Chapter 19
Matt walked over to the jail with Doc's words repeating themselves. 'If you get vengeance, you're no better than him. Let the law handle it, within the law. Who's gonna protect Kitty and Ruby and keep them safe. No one can do it like you.' Matt tried to silence the words in his head. He was a man on a mission. He reached the jail and entered.
"Marshal. Matthew," Newly and Festus greeted in unison. Both men immediately noticed the pin holes on Matt's shirt, pin holes where the badge should have been. They glanced at one another. Matt grabbed the cell keys off the hook.
"Are you sure you want to do that, Marshal?" Newly felt if he addressed Matt as Marshal, it would help Matt to remember he was the Marshal. And if Matt remembered he was the Marshal, he would not go and make any rash decisions. He wouldn't make decisions he would later regret.
"Never mind." Matt closed the door to the cells shut behind him.
Doc returned to his office defeated. He did not want to face Kitty. His promise of stopping Matt from taking justice into his own hands ended up being a broken one. Doc hated breaking promises, especially to people he considered to be his loved ones. Matt was right. He should not have made a promise he could not keep.
"Where is he, Doc?" Kitty knew the answer, but asked the question anyway.
"He went to the jail. I talked to him. I tried to stop him."
"Did Daddy go to work?' Ruby was innocently oblivious to why her daddy had left.
"Yes, he did," Kitty quickly answered.
"He didn't give me a kiss goodbye," Ruby pouted.
"I'm sure he just forgot." Kitty was not sure if Matt forgot or not, but that is what she was going to tell her daughter.
"Will Daddy be back soon?"
It was another innocent question. Doc looked over at Kitty. He was going to let her answer Ruby's question. He had already broken one promise, and he was not going to risk breaking another one.
"I hope so. We'll just have to wait and see."
Doc was impressed with Kitty's response. She answered Ruby's question without giving her a definite answer. With the answer Kitty gave to Ruby, she would not break any promise. Doc decided to change the subject.
"Kitty, why don't you go home and bring Ruby a clean set of clothes. You can get a clean set for yourself. Also, bring something to keep Ruby entertained. I want her ta stay here for a while. I'm not taking any chances with her."
Kitty knew exactly what Doc was trying to do and did not argue. "Okay. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Take your time. Ruby and I will enjoy each other's company." Kitty smiled her appreciation and left Doc's office.
Going down the steps, Kitty remembered that she did not have the family buggy or wagon. When Festus came for her, she had ridden her mare to town. Her mare was nowhere to be seen. Thinking logically, Kitty went over to Moss Grimmick's stable to see if her mare was over there.
"Good morning, Miss Kitty," Moss greeted. "I take your presence as an indication that Miss Ruby is alright."
"She is. Do you happen to have my mare?"
"Yes. Festus brought it over. Let me go and get her." Moss left and returned shortly later with Kitty's mare all saddled up.
"Thank you, Moss. I appreciate it." With Moss' help, Kitty mounted her mare and took off towards home.
Kitty had to ride past the jail. There was no way to avoid it. Kitty looked straight ahead. She did not want to know what was taking place in that jail. Right now she had other things to do. Kitty did not have time to dwell on Matt's supposed actions. She continued on her way home.
Arriving home, Kitty took her mare into the barn. She stripped the mare of its bridle and saddle and then set her free in the corral. When Kitty returned, she would bring the mare back into the barn and then hitch Buttercup up to the buggy.
Walking towards the house, Kitty noticed the bedding that still hung on the washline. She took that down before she went inside. With the full laundry basket in her arms, Kitty walked into the quiet house. It was eerily too quiet. Kitty sent a silent prayer that it would soon be filled with the voices of her entire family.
The first thing Kitty did was gather some of Ruby's coloring sticks and books. That would keep her entertained. Next she went into Ruby's bedroom and walked towards the chest of drawers. Kitty pulled out a clean nightgown for Ruby, along with some clean undergarments. She placed those on Ruby's bed and then went over to the chifferobe. Kitty selected a dress for Ruby to wear when she was able to come home. Kitty folded the dress and added it to the pile on the bed.
Kitty took Ruby's attire and brought it into her and Matt's bedroom. She deposited it on the bed, while she went to her own chifferobe. Kitty opened the doors of the chifferobe and selected a dress to change into. Closing the doors part way, she hung the dress on the outside. Next she walked over to Matt's chifferobe. In addition to Matt's clothes, that's where they kept their travel bags. She grabbed a carpet bag, placed it on the bed, and packed it with Ruby's things.
