Chapter 15
The Consequences of a Storm
Due to the fact that I've been taking too long to finish, I wanted to post this. I am hoping you will forgive any spelling or grammatical errors. Please enjoy and hope you all did have it figured out. I've already started another story, but have not posted any of it yet. Just let me start by saying it is so off the wall.
KR
It seemed like an eternity to Kitty before Matt would relinquish hold on her. His face was buried in her neck and the scent of her long red hair was his sanctuary. She had let him pull her into a standing position, and now she stood there holding the big Marshal as he desperately let go of his demons and fears.
"Matt!" He heard the gentle voice of Doc and reluctantly pulled his face from the warm haven of her neck. Looking up, he saw that Doc and Festus had gotten the Indian to his feet and wanted to place him on the bed so Doc could tend to him. Matt held onto Kitty and pulled her away from the bed as Doc and Festus laid him on the bed.
"He kidnapped you?" He asked her as he looked down into her shining eyes.
"Yes, but Matt." She started and he tried to pull from her grasp, but she would not let go of him.
"Let me go, Kitty." He said in a deep dangerous tone. But it wasn't one that frightened her.
"No, let me show you why?" She said taking his arm and leading him over to the cradle. There, staring up at him with big brown eyes, was one of the most beautiful little creatures he had ever laid eyes upon. Then he looked towards his left, only a few inches from the cradle, lying on the makeshift bed, still asleep, another little dark headed angel. Kitty watched, surprised as Matt knelt down and gently touched the silken head of the sleeping child. Naomi woke to the unfamiliar touch and sat up on unsteady knees. Turning herself over onto her backside, she reached up for the big man, who could not deny the child the comfort she sought. Gently lifting her into his arms, he then took her over to the chair and sat down as she whimpered softly.
"Hey, there little one. It's alright, you're safe now." Kitty sat on the stool next to the chair and watched at Naomi looked at the stranger. She climbed up on her knees, placed her pudgy hands flat on his chest and stared up into a new set of blue eyes. "What she doing?"
"Rachel, her momma told me that Nekuma's people believe that children look deep into your soul. That's how they know whether or not they can trust you." Matt allowed the child to look him over and waited. Naomi smiled and giggled then reached out to Kitty.
"Mama!" She said and Matt's eyes widened. He saw the pain in Kitty's and he knew then that she had given so much of herself to the baby in the past few days.
"Rachel died early this morning. Nekuma buried her out by the oak tree." She said looking at Matt. Festus had managed to put a pot of coffee on and was trying to cook some beans for them. Doc had gotten Nekuma to settle down and he was now resting.
"Well, I think he's gonna be alright. He'll be fit to travel in a couple of days." Doc said pulling a chair out from under the table and sitting down.
"Good, we'll take him back to Dodge, he can….." Before Matt could finish, Kitty interrupted him.
"Matt, please just let me explain things." He said pleadingly as she held the Naomi against her breast.
"Why don't we set for some coffee and beans. Anyone hungry?" Festus asked from the stove.
"I could use a bite." Doc said standing up and pulling a chair out for Kitty. She smiled and walked over to him. Doc reached up and took the baby from her arms. Naomi went willingly to the old man, unafraid of him. It seemed she felt she could trust him as well.
"Kitty, that man kidnapped you." Matt said as he turned his chair towards the table.
"Yes, he did." She said getting up from her seat and going over to the cradle. Gently she reached in and lifted Kathleen into her arms. Smiling at the baby, she turned and walked back over to the table. "This is why." She said placing the infant in his arms. "Rachel had no milk and Kathleen couldn't keep cow's milk or goat's milk down, so he was desperate." She sat down across from Matt. "He was desperate to keep his child alive, knowing full well, that his wife was dying."
"So you were just a wet nurse?" Doc said to her.
"Yes, Doc. My milk was the first thing she had kept down in three days. She was really weak when I arrived. But look at her now, almost a week has past and she's healthy, she's alive." She looked at Matt. "He never hurt me, Matt. In fact, that man beat him for trying to protect me." She gently placed her hand on his knee. "He only wanted to save his child, nothing more."
"Are you asking me to turn a blind eye to this and let him go?" He said holding the sleeping infant. Festus placed dishes in front of everyone and began to dish out some beans. The biscuits Kitty had made earlier were still fresh and in the basket covered with a napkin. Doc reached into the basket and pulled a biscuit out and handed it to Naomi who was trying to reach for his plate of beans. He watched as she took a bit of the roll, it fell apart somewhat and she let it dribble down her chin.
