Chapter 4
Kitty stepped out of the telegraph office with the telegram in her hand. She had anticipated a wire from Matt and stopped by the telegraph office on her way to picking Ruby up from school. She was relieved to read that he had arrived safely in Hays. Kitty put the telegram into her reticule and climbed into the buggy. She would make sure to share the good news with Ruby. Kitty drove the buggy to the school yard, where Ruby was playing with her friends. Ruby saw her momma, grabbed her knapsack, and ran over to the buggy.
"Hi, momma," said Ruby as she climbed up into the buggy. She placed her knapsack on the floorboard of the buggy and got herself situated on the seat.
Kitty pulled Ruby into a side hug and kissed the top of her head. "Hi, baby. Look what was at the telegraph office." Kitty pulled the telegram from her reticule.
Ruby recognized the telegraph paper. "Is it from daddy? Will he be home for his birthday?"
"It is from daddy, but it doesn't say when he'll be home. It just says he arrived safely in Hays," Kitty replied. She folded the telegraph and placed it back in her reticule. Kitty noticed the look on Ruby's face. "You should be happy that your daddy made it there safely."
"Of course I am, momma. I always want daddy to be safe," Ruby stressed.
"That's good. Alright, we're gonna go to Mr. Jonas' store to buy daddy his birthday present," said Kitty, changing the subject. She was hoping that buying Matt his birthday present would change Ruby's somber mood.
It didn't even dawn on Ruby that she and her momma didn't buy anything for her daddy's birthday. Suddenly a thought occurred to her. She didn't have any money with her. How was she going to buy a present? "Momma, I can't buy a present. My money is at home."
"You're right. Your money is at home," Kitty confirmed. "I'll tell you what. I'll pay for everything, and you can pay me some of your money when we get home. How does that sound?"
Ruby tapped her chin as she considered her momma's suggestion. She couldn't think of another way to pay for her daddy's present. "Okay. I like that idea."
"Good," Kitty smiled. She maneuvered the buggy onto a side street and parked it. Both she and Ruby climbed down from the buggy and made their way to Jonas' store. Up ahead they saw Doc and Festus.
"Look, momma," Ruby pointed her finger toward the pair. "It's Grandpa Doc and Uncle Festus." The two men saw Kitty and Ruby and walked towards them. "Hi Grandpa Doc and Uncle Festus."
"Hello, darlin'," Doc happily greeted. "What are my two favorite ladies up to?"
"We're gonna buy fishing things for daddy's birthday," Ruby replied.
"Whatcha aimin' ta buy?" asked Festus.
"I was thinking of some new fishing hooks, lures, fishing line, maybe even a new fishing rod," Kitty replied.
"That there sounds like some thoughty ideas. I'm shore Matthew will love that," stated Festus.
Kitty was pleased with Festus' statement. She was pretty sure that Matt would like his gift, but hearing another man say it was a good idea for a present made Kitty more certain that Matt would like his gift. "Where are the two of you headed?"
"We're going to the Long Branch," Doc answered. "Festus owes me a beer and I'm gonna collect it because I know he got paid and has the money ta pay for it. Strike while the iron is hot." Doc tugged on his earlobe. "If I don't get the beer now, who knows when I'll get it."
"You ol' scudder," Festus shot back. "You act like I ain't never paid back my debts. Us Hagens always pay back what we owe."
"Oh shaw!" Doc exclaimed. "I'm sure it takes the Hagens a lot longer than other people."
Kitty could sense a classic Doc and Festus argument brewing. "Come on, Ruby. We'll leave these two gentlemen alone and get our shopping done." Kitty and Ruby continued their way to Jonas' store.
Jonas was restocking shelves, when he heard the bell above the door ding. Turning around, he saw Kitty and Ruby enter. "Good afternoon, Miss Kitty and Miss Ruby. What can I do for you?"
"My daddy's birthday is on Saturday. We're gonna give him fishing things for his present," Ruby happily answered.
Kitty answered Jonas more thoroughly. "We're looking for fishing hooks, lures, fishing line."
"I keep all my fishing gear over here. Follow me." Jonas led the way, while Kitty and Ruby followed. Jonas showed Kitty and Ruby what he had in stock. There was quite a bit to choose from. "I'll leave you two ladies to look around. Let me know if you need anything."
"Thank you, Mr. Jonas," Kitty smiled. She looked at Ruby. "There's a lot to look at." Ruby nodded in agreement. At that moment Kitty wished Doc or Festus was there to guide her in what to buy. Twenty minutes later Kitty and Ruby picked out the lures and hooks they thought Matt would like. They even chose some fishing line. "Let's go and pay for this and go home."
Kitty brought the fishing loot they picked out up to the front of the store. She placed it on the counter. "Did you find what you were looking for?" asked Jonas.
"I think so," said Kitty. She placed the lures and hooks on the counter. "What do I owe you?"
Jonas looked at what Kitty placed on the counter. He added everything up. "Let's see. It comes to five dollars and sixty-five cents."
Kitty put the money on the counter. "Here ya go, Mr Jonas."
Jonas counted the money. "Thank you, Miss Kitty. I'm sure the Marshal will appreciate the gift."