While Kitty was stripping herself from her dress, her eyes caught vision of the bathtub across the hall. A hot bath to wash away her troubles was very tempting. Kitty let her dress fall to the floor. She prepared herself a hot bath. Stepping into the steaming water, Kitty let herself sink down. She knew that Doc wouldn't mind.
Matt looked at the very cell. Myles was sitting in the last cell. Matt was not expecting to see what he saw. He was expecting to see a young hot headed man, not a man who was closer to Doc's age. Matt had planned on giving the man a beating he would never forgett. He suddenly pictured himself beating Doc, and that scared him to death. Matt would never do that to Doc.
Myles looked at Matt and made eye contact. "I was told she was alive."
"Your plans didn't go as you wanted." Matt's eyes never left Myles' face.
"Thank God," Myles mumbled.
"What?" Matt was not quite sure if he heard Myles correctly.
"I said thank God," Myles repeated. "I was certain that avenging Tabitha's death would change things. I thought this weight would be lifted off my heart and my shoulders. I was wrong. Knowing I may have killed an innocent little girl like my Tabitha only made the weight heavier. I've realized vengeance is not going to make me feel better. I need to do what my wife told me to do after it happened. I need to accept that my daughter's death was an accident."
Matt still wasn't quite sure what happened to make Myles Saunders go after Ruby. All he knew was this man was a man from Doc's past. "What happened?"
Myles Saunders told Matt the story of what happened to his daughter Tabitha. Matt listened intently, putting himself in Myles' shoes. But after "walking" a short distance in Myles' shoes, Matt realized the shoes did not fit. Matt could never do what Myles did, not if he wanted to be the man that Kitty and Ruby were proud of.
"It was an accident. Doc Adams would never intentionally kill one of his patients," Matt stressed.
"I'm beginning to accept that," Myles told Matt.
"You'll have to face trial for your actions," said Matt. "I'll wire Judge Brooker in Hays City."
It was awfully quiet in the jail cells. Newly and Festus were not sure what to make of the silence. They debated whether or not they should check and see what was going on. Where should their loyalty be, to their friend, Matt Dillon or to the law? Newly and Festus were still trying to decide, when the door to the cells opened.
Matt walked out and placed the keys on the nail. He saw the questioning looks on his deputies' faces. "I didn't touch him." Festus and Newly breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm gonna send a wire to Judge Brooker 'n then I'm gonna go back to Doc's office."
Kitty returned to Doc's office a little over an hour after she left. She returned feeling refreshed. On her way back she stopped at Delmonico's to pick up some food. She got enough for herself, Ruby, Doc, and Matt, with the hope that Matt would be around to eat it. Knowing that Ruby still needed more bland foods, Kitty got some extra mashed potatoes for her.
Doc heard the office door open. "It sounds like your momma's back." Doc left the backroom and went into the front. Seeing Kitty had her arms full, Doc went to help her. "Here, let me take that."
Kitty handed Doc the basket of food. "Thanks. How's Ruby?"
"She's fine. We'll set up the food out here. Ruby can come out here and eat. I want her up and walking so she doesn't lose her strength."
"Let me get her washed up and into her nightgown first," said Kitty.
Kitty helped Ruby wash up and get into her nightgown. By the time they finished, Doc had the food set up on his desk. He noticed the amount of food Kitty brought over. Kitty held Ruby's hand as the pair entered the office. Kitty lifted Ruby up on one of the chairs and put a small scoop of potatoes on her plate.
"Eat that first, and if you're still hungry, I'll give you more. Take your time eating."
Matt went to the telegraph office to send the wire to Judge Brooker. He decided to wait for a response. After years of sending wires to Judge Brooker, Matt learned that the judge would not take long to respond, especially if he knew the wire was from Matt. Judge Brooker's returned telegram said the trial would take place in two weeks.
The trio was in the middle of their meal, when they heard the unmistakable sounds of Matt's footfalls. Doc and Kitty put their forks down and stopped eating. Ruby did the same, but for a different reason. She was happily anticipating her daddy's return. Doc and Kitty were nervously anticipating Matt's return. They had no idea what he was going to tell them.
Matt entered Doc's office and walked over to the table where he left his badge. He picked it up and pinned it back in its place of honor. Kitty watched the scene before her with unshed tears in her eyes. Matt did not take things in his own hands. Had he, he would not have put the badge back on. Doc noticed the same thing.
"Why don't you join us, Marshal? There's plenty of food." Doc moved his chair to make room for Matt.
"I think I will." Matt grabbed a chair and joined his family.
"Daddy, you forgot to give me a kiss goodbye when you left," Ruby pointed out.
"Sorry, little gemstone. I guess I wasn't thinking," Matt confessed.
