PT.16
His Heart Beating In Mine

Note: Once again, I'd Like to say Thank You to all those who have left reviews. Some of you, I'm unable to respond to. But I do appreciate each and every one. It makes this all worthwhile…

All the huddling and whispers were all over town. No one was sure what to make of what they were seeing. First, they were surprised to see that their Marshal was alive and well. And they were wondering was he going to resume his position as town marshal. Then, of course, on to the much juicier gossip. Kitty Russell was back and with this infant and another woman. Just how did they fit in?

Everyone gathered in the Long Branch. Sam was excited to see his friend and boss. "Oh, Miss Kitty, I'm so glad to see you and so happy you've come back. You are back to stay, aren't you?"

Smiling at him and leaning up to kiss his cheek. "Yes, Sam. We're here to stay. But that doesn't change our deal."

Shaking his head, "Oh no, Ma'am. The Long Branch is yours. No, Sam. We're partners and I don't want any argument.

Besides this little one is going to need a lot of my attention."

Smiling down at Grace. "Miss Kitty, she sure is a pretty one."

"Miz Kitty, why didn't ya tell no body bout' this here little biddy baby?"

"Festus, I… I…"

Then quickly, Doc jumped in. "Oh there you go. Meddling in where you don't belong."

"I'm sorry, Festus, it was just so hard for me when I thought Matt was…"

"But, Miz Kitty, don'tcha know we'd a takin' good care to look'in after you?"

Nodding and smiling at him. "Of course, I do. I guess, I just wasn't thinking very clearly, Festus." Then she winked at everyone else. Grace was getting a bit restless and squirming all over.

After they settled in, word had spread that Matt was alive. Several friends were coming into town to see if the stories were true. Frank Reardon showed up. Thad made the trip. Chester, made a trip into town. Even Quint Asper caught wind of what had happened and decided to come through Dodge to surprise them.

Matt sat in his office. He and Newly were going over some new posters that had just come in. Neither one had noticed the door open. They were too busy reading. Then they heard tiny footsteps. Grace was almost one now and had started to walk.

Out of the corner of his eye, Newly spotted her. "Hey, Lil' Lady." There she stood in a ruffled blue dress, head full of reddish ringlets, with a matching blue ribbon and a huge smile. Kitty was standing behind her.

When Matt looked up, "Hello, Cowboy. We were wondering If you'd like to take us to supper?"

Matt reached out his arm as Grace took a few more steps towards him. "Yeah, that's my gal." As she giggled, he looked over at Kitty. "How can I resist an offer from the two prettiest gals in Dodge?"

"Good answer, Cowboy."

As they made their way across Front Street, all eyes watched.

"Oh, Matt, I was thinking bout…"

"What?"

"Well, getting Grace baptized. Maybe we can go talk to Reverend English and see if he will do it. Maybe Sunday?"

"Kit, did you have someone in mind to stand for her?"

"Well, Matt, that's where we have a problem. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings."

"Ah, Kit, I don't think that will happen."

As they entered Delmonico's, Joe greeted them. "Marshal, Miss Kitty."

Then Joe's wife came out from the kitchen. "Oh, Marshal, Miss Russell."

"Hello, Emma." Kitty looked at Matt and just slightly tilted her head. "Now is as good a time as any. "Emma, it's Dillon."

"Excuse me ?" Emma asked.

"My name is Dillon."

"Ohhhhh! Yes, Ma'am. By the way, I have something in the kitchen. Just a minute." She disappeared to return with a high chair. "Here, let's try this for the little one. It will make supper a bit easier."

"Why thank you, Emma."

"Oh we've had this here for a long time, since our son was a little one. Just haven't needed it."

The three sat having supper. Grace was making baby talk and every once in a while reaching over and taking something off Matt's plate. "Hey!" Then she'd giggle. "You are your momma's girl, aren't you?"

Then the three would laugh.

"Ya know, Matt, it is so nice to have Frank, Chester and Quint all in town. It's been so long since we've seen all our friends."

The following morning, Kitty walked to the Dodge City Church. "Good morning, Reverend English."

"Why, Miss Russell. Good morning. And who do we have here?"

"This is Grace, Reverend. I wanted to talk with you about having Grace baptized. I was hoping to do it on Sunday."
"Oh, well, Miss Russell…" He hesitated.

"Seems to me, when I'm here offering to fund your church, when it is in need, there is no problem with the fact that it is me. Reverend, I know what you're thinking. So let me back up here for a moment. First off, whatever you think of me personally, is one thing."

"Oh now, wait. I never…" He began in a huff.

"Please, Reverend, let me finish. Two years ago, I think you remember when Matt was shot in the back by Potter and we took him by train to Denver to see a spinal surgeon? G.L. Harrington?"

