Chapter 16- The Nightmare After Christmas
A/N: It's Sunday night, which means-BONUS!
"Mama, do Scarlett and Maggie get t' go with ya just like when you came here t' help Mr. Sanderson?" Matthew asked as he sat on his parents' bed sullenly watching his mother pack for her sojourn to Kansas City.
Kitty stopped what she'd been doing and sat next to her son, gently placing her hand on his knee, "No, Honey, no one is coming with me this time. I have to help a lady with some very grown up problems," she spoke quietly and succinctly.
"What's Maggie gonna do without ya? She needs you to eat," the nine-year-old searched his mother's face for answers.
"Well, Maggie is almost ten months old, so she eats plenty of solids. She's also used to drinking goats' milk from a bottle, so she should be just fine," Kitty tenderly cupped his cheek, "I think it's awfully sweet you're worried about your baby sister, though."
"I'm worried about Scarlett, too, Mama. She's really attached t' you," Matthew lowered his misty eyes, examining his lap.
"Maybe she's not the only one attached to me, huh?" she playfully bumped her shoulder against the boy's.
"Maaamaa," he whined, looking up at her, "I'm serious."
So am I, she thought, standing to resume her packing.
"Time is gonna fly while I'm in Kansas City, Son," Kitty rolled a petticoat before stuffing it into a large valise.
"Sure, it will," Matthew mumbled, tracing something imaginary on the carpet with the tip of his boot.
The heartsick mother grabbed her son's hand, "I have an idea. What do you say that you, me, Addie and Adam take a nice horseback ride this afternoon while the littles nap? The weather is actually quite lovely."
"Really?!" the boy's face lit up, "Oh, Mama! I'll go tell Addie and Adam!" he sprang to his feet, but before he could race out the door, Kitty grabbed him by the wrist.
"Be discreet, Matty. We don't need Ezra refusing t' take a nap."
"Yes, Ma'am, I understand," he acknowledged before running down the hall.
Kitty let out a long, slow breath, thinking, I'm gonna miss you, too, Son. Hopefully, I'll come back feeling like my old self.
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"This is so much fun!" Adam exclaimed as he brought Pepper to a trot as the quartet of Dillons explored their vast property.
"We're so lucky it's not freezing," Addie said, catching up to her mother who was leading the bigs on their spontaneous adventure.
"Yes, we most certainly are," Kitty smiled at her eldest child, noting her reddened cheeks, "Who wants to canter a bit?"
"Me!" Addie stuck her gloved hand into the air.
"Me! Me! Me!" Matthew bellowed.
"I don't know, Mama. Pepper and I don't go that fast outside a the round pen," Adam cautiously murmured.
"Well, there's a first time for everything, right, Sweetie?" Kitty commented as she doubled back to ride next to her middle son.
"I guess," he whispered, slightly shrugging his shoulders.
She bit her bottom lip, instructing, "What if I rode in front, and Addie rode right behind you? That way Pepper could be paced by Gladiola and pushed by Peaches."
"If you think that would work, Mama, we can try it," he smiled at his beloved mother, desperately wishing to please her, even though he was frightened.
"Make sure once we're all in position, you pull back your left rein and kick Pepper with your heels. Sit heavy in your seat, so you don't bounce. Got it?" Kitty nodded, encouraging her less than confident little boy.
"Yes, Ma'am," Adam furrowed his brows, his tongue peeking out of the side of his mouth.
"Addie," Kitty shouted, "you're gonna follow behind Adam. Matthew, you flank him on the right, and I'll lead."
Once everyone assumed their positions, Kitty kicked Gladiola into a quick trot, "Sitting trot, Dillons," Kitty commanded over her shoulder like an officer from Fort Dodge.
After a minute, she raised her right hand, kicking her mare into a slow lope.
"Can-ter!" Addie verbally commanded, making a kissing sound while she kicked Peaches, "Kick, Adam, kick!"
"C'mon, Pepper! Canter!" the six-year-old kicked as hard as he could. Kitty's plan seemed to work at first. The black pony picked up his pace, falling into a slow lope right behind Kitty's quarter horse.
"Good, Adam! Ya did it!" Matthew shouted, raising his right hand in triumph.
"I did it! I did it!" Adam shouted, not realizing Pepper had been gaining on Gladiola.
"Slow down, Adam!" Addie warned, noticing his pony had begun to pick up speed, veering off to the left.
"Woah, Pepper! Woah!" Adam nervously exclaimed as he yanked back on his reins, passing his mother as he did so.
"Hold on, Adam! Hold on!" Kitty shouted as she squeezed Gladiola with her legs, willing the mare to catch up to the free-spirited pony.
"MAMA!" Adam shrieked as his tiny body uncontrollably bounced all over his saddle.
Kitty maneuvered her horse to be as close as possible to the frantic pony. She said as calmly as the situation would allow, "Son, I need you t' stop yelling. You're scaring Pepper," and with those words, she leaned over and grabbed the pony's reins, yanking with all her might. As Pepper slowed, Kitty shouted a firm, "Woah" to Gladiola, as she half halted her own reins.
