The Winds of Change
By
AZgirl66
Chapter 2- New Faces
The Dillon family had settled rather quickly into a routine on the Legacy D. It was actually very similar to their routine at their previous homestead. The children who were old enough still had their assigned morning chores, and the adults didn't miss a beat assuming their usual roles.
The only thing that really had changed was how the children were transported to and from school. It was a little farther than Matt had originally estimated, so every morning the children needed a ride to school. Matt had been happy to take on this duty, since some days he'd have to work the ranch right up until supper, and sometimes he'd have to go back out to work even after their evening meal. He truly enjoyed spending as much time as possible with his children since he and Kitty had waited so long to have them. The afternoons had a rotating schedule of retrievers, split between Matt, Doc, Festus, Moose, and the former foreman of the Sanderson Ranch, Buck Lacey. He'd been thrilled to accept a job at the Legacy D, and the Dillons had been just as overjoyed to have a ranch hand who knew the property like the back of his hand.
"Where's Adam?" Kitty asked the table full of hungry Dillons as she served up a heaping platter of flapjacks and bacon.
"He's finishin' with the goats, Mama," Matthew answered as he reached for the small pitcher of warm maple syrup.
"Well, it sure is taking him a long time," she curiously glanced out the screen door, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Tilly was givin' him a hard time," Addie contributed as she served Ezra another piece of bacon.
Kitty stood over Scarlett, helping her pierce a piece of flapjack with her fork, "Don't use your hands, Baby. It's too sticky. Use your fork."
"Good morning," Doc happily greeted as he shuffled out of his bedroom which was now right off the kitchen, "Sorry, Kitty. I slept like the dead," he poured himself a cup of coffee and took his seat next to Scarlett.
"You sleep as late as you want, Doc. You deserve it after all those sleepless nights over the years," she smiled at the honorary grandfather of her children, "Say, it's your turn to fetch the kids today, isn't it?"
"It is," Doc confirmed, shoving a piece of bacon into his mouth.
"I need to go to the store for a few supplies. How about we leave early to do that, then pick up the bigs?" Kitty asked as she prepared a plate for Adam. She'd spotted him struggling up the porch steps, a pail of goat milk burdening him.
"What took ya so long?" Matthew stared at his brother.
"Tilly was horrible! It took me forever to catch 'er. Stupid goat," he sat next to his grandpa.
"Wash yer hands, Son," Doc reminded, tugging on his ear.
"Yes'sir," Adam ran to the kitchen sink.
"So, bigs, you've been in school three weeks," Kitty held her coffee cup between her hands, "How's everything?"
"Mostly good," Addie answered for herself, holding her glass of milk.
"Mostly 'well'," Kitty corrected.
"I hate where I sit," Matthew answered, "Miss Nelson has me next to Byron Biggs. He smells," he fanned his hand in front of his nose.
"Matty!" Kitty admonished, "That's not very nice."
"It's true, Mama," Addie confirmed while clearing her plate, "I don't think he takes a bath…ever."
"Not everyone lives in a house like yours," Doc said as he wiped Scarlett's face.
The familiar squeak of the screen door caused everyone to give their attention to the head of the family as he entered through the side door.
"Let's get goin', Dillons. We need t' leave in five minutes," Matt stood behind his seated wife, kissing her cheek while stealing a piece of her bacon.
Kitty stood to caress her husband's whiskery cheek. She grinned and graced his lips with a peck, as she headed to the counter to retrieve the children's lunch pails.
Once Matt and the three oldest children were out the door, Kitty sighed in relief. Another day at the Legacy D had successfully begun.
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Kitty hitched Maggie onto her hip and held onto Ezra's hand, while Doc kept a firm grip on Scarlett. She'd fallen asleep on the ride into town and was none-to-happy when she'd awakened in her grandpa's arms, instead of in her comfortable bed at home.
"Hello, Miss Kitty, Doc," Woody Lathrop greeted as they entered the store, "I'll be with you in a moment," he returned his attention to a woman standing at the counter. The stranger held the hand of a brown-haired little girl who looked to be about six or seven years old.
"Of course. Take your time, Mr. Lathrop," Kitty smiled as she checked her supply list one last time.
Scarlett pointed at the large assortment of sugar candy, "Candy, Grandpa!" the bright colors catching her eye.
"Candy, Grandpa!" the brown-haired little girl robotically mimicked.
"Bonnie," the stranger admonished her child, "don't be rude."
"Not rude, Mama," the little girl said in her monotone voice, her pattern of speech very stiff.
