Chapter 10- Funny Meeting You Here
Kitty struggled to open her eyes as she felt the warmth of the morning sun upon her face. What time is it? she wondered, knowing that the winter sun was late to rise. She slowly rolled onto her side, quickly sitting upright once she'd realized Maggie wasn't in the bed with her. The worried mother recognized her panic was for naught when she focused on the beautiful sight before her. Sleeping in one of the chairs in front of the dwindling fire was her large, gentle husband. He snored, slouching in the chair with one hand firmly upon Maggie's back as she comfortably slumbered upon his chest, his other hand barely holding onto an empty bottle of what must've been goat's milk.
Kitty tip-toed her way to the sleeping duo, not sure which one of them snored louder. She gingerly placed her hand upon the back of the baby's neck, grinning with the knowledge the fever had passed sometime during the night. She made her way into the water closet and prepared for her day, praying that someone had insured that her children had made it to school.
"Well, good morning, sleepy head," Doc greeted as he sat nursing a cup of coffee while wiping Scarlett's face, "Rough night, huh?" he searched Kitty's face for a nonverbal answer.
"You can say that," she softly replied, caressing Scarlett's chubby cheek, "Good morning, Sweetie," she kissed the toddler's forehead.
"Mama! I go ride horsey?" the redheaded cherub pled, hugging her mother's legs before running toward the staircase, not waiting for her mother's response.
"Play quietly, Baby. Daddy and Maggie need their sleep," Kitty instructed, watching the moppet, her curls bouncing with every step.
"Señora, café?" Luisa asked, holding up the coffee pot, "It's fresh," she smiled.
"Please," Kitty nodded before sitting across from Doc. She asked, "Who took the bigs t' school?"
"No one," he replied while tugging on his earlobe.
"No one?!" Kitty's eyes grew large.
"Well, seems Miss Nelson is still sick, so she left a note on the school door. The milk man saw it first thing and kindly sent out two riders-one south and one north, to alert each farm or ranch. John Benson rode here and Festus then rode to the Worth's and so on."
"So I guess if ya lived east or west you took your kids inta town," Kitty quipped, lifting her cup to her mouth. "So where is everyone?" she grabbed a piece of bacon off the platter in the center of the table.
"Well, my dear, it's nearly nine o'clock. Scarlett slept late, so I suspect she's fighting the same bug Maggie has. The bigs are taking care of their horses and chores," Doc informed, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Where's Ezra?" she arched her brows.
"He volunteered t' helpFestus feed the business horses," the elderly man chuckled.
Kitty stood, "I should go rescue Festus."
He reached for Kitty's blouse sleeve across the table, "No, Ma'am. Not till you sit your keester down and eat a proper breakfast. No use in you catchin' the same illness Maggie has."
"Had, Curly. Her fever broke sometime during the night. She was burning up and Matt and I had to give her another cool bath," she nodded her thanks as Luisa placed a plate full of eggs, toast and ham in front of her.
Doc waited for Luisa to return to the kitchen before he continued, "You okay t'day, Kitty?" his small blue eyes search her large ones, "You and the big man sleepin' upstairs aren't exactly quiet when ya argue, ya know."
Kitty slowly turned her coffee cup with her thumb and forefinger. She concentrated on the dark brew while answering, "I'm fine. Matt and I still have some things t' hash out. Seems he feels I visit Angela too much," she took a bite of her toast, still not meeting his gaze.
"Ah," Doc nodded his head, "Well, make sure you two talk today. Letting it fester will only make it worse," he gently patted her hand as he stood, "I'll go get Ezra. Never let Festus say I don't do him any favors."
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"Mama, why did we turn here?" Addie asked as Kitty steered Gladiola down the road toward Rat Hole Alley.
"Cause I've got some business t' attend to," Kitty answered without taking her eyes off the road.
"Daddy says we ain't s'pposed t' come this way. Not ever," Adam stated, standing behind his mother to emphasize his point.
"Adam Russell, you sit your bottom on that buggy seat right now," his mama ordered, glancing at him over her shoulder, "It's your job t' make sure we don't lose any of the bedding as we drive along."
"Yes, Ma'am," the boy sat, resting his arm atop a large bundle of sheets.
"Daddy just means you children shouldn't come here alone. And it's perfectly fine for me during the day. Especially when one of my brave boys is with me," Kitty winked at her daughter.
"Why are we bringing some laundry here, Mama? We do it at home," Addie inquired, slowly beginning to slouch in the buggy seat.
"We do, do we?" Kitty studied her daughter out of the corner of her eye, "Adelaide, sit up. Why are you slouching?"
"I feel like people are staring," the well-dressed girl whispered, "And it's cold. Why are so many people out on their porches?"
"They are staring, Mama," Adam whispered, staring right back at the curious faces that rolled by.
"Pay them no mind," Kitty replied, pulling Gladiola to a halt in front of a small, but neatly kept home, "Woah, girl. I do believe this is the place."
