Chapter 20: "A Kansas Fourth" The Dillon family celebrates the 4th of July.
Kitty was finishing stirring up the potato salad for this evening's Fourth of July picnic. She also planned on packing fried chicken and blueberry muffins. As soon as she was done mixing the potato salad, she put it in the ice box so it would be chilled in time for this evening. Next, she gathered all the ingredients and cooking utensils needed to bake the muffins. On the counter, she put the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, eggs, butter, and blueberries, along with the mixing bowl, measuring cups, measuring spoons, and muffin tin.
Kitty walked out into the parlor room and looked at the clock. It was fifteen minutes past two. Kitty didn't want to wake up Ruby quite yet. She wanted to make sure Ruby got enough sleep. The little girl would be up past her bedtime watching the fireworks. Kitty would let Ruby sleep for a half hour longer. She did want to make sure there was plenty of time to bake the muffins and fry up the chicken. A half hour later, Kitty walked into Ruby's bedroom.
"Ruby, honey, it's time to get up," said Kitty, rubbing her daughter's back.
"Mmmmmm," Ruby moaned. Waking up wasn't something she wanted to do at the moment.
Kitty could see that Ruby was tired and would probably sleep longer, if Kitty let her. Kitty also knew that Ruby would be upset if Kitty did let her sleep longer and Kitty baked the blueberry muffins without her. She continued to rub Ruby's back. Kitty didn't know if this was helping wake Ruby up or helping her to continue sleeping.
"Ruby, I guess you can sleep a little longer," said Kitty. "I'll just bake the blueberry muffins by myself."
Kitty stopped rubbing Ruby's back and got up from the bed. She was walking to the door, when she heard Ruby stir. Kitty had a feeling saying that would get Ruby's attention and do the trick. Ruby loved baking with her momma.
"Momma!" Ruby exclaimed, jumping off her bed. "Wait for me!"
"I'm so glad you finally woke up. I would have missed my baking buddy," said Kitty.
Kitty and Ruby walked out into the kitchen to start their task of baking the muffins. Kitty pulled a chair up to the counter for Ruby to stand on. Kitty would measure out the ingredients and Ruby would carefully pour them into the bowl. Kitty would stir the ingredients first to make sure everything was evenly mixed together. Then she would give the spoon to Ruby and let her stir. After the ingredients were mixed together, Kitty poured the batter into the muffin tins and put the tin into the oven. Thirty minutes later they had muffins. Kitty cleaned up the kitchen and got ready to make the fried chicken.
Matt walked into the house around five o'clock. He had just gotten home from work. He worked during the day and Newly and Festus would cover tonight. They were hoping the town celebration would be peaceful, but one couldn't be too sure. Ruby, who was stacking her blocks in the parlor, saw her daddy walk in and went to greet him.
"Hi daddy!" she exclaimed as she ran to him. Matt picked her up and Ruby gave him a big squeeze and a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi sweetheart!" Matt exclaimed. He squeezed her back and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Where's momma?"
"In the kitchen getting ready for the picnic," Ruby replied.
"What picnic? I didn't know there was going to be a picnic," Matt teased.
"Daddy," Ruby giggled. "You're teasing. You 'member the picnic."
Of course Matt remembered. Since the day Ruby found out about the picnic and the fireworks, she didn't let her parents forget. She even put x's on the calendar marking the days until the picnic took place. The day of the picnic was circled on the calendar.
"Daddy's just teasing. I didn't forget about the picnic," said Matt.
Kitty was in the kitchen packing the picnic basket, when she heard Matt come home. She could hear him and Ruby talking to each other in the parlor room, but couldn't make out what they were saying. She had everything they would need for the picnic, including some bottles of water. Earlier Kitty had given Ruby a small crate to pack some toys. Kitty wanted to make sure Ruby would be entertained after they ate their food. Kitty grabbed the picnic basket, walked out of the kitchen, and into the parlor.
Matt saw Kitty walk in with the basket and went to take it from her. "Here, let me have that. What time do we need to leave?"
"I was thinking we should leave in fifteen minutes," Kitty responded.
"That gives me plenty of time to get cleaned up," said Matt. "Let me put this in the wagon and then I'll wash up." Matt took the picnic basket out to the wagon.
Kitty turned her attention to Ruby. "Did you put some toys in the crate I gave you?" Ruby pointed to the crate she packed. "Good, let's use the water closet before we go." Kitty took Ruby's hand and led her to the water closet.
Matt had finished washing up and was waiting in the parlor for his girls. "Are my girls all ready to go?"
"We are," said Kitty. "Would you mind carrying that small crate? It has some toys Ruby packed for the picnic. I'll carry the blanket."
"You know I don't mind," said Matt, picking up the crate.
The family headed out the door and walked to their wagon. Matt put the crate next to the picnic basket and then helped Kitty up onto the wagon. He waited for her to get situated and then he handed Ruby to her. Kitty took Ruby and put her onto the seat. Matt walked to the other side and got himself up onto the seat. He saw that his girls were ready to go. He clucked his tongue and gently snapped the reins to get the horses moving.
