Author's note below.
The next morning rolled around at the sound of a rooster crowing somewhere off in the distance, giving his morning wake-up call to everyone around him. Matt yawned and stretched as he looked up at the ceiling for a few moments as his body was waking up, he then threw a shirt on and walked down to the end of the hallway to check on Kitty. He opened the door just a crack, he could see her hugging the pillow as she was sleeping on her stomach, like always. Her hair was a mess as it was about her shoulders and was spilling over onto her pillow as she was snuggled under the mountain of blankets she had made. That was one of her favorite things to do when the weather grew colder. He could only smile as he watched her sleeping for a few moments longer. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, yes there may have been a few women that might have come close, but they would never be Kitty and they could never hold his heart like she had held his. He blew her a kiss before quietly shutting the door.
He was starting to get the feeling that he was being watched, he chuckled when he turned around to see Lady sitting at the top of the stairs waiting for him. "Good morning girl." He said as he walked over to her and sat down on the steps, giving the dog the morning pets she longed for, as well as a good belly rub. Once he gave her a final pat on the side, Lady then looked at him and then to the door where Kitty was sleeping. He smiled, "Why don't we let her sleep a while longer." Lady let out a little huff in protest. "Believe me, she doesn't like to be woken up early." Lady gave him another look. "The girls aren't here to wake her, and I'd like to live another day." Lady huffed and whimpered once more, but Matt only shook his head as he started down the stairs, when she saw that she wasn't going to get what she wanted she followed Matt downstairs.
Matt yawned as he made his way over to the stove to make coffee, but Lady had other ideas as she paced back and forth, she even barked a time or two to let him know it was urgent business. Matt stopped what he was doing and looked over at her, "What?" He half smiled, knowing what the dog was wanting. Lady looked at him, then back at the door. Matt could have sworn if she was a human, she would be glaring at him the way Kitty did sometimes when he did something she didn't approve of. "Alright, alright I'm coming, just keep your fur on." But to Lady he was not moving fast enough, she started to stomp her paws a few times telling him to move faster. Matt only laughed as he reached for the door, he had been around animals long enough to know they had their own personalities, and Lady was no exception. The dog was crouched down waiting, and once the door opened, she was out like a bolt of lightning. With a heartfelt smile Matt went back to what was on his mind when he first walked downstairs, and that was coffee.
Matt realized Lady had been rather quiet outside for a long time, and that he hadn't seen her, and he was starting to get a little worried. So, he opened the kitchen window and could hear her, she was busy whimpering, softly barking, and would growl from time to time. "What in the Sam hill?" he stepped outside, and still couldn't see her. He even called for her, but she didn't respond, so he walked around the house to find Lady and a squirrel playing with each other. The little brown squirrel was up on the wooden fence six feet high, safely a way from Lady's reach. He was a happy little fella as he would flicker his tail this way and that, teasing the poor dog with delight. Matt chuckled as he watched the two play, they made a game of it. Lady would run one way as the squirrel would run the other, it was almost like they had a dance of some sort, or they were playing tag. Because every now and again the little guy would run down and let Lady chase him and touch him or vice versa. But they both knew the game was over when the squirrel started to gather some nuts and take them up into his tree. Matt just shook his head and scratched the back of his neck. "If I hadn't of seen it with my own eyes, I never would have believed it." But the animals acted like it was a normal everyday thing. He was still chuckling about it. As he saw Lady walking to him with a big old stick, that she dropped at his feet. He looked at her, "What do you want me to do with that?" She playfully growled at him, then looked behind her. "Oh, but what if I don't want to?" The dog walked over to him with her big puppy eyes and whimpered. "Okay, okay, you win." With that he bent down and took the stick in his hands and started to play with Lady.
