The Winds of Change
By
AZgirl66
Chapter 1- Major Changes
From her upstairs window, Kitty Russell Dillon had been able to watch the comings and goings to and from her new homestead all afternoon. The labor-intensive day had begun before sunrise at the Triple D, with Kitty having fed her troops breakfast for the last time in her well-loved kitchen.
Kitty had been ordered upstairs to rest after dinner. Doc had worried that the family's matriarch, now in her fourth month of pregnancy, had spent too much time on her feet in the last few days, packing and readying her family for their move to the home that had been willed to them. Specifically, willed to one Kitty Russell Dillon.
She'd marveled at how many townsfolk had come to help them move all of their furniture and livestock. Wagon after wagon had pulled in front of the Triple D house, loading furniture, crates, and barrels by the roomful. Kitty had created the efficient system, figuring it would be easier to unload on the receiving end room by room, rather than wagons full of random items from this room and that.
Shortly after men with wagons had begun to arrive at the Triple D, Kitty and Doc had loaded up the Dillon wagon with five of the children and all of their clothing. They'd headed out for the new Dillon homestead, which would now be known as the "Legacy D" ranch. Matt and Kitty had decided to include all Dillons in the name, both present and future family members. They'd named the Triple D when only Matt, Kitty, and Addie had taken up residence there, but now there would be room in the new moniker for generations to come.
Kitty's new kitchen had gotten christened immediately, with Bess Ronniger, Abelia Johnson, and Kitty at the helm, whipping up several meatloaf sandwiches, mashed potatoes, and green beans to feed the hungry helpers. Addie had been charged with making lemonade for everyone, a task she'd taken quite seriously.
Abelia's son, Jonathan Johnson, had overseen the transport of all the chickens and goats with Matthew by his side the whole time, having lent his expertise and doing his best to calm the animals. Jake Worth had kindly sent three of his ranch hands to assist Festus and Moose in herding several horses and the three milking cows to their new home.
With thoughts of gratitude swirling in her head, Kitty walked over to her big brass bed, slowly lowering her exhausted body onto the quilt. She curled up onto her side, a smile of satisfaction gracing her face. She was grateful for all of their friends, even for the people who'd helped just because they were curious about what the opulent home looked like. Then she thought about the man who'd gifted her and her family this unexpected opportunity. She whispered, "Thank you, Bear," before she fell into a deep, restful slumber.
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"Kitty, Honey," Matt whispered as he gently shook her shoulder, "you need t' get up and come have some supper."
"Supper?" Kitty yawned, "Why'd ya let me sleep so long?" she lightly admonished, stretching her whole body.
"Because yer cookin' a little Dillon in there," he pointed to her now visibly swollen midsection, "and ya need proper rest."
As Matt escorted his wife down the wide, red-carpeted staircase, he couldn't help but notice the expression on Kitty's face. With each descending step, her head slowly moved from side to side, noticing that the large sitting room, dining area, and kitchen seemed to be all put together.
"Hi Mama," Addie greeted as she poured water into everyone's glasses, "did you have a good rest?"
"I most certainly did," Kitty answered, kissing the top of her child's red curls before she took her usual seat at the long table. She noted that the dining area separated the kitchen from the sitting room, much like their former home, except more in an "L" shape. "Where is everyone?"
"Grandpa's making everyone wash their hands and faces in the trough outside. He said he wanted you to be able t' see all the clean sinks for at least one day of your life," Addie giggled.
Kitty chuckled, "Good ol' Doc. Is Abelia still here?"
"Yes, I am," Kitty's friend and part-time housekeeper emerged from the kitchen, carrying a large platter of roast beef, surrounded by roasted carrots and potatoes.
The relative quiet was broken when a herd of thundering Dillons entered the house.
"Mama! You're up!" squealed Ezra, "I missed you!"
Kitty couldn't help but smile, "You missed me the last few hours, huh?"
"We sure did!" Adam chimed in, quickly finding his seat in between his mama and Grandpa.
