CHAPTER 10

Slipped up

Kitty looked up from the sink in time to catch a glimpse of the couple coming in the back door. Within seconds the playful bantering between the O'Brian's filled the kitchen. She received her customary good morning kiss from her daughter as she worked her way to the coffee pot.

Calleigh heard a grunting sound come from the direction of the marshal. She turned to see him comfortably stretched back at the table while holding out an empty cup. Armed with the blue enamel pot she walked over the table.

Matt watched her fill the line of cups; Doc, then Festus and finally Newly's before turning to him. "I think the word you're so elegantly searching for is – please."

"Of course it was." He held up his cup with a wink for his oldest child. "How long is the Ragger girl going to stay with us?"

Calleigh carried the coffee pot back to the stove just in time for Kitty to hand her a platter of fresh biscuits. "Probably not as long as she should. I almost had to force her not to go back to her home. I don't think it has hit her yet that her entire family is gone."

Kitty could hear the intense empathy in Calleigh's voice. Family was everything to her daughter and the thought of losing all of them was overwhelming. It didn't surprise her when she saw the young redhead possessively ruffle her fingers through Cooper's soft brown curls as she set the tray on the table. The little Ragger girl was just about Coopers age.

Kitty looked around the kitchen suddenly realizing that the other little Dillon was missing. "Where is Hadley?" Her question was met with a group of puzzled faces. "Cooper will you go upstairs and get your sister. I have a feeling she is pestering our guest."

Cicely could hear the talk and laughter coming from downstairs. She stood in front of the mirror, admiring the face that greeted her. How long was a decent mourning period? She wondered. Making a half turn to see herself from another angle, Cicely sensed someone was standing behind her.

The minor disruption was coming from a little redheaded moppet. Hadley stood in the doorway clutching Bootsie. She knew there was a stranger in the house because momma had told her not to be bothering their guest. Giving the toddler a reason she could understand, Kitty just said the woman didn't feel well. When Momma and Sissy got busy with breakfast, Hadley seized the opportunity to escape.

The two stood silently each contemplating the other for a few seconds until Cicely quickly became bored. "What do you want?" Without waiting for answer, she returned to the familiar face in the mirror.

Hadley took another step into the room, curious about the woman. "Me HadleyWeign."

"Go away!" Her malicious tone was wasted on the toddler.

Not to be put off on her mission, the child entered the room and walked up to Cicely. Small somewhat grubby fingers grabbed a handful of skirt and began to tug. "You wanna holt Bootsie?"

Life was simple for Hadley. Bootsie always made her happy so it only stood to reason in her mind that he would be good medicine for the ailing woman.

Cicely was ready to dismiss the bothersome child until she glanced down only to find the dirty hand prints on her dress. "You little heathen!" Amazingly enough, even in a whisper her rage was evident. She snatched the cherished toy by the ear and slammed him to the floor.

Tears sprang to her big blue eyes as Hadley took a step back. She stared up at the hateful woman unable to process what was happening. No one in her little world had ever spoken so harshly to her. In disbelief her gaze followed the path of her beloved Bootsie."

"Hadley!" Cooper's cry shattered the stunned silence. While his eyes remained fixed on their guest he rushed over to his sister. He snatched poor Bootsie up from the floor and placed him back into the arms of the one that loved him.

"What are you doing skulking around my room!" Cicely couldn't keep the hint of fear from her voice at the thought of being found out. This one was big enough to tell what he had seen. Why did that annoying brat have to come in to my room! That thought only angered her more.

"My momma sent me to get my sister." Cooper wiped the tears from Hadley's cheeks while trying to console her.

"Well if you say anything I will have to tell your mother that you were eavesdropping like a little snoop." Cicely was quick enough to see the boy blanch at her words. She had hit a nerve. "How will she like that?"

Those last words rang in his ears. Was it just yesterday when his mother scolded him for listening in on adult conversations? Cooper wasn't sure this qualified as eavesdropping but he didn't want to take any chances. As he was gently guiding his sister out the door he called back over his shoulder. "Momma said to tell you breakfast was ready."

Kitty was busy mixing a bowl of pancake batter when her children entered the room. It was Calleigh's question to the toddler that prompted her to look back.

"Hadley, sweetie what's wrong?" Calleigh was instantly scooping the child into her arms. "Were you crying?"

"Bootsie." The little redhead held the bear up for her sister to examine.

"What's wrong with him?" Calleigh held the girl on her hip while checking out the fuzzy animal.

Kitty sat the butter and syrup on the table. While she was concerned with Hadley, she couldn't help but notice that her son was being overly quiet. "Cooper? Is everything all right?"