The sounds of Matt's laughter and Lady's barking drifted up into Sarah's bedroom, and into Kitty's dreams as she slowly started to wake up from her slumber. She rolled over onto her back and let out a contented sigh as she was waking up. Matt's rich laughter was music to her ears; she couldn't wait to be waking up to that for the rest of her life. Her mind drifted to the thoughts of what could be, and all the possibilities of what is to come, danced in her mind, causing a smile to spread across her face as she thought about each individual thing. The girls growing up and having families of their own. The possibilities of having more children, maybe a ranch, Matt giving up his badge. Everything felt like a dream come true. She took a deep breath expecting the heavenly aroma of coffee but instead smelled like burnt coffee that had boiled dry. Her eyes flew open, and the tiredness that once was there was now gone. She sat up as she put her housecoat on, she grabbed her brush and made her way downstairs. She made her way into the kitchen as the coffee pot sounded it was finished. To her relief, the awful burnt smell was because some coffee had boiled over, rather than the whole coffee pot being wasted. She moved it to the counter as the sound of Matt's laughter and Lady's playful barking drifted inside again. With a smile on her face, Kitty made her way outside, even though she tried to be quiet, the screen door opened with its familiar creak, giving her away. She only waved to Matt when he looked at her. She made her way to the end of the porch and leaned against one of the pillars as she watched Matt play with the collie.
Matt let out a deep belly laugh as Lady was in search of her stick that had rolled over her back, but the pup kept looking between her legs for the stick. But once Lady saw the item she was in search of, she did a one-eighty and was racing after the stick. Matt smiled when he could hear Kitty's laughter coming from the porch. He looked up at her, he could see a spark of joy in her eyes and could see the pink in her cheeks. She had braided her hair from the mess it was earlier this morning when he was watching her sleeping. Matt took in her beauty the way the autumn morning sun was shining on her hair made it look like it was on fire, and her eyes were as blue as sapphires that he could have easily lost himself in. She had her arms crossed (but not in an angry or upset sort of way) but relaxed and enjoying herself. If He didn't see how beautiful she was before, he had to be completely blind. Because she was absolutely, stunning. Matt shook his head, no gorgeous was the right word. He sighed a little, why did it take him this long to realize that she had always been beautiful, he just never realized it until now. His smile never faded as he walked up to her and wrapped her up into his arms. "Well, good morning, my beautiful sunshine." He said as he bent down and kissed her on the forehead. "Good morning to you too Cowboy." She then looked up at him, "You almost let the coffee, burn and boil dry."
Matt looked down and cleared his throat. "Eh, sorry about that, but uh-hum that would have been…" he stopped for a moment as they could hear Lady coming up the steps with the stick in her mouth, "You see, it was her fault if that would have happened." Lady dropped the stick with a thud, and looked to the cowboy that just accused her, then she looked to Kitty as if to say. "Who me? I don't know anything or what you are talking about!" Kitty tossed her head back and laughed as she turned her attention back to Matt and kissed him on the cheek, "Lady is good at being an attention hog when the girls aren't around, and that just means she really likes you. But don't worry about the coffee, it was the fact that some had boiled onto the stove, making it smell like it was burnt. But that was it, rather the whole pot going to waist. I have it sitting on the counter now, so you better get some before it gets cold." Matt smiled as he leaned in to kiss Kitty, but before he could Lady interrupted by scratching and whimpering at the door. Kitty leaned back, "I think someone is hungry." Matt nodded, "She's not the only one." Kitty laughed, "Well, cowboy, she's not able to feed herself. But you on the other hand, are more than capable to make yourself breakfast." Matt opened his mouth but stopped as he leaned down to and whispered in her ear, "Touché Kit, touché." He then gave her the kiss that he was going to give her earlier before Lady interrupted.
Soon the house filled with the smells of stake, eggs, muffins, gravy, and other mouthwatering delights that filled the air. Lady watched Kitty's every move, as the woman was busy going to and fro about the kitchen. But being the good dog she was, she was more than content to stay next to the door, out from under foot and out of Kitty's way. Matt sat at the table with his cup of coffee watching Kitty, after he had helped set the table of course. Kitty was so busy with other things she didn't need to worry about the table too. He could see she was so busy and that she was lost in thought. "Is something on your mind, Kit?" She smiled at him once she put the biscuits in the oven, after taking the muffins out. She walked over to him. "Matt, did-did you say anything to Sarah about my fainting spell or about you being here?" He smiled as he took a hold of her hand and gently rubbed it. "Yes, I sent a note to her. I had Mrs. Matheson deliver it for me after she helped me take care of you. I just told Sarah that I was here in St. Louis. I just found out about the girls, and that we found out about the accidented that morning and that It had caused you to faint. I mentioned to her that if she heard from me that night," He paused for a moment then swallowed as he looked at her, "I said if she didn't hear from me that night all was well. But if not, I would ask her to bring the girls over to help wake you up." Kitty smiled as she looked into his pale blue eyes, "Oh Matt," she said as she ran her fingers through his hair. "That is the most chivalrous thing you have ever done." She said as she leaned down and kissed him. He could only smile. "What time did you ask her to bring the girls?" He shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, somewhere around ten or eleven."
