Chapter 6-The Power of the Written Word

A/N: This bonus chapter brought to you by the fact that the site is actually up and working correctly (and the readers who PM'd me asking for it). Enjoy!

The next couple of days at the Legacy D seemed to contain continual chatter about Christmas. It was just under three weeks away, and the Dillon children were trying to decide how to compose their letters to Santa.

"Listen up, Dillons," Doc addressed five of his grandchildren from the head of the library table, "you all know that all of your needs and wants are pretty well met here at home. When you think about what to ask from Santa Claus, don't be greedy. You know the rules, one item only," Doc swiped at his mustache as he pulled Scarlett onto his lap. "C'mere, Baby. Grandpa will help you."

"I only know how t' write my name, Addie. Will ya help me?" Ezra begged his sister, his light blue eyes meeting her dark blue ones as he pulled on her sleeve, "I gotta let Santa know somethin'."

"Of course, I will," Addie rubbed her little brother's back, "Come sit in my chair with me," she made room for him in the large, leather chair.

Doc beamed as he studied the scene before him. Not in a million years could he have ever imagined a Dillon brood such as this one.

At first, he hadn't wanted to accept the Santa letter writing duty, thinking it silly, but he'd noticed that Kitty seemed frazzled. Scarlett had wet the bed during her nap time, and Maggie had refused to sleep at all, causing Kitty and Abelia to be running behind with their supper preparations. In the past, Kitty would've just rolled with the punches, but these days she seemed far more on edge. Doc had decided removing the children from the fray would calm the mood in the house.

"Grandpa, do you think Santa will read these in time for Christmas?" Adam asked, his tongue sticking out from the side of his mouth as he penned his letter.

"Of course, he will, Son. It will get to the North Pole in plenty of time for Christmas," Doc reassured, arranging Scarlett on his lap.

"Santa has gotten your letter every other year, hasn't he?" Matthew asked.

"Sure," the younger brother answered, smiling brightly.

"May I offer any help?" Kitty asked as she entered the library, removing her apron, "Abelia's got a handle on supper now and I just hung Scarlett's sheets in the wash room," she put her arm around Matthew's shoulder.

"I think we've got it under control, Kitty. Why don't you rest for a few minutes on the chaise over there," Doc nodded toward the leather lounger in the corner.

"Don't mind if I do," she commented as she lowered herself onto the comfortable piece of furniture.

A few minutes turned into forty-five as the exhausted mother began to snore. Doc had collected the children's completed letters and covered Kitty with a blanket. He'd instructed the children to wash up for supper and to be as quiet as possible until it was time to eat.

"Kitty, Honey," Matt gently shook her shoulder, "time for supper."

She startled, not able to believe that she'd actually fallen asleep, "Wha-what happened?" she looked around the room, noticing the children were gone.

"Seems you sat down t' rest and you drifted off for a much-needed nap," her husband sat next to her on the chaise, kissing her forehead.

Kitty stretched, reveling in the fact that her husband had recently been showing her affection, just like his old self. She smiled, "I guess I was pretty tired. What an afternoon, Matt. The children only had half a day of school-something about several boys needing to help their parents with pre-winter field chores-Scarlett wet the bed, Maggie wouldn't sleep, Abelia and I got a late start on supper…"

Matt sincerely smiled, "And as usual, you handled it like the wonderful mother that you are," he held out his arms to rub her shoulders, "C'mon, supper will be getting cold."

As the Dillon parents entered the kitchen, Mutt began to furiously bark from the front yard.

"What in tarnation?" Doc glanced out one of the large windows into the early evening darkness, "Looks like Buck is comin' up in the small buggy," he tugged on his earlobe, slyly smiling.

"Everyone settle down now," Matt instructed his boisterous family, "Miss Abelia and Mama made some delicious pork chops and potatoes," he placed a chop on Matthew's plate, then on Kitty's.

"Matthew and me got the green beans and applesauce out a th' root cellar, Daddy," Ezra added, nodding toward his beloved father.

"We can always count on good helpers around here," Kitty smiled, pouring the children some milk.

