Chapter 24- Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!
The sun shone brightly and warmly caressed Kitty's face as she guided her rented horse and buggy down the southbound road from Dodge City. She'd decided against sending a wire to the family about her premature homecoming, having opted instead for a grand surprise. Her heart was filled to the brim with thankfulness for the unseasonable warmth of the day, making the journey to the Legacy D relatively simple.
The redhead had departed Kansas City a day later than she'd hoped, granting Lydia her wish of one extra day to spend chatting with her kindred spirit about the possible avenues she could pursue post her hospitalization. Should Clarence decide he couldn't live with the evil that had been forced upon his wife, Lydia had decided she would move back in with her parents. When the women had said their goodbyes, Kitty told Lydia she could write to her anytime with questions or concerns.
The extra time in Kansas City had also allotted Kitty and Ezra a chance to talk in an attempt to erase the awkwardness of the last couple of days. She mulled over bits of the conversation as she absentmindedly traveled the familiar dirt road, her heart constricting at the memory of her dear friend bearing his soul to her.
Ezra Roseveare eyed Kitty Dillon as she sat just inches from him on the settee in his small parlor.
"I'm sorry you want t' leave earlier than planned, but I completely understand," the handsome doctor offered a small grin.
Kitty sighed, "Something inside a me tells me I need t' get home, Ezra. It's just a niggling in the back of my brain telling me that I need to talk to Matt t' figure out where we go from here. And obviously, I need some answers. I'm strong enough to hear those answers now."
"Promise me something, Kitty," he held one of her hands close to his heart.
"If I can," she nodded.
"Promise that if you ever need me, for any reason at all, you'll send for me. Can ya promise me that?"
Kitty grinned, squeezing his hand, "Yes, I can promise you that. I'm grateful for the offer."
"Good," he confirmed, releasing her hand and running his through his salt and pepper waves, loudly exhaling.
"I hope Lydia and Clarence make it," the redhead wishfully commented, concentrating on her folded hands in her lap, "That is, if he's willing to love her like she deserves t' be loved."
Ezra lifted Kitty's chin, looking her straight in her big, azure eyes, "Indeed. The way any woman deserves to be loved," he smiled, hoping to lighten the mood, "And let me know if you have any more dreams about little Midnight Sun or her brothers. I still wanna know what they look like in your subconscious."
"That's a deal," she smirked before seriously offering, "I've also made an important decision. I'm going t' stay away from drinkin' for a while at least. I've decided escaping from my reality with whiskey or brandy has just prolonged my troubles. After the effects of the alcohol wear off, the sadness is still there."
The handsome man smiled, tenderly rubbing her upper arms, "I think it's a great decision to not hide behind a bottle. Be strong, Kitty Dillon. You're a lioness, who needs t' care for herself and her cubs."
"And her lion," Kitty resolutely stated, thinking of her big, handsome husband.
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The Legacy D buzzed with activity as the Dillons and their friends prepared for Bonnie Ritter's surprise seventh birthday party. Earlier in the day, the decision had been made to move the celebration up a week, due to the unseasonably warm weather. After having been dispatched to spread the word, Moose and Buck Lacey had been pleased to report that thankfully, the Ritter's and the few guests could alter their plans.
The smallest barn on the property had been transformed into a party room, the cows having temporarily been relocated to the attached corral. Addie, Matthew and Adam had ingeniously created a make-shift piñata out of a flour sack, wax crayons, construction paper, and turkey feathers. They'd been so excited when señora Martinez gave the unusual looking piñata her blessing, filling it with small toys, hair ribbons, walnuts, and peppermint sticks.
"We're almost ready, Adam," Abelia nodded her head at the boy, grinning from ear to ear as she surveyed the little party space, "You should be proud of what yer doin' for little Bonnie."
"Thank you, Miss Abelia! I sure hope Bonnie likes the kids and games," Adam smiled brightly, resembling his father with his wide stance and folded arms.
"What games ya gonna play, other than usin' that thayre pin-yater contraption?" Festus pointed at the oddly decorated flour sack that dangled from the rafter.
"Wael," the boy began in his Haggen-speak, "We's got the piñata, Blind Man's Buff, an egg race, a sack race and one other thang," he tapped his finger upon his chin as he squinted one eye, trying to remember the last activity.
"Adam," Doc rested his hand atop the child's shoulder, "Your mama isn't here, so I'm gonna speak on her behalf. Please, I beg of you, Son, speak like a Dillon."