Kitty smiled as she leaned back and laughed a little, "Thank you for doing that cowboy, But one thing, those little girls of yours, aren't going to wait that long to come home, that late." He looked over at her a little funny. "What do you mean by that?" She had a smile full of joy as she looked at him, "Oh, Matt, there is so much to learn. Those girlies will have had Sarah up at sunrise and will have been begging to come home as soon as possible." Kitty chuckled again as she could see that he was a little perplexed, "I think that get waking up so early from you. Because we all know they didn't get it from me." Matt only shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, you do have your moments." Kitty only laughed, "I'm only teasing cowboy. Bethany takes after me. Maddie takes after you, but enough about them waking up. I can't blame the girls for wanting to get home, after the trauma from the accident, they more than likely want to see me, and Lady." Matt could only nod. They both knew a thing or two about being in a few wrecks, and for children that can be even more traumatic.
Kitty went back to the stove. "If you want to Matt, you have ten minutes to make yourself ready before breakfast." Matt smiled as he looked up at Kitty, he then stood up and kissed her on her temple, before leaving the kitchen.
it didn't take him long to come back downstairs. He had both dolls in one hand and the picture frame, with the two pictures in the other hand. He set the three items down on the parlor table, where he arranged and rearrange them until he was happy with the way they looked, but he made sure it was something the girls were going to see, the moment they walked through the door. He would have to admit the thought made him feel more nervous and excited then he could ever remember in all his life.
Matt heard the oven door open and shut then he could hear Kitty say something like "Ouch! That's hot!" with a soft chuckle he made his way over there in a few quick strides, "Everything alright?" She looked up at him with a smile, "Oh, I touched the pan that's all. But everything is on the table and ready to eat." Matt only smiled as he caught her by the arm, she could see the smile that played upon his face, he had the look of the cat that ate the canary. With playful eyes, she looked up at him, "What are you up too?" Matt smiled as he wrapped her in his arms and looked at her with love in his eyes. "Well, my love I have two reasons why I'm smiling so. One is I put a clue in the parlor for the girls to find when they come home. And two is, I have the most beautiful woman wrapped up in my arms right now." He said as he leaned down and gave her a kiss. A tear filled her eyes as she glanced into the parlor and saw what he had done for the girls.
A slow smile spread across Kitty's face as she looked back up at him, she was falling in love with him all over again, he remembered what she had told him about her childhood dreams of her father coming home with her dolls. But the thought was always too childish or foolish for him and he was always too busy for her and her mother. Matt was much different than her father, he made her childhood dreams come true but was also fulfilling their daughters' dreams too. She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him, then she sniffed a little bit as they pulled away from each other. "Oh Matt, that is the most beautiful thing ever. The girls will love it! But most of all they have their daddy to hold them close and hug them. That will be what they care about and what matters most to them." Matt only smiled as he held her chair out for her. He then saw the twinkle in her eye as he looked down at her. "Now what are you smiling about?" She chuckled, "Well, cowboy since you did so well with the girls. What do you have planned for the proposal?" Matt looked at her and shook his head, as their laughter filled the house. "You just eat your breakfast." Kitty tossed her head back and laughed as she started to fill her plate with food.
Kitty was busy looking in the mirror as she put the last pin in her hair, and the sound of clip clop clip clop filled the air. Kitty smiled as she pulled back the lace curtain to see the horse and buggy coming up the lane. Kitty could see Sarah driving, and there beside her was Bethany and Maddie. Maddie's brown hair would bounce with each bump on the road. Kitty couldn't help but smile. As her Younes one's hair was a much curly and darker than her sister's, she had gotten that all from her daddy. Bethany had some curl; it was softer and looser like her mama. Kitty shook her head when she realized they were less than a block away. She happily sighed, as she let the curtain fall back into place and made her way downstairs. She cleared her throat when she saw Matt was half dozing on the couch. With a smile she leaned down and whispered in his ear.
