Chp 19

(A month later)

As they had, since they'd arrived at the ranch, Matt and Kitty rose early. While Matt headed outside for chores, Kitty went down to the kitchen and prepared breakfast. Her constant companion, Georgie, was right by her side.

Giving him a gentle hug, she returned the grin he gave her, knowing full well that when he learned that she and Matt would be leaving in a week, that grin would disappear. But it was time that they left and returned home.

After the incident in the cabin, Bud had ridden to town and sent a wire for the nearest Marshal. Parsons, Brewer and the other man with them, had been arrested for kidnapping and the Marshal, a friend of Matt's named Chauncey Devlin, promised they would pay.

Graham, having no relatives, was buried not far from the shack he died in. The bank was now in possession of his property and selling it off at bargain basement prices. With Kitty's financial help, Bud managed to secure the section of Graham's land that backed up to the mine. Hopefully that would prevent anyone else from trying what Graham had.

With a concerted effort as well as help from some of the people in town as well as Matt, Kitty and the kids, the Henderson's barn had been rebuilt and the many things around the place that needed done before winter set in were accomplished.

Bud, though still a skinny 17 year old, had grown up a bit in those months and Matt had no doubts he'd be able to run the ranch as well as raise his brothers and sisters.

Kitty, however, wasn't as sure as Matt, at least when it came to Georgie. The little boy had become as dear to her as if he were her own, and though she knew Bud and Martha and the other children loved him, she worried what would become of him without the kind of attention and care a mother would provide. Care that Bud and the others would not necessarily have the time or ability to give him.

For two weeks prior to their leaving, Kitty mulled the problem over in her mind and wrestled with the complications, each solution she came up with, provided. It wasn't until a week before they were to leave that she finally figured it out. Although it wasn't a perfect solution, it would, she was sure, work. If everyone went along with it, that was.

Five nights before they planned to ride out, Kitty decided, was not the perfect time to bring the issue up, but it was the only time left to them. She wanted to give Bud and his siblings at least a few days to think about it. And after talking with Matt, and getting his reluctant agreement, she chose the next night to talk to the kids about it.

That last night, after supper was finished, the dishes done and the final evening chores completed, the whole family gathered into the great room. Kitty had requested this meeting because she truly wanted all of the kids in agreement with what she was proposing.

When everyone was seated and she had their attention, she rose and stepped over to the fireplace, turning to face them. Georgie was sitting quietly beside Martha watching Kitty closely.

After taking a deep breath, Kitty looked at each of the children, lingering on Georgie before finally directing her gaze to Bud. "As you know, Matt and I are leaving in a few days." She began. "And once we return home, it won't be easy to come back very often."

"We understand." Bud spoke up. "But you don't have to worry, Miss Kitty. We'll be alright. We can take care of ourselves."

Kitty smiled at him for a moment before her expression turned serious. "I know that, Bud. Or at least, I know most of you can, but I was thinking about Georgie."

"What about him?" Bud asked, a little defensively. "You don't think I can take as good a care of him as the others?"

Kitty sighed. She did not want to anger Bud or any of the children by what she was about to propose but she really felt her idea was best. "I think you will do as fine a job with him as you possibly can." She answered gently. "All of you will. But as you know, Georgie needs a little extra care, now and then, care that's not easy to provide while you're working your fingers to the bone on this ranch."

She paused when she saw Bud and Martha both begin to stiffen. "Now before you two get angry, I want you to listen to me. Please. I know you love your little brother, and I know there is nothing you wouldn't do for him. But think about this for a moment. When your parents were alive, they took care of all of you. Your Pa worked outside all day taking care of the ranch, and your Ma worked inside all day, taking care of the house and you kids. Now they're not here and all of you are going to have to fill the void they left. How easy is it going to be with a child who needs more help than the others? You can't just put him outside to play like you would the others and you can't sit and hold him and leave everything else till later."

Bud took a deep breath and got to his feet, scrubbing the back of his blonde head as he paced around the room. "I know it ain't going to be easy, Miss Kitty, but what other choice do we have? I ain't sending him to some orphanage to live. He belongs with those who love him."

"Yes he does," Matt spoke up for the first time as he got to his feet and stepped over next to Kitty. "And that's what we're proposing. Do you all remember the Johnsons, from when you were in Dodge?"

Bud stopped in his pacing, a thoughtful look on his face. The Johnson's were a couple in their forties that had raised three children of their own and fostered several others. "Yeah, nice people; lived just at the edge of town. Why?"

"What do you think about Georgie staying with them?" Kitty asked as she took a couple of steps towards him. "If you remember anything at all about the Johnsons, than you know how good a people they are. They understand kids and know how to take care of them, even little ones like Georgie who need a little extra attention. They have a nice house and they live close enough that I could check on him just about every day. And of course, anytime you all wanted to come and visit, you know you'd be welcome."

"No," Martha stood up and paced over to Bud's side. "Bud, don't let them do this." She pleaded. "I know it won't be easy, but Georgie is our problem, not someone else's."

"Maybe that's why he should live with someone else," Matt spoke again. "Martha, you're seeing him as a problem to be solved. But he's not. He's a little boy that needs special care and attention that you all would be hard pressed to provide."

"But… but…" Words failed her as she bowed her head and began to cry.

Swiftly, Kitty moved to her and pulled her into her arms, hugging her tightly as she brushed the girl's hair from her eyes. "Honey, I know you love Georgie. I've seen that, we all have. But don't you understand? That's why you need to think about this. You need to love him enough, to let him go where he can get all the care and attention he needs."

Matt looked over at the stricken look on Bud's face and understood. "Bud, Martha, look. If you all really don't want to do this, okay. We have no desire to tear your family apart any more than it already is. But please, think about it before you reject it completely. Think about what's best for Georgie. And think about yourselves as well. Raising a boy like him is hard for even the most qualified of people. But if you all really feel like you can, Kitty and I will support you in it and do everything we can to help."

Bud looked at his younger brother and his sister's tear stained face as she finally pulled away from Kitty. "Give us a couple of days." He whispered.

TBC