"Well, hopefully you can use another helper for a while, señora," the small Mexican woman interjected as she quietly entered the house. She was wrapped in a cape, clutching her carpetbag to her chest.

"Luisa!" Kitty exclaimed as she placed the milk pitcher onto the table, running to embrace her friend, "Luisa Martinez! What on Earth?!"

The visitor whispered into the redhead's ear, "You had to know I'd come, Querida," she kissed Kitty's cheek.

The kitchen erupted into happy greetings of "Hello, señora!" and "Yay! Señora Martinez is here!"

"Señora, please come sit here," Doc offered his seat to the jovial woman.

"Gracias, doctor," she thanked the elderly man as he assisted in removing her cape.

Abelia quickly produced a full plate for Luisa, asking, "What brings ya back from California, Ma'am?"

"Well," she thoughtfully began her tale, "I got a letter not too long ago from señora Kitty," the small woman took a sip of her coffee, "she told me what happened in October. I would have been here sooner, but the letter took a long time to find me. I moved from my one hermano's casa to another. I just had to come and see if la familia Dillon needed me," she grinned, winking at Kitty.

The mistress of the household widely grinned, blinking back unshed tears. I do believe we have a real live angel in our midst. At the very least, someone who's been Heaven sent.

XXXXXXXX

"Oh, Matt, I can't tell you how happy I am that Luisa came back t' Dodge," Kitty said as she vigorously brushed her hair while sitting at her vanity.

"So I noticed," Matt commented from the water closet, finishing brushing his teeth. He entered the bedroom only wearing a towel around his waist.

Kitty coyly glanced at him through the looking glass while she continued her nighttime rituals.

"Did you ask Luisa t' come, Kitty?" Matt asked as he searched for a clean union suit, much to his wife's dismay.

"No, I didn't," she turned to face her husband, "Would it matter if I did?"

"Not at all. I was just curious," he sat on the edge of the bed, thrusting his legs into the warm garment.

Kitty faced the mirror once again and poured some lavender cream into her hands. As she rubbed it onto her elbows, she asked, "Matt, do you think we could afford to hire Luisa? She could be a huge help to me and Abelia. I just feel like we are struggling to keep up with all the housework in this big place, and give the children all the attention they deserve," she made her way over to the bed to turn down the quilt.

The quiet couple silently climbed into bed, laying on their sides to face each other. Matt propped himself up on his elbow, resting his head upon his hand. Kitty did the same, biting her bottom lip.

"I suppose we could ask her. Do you think she'd be happy with part of her wages being somewhere t' live?"

"I think so. She seemed happy to get the room in the little barn to herself. I suppose we could ask Doc t' switch with her-"

"No, Ma'am," the big man interrupted, pulling her toward him as he laid flat upon his back, "Doc's rooms are inside the main house-period. We could offer her the office if she would want it as her room and move the office into the little barn. That's the best we can do, Honey," he stroked her arm while she rested her head upon his chest.

"I guess we can proposition her tomorrow," Kitty smiled as she wrapped her arm around her beloved husband's waist.

"Kitty, if ya don't mind me asking, just what did you say to Luisa in your letter?"

The redhead winced internally before answering, "I told her about Angela coming much too soon…about my grief…" she paused, lost in her thoughts.

"And?" Matt lifted his head off of his pillow to view her expression.

She took a deep breath and slowly released it, speaking barely above a whisper, "And I told her sometimes, sometimes it's all I can do…t' just get outta bed in the morning."

"I thought you were feeling better every day, Honey," the concerned husband rubbed her back.

"Some days I feel just fine, Cowboy. Perfectly normal. And then I feel guilty for feeling normal. It's so hard t' explain. I've got to put on a brave face for the children, but I want Angela t' know that I miss her. I don't want her to think I…I forgot her," Kitty silently cried.

Matt quickly sat up, pulling Kitty up with him. He tenderly placed his hands upon her shoulders, staring into her deep pools of blue, "She thinks no such thing, Kathleen. Angela knows you love her."

"I hope so," Kitty whispered, unable to continue meeting her husband's gaze.

"I like t' think she's with my parents and your mother. They're lookin' after her until we can."

