A Flicker of Light In The Darkness

Chapter 2

Settling In

Calleigh proved to be an early riser. By the time Kitty got up, the girl had already gone downstairs to offer a hand to Sam. Like everyone else, Sam was soon enchanted with the little pixie. She offered to clean tables or wash glasses; whatever was needed to help. Again, Kitty found herself watching the little girl. There was something about her that made Kitty want to hold her and shelter her from life. She was so self-sufficient yet so vulnerable. Kitty had always liked children, but never felt comfortable around them. Calleigh was different. She didn't chatter like a child, but actually made conversation. As the two became more comfortable with each other, Kitty realized that Calleigh had a blunt way of talking and a sense of humor beyond her years.

Despite the little girl's upbringing, or lack thereof, Kitty didn't think being in a bar with a bunch of drunken cowboys was really the right place for a little girl. Calleigh didn't object to Kitty's attempts to protect her. Actually, it was a strange feeling that she kind of enjoyed. So when Kitty was at work, she left Calleigh with Doc

The little girl broke through his crusty exterior in no time. Considering any formal schooling she had, ended at age nine, she had not let her education stop there. Reading was her passion and traveling gave her lots of time for that. She virtually gobbled up every book she could find on any subject. Doc was very impressed with her intellect. Somewhere in one of their talks, she told him he reminded her of a character in one of her favorite books. The character's name was 'Poppy McGee' and he too wore a battered hat and had a long grey mustache. Doc wasn't sure how it happened that he became "Poppy," but if that's what she wanted to call him, that's who he would be. Sadly, he wasn't as impressed with her knowledge of things that should only be known to adults. She was trapped in an awkward place: Her maturity level was miles beyond her years, but she was still a child. Her questions were usually not those of child either.

As one might expect, it wasn't long before the local gossipmongers also picked up on the physical similarities between Kitty and Calleigh. Most of the town loved and respected Kitty, as she had done a lot to help Dodge and she was always ready to give a helping hand. Regardless of this, the rumor mill started.

"Could that be Kitty Russell's illegitimate daughter? Is Marshal Dillon the father? Where has the child been all this time?" She heard the whispers, but true to her character, she was really unconcerned. She did wonder if it would bother Matt.

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Calleigh closed the door behind her, and looked around for Doc. "Poppy are you here?"

"I'll be right out. Set the board up."

Sporting a grin, she yelled back, "Okay, but it makes me feel bad to keep beating you." She pulled the checker board from the shelf and began to set up the game."

Doc entered the room, mumbling something about insolent youth. "Luck," he said aloud, that's all it was.

The diminutive redhead giggled. Something she rarely did, but she always felt comfortable with Poppy, "Black, or red?"

"Red." Doc settled down in his chair and began to contemplate his move. "So, how do you like staying with Kitty?"

"She's wonderful Poppy. I've never had anyone to fuss over me. It's nice. Have you known her for a long time?"

"Since she got off that stage, about seven years ago." His mouth puckered as he studied her move.

"And the Marshal?"

"A couple of years longer."

"Does the marshal stay at Kitty's when he's home? 'Cause, I figure I'll have to leave when he comes back."

"Wha-" Doc jerked as though he were spastic, bumping into the table and sending the checkers sliding across the board. "What in tarnation would you ask a thing like that for!" He brushed his hand nervously across his mustache. He wasn't sure if he was more shocked by what she said, or the innocent face that said it. "Calleigh, you can't just ask things like that."

"I meant no disrespect." She stared up at him, her small face void of any malice, "I saw a picture of him in her room and when she talks about him, she gets all...I don't know how to describe it. To be honest, I don't know that I've ever seen that look before." She paused, putting the board back in place. "Want to just start over? I don't remember where everything was."

"Yes I want to start over!" His grumpiness was lost on her, "So there is something you haven't seen, in your vast lifetime of a whole twelve years. To answer your question, he has a room at Ma Smalley's, when he doesn't sleep at the jail."

"Hmmm, do you think he'll like me?"

Doc noticed her wistful tone and dropped the cantankerous façade, "I don't know how he couldn't. You're winning the hearts of Dodge, one by one. Despite that mouth," he added

Her face lit up with a radiant smile. "That's such a nice thing to say; well all but that last part, but that makes what I have to do easier," Doc's brow crinkled, evidence of his confusion. She plucked up her King—and in eight steps, she cleared the board. He rubbed his hand across his mustache and shook his head in disbelief. "Little crook," he muttered.

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Before Kitty realized it, a month had gone by and Calleigh was still with her. Matt was still tied up in Denver and it looked like it was going to be at least two more weeks. Kitty read his letter again, causing a dull pain to course through her body at the thought of him being gone so long. She had tried to write to him about Calleigh, but she really couldn't put in a letter what she really didn't understand herself. She could write the facts, as she knew them, but she couldn't put on paper the feelings that this girl elicited.

"Did you hear from Marshal Dillon?" Calleigh asked, as she pulled a chair up to the table to join Kitty.

"I did." She acknowledged with a nod. "Looks like he's going to be gone for a while longer."

"I saw that picture of you two. He's very handsome. You must miss him a lot?"

"I do." Kitty smiled at the memory of the picture they had taken on one of their rare trips. "And yes, he is very handsome. We are very good friends."

