Chapter 25- Chaos at the Legacy D
"Josiah?" Elsa whispered, trembling as she clasped her hand over her mouth, "Dear God, Josiah Ritter, what have you done?"
Once Elsa Ritter had uttered those words, all hell broke loose in the small Dillon barn.
Sadie ran to the man whom she'd believed to be Matt Dillon and began pounding her fists upon his chest, shouting, "You filthy, rotten liar! How could ya lie t' me over and over again?!"
Josiah seemed to be in shock as he did nothing to ward off her powerful blows.
Ben ran to his mother who had crumpled to the ground, the woman only able to mumble the words, "No, no, no…" as tears flowed down her cheeks.
Jeb Ritter's face turned red with fury. He grabbed Sadie, pulling her away from his father, brutally bending her arm behind her back, warning, "You'd best get offa this ranch and outta this town if ya know what's good for ya, whore!"
"Let me go!" the young woman shrieked as she struggled, her green eyes wild with both anger and fear.
Matt ran to Sadie's aid, shouting, "Hold it! Let go of her, Jeb!"
"Why?!" the younger man growled at the former lawman, "so you can act like ya haven't been with 'er?! We all know ya sampled the goods, too!"
Kitty still hadn't moved an inch. She remained frozen in her spot, blinking furiously at the scene playing out in front of her. Jumbled thoughts swirled around her head. Did I hear Sadie correctly? Did she point to Josiah as the father of her child? Did she say that Josiah had told her his name was Matt Dillon? So Matt didn't…hasn't…but Jeb said…
The sound of Matt's fist connecting with Jeb Ritter's jaw shook Kitty from her trance. While the former marshal stood over Jeb as he struggled to stand, Josiah roughly shoved Sadie to the ground on his way to defend his son.
"Matt!" Kitty alerted as Josiah launched himself onto the big man's back, wrapping his arm around Matt's neck in a choke hold.
"Josiah! Stop! For the love of God, STOP!" Elsa shouted as Ben helped her to her feet.
While the two strong, middle-aged men began to tussle and throw punches, Kitty noticed Jeb staggering toward Sadie, who'd remained on the floor of the barn, her mouth agape at the unfolding chaos. Jeb yanked Sadie upright and shoved her toward the barn door, pushing her just outside the opening with all his might.
"Ya had t' go and ruin everythin', didn't ya, whore?! You don't know who the father a that bastard is, do ya?!" Jeb shouted as he loomed over the terrified young woman.
The crack of a shotgun blast into the night caused everyone to freeze.
"That's a'nuff a this dad-blame mud-wallerin'!" Festus shouted into the chaos as he approached the barn, his trusty shotgun at the ready, "We got a houseful a young 'uns over yonder and they's as scared as kin be. A'nuff is a'nuff!"
Matt lowered his fist that had been poised in midair and Josiah released Matt's shirt from his grasp, using his sleeve to wipe a small amount of blood from the corner of his mouth, while Elsa's and Sadie's muffled cries were the only sounds echoing through the darkness.
Festus quickly assisted Sadie to her feet, the young woman trembling.
"I'll take ya home, Miz," the frustrated hillman soothed.
"I kin git myself home," the blonde lightly shook her arm loose from Festus' gentle grasp.
"It's late," Kitty approached the two, her arms protectively wrapped around herself, "I can't let you walk back t' Rat Hole Alley alone," her sympathetic blue eyes met the young woman's sad green ones.
"Why ya bein' so nice t' me?" Sadie whispered, unable to continue meeting the redhead's sympathetic gaze, "I tried t' steal yer man and take yer home."
"Your safety and liking you are two separate things, Sadie," Kitty redirected her attention to Festus, "Make sure Abelia goes with you, Festus. I don't trust this one as far as I can throw 'er."
Inside the dimly-lit barn, Matt shook his head, confronting Josiah, "What the hell were you thinking, Josiah? Telling her you were me?! Do you have any idea the implications this could have? God only knows who she told that I've been bedding her. That I'm the father of her child. What if my young children hear about this?!"
"I guess I wasn't thinking," the butcher ran his hand through his salt and pepper hair, barely able to look at his friend, "I didn't give her a name for a long time. It made everything kinda…mysterious. Then one night," he briefly glanced at his wife who leaned against a hay bale on the other side of the barn, their son Ben supporting her, "I'd had too much t' drink and I told her I used t' be the marshal. I don't know why I said it…"
"Of course you know why you said it," Kitty vehemently remarked as she reentered the barn, "You're a liar who didn't want to implicate himself. And that would have been okay, except you implicated my husband. That was NOT okay. Rumors have a ripple effect, ya know," she firmly planted her fists upon her hips.
"Pa?" Ben sorrowfully glanced at the man whom he'd always admired, still holding his whimpering mother.
"Oh, Elsa," the butcher approached his wife, "It'll be okay, Honey. I promise." The woman flinched as he tried to touch her shoulder.
