FLAME SERIES #20 SO SWEET THE SMILE
CHAPTER 2
Family Disputes
"I'm going to tell daddy that you've been sneaking out." Trisha Ragger hugged the rag doll to her chest. Long blonde braids framed a tiny scrunched up face sporting a hateful pout.
"You little brat! If you tell, I'll pull those pigtails out by the roots." Cicely took slow calculating steps toward the six year old girl. Each one more threatening than the last. "No I won't." She leaned down allowing her own pale blonde locks to fall on the younger girl's shoulders. "I'll wait until you're asleep and shave you bald!"
Trisha leaned back with the older girl towering over her. She already knew her sister didn't make idle threats. Retreat was her only choice as she turned and ran from the room. Once she was a safe distance away, Trisha stopped in the hallway. "I hate you!"
Cicely laughed as she crossed back to the bed and flopped down. This whole thing was ridiculous. Her parents were like a pair of frightened little sparrows. Imagining danger behind every door and murderers lurking in the shadows.
She rolled over and stared out the window at nothing. There was nothing here but trees and trees and more trees. How was she supposed to adjust from New York to Dodge City? Before she could think of an answer her father's voice sounded from the doorway.
"Have you been sneaking out at night!?" Anger was losing its foothold to exhaustion.
Cicely sat up; her cold hateful stare bore into the empty spot in the hall where the little girl had stood. "That little brat. Wait til I-"
"Cicely!" John Ragger wearily rubbed his hand across a pair of tired eyes. "Just stop."
"What do you expect me to do in this God forsaken place? Yes I sneak out at night! Just to get away from this family!"
John walked across the large room and stared out the window. Strangely enough, he saw only peace and tranquility in those same trees. "Do you not realize that we are here to keep you safe? It's because of that Fletcher boy that we have to hide."
With an arrogant shrug Cicely threw her willowy young body back onto the bed. "I have told you a thousand times. That was an accident. Tyler is the one that wanted to climb to the top of the Tribune. His father was the managing editor and he said he went up in the clock tower all the time." She propped her body up on her elbows, her face still wearing a mask of contempt. "Douglas Fletcher makes a few threats and you pack us up and go slinking off in the middle of the night like a coward. He was hurting and just wanted someone to blame. If you had just waited, the whole thing would quickly have been forgotten."
"That was his only son. A loss like that isn't quickly forgotten!" John leaned back against the window, his slight frame carrying more guilt than his sixty years should own. "Why can't you understand I am just trying to protect you?"
Neither his words nor his obvious torment could elicit more than an apathetic shrug from his daughter. She had no intention of leaving the self absorbed world of Cicely. "How long do we have to stay here? And when can we take back our real name. Ragger? Where did you get that name? I'm a Hennesy." The only thing more disrespectful than her tone was the loathsome glint in her eyes. "At least I WAS until now."
As was always the case he soon realized how futile his words were and gave up trying to talk to his beautiful daughter. Maybe with time they could have a normal life again. In the meantime, he took the only steps he could think of to control her. "I've nailed the windows shut."
"NO!" Outrage instantly overrode arrogance. "You can't keep me prisoner here. I won't stay!"
She continued to scream at him as he left the room but he was just too tired to respond.
"Douglas Fletcher is not sending someone to kill us! That's all in your mind." Cicely stared at the stooped shoulders and the thinning gray hair until her father disappeared around the door. "Do you hear me!" When there was no answer, she threw herself back on the bed. "Coward!"
TheDillonsTheDillonsTheDillons
The kids were finally down for the count and a pair of tired parents closed themselves off in their own bedroom. Kitty knew that Matt was annoyed but he never was much on holding grudges. She disappeared into the water closet with a gown.
Matt settled into the overstuffed chair to take off his boots. Yes! He most certainly was annoyed. I know what she thinks. He thought as he stared at the closed door. She's going to come out of there looking all sexy and desirable and she thinks I'll just forgive her for being so unreasonable.
He sighed with relief when he managed to kick off one of the boots. Not this time. I was right this time! With another jerk the second heavy piece of footwear hit the floor. Soon to be followed by a pair of canvas pants and a red cotton shirt. He hiked up the waist band on his porous cotton drawers. Nope! I'm hanging tough tonight!
With a righteous scowl the marshal wandered out to balcony. He did understand her concerns for Gaith. Granted he had enough years to make him a man but not much experience to go with it. But he couldn't just interfere in the boy's love life.
Well…maybe he could kind of take him aside and…
Suddenly that little voice on his shoulder gave him a poke in the conscience. You're softening. She's getting to you – again. Matt squared up his shoulders reaffirming his stand. "Dog gone it, I gotta stand firm on this."
Kitty stared at the guilty face in the mirror. Matt was absolutely right. She didn't know what she wanted and had no right to take it out on him. He had gone out of his way to watch out for those boys while they were in prison and given all of them jobs when they came home. As of late, he had even begun to train Ned to stand in as a deputy from time to time.
With a heavy sigh, she confronted those shameful blue eyes. "Kitty Dillon, one of these days he is going to get fed up with that temper of yours!" Saying the words aloud caused a shiver to trickle down her spine. "What if this is that time?" She whispered to the frightened redhead trapped in the glass.
The door to the water closet released a faint creak and then he heard her soft footsteps as she walked up behind him. Once again, that little voice was offering encouragement. He was a US Marshal. He had done battle with the worst, the meanest and the deadliest. Surely he could withstand the temptations of one little female. With all the resolve he could muster, Marshal Dillon braced himself and continued to focus on the glistening pond below.
"Matt." She was using that sweet vulnerable voice. The one that gripped his heart and made him weak in the knees. But this time, he was determined and did not move or speak.
Kitty chewed at her lip. His half naked body soaked up the warm moonlight highlighting his rippling muscles. Her hand hovered over his shoulder but couldn't find the courage to touch. The tears that were forming in her eyes were already evident in her speech. "Will you at least look at me?"
The little voice continued to embolden him and the marshal remained steadfast. "I can hear you."
"Please?"
Stand firm! That little voice commanded. With a fortified breath he turned to face his wife.
Sorrowful blue eyes stared up at him. "I'm so sor-"
Matt abandoned that little voice as he pulled her up into his arms. His mouth closed over hers silencing her apology. As the kiss ended, his lips continued to travel up the slender curve of her neck.
"Matt I really am sorry."
"No, no baby. It wasn't your fault. I was being insensitive."
Those magnificent arms swept her up and quickly carried her to their bed. Kitty chastised herself for treating him so badly while making a thousand promises never to do it again.
But that didn't matter now. As she rolled over, positioning herself on top of her beautiful man the only thing that mattered was the exquisite sensation as she took him into her body. Lips tasted and touched. Hands roamed while fingers sinfully teased and tantalized. Words caressed the ears and hearts. Soon that magical moment arrived when playful turned to passion and the two lovers were lost in each other. Sighs replaced laughter and desire overcame frivolous touching. All they could do was cling to each other as the ecstasy overtook them. Then slowly, gently, they began the descent back to reality together.