"Friends," Calleigh repeated softly, but there was an air of doubt in her tone.

Kitty's smile faded as she regarded the girl suspiciously. There were times when it was like talking to a forty-year-old woman, in a twelve-year-old body. This was one of those times. She squirmed uncomfortably in her seat, as though this child knew her secret. She quickly folded the letter and stuck it in her pocket.

"You know there are people in town talking about us." The girl offered.

"About us?" Kitty was still thinking about her last comment, so she didn't catch the full impact of this one.

"Yes," Calleigh stared at her, blue eyes wide and clear, without the slightest trace of embarrassment "They wonder if I am your illegitimate daughter. They also wonder if the Marshal is my dad."

Candor was once again the essence of her comment and again Kitty was caught off guard. She sucked in a quick breath of air, causing her to choke. "Calleigh, must you be so…" She shook her head in exasperation, "Never mind, Honey; I'm sorry you had to hear that. Unfortunately, some people are just ugly at heart. I hope they didn't embarrass you too much."

"Oh, I wasn't embarrassed. I just don't like it when people say bad things about you. They shouldn't slander you in that way, just because you have been kind to me."

Kitty looked across the table at the youthful face staring back at her. Her clear blue eyes and that sprinkling of freckles across her nose, only served to promote the illusion of innocence. "First of all, we never listen to mean things that people say. What they think, does not affect our lives." Her tone softened as she continued, "Would it be that bad if I were your mother?"

Calleigh folded her hands in front of her. "It wouldn't be a bad thing for me. You're the closest thing to a mother I have ever had." A smile fluttered across her lips, "Unfortunately, I don't think it would be good for you."

This again was one of those times where she had gone from twelve, to forty, in ten seconds. "I don't know how to respond to that," Kitty admitted. "It breaks my heart that no one has been around to mother you. I could have been your mother, you know."

Calleigh hit the skepticism trifecta. From her tone; to her gaze; and finally to her utterance of, "Doubtful... My mother was too young at sixteen. You were only thirteen when I was born." She shrugged, "Possible…but doubtful. Taking me in probably isn't a good idea either." The little girl smiled innocently, "You have a nice life here. Your own business, friends and Marshal Dillon. I don't think I fit into that life, especially the Marshal Dillon part."

Despite the fact that she was the adult, Kitty did not have the courage to approach the subject of Matt Dillon with Calleigh. It seemed easier to change the subject. "Let's go over to Bessie Sheldon's and see if those dresses we're having made for you are ready."

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Kitty motioned for Doc to join her at the table. "Sam would you bring Doc a beer?"

He took a seat opposite her. "Where's Calleigh?"

"Festus took her fishing." Kitty paused to thank Sam for the beer. "Somebody has been real mean to that girl. I'm guessing emotionally, but I know physically. Her back is covered in scars. They look to be older, but they're deep."

"She say where she got 'em?"

"No, she didn't want to talk about it and I didn't want to push her. She talks to you; maybe you can get her to open up." Doc nodded, suggesting he would try. "Things are getting really complicated, Doc."

He took a long healthy drink and licked the foam from his lips."You're falling in love with that little redheaded pixie, aren't you?"

Kitty responded with a sigh and a nod.

"Yeah, I know," he said, "So am I."

"I've just never seen anyone like her. Half the time, I feel like she's taking care of me; yet I want to mother her." Kitty released a sarcastic laugh, "Me, a mother. That's rich."

"I think you will make an excellent mother, when the time comes." Doc paused, eyeing her curiously, "Has the time come, Kitty?"

"I don't know, Doc. I just feel such a connection. Did you know I was only fourteen when I ended up on my own? I was just past eighteen when I came here. Things have turned out good for me. I have Matt, you, a lot of good friends, a business," she avoided looking at Doc "Those four years between, I ...I. had to do…things-"

Doc reached across the table and without a word, simply took Kitty's hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. Her eyes swept down at this gesture, then up to his loving eyes. "What are the odds that she would be as lucky as I have been?" Her eyes glistened with tears, that she fought to keep under control. Trying to lighten the moment, she smiled and added, "Besides, I have to love her; she's my little doppelganger."

"That she is." It was enough to make him smile. "Have you talked to Matt about this?"

"I tried; but you can't put on paper what's happening here. Do you think Matt will take to her too?"

"Is is important that he does."

"I'm afraid it is, Doc. I mean, Matt is my life and living without him, is...inconceivable but I just don't know if I can give her up." She blew out a long breath. "It may not matter; he's been gone two months. I'm beginning to wonder if he's ever coming home. How long can a trial go on?"

"It has gone on a lot longer than usual." Doc reached across the table and gave her hand an encouraging pat. "He'll be back soon. Speaking of him coming back, Calleigh has been asking me about you and him. She asked if he stayed at your place when he's home."

Kitty leaned closer to Doc, her voice dropping to almost a whisper. "Don't ask me how, but I swear she knows we're more than friends."

Doc pulled his ear between his thumb and forefinger. "If she don't know, she will when sees you together. A blind man can see that, Kitty; and that little girl is sharp. Almost scary when you think of the things she has seen. A lot more than her years deserve."

TBC