Chapter 6

Kitty tried not to let her imagination get the best of her. She tried to reassure herself that Ruby was fine. Just like with Matt, if something was seriously wrong with Ruby, someone would've come and gotten her. No one came.

Kitty opened the door and walked inside the jail. She saw Matt sitting at his desk studying the wanted posters. Ruby was nowhere in sight. Maybe Festus was mistaken. Worried that he had lost track of time, Matt looked at the clock. It was ten minutes before noon.

"Kitty," Matt addressed her. "I wasn't expecting you."

"I ran into Festus outside, and he told me he saw Miss Grey bring Ruby over here," said Kitty as she took a glance around the jail. "But I don't see her. Is she here?"

"She's here," Matt answered.

"Are you sure about that, Cowboy?" Kitty asked with a tease in her voice. "Because I'm not seeing her."

"She's in jail," Matt simply stated.

"You put our daughter in jail?" Kitty was shocked. She couldn't believe that Matt would put Ruby in jail.

"It wasn't my idea," Matt responded. "She wanted me to put her in jail."

It suddenly dawned on Kitty that she still didn't know why Ruby was at the jail in the first place. "Why is our daughter here and not at school?"

"According to Miss Grey, Ruby tripped Toby," Matt answered. "She refused to explain herself ta boot. Do you think Toby's bothering her again?"

"I don't know," Kitty responded. "But even if he was, we talked to her about getting help from an adult. She knows better. We're going to have a serious talk with her."

"I know and I told her that," Matt replied. "Before we do, I have ta tell ya what she said about taking a nap in jail. She asked me if I was gonna make her take a nap in the jail. When I asked her why, she told me she was bad and I had to rest her. If I rested her, she would have to take a nap in the jail."

Kitty could not help but laugh. "Matt, it's going to be hard to have a serious talk with Ruby when you tell me things like that. I need to be upset right now."

"Oh, I'm sure you can make yourself upset. Just remember those times I wasn't able to take you to a town social." Matt winked at her.

"Very funny, Cowboy," Kitty smirked. "Go release your prisoner and bring her out here."

Matt grabbed the cell keys off the hook. "I have ta say that she's the cutest prisoner I've ever had in my jail."

"You best forget that," Kitty told Matt. "I don't need you being a big softie during our talk with Ruby."

"Don't worry." Matt opened the door to the cells and went to unlock the jail cell that Ruby was occupying. "Ruby, your momma's here. I want you ta come out to the office, so we can talk with you."

Ruby was not looking forward to the talk with her parents, but obeyed her daddy. "Okay, daddy." Walking out into the office, Ruby saw her momma sitting at one of the chairs at the table.

"You sit down on that chair," Kitty instructed Ruby. "And your daddy can sit there." Once again, Ruby did as she was told. "Your daddy told me Miss Grey brought you here because you tripped Toby and wouldn't explain yourself. Your daddy and I are disappointed in your behavior. You know better than to try to hurt someone and not to answer a trusted adult when they ask you a question. Now, we want you to tell us why you tripped Toby."

Hearing the tone of her momma's voice, Ruby knew she had no choice, but to explain her actions. "Toby keeps bothering me. He pokes me with his slate pencil and pulls on my braids. You said I couldn't hit him, so I tripped him."

"Ruby," Matt looked directly at his daughter. "We said you couldn't hit him. That doesn't mean you can trip him. We also told you to get an adult to help you. Why didn't you tell Miss Grey what was going on?"

"'Cause then I'd be a snitch," Ruby replied. "And snitches get stitches."

"Where on Earth would you hear?" Kitty stopped. She had her suspicions. She was almost certain Festus had been talking with Ruby.

"Uncle Festus said if you tattle, then yer a snitch." Ruby confirmed Kitty's suspicions. "Then he said snitches get stitches. I got stitches when I jumped on the bed. I don't want them again."

Matt and Kitty shared a glance. It was no surprise that Festus told Ruby snitches get stitches. They knew Festus meant well and that he loved Ruby, but unfortunately Ruby followed his words more than necessary.

"Little girls won't get stitches telling the truth when an adult asks them a question," Kitty reassured Ruby. "I'm sure Uncle Festus meant well." Kitty turned her attention to Matt. "I'd like to get things straightened out with Miss Grey before the weekend." She looked at the clock. "It's just past noon. The kids will be at lunch now. The three of us could have a private talk with Miss Grey."

"Sounds good," Matt agreed.

The Dillon trio made their way over to the school. They were going to walk, but decided to take the buggy. The buggy would be faster. The children were playing behind the schoolhouse, so they did not see the Dillons enter the front. When they walked inside, Miss Grey was at her desk eating her lunch.

Miss Grey looked up when she heard the door open and close. "Hello." She put her sandwich down and dabbed her mouth with her napkin. "Look, about sending Ruby to her father, I'm sorry."

"Wait, Miss Grey," Kitty interrupted. "There's no need to apologize. We're not here to justify Ruby's actions. We're here because Ruby's going to apologize to you and explain her actions. Go ahead, Ruby."

Ruby took a deep breath and let it out. "I'm sorry I didn't answer you, Miss Grey. I tripped Toby because he keeps bothering me."

"I wish you would've told me," said Miss Grey. "Why didn't you?"

"I didn't want to be a snitch," Ruby replied. "Uncle Festus said snitches get stitches."

Miss Grey looked at Matt and Kitty. "Don't worry," said Matt. "We've talked to her about that."

"I understand that you don't want to be a snitch, but if someone keeps bothering you, then you're not being a snitch," said Miss Grey. Ruby nodded her understanding. "I will have a talk with Toby."

"We don't want to take up anymore of your lunch. We'll be on our way. Thank you," said Matt.

With things taken care of, Matt, Kitty, and Ruby left the school. Outside, Matt helped his girls up into the buggy. Once they were settled, Matt got into the buggy and drove it back to town.

"When we get home, you'll be having a timeout, while I make lunch," Kitty told Ruby.

"Oh momma, not a timeout," Ruby complained. "I was already in jail. Prisoners don't have timeouts when they get out of jail. Do they, daddy?"

"I think it would be best if you mind your momma," Matt suggested.

Later that afternoon Matt went down to the stage depot. He wanted to check out the schedule and see if any stages would be arriving in Spearville on Monday. Unfortunately, no stagecoaches would be arriving in Spearville before or on Monday. Matt tried the train station next, and was met with the same luck. It looked as though Matt, Blane, and Dirk would be going by horseback to Spearville.

TBC