Chapter 21 "Baking With Momma" Kitty and Ruby bake a cake for Grandpa Doc's birthday.
Baking was one of Kitty and Ruby's favorite things to do together. Kitty would measure out the ingredients and Ruby would pour them into the bowl. When they first started baking together, Ruby would make a mess. Kitty knew she didn't do it on purpose and was patient with her. Now that Ruby was a little older and had some experience, she wasn't as messy. Oh the kitchen still needed to be cleaned afterwards, but that didn't matter. It was the time they spent together that mattered the most.
Kitty remembered baking with her mother when she was just a little girl, and how much the two of them enjoyed it. Kitty sighed. She missed her mother. She knew her mother would've loved and adored Ruby. Then again if her mother hadn't passed away when Kitty was just a girl, Kitty probably wouldn't be in Dodge City, Kansas. She wouldn't have met her soulmate, and Ruby wouldn't be here. Kitty shuddered at that thought. She didn't even want to think about life without Matt or Ruby. Yes, her mother's death was hard on her, but every cloud has a silver lining. Part of that silver lining was cleaning up her toys in the parlor. Kitty walked into the parlor to see if Ruby had finished.
"Did you get all of your toys picked up?" asked Kitty.
"Yes, momma. See!" Ruby exclaimed as she pointed to the box of toys in the corner of the parlor room.
"Good girl," praised Kitty. "Now let's go and bake Grandpa Doc a birthday cake."
"Yay!" said Ruby. She followed her momma into the kitchen.
Kitty pulled a chair up to the counter and lifted Ruby up onto it. She then took two aprons off the hook. Kitty put one over her head and tied it behind her back. She put the smaller one over Ruby's head and tied it behind her back. Kitty thought back to when she gave Ruby her own little apron. Ruby was so excited to have an apron just like momma.
"What kinda cake are we making for Grandpa Doc?" asked Ruby.
"His favorite cake is chocolate, so that's what kind we'll make," Kitty answered.
"I wike chocwit cake," said Ruby with a smile.
"I know you do," said Kitty. "Alright, let's get started. We need to mix the sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt."
Kitty gave Ruby each ingredient in a measuring cup. Ruby took the measuring cups her momma handed her and poured them into the mixing bowl. After Ruby poured the ingredients into the bowl, she would give the measuring cup back to her momma.
"Good job," said Kitty. "Now take the spoon and mix it all really well."
Ruby took the mixing spoon and started stirring. "Wike that?" she asked.
"Let's see if it's all mixed up," said Kitty. She could see that the ingredients were all mixed. "Yup, just like that. Now we have to add the eggs, milk, butter, and vanilla to the bowl."
Once again Kitty gave Ruby each ingredient to add to the bowl. She gave Ruby the milk in a measuring cup and the vanilla in a teaspoon. Kitty already had the eggs cracked in a bowl. Ruby wasn't ready to crack eggs quite yet. Kitty didn't want to risk eggshells in the cake. Ruby poured the eggs into the bowl. Kitty sliced the stick of butter and put the slices on a plate. The slices made it easier to mix. Ruby put the butter slices in the batter.
"I'll stir first and then it will be your turn," said Kitty.
She took the spoon and made sure all the ingredients were mixed together. After she knew for sure everything was mixed together, Kitty gave the spoon to Ruby. While Ruby was stirring the batter, Kitty prepared the baking pans. She greased them and floured them.
"It's time to pour the batter into the pans," said Kitty.
Kitty took the spoon and bowl from Ruby and poured half the cake batter into one pan and the other half into the other pan. After Kitty was done pouring the batter, she placed the bowl and spoon on the counter in front of Ruby. Ruby eyed the mixing bowl with anticipation. Momma always let her lick the spoon and the bowl.
"Momma, can I wick the spoon and bowl?" asked Ruby.
"You sure can," said Kitty. "You were such a good helper."
Ruby took the spoon and worked on that first. She cleaned that very well. Kitty gave her a smaller spoon to scrape the bowl. While Ruby "cleaned" the bowl, Kitty gently shook the pans to get any air bubbles out and then placed the pans in the oven. After doing that, she turned and looked at Ruby. The little girl had chocolate cake batter all around her mouth. That didn't matter to Ruby. The chocolate cake batter was delicious.
"The cake pans are in the oven. They have to bake for twenty-five minutes," said Kitty. "Let's get you washed up."
Ruby put the spoon in the bowl and Kitty put the bowl in the sink. She took her apron off and helped Ruby take hers off. Kitty placed the aprons back on the hook. She then lifted Ruby off the chair so she could move the chair next to the sink. Kitty then put Ruby back on the chair so she could wash her hands and face. At that moment, Matt walked into the kitchen.