After ten minutes of riding, the Dillon family arrived at the town picnic. It was being held on the church's property. Matt parked the wagon next to the wagons of the residents that were already there. Matt helped Kitty and Ruby get down from the wagon and then went to the back to get the picnic basket. After they found a spot to sit, he would go back and get the crate with Ruby's toys.
Kitty knew this was a town picnic, so finding a private place was out of the question. However, she did manage to find a place that wasn't in the middle of the crowd. Matt put the basket down and helped Kitty spread out the blanket. Once the blanket was spread out, Matt went back to the wagon to retrieve the crate of toys. Kitty started getting the food out and setting places for her family to eat. Matt returned with the crate and admired the food.
"Wow, the food looks delicious," he said. "Do I see my favorite blueberry muffins?"
"Me and momma baked them today," Ruby proudly stated.
"I can't wait to have one," said Matt.
"We can have one now," said Ruby as she went to grab two muffins.
"Uh, no," said Kitty. "You need to eat some chicken and potato salad before you get a muffin. Your daddy needs to do the same thing."
"Dang nabbit," said Ruby.
"I think she's been around Uncle Festus too much lately," said Matt. Kitty sighed and nodded in agreement.
Ruby did as she was told and ate her chicken and potato salad. She was then given a blueberry muffin. Ruby wasn't the neatest of eaters when she ate it. She had crumbs down the front of her dress and on the blanket. It was no big deal to Kitty. All she had to do was brush off the dress and shake out the blanket.
"That was a great meal. I am absolutely stuffed," said Matt, patting his stomach.
"I am absowootwy stuffed" said Ruby, patting her stomach and mimicking her daddy.
"I'm glad you both enjoyed it," said Kitty. "Matt, give me the water bottles and carry the basket back to the wagon. I think we're done with it for the night."
Matt took the picnic basket and put it in the back of the wagon. When he returned to his family, Kitty was shaking the crumbs off the blanket. Matt helped her spread it back out on the ground. He then put Ruby's crate of toys back onto the wagon.
"What did you pack in the crate?" Matt asked his daughter.
Ruby went to the crate and pulled out three coloring books and a box of crayons. She gave a book to her momma, a book to her daddy, and kept one for herself. Matt and Kitty accepted the books with a smile. Coloring was another one of Ruby's favorite pastimes and she wanted to share it with her parents. The three of them sat on the blanket and began to color. While they were coloring three boys between the ages of eight and ten came up to them.
"Marshal Dillon, we're playing catch with our dads. We have an extra mitt. You can join us," said one of the boys.
"Yeah, that way you don't have to do girl things, like coloring," said another boy.
Ruby stood up, put her hands on her hips, and looked at the boys who had invaded their picnic. "My daddy wikes to do girl things!" she yelled at them.
"Sorry boys, but I'm spending the evening with my girls," said Matt. "Thank you for the invite. I hope you have fun."
The boys took off and Kitty was trying not to burst out laughing at her daughter's exclamation. She continued coloring and Matt could see his wife's body shaking with silent laughter. He looked at her and shook his head. Matt knew Kitty would tease him about liking to do girl things when they got home.
The Kansas sun had set and darkness covered the sky. The fireworks were ready to go off. The town gathered on the east side of the church. The first firework that was set off rained down in a shower of red. Other fireworks soon followed. Matt and Kitty looked down at Ruby as her eyes lit up in pure enjoyment.
"Daddy, my wegs are tired," said Ruby. "Can I sit on your showders?"
Matt lifted Ruby up and placed her on his shoulders. Ruby leaned forward and rested her arms and chin on the top of her daddy's head. Matt used one arm to securely hold Ruby in place and used the other arm to pull Kitty close to him. The family continued watching the fireworks.
When the fireworks were done, the Dillon family took their wagon home. It was past Ruby's bedtime and the wagon ride was putting her to sleep. Matt and Kitty looked at their daughter and were happy she was having a hard time staying awake. They were afraid it might be difficult for her to settle down after the excitement of the fireworks.
Matt pulled the wagon up next to the house and jumped down. Kitty handed Ruby to Matt, and he helped Kitty down. Kitty took Ruby into the house, while Matt carried the picnic basket under one arm and the crate of Ruby's coloring books under the other arm. He went back outside to unhitch the team, while Kitty got Ruby ready for bed. After unhitching the team, Matt went back into the house and locked the door. He walked into Ruby's room and gave her a kiss goodnight.
Kitty was already in their bedroom stripping out of her dress. She thought about slipping into her nightgown, but then decided not to. What would be the point? It would come off again. Matt entered the bedroom and saw his wife in nothing but her undergarments. She was climbing into bed.
"Aren't you going to put on your nightgown?" he asked.
"I thought I'd save us some time," said Kitty.
Matt understood her and stripped out of his clothes, leaving only his underwear on. He joined his wife in their bed. It wasn't long before their undergarments were removed and they were making love, creating fireworks that rivaled the ones they saw earlier.
TBC