"Mending and Laundry," Addie read the sign out loud.
Kitty alighted from the buggy, "Addie, toss me that big bundle and Adam, bring the sack with the shirts," she held out her arms.
Addie swayed nervously as the trio of Dillons waited for someone to answer the door. A brunette woman with a kind face greeted them. She smiled, asking, "May I help you?"
Kitty replied from behind the large load she held in her arms, "Mrs. Gibbons? My name is Kitty Dillon and your name was given to me-"
"Well I'll be! Miss Kitty? Is that you?!" the dark haired, friendly woman exclaimed, "C'mon in outta the cold," she gently pulled on the white, fluffy cuff of Kitty's black woolen coat, graciously inviting the Dillons inside. "Here, let me take this from you," the woman relieved Kitty of her burden.
"Thank you so much," Kitty said, smiling, pulling some lint from the front of her coat, "That bedding is heavier than it looks. Like I was saying, my neighbor Susan Bart recommended you to me. She says you're the best mender and laundress around."
Carol Gibbons placed her hands upon her waist, quietly asking, "You really don't remember me, do you?"
The redhead bit her bottom lip and gently shook her head. She reflectively whispered, "Carol Gibbons…no, I can't seem t' place you. I'm so sorry."
"Well, it's been a lotta years. I used t' be Carol Jomax. I worked for ya-"
"Carol Jomax! Of course, I remember you!" Kitty threw her arms around the woman as if they were long lost friends. "Yes! You worked for me and left t' have a baby."
"My son, Pate," Carol proudly confirmed, "then I came back t' work for ya for a bit till I married Jessie," she glanced over her shoulder, "Pate! Where are ya, Son?"
"I'm comin'," the boy's voice echoed from behind a curtained partition. He dried his hands on his shirt as he entered the room, "I'm boiling that water for ya-" he abruptly froze, not expecting to see one of his classmates in his home.
"Hi, Pate," Addie shyly greeted him, reading the shocked expression on his face.
"Hello," the boy's eyes didn't meet hers, but he most respectfully greeted her mother and brother, "Mrs. Dillon," he nodded, "Adam."
"Hey, Pate!" Adam waved, suddenly feeling more comfortable.
"Nice t' see you again, Pate. Seems your mother and I are old friends," Kitty genuinely smiled at the boy while she squeezed Carol's hand.
"Pate, please take this bedding t' the back for me," his mother asked.
"Yes, Ma'am," he responded, awkwardly trying to manage all the sheets at once.
"I'll help," Adam offered, grabbing his fair share of the load.
"Kitty, I was just about t' have some tea. Please join me," Carol's deep brown eyes pled.
"Absolutely," Kitty accepted, "Adelaide? Can you amuse yourself and Adam for a little while?"
"Yes, Mama," Addie whispered. She unbuttoned the top two buttons of her coat as she made her way across the tiny room to a small table in the corner. She'd been surprised to discover a chess set upon the table, with a game seemingly in progress. She stood, lost in thought as she studied the board.
"Ya surprised, Addie?" Pate smirked, his hands upon his hips.
"Huh?" she replied, still staring at the placement of the pieces on the board.
"I asked ya if ya was surprised that a poor Rat Hole Alley kid like me would have a chess set?" he nearly spat.
Addie curiously looked at the boy. She quietly answered, "Not really. What surprises me is that you never play at school. In fact, you act like you don't even know how t' play."
Pate's expression and tone both softened, "Yeah, well, I'm tryin' t' get better before I start playin' some a ya smart kids," he stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"Who are you playing right now? Your mother?" Addie reexamined the chessboard, fingering the black rook.
"Naw. She's too busy. I'm playin' myself. That's what takes so long," the boy sat on the stool next to the table.
"Wanna play?" Addie smiled, challenging him with her deep blue eyes.
"You? No, thanks. I'd lose fast," he hung his head, thrumming his fingers upon the table.
"As I look at this board, Pate, you've got some pretty good moves here," she snapped her fingers, "I have an idea! Play Adam. He's good for a first grader."
"Addie! Pate will beat me bad," Adam whined, removing his coat.
"Oh, c'mon! It'll give us something t' do while our mothers visit," Addie encouraged. She unbuttoned the rest of her coat and guided her little brother to a chair opposite Pate.
"Oh, alright," Adam sighed.
"Okay," Pate agreed, "but ya gotta promise…if Adam beats me, ya can't tell no one."
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Within an hour, the Dillons donned their winter coats and said their farewells to the Gibbons. Adam was happy to have beaten Pate in their first game and Pate had been relieved to have won their second contest. Addie had offered to give Pate some pointers over the winter break and surprisingly, the normally adversarial boy accepted.
Just as Kitty lifted Adam into the back seat of the buggy, she heard Addie whisper, "Well, I'll be…" Kitty followed Addie's line of sight and cocked her head to the side.