"This looks fantastic, Abelia, Addie," Matt nodded his thanks as he took his seat.
"Grandpa helped some, too, didn't ya, Grandpa?" Addie smiled.
"Yes, I most certainly did," Doc tugged on his earlobe, "I can watch Scarlett and Ezra play on the swing and peel potatoes all at the same time," he kissed Scarlett's cheek as he secured her bib.
"I have t' say that I feel just awful," Kitty sipped her water while passing the platter to her husband, "You all worked so hard today and I hardly did a thing."
"That ain't so, Miz Kitty," Festus took a large piece of roast for him and Ezra to share, "You done come up with the method of one or two wagons fer one room a stuff from the house, and ya helped set up the kitchen the way ya wanted it."
"And you told us where t' put the furniture," Matt added, winking, "'Cause ya like t' be bossy like that."
Everyone laughed, with relative silence taking over as the hungry family feasted on the bounty before them.
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"So, Addie girl," Kitty leaned against her daughter's door jamb, "You almost unpacked?"
Addie turned her head toward her mother, her arms still deep into a barrel of her belongings.
"Yes, Ma'am. I'm almost done. I found this little box of paper dolls while I was packing my old room," she held them up for her mother to see, "Do you think Scarlett is too little for them?"
Kitty sauntered into the small room and sat on her eldest daughter's unmade bed.
"I think she would love them. She cherishes anything you give her. What do you say we make it a rule that she can only play with them when she's with you, Matthew, or a grown-up?"
"Okay. That's a good idea." Addie continued to pull her personal items out of the barrel, a few strands of straw falling onto the floor.
"Are you excited to have your own room again?" Kitty asked as she pulled a pillowcase onto Addie's pillow.
"Yes, I am. The room is small, but that's okay. It was kinda hard t' share with Scarlett, cause she's so little. Now I can read in bed at night if I wanna," the girl approached her bed, assisting her mother with putting on her clean, crisp, white sheets."
"This is very true," Kitty confirmed, biting her bottom lip, "Honey, your grandpa told me how hard you worked not only today, but while I was gone a few weeks ago. I'm so proud of you," she stopped and clasped her daughter's hands within hers.
Addie studied their entwined hands, taking a moment before she spoke. She took a deep breath and began, "Thank you, Mama. I knew Daddy and Grandpa really needed the help, and I wanted to be just like you," she looked into her mother's eyes, "helping where I could."
"Oh, Pumpkin," Kitty pulled her daughter into a warm embrace, "what a sweet thing for you to say," she lifted Addie's chin so their eyes could connect once more, "And I'm always proud of you. Now, finish getting ready for bed, Missy."
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Matt held Scarlett while he herded the boys into their new room. He cleared his throat, speaking in his authoritative marshal's voice, "Listen up, my little cowboys," he glanced at Scarlett, "and cowgirl. It's bedtime here at the Legacy D, so I want you all in your beds and then I'll tell ya a story."
"But, Daddy," Matthew protested, "my bed is in my little room, next door."
"This is true," he pursed his lips, "go ahead and hop up top there with Adam for now, and Scarlett, you can sit on the bottom bunk with Ezra," Matt plopped the nightgown-clad toddler onto her brother's bed.
"Ezwa, you a BIG boy on da bed!" Scarlett excitedly slapped her hands on her brother's quilt.
"Yeah, I am, Scarlett. Now I'se on the bottom bunk. Don't wet yer diaper on m' bed neither," Ezra warned.
"That's enough a that," Matt playfully admonished, continuing, "Now who wants t' hear about the time your mama went on an adventure t' see her goldmine?"
"Me! Me! Me!" the children all shouted at different intervals.
"Excuse me, ya rowdies. What's all the excitement?" Kitty folded her arms in front of her chest, standing in the doorway. Her grin let her children know she wasn't really upset.
"Daddy was just gonna tell us 'bout yer goldmine 'venture," Adam smiled at his beloved mother.
