The Winds of Change
By
AZgirl66
Chapter 3- New Friends
A/N: I'm publishing this chapter tonight because it's a companion piece to chapter 2.
"Grandpa, whadd'ya mean she looks diff'rent?" Adam asked his beloved grandfather while he sat at the man's feet in the sitting room.
Doc and Kitty had gathered the children for an after-supper chat about Bonnie Ritter, figuring it was better to prepare them for the fact that the child was a little different, rather than have the children seem shocked upon meeting the little girl.
"Just that, Adam," Doc answered the six-year-old as honestly as possible, "Her face looks a little different from yours and her voice is deeper and sounds, well, non-emotional. But make no mistake," the gray-haired, wise man informed all the children gathered at his feet, "she has emotions and feelings. That's why it's very important that you be kind and attempt to include her in as many activities as you can while she's a guest in our home."
"Can she play on the swings?" Ezra asked, crawling onto Doc's lap.
"I would think so, Son. But just ask her," Doc pushed the boy's curly hair to the side as he studied the child's soft, blue eyes.
"Can Bonnie play games?" Addie asked, folding her hands in her lap while sitting cross-legged on the cozy, woven rug.
"I'm sure she can play some simple games, Sweetie," Kitty answered, holding Scarlett upon her lap while sitting in her overstuffed chair, "The most important thing is to include her in as many activities as you can. And if she doesn't want to do something, don't force her."
"We wouldn't be mean, Mama. Are you worried about that?" Matthew asked, approaching Kitty's side. He leaned over, bracing his hands against the puffy arm of her chair.
"No, Matthew," she smiled as she covered his hand with hers, "I know you would never be mean. I just want you to be aware that Bonnie is a little different is all."
"Your mother is correct. For now, I think that's all we need t' say on the subject," Doc tugged on his ear, "Hey, I've got an idea! Who wants t' hear about when there was a drought in Dodge City and your Daddy hired a rainmaker?"
Kitty rolled her eyes as all the children began to shout, "Me! Me!" She smirked as she deposited Scarlett onto her grandpa's lap and made her way onto the expansive porch, hoping to steal a private moment with her husband before the start of the bedtime routine.
She sighed, slowly lowering herself onto the white wicker porch swing, gently rubbing her protruding belly. She whispered, "Well, little one, there's no hiding you anymore. It's obvious to everyone another Dillon is one the way."
"Very true, Mrs. Dillon," Matt stated, startling his wife as he quickly approached the porch.
"Oh, Matt, I didn't see you there," Kitty reflexively placed her hand upon her chest.
"I can see that. Mind if I join you?" he smiled, making his way up the porch steps, stopping in front of the swing. He wiped the sweat from his brow, using his bandana.
"Please do, Cowboy," she patted the spot right next to her on the swing, "We don't get too many private moments these days."
"Especially outside the bedroom," Matt playfully snickered, kissing Kitty's cheek while he wrapped one arm around her shoulders. His tone sobered, "Hey, I was thinking. Addie's birthday's coming up in a couple weeks and she's the first one t' have a birthday at the new ranch. You got her special morning planned?"
Kitty snuggled her head into his chest, "You give me far too much credit, Matt. I have an idea of what I want t' do, but first I need t' get past our get-together with the Ritters this weekend. I can pretty much only plan one thing at a time these days."
Matt traced small circles on her upper arm, resting his chin atop her head, "Kitty, I can't tell you how happy Elsa Ritter looked when I extended your invitation to her family. I have a feeling they haven't been t' too many social gatherings since Bonnie came along."
"I'm glad she's excited, Matt. It's hard t' move someplace where ya don't know anyone other than your family."
"Mama!" the shout came from an open window, "Grandpa says we can't bother you and Daddy out there, but we gots some rainmaker questions," Adam implored.
"These few minutes were lovely, Matt, but duty calls," Kitty chuckled. She placed a sweet kiss upon her husband's lips before he assisted her off the swing. They slowly headed for the front door; their arms comfortably wrapped around each other's waists.