"Wendy Jo, what a surprise t' see you. What are you doing here?" Addie asked, approaching her friend.
Kitty watched the encounter from a few feet away, keeping her eye on the young, pretty, painted woman with Wendy Jo. She appeared far too young to be the girl's mother, so the astute redhead surmised she must be her sister.
"Hi, Addie," the blonde girl bashfully greeted, pulling at the front of her borrowed, green coat, "I, uh, I-"
"We live here," the older blonde cut her little sister off. She pointed over her shoulder, "Right over there, in that dump," she examined Addie from head to toe, noting that the tall, redheaded girl dressed impeccably.
"Oh, I see," Addie said, folding her gloved hands in front of her as she lowered her head, "I don't know why I thought you had a farm just south of town." Cause that's what ya told me.
"And you are?" Sadie bluntly inquired, changing the subject.
That was all Kitty needed to hear to come to her child's aid. In three strides she was standing next to her eldest child, wrapping her arms around her shoulders.
"Hello, Wendy Jo," Kitty kindly greeted. She then narrowed her eyes at the older version of the child, silently conveying that she did not appreciate her rude tone.
"Hello, Mrs. Dillon. This here is my sister, Sadie," the embarrassed girl politely motioned with her hand, "Sadie, this is Mrs. Dillon and her daughter, Addie. Me an' Addie are in the same class."
"Well, funny meetin' you two here. Ya look a little high brow fer Rat Hole Alley," Sadie quipped, batting her heavily kohled eyelashes while sporting a sarcastic grin. She mentally made note of Kitty's lovely, lightly freckled face and stared at her long, black woolen coat with the white, fluffy cuffs and collar.
"Which saloon do ya work for, Sadie?" Kitty fired a shot. Two can play at this game, she thought.
"I'm at the Bull's Head," the seventeen-year-old replied with a touch less bravado, "In fact, I'm on m' way t' work, but first I got me a date," she licked her cherry red painted lips, continuing, "Yer name's Dillon?"
"It is."
"Ya married?"
"I am."
"T' the marshal?"
"He used t' be."
Both Wendy Jo and Addie stood in utter silence, scared to move a muscle. It was as if the women were going to draw on one another.
Sadie continued her line of questioning, "Ya got a big family?"
"I do."
"Ya rich?"
"Depends."
"On what?"
"Your definition of rich."
"I'm gonna be rich someday, ya know," Sadie rested her hands upon her hips, "cause men like me. One in pertic'lar. And he's rich," she leaned a little closer to the redhead, lifting her blonde brows.
"Good luck with that…Sadie, is it?" Kitty half-heartedly asked, reaching for Addie's hand.
"Yeah, that's m' name."
"Adelaide, please get in the buggy with your brother. Wendy Jo, as always, it was a pleasure to see you," Kitty turned on her heel and walked a few steps toward the buggy. She suddenly stopped, looking over her shoulder. In a low, even tone she warned, "Oh, and Sadie-be careful. It's a dangerous little game you're playing."
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Not a word had been spoken in the Dillon buggy until Gladiola hauled the buggy onto the main road.
"Addie, Honey, are you okay?" Kitty squeezed her daughter's knee, "I bet seeing Wendy Jo there was a shock."
Addie eyed her folded hands that rested in her lap, "She lied t' me, Mama. She lied. Wendy Jo told me that she and her step-father and sister lived on a farm. Not in Rat Hole Alley."
"Sweetie, I don't think she wanted t' lie. I think she's embarrassed about where she lives and about her situation, so she told you a version of her life that she wishes were true," Kitty tenderly explained. She reflected on her own omissions about her life in Dodge City in the letters she'd written to her childhood friend Lucy Critt, so many years ago.
Addie glanced over her shoulder, noting that her little brother had fallen asleep. She bit her bottom lip, sighing, "Wendy Jo says her step-father makes Sadie work at the saloon."
"Well, that's not our business now, is it?" Kitty asked, glancing at her daughter.
"What kinda father does that?" Addie shook her head, "Who could use their child to make money?"
Wayne Russell would have robbed me blind, had I let him. But there's no point in telling you that horrible story, my darling girl. And Sadie certainly doesn't seem all that unwilling to me.
"I don't know, Pumpkin. But don't be mad at Wendy Jo. She's just a victim of her circumstance. Do you understand what that means?"
"Yes, Ma'am, I do."
Kitty decided to change the subject as they turned onto their private drive, "Did you find a new book t' read?"
"Yes. Black Beauty. It's not nearly as exciting as Anna Karenina.
"Stop right there," the suddenly fatigued mother held up her hand, "I stand by what I said before, young lady."
Kitty surveyed the ranch's outbuildings as her thoughts raced-the image of that cherry red lip paint emblazoned in her mind as the buggy finally approached the house. Where is Matt?! He's got some explaining to do.
TBC