"How could you?" she mumbled, finally meeting his gaze, her brown eyes flickering with disgust, "You've destroyed our family. What are me and Bonnie t' do now?" she cried, tears trickling down her flushed cheeks.
"What do ya mean, 'what are you and Bonnie t' do now?' We go on, like normal," Josiah kneeled in front of his wife, attempting to comfort her.
Elsa suddenly found her backbone. Straightening her spine, she spat, "Normal! You think we just go about our business knowing a young woman is carrying your child?! What's wrong with you, Josiah?! Where is the sweet man I married nearly thirty years ago?"
"There's no proof the child's Pa's," Jeb chimed in, standing a few feet from his family, his thumbs looped into his pockets, "She sleeps with men fer a livin', Ma."
"And how might you know that, Son?" Elsa scoffed, realizing that the apple hadn't fallen far from the tree.
"Well, I, uh…I just know," her son nervously shifted from one foot to the other.
Elsa warmly gazed at the son who'd been comforting her, asking, "Ben, would you please get the horses and wagon ready t' go and I'll get Bonnie from the house."
"Yes, Ma. I sure will," the young man glared at his brother as he escorted his mother out of the barn; the same barn that had been the setting of such a joyous occasion just a short while ago.
"Josiah," Matt hooked his thumbs over his belt, "I think it's best if you leave here now. And other than payin' your rent, you can forget where I live."
"Matt," Josiah implored, "I didn't mean ya any harm. Truly…it just kinda happened. Sadie told me she was new t' town and I certainly didn't want to give her my name-"
"So ya gave her mine?!" Matt growled.
"Like I said, I just thought-"
"Matthew!" Festus bellowed from the yard, "Rider's a comin'!"
All the men made their way outside, waiting for the horse and rider to lope into the yard.
"State yer bizness," Festus clutched his rifle across his body, making sure the big, bearded young man on horseback noticed it.
"I'm here fer her, Sir," the rider pointed at Sadie, who'd been impatiently waiting in the buggy's rear seat for Festus and Abelia to escort her home.
"Bubba Pounds!" Sadie stood, "What the hell are ya doin' here?!"
Bubba looked at the former lawman, "Can I git offa my horse, Marshal?"
"I suppose," Matt nodded, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
Bubba dismounted and approached the buggy with a full audience curious as to what was going to unfold. Elsa and Kitty observed from the porch, Maggie hitched high on her mama's hip, while the men remained in the middle of the yard.
"I told ya not t' come here, Sadie Danko! What was ya thinkin', huh?"
"Bubba, ya can't tell me what t' do!"
"Who is he?" Josiah whispered to Matt, nodding his head toward the young man.
"Bubba Pounds," Matt quietly answered, "he lives in Rat Hole Alley. Nice kid. He helps at the blacksmith shop when things get busy. He's a hard worker."
"Oh…"
"Whatcha doin' in that buggy, Sadie?" Bubba asked.
"Waitin' t' go home. These folks won't let me walk," she nodded toward the porch.
"I told ya the marshal's a good man," he looked over his shoulder at the former lawman, "Marshal, I'll take Sadie home. She's kinda my girl."
"Hmph," Jeb mumbled, kicking at the dirt with his boot tip, "she's everybody's girl."
"Whadd'ya say?!" Bubba stormed toward Jeb, his eyes filled with rage.
Matt stood in front of Jeb, holding up his large hand, "No need, Bubba. Trust me," he pointed his thumb over his shoulder, "he's not worth it. Why don't ya just take Sadie home?"
Bubba glared at Jeb over Matt's shoulder, groaning, "Okay, Sir," he then looked Matt straight in the eye, "I told 'er not t' come here. I told 'er I'd marry 'er. No need t' ruin yer family, Marshal."
"I appreciate that, Bubba. But I think Sadie has something quite revealing t' share with you on your way home," Matt held out his hand for a firm handshake from the steadfast Mr. Pounds.
XXXXXXXX
Kitty wearily placed a yawning Maggie into her crib. She caressed the baby's chubby cheek, lightly playing with the red wisps that curled against her face. She sighed, "Sleep well, my sweet girl. Mama loves you, Margaret Louise."
The cherubic child slowly blinked, fighting the sleep that her body desperately needed.
The exhausted redhead made her way to Scarlett's bed and tucked the winter quilt snuggly around her snoring toddler. She tenderly kissed her little one's forehead before reclaiming her chamberstick. While making her way toward the hallway, Kitty cocked her head. Is that crying?
She cut through the adjoining water closet and quietly knocked on her eldest child's door, whispering, "Adelaide? It's Mama."
The concerned mother didn't receive a reply. She repeated, "Addie? It's me."
The second lack of response prompted Kitty to swiftly enter the girl's dark room, lifting her chamberstick higher in an attempt to see what was happening.
