Thanksgiving Gathering
I don't own these characters. I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.
KMKMKMKM
Kitty opened the oven door and peeked in at the turkey. It was looking pretty good if she did say so herself. She spooned some of the broth over its top and then closed the oven door. Checking the potatoes on the top of the stove, she could see they were just about done. The pies and cake and cookies, she'd baked yesterday, so they were ready to go.
"Kitty? Where do you want me to put this?"
Kitty turned to see Matt carrying in a large platter with another turkey on it. "Ummm, I guess you'll have to put it out onto the bar top." She shrugged. "Every surface in here is covered."
"Alright," Matt disappeared from the kitchen and then returned a few moments later. "That was from Ma Smalley. Mrs. Torvett said she'd bring hers over shortly. Looks like there's going to be plenty of food."
"Maybe." Kitty picked up the potatoes and headed to the sink to drain the water. "But there's going to be a lot of people coming. A lot of hungry people."
Matt nodded. "True. Ya know, I was kinda surprised you'd take this thing on."
"You were?" Kitty frowned up at him as she put a potato masher in his hands. "Mash those?' She pointed to the large pot. "Why were you surprised?"
Matt didn't question the task she'd assigned him and obediently went to work. "Well, it's just such a large project. I mean you do have a business to run and all but yet you take on the task of feeding an entire town Thanksgiving dinner."
Kitty shook her head at him as she diligently cut a loaf of bread into slices. "First of all, I'm not the only one cooking. Ma Smalley and Mrs. Torvett and 10 other ladies in town are also cooking for this. And second of all, my business hasn't been doing too well due to the drought we had. With crops and ponds drying up, farmers and ranchers have been too busy trying to save what little they have. That means they have no extra money to spend in here. I figure hosting this dinner will help my business when things get better."
"Uh huh." Matt knew her better than that. Kitty had a heart of gold and would and usually did help anybody in need. She just didn't like the spotlight that came with her generosity.
"Oh, you." Kitty understood what he didn't say. "Honestly, Matt. This supper will be good for me and everyone else who participates in it."
"Yeah and there's others as well." Matt agreed. "I know others who've been hitting hard lately."
"I do too." Kitty nodded. People like Martha Edison. With her husband dead, and 3 kids to raise, she's had a hard time just keeping a roof over her head. No time to socialize and most likely very little food. This will be chance for her to not only feed her kids but to have some fun herself. Besides, I might be able to introduce her to some eligible bachelors."
"I don't doubt that." He grinned.
"Miss Kitty?" Chester came in carrying a large cloth covered pot. "Miss Miller said to bring these beans on over. She'll be coming in a little bit with the pies she baked."
"Alright." Kitty answered. "Take it out and put it on the bar. We're out of room in here."
"Boy this all sure does smell good." Chester looked hungrily at the abundance of food covering the counters and table.
"And it will taste good when we get to it." Kitty answered. "But not right now. So go put those beans on the bar and then check in with some of the other ladies to see if they need anything. Mrs. Jonas was baking some more bread, I believe. Go check with her."
"Alright." Chester answered as he left to deposit the beans on the bar.
"Keeping him busy so he doesn't eat half of all this before supper?" Matt grinned.
"Something like that." Kitty laughed.
"Kitty?" Doc came in just then. "I covered every mile north of here and Sam, Jonas and Moss Grimmick covered the other directions. There's going to be an awful of people coming. You sure you're going to have enough room for everyone?"
"No, I'm not." Kitty admitted. "But I'm not sure what else to do. The hotel dining room isn't any bigger and neither is Delmonico's. I don't know any place else."
"I do." Matt suddenly spoke up. "It might delay the meal by a half hour or so, but I know exactly where we can go."
"Where?" Kitty and Doc exchanged puzzled looks.
"The old warehouse." Matt answered. "I'll gather some of the men and we'll have a place big enough in no time. See ya in a little bit." He smiled as he put the potato masher in Doc's hand, turned and left.
Before Kitty or Doc could reply, Matt was gone.
Rushing from the kitchen, Matt gathered the three men in the bar room and issued orders to them. Moving on down the street, he stopped into the Oasis and gathered the two men in there. Going on down the street, Matt corralled every man he could find and issued orders to each and every one.
Inside of an hour the old warehouse was a buzz with workers. Some men were clearing out the floor of the old building and sweeping it thoroughly. Some were setting up sawhorses and placing planks of wood atop of them to make long tables. A couple of men had gone to the saloons, the café', the hotel restaurant and everyplace else in town and confiscated every chair they could find as well as plates and cutlery and glasses and material to make tableclothes. In no time the place was cleaned up and set up for a large meal for a lot of people.
