Chapter One-The Next Chapter
"Just sign right here, Matt," Judge Blake pointed to the line on the legal document that he'd placed upon Kitty's desk.
As Matt penned his name with great flourish, the judge smiled at the dark-haired boy who leaned against his mother's side, intently watching the U.S. Marshal. He couldn't help but notice the joy written all over the lovely redhead's face once her brand-new husband dropped the pen and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, kissing her forehead.
Judge Blake heartily shook Matt's hand, "Congratulations, Marshal." He then focused his attention on the young boy, patting the top of his curly head, "And congratulations to you, too, Son. From this moment on, you will officially be known as Thaddeus Joseph Dillon."
Thad smiled brightly, shaking the elderly man's hand. "Thank you, Sir. My mama and I both got a new last name today," he beamed as he glanced over his shoulder at his watery-eyed mama.
"You most certainly did." The justice redirected his attention to Kitty, gently clasping her right hand between both of his. "Congratulations to you, too, Mrs. Dillon. I wish you all the best, and I thank you for allowing me the privilege of performing your marriage ceremony. After all, it's about time this thick-headed fella came to his senses."
"Thank you, Judge. We're just happy that you were the one passing through Dodge this week," Kitty smiled brightly as she lightly squeezed his hand.
The tall magistrate snatched his stovepipe hat off Kitty's desk, "I'd best be on my way. I don't want to miss my stage. Walk me out, Matt?"
Once outside on the boardwalk, Matt secured the double doors of The Long Branch behind him. He turned to face the judge, a man he'd held in high regard for many years. Matt hooked his thumbs in his gun belt, quietly saying, "I appreciate your discretion, Judge. Kitty and I—"
Judge Blake's reflective green eyes met Matt's calm blue ones. He placed a hand on the big man's shoulder, "Matt, you don't have to worry about a thing. It's not my business or anyone else's as to why you waited so long to marry Kitty and claim your boy. I figure you had your reasons. Is it true you're moving to New York City?"
Matt pursed his lips, nodding, "Yes. We sure are."
The silver-haired man bit his bottom lip. Clearing his throat, he nodded in the direction of the stage depot, walking with his hands clasped behind his back. "You be careful there, Matt. New York is a rough city. Sure, it's big and offers all kinds of activities, but it's much different than out here in the west. Here, you pretty much know who your enemies are; the Indians, bank robbers, gunslingers. In New York, your enemy could be a co-worker."
"A co-worker?" Matt furrowed his brow.
"You heard me," Judge Blake casually checked his gold pocket watch. "The police force there has been littered with crooked officers for years. Men on the take."
Matt crossed his arms in front of his chest, assuming a wide stance once the men stopped in front of the depot. "I did get notice that there isn't a U.S. Marshal's office. I'll have a small office in one of the Metropolitan Police precinct houses downtown. I found that to be strange."
The judge searched his vest pocket for a cigar. He bit off a tiny tip of it, spitting it into the dusty street. "The government is cheap when it comes to the Marshals' Service. You should know that by now, Son." He swiftly struck a match against the awning post of the stage depot, continuing, "Be on alert any time you hear the mention of 'Tammany Hall'. Avoid anyone associated with that group. Understand me, Marshal?" he tilted his head, lifting his eyebrows as he puffed his cigar.
"Yes, Sir. I understand," he nodded as the driver stepped down off the box and started to load the passengers' bags atop the stagecoach.
"Good," Judge Blake shook the marshal's hand one last time before boarding the stage. "I like you and your family too much to see any harm come to you. You take care of the missus and your boy. Good luck, Matt. Keep in touch."
When Matt pulled his hand away, he glanced at the small card with embossed printing in his palm. It read, Joshua Culver Blake, Attorney at Law, 341 Fulton Street and on the back of the card was scribbled, my cousin-a good man. He sighed and carefully tucked the card into his coat pocket.
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"Today was the best day of my life, Cowboy," Kitty purred as she snuggled into Matt's shoulder. Her hand caressed his abdomen as she tenderly suckled the nape of his neck.
"It's a close second for me," he teased, lightly strumming his fingers up and down her arm.
She propped herself up on one elbow, cocking her head playfully. "Oh, really? Pray tell, Marshal, what would you consider the best day of your life?"
The big man gazed into her sparkling orbs, "It may very well be the day we went fishing at Spring Creek seven years ago, and never even put our poles in the water."
Kitty smiled brightly, humming against his lips, "Yeah, that was a pretty wonderful day." She once again settled herself into his embrace. "I'm glad we had a little party today after Judge Blake left. I know you didn't really want to celebr-"
"You hold on right there, Mrs. Dillon," he interrupted. "It's not that I didn't want to celebrate. I just prefer that we celebrate in private, with our closest friends. We'll be heading out in a couple of days and I don't need any adversary followin' us outta town. Were gonna be on trains for days and I don't want any unexpected visitors."
The redhead stretched her arm across his chest, while draping her long, alabaster leg over his midsection. She whispered, "I understand, Matt. Really, I do. But in New York, we won't have to be so secretive, will we? I mean, I'll be showing soon and—"
Matt urged Kitty to fully lay on top of him. She rested her chin on her clasped hands as she gazed into her husband's eyes, patiently waiting for his answer.