"Yes'sir," the six-and-a-half-year old replied, suddenly having a moment of recall, "That's it! That's the other thing, Miss Abelia! Grandpa is gonna teach us a square dance and Uncle Festus is gonna play his harmonica!"
"My, my, Adam, that sounds like a party fit fer a princess," Abelia mussed his dark curls, "and don't ferget my special chocolate cake," she reminded him, winking at Festus over the boy's shoulder.
"I won't," the child smiled.
"Hey," Ezra popped his head inside the barn, "A buggy's comin' up the drive!"
"Who'd be comin' here an hour early?" Abelia asked no one in particular.
Mutt barked, running down the long drive toward the approaching buggy.
"It's Mama! It's Mama!" Ezra shouted as he jumped up and down, furiously waving his hands.
"Mama!" Adam hollered, running down the drive as fast as his little legs could carry him.
The joyful shouts drew the other children and Luisa onto the large porch. Cries of "It's Mama!" and "Mama's home!" permeated the brisk twilight as a herd of Dillon offspring ran to greet the verklempt redhead.
No sooner had Kitty stopped the buggy when Adam and Ezra jumped on board to embrace their beloved mother.
"Oh, Mama," Adam whispered in her ear as he threw his arms around her neck, "I hoped you'd come back in time, and ya did."
"In time for what, my middle prince?" she pushed back a little to wipe the tears from his flushed cheeks.
"Bonnie's party is t'night, cause the weather's good. I didn't want ya t' miss it."
"I'm so glad I made it in time," Kitty smiled, tears filling her own eyes.
"Me next! Move, Adam!" Ezra yanked on his brother's coat.
"Stop pullin' on me, Ezra!"
"Mama!" Scarlett shouted while Abelia grasped her wrist to keep the toddler from falling down the stairs as she ran toward the buggy.
Festus whistled into the sunset, instructing, "Back up, young 'uns and let yer Mama offa th' buggy. Don't fergit we got company comin' soon," the children quieted and obeyed his command. He held out his hand to assist his dear friend, greeting, "Welcome home, Miz Kitty. It's good t' have ya back."
Kitty grinned, her eyes sparkling, "Thank you, Festus. It's good t' be home."
Before she stepped down, the eager wife glanced around the yard for the one man she'd been desperate to see.
Festus addressed her question before she could even ask, "He's in town, helpin' Newly with some paperwork. It's a downright shame ya didn't see 'im there, Miz Kitty. He should be back d'rectly."
Kitty imperceptivity nodded before she lowered herself into the loving embraces of her exuberant children.
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The redhead had been disappointed that her husband had at last returned to the ranch at the same time the party guests were arriving. He'd been so surprised to see her, all the big man could do was stare at the lovely vision before him.
"Hello, Matt," Kitty softly greeted, holding out one hand to him while Will Ronniger guided his wagon full of grandchildren into the yard.
"Hello, Kathleen," Matt replied, squeezing her proffered hand, a big, toothy smile gracing his face, "This is a surprise."
"A pleasant one, I hope," she whispered as she fell into his embrace, inhaling his unique scent.
"Always, Honey, always," the big man reassured, resting his chin on top of her head as he tenderly rubbed her back.
"We have a lot t' talk about, Matt," she murmured into his chest.
"I know," he kissed her forehead, "but for now, let's go to a party. Whadd'ya say?"
Kitty beamed, looping her arm through his, "Lead the way, Mr. Dillon."
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As far as the Dillons were concerned, Bonnie Ritter's surprise party had been a huge success. The three Ronniger grandchildren, along with Adam's two classmates, had been extremely gracious guests, having been kind to the birthday girl and showing her true acts of kindness throughout the evening.
"My goodness, that was a wonderful party, Adam," Elsa Ritter complimented, holding tightly to her daughter's hand, "Wasn't it Bonnie?"
"Yes, Mama. It was," the dark-haired girl replied with her heavy tongue, "Santa helped Adam. I have friends," her brown, almond-shaped eyes glistening.
Elsa's eyes filled with joyful tears as she stroked her child's hair, "He most certainly did, Baby." She glanced at Kitty who perched both of her hands upon Adam's shoulders. "Kitty, this evening was wonderful. Your family is made up of some of the kindest people I've ever known. How can I thank you enough?"
"One 'thank you' is enough, Elsa," Kitty genuinely smiled, "I'm just glad that Bonnie had a good time."
"All the kids had fun, Mama," Adam glanced over his shoulder at his mother, "They loved the piñata and Grandpa's dance lessons best, I think."
"I think you're right, my middle prince," she tapped the tip of his nose with her finger, "Now you skedaddle and help clean up."