"Yes, yes, I remember that very well. Doc ended up operating on him on the train while it was held up by those bandits."
"That's right. Well, after we got him to Denver and he recuperated, Matt and I were married by a priest in Denver. It was a priest who had been on the train with us through the ordeal. You will be christening the child of Marshal and Mrs. Matthew Dillon. So there will be nothing for anyone to gossip about in your church and no shadow over your church. Now, I would like it if we could get back to the matter at hand."

"Ok, ok. We can do this on Sunday."

Kitty stood and nodded as she left.

As she left the church, Miss Pry, Mrs. Bart and several others were watching as she walked back down Front Street with Grace, talking and playing with her. The ladies were all whispering. Then one of them spotted Maggie coming from Sarah Carr's shop. Quickly they all surrounded her, badgering her with questions.

"Hello, we understand you came on the train with that Russell woman."

Maggie furrowed her brow and in her thick accent, said, "Yeah." Maggie now not sure why they said Russell woman.
"What else can you tell us? She's been away for some time but now she's back and with that little one."

"Well, ladies, I don't suppose that's the right word here, but I don't believe you should be asking me these questions. Miss Kitty's a lovely woman. You should talk to her. I'm sure she'll tell ya what she wants ya to know of her personal life, she will. Now, if'n you'll excuse me, I have some things to do for Miss Gracie. Good day!" Quickly she shuffled across the street.

Maggie made her way to the Long Branch, and she made a point to fill Kitty in on inquisition. "Oh, my my. Did they have lots of questions. You must be very important here, Miss Kitty."

Now laughing. "No, Maggie. Those old biddies just have nothing better to do."

Maggie put Grace down for a nap. Kitty had arranged for a lunch for all their friends. Sam set up a long table so they could fit them all. Joe and Emma sent over all the food.

Once they gathered around, Kitty stood. "Everyone, please. I have something I want to say, or ask. Ok. This Sunday, Matt and I are going to have Grace baptized. So, Maggie, we'd really like it if you'd agree to stand as Grace's godmother."
"Oh, Miss Kitty, Marshal. I'd be thrilled. I love her like she be one of me own."

"Now, this is one of the harder decisions. Picking a godfather. But we did. We were going to ask Doc here but as much as he loves Grace, he has said he prefers his position as spoiling Granpa. So that leaves Uncle Frank, Uncle Newly, Uncle Festus, Uncle Thad, Uncle Chester, Uncle Quint, and Uncle Sam. So after giving it some real hard thinking, I just decided that I just can't choose."

Sunday Morning

Everyone gathered at the church, even the curiosity seekers. No one was going to pass up the chance to see this and have more to gossip about. They couldn't believe the Reverend agreed to perform the ceremony.

Reverend English stood before Matt and Kitty while they held Grace. He began the prayer then he asked, "Who is standing for this child?"

At first, Maggie stood, walking up beside Kitty. "I do, Margaret McBride."

The next thing you saw was the entire front row stand and join them, saying, "We do. I do, Frank Readon. I do, Newly O'Brien, I do, Festus Haggen. I do, Thad Greenwood. I do, Chester Goode. I do, Quint Asper. I do, Sam Noonan."

Reverend English, now wide eyed, was speechless.

Kitty was biting her bottom lip, trying not to laugh. They continued with the christening.

Once finished, Kitty turned at face everyone in the church. "I have something I'd like to say, since we're all here. A lot has happened over the last year or so. My being taken by those awful Dog soldiers. That is something I'll never forget as long as I live. Then the Marshal being missing and presumed dead. And yes, I left Dodge. And yeah, I know now that some or most of you have put the pieces together and figured out why. But it's not the exact reason you think. Now, not that I owe anyone an explanation, but just to deflate this rumor bubble that's been floating around town, Grace Is our daughter. Yes, when I left town, I was with child."

Just then, you could hear everyone inhaling.

"I left town, not because I wanted to hide my child, but because there were just too many memories for me here to try and live without my husband and father of my child."

Now you could hear gasping, and several people repeating the word, "Husband?" In a questioning tone.
Scanning the room. "Yes." Now looking at the ol' biddies. "I said 'husband'. The Marshal and I have been married almost two years now. We were married In Denver, Colorado two years ago."

Just then Nathan Burke yelled out, "Wasn't that when you were shot in the back, Marshal?"

"Yeah, Burke."

"But why keep it a secret?"

Shaking their heads. "Oh, Burke, for the same reason we waited so long as it was…"

Then Matt said, "Look, Burke, that doesn't matter now."

Matt, guided Kitty down the aisle with his hand at the small of her back. "Come on, let's go home. I'm hungry and I'm sure Grace is too."

"Of course you two are. Like father like daughter."

Matt took Gracie from Kitty. "Yeah, your Poppa's gal, aren't ya?"

She giggled all the way down Front Street.

TBC