Chapter 1

The Dillon Home

It was early evening and the Dillons had just finished dinner. The kitchen had been cleaned, and all three Dillons were sitting in the parlor. Matt was sitting in his overstuffed chair reading the Dodge City Gazette, Ruby was on the floor playing with her farm animal set, and Kitty was sitting at the rolled top desk writing in Ruby's memory book. Things had been so busy, that she had gotten a little behind. Kitty was currently writing about Ruby's fifth birthday. Kitty liked to write about each of Ruby's birthdays.

Ruby stopped playing with her animals and looked to see what her momma was doing. She could see that her momma was writing in a book. Curiosity getting the best of her, Ruby walked over to her momma so she could further investigate. Reaching the desk, Ruby could see that her momma was writing in her "rememory" book. A huge smile spread across Ruby's face.

"Momma, are you writing Ruby stories in my rememory book?" Ruby inquired.

Kitty put her pen down and looked over at her daughter. "I sure am. Right now I'm writing about your fifth birthday."

"Can we read some of the stories when you're done?" Ruby asked, hoping for a yes.

"I'm sorry sweetie, but not tonight," Kitty replied. "I'm still writing and it will be too late by the time I finish. Maybe some other night."

Ruby was always good about accepting no for an answer. "Pinkie swear?" She held up her little pinkie to her momma.

'Festus,' Kitty thought to herself. She hooked her pinkie with Ruby's pinkie. "Pinkie swear."

Satisfied with the pinkie swear promise, Ruby walked back over to her animal set. She played with them for several minutes, before getting bored with them. Ruby knew the rule was she had to put away the toy she was playing with before she played with another toy, so she put her farm animals in the box they belonged in. With the animals in the box, Ruby put them in her toy chest. But instead of getting another toy to play with, Ruby had another idea. She walked over to the couch, climbed on it, and stood on the center of the cushion.

"Daddy," Ruby called, getting Matt's attention.

Matt put down the newspaper and saw his daughter standing on the couch. "Excuse me, Miss Dillon. You need ta get down. You know your momma 'n I don't want you standing on the furniture."

Kitty stopped writing and looked to see what was going on. Like Matt, she too was not pleased to see Ruby standing on the couch. "Ruby, your daddy's right. You need to get down."

"I need daddy ta come here first," said Ruby.

Matt put the newspaper down and walked over to his daughter. "Alright, I'm here. Now you need ta get down."

"I will, but first put your arms like this and don't move them," Ruby instructed, putting her arms up and out. Matt arranged his arms as his daughter told him. "Now come closer to the couch." Matt took a couple steps closer. The next thing he knew Ruby had herself wrapped around him. She was trying to climb up on his shoulders.

"What are you doing?" Matt tried to ask, but found it difficult when Ruby's dress was getting in his mouth.

"I'm pretending you're a tree," Ruby answered as she continued to make her way on her daddy's shoulders.

From her seat, Kitty was witnessing the hilarious scene. She didn't even try to stop her laughter. Kitty knew right then and there that this would go into Ruby's memory book. She had finished writing about Ruby's fifth birthday and wrote down the date and title of the "tree climbing" event. Kitty would write the story some other time. Right now she wanted to join her family. Kitty walked over to Matt and Ruby.

"I did it!" Ruby exclaimed as she managed to sit on her daddy's shoulders. "Can we plant a big tree, so I can climb that?"

"Trees aren't big enough to climb when you plant them. You have to wait for them to grow," Kitty explained. "Let's get you down and ready for bed." Kitty was about to lift Ruby off of Matt's shoulders.

"I can climb down," said Ruby. She managed to climb down. "Thanks for being a tree, daddy."

"I'm glad I could be of service," said Matt.

Matt and Kitty helped Ruby get ready for bed. When the final part of Ruby's bedtime routine was complete, the reading of a story, Matt and Kitty kissed their daughter goodnight. Telling Ruby they loved her, Matt and Kitty left Ruby's bedroom, quietly closing the door behind them. They walked back out to the parlor room and snuggled together on the couch.