The woman was dressed in a simple yellow calico dress, her salt and pepper-colored hair pulled up into a bun. She turned to face the Dillons, "I'm sorry. Bonnie tends to mimic people. She isn't aware that she's being rude," the stranger patted her little girl's hand.
"Why, she isn't rude at all," Kitty smiled as she tried to put the lady at ease, "Are you new in town? I don't believe I've seen you around before."
"Yes. We just moved here two weeks ago from Chicago. I'm Elsa Ritter, and this is my youngest, Bonnie," the woman tilted her head, grinning at the child.
"Well, I'm Kitty Dillon, this here is Maggie," she nodded toward the infant on her hip, "this handsome fella is Ezra," Kitty held up her son's hand, "and that redheaded tornado is Scarlett."
"And I'm Galen Adams, grandfather of this brood," Doc kindly smiled at the woman, "but you can call me Doc. Everyone does."
"Nice to meet you, Sir," Elsa smiled and nodded. She returned her attention to Kitty, "Did you say your name is 'Dillon'? As in the famous lawman, 'Matt Dillon'? He's part of the reason we decided to settle in Dodge City."
"One and the same. Matt's my husband. He retired a couple of months ago, though, and he's happy to be a rancher now," Kitty beamed with pride, asking, "So, what made you leave Chicago, Mrs. Ritter?" Kitty handed Mr. Lathrop her shopping list.
Doc quietly herded Ezra and Scarlett over to the candy counter, so Ezra would quit staring at little Bonnie Ritter. Her appearance was slightly different than other children and he didn't want Ezra to ask about it in front of the girl.
"Chicago was just too big a town for us. Small-town living is more our speed. My husband, Josiah, is opening a butcher shop here. Our two adult sons have moved here to help, as well."
"Wonderful! We haven't had a butcher shop here in a few years," Kitty smiled, "And how old are you, Bonnie?" the lovely redhead didn't want to ignore the child.
"I six," the little girl answered, somewhat heavy-tongued.
"Well," Kitty said softly, "my boy Adam is six," her sparkling blue eyes briefly met with Mrs. Ritter's sorrowful brown ones, "I bet you two could be fast friends."
"Here are your things, Mrs. Ritter," Mr. Lathrop held a small crate for the lady, "May I load it into your buggy for you?"
"That would be lovely, thank you," Elsa replied, "It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Dillon."
"Please, call me Kitty. And if you need anything or have any questions about Dodge, don't hesitate to ask. We live a few miles south of town, on the Legacy D ranch," Kitty smiled, her heart going out to the new, middle-aged woman in town.
"Why thank you. And you call me Elsa. We're living above the shop for now, just at the very end of Front Street," the woman brightly smiled, her spirits lifted.
Kitty swallowed the lump in her throat as she studied Maggie's perfect, healthy features. She turned to join Doc and the other children, "So what candy did we decide on? And don't forget about your brothers and sister."
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With the exception of Maggie, all the children sat in the back of the wagon, singing variations of songs. Scarlett and Ezra sang, "London Bridge", as Adam and Matthew belted out, "Home on the Range", while Addie moved her hands, as if she were their conductor, using her peppermint stick as a baton.
"Doc," Kitty scooted closer to him on the wagon bench, "I gotta ask ya somethin'," she nearly whispered.
"Okay. Ask," he gave her a quick side glance.
Kitty swallowed hard, concentrating on Maggie, "What's wrong with Bonnie? She looks…different. And her voice…"
"I believe she has what is referred to as mongolism," Doc answered, "The condition isn't what I would call rare, but we don't see too many afflicted children around," he kept his eyes straight ahead.
"What exactly is mongolism?" Kitty asked, holding Maggie a little closer.
"Well, it's a form of mental deficiency, that varies in severity. Each person afflicted has different abilities, depending on their mental capacity and of course, depending on who teaches them, and who spends time with them. But there are certain physical traits that are common among all with the condition," he paused, briefly glancing at Kitty's sorrowful face.
"Oh?"
"Yes," he continued, "the almond-shaped eyes, the flattened face, the monotone voice, the appearance of a swollen tongue. Some are born with heart defects, some are not."
"What causes mongolism, Doc?" Kitty asked, adjusting Maggie so she could rest her head on her mother's shoulder.
"Doctors aren't really sure, Honey. But it seems that most children born with the condition tend to have older parents," Doc pursed his lips, forcing himself to concentrate on the road directly in front of him.
"Oh," Kitty whispered, thinking about the child within her womb.
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Matt sat with his back propped against the headboard, reading the newspaper, while Kitty concentrated on her nightly routine. She spied him through the looking glass while brushing her damp, copper tresses.
