PT.17

His Heart Beating in Mine

Four Years Later

The morning before Grace's fifth birthday, Kitty was planning a big celebration. She had taken Grace to Sarah's and had a new dress made for her, even though Grace put up a big fuss. See Grace would have much preferred a pair of overhauls and boots, along with a cowboy hat. She was as far from the little dainty lady, Kitty would have liked her to be, as she could get, even though Kitty fought and tried on a daily basis. Most of the children, Grace played with, were all boys, which would explain why she felt this way.

Kitty was up early. As she entered the saloon she looked around. "Good morning, Sam. Have you seen Grace this morning?"

Why no, Miss Kitty."

"Well, I guess she followed Matt. That girl insists on being his shadow." Kitty turned and headed for Matt's office but met with Matt in the middle of Front Street. "Well now, good morning, Marshal. I was just headed your way to collect your little shadow."

"Huh?"

"Grace, Cowboy."

"Grace?" He repeated.

"Yeah. Your daughter?"

"I know who Grace is, but she's not with me."

"She's not?" Kitty said now looking concerned. "Matt, I thought she followed you over here. Oh, Cowboy…"

"Ok now, Kitty, don't panic. She's probably just playing with some of the kids. You know how she…"

"Matt, let's just look for her please."

Matt saw Burke and Mr. Jonas, asking them if they had seen Grace. Neither had. Suddenly, everyone was searching.

Then Doc, wondering what was going on, came down the stairs. "Kitty honey, what's wrong?"

"Oh, Curly. We can't find Grace."

"She was sitting out here early this morning, when I came back from the Harmon place, with a fishing pole. I asked her what she was doing up so early and she said she was going fishing."

"Fishing? With who?"
The next thing they heard was a whistling from down the street and giggling. Kitty turned and looked to see Grace and Festus. Festus was whistling a song and carrying fishing poles and Grace was walking along with him, giggling and holding cat fish tied together with rope and smiling from ear to ear.

"Uncle Festus, wait till Poppa sees these. Wait till I tell um I catched fish all by my own self!" Grace stopped in her tracks when she heard, "GRACE MARIA DILLON!" Her eyes grew big and she looked up at Festus. "UT OH! Momma sounds mad. Hi, Momma. Look what I catched! Catfish."

"It's caught and, young lady, we're going to have a talk!" Kitty was standing with both hands on her hips and jaws tight.
"Here, Gracie, I'a think I'll be takin' them there and cleanin' them up. You go on to yer momma."

Grace handed the fish to Festus, slumping her shoulders, then dropped her head, walking slowly towards Kitty.
Kitty looked at Festus. "You're not off the hook, Festus Haggen. I'll deal with you later."

As Grace came closer, Kitty grabbed her hand. "Now, as for you, young lady. Don't you ever go off like that without telling your poppa or me where you are going. Ever! Is that understood?"

Furrowing her little brow, just as Kitty did… "But, Momma, I was with Uncle Festus."

"Yes, but we didn't know that, did we? Something could have happened to you. UGH! You smell awful, Grace!"

"Oh, I fell in the creek. Uncle Festus had to fish me out. He says I was like a fish." Just then she started to giggle.

Kitty couldn't help but start to break a smile. "Oh, he did, did he? Well, let's get you cleaned up. Sarah Carr has your dress ready and she wants to make sure it fits."

"Awww, Momma, do I have to wear a dress?"

"YES! Grace Maria, you are a little girl. Remember that."

Kitty and Grace made their way to Sarah's. Kitty managed to get Grace into the beautiful yellow dress, Sarah had created just for Grace. When she stood in front of the mirror, she looked beautiful.

"Oh, Momma." with pouty lips, "Do I really need all these ruffles?"

Kitty just Looked at Sarah, shaking her head. "Grace, whatever am I going to do with you? Sarah, I am sorry."

Sarah just laughed. "Oh, Kitty, don't apologize. She's five. That will change in a few years. Wait till she starts noticing boys."

"Oh, Heavens. Please no. With her father and all the godfathers, I pity the boy. Grace, it's for your party and yes, you will wear a dress. Sarah, thank you. It is beautiful." Grace just pouted.

Once again, everyone gathered for Grace's fifth birthday. All her Godfathers came, as they did for all her birthday's. Kitty and Sam baked a huge cake. Bess and Will came in with all their children. The town seemed somewhat busy but, the Long Brach was closed for Grace's party. Most people understood.
Matt kept watching the door. This didn't go unnoticed by Kitty. While everyone was surrounding Grace, showering her with gifts, Kitty pulled him aside. "Ok, Cowboy. What is it?"

"Oh, nothing, Kit."

"Ut uh. You're watching that door for a reason. Spill!"

"Alright. There's a shipment of gold passing through Dodge but the U.S. Army is supposed to be traveling with it. I just wanted to make sure there's no trouble."

"Oh no, Matt. Not tonight. This Is Gracie's night. Doing that to me is one thing, but you can't do that to her. Please?"
"Kit, most likely nothing will happen."

"Matt!" Her jaws were getting tight as he opened the door looking down Front Street. He stood just outside on the boardwalk. He could see the soldiers. And just then, he heard, "Hey there, Marshal Big Fist! Been a long time!"

"Sargent Holly!"

"Me and Private Horse, here, oh and my men, were just on a mission to take this shipment of gold on to Fort Dodge and well, my men needed a rest stop. And well, Dodge City is as good as any place to stop. And, of course, it's my favorite place. After all the prettiest gal in Kansas is right here in Dodge."

"Look, Holly, the Long Brach is closed and Kitty isn't available. Not now, not ever. So why don't you take Private Horse and…" now waving his hands, "ride out of here before I find a reason to throw you in jail. Holly, get back on that train and get out of Dodge. I've had about enough of you."

Holly was smiling at Matt. "Gaining on ya, Big Fist, I am." Shaking his head.

Suddenly Kitty was behind Matt. "Cowboy, what is going on out here? Matt, Gracie is asking for you." Then she looked up. "Oh, no. Sargent Holly, I'm sorry but we're closed."

"Aww, now, Miss Kitty. Is that any way to treat an ol' friend?"

"Look, Sargent. I don't have the energy for this. Matt, please come back inside. For Grace? Please?"

Holly was now down off his horse.

"Holly…"

Kitty grabbed Matt's arm, trying to get him away from Holly. Then neither of them saw Grace standing there.

She looked at Holly. "GO AWAY! MY POPPA DOESN'T LIKE YOU!"

"Well, now, who are you, little lady?"

"I'M GRACIE MARIA DILLON!"

And as he bent down to look here eye to eye, he asked, "Is that so?"

She balled up her little fist and punched him. "YES! NOW GO AWAY!"

As she hit him, he lost his balance and fell back.

Kitty yelled out. "Grace! NO!" She grabbed her quickly.

Holly got up laughing. "Well now, I guess I've been set straight."

After the party, Matt and Kitty sat with Grace, explaining why she shouldn't have done that and why she couldn't go around doing things like that. Being with boys a lot she had gotten used to being a bit rough and fighting her own battles.

But as they figured over the years, things changed. She actually grew into a very graceful young lady, just as Kitty wanted her to be. Which now made Matt a bit more nervous. She now was catching the eye of many boys, much like her momma.

When she was older, she decided she wanted to go off to college. This, of course, was difficult for both Matt and Kitty having their baby girl leave home. But she reminded them that no matter where she was or where they were, "Their Hearts would always Beat in Hers!"

FINI