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It was a beautiful autumn day for hosting new friends at the Legacy D, the mouth-watering aroma of a roasting pig on a spit filling the air. Moose and Festus had challenged Jeb and Ben Ritter to a best two out of three horseshoe contest, their friendly banter becoming the perfect background music for the children's laughter as they ran and played all over the yard.
"Matt, I can't tell you how much Elsa looked forward to this afternoon," the tall, well-built, middle-aged Josiah Ritter said, "She didn't have a lot of friends by the time we left Chicago," the man slowly turned the nearly fully-cooked pig on the spit.
"Glad t' hear it. Kitty really enjoyed meeting Elsa last week, and she wanted t' make sure your family felt welcome here in Dodge City," Matt sincerely stated, throwing a couple more logs into the fire pit. He glanced at Mutt, who stiffly sat like a soldier, staring at the rotating pig, "Don't even think about it, Dog."
"Dodge is very different from Chicago," Josiah sighed, "In a good way, that is. People seem…friendlier," he searched Matt's sympathetic eyes.
"They can be," Matt nodded, "People mind their own business, for the most part," he decided to change the subject, "You gonna continue t' live above the shop?"
"Heck no," the man replied, "it's far too small for a family our size. I'm looking for a spread t' buy not too far outta town. Jeb's engaged, and his intended will be joinin' us here in a few weeks. I figure she should be able t' get a room at the boarding house till they get hitched. We'll definitely need t' be settled somewhere bigger by then," Josiah wiped his brow.
Matt grinned, wondering if Kitty would be in favor of the Ritters renting the Triple D. The Dillons had decided to keep their former home and land, figuring seven children wouldn't be able to have their families share just one property. Of course, Matt and Kitty surmised that when their daughters married, they would more than likely leave the Dillon property, but the opportunity to claim their fair share would always be an option.
"I might know a place," Matt offered, "I just need t' talk to Kitty first."
"That'd be great, Matt. Just let me know," the man poked a large knife into the moist flesh of the swine, "This'll be ready pretty darn quick. We'll be eatin' within the hour," he tossed a chunk of tender pork to the obedient dog.
The early supper had been seamlessly prepared. Kitty, Elsa, and Abelia had served a cornucopia of side dishes along with the tender, roasted pork. The large group of family and new friends also had feasted upon corn on the cob, potato salad, baked beans, and rolls, along with freshly baked apple pie and vanilla ice cream for dessert. Buck Lacey had happily volunteered to assist the children in making the ice cream. He'd been amused by how excited the children had been to take their turns at the crank.
As the Ritter men loaded their supplies into their wagon, Elsa held tightly onto Bonnie's hand while standing next to her hostess. She hugged Kitty, whispering in her ear, "Thank you so much, Kitty. I've never seen Bonnie so happy."
When their embrace ended, Kitty gazed into her new friend's teary, brown eyes and replied, "You're so welcome, Elsa. It was our pleasure."
"I hope you realize how truly wonderful your whole family is. Festus, Abelia, and Moose are all so kind. Doc is caring-I can see he just adores all of you so much. Your children are so well behaved and they treated Bonnie like," the woman blinked back her unshed tears, "like a normal little girl."
"I am a lucky woman, Elsa. I certainly know that," Kitty subconsciously placed one hand upon her small baby bump as she offered a smile to a patient Bonnie.
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Kitty approached her side of the bed, applying her lightly scented lavender cream onto her elbows. Matt studied a small stack of orders and invoices, comparing them side-by-side on the quilt in front of him.
"Matt," Kitty began as she pulled down the quilt on her side of the bed, "do you think the Ritters would want to rent the Triple D property? Elsa told me they wanted t' buy something," she tucked her legs under her body as she gazed at her husband.