Adam finally halted his pony and quickly dismounted, running toward his mother. Kitty's feet had barely touched the ground when the frightened boy launched himself into her arms, clinging to her waist.
"Mama," he cried, "I was so scared I was gonna-gonna-fall off," he hiccupped, his blue eyes as big as saucers.
"There, there," Kitty soothed as she bent over, running her hand over his curls, "You're fine, Baby. You're just fine," she kissed his forehead.
"I've never seen anythin' like that! Wow, Adam! You sure were brave!" Matthew yelled as he ran toward his mother and brother.
"I-I am?" the small boy sniffled, looking at his brother through a watery haze.
"Ya sure are! Wait till we tell Uncle Festus!"
"Matthew," Kitty cautioned with her expression more than her words.
"You okay, Adam?" Addie slowly approached, leading both Peaches and Patches.
"Yeah, Addie, I'm okay," the boy answered, wiping away his tears with his sleeve as he pulled away from his mother's embrace.
"Hey, Mama, what's that?" Matthew asked, pointing to a small building.
Oh, brother, how am I gonna explain this?
The frazzled mother took a deep breath, "Oh, that's just another building on the edge of our property," she offered, hoping it would satisfy the child's curiosity.
"Let's go look at it!" Addie excitedly exclaimed, starting to skip with the horses behind her.
Matthew and Adam ran after their sister, shouting claims about being explorers. All Kitty could do at this point was take a deep breath and collect Gladiola and Pepper.
"C'mon, you two," she muttered to the horses, "looks like I'm gonna have t' come up with some kind a tall tale…and fast."
"Mama!" Addie called from the porch of the small wooden and stone house, "It's a tiny house!"
"That it is," Kitty released both horses as she joined her offspring on the porch.
"Who lives here?" Adam asked, peering through the window on his tip toes.
"No one," Kitty honestly replied, grinning, as she removed her gloves, "Daddy and I think it's too far from the main buildings for anyone t' live out here."
"Why is it way out here, anyway?" Addie asked, sidling up to her mother.
"I don't know, Adelaide. Mr. Sanderson had it built, I suppose." Gee, Kitty, that lie just rolled right off your tongue.
"Well, someone lived here at one point, Mama," Matthew offered, "There's furniture in there," he motioned with his thumb over his shoulder.
"WHAT?!" Kitty spoke much louder than she'd intended as she pushed past Addie to make her way to the door. She paused before entering, studying at her children's expressions, "Children, it's time for you three t' get on your ponies and head back home. I promise I won't be far behind you."
Addie protested, "But, Mama, we want t' explore the house, too."
"Please, do as I say. I just need t' take a look around. Understand?" she raised her eyebrows, her expression indicating she didn't want any argument.
"But-" Adam whined.
Kitty approached her Matt Dillon look-alike. His eyes were wide with confusion. She lifted his chin so their eyes could connect, explaining, "Since Daddy's gone, I need t' check this out. I'll be fine. You are to only walk or trot the horses home. And please," she looked at all of their faces, "Not a word to anyone about this."
"But why?" Matthew asked, shrugging his shoulders.
"I have my reasons," Kitty firmly answered, pursing her lips, "I'll be home in a little bit. And Dillons, remember what I said." She folded her arms, waiting for the children to mount their ponies.
Once they were on their way, the nervous matriarch slowly entered the small house, firmly closing the door behind her. Her mouth fell open when she discovered the rooms seemed scantily furnished, compared to empty when Bear had given her a tour of the unoccupied home that he'd built for her.
What in the hell? Kitty slowly walked around the sitting room, circling an older settee that appeared to have been recovered in plaid cushions. She entered the tiny kitchen, biting her bottom lip as she ran her fingers over a small, circular wooden table flanked by two older, ladder-backed chairs.
Kitty closed her eyes before entering one of the small bedrooms, bracing herself against the doorjamb. What on Earth is going on here? she thought as she entered the bedroom. Her hands flew to her mouth to stifle a gasp when she saw a double bed set up, sporting a rumpled, multicolored quilt. But not just any quilt. She recognized it as one of her and Matt's former quilts that had been put aside for picnics. Special picnics.
Kitty slowly picked up a pillow, hugging it close to her chest, taking a deep whiff. Tears filled her eyes as her olfactory sense immediately recognized the musky scent of her husband.
"No, no, no," the perplexed redhead moaned as she threw the pillow at the headboard. She plopped onto the edge of the bed, running her hand atop the quilt that held so many precious memories for her. She thrusted her head into her hands, her mind racing- Is this where Matt meets his lover? I suppose he figured I'd never come out here. Oh, God, can this be happening?!
Slowly rising, Kitty remembered her promise to quickly follow her children home. She closed her eyes and ran her hand over the front of her fitted blue velvet riding jacket. Gather your pride, ol' gal. You can figure out what t' do while you're in Kansas City.