"Well, this little one seems to be a bit hungry too. I think maybe food is a good idea." He said as Kitty looked at him and smiled. Kitty knew by the twinkle in the old man's eyes, that he had fallen in love with the child, just as she had.
"So what happens now?" Matt asked Kitty as she turned back to look at him.
"We make sure he's well enough to travel and he and the girls will more than likely return to his tribe. We go home, to Dodge." She said trying to fool herself in believing that it would be that easy, but Doc, Festus and Matt knew it would not be so easy for her. When Kitty committed to something, she gave her whole being. When she was committed to someone, she gave her heart, freely. Festus watched the group quietly. He knew in his heart that leaving those babies would be hard on her and she had been through so much this past year.
Doc took a spoonful of beans and as he brought it to his mouth a pudgy little hand reached up and caused the bean to spill down his shirt and on Naomi's head as well.
"All you have to do is ask, Little one, I'm more than happy to share." He said laughing at her as she looked up at him, a huge grin on her face as the beans and juice ran down her head. Kitty quickly got up and took a napkin and began to clean her off. The whole time they were laughing at the event.
"I'm sorry, Doc, let me take her." She said but he protested.
"You just sit yourself down there, young lady, I've got this well in hand." He said taking a little bit of beans on the spoon and feeding them to her. "See, I'm an old hand at this."
"I think you got the 'old hand' right." Festus said to Doc.
"You hush up you fool. You don't know nothing about babies." Doc retaliated.
"Aw foot, Doc, what's there to learn, they's just little people who can't talk. Needs attention and love is all." Festus said feeding Naomi beans from his spoon. "This littlin's got a good appetite.
Matt watched Kitty who watched Naomi interacting with Doc and Festus. His heart was breaking for her, because no matter how brave she tried to be, he knew that it was killing her, knowing she would be letting go soon.
The past three days had been pretty quiet. Matt noted that Nekuma was healing, while Doc and Festus tended to him and Kitty took care of the girls. He also realized that Kitty was right. Last night as they lay in each other's arms she asked him what he would do if it had been his daughters and her dying. It was a question he didn't want to face, but truth be told, desperate times call for desperate measures. And given the circumstances, he couldn't blame Nekuma. He knew he would have done whatever was necessary to keep his daughters alive.
As he watched Kitty, place kisses on the sleeping infants face, and inhale the gentle scent of the child, he saw a tear slip from her eyes and glide gently down her cheek. She leaned over the side of the wagon and gently placed Kathleen in the basket. Matt handed Naomi to her. She could no longer hide her tears as the baby began to cry. Naomi knew something wasn't right and clung to Kitty. Kitty lovingly kissed her wet cheeks and carefully handed her up to Nekuma and as she let go of her she spoke in his tongue, to Naomi. "Nahche waheyna, jious." Nekuma understood that this woman had given much for his daughters and she was kind and loving. He also understood that he was breaking her heart, but his girls needed to be raised with their own people.
"Thank you." He said as he held a crying Naomi on his lap.
Kitty stepped back from the wagon as he released the break and began to pull away. The four of them stood there watching. Kitty was standing in front of Matt. When she could take no more, she suddenly turned into his chest and hid her face as she quietly sobbed. Doc scratched at his whiskers feeling useless. Here was another heartache for Kitty to deal with. Festus just tried to smile, but he too knew this would not be easy.
"Let's go home, Kitty." Matt said as he began to lead her over to the horses. Mounting their horses they headed home for Dodge.
It had been two weeks since their return to Dodge. A great deal had changed in those two weeks. Kitty had asked Matt to Marry her their first day back. They had rode into town, dirty and tired and she told him she wanted to get married. Well, Matt left her and Doc off at the Long Branch while he went over and called on Parson Jones. They were married that evening out at Doc's ranch. Doc then signed over the ranch to them as a wedding gift. It had needed some work on it and he was just too old for that, he had told them. So now they had a ranch to tend to. Kitty had wired Bess Thompkins in New Orleans, offering her 1/3 owner ship of The Long Branch. She didn't want to give up the Saloon, but she also wanted time for Matt and perhaps a baby or two if she were lucky enough to have them. Standing by the front window, looking out into the night, Matt felt safe and warm in his home. The clearing of her throat behind him, brought Matt out of his daydream. He turned to find Kitty standing in the door in a soft pink robe, which he knew to be covering the same soft color nightgown.
