Chapter 7 "Fishing With Daddy" Matt takes Ruby on her first fishing trip.
Matt and Kitty were having a hard time getting Ruby to settle down for the night. Their four year old daughter was going to have her first fishing trip with her daddy, and she was way too excited to go to sleep. Matt knew that it was important for Ruby to get to sleep, but he appreciated her enthusiasm over their fishing trip.
"Do you think we'll catch a thousand fish? Do you think we'll catch reawy big fish?" Ruby rambled on.
"I don't know if you'll catch any fish," Kitty answered her daughter. "You have to catch fish early in the morning, and if you don't go to sleep, you'll be too tired to wake up in the morning."
"Daddy, do fish wake up earwy in the morning?" Ruby asked.
"Your momma's right, sweet pea. We have to catch fish early in the morning," Matt replied. "Now, I would hate to have to leave without you tomorrow. So, if I were you, I'd close those pretty blue eyes and go to sleep."
Not wanting to miss her first fishing trip with her daddy, Ruby snuggled under the covers, laid her head on her pillow, and closed her eyes. Matt and KItty looked at each other and smiled. Then they bent down and gave Ruby a kiss on the cheek. Kisses given, they walked out of the bedroom and softly shut the door.
"She's so excited to go fishing with you," Kitty told Matt.
"I'm glad and relieved at the same time," Matt said as he and KItty settled on the couch in their parlor.
"Relieved?" Kitty questioned.
"Well, I wasn't too sure if she would think going fishing would be fun. Of course she hasn't gone yet, so she could still be disappointed," Matt explained.
"Matt, I don't think you have to worry about Ruby being disappointed tomorrow. I think what she's most looking forward to is being with her daddy," said Kitty as she slowly rubbed small circles on Matt's hand. "In a way I kind of envy Ruby."
It was now Matt's turn to question Kitty. "Envy? Do you want to go with us, Honey?"
"Oh no. This is yours and Ruby's special time together. I envy her because she has a wonderful father who wants to have a father daughter relationship with her. That's something I never had with my father," Kitty said.
"Kitty, I'm sorry you never got to have that relationship with your father. But you don't have to worry about that happening with me and Ruby. I love that little girl with all my heart, and I want the two of us to have a strong father daughter relationship. You know she's my precious little gemstone."
"Matt, I have never once worried that you would not have a loving relationship with Ruby. I know how much you love her." Kitty said as she yawned.
"Maybe we should head to bed," said Matt. "After all, fish do have to be caught early in the morning, and Ruby and I have to get up early."
"I have no objections," said Kitty as stood up.
But before she could walk to the bedroom, Matt scooped her up in his arms. "Mr. Dillon, I'm more than capable of walking to our bedroom," Kitty said with a tease in her voice.
"I'm totally aware of that, Mrs. Dillion," Matt said as he continued to carry Kitty into the bedroom.
Once he reached the bedroom, he set Kitty on her feet and gave her a sweet kiss on the lips. Even though Kitty told Matt she was more than capable of walking to their bedroom, she loved it when he did things like that. What was more important was that Matt knew how much Kitty loved it when he did such things.
Matt removed his clothing, leaving only his underwear on, and Kitty removed her dress and slipped on her nightgown. Knowing they had to wake up early tomorrow, Matt and Kitty climbed into bed and went to sleep. However, before doing so, Matt took Kitty in his arms, so she could put her head on his chest. This was one of their favorite sleeping positions.
Nighttime went by and soon morning dawned. Matt was the first to rise from his slumber. He looked down and could see that Kitty was still asleep. He hated to wake her, but he had to get up. Matt also knew that Kitty wanted to get up when he did, so she could get Ruby ready.
"Sweetheart, it's time to get up," Matt whispered.
"Hmmmmm," Kitty stretched. "Alright, I'll go and wake up Ruby."
Kitty flipped down the covers and got out of bed. She put on her robe and walked out of their bedroom and into Ruby's bedroom. When Kitty opened the door, she could see that Ruby was still asleep. She went over to open the curtains and then sat on Ruby's bed and rubbed her back.
"Ruby, it's time to wake up," Kitty softly said.
"I don't want to," said Ruby, too tired to remember her fishing trip with her daddy.
"Daddy is going to be sad if his little girl doesn't go fishing with him," said Kitty as she continued to rub Ruby's back.
That got Ruby's attention. She opened her eyes and looked at Kitty. With a big smile on her face, Ruby got out from under the covers and started jumping up and down on the bed. "It's fishing day!" she exclaimed.
"It sure is! Now, let's get you ready," said Kitty as she gathered her daughter.
Kitty and Ruby walked to Ruby's wardrobe to pick out a dress. They decided on a yellow dress with blue flowers. Kitty lifted Ruby's nightgown over her head and replaced it with the dress. She combed through Ruby's curly hair and then put in piggy tail braids. Before leaving Ruby's bedroom, she grabbed Ruby's sun bonnet.
