Chapter 22 "Ruby's Memory Book" This chapter has short stories of memories of Ruby as a baby that Kitty has written in a journal.

(Part One)

Every once in a while, Ruby would see her momma sit at the desk and write in a book. The book had a pretty cover. When momma was done writing in the book, she would put it up on a shelf. This time momma left it on the desk. Curiosity getting the best of her, Ruby took the book and walked into the kitchen with it. Momma was in there fixing supper.

"Momma," said Ruby. "What do you write in this pretty book?"

Kitty turned towards her daughter to see what book Ruby was referring to. When she saw the book Ruby had in her hands, she smiled. "That's a memory book that I'm making for you. I write different memories about you."

"What kinda rememories?" asked Ruby. She was now very interested in the book she held.

"Oh, things like your first word, when you learned to crawl, your first steps, and so on," Kitty answered. "Maybe after supper, you, daddy, and I can read it together."

"Reawy?" asked Ruby. "I wike that."

"I don't want the book to get dirty," said Kitty. "Why don't you put it back on the desk and then you can come back in the kitchen and help me."

Ruby walked back into the parlor so she could put the book back on the desk. While she was in the parlor, her daddy came home from work. He took off his boots and put his hat on the rack. As Ruby always did when her daddy came home, she greeted him with a smile, a great big hug, and a kiss. Matt looked forward to Ruby's greeting. It didn't matter how bad of a day he had at the office, that smile, her little arms around his neck, and her sweet kisses on his cheek made him forget all about it.

"How was your day, little gemstone?" Matt asked.

"It was great," Ruby replied. "Momma said we can read my rememories book after supper."

"That sounds fun," said Matt. "Is momma in the kitchen?"

"Yes. I'm posed to be howping her," said Ruby.

"Well, if you're supposed to be helping her, we better get in there," said Matt. He and Ruby walked into the kitchen.

"I was wondering where my little helper was," said Kitty when she saw Matt and Ruby walk into the kitchen. She had heard Matt come home and knew Ruby was with him.

"Sorry momma," said Ruby. "I had to give daddy his kiss and hug."

"That's okay. I know how much you love giving daddy his kiss and hug and how much he loves getting them," said Kitty.

"One of the best parts of my day," said Matt. "I'm gonna go and hang up my gun belt and get washed up." Matt left the kitchen to complete those tasks.

After Matt left, Kitty had Ruby help set the table. Ruby may have only been four years old, but she was more than capable of putting plates at each person's seat. Kitty would put the pile of three plates on the table and Ruby would put a plate where each person sat. Ruby's plate was a little smaller than her parents. Kitty would do the same thing with the cups and silverware, except for the knives. Ruby was not allowed to touch the knives. With a four year old setting the table, it wasn't the neatest, but that didn't matter to Matt or Kitty. Ruby did her best and was proud of her work.

The Dillons sat down to a supper of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Ruby was eating faster than she normally would. Her parents noticed this and addressed it.

"Ruby, honey, you need to slow down," said Kitty.

"I want to hurry so we can read my rememories book," said Ruby.

"If you eat too fast, you'll get a tummy ache," said Kitty. "Then we won't be able to read your book."

"Even worse, you might choke," said Matt. "That would make your momma and me very sad."

"I don't want a tummy ache or choke," said Ruby. "I swo down."

After supper was finished and the kitchen was cleaned up, the Dillons retreated to the parlor. Matt and Ruby took a place on the couch, while Kitty went to get Ruby's memory book. Memory book in hand, Kitty joined her family on the couch. Ruby sat in the middle of her parents.

"Let's start at the beginning," said Kitty. "I started this book when you were still in my tummy. January 11th, 1877. I am almost six months pregnant. I have decided to keep a memory book for you, my baby growing inside me. Today I felt you kick. I had been feeling you move, but this morning I felt you kick. I was so excited that I just had to wake up your daddy. " Kitty continued reading.

Ruby's First Kick

It was the early morning hours. It wouldn't even be dawn for another three hours. However, the baby in Kitty's tummy had no idea what time it was, when it decided to kick for the first time. The kick woke Kitty up. She wasn't sure what it was that she was actually feeling, until she felt it again. Her hand immediately went to her stomach and she smiled. This was the first time she actually felt the baby kick. She excitedly woke Matt up.

"Matt! Matt!" Kitty exclaimed. "Wake up!"

Matt woke up in an instant. "What's wrong? Is it the baby? Do I need to get Doc?" Matt was in a panic.

"Nothing's wrong," said Kitty. "Give me your hand."

Matt gave Kitty his hand. Kitty took it and placed it on her stomach. Their baby was still making its presence known. When Matt felt the baby's kicks, his eyes lit up. He looked at Kitty.

"Oh my," he whispered. "Is that our baby?"

"It's certainly not what I ate for supper," said Kitty.

"That is absolutely amazing," said Matt.

"It sure is," agreed Kitty. "This is why I woke you up."

"You about gave me a heart attack, but now I'm glad you woke me up," said Matt.

Matt and Kitty kept their hands on Kitty's stomach, until the baby calmed down. They were too excited to go to sleep, but knew they had to. Matt had to work and Kitty needed her rest.

Present Day

"Did I kick you after that?" asked Ruby.

"You sure did," said Kitty. "Each time you did, I would rub my belly and tell you that I loved you."

Ruby smiled at her momma. "Read some more."

"Alright," said Kitty as she continued reading. "April 24th, 1877. You came into the world today. Your daddy and I are so happy to meet you. We didn't know what to name you at first, but Doc helped us to decide." Kitty continued to read.

Ruby's Name

"Have you two come up with a name for this little darling?" asked Doc.

"Not yet," said Kitty. "We had a boy's name, but we're still deciding on a girl's name. We did agree that Kathleen would be her middle name."

"We're not going to be calling her Lucas Kathleen" said Matt.

"She's way too pretty to be called Lucas Kathleen," said Doc. "Look at that red hair. It reminds me of a ruby."

Matt and Kitty looked at each other. They knew what their daughter's name would be. They would call her Ruby Kathleen Dillon. Matt and Kitty knew that was the perfect name for their daughter.

"Thank you, Doc," said Kitty. "You just named your granddaughter."

"I did?" Doc asked.

"Yup," said Matt. "Say hello to Ruby Kathleen Dillon."

Present Day

"I didn't know Grandpa Doc named me," said Ruby. That news amazed her. "I gwad you named me Ruby. I don't want to be cawed Wucas."

"He sure did," said Matt. "It turned out to be the perfect name. A ruby is a gemstone and you are our little gemstone."

"Can you read some more?" asked Ruby.

"Let's go and get your nightgown on and then we'll read some more," said Kitty.

Ruby agreed. Kitty took Ruby into her bedroom so she could help Ruby put her nightgown on. She also washed Ruby's face. While Kitty was helping Ruby, Matt went outside to make sure the barn was shut and locked. He came back in the house and made sure the doors and windows were locked. Kitty and Ruby returned to the parlor. The three of them sat back down on the couch. Kitty took the book and started reading.

"December 17th, 1877. You said your first word today. It's a week before your first Christmas. Your daddy and I are playing with you on the floor in the parlor. Right now daddy is bouncing you on his lap…"

Ruby's First Word

Matt and Kitty were sitting on the floor of their parlor, playing with their almost eight month old daughter. She had been sitting on the floor gnawing on one of her rattles, but was becoming fussy. Matt picked her up and sat her on his lap, so she was facing him. He started to gently bounce her. It wasn't quite time for her to be fed