sick. She gave them some hot cross buns. It was like that everywhere they went. Cold starving people's eyes lit up with the idea of being warm for Christmas. Everyone gave them something for their sack of coal. They had bread, cookies, fudge, and nuts. Matt wanted to refuse the goods knowing the people had little. Tom sad "never take away a persons pride"
Returning to the meeting hall, Tom parked the exhausted horses in back. "Matt knew the spent horses would not be able to make it back to Dodge. Matt headed for some hot coffee. Tom came rushing to him. Come on, we got to make it home for Christmas. Matt said he would not push those horses any more than they had been. Tom explained, "I traded the use of the buckboard for the use of a sleigh. I traded the use of those horse for the use of a pair of moose.
Matt stepped out of the meaning house to be confronted with two harnessed full grown moose. Tom jumped in the passenger side. Matt gave him a stern look. Tom smiled. "I don't know how to drive a moose team. "Matt carefully got in. "Like I do?" The harness was decked out with a ribbon of red bells that made a loud ringing sound. Matt lightly slapped the reins. The moose did not move. He slapped the reins a little harder. Nothing. He yelled, "Giddy up!" Nothing. By now a small group of miners had gathered to watch. Matt tried everything, but the sleigh stayed put. Finally the bartender from the local pub approached. "Nice team" Matt replied, "Yeah, great to look at, but they don't seem to want to pull." The man all dressed in green laughed. "You climb in back. I will drive the team." As Matt stood up, the red cloak caught on the sleigh. "Nice outfit," the man said. "Yeah," Matt replied "You too." The man pulled a red stocking cap from his pocket and gave it to Matt. "Better cover you head. This team is used more to pulling logs than sleighs.
You might be in for the ride of your life." Matt at first did not put on the cap. The sleigh took off like the wind. The mighty moose moved so swiftly through the high snow the sleigh seemed to be in the air more than on the ground. Matt pulled the cap down over his head, clear the way down to his five-day beard.