Chapter 12

"Jim, I see ya made good timing," commented Matt. "I can only assume you didn't have any problems."

"None whatsoever," said Jim. He knew Matt was referring to Dirk.

"Let's get to the hotel," Matt told Dirk.

"Is Blane at the hotel?" asked Dirk.

"He's at the jail," Matt answered.

"That's a surprise, considering you let him stay home all weekend," replied Dirk.

"Dirk, don't even start," Matt warned. "I'm not in the mood."

Back in Dodge City, Kitty and Ruby were getting ready to bake the blueberry muffins for tomorrow's school picnic. It was all Ruby talked about on the way home from school and during lunch. Kitty loved to listen to her daughter's enthusiasm.

"Momma, what other food do you think will be at the picnic?" asked Ruby as Kitty tied the strings of Ruby's little apron.

"I don't know for sure, but I'm sure whatever food is there will taste delicious," Kitty answered. "There, your apron is all tied. Now, let me get my apron on, and we'll get started."

Kitty had all the ingredients on the kitchen table. Like they have done in the past when baking together, Kitty would measure out the ingredients and Ruby would pour them into the mixing bowl. Depending on what they were making, sometimes Kitty would stir to mix the ingredients together, and then let Ruby continue. Kitty was about to crack the eggs, but Ruby stopped her.

"Wait, Momma," she said. "Can I crack the eggs?" Ruby looked at Kitty with hopeful eyes.

Kitty thought about it for a moment. "Okay, but I'm gonna have you crack the eggs in another bowl and then pour them into the mixing bowl."

"Why do I have ta crack them in a different bowl?" Ruby asked. Her momma didn't do that.

"If you get egg shells in the batter, it would be hard to get out. We don't want egg shells in the batter," explained Kitty.

"That would be 'barrassing," said Ruby. "What if I get shells in the eggs in that bowl?'

"If you do, Aunt Bess showed me how to get the shells out," Kitty replied. "It'll be easier to get the shells out of that bowl than the bowl with the batter." She picked up an egg. "The recipe says two eggs. Watch me crack the first egg and you can do the other egg."

"Okay," Ruby agreed. She carefully watched Kitty crack the first egg into the bowl.

"Do ya think you can do that?" asked Kitty as she put the empty egg shell on the table.

"Yes," said Ruby, eager to crack her first egg.

Kitty handed Ruby the other egg. "Now, you have to hit it hard enough on the edge of the bowl and then pull the egg apart over the bowl"

Ruby followed her momma's instructions and cracked her first egg. There were no shells in the bowl. Ruby put the empty shell on the table next to the other ones.

"I did it!" she exclaimed with pride.

"Good job!" Kitty praised. She handed Ruby the mixing spoon. "Here, you can stir."

Ruby took the mixing spoon and stirred the mixture. "How's that?"

"It looks like it's all mixed up," Kitty responded. "I'll scoop the mixture into each muffin tin and then put them into the oven."

Ruby waited until the muffin tins were full before asking her question. "Momma, can I put them in the oven?"

"Oh no," Kitty replied. "You are too young to use the oven. Daddy would be very if he came home and saw his little gemstone hurt. I would be sad too."

"Dagnabbit," Ruby mumbled, but not enough so Kitty didn't hear.

"Language, young lady," Kitty warned.

"Sorry, momma," Ruby apologized.

Knock! Knock! Knock! Matt got up to see who was knocking on his hotel door. "Judge Brooker. I wasn't expecting you. Is your trial over?"

"It is. I'm here ta tell you that I'm going to postpone Blane Ackerly's case until tomorrow morning at ten o'clock," informed Judge Brooker. He saw the look on Matt's face. "Is that a problem?"

"No," Matt lied. "That's fine."

"Good," said Judge Brooker. "I'm also here to talk to you about what happened. I need ta decide if I'm going to have a bench trial or a jury trial."

Matt explained everything that happened. He also gave Judge Brooker the witness statements to read over. With the information he received and the statements, Judge Brooker left Matt's hotel room.

Matt left to send a wire to Dodge City. He wanted to let Festus and Newly know, along with Kitty, that the trial was going to be delayed until the following day. Matt knew Festus would get the message to Kitty.