"And you forgot to get a surprise when you went away. I guess you weren't thinking then too."
Kitty couldn't help but laugh at her daughter's accusation. Doc swiped his hand over his mustache, trying to conceal his smile. "I guess daddy hasn't been doing too much thinking lately." Matt admitted.
Epilogue
Myles Saunder's trial took place two weeks later. It was determined that Newly and Festus would escort Myles to Hays. Matt would attend the trial, but not as a lawman. Kitty also attended. Ruby stayed with the Ronigers. She was looking forward to staying at the Ronigers. Before her parents left, Ruby reminded them multiple times to bring her something back.
The trial, if you could even call it that, did not take long. Myles Saunders did not want to drag things out. He admitted what he did. Judge Brooker sentenced him to twenty years in prison. With Myles' age, that could end up being a life sentence.
Matt and Kitty were in the general store looking for something to give Ruby. "She could use another pair of stockings for the winter." Kitty suggested.
"Stockings aren't really a fun surprise."
"We'll get you a new pair too. Ruby would love the fact that she got new stockings just like her daddy."
"Alright, if you think she'll be pleased with new stockings, we'll get her the stockings," Matt reluctantly agreed.
Matt and Kitty returned to Dodge City the next evening. They collected their daughter from the Ronigers and rode home. The entire trip home Ruby inquired about her surprise. Kitty told her she would have to wait until they got home. Matt was worried that Ruby would be disappointed.
"Sit on the couch, and we'll give you your surprise," Kitty instructed. Ruby did as she was told. Kitty handed Ruby the stockings. "Daddy got some new stockings, so we got you some too." Kitty's voice was full of enthusiasm.
Ruby accepted the stockings. "Did Daddy get the same color?"
"He sure did. They're black just like yours."
A smile spread across Ruby's face. "Daddy, me 'n you got the same color stockings."
Matt looked over at Kitty who had a knowing smile on her face. Once again his wife knew what she was talking about. He had no idea why he had doubts. "We sure do, sweetie."
Later that night Matt and Kitty were in their bed basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking. Matt had Kitty gathered in his arms with her head pillowed on his massive chest. A question had been on Kitty's mind ever since they learned Ruby was going to be fine. Taking a couple of deep breaths. Kitty gathered the courage to ask Matt her question.
"Matt, would you have looked at me differently if Ruby had died?" Kitty's voice was soft, almost inaudible.
Matt was caught off guard by Kitty's question. He thought her deep breaths were indicators that she was falling asleep in his arms. "Differently? What do you mean?"
"Would you look at me with disappointment?"
Matt could not understand why Kitty would think he would look at her with disappointment. "Kitty, I'm afraid I'm not following you here. Why would I look at you with disappointment?"
Kitty began her explanation. "After Ruby was born and Doc announced it was a girl, I was elated. I had a little girl that was a part of you and a part of me. I immediately started to think about the future. I thought about future babies we would have, brothers and sisters we would give to the baby I had just given birth to. I wasn't able to give you a son the first time, but I would have other chances. Then tragedy struck. After I woke up and found out I wasn't going to be able to have more babies, I knew the chance to give you a son was gone."
Matt interrupted. "Kitty, if you think I've been disappointed that we never had a son, you're wrong. If we did have more children, there was no guarantee any of them would be boys. I would have been just as happy with a house full of little girls. I'm not the type of man who has to have a son to carry on the Dillon name or continue our legacy. Ruby will do that."
Kitty considered asking Matt if he would've gone to another woman to continue his legacy, but quickly banished that thought. She knew Matt would never do that, but she did have another question. "Matt, if Ruby didn't make it, there would be nobody to carry on your legacy. If that would've happened, would you have insisted we adopt a child or two to carry on your legacy?"
Matt did not have to take long to think about his answer. "No, I wouldn't want to adopt a child just to replace the one we lost. It wouldn't be fair to that child or the one we lost. How about you? Would you have wanted to adopt a child?"
"No, for the same reasons," Kitty replied.
"Kitty, I hope this whole thing about not giving me a son has been on your mind for the last five and a half years." One look at Kitty's face gave Matt his answer. "Kitty, not once have I been disappointed in you because we never had a son. I'm as proud as a peacock to be the father of a beautiful little girl who's alive and well because she survived her ordeal. I don't want to focus on what might or could have been. I want to focus on what we have now, a life with a little girl who's as beautiful and strong as her momma."
"Strong like her daddy," Kitty stated as she slowly started to fall asleep, grateful for the conversation she and Matt just had. Matt was right. It was best to focus on what they had, and she thanked the Lord everyday for that.
The End