"Something sure smells good in here," said Matt.
"Me and momma are baking a chocwit cake for Grandpa Doc's birthday," Ruby proudly stated.
"Oh, he's going to love it," said Matt.
"Ruby, why don't you go outside and play while I clean up the kitchen," said Kitty. "Daddy can go with you."
"Daddy, do you want me to kick my red baw to you?" asked Ruby.
"That sounds like fun," said Matt.
While Matt and Ruby were playing outside, Kitty cleaned up the kitchen. She then made frosting for the cake. Ruby wouldn't mind if Kitty made the frosting without her, just as long as she was there while momma frosted the cake. Kitty didn't let Ruby lick the frosting bowl. She thought the frosting was too rich for her to do that. However, she did let her lick the spatula.
Kitty looked at the clock. It was time to take the cakes out of the oven. She took them out and placed them on the counter to cool. Kitty let Matt and Ruby play a little longer and then she went to go and get them. It was time to frost the cakes.
"Ruby, it's time to frost the cakes!" Kitty hollered.
Ruby picked up her ball and headed into the house. Matt followed her. He took her in the water closet so she could wash the dirt off of her hands. When Matt was done helping Ruby, he washed his own hands. The both of them walked into the kitchen when they were done.
Kitty had the cakes on the table. Ruby climbed onto one chair and knelt on her knees to watch, while Matt sat down in another chair. Kitty had one of the cakes on a plate. She frosted that one. That would be the bottom cake. She put the other cake on top and frosted that one. When she was done, Kitty gave the spatula to Ruby, which Ruby gladly accepted. As she did before, Ruby had chocolate all around her mouth.
Seeing his daughter with chocolate frosting all around her mouth, gave Matt an idea. Kitty left the empty frosting bowl on the table. Matt took some of the frosting that was left in the bowl and smeared some around his mouth. When Ruby gave him a questioning look, he put his finger to his lips, indicating for her to be quiet. Matt walked up to Kitty, turned her around, and gave her a big kiss, getting chocolate all over her mouth. When Ruby saw this, she started giggling.
"Matt!" Kitty exclaimed. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Daddy gave you a chocwit kiss," Ruby laughed.
"Yeah, I just gave you a chocolate kiss," Matt confirmed.
Kitty tried to be angry, but she couldn't. She now realized that all three of them had chocolate on their faces and she had to laugh. Besides, Matt and Ruby were already laughing. She might as well join them.
"Matt, after we get washed up, do you want to take us into town?" asked Kitty. "We can take the cake to Doc."
"Sure thing," said Matt. "I'll wash up and then hitch up the team."
Matt, Kitty, and Ruby washed up and then boarded the wagon so they could head into town. Kitty held the cake and Matt drove carefully, making sure not to hit any potholes in the road. During the ride, Ruby would look at the cake. She couldn't wait to have a piece.
After twenty minutes, they managed to make it into town with the cake in one piece. Matt got down from the wagon and helped Ruby down. Kitty gave the cake to Matt, while she got down. Once she was down, she took the cake from Matt. Kitty carried the cake up to Doc's office, and Matt carried Ruby. Kitty stood in front of Matt and Ruby, but Matt was easily able to knock on Doc's door.
Doc heard the knocking from his back room. He had a busy day, and all he wanted to do was take a nap. The last thing he wanted at the moment was another patient. Doc heard the knocking again. He couldn't understand why the person just didn't come in. Everyone usually did.
"I'm coming. I'm coming," said Doc, frustration in his voice.
When he opened the door, he saw the Dillons. He could see that Kitty had a chocolate cake. This scene was the last thing he expected to see. He was definitely taken back by it.
"Happy birthday, Grandpa Doc!" Ruby happily exclaimed.
"Happy birthday, Doc," Matt and Kitty both said.
"Are you surprised to see us?" ask Ruby.
"By golly, I sure am," said Doc. "I've been so busy that I forgot it was my birthday. Please, come in." Matt and Kitty walked inside. Matt set Ruby down on the floor, and Kitty placed the cake on Doc's desk.
"Me and momma made your favorite chocwit cake," said Ruby. "Then daddy gave momma a chocwit kiss."
Doc looked at Matt and Kitty with a raised eyebrow. They looked back at him with a smile. Doc wasn't going to say anything. He loved the relationship Matt and Kitty had with one another.
"What are we waiting for?" asked Ruby. "Wet's have some cake."
The adults laughed, but agreed with Ruby. The cake was cut and enjoyed by all four of them.
Ruby's messy face brought Kitty back to just a couple hours earlier, when she and Ruby were making the cake. 'Yup,' Kitty thought, as Ruby gave her a big chocolatey grin. 'I love baking with my daughter.'
TBC