"Yes. She's just upset because Bootsie fell on the floor." The boy quietly walked up behind his sisters. "I told her he was okay but that you or Poppy would look at him to be sure." He knew that Hadley would never tell what had happened, mainly because she didn't understand it. After his kidnapping, Cooper had learned that there was evil in the world outside of the Lady K. And now part of it was living in his house.

Cicely stood outside the door to the kitchen listening to the morning talk. She heard them fuss over the sticky fingered little urchin. Unexpected thoughts of Trisha flashed in her mind. Not memories born of any type of grief but more of a sense of liberation. At least that's one problem solved.

She waited to see what the boy would say but it appeared as though he wasn't going to mention the incident at all. With a deep breath and a smile befitting a girl in deep mourning, she entered the room.

0o0o0o0o0

"Momma can I have another pancake?" Cooper had slipped out of his chair and was taking his plate to his mother when their guest entered the room.

Kitty scooped up the requested hotcake as the grieving blonde made her entrance. "Good morning, Cicely. Would you like some breakfast?"

Her bittersweet smile was preceded by a pathetic sigh. "I don't think I'm up to eating yet. Some coffee would be nice." As she wandered over to the table she allowed her gaze to rest only momentarily on the young boy. Just long enough to intimidate him.

"Cooper." Kitty called to her son. She stood poised with pancake precariously balancing on the heavy metal spatula. "Do you want this or not?"

The boy stood in the middle of the room holding his empty plate. As if coming out of a daze, he glanced back at the table and then up to his mother. "No, I guess I'm full. Can I go outside?"

Kitty's brows dipped creating a curious scowl. She dropped the golden brown flapjack onto the warming platter. "Come here." Cooper came closer and she touched his forehead with the back of her hand. His sudden agitation was obvious but it didn't appear to be a health issue. "Are you feeling all right?"

"I'm okay." His eyes avoided hers. "Do you want me to take Hadley outside with me?" It wasn't unusual for him to entertain his little sister but Kitty suspected something else was at play here.

"If she's finished I think that would be nice." She traded the empty plate in his hand for a kiss and he quickly gathered up his sister.

Cicely's interest in Cooper was fleeting as she had set her sights on something much more interesting. Who was that handsome man sitting next to Calleigh?

Despite the numerous empty chairs lined around the giant oak table, she stood pensively behind the one next to the brown eyed man. Newly quickly jumped up to perform his gentlemanly duty.

Cicely offered him a sweet smile. "I didn't get into town often but I'm sure we've never met."

He pushed in her chair and returned to his own. "I'm Newly O'Brian." His smile was as enchanting as his deep brown eyes. "I doubt that any of those trips would have brought you to the gun shop."

"Oh, you own a gun shop?" Cicely had a way of making the most mundane thing sound exciting.

"And he's my dad's deputy and does his share of doctoring in Dodge." Calleigh leaned over kissing her husband on the cheek. "My Newly is just modest. He's good at everything."

Cicely smiled, forcing herself to endure the sappy sweet performance. "He sounds too good to be true. You're a lucky woman."

"Nah, I'm the lucky one." Newly let his hand slide across his wife's shoulder as he got up and made his way back to the stove. "Matt, are you going in to town now?"

"Yeah. You coming?"

"No I got something to do at home. I'll be another hour." Newly blew softly into the steaming black liquid. "I'll stop by the jail later."

The marshal turned his attention back to the visitor. "Cicely there is some paperwork you will need to sign as soon as you feel up to it. And Percy is waiting for you to make arrangements for your family?"

Right on cue, a sorrowful tear appeared along with a mournful smile. "You mean the paperwork to sell the ranch?'

Matt blinked hard, puzzled by her comment. "No, I meant the papers that will give Percy permission to take care of your family."

"Oh, yes." Cicely brushed her hand across her forehead. "I'm just so lost without them. I can't think straight. And now to have to handle this alone."

Matt stood at the back door with his hat in his hand. "Would you like for me to take you?"

"No…I…I really would like a cup of coffee first. You go on ahead." With a coy smile she turned back toward the brown eyed man standing across the room. "If you're going into town later maybe I could ride in with you."

Calleigh quickly turned in her seat, calling to her husband. "Newly, you can go to Percy's with her can't you? She shouldn't do this alone. I would go but I promised Ed Flanders that I would be at his place early today."

Newly smiled at his wife, acknowledging her wishes. "Well, I guess-"

"Newly you go on to work." Kitty leaned over Cicely placing a fresh cup of coffee in front of her then braced her hands on the girl's shoulders. "I'll take her. She needs a woman with her at a time like this."