The wire came through at the telegraph office in Dodge City. After receiving it and writing it down, Barney took it to the jail, so he could deliver it to Festus.

"Festus, a wire came from Spearville," said Barney as he handed Festus the telegram.

Festus opened the desk drawer and pretended to look for his "glasses." "I can't seem ta find my glasses. I'm guessing that there telegram is from Matthew. What's it say?"

Barney knew Festus couldn't read, but didn't let on that he knew. "It's from the Marshal. The trial is gonna be delayed until t'morrow." He handed Festus the piece of paper.

Festus took the paper. "Thanks, Barney. Much obliged."

Festus folded the paper and put it in his pocket. Knowing it was close to suppertime, Festus decided it was the perfect time to let Kitty know about Matt's telegram. Before heading to the Dillons, he went to the gunshop to give Newly the news and to let him know where he was going.

Ruby liked to play outside and that's exactly what she was doing when she saw Festus and Ruth riding up in the distance. She put her hoop down and ran into the house.

"Momma, Festus and Ruth are comin'," Ruby said excitedly.

Kitty smiled. She expected that Festus would stop by. Kitty was also certain that Matt told Festus to keep an eye on her and Ruby. Kitty knew there was no point in telling Matt he didn't have to ask Festus to keep an eye on them every time he had to leave for a few days. He would still ask Festus. Besides, Festus probably enjoyed the home cooked meal.

"We better set a place for him," said Kitty. "I'm sure he'd love ta stay for supper." She got a place setting and put it on the table.

Festus dismounted Ruth and tethered her to the hitching post behind the Dillons' house. He walked up to the backdoor and knocked. Ruby opened the door.

"Hi Uncle Festus!" she happily greeted him. "I saw ya comin'. We set a place for you."

"That's mighty thoughty of you," said Festus. He handed the telegram to Kitty. "From Matthew." Kitty took it and read it.

"What does it say, Momma?" Ruby asked.

"It looks like Daddy will be gone longer than he thought," Kitty answered. "The chicken 'n dumplings are ready. Let's sit down 'n eat."

Ruby had finished her bedtime routine and was tucked in her bed. Kitty read a few pages from "Heidi" and put the book on the stand next to Ruby's bed. She gave Ruby a kiss on each cheek, one from her and one from Daddy.

"Momma, do you think Daddy will bring me something?" asked Ruby.

"Ruby, you can't expect your daddy to bring you something every time he's gone for a few days," Kitty responded.

"Okay, but do you think he will?" asked Ruby.

"Knowing your father, he will. Now, it's time to go to sleep," Kitty told her daughter. "You have school tomorrow and your school picnic." Ruby smiled and snuggled deeper into her covers.

Kitty went into Ruby's room the next morning to wake the little girl up. It was their ritual for Kitty to go into Ruby's room and rub her back to wake her up. They both enjoyed the special time.

"Momma, can we get a rooster?" Ruby asked as she stretched.

"Why do you want a rooster?" Kitty questioned. This was the first time Ruby ever asked for a rooster.

"Because when it goes er er er er ooo," Ruby did her best rooster imitation. "It can wake me up."

"If we get a rooster, then I wouldn't have ta come in and rub your back because the rooster already woke you up." Kitty could see Ruby was thinking about that. "Plus, the rooster would wake you up early on days you didn't have to get up early. And I know you like to sleep in when you can."

"I guess getting a rooster isn't a good idea," said Ruby.

"I agree," said Kitty. "Alright, we need to get you ready for school, so we can eat breakfast. You don't want to be late for school."

Breakfast that morning was oatmeal with blueberries. Kitty would make oatmeal when Matt was gone. Both she and Ruby liked oatmeal. Matt did not care for oatmeal. He preferred eggs and meat.

A half an hour later Kitty and Ruby were on their way to take Ruby to school. Kitty had planned on putting the basket of blueberry muffins in the boot of the buggy, but Ruby insisted on holding the basket. So now Ruby's knapsack was in the boot and Ruby was holding the basket of muffins. Kitty instructed Ruby to make sure she held the basket with both hands and that they stayed covered.

Kitty and Ruby reached town. They traveled down Front Street, unaware of the figure watching them from one of the windows on the second floor of the Dodge House.

TBC