Chapter 10 "The Flower Girl" Ruby is a flower girl in a wedding.

Kitty and Ruby were in Helen Schlaufman's dress shop. Kitty had brought Ruby there to get fitted for a few new dresses. Ruby was starting to outgrow some of her dresses and new ones were in need. The other day Kitty had taken Ruby to Mr. Jonas' store to pick out some material for the dresses. After they did that, Kitty took Ruby to Helen's dress shop to see if she could set up an appointment to get Ruby measured. A date and time were set, and now here they were finishing things up.

"Kids sure do grow like weeds. It seems like I was constantly making new clothes for my kids. I swear they would wear something for one week and then it would no longer fit," Helen commented as she made sure she had written down all the measurements she would need.

"Believe me. I know what you mean. There are times that I wish I could stop her from growing for just a little bit, but I know that's not possible. You can't stop the inevitable," said Kitty, wistfully.

"Did you have any material for the dresses?" asked Helen.

"Oh my, I almost forgot. It's right here," said Kitty, handing Helen the package of material. "There's seven yards of material, of different patterns."

"I should be able to make three dresses out of that," said Helen as she took the material from Kitty.

"Wonderful. When do you think the dresses will be ready?" asked Kitty.

"Let's see. Today is Wednesday, and I'm finishing up a dress for Mrs. Ramen, so I should have Ruby's dresses done on Saturday," Helen answered.

"We'll be in town on Saturday to pick them up," said Kitty. "Do you want me to pay you now or on Saturday?" Kitty was reaching into her reticule.

"Saturday will be fine," said Helen.

"Sounds good. We'll see you Saturday," said Kitty. "Ruby, tell Miss Helen goodbye."

"Goodbye, Miss Howen," said Ruby, waving her little hand.

While Kitty and Helen were having their conversation, Ruby was listening and trying to make sense out of what was being said, especially the part about kids growing like weeds. Ruby knew momma didn't like weeds in her garden, so she wasn't sure if she wanted to grow like a weed. She really didn't know what Miss Helen meant by that. Ruby decided when they were outside, she would ask her momma.

Once they were outside, that's just what she did. "Momma, was does it mean when kids grow wike weeds?" Ruby asked.

Kitty had to think for a brief moment, until she realized what Helen had said in the dress shop. "Well, that means that kids grow really fast, like weeds grow really fast," Kitty explained.

"Momma, you don't wike it when weeds grow fast in your garden. You pick them and throw them away," Ruby said as she and Kitty walked towards their wagon.

"You're absolutely right. I don't like weeds in my garden," Kitty told her daughter.

"Momma, if I grow too fast, are you going to throw me away, like you do the weeds?" asked Ruby with a twinge of nervousness in her voice.

"Heavens no! I love you way too much to ever want to throw you away," Kitty answered, not believing her daughter would think such a thing. "Besides, your daddy would never let me throw away his little gemstone." Kitty smiled and winked at Ruby.

Kitty and Ruby were almost to their wagon, when Kitty heard someone calling her. She turned around to see Maisey Jones coming towards them. She and Ruby stopped so Maisey could catch up to them. When Maisey did catch up to them, she was out of breath.

"I'm glad I was able to catch you while you were in town. I was going to come out to your house. But since you're in town, it saves me a trip," said Maisey.

"Hello Maisey. What can I do for you?" asked Kitty.

"Actually, it's not what you can do for me, but what Ruby can do," Maisey answered. "I just got engaged, and I would love it if Miss Ruby would be the flower girl in my wedding." Maisey's face held a huge smile.

"Oh Maisey, I'm so happy for you. You and Todd will be so happy together. Ruby will definitely be your flower girl. This is such an honor," Kitty excitedly responded.

"Thank you so much," said Maisey. "The wedding is in two weeks. We'll have to set up a time with Helen to get Ruby measured and fitted for a flower girl's dress."

"We just came from there. I had Helen measure Ruby for some new dresses. You should be able to use those measurements," said Kitty.

"Perfect! I'll get the material for the dress and have Helen make one," said Maisey.

"That sounds like a plan. Let me know when it's ready," said Kitty.

"Will do," said Maisey. Goodbyes were said and Kitty and Ruby continued on their way.

Just like she was listening to her momma and Miss Helen's conversation, Ruby was listening to her momma and Miss Maisey talk. As before, she was confused at what was being discussed. She didn't know what engaged meant or what a flowergirl was. If she was going to be a flower girl, she should know what one was.