"You are such a good daddy," Kitty told Matt as she played with one of the buttons on his shirt. "I don't know too many men that would be trees for their little girls. Of course it does help that Ruby has a big strong daddy."

Matt softly chuckled. "I have to admit that I had no idea that's what she had in mind when she asked me to come over to the couch. She has quite the imagination."

"I plan on writing about it in Ruby's memory book," said Kitty.

"It sure is something to remember," Matt responded.

"Speaking of imagination," said Kitty. "Maybe we should go to our room and use our own imagination."

"Honey, we don't need to use our imagination," Matt said in his low, husky voice. "We have the real thing."

Kitty gave Matt the smile that belonged to only him. The two of them rose from the couch and started walking to their bedroom. They stopped at Ruby's room first to make sure she was asleep. Confident that Ruby was fast asleep, Matt and Kitty went to their room. Closing the door behind them, they wasted no time stripping off their clothing and getting into bed. Most times they started out with some foreplay. But not this time. This time they went straight to lovemaking. Their lovemaking didn't happen only one time that evening. However, the second time there was some foreplay.

The next morning the Dillon family was enjoying a breakfast of sausage gravy and biscuits. Throughout breakfast Matt and Kitty would steal glances at each other and smile. Ruby was oblivious to what was going on between her parents. She noticed her empty glass.

"May I please have some more milk," she asked.

"Sure, sweetie," said Kitty. She filled Ruby's glass half way with milk.

"What do you ladies have planned today?" asked Matt.

"Ruby and I are going to the Ronigers," Kitty replied. "Ruby's gonna play with Rosie and Mary, while Bess and I visit. It's been a while since we've had a chance to talk."

"What time do you plan on leaving?" Matt asked.

"Later this morning," Kitty answered. "The plan is to let the kids play while Bess and I visit and then we're gonna have a picnic. We'll come home after the picnic."

"It sounds like the two of you are going to have a swell time," said Matt as he finished his breakfast.

"Oh we will," Kitty responded.

"Oh we will," Ruby mimicked her momma.

"Will you be home in time for supper?" Kitty asked Matt. She was cleaning Ruby up.

"I can't make any guarantees, but I plan on it," Matt answered. "I do need to get going." He gave his girls a kiss goodbye and left.

"Is it time to go?" Ruby asked shortly after her daddy left.

"No, it's too early," Kitty replied. "But to make the time go faster, we'll make blueberry muffins for the picnic."

"Oh boy!" Ruby excitedly exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

Kitty and Ruby mixed together the batter for blueberry muffins. After pouring the batter into the muffin tins, Kitty put them in the oven to bake. While the muffins were baking, Kitty tidied up around the house. Ruby helped. When they were done, the muffins were ready to come out of the oven. While the muffins cooled, Kitty and Ruby went outside, so Kitty could hook Buttercup to the buggy.

Once Kitty had Buttercup hooked up to the buggy, she climbed in and drove the buggy out of the barn. Kitty told Ruby to use the water closet and then wait in the kitchen while she was getting Buttercup and the buggy ready. When Kitty went back into the house, she found Ruby sitting at the table, waiting patiently. Kitty packed all but three muffins for the picnic. Ruby insisted that her momma keep some at home so they could eat them as a family. Ruby also reminded her momma that blueberry muffins were her daddy's favorite.

"Alright, we're all set to go," said Kitty.

Kitty and Ruby left the house, and Kitty locked the door behind them. She locked the front door earlier. After placing the muffins in the boot, Kitty helped Ruby into the buggy, and then got in herself. She steered the buggy in the direction of Silver Creek and drove to the Ronigers.

"Momma, I can't wait for our fun day with the Ronigers," said Ruby.

"Me either," said Kitty as she smiled at her daughter.

TBC