Kitty approached the trembling eleven-year-old. She stood bedside, fighting her own tears as she softly asked, "Addie girl, wanna talk about it?"
The child remained with her back toward her mother as she softly whimpered into her pillow.
The heartsick mother placed the chamberstick upon the side table while she sat on the edge of her daughter's bed. She rubbed her sweet girl's back, comforting, "I'm not leaving until you talk to me, Adelaide Jane. I know what you saw was scary, but we really do need t' talk about it, Honey."
Addie slowly rolled over to face her mother, tears clouding her big blue eyes. Her cheeks were flushed and wet from her salty tears.
"Oh, my sweet girl," Kitty cupped her face between her palms, "talk to me."
Addie hiccupped as she wept, "I-I ha-hate-him…"
"Who do you hate, Baby?" Kitty furrowed her brows, running her hand down her child's long, red locks.
"Dad-Daddy," the little girl wailed, unable to contain the pain that gripped her very soul.
Kitty's eyes widened in surprise, "Oh, Pumpkin," she embraced Addie as the girl melted into her mother's arms, "You don't understand. Please, please don't feel that way."
Addie pushed herself away from her mother's breast, sobbing, "How can you say that?! He's gonna go live with Sadie and leave us! Or worse, he's gonna make us leave! Oh, Mama…"
Kitty's heart broke as her eldest child crawled into her lap seeking comfort. She gently rubbed Addie's back, quietly shushing her until the girl's last shudder.
Kitty took a deep breath, explaining, "Addie, I don't ever want you t' think that your father would ever force us out of our home. If you think that could ever happen, why you don't know your daddy at all. And furthermore, if you really think that could ever happen, you don't know me, either."
"What do you-you mean?" the girl hiccupped, her big blue eyes begging for both comfort and forgiveness from her mother's matching set.
The elder redhead offered her mini look-alike a half grin, keeping Addie in her warm embrace. In her deep timbre Kitty explained, "Let's just pretend for one second that Matt Dillon lost his mind and wanted me to pack up all of you children and move out. Do you honestly think I would do it? Do you honestly believe that I, Kathleen Russell Dillon, wouldn't fight like a lioness to protect her cubs? Do you truthfully think I wouldn't fight to keep you in your home?"
"But I thought that fathers tell mothers and children what t' do. Where t' live and stuff like that. Ransom Danko tells Sadie what t' do for a job, and Pate's step-father left them and he and Mrs. Gibbons ended up in Rat Hole Alley. I don't wanna end up in Rat Hole Alley, Mama."
"Adelaide Jane Dillon," Kitty firmly stated, gingerly clasping Addie's shoulders, "have you not learned a thing about me and your father? Matt Dillon doesn't tell me what t' do any more than I tell him what t' do. We discuss things and then we decide together what t' do. Now, I know we're different than most married couples, and maybe that's because we married later in life. It could be because I was on my own for a very long time, or it could just be because we respect each other."
Hiding her face against her mother's breasts as she played with the buttons on Kitty's dress, Addie whispered, "But what about Sadie? And what she said…"
Kitty lifted Addie's chin so their eyes met. She needed to make sure her daughter understood that in no way, shape or form was Matt Dillon the father of Sadie Danko's baby.
"It's a long, grown-up story, but what you need t' know is that Mr. Ritter lied to Sadie and told her his name was Matt Dillon."
"What?!"
"He admitted to that much," Kitty offered her daughter a weak half-grin.
"Why would he do that? And now he has t' leave Mrs. Ritter? And what about Bonnie?" Addie bit her bottom lip.
"Well, obviously, Mr. Ritter didn't want to get caught," Kitty stopped herself to choose her words carefully, "he didn't want to get caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing. So, he lied. But, Addie, it is possible…" Kitty bit the inside of her cheek, slowly blinking, "Well, um, it is possible that Sadie doesn't really know that Mr. Ritter is her baby's father."
"Cause she's a…you know…" Addie shrugged her shoulders before shifting to lean her back against her mama's chest.
Kitty wrapped her arms around the girl's waist, "The polite term is working girl and yes, that's part of the reason. I think Sadie heard that the former marshal has a big house and some money, so she convinced herself that he, meaning Mr. Ritter, is the baby's father."
"What if he is?"
"That, my darling, is a grown-up problem for those involved to figure out."
"Mama?"
"Yes?" Kitty closed her eyes and rested her chin upon the top of Addie's head.
"Will you please sleep next to me? The whole night?"
"Sure, Honey. I don't think I could possibly walk another step after the day I've had," Kitty wearily unbuttoned her boots while her daughter situated herself under her covers. She blew out the candle on the chamberstick and snuggled up next to Addie.
"Mama?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm glad you made me stop reading Anna Karenina. Why would anyone ever want t' read about people leaving their children and ruining their families?"
Why indeed? The exhausted mother wondered, rolling onto her side. I could sure use a drink.
TBC