Kitty and Ruby walked into the kitchen to find Matt frying up some bacon and eggs. Kitty helped Ruby to sit at the table and then returned to her bedroom to get dressed and do her hair. It didn't take KItty long to do her tasks and she was soon back in the kitchen. When she returned, Matt was placing the bacon and eggs onto the plates.
"As soon as we're done eating, we'll get going," said Matt.
Ruby began to eat quickly, but Kitty stopped her. "If you eat too fast, you'll get an upset belly." Ruby slowed her eating down.
Breakfast finished, Matt and Ruby got ready to leave for their fishing trip. Kitty had made sandwiches the night before and packed them along with some apples into a picnic basket. She also made sure to pack a couple of bottles of water. While she was doing that, Matt was outside hitching up the wagon and getting his fishing pole.
Kitty and Ruby walked outside. Kitty had the picnic basket in one hand and Ruby's sun bonnet in the other hand. She put the picnic basket in the back of the wagon. She and Ruby were waiting by the wagon, when they saw Matt walk out of the barn with his fishing pole. He walked up to the wagon and placed the pole in the back.
"How am I going to catch fish?" asked Ruby.
Kitty was so excited for her daughter's first fishing trip with her daddy, that she didn't even think about a fishing pole for Ruby. She looked at Matt with worry in her eyes. She didn't want Ruby to be upset that she didn't have a fishing pole. Kitty would've let Ruby use hers, but she knew it was too big for the little girl.
"I almost forgot," said Matt as he went back to the barn. He returned a moment later with a small fishing pole.
Ruby's eyes lit up. "Is that for me?" she asked with awe.
"Of course! How else are you going to catch fish?" said Matt, handing the pole to Ruby.
Ruby took the fishing pole and examined it with care. She couldn't believe she had her own fishing pole. "I wuv it!"
Kitty enjoyed the scene before her. "Nice job, Cowboy. When did you get that?"
"I bought it the day I decided to take Ruby fishing. Jonas had one at his store, and I couldn't refuse buying it," Matt answered. He then turned to Ruby. "Let's put your pole in the back with mine and get going.
Ruby gave her pole to her daddy, and he put it in the back of the wagon. Matt then lifted Ruby on to the wagon seat, and then climbed up himself. Before leaving. Kitty placed Ruby's sun bonnet on her head and tied the ribbon under her neck. She instructed Matt to make sure Ruby kept it on. Matt agreed.
Matt and Ruby arrived at their fishing destination. Matt decided to take Ruby to his favorite fishing spot. The only other person that knew of this spot was Kitty. Matt took Ruby there, but decided not to tell her it was his favorite spot. He didn't want her spilling the beans and telling Grandpa Doc or Uncle Festus that daddy had a favorite fishing spot. They would constantly pester him about it.
"We're here," announced Matt. "Let's go fishing." He climbed down from the wagon and got Ruby down.
Matt went to the back of the wagon to get the fishing poles. He gave Ruby her pole and he carried his. He also grabbed the small garden spade that was in the wagon. Matt would use that to dig up worms.
"Why do you have a wittle shovel?" asked Ruby"
"Fish like to eat worms and we have to dig the worms up," said Matt.
"Oh," said Ruby as she followed Matt to the bank of the stream.
"This looks like a good place to dig," said Matt.
He put down his fishing pole and started to dig. Ruby put her pole next to Matt's and watched him dig. It didn't take long to unearth some worms. Seeing the worms wriggle in the soil made Ruby all excited. Matt's heart was full of joy over his daughter's excitement, but he had to tell her that you had to be quiet when you went fishing. If you were too loud, you might scare the fish away.
Matt took one of the worms and put it on Ruby's hook. When she was a little older, he would let her bait her own hook. But right now, he would do it. He didn't want her to get the hook caught in her little fingers. He baited his hook and set his fishing pole to the side.
"Daddy will cast your line for you and then let you hang onto your pole. When I give it to you, hang on tight. Don't let go."
Matt casted Ruby's fishing line for her and then gave the pole to Ruby. She followed her daddy's instructions and held the pole tightly. Matt then casted his own line and sat next to his daughter. After a few minutes, Ruby spoke.
"When do you think the fish will eat my worm?" she asked.
"They'll eat it when they see it. Sometimes they see it right away. Sometimes they take a little time to eat it. When you feel like something is pulling your pole, don't let go. That means you have a fish. Tell me and I'll help you," said Matt.
It wasn't long after that, when Ruby felt a tug on her pole. "Daddy!" she exclaimed. "A fish is trying to take my pole!"
Matt put his pole down, and helped his daughter. After a few minutes of wrestling with the fish, Matt was able to reel it in. It was a nice sized fish. Ruby was over the moon. Matt unhooked the fish and placed it near the stream, making sure it wouldn't float away. They fished for a couple more hours and had their picnic. Ruby caught two more fish and Matt caught three. They would take them home for supper.
Riding back home, Matt noticed that his daughter was going to sleep. He gathered her close to him and put his arm around her. He looked down at her with such love. Matt knew that this was a day he would always cherish and remember and hoped his daughter would do the same.
TBC