Not exactly sure what made her do it, Kitty approached the only other piece of furniture in the bedroom. She opened the top drawer of the side table, perhaps discovering the most incriminating evidence of all. As plain as day, there sat one of Matt's large blue bandanas, folded into four triangles. The anxious redhead took a deep breath, slowly exhaling as she tremblingly peeled back one of the triangles.
"Oh, Matt," she sighed as she gingerly refolded the bandana over two of the reusable condoms Doc had illegally procured, "what have you done?"
Kitty pridefully exited the tiny house, holding her head high. She steadied herself against one of the porch's supports, the words of Sadie Danko haunting her, "He said he'll leave 'er after Christmas. He's got kids and he don't want t' ruin their holiday. He told me when we was t'gether in our special place."
"Oh, dear God…" Kitty whimpered, trying to steady her nerves. She suddenly leaned over, unable to stop her churning stomach from rebelling.
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"I'm sorry I can't wait with ya fer the train, Miz Kitty. Ralph Watkins is comin' before eight o'clock this mornin' t' fetch his two mares," Festus apologized as he steered the buggy down the road toward Dodge.
"Don't think a thing of it, Festus. I'm a big girl, ya know," Kitty answered, offering her dear friend a half smile. Between Ezra and Scarlett sleeping with her and her restlessness over her discoveries in the tiny house, she hadn't slept well at all.
"You look tired. The littles keep ya up last night, did they?" he squinted one eye, hoping she would share her burden. Ever since she'd returned to the house after her horseback ride with the children, Kitty's mood had seemed off.
The redhead looked off into the distance, "They sure did. Scarlett packs a real punch in her sleep."
"She packs a real punch when she's awake, too," he chuckled.
The duo rode in silence for a while, until turning onto Front Street.
"I hope yer gonna send us some telyrams, lettin' us know how everythin' is," Festus said, glancing at his friend, "'cause I bet ol' Matthew will be missin' ya somethin' awful fer two whole weeks."
Kitty pursed her lips, sighing, "Oh, I don't know. I'm sure ol' Matthew will be just fine," she straightened her royal blue traveling jacket underneath her unbuttoned black coat, "I'm really grateful to you for helping t' keep an eye on the children," she solemnly grinned at her friend, "especially Matty. He actually cried when I told him goodbye this morning. I expect that from Adam or the littles, but not Matthew."
"I'd do anythin' fer those young 'uns, ya know that. But we got B, and Miz Luisa, and ol' Doc, so they'll be takin' real good care of. Don'tcha worry 'bout a thang," he pulled Gladiola to a stop in front of the train depot.
"I'm not worried about them. I'm more worried about me missing them," the melancholy mother confessed, "but hopefully I'll come back with a better frame of mind," she held out her hand for Festus to assist her out of the buggy.
She planted a soft kiss upon his whiskery cheek before hugging the hill man tightly, whispering, "You let me know if my babies need me. I'll be home before you can say rat run over the something with a piece of raw something…oh, I can't recall the rest of that," she shook her head, waving her hands in front of her face, "But ya get m' point," she smiled, picking up her two valises.
"That I do, Miz Kitty. You b' careful now and stay outta trouble," he hopped back into the buggy.
"Trouble? What kind of trouble could I possibly get into?" she snickered, waving goodbye.
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Shortly after Festus pulled away from the station, an announcement had been made that the train would be leaving an hour late. Kitty had decided to check her bags at the station and go to Delmonico's for a cup of coffee.
She slowly walked down the boardwalk, swinging her reticule back and forth while clutching her book at her side. She'd been lost in her thoughts about what to say to Matt upon her return when she heard a familiar voice.
"Well, looky here," Sadie Danko hissed like a snake, "What on Earth is a proper lady like yerself doin' out on th' street at such an hour? Why, it's barely daylight," she sidled up next to the unsuspecting redhead, walking in step with her.
"Just gettin' off shift, Sadie?" Kitty gave her a side glance, keeping her tone even. In her heart, she honestly didn't judge the young woman for her choice of work. She just wanted the blonde to keep her paws off of Matt Dillon.
"So what if I am?" the blonde snapped.
"Makes no difference t' me. Frankly, I don't care what you do to earn your living," Kitty suddenly stopped, her lips taut and her eyes narrow.
"Oh, yer gonna care real soon 'bout what I do, Miss fancy pants. I turned eighteen last week and seems I got a real special present from the former marshal."
Jesus. She's only eighteen…"Sure ya did," Kitty pushed past the annoying saloon gal, not wanting to hear any more of what she had to say.
Sadie spoke louder, "I got me a baby growin' inside a me. One he put there."
Kitty froze, but only for a second. With her back to Sadie, she bit her bottom lip, swallowed hard and straightened her spine. Turning ever so slowly, the unnerved, but composed Mrs. Dillon smiled, "Well, congratulations. I'm sure you'll find motherhood t' be rewarding. That said, Sadie, I know my husband wouldn't be looking for entertainment outside of our home. He doesn't have to." She quickly entered Delmonico's, tightly closing her eyes, feeling sick to her stomach. Please God, say it isn't so…
TBC