"Yes'm," the child answered, running to join his family and the Ritter men as they transformed the party space back into a simple barn.
"Why don't you go help, too, Bonnie?" Elsa gently pushed the girl toward the other worker bees.
"Yes, Mama," Bonnie skipped toward her older brothers.
Elsa exhaled, facing the Dillon family matriarch, "Oh, Kitty. This was the best night of Bonnie's life. It certainly was the best night of my recent life, that's for sure."
"My feet are killin' me. Care t' pull up a hay bale?" Kitty nodded toward the makeshift bench.
The women companionably sat, watching the four eldest Dillon children pick up garbage and haul chairs out of the barn, while the men readied the cows' stalls.
"I miss you, Kitty Dillon. I want you to know that I fully realize what a grave mistake I made by judging ya on your past. What you used t' do t' earn a living is none a my business. And accusing Matt of things…well that was just so wrong of me," Elsa confessed, unable to look her former friend in the face.
Kitty quietly confirmed, "What I did for a living isn't anyone's business but mine and Matt's," she faced Elsa, "As for the other accusations, let's just leave those in the past. You made a mistake is all. God knows I've made plenty. I think in time we can rebuild the friendship we'd started."
"Oh, Kitty…really?" Elsa smiled, tears clouding her vision.
"Sure, why not?" Kitty grinned, standing when she'd heard Mutt fiercely barking in the yard. She walked toward the open barn door, concentrating on her boots when she abruptly stopped.
"Well, well, well," the familiar, young, female voice cut through the chatter in the barn, "what do we have here? A little celebration, perhaps?" Sadie Danko seethed as she flipped the sides of her black cape over her shoulders, looking like a vampire ready to strike, while at the same time appearing so very young, dressed in a simple, jade green, long-sleeved woolen dress.
"Sadie!" Kitty instinctively marched toward the uninvited guest, "You're not welcome here and I suggest you leave," she forcefully pointed toward the open barn door.
"Mama?" Addie stood behind Sadie, a look of sheer panic spreading across her face.
"Mama…" Sadie mimicked, thrusting her fists onto her hips, "Why don'tcha tell 'er why I'm here…Mama!"
"Doc," Kitty didn't need to say anything else as he and Festus rounded up the children to herd them into the house. She whispered as he passed her, "No matter what, don't let them outside."
"You can count on that," the elderly man whispered back, glaring at Sadie as he passed her with his gaggle of Dillons and Bonnie, not noticing that the eldest had slipped away.
"What the hell is going on here?" Matt growled as he entered the barn from the other door, hauling in two of the cows from the corral. He hadn't noticed that Addie had run around the barn and stood at the edge of the doorway directly behind him.
"I'm just here t' inform the former marshal and his family that he's gonna be a Papa again," Sadie spat, an odd look of satisfaction on her face as she patted her flat stomach.
Kitty stood in front of the offending blonde, her eyes full of fury, rasping, "This is not the time NOR the place for this, Sadie. You need t' leave! My children live here."
"Not fer long," the blonde hatefully whispered, only for Kitty's ears.
"Kitty," Matt let go of the cows' leads, "What's happening here?" he angrily approached the sparring women, thus allowing his eldest child a ringside seat to the unfolding drama.
The livid redhead opened her stance, allowing Sadie to see the three Ritter men fidgeting on the opposite side of the barn, as well as the young redhead.
"Well, Matt, it seems Sadie here has a paternity claim against you," Kitty announced, crossing her arms in front of her chest. A deep sadness filled her heart as she noticed a flash of lavender wool and long red hair bolting from the rear of the barn into the darkness toward the house.
"WHAT?!" Matt shouted, looping his thumbs over his belt, "Listen, Sadie is it?" he lowered his voice, "I don't know what kinda game you think yer playin' here, but I barely know you, let alone biblically."
"I'm not here t' see you, Mr. Goody Two-Shoes. I'm here t' see him," Sadie pointed in between Matt and Kitty, "Matt Dillon, the former marshal."
The only sound in the barn was the low mooing of the two cows, as all the humans stood in shock, holding their breath.
Matt spoke first as he placed his open palm upon his chest, firmly declaring, "I'm Matt Dillon, Sadie. I was the marshal of Dodge City for well over twenty years. I recently retired."
Sadie's sea glass green eyes darted from Matt to Kitty to the other side of the barn and back again. She boldly questioned, shaking as she pointed, "Then who the hell is he?"
"Josiah?" Elsa whispered, trembling as she clasped her hand over her mouth, "Dear God, Josiah Ritter, what have you done?"
TBC