"Matt, they are almost here!"
Kitty only chuckled as Matt quickly opened his eyes, the paper he was reading, he sat it on the seat next to him (more like tossed it). As he quickly walked to the closet underneath the stairs. Kitty watched as he folded himself in to the tight space. "Cowboy, are you going to fit in there?" Matt hummed and hawed for a moment, as he moved a few things around, then he nodded as he left the door open just a jar. Kitty smiled as she found a book to pick up and read, to act more natural. "Matt, breathe a little softer, I can hear you from out here." Kitty only smiled as she could hear Matt sigh. "Cowboy, the girls are just getting out of the buggy, if you move quickly, you can stand behind the curtain in the hallway and see everything." "But I-I, eh." Before Matt could say anything, Kitty pulled him out of the cramped spot and hid him in the hallway, before either of the girls could come racing up to the porch. Kitty smiled as she could barely hear anything from Matt, it was just then the sound of little footsteps could be heard.
Kitty set her book down and made her way to the door and she counted to three, more to calm herself than anything, before opening the door. But then she was greeted by hugs and kisses. "Mama!" the girls said as they squealed with delight once they saw their mother, Kitty knelt too the girls' level. "Oh, mama, we've missed you." Matt could see the two little girls cling tightly to Kitty. He bit his lip to keep from chuckling to loud. His heart was filling with love as he watched the interaction. He had seen the picture of the girls, but they were no longer just a picture, they were real and only a few feet away from him. He smiled as he saw one with red hair, she was the mirrored imagine of Kitty. Matt half chuckled, he was amazed, but not squired. As hoped that someday they would have a child that looked just like Kitty. It was then the littlest one caught his eye; he nodded his head as he could see from head to toe, she looked just like him from the dark brown hair and curls to her dimples. There was no denying it these where indeed his children.
Kitty sniffed as she held back the tears. "Oh, my sweethearts, I've missed you both so much." She then kissed each of them. "Me too, me too. I miss you too." Kitty leaned down and kissed Maddie again. "Yes, my sweet Maddie, I missed you." She wrapped Maddie up in her arms once again as she kissed the child on the temples. "I missed you more mama." Matt guessed this was Bethany that had said this, because the youngest one stomped her little foot, "No, I missed Mama, more!" Matt could only smile, he knew both little ladies had gotten their tempers from Kitty and the stubbornness was from both sides. He bit his lip again as he saw Kitty's stern look as she put her hands on her hips. "Excuse me young ladies, but that is not how we behave. Bethany, you do not egg your little sister on that way. You both know that I love you and that I have no favorites, understood?" Both little girls looked at each other than at their mama who was now standing. They could see she was patiently waiting for them. Bethany half sighed, "Yes, Ma'am. I'm sorry Maddie." The three-year-old nodded. Then looked at her mother, "Yes, Mama. I sorry." Kitty only smiled again as she watched them both hug each other in apology.
"Did you both have fun with auntie Sarah?" Maddie bobbed her head up and down, "We had Ice cream!" Kitty looked to her oldest, who nodded, "Uh-huh, she took us last night after dinner. She is still outside if you want to ask her." Kitty looked out and sure enough, Sarah was standing by the gate. She waved once she saw Kitty, she knew the girls where safe and sound. Sarah got back into the buggy and drove off. She knew this was going to be a private moment for Matt, Kitty, and the girls, so she didn't want to intrude. Kitty only smiled as she watched her friend fade off into the distance. "Well, I'm glad you girls had fun." Kitty gave each girl one more hug before she was ready to let them go. It was then she checked on their knees. The bruises were nothing but little black and blue spots no bigger than Kitty's thumb. They looked more like they had fallen then they had been in a wreck. But those spots would be gone in a few days' time, and it would be nothing but more than a memory after that. Kitty was more than thankful for that.