"Well," Matt bit the inside of his cheek as he continued to peruse his paperwork, "if they don't want t' rent it, I suppose they can find a spread t' buy," he collected his papers and placed them on his side table, "I just thought it might be an option for them is all. And I won't sell, Honey. I want the children t' have some options when they're grown," he leaned against their big, brass headboard, removing his reading glasses.
"I understand," she cuddled into his chest, "I'm so pleased with how today went. Our children certainly did us proud."
"They sure did. Did you see how sweet Adam was with Bonnie? He was so patient."
"He's his father's son," Kitty blessed her husband's cheek with a soft kiss.
"Aww, shucks, Ma'am," he crooked his finger under her chin, drinking in her happy expression.
"Did Festus tell you Matthew had a chat with him?" Kitty asked, resuming her position against her husband's chest.
"Yeah. Said something about Matthew thinking he may want t' move back in with his brothers. But why didn't he tell us?"
"Oh, Matt," she tilted her head to study his expression, "his father is Matt Dillon, famous tamer of the wild west. I'm sure he's mortified to tell us he's scared to be in his own room."
"We can't waste a bedroom, Honey."
"We won't waste it. We can make it a playroom for a while. Then if this new baby is a boy, we can put Ezra and the baby in there, once the baby's old enough." Kitty smiled, her nose crinkling as she caressed Matt's cheek.
"Not that you've thought about it or anything," Matt teased, tenderly kissing her perfectly plumped lips.
"I'm a mother…I have contingencies for everything. Besides, that will put an end to Scarlett's midnight rides on that rocking horse. Who'd a thought we live with a mini version of Paul Revere?"
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"Listen up, Dillons," Matt addressed his miniature ranch hands as they were beginning their breakfast, "Before you head out to start your chores, your mama, grandpa and I just wanted t' let you know that we're very proud of how you behaved yesterday."
"We sure are," Doc commented, serving scrambled eggs to Ezra and Scarlett, "You all were polite, you helped clean up, and you did the dishes."
"And you all was as kind as could be t' that sweet li'l gal, Bonnie," Festus added as he entered the kitchen through the side door. He poured himself a cup of coffee, nodding good morning to Kitty.
All the children beamed with pride as they passed around the platters of eggs, toast, and sausage. A chorus of staggered, "Thank you"s filled the room.
"I think Bonnie liked the goats the best," Adam offered as he chewed his over-buttered toast.
"Adam, please don't talk with food in your mouth," Kitty gently admonished as she bounced Maggie on her lap.
"I think she liked the paper dolls the best," Addie countered, "She was very careful with them, too."
"Me like da paypa dolls," Scarlett held her fork above her head, eggs slipping from the tines onto the kitchen floor.
"You were a good girl, too, Scarlett," Addie patted her sister on the shoulder as she passed her on her way to the kitchen to retrieve more milk.
"Matthew, I was wondering," Kitty focused her attention on her oldest son, "would you be terribly upset if we moved you back in with your brothers? Daddy and I were talking and we realized we'd forgotten to keep a room available as a playroom."
Silence blanketed the room as everyone waited for Matthew to respond.
"Addie could move in with Scarlett and Maggie, Mama," Ezra proclaimed.
"I don't want t' move back in-"
"Wait," Matthew interrupted his sister, "Addie doesn't have t' move. I'll do it," he slyly grinned at his Uncle Festus.
"But I don't wanna give up my top bunk!" Adam protested, standing next to the table.
"You don't have to give up your bunk, Son," Matt comforted, pulling Adam to his side, "We can just put Matthew's bed against the opposite wall, just like Ezra's used t' be."
"Okay," Adam beamed, "I'm glad you'll be back with us, Matthew. Storytime will be just like b'fore."
Matt and Kitty exchanged secretive appreciative glances with Festus.
"Okay, Cowpokes," Festus ordered, a huge smile lighting up his face, "Time t' git t' work! Animals don't feed 'n milk theyselves, ya know."
TBC