After collecting Kitty and the other ladies who'd cooked so much food as well as the food, Matt led them over to the old warehouse to finish setting up. In the meantime Matt and his volunteers went about summoning the many people who gathered that day in the small town of Dodge to come and partake of Dodge's first Thanksgiving dinner for the whole town and beyond.
A couple of hours later and only 15 minutes later than promised, everybody that could make it to town was in the old warehouse waiting for the food to be served. But before that happened, Doc walked to the front of the building and with some help from Chester and Matt garnered everyone's attention.
"Folks! Folks!" Doc waved an arm and waited for a moment until all eyes were on him and they were quiet. "Folks, I know I am speaking for the ladies of this town as well as the men who volunteered their time and efforts to make this a wonderful day for all of you. We're glad you're here. But more than that, we needed you here."
Doc paused a moment before continuing. "You see, Dodge is more than just a collection of buildings and businesses. It's a collection of souls. People who have all come together in this one place to make a life and make a way. It's people that may not live directly in town but still claim this town as their own and we claim them. And on days like today, we should all come together to not only share a meal and the companionship of our fellow citizens but to pause a moment and be grateful for what we have here."
Doc paused again. He saw many people agreeing with his sentiments and some who just wanted him to finish so they could eat. "Dodge may not be large in size or offer all the things that bigger cities have but its our home and what is it and what it will become is up to us. So let's be grateful for this town, these people and most of all this food. Reverend?"
Doc turned to the balding man in the white collar who was standing at the side. "Would you come and bless this meal?"
"Certainly, Dr. Adams." Reverend Green, who'd never been accused of being too brief, walked up to stand beside Doc. "Well now, everyone, bow your heads for the blessing."
Once all heads were bowed, the reverend cleared his throat and began. "Dear Heavenly Father. We, the people of Dodge City, Kansas, gather before you this day to thank you. Thank you for the wonderful people who spent of their time and money and talent to make this meal and provide this meeting place and then used their compassion and humanity to share it with so many."
"Amen!" A voice yelled from the back. But the good reverend ignored him.
"Thank you for those who spared time out of their schedule to come here and partake of this meal. We know times are hard and days are short and many have other things that needs done but they came anyway. Thank you, Lord, for all that came our way this year, the good and the bad."
"There's been plenty of bad!" Another voice yelled out.
The reverend opened one eye and looked around but continued. "For in each of these things, good and bad, we have found lessons to help us later in life. And Lord, thank you, most of all, for being there for each of us, whether we knew it or not and deserved it or not and for keeping us safe for one more year."
He was about to say more but one more peek at the restless group of people, convinced him otherwise. "We ask that you bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and we give you praise. Amen!" He quickly finished.
When the reverend stepped back, Doc raised his arm again. "Let's eat everybody."
As people began to fill their plates and the building lit up with conversation and laughter, Matt reached down and took Kitty by the hand and pulled her away and out the door which led into the alley behind the warehouse.
Certain of their privacy, Matt wasted no time in pulling her to him and leaning down, capturing her lips in a kiss. When he pulled away, he smiled down at her. "Happy Thanksgiving, Kitty. And thank you."
"Happy Thanksgiving, Cowboy." She smiled. "But you know, it wasn't just me that put all this on. A lot of people worked on this."
"I know." He nodded. "But you spearheaded it and besides this isn't the only thing I was thanking you for."
"Oh?" She arched a brow with a soft smile. "Do tell me more."
"I want to thank you for sticking with me." Matt answered. "I mean, not many women would put up with my lifestyle. And not many women would stay knowing their life could be at risk just by being known as my friend or my woman. And I want to thank you for loving me. You know, I don't say it much, but I love you too. And I am very grateful to have you in my life."
Kitty flung her arms around him and just held him for a moment before pulling away and looking up at him. "I know you do, Matt. And, although I admit that badge of yours gets in the way sometimes, I accept it as a part of you."
Matt leaned down and kissed her again. "Tell you what, why don't we go back in and get some food before it's all gone. Then maybe we can go back to your place and show each other just how grateful we are to be together."
Kitty chuckled as she linked her arm into his. "Sounds like a plan."
As Matt and Kitty went back into the warehouse, they didn't notice the twinkling star above the humble and impromptu dining hall. They didn't notice that it got just a little brighter as they'd embraced. But the star noticed them and the force behind it smiled happily.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.