Kitty's mind wondered off into what might have or what could have been, that she had failed to hear the girls gasp when they found the dolls and the picture frame. She jumped a little when Bethany tapped her on the shoulder. "Mama, how did Amanda and Lucy get back home?" Bethany finally asked. "Yeah, Mama how did they?" Maddie repeated. Kitty smiled, "What, huh. Oh, I thought you were talking about Susan and Janine." Bethany sighed and rolled her eyes, "Mama! You know we sent the dolls with uncle Newly to Dodge to bring back Daddy ..." Bethany let the last of her words fade, she was piecing it together. But then her eyes opened wide as she looked at her mother, in fear. "Mama, tell me they didn't just get shipped back here alone." Bethany had a crossed look on her face. Matt bit his lip as he looked at his two daughters Bethany had a look that would match her mother's one day, and Maddie tried, but she was just too cute for words. He knew one day she would have it mastered. After all both girls came from the Dillon-Russell bloodlines. Kitty smiled as she knelt to the girls' level, "Well, what if I told you, they came by extra special delivery?" Bethany's face softened as did Maddie's. It was then they heard rings on the curtain rod move, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps.
Kitty could feel her heart beating in her chest as Matt came walking in. She watched as both girls looked at him and to the picture that sat on the table and back to him. He was the biggest man either of the girls had ever seen before, he filled the doorway and the hallway that he was standing in. Maddie was the first to say something as she kept looking at him and the picture. Then with a big smile on her face, she picked up her doll, tucked it under her arm, and ran to him, as fast as her little legs would carry her, shouting. "Daddy, daddy, daddy!"
Matt was a little taken back at first, but once he saw the child racing to him, he knelt to her level and scooped her up into his arms. To him, she was no bigger than the doll she was holding. She snuggled into him and looked up at him with her big blue eyes. "I luve you, daddy." Matt did not know what to think but only smiled as he held her close. "I love you too sugar." It was then he felt like his heart was going to burst with joy and overflow with love and then some.
Bethany looked up to her mother, "Is that really him?" Kitty smiled as she patted Bethany's back. "Yes, Hopie girl, it is." With that Bethany followed her sister and raced to her father. Matt held his arms opened again as he embraced both of his daughters. "Hello, sweetheart." Bethany only smiled as she tossed her arms around his neck. "Mama has told us so much about you and said you would come one day." Matt only smiled and nodded as he walked over to a chair and sat down with both girls sitting on his lap. "Well, I am here, and I am not going anywhere any time soon. Your mama has told me about you too." Bethany then sat up and looked at him, "Why didn't you come sooner?" Matt sighed as he looked to Kitty, as they both shared a look, that was a hard question to answer. "Well, there is a lot to that sugar, making it more complicated to answer." Bethany only nodded as many more questions kept filling her mind. But she leaned into her daddy nevertheless, he was here and that was all that mattered right now. The rest would just have to wait.
The girls were overjoyed to have their father with them, he was no longer someone of stories of someone in a picture frame. But someone that was real that they could touch, and that he was holding them in his arms, saying "I love you." but most of all he brought back the dolls.
They spent most of the day getting to know one another, they were in the library. Maddie was sitting on Matt's lap as Bethany sat between her parents. Kitty was busy reading 'Pilgrim's Progress." Out allowed, Bethany loved having her daddy close, but being the oldest she had so many questions that she wanted answers to. She was happy to feel safe in his arms, she loved the way he and mama looked at each other. It always made her smile; she could see that his laughter would put a twinkle in mama's eye. There was no doubt that her daddy was a very handsome man. There was no denying that Mama and Daddy really loved each other and that made Bethany very happy. But those questions still filled her mind. She knew they would just have to wait for another time to be asked, as she leaned up against her daddy and listened to her mother read.
Kitty smiled as she looked over from the book. Maddie was asleep on Matt's chest, and Bethany was half asleep next to him. She closed her book and whispered, "Matt, I think it's time to put the girls to bed." She could only smile as she could see that he was afraid to move, with the child asleep on him.
"Bethany honey, it's bedtime." The child let out a moan in protest not wanting to be moved. "I want daddy to carry me." Matt was a little shocked, but still scared to move with Maddie asleep on his chest. Kitty only smiled as she scooped up Maddie. The small child never made a sound, as she only snuggled into her mother's shoulders. Matt blinked a few times. "H-how did you do that?"