Kitty studied her man's serious, warm expression. Looking into his cloudy blue eyes, she felt as if he could see directly into his soul. She whispered, "That's beautiful, Matt…very comforting," she wrapped her arms around his neck, placing a soft kiss upon his lips.

XXXXXXXX

Gracie Mae Compton stared across the schoolyard, watching some of the older students flock toward Addie Dillon as she exited her family's buggy. It had certainly seemed that Addie no longer had the time nor inclination to socialize with Gracie Mae. How could she with Sally Ann and the new girl, Wendy Jo, fawning all over her because Addie was now in their same grade? And Heaven forbid Addie ignore any of the boys vying for her attention. Watching Marshal Dillon hug and kiss his daughter goodbye was just about enough to push Gracie Mae over the edge. You think you can just forget about me, Addie Dillon? We'll just see about that.

"Hey, Addie!" Gracie Mae called as she neared her prey.

"Hi, Gracie Mae," Addie greeted over her shoulder as she started up the schoolhouse steps, flanked by Wendy Jo Danko and Jacob Worth III.

"Wanna play chess with me t'day at recess?" the upset eleven-year-old asked, her voice full of hope.

"Addie's playin' me t'day, Gracie Mae," Jake answered for the popular redhead, "She's on a winnin' streak and she plays the winners of the other games. If you win at one a the other tables, then ya get to play Addie. Unless she loses," the handsome twelve-year-old boy informed, broadly grinning at the current chess champion.

"Sorry, Gracie Mae. Those are the rules. But I have an idea-let's have lunch together. We haven't eaten together since it got too cold t' eat outside," Addie suggested, her friendly smile genuine.

"Sure," Gracie Mae quietly accepted the invitation, biting her bottom lip while clutching her books to her chest. Suddenly turning her attention to Wendy Jo, the slighted eleven-year-old snapped, "Hey, isn't that Addie's old coat?"

"I, um, well…" the embarrassed blonde girl stammered, concentrating on the weather-beaten porch boards.

"Yes, Gracie Mae," Addie quietly came to her new friend's aid, "I leant Wendy Jo my old coat," the child tried to keep her anger in check, continuing, "Just like I leant you my yellow dress for the Father/Daughter dance, and my old rain boots, and even the hat you wore yesterday." The eldest child of the Dillon clan narrowed her eyes in warning and while her smile widened, she whispered through her teeth, "Stop it." With that, Addie turned on her boot heel and entered the large schoolhouse.

The morning progressed without any more consternation between Addie and Gracie Mae. When Miss Nelson released the sixth grade to eat lunch, the class quickly filed into the cloak room to retrieve their lunch pails. Garth Harmon grabbed Addie by the elbow, "Hey, I gotta tell ya somethin'. It's important," he whispered.

"Okay. What?" she grabbed her lunch pail, looking at the boy.

"It's private," he looked around the nearly deserted cloak room, his eyes darting from side t' side.

"Garth, hurry up. I'm hungry and I need to talk t' Gracie Mae."

"If I was you, I'd never talk t' her again," he whispered, placing a small piece of paper into the palm of Addie's hand before exiting the cloak room.

Addie opened the folded piece of paper, her eyes quickly perusing the familiar penmanship:

Don't be fooled. I know the truth bout Addie. Her real pa was an outlaw named Mannon. She ain't so perfect.

The redheaded child crumpled the small note in her hand as she stomped her foot in anger. She tightly closed her eyes, desperately trying to quash her extreme hurt. She was her mother's daughter after all, and she wanted to rush into the classroom and rip off the head of one Gracie Mae Compton.

"Hi, Addie," Matthew greeted his sister as he grabbed his lunch pail, "why you standin' in here alone? Your class is already eatin'."

"I was just thinking," Addie sighed, tapping her finger onto her tight lips.

"Well, ya need t' get goin'. You gotta play Jake in chess today."

"C'mon, little brother. Let's get Adam and we can all eat together for a change."

XXXXXXXX

In the warmth of the Dillon sitting room, Doc glanced at Matt and Kitty with a big grin upon his face. For the first time in a while, the couple seemed more like their old selves, sitting next to each other on the settee, their shoulders touching, Kitty's hand resting on her husband's thigh. Doc had requested a quick chat with the parents of the large brood during the littles' rest time.