"Are you going to stand there all night and look out the window or will you be coming to bed anytime soon?" She looked like a vision in pink. Hell she looked like a vision no matter what color she wore. Matt dried his hand and placed the towel on the counter. He then moved over to Kitty who was still standing in the doorway of their bedroom.
"Oh, I'm definitely coming to bed, Mrs. Dillon." He said slipping his arms around her waist as he led her over to the bed. Kitty smiled up at Matt as he slowly began to undress her. This was one of his favorite parts of their games. He slowly allowed the robe to fall from her body, allowing it to hit the floor. There were two rhinestone clasps in the front of the nightgown. With trembling hands, he gently pulled them loose. His hands slid up her shoulders than slid down, pushing the gown off of her shoulders, down her body until she stood before him, naked.
"How come I always end up naked first?" She asked as she began to unbutton his shirt.
"Because while you undress me, I get to look at you." He said, his hands moving from her waist to her hips, over her buttocks.
"I'm not so sure that's at all fair." She said pushing his shirt over his shoulders. He took the shirt and threw it on the chair in the corner and turned back to her unbuckling his belt.
"I never said anything about fair, I just said I like it that way." He said as she went to her knees, taking his britches and underwear with her. She pulled on his leg and he lifted his bare foot out of the pant leg and then the other. Matt reached out to her and pulled her to her feet.
"What else do you like, Mr. Dillon?" She said as he wrapped his arms around her warm body.
"Why don't I show you." He said backing her up to the bed. He gently laid her across the huge bed and climbed on top of her. Her body was warm and soft and he craved her every waking moment. Matt gently lowered his mouth to hers. His tongue teasingly tracing the out-line of her lower lip, then begged for entrance. She didn't make him wait too long. Their tongues tangled in a dance they knew well. And their bodies were quickly catching fire. His fingers played gently over her skin, touching every spot known to him as one of those places that made her moan. He loved to make her moan and cry out his name. The things her just by touching her. His knee gently moved between her thighs and she moved her thighs apart, granting him access. Matt moved his body into the cradle of her thighs. They were more than ready, no more foreplay was necessary, and he swiftly moved deep into her heated sheath. It seemed like forever before they began to move, but soon their bodies began to move in an age old rhythm that quickly rose until the flame was white hot and their bodies moving hard and fast. Kitty threw her head back as she fell over the edge and a sharp cry was heard from deep in her throat. Matt soon followed, emptying his seed within her. His body fell, exhausted and sweaty on top of her. They made love again, late into the night until exhaustion finally took over.
Kitty heard something at her front door. Climbing out of the warm bed she padded barefoot across the room to get her robe and looked over at Matt still asleep. "I hope it's not Doc and Festus already, it's too early." She said to herself. But as she opened the door, she saw no one standing there. And then she heard that familiar word.
"Mama." Naomi said reaching up to her from the basket which held her and her sleeping sister. Her heart felt as though it would burst. Little did she know that Nekuma was on his horse sitting on the hilltop watching her. Kitty knelt down and gently caressed Naomi's cheek.
"Mama!" The word came out plain as day and it brought tears to Kitty's eyes as she lifted Naomi into her arms and rained kisses all over her face. The baby giggled softly as her mother showered her with kisses.
"Matt! Matt, come quick!" She yelled back towards the bedroom. Matt had only been up a few moments as he awoke to an empty bed. He had been trying to get his trousers on. Quickly buttoning them, he came out to see his wife still clad in her nightgown, kneeling on the ground at the door. He stood over her and saw the babies. His heart was relieved. Gently reaching into the basket, he lifted Kathleen into his arms. She had been awakened when Kitty called to Matt.
Nekuma watched the scene from the hilltop. A slight pang of jealousy coursed through his heart as he watched the new family below. He knew in his heart that this would be the best thing for his girls. They would have both a mother and a father, and he believed that Kitty's man would be an honorable man. He watched as the big man gently brought the baby to his face and planted a kiss on her forehead. Standing up, he gently took Kitty's arm and helped her stand. It was at that time that they saw Nekuma riding away.
"Why do you think he left his girls with us?" Matt asked her.
"Because he wanted them to have a Mama and a papa." She said smiling up at Matt. Matt grabbed the basket and then followed Kitty into the house. The family would have their first breakfast together along with Grampa Adams and Uncle Festus.
The End