Kitty only laughed, "Practice, lots of practice." She winked at him as he turned and picked up Bethany. "Come here, sweetie." Bethany made no fuss as she snuggled into her father, she was so tuckered out from the long day. Matt followed Kitty up to the girls' room. The girls were in awe of their father being there and they hadn't shown him their room yet. But there would be plenty of time for that.
Matt stood in awe as he watched Kitty take care of their daughters, and even of Maddie who was still sound asleep. They both gave them kisses goodnight before wandering back downstairs.
They walked back to the library, where the fire was burning bright, as they sat back down next to each other. Kitty looked up at her cowboy and could see a few tears rolling down his cheeks. She turned to him and gently wiped them away. Matt smiled at her as she did so. "Thank you, Kitty." She looked at him a little perplexed. "For what Matt?"
"For showing me how wrong I have been all these years, and how stubborn I have been. I've missed out on so much." Kitty gasped a little as she felt tears starting to form in her own eyes. "Matt, you know I'm just as stubborn too. But I never wanted to hold this over you or in trap you into marrying me." Matt only nodded. "I know. They are the most beautiful little girls I have ever seen." Kitty only smiled, "Maddie sure took a shine to you." Matt only smiled as he thought about this morning as the child came running to him. "Yeah, I can say the feeling was mutual." Kitty smiled as she snuggled up into Matt's arms. "I could see that. She has you, wrapped around her little finger and then some." Matt only smiled as Kitty continued, "I don't understand with Bethany though, she was all over Newly when he was here. The thought of him being out of her sight was the unthinkable, and when he left, it about broke their little hearts. More Bethany than Maddie." Matt took a deep breath, that was a hard pill to swallow. He gently rubbed Kitty's arm. "Well, Kit, you raised her to be a young lady, and she has been through so much. Just give her time. I didn't expect her to come to her just like Maddie did. She is older and has more questions. Just give her time." Kitty sighed as she thought about her own life when she was Bethany's age. She had lost her mother; causing her life to be turned upside down. Here Bethany was meeting her father whom she had never known. She let out a sigh. "Your right Matt." It was then he let out a chuckle. "What is so funny?"
"The glares the girls gave you when they asked about the dolls, I just about lost it. Bethany just about matches you. and Maddie was just too cute." Kitty smiled, "Well just you wait cowboy, that glare as you call it. Is how Bethany started out being all cute, you see where she is now." Kitty saw a sly smile creep along Matt's face. "Oh, is that how you started out all cute?"
"Matt!" She said as she playfully slapped him. "Ouch!" He laughed, "That's going to leave a mark, it's already turning red."
"You deserved it." Matt only smiled as he kissed her. "Yeah, I had that one coming.
Kitty only nodded as she settled next to him once again, "Matt, I'm sorry I should have just told you about…" Matt stopped her from what she was going to say next. "Kitty, there is no need to dwell on what is the past. We must only focus on the present for that is the time that God has given us. There are many things I would change if I could. One would be…" He stopped for a moment as he thought about the words to say. "I would have married you the first time we went on a date. Over making you wait so long." Kitty looked up at him and blinked a few times. She could see that he has regret in his voice. "Oh, Matt." He only held her a little tighter. "I thought big marshals wanted nothing to do with wives and children." "Okay, okay. I was wrong." He said as he kissed her once more, It was then they heard small feet running upstairs back to the girls' bedroom.
Kitty looked over to Matt, knowing more than likely that it was Bethany who overheard them talking. They both sighed in unison, "Looks like we have an eavesdropper, that we need to talk to." Matt nodded his head, "Do you want me to go up and talk to her?" Kitty placed her hand on his arm as he started to get up. "Cowboy, hold your horses, I'll go check on our little eavesdropper because if Maddie hears you in the room she'll wake up and you'll never get out of there." Matt only smiled as Kitty gave him a peck on the cheek before leaving the room.