"Matt," she said, waiting for him to acknowledge her.
"Yeah?" he glanced over the brim of his new reading glasses, letting the paper crumple to his lap.
Kitty swiveled on her blue velvet-covered bench to face her husband, "I met a woman at Lathrop's today who is new to Dodge."
Matt studied his wife's face, nonplussed, "Uh-huh."
Kitty rose and made her way to her side of the bed, pulling back the quilt, "Her name is Elsa Ritter. She and her husband are opening a butcher shop at the end of Front Street," she hopped into bed, snuggling into her husband's embrace.
"Believe it or not, I've met her husband and two sons," Matt softly rubbed her arm.
"You have?" she grinned, pulling her head back to study his face.
"Yeah, they are usually working on the shop when I take the kids t' school. I'm pretty sure his name is Josiah," Matt pulled Kitty in close.
"It is," she rested her head on his chest, asking, "Have you met their little girl?"
"No, can't say I have. How old is their girl? Seems hard t' believe she'd be too little. The boys are actually men."
"She's six," Kitty wrapped her arm around Matt's waist.
"Six? Hmm. The missus must be a lot younger," Matt surmised.
"She's not a young woman, Matt," Kitty took a deep breath, "Think about it. We could have children in their twenties, plus these little ones."
"I suppose you're right there. We were just late bloomers," Matt winked, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
Kitty rolled her eyes, "I'd like to invite them t' dinner, Cowboy. They're new here and I'd like t' get to know them. Adam would be a nice friend for Bonnie."
"Sure," Matt mumbled as he lowered his head to savor his wife's sweet lips, "whatever you say," he rolled Kitty onto her back, caressing her cheek with the back of his hand.
"I'm serious, Matt," Kitty kissed his finger as he moved it over her lips.
"My, God, Kitty, you're so beautiful. I swear you look the same as when we were young. These babies made you age backward," Matt whispered, his face close to Kitty's.
Kitty stared at her husband with heavily lidded eyes, "You're a liar, Matthew Dillon. But I love you for that."
"I mean it, Kathleen. You look so young," he kissed her deeply, threading his fingers through her hair.
When the kiss ended, Kitty licked her bottom lip, whispering, "But I'm not young, Matt."
"Now, Kitty-"
"No. I'm serious," Kitty's sapphire blue eyes locked with Matt's light blue ones, "Did you ever think about what if…" her voice trailed off.
"What if what?" Matt's voice was deep, concerned.
"What if something is wrong with the baby? Maybe because I'm old?" Kitty braced her hand against his naked chest as he lovingly drank in her serious expression.
"Why are you suddenly worried, Honey?" he sat up against the headboard, pulling Kitty with him.
Kitty bit her bottom lip, fussing with the neckline of her cotton nightgown, "I'm ashamed t' say why, Matt."
"C'mon. It's just you and me here. Tell me."
"Little Bonnie Ritter. Oh, Matt, I'm so ashamed," Kitty covered her face with both her hands as she softly cried.
"What about Bonnie Ritter?" Matt held her in his arms.
"She has mongolism," Kitty choked on her tears, "Doc said children can have it if their parents are…" she tightly closed her eyes, "old. Oh, Matt, our baby could have an illness because of my age," Kitty laid her head on her husband's chest.
Matt tenderly pulled Kitty closer. His voice was soft, but his tone firm, "Honey, I understand that you're scared. But look at Maggie. She's only six months old, and she is absolutely perfect. Scarlett is two and a half and is absolutely perfect. There is no need t' borrow trouble now, is there?"
Kitty sniffled, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand, "I guess you're right. When I met the little girl, my mind wandered and I wondered what we'd do if-"
Matt interrupted, "What we'd do is love our child-no matter what. We'd care for our child-no matter what, see to all his needs," he held Kitty's chin between his thumb and forefinger, his watery blue eyes pleading with hers to believe him, "I've been all over this state, Kitty. I've seen the institutions in Topeka and Wichita where people send their imperfect children to keep them out of sight. That's not who we are. We're Dillons. We care for our own."
Kitty gulped, shocked at Matt's emphatic reply. She took both of his hands within hers, "You're right. About everything," she grinned and gave his hands a squeeze, "I'll do everything within my power to not worry."
Matt smiled so radiantly, it reminded Kitty of when they were so very young. He whispered, "Now that we've put that question to rest, I think you should kiss me till we're breathless."
"Oh, you do, do you?" Kitty beamed, tenderly framing her husband's face with the palms of her hands, "C'mere, handsome."
TBC