"Oh, Matt. Not that adventure…" she sat on the bottom bunk, pulling Scarlett onto her lap.
Matt made himself comfortable on the big, leather-tufted chair in the room. He was grateful that the Wolfes had left some nice furniture behind. He crossed one leg comfortably over the other.
"Addie!" Matthew shouted, using his hand like a megaphone, "Daddy's tellin' us a olden days story!"
The oldest of the Dillon offspring came bounding into the boys' large, blue bedroom. She climbed onto the top bunk joining two of her brothers. She sat with her legs gently swaying over the edge of the bed, looking comfortable in her light pink nightgown.
"Okay, Daddy, I'm ready," Addie announced.
Matt dramatically began, "It all started when a friend of your mama's decided to leave her a goldmine in his will. Mama wanted t' go see the mine, and I didn't want her t' go, 'cause I had business outta town."
"You always had business outta town, Daddy," Matthew chimed in, not realizing that he may be hurting his father's feelings.
"Yes, Son. I had t' go out of town a lot-"
"Listen, Dillons, you let Daddy tell the story without interrupting, or you'll just have to go straight t' bed," Kitty warned, grinning at her husband.
A hush quickly came over the room. Matt continued, "I told your mama Pickaxe was a rough town, and I told her a hundred times not t' go…"
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Matt and Kitty cuddled together in their bed, not wearing a stitch of clothing.
"Matt," Kitty whispered, laying her hand upon her husband's broad, muscular chest, "I don't know if I've ever heard the children laugh so hard at one of your 'olden days' stories. Good t' know they think it's hilarious that Eb Jibbijohn shot at my feet and made me fall into a silt swamp."
"Aww, Honey. You know they love ya. I just get such a kick out of making them laugh. They were all so good t'day. I'm so darn proud, I could just about bust," Matt pulled Kitty halfway on top of him.
"I know what ya mean, Cowboy," she kissed his cheek, draping one leg over both of his, adding, "It feels so strange without Maggie in here."
"I know it does, but I'm really liking this privacy," he growled as he lifted her chin to tenderly kiss her lips.
The anxious mother added, "And she seemed okay when we put her in her crib, right?"
"Yes, she did. She's six months old, Kitty. Sleeping pretty much every night through the night, and Scarlett is a sound sleeper, just in case she doesn't," Matt moved his kisses to the curve of her neck, "And they are right next door should she stir," he positioned Kitty beneath his large body, giving proper attention to each of her ripe breasts.
"Matt?"
"Uh-huh?" he began to work his way down her body, kissing every inch of her, stopping at her belly.
"We have the kids in the correct rooms, right?"
Matt rolled off his wife onto his side. He sighed, "Yes, Honey, we do. Scarlett and Maggie are next door. They're little, so that's perfect. Addie is connected to them and they have their own water closet. Matthew is across the hall from her and the other boys are across the hall from us. I'm not sure what you're worried about," he ran his finger down her jawline, planting a soft kiss on her swollen lips.
"I just want everything to be perfect for them. We took them from the only home they've ever known," Kitty lay on her side, her head propped up by her hand.
"Have you looked around this house, Honey? I think they're fine with the move. Hell, we're lucky Scarlett will sleep at all with that giant rocking horse in her room."
Kitty let out a deep belly laugh, "You're right about that," she caressed her husband's cheek, looking into his beautiful blue eyes, "And Doc? You think he likes his rooms?"
"I do. He was happy t' put the fancy cradle and rocker in his little sitting room, too. It's nice t' have them out of the way in a quiet place for when the babies need t' nap downstairs," Matt fell onto his back, clasping his hands behind his head.
Babies- plural, Kitty thought, more than one infant at a time. Oh, mercy.
"Hon?" Matt glanced at Kitty.
"Yeah?" she sat up, thrusting her arms into the sleeves of her nightgown.
"You okay?" he propped himself up onto his elbow.
Kitty leaned over to taste the unique flavor that was Matt Dillon, "I'm fine, Cowboy. I need t' visit the water closet. Again."
TBC