"Why ya smilin' like that, Doc?" Matt asked as he placed his large hand gently upon Kitty's.

"Well, I have here before me the letters your children wrote to Santa Claus. We are about three weeks out and we'd best get goin'," he lightly licked his thumb before producing the first letter.

"This oughtta be good," Kitty sighed, resting her head upon Matt's shoulder.

"Dear Santa," Doc recited, "I would like a new dolly for Christmas. Mutt ate one of mine and I can't find my other one. I promise I won't cry about my naps. Love, Scarlett Dillon," he looked up with a simple grin across his lips, "I started with the easy one," he winked.

"Sounds simple enough," Kitty smiled at Matt, "one doll."

"Next!" Doc held up the next request, "Dear Santa," he paused to clear his throat, "I'm a lucky boy and I don't need too much," Doc scrubbed his mustache, "I think I might want a new hat just like the one my daddy has. But more than a hat, I'd like it if my," he paused, licking his lips, "I'd like it if my mama could be happy again," he spoke softer, "Sure, sometimes she acts happy, but her eyes don't smile like they used to. My daddy seems different, too. He goes out sometimes at night with his friends. So, I'll give up the hat if we could go back to how it used to be at our house. Thanks, Matthew Dillon, Jr." the elderly man slowly lifted his head to study his friends' expressions.

Matt glanced down at Kitty, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He grinned, silently offering his support.

"I'm sorry, Honey," was all she whispered. She soberly addressed Doc, "Who's next, Curly?"

"Dear Santa, I have a new friend named Bonnie. She's my age, but my grandpa says she has a mongrel or something. She talks funny and isn't allowed to go to school with other kids. I gots lots of things, so I don't need nothing. I'm askin' that you give Bonnie some friends fer Christmas. She's lonely, Santa. My mama told me Bonnie has the same feelings I do. If I was her, I'd be lonely, too. Thanks. Love, Adam Russell Dillon, Dodge City, Kansas."

Kitty covered her mouth to silence a sob, "Oh, my word…" she gazed at her husband through her misty eyes.

The former marshal cleared his throat, "That's our sweet boy. My God, Kathleen, I was expectin' t' hear about toy trains and ribbons and such."

"I know what you mean," Kitty tightly grasped her husband's hand, "Continue, please, Doc."

"The last one," he held the last letter up for them to see before he began, "Dear Santa, I don't need nothin', but I'm going to ask for somethin' for my mama. She's the best mama in the whole world," the gray-haired man stopped, reading ahead a few lines, "Maybe I should just let you two read this alone," he tried to stand.

"Just read it, Doc, please," Kitty beseeched as her husband pulled her closer.

"Okay, if you say so…let me find my place," he skimmed the note, "Oh, here…she's the best mama in the whole world. Santa, Mama has been real sad cause our baby died. Can you bring us another baby just like her? That should make my mama happy, like she used to be. I love my mama so much. I hate to see her sad. So that's my Christmas wish. A new, real baby. Love, Ezra Festus Dillon."

"Oh, mercy," Matt whispered, pressing his forehead against Kitty's.

"Matt…" the guilt-ridden mother's voice shook as she softly cried, "What have I done to our children?"

"Listen here," Doc quietly interjected, placing his hand upon Kitty's knee, "You've done nothing negative to your children with your grieving, Kitty. It's natural. This note tells me that Ezra loves you with all his heart and he wishes he could make it all better. Adam is a tender-hearted kid. He'd love to make Bonnie as happy as he is," the wise man then directed his attention toward the over-grown retired civil servant, "And Matt, Matthew worships everything about you. You had to travel a lot for your government work. Now, you need to stay home and tend t' the boy. Teach him how to be the great man you are," he tugged on his ear, sighing, "And now, my dears, I need a nap."

As Doc hobbled to his rooms, Matt mumbled against Kitty's lips as he tenderly kissed her, "Why couldn't they have asked for toys and candy like normal kids?"

Kitty grinned with her eyes closed as she happily accepted her husband's kiss, "Because they come from us, Cowboy. That's why."

TBC