"Momma, what does gaged mean?" asked Ruby as Kitty lifted her up on the wagon seat.

"Hmm?" asked Kitty, confused.

"Gage. What does gaged mean? Miss Maisey said she was gaged." Ruby asked again.

"Oh, engaged means to get married," Kitty answered, understanding what Ruby was talking about.

Ruby then asked her next question. "What's a fower girl?"

"A flower girl is a little girl that walks down the church aisle and sprinkles handfuls of flowers and petals on the ground so it's pretty for the bride," Kitty answered. By now they were on their way home.

"I don't know how to do that," said Ruby, looking up at her mom.

"I have an idea. When we get home, we'll practice," said Kitty.

Hearing that eased Ruby's mind. She wanted to make sure she knew what to do, so she could be a good flower girl. It sounded like an important job.

Kitty and Ruby arrived home and Kitty helped Ruby down from the wagon. They walked into the house and both Kitty and Ruby removed their bonnets. Bonnets removed, Kitty went in search of a basket for Ruby to use to practice being a flower girl. She found one and then took Ruby outside to pick some wildflowers.

"We'll use the heads of these flowers and some petals," said Kitty. She prepared the flowers and put them in the basket. "This is what you do. You hang onto the basket and as you walk down the aisle, you drop the flowers and petals. After you do that, the aisle will have flowers and petals for Miss Maisey."

"I can do that!" Ruby exclaimed.

"I know you can," said Kitty. "Here, you can practice with this basket of flowers." Kitty handed Ruby the basket. Ruby took the basket and did exactly what her momma had told her to do.

"How was that, momma?" asked Ruby. She was hoping her momma would approve.

"That was great. You're going to make a wonderful flower girl," Kitty replied. Ruby smiled.

Later that evening Matt came home. The minute he opened the door, Ruby ran and jumped into his arms. Matt lifted her high above his head and then brought her down for a kiss and a hug. This was their routine. It was something that neither of them ever grew tired of.

"Daddy! Guess what!" Ruby's voice was full of excitement. "I'm going to be a fower girl in Miss Maisey's wedding.

"You are! That's exciting!" his excitement matched his daughter's. "Let's go into the kitchen and find momma." Matt knew she was in there. He could hear her in there.

Kitty was taking a roast out of the oven, when Matt and Ruby walked in. Matt set Ruby on her chair and went to the other lady in his life. He waited for Kitty to put the roast on the table and then took her in his arms and gave her a kiss. Kitty eagerly accepted and returned the kiss.

"Did Ruby tell you the good news?" Kitty asked Matt while they were eating supper.

"She sure did," said Matt.

"Daddy, I practiced being a fower girl, and momma said I did a great job. Oh she also said you wouldn't wet her throw me away because I'm your gemstone," Ruby added.

Matt looked at Kitty, confused. Kitty smiled and gave him a look that said she would explain later. That's just what she did. Later that night while they were in bed, Kitty explained to Matt what brought that up. The story made Matt chuckle.

Two weeks had passed, and it was time for the wedding. Ruby's flower girl dress was made of white lace with a light blue sash around the middle. Ruby had practiced a few days ago in the church, so she knew exactly what to do and where to stand. She was standing at the back of the church and was told she could start. Ruby walked towards the front of the church, dropping flowers and petals as she did. Matt, Kitty, Doc, and Festus were sitting in the second row watching Ruby. All four were smiling as the little girl made her way down the aisle.

About two thirds of the way down, Ruby suddenly stopped. She moved her hand around the basket and realized she was out of flowers. "Oh no!" she cried. "I ran out of fowers." She then looked back at Maisey. "I'm sorry, Miss Maisey." The congregation softly chuckled. Ruby started to pick up some of the flowers and petals to put in her basket, but Matt got out of the pew and told his daughter it was okay, and that she did a good job. He then walked her the rest of the way and placed her where she was supposed to stand. He returned to the pew.

"Ya know, Matthew. Before ya know it, yer going to be walking Ruby down the aisle to her future husband," Festus quietly commented.

"She's going to have to find a man that I approve of before that happens," Matt whispered.

Kitty heard Matt's remark and knew he meant what he said. She had a feeling that no man would be good enough for Matt Dillon's little girl. 'Good luck, Ruby,' Kitty thought. She then looked at Ruby and then at Matt. Yup, if she couldn't find a man that her daddy approved of, this might be the only time that Ruby walks down the aisle with her daddy.

TBC