Kitty could hear the scurrying of footsteps as she walked up the stairs and the sound of a door closing. She half smiled with an eyebrow raised as she could hear the child getting back into her bed. Kitty waited a moment then opened the door to see Bethany shut her eyes tight as she pretended to be sleeping. Lady looked up from the foot of the child's bed. The dog looked from the mother to the child. Kitty only gestured to the dog to stay. She then walked over to Bethany and let her hand hover over Bethany's nose to feel her breathing. But she was not convinced that the child was sleeping. So, Kitty walked back to the door and shut it as she stayed in the shadows. Once Bethany heard the door shut, she sat up and sniffed as she hugged the dog. Kitty walked over to her oldest daughter's bed. "I knew you weren't sleeping." She whispered as she looked at her daughter. Kitty could see Bethany was in shock that her mother had caught her.
"But-but mama how did you?" Kitty only smiled as she gently shut Bethany's open mouth.
"It's something God gave me, it's called a mother's intrusion." Kitty could see the little girl give her a funny look for a moment. She only smiled as she looked at the child, "Are you okay?" Bethany blinked a few times then shook her head back and forth, "Do you want to come downstairs and talk about it?"
The child sniffed and shook her head again. "Was it because you overheard daddy and me talking?"
"Huh-uh." Kitty opened her arms to the child, "Well, honey I was just teasing your daddy. But before your sister wakes up in the morning, the three of us will have a talk about it. Alright?" Bethany nodded as hugged her mama once more before she snuggled under the covers once again. Kitty looked at her again. "I want you to know, your daddy and I love you to the moon and back. There is nothing that can change any of that. Okay."
Bethany nodded as she took a hold of her doll and went to sleep.
Kitty looked at Lady, as she walked past her. "Lady, you, guard them well and keep them safe as you can."
Lady looked up at her and gave her a lick before Kitty moved over to Maddie and gave her a gentle kiss before leaving the room.
As soon as the door latched, Kitty could feel Matt's hand come around her waist, drawing her to him. "Is-is she alright?" She smiled up at him, as she turned around in his arms. "Bethany will be fine. I told her, that we would talk to her in the morning." It was then Kitty realized how close they were to each other; she took a step back. Then she smiled, at Matt who was scratching his neck. "Matt, we cannot keep going on like this forever. It is hard enough as it is not to let the hugging and kissing lead to more." Matt only nodded as they made their way back downstairs. "Well, I could go get the preacher now if you'd like."
"Oh you!" She playfully tapped his shoulder, as he laughed. "You know, I am kidding. But how soon would you like to marry?"
"Well, I guess...About two weeks from the time you ask me." Kitty smiled, as she looked at him. Matt half sighed, "Two weeks huh, do you think we can hold out for that long?"
"Ha! You'll be sleeping downstairs by that time anyways. because Sarah will be back here by then. We also have invitations we need to send out to people."
Matt blinked. "Wait, who all are we inviting to our wedding?"
"Well cowboy you haven't asked me yet, So I guess we won't know until then."
He sighed, half in laughter and half in frustration as he rubbed his forehead. Kitty smiled with a twinkle in her eye, "Have I told you lately, how much I love you, Matt."
Matt then looked up to the heavens, as he rubbed his fingers through his hair. "Lord, why did you have to make women so complicated?" Kitty tossed her head back as she looked at him, "Well, we could say the same about you, you know. I mean after all; God did make Eve from Adam's rib." Matt bit his lip to keep from saying anything more.
"Wise choice cowboy."
He only smiled as he looked at her. Her eyes drew him in, how he longed to draw her into his arms and keep her there. But she only stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek, "I think I'm going to bed; I will see you in the morning, cowboy."
He laughed, "Not if I see you first."
Kitty looked back at him, "Now that's a scary thought if I ever heard of one."
Matt only chuckled as he made his way back downstairs.
The whole house was quiet and still, the only sound that could be heard was the fire that popped and crackled. He pondered on everything that happened today. Meeting his girls, and everything that Kitty told him the day before.
Matt smiled as he thought about how he was going to ask Kitty to marry him. He knew there was no getting around that, but he was sure she would love the idea he had planned. His ears perked up a little when he thought he heard a door close. He could not have stayed up that late, he looked over at the clock. It was only eleven. It was then he could hear a child crying. He quickly ran up the stairs taking them by two, it was there he found Maddie. She was looking all over for him, "Daddy!" She would cry.