Kitty and Ruby left town and arrived home. Kitty made lunch. Ruby took a bite out of her sandwich and began to chew. "Momma, we can't make daddy's cake 'cause we don't know when he will be home." Ruby spoke with food in her mouth.
"First of all, you know better than to talk with food in your mouth," Kitty raised her eyebrows at her daughter. "Second of all, you do have a point there."
"Daddy's damn trip is ruining everything!" Ruby pounded her fist on the table.
"Ruby! You do not use that kind of language, young lady." Kitty's voice was stern. "I don't know where you heard that word, but I know daddy and I don't use it around you."
"I hear big kids say it outside at school," Ruby told her mom. "I said it because I'm madder than a wet hen. We can't do anything on daddy's birthday."
"You need to say a more appropriate word when you're mad," said Kitty. "If I hear it again, you'll get a spanking and sit in the corner." A thought crossed her mind that might cheer Ruby up. "Did you know that most times people don't have surprise parties on their birthday? The surprise party is thrown for them on a different day. That makes it more of a surprise."
"So if we have daddy's cake and surprise plans on a different day, it'll be more like a surprise party," Ruby repeated her momma's words, thinking of them as she did. The more she thought about it, the more she liked what her momma had said.
Meanwhile Matt was in Judge O'Hare's chambers. He watched as Judge O'Hare sat down behind his desk and opened the bottom drawer. He pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two shot glasses. He pulled the cork out of the bottle and filled the two shot glasses. Judge O'Hare handed one of the shot glasses to Matt, who accepted it. He then raised his own to Matt. "Happy birthday, Marshal." Both men took a drink, letting the amber liquid burn their throats as it went down.
"Thank you, your honor," Matt said as he put his shot glass down. "But to tell you the truth, my birthday isn't until Saturday."
"I wasn't aware that you had a family," said Judge O'Hare as he swirled the whiskey around in the shot glass.
"It's not something I like to make public. I have to keep them safe. As a lawman, I have a lot of enemies," Matt replied.
"Them?" the judge questioned. "How many kids do you have?"
"I just have one daughter. Her name's Ruby. She just turned six years old last month. I was also referring to my wife, Kitty," Matt clarified.
Judge O'Hare pulled open the top drawer of his desk. He pulled out a picture frame and turned it so Matt could see it. "I get not wanting to let people know you have a family. As a judge, I'm in the same boat as you. I have enemies too. I have to protect my family just like you have to protect yours."
Matt had no idea that Judge O'Hare had a family. He studied the picture of the two children, a girl and a boy. "What are their names?"
Judge O'Hare smiled proudly. "Charlene is seven years old and Christopher is going to be four this summer. They are my pride 'n joy. I'm sure yours is too. So why the tears?"
"Huh?" Matt was confused. Judge O'Hare's question threw him off.
"I'm guessing that was a picture of your little girl crying," said Judge O'Hare. "Why did she draw herself crying?"
"She and Kitty made surprise plans for my birthday. Since there's a good chance I won't be there on my birthday, she's upset."
"Marshal, if you had plans, you could've sent someone else with Stark," Judge O'Hare pointed out.
"Your wire asked for me, and I didn't want to upset you. I heard…"
"You heard I was a tough, no nonsense judge," Judge O'Hare finished. Matt nodded in confirmation. "That's true to an extent. I have to have that reputation as a judge, otherwise people are gonna walk all over me. I'm sure you face the same thing as a lawman. You probably don't let the people of Dodge City walk all over you. On the other hand, your wife and daughter probably have you wrapped around their fingers. There's a difference between Matt Dillon the lawman and Matt Dillon the family man."
Matt softly chuckled. Judge O'Hare didn't even know him, but described him perfectly. "But sometimes it's difficult to separate the two. It's hard when Matt Dillon the lawman gets in the way of Matt Dillon the family man."
"Like now?" the judge inquired. Matt silently answered with a nod of his head. "Well, I'm gonna help you out. I don't need you in Hays anymore. You weren't a witness to any of the robberies. I don't need you at the trial. Go home and be Matt Dillon the family man. Enjoy your birthday with your wife and daughter."
"I appreciate that, but it's a two day ride back to Dodge," said Matt. "If I left now, I'd be back on Friday. But quite honestly, I'm way too tired to even think of that ride. Besides, my horse needs his rest."
"Well, then rent a room at the hotel for the night and leave early tomorrow morning," Judge O'Hare suggested. " If you do that, you'll get home early Saturday, and you can celebrate with your family."
Matt briefly thought about Judge O'Hare's suggestion. He could leave Hays around two in the morning and be home early Saturday morning. The light of the full moon would guide him. "I think I'll do that. Thanks, your honor. It was nice ta meet you." Matt offered Judge O'Hare his hand.
Judge O'Hare took Matt's hand and shook it. "Same here. Happy birthday, Marshal."
Matt smiled his thanks and touched the brim of his hat. He walked out of the Judge's chambers and to the Hays City Hotel. He rented a room and then went to the local cafe to get something to eat. Matt planned on being in bed by eight o'clock and on his horse heading for Dodge by two AM.
TBC in an epilogue
Author's Note: I decided to stop chapter 4 here and have the rest be an epilogue. The epilogue will be posted before the end of the night.