A Flicker Of Light In The Darkness

Chapter 9

The Family Picnic

"Since when do you have time for a picnic?" Kitty leaned back against the sink with her arms crossed and wearing a suspicious expression.

Matt stood facing her and placed both of his hands on the kitchen cabinets, locking her in. His lips nibbled at her neck, his words low and only loud enough for her to hear. "You said you wanted to go fishing and have a picnic."

She struggled to maintain her aloof stance, but his kisses were weakening her defenses. When his hands left the counter, they began to explore those private places…and her body was betraying her. He knew when she released a shuddering moan, he had her, "You know I only want to please you...in every way." His hands roamed down and behind, pulling her firm bottom up against himself.

Suddenly, in the middle of their sensual exploration, there was a loud sound and then a sharp voice, shattering the mood.

Calleigh let the back door slam behind her. "So this is why you sent me to Delmonico's for lunch! Humph! You're 'fishing' all right!" Matt and Kitty instantly tore apart. She turned, facing the cabinet; while he bravely turned to face the diminutive captor. Calleigh stood now, with her arms folded across her chest, wearing a crooked little smile.

"I thought you would be gone longer," Matt bluntly stated. "Any other time, you would be slow as molasses." He and Calleigh had reached a point where they were comfortable enough that neither could really embarrass the other much anymore—although she certainly tried. "Grab the poles. We'll be ready in a minute."

She turned to leave and then whirled back around to face Matt again. "Uh… Can I leave you alon-"

"Get!" he yelled, his voice booming, but his grin clearly void of any anger. When he turned back to Kitty, he was confronted with another female face, this one annoyed. With a chagrined countenance he shrugged his shoulders, "Sorry; I really thought she was going to be gone longer. You know how slow she is." He leaned in to give Kitty a kiss. "Forgive me?"

"Don't I always." Kitty allowed the kiss, then slipped away. "I believe my question was, why are you doing this?" she asked again while headed for the bedroom to change clothes.

Following along like a puppy, Matt clarified "I really do listen to you and I know this is something you want. Festus can handle anything that comes up."

Kitty pulled a simple cotton dress out of the closet and waited. Matt stood leaning against the doorjamb, baffled as to why she had stopped any movement, except for her piercing stare. "What?"

"You scoot," she motioned with her hands for him to leave. "You can't be trusted."

"Okay!" came a shout from the backdoor, "Fishing gear's all ready. Let's go!" Calleigh watched Matt coming toward her, "Can I take my guns?"

Matt grimaced, indicating doubt, but Kitty's firm 'NO' from the bedroom stopped any further discussion.

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Matt lay on the bank watching his girls splash in the creek—Calleigh, in her rolled up jeans and Kitty, bunching her dress up in a ball in front of her. "You're scaring the fish," he called; but wasn't heard above their laughter, or they just didn't care. He folded his arms under his head, stuffed after a full meal and just on the edge of a nap.

He thought about how much their lives had changed since Calleigh came into it. They were a family now. Kitty still hated it that he was gone so much; but it was better now that she wasn't alone. And for all of Calleigh's teasing, she usually went out of her way to make sure the couple had alone time. Even he and Calleigh had a good relationship. Lots of teasing; and since the dance, more open expressions of love.

This whole thing was held together by the love of his life; Kitty, as usual, was at the center. He closed his eyes, drifting off in the warm autumn sun. He was just on the precipice of sleep, when he heard Kitty screaming. Matt bolted from his lounging position, to his feet and into the water. "What happened?"

Kitty was sitting in the water with Calleigh in her lap. "She was jumping on those large flat stones—from one to the other. She missed and fell and hit her head. She's bleeding, Matt and she's unconscious." Kitty was maintaining, but Matt knew she was terrified.

'l'll get the horses." Within minutes, Matt had untied the horses and returned to the girls. "Let me have her," he reached down, taking the girl from Kitty's arms. When they got to Buck, Matt handed her back, climbed up into the saddle and reached down to again take her from Kitty.

Kitty mounted her horse and took the reins of Calleigh's, as they took off for home. The checkered tablecloth was still spread on the ground, fishing poles still stuck into the bank and an open picnic basket; all abandoned, all forgotten as they raced back to town.

Matt held Calleigh nestled against his arm. "Hold on, Sweet Pea, please hold on." He wasn't sure if he'd said the words out loud, or if it was just a prayer. Matt glanced over at Kitty and saw the fear in her face. Their eyes met for a moment, long enough for them to give encouragement to each other. It seemed like forever, but at last they reached Front Street.

Doc was about half way down his staircase when he saw them approaching. Seeing the riderless horse, he knew something bad had happened. Matt handed the girl down to Doc.

"She fell in the creek, hit her head on a rock." Matt slid off Buck, then helped Kitty dismount. Taking the unconscious girl back from Doc, the Marshal followed him up the stairs. As per Doc's instructions, Matt gently laid her on the table. Then he stepped back, pulling Kitty into his arms, as both sets of blue eyes watched Doc's every move.

"Doc?" Kitty voice quivered, barely audible.

Without missing a step in his ministrations, the physician tried to answer. "She's got quite a bump on the back of her head and looks like a laceration here too. Has she been unconscious the whole time?" Matt was the one to respond. Doc cleaned the wound and took a few stitches. "Well, we'll just have to wait until she regains consciousness. He stepped back to let Kitty and Matt step up to the table. Kitty took the young girls hand and fussed over her face, gently brushing the curls aside and ever so tenderly placing a kiss. Matt stood beside the table, taking one of Calleigh's small hands in his.

Consciousness was finally returning, accompanied by several small moans. Calleigh's eyes fluttered open and she seemed to be trying to focus. Kitty looked over her shoulder to Doc. He stepped in between the worried pair to check out his little love.

"Well, her eyes look clear. What?" He leaned down, unable to decipher the whispered words. He kissed a cheek and stood back up, turning to the frightened pair, "She wants to know if Matt ate all the pie." He swiped his mustache, trying to stifle a laugh. The tension had broken and Kitty and Matt each took a side of the table. Despite her light-hearted response, Calleigh reached for Kitty's hand and held on tight.

"No I didn't eat it all." Matt admonished, "but I'm going to, as soon as I get home." He stroked her hair, careful of the stitches. "You had us scared," she could see the remnants of fear that he still wore. "I love you Sweet Pea."

Calleigh closed her eyes and with a smile whispered back, "I know; I love you too, Pa."

"Besides hungry, how do you feel?"

"My head hurts and…I guess, just tired. Were you worried too, Poppy?" She flashed him that smile, the one that she knew would make him buy the world for her.

"Now you're just fishing for sympathy." Doc tugged his ear and wiped at his mustache. "Dagnabit, of course I was worried! Now you need some rest. Why don't you two go home and leave her here with me?"

Calleigh squeezed Kitty's hand and their eyes met.

Kitty gave her a reassuring smile. "It's okay, I'm not leaving you."

This revelation came as no surprise to either Matt or Doc. "What do say Doc, got an extra chair I can use, too?" Doc shook his head; he knew Kitty wouldn't leave without Calleigh—and Matt wouldn't leave without Kitty. Sort of a chain reaction.

Doc swiped his mustache and shuffled toward the back room to gather blankets. "Looks like I got a full house tonight."

TBC