When she saw him standing in the hallway, she ran to him with her doll tucked tightly under her right arm. Matt could see the child dressed in her cotton nightgown, and braided hair. He scooped her up into his arms and wiped away her tears. "What's wrong Maddie?" The little girl was still sobbing with crocodile tears streaming down her face. Matt let her cry on his shoulder, she would hiccup every now and again as she tried to talk. "I-I had a bad dreem."
Matt felt upset, not at Maddie, but at the fact that he could not keep her from having a nightmare. If he could have jumped into the dream, he would have rounded up all the outlaws and put them in jail, and thrown away the key, never to be found again. He held her close and tight letting her know she was safe. "You're safe now sugar. Daddy's got ya." Maddie sniffed a few times as she snuggled into him some more.
"De horse ran away when the doggie barked." Matt sighed as he looked at his little girl, who was curled up in his lap as they sat outside the girls' room. "Yeah, that was really scary, huh?"
Maddie only nodded her head as she played with the buttons on her daddy's shirt. Matt smiled at her, "What do you say we go downstairs, and have some warm milk to help us go back to sleep?" The little girl looked up at her daddy and vigorously nodded.
Matt stood up and kept the child close to his heart, as he carried her downstairs.
Kitty had heard a child crying; she was in the middle of tying her robe when she could hear Matt talking to Maddie. She smiled at the sight of the two of them, she always knew Matt would be a good father. This was the proof right in front of her. Soon the what ifs started to fill her mind, but she would not let them in. She only smiled as she watched them disappear down the stairs. Kitty then checked on Bethany who was still sound asleep. She then sneaked downstairs to see Maddie sitting on one of the kitchen stools while Matt warmed up some milk. He was singing to her in his handsome deep voice. That Kitty loved so much.
The sound of "Get Along Little Dogies" filled the air, as Matt sang to the child. The milk was done but he waited for it to cool before it was ready for her. But once it was ready Matt gave her a coffee cup and took a hold of her hand as they walked to the library. Maddie was so careful in not spilling anything, she might have missed a drop or two, but for a child her age she did very well. Matt was quite in pressed. Kitty could only smile as she watched all of this unfold, she stayed in the shadows. It was too precious of a sight to leave.
Matt took the child's drink and set it on the coffee table then turned to her.
"Well, Maddie what book would you, like me to read to you?"
Maddie walked over to the bookshelves and looked for a moment then found her favorite, "Here Daddy," She said as she picked up the book. Her hands were quite full, with the doll in her hands, for she never let go of it since this morning. "Dis one is the one I want you to read to me." Matt smiled as Maddie crawled onto his lap, with some help. Once she was settled, he made sure she could reach her milk, then he looked at the book title. "Black Beauty, huh? It must be a new one. I have never heard of it." Maddie pulled back and looked up at her father and blinked a few times. "Daddy, you have never heard of Black Booty?" Matt chuckled, "Well, sweetie let's just say where I live, there is a shorter supply of books." Maddie's eyes widened, "You mean there is no books!" "Well, there is. It's just there are a lot of other things that need to be taken care of... Hey young lady, I thought I was going to be reading to you." Maddie giggled as she snuggled into her daddy again.
As Matt began to read, those big eyes of Maddie's soon began to drift off to sleep, and once she was asleep Matt could only smile. He looked up at the clock again it was only half past. He felt like a fool that he had wanted to pass up this for the life of a lawman. He knew he had to give that up as soon as he got back to Dodge. He heard the floor creak and he chuckled; he knew Kitty had been checking up on him. But he did not mind.
As Kitty snuck back upstairs, she knew Matt had heard the floor creak, but she did not mind. Everything she saw him do tonight, proved everything she had already known about him, making her fall deeper in love with him than ever before. At this moment she did not need a proposal, she was ready to go fetch preacher Webber herself.
TBC
Outa, I think this is the longest chapter yet…But I could be wrong. I hope ya'll enjoyed it. I know there are a few places where I could have made it shorter or cut it into a few other chapters, but I just realized it was better to keep it all one chapter that do that. I just had a crazy month so sorry this has taken me so long to get this out to ya'll. But hopefully, this is worth the wait. And a reminder where I come from guest are kind and pleasant. If your comments are not that way, they will be DELETED!