"Kitty, I swear to you we're going to live a normal life. New York will be so different…a completely clean slate for us. Marshaling there will be a far cry from what it is here. I'll transport prisoners from a prison in Brooklyn to court in the city and vice-versa. I could do that with one hand tied behind my back. I'll issue eviction notices and things like that. I'll carry out all lawful orders issued by judges. It ought to be easy compared to here, Honey."
"Will you have your own office? A deputy?"
"As of now, my office is downtown in one of the Metropolitan Police buildings." He tenderly tucked some fallen locks behind her ear while studying her face.
"Police building?" she quirked a brow. "Don't you have your own building? You're a United States Marshal, for crying out loud!"
"Nope. The government is kinda thrifty, in case you haven't noticed. But remember, having all those police officers around is gonna come in real handy. Not like here, where I just have Chester and some well-meaning men from the town to form a posse when I need one. Honest, Honey, this is like a promotion. I even get a little raise because it's more expensive t' live there."
Kitty sat up, fully straddling her husband's hips. She leaned over, her long, wavy hair forming a crimson curtain around their faces. "Ya don't say?" she whispered, capturing his mouth with hers.
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"I'm gonna miss you, Grandpa," Thad sniffled, his arms tightly embracing Doc's neck while his face remained cradled in the nape of the elderly man's neck.
Doc patted the boy's back, "I'm gonna miss you, too, Son. Honest to goodness I am. But before you know it, it'll be the spring and before you are out of school for the summer, I'll be in New York, visiting you."
The boy pulled away, studying the physician's face. "You promise?"
Doc held up his right hand, vowing, "I do solemnly swear."
"Good, cause Mama's gonna have my brother or sister in June. She may need your help. I don't want anything to happen to her."
He stood, patting the child's shoulder, "I think your mother will have plenty of doctors to choose from in a big city like New York, but I wouldn't miss the birth of my second grandchild for anything in the world."
Kitty wiped a tear from her eye, touched at how quickly her surrogate father had accepted Thad into his heart. She sighed, "Give me a hug, Doc. The train is gonna be here soon."
Before embracing her, he tenderly kissed both of Kitty's cheeks and whispered into her ear, "I'll miss you most of all, Honey. You take care of yourself, you understand me?"
The redhead tightly squeezed him, sniffling, "I promise. I love you, Curly."
Doc swallowed his tears, choking, "I love you, too." He released his hold on her, taking a step backward to glance over her shoulder at the incredibly tall U.S. Marshal who filled up the doorway of his office.
"Kitty, Thad," Matt held his hat in his hand, "we need to get goin'. Don't want to miss our train."
Doc shuffled to the door, approaching Matt, who'd extended his hand. The gray-haired man stared at his friend's large mitt for a brief moment before growling, "Really, Matt? All these years of friendship and you want a handshake? P'shaw," he wrapped his arms around the big man for a brief embrace before their sets of misty blue eyes met. "You be careful, now. You've got a growing family to raise."
Matt pursed his lips, "You know I will, Doc. Keep an eye on Chester for me, will ya? He's all torn up cause Marshal Tucker says he doesn't need 'im. He'll be working at the Long Branch for a while until he decides what to do."
"Anything for you, Matt. Anything. If you ever need me, I'm just a telegram away."
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Kitty finally had fallen asleep after crying for an hour straight as the train chugged along the tracks, heading for Wichita. Matt held her, his arm loosely wrapped around her shoulder as her head rested against his chest.
Thad sat across from his parents, attempting to read Little Men, but he was having a hard time concentrating. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched his new father comfort his mother, repeatedly wiping away her tears and whispering something in her ear. Once his mama had fallen asleep, the child noticed how Matt vigilantly kept an eye on the people sitting near them on the train, as well as the passengers moseying up and down the narrow aisle.
"Pa," the boy quietly asked, "can I ask ya a question?" He closed his book and leaned toward the man he admired above all men, resting his forearms on his thighs.
"Sure," Matt grinned, relishing the sound of the word 'Pa'.
"How come Mama was so sad t' leave Dodge, when she's the one who wanted to move? I don't understand."
"Well, ya see, Son, women are a different breed than us menfolk. She really wanted to move, to try something new to offer you and your little brother or sister the things a big city has to offer. Good schools, museums, theater. Stuff like that."
"Then why did she cry so much?" he frowned, scratching his temple.
"Your mother loves Doc a whole lot because he's always been like a father to her. Her father wasn't ever around, so she came to rely on Doc for fatherly advice."
Thad studied his hands as he sat up straight, crinkling his mouth. "Yeah, I know that feeling."
Matt leaned over, trying not to wake his slumbering wife as he stared into the depths of Thad's blue eyes. The timbre of his voice was both deep and sincere. "I'm proud that you're my boy, Thad. You're as much a Dillon as the baby your mother carries. Do you understand that? You belong to your mama and me. And you're gonna be the best brother a child could ask for."
The Dillon men grinned at each other in silence, gently swaying with the motion of the train. The younger of the two sheepishly wiped a tear from his lightly freckled cheek, whispering, "Yes, Sir, I understand. And I promise I'll be the best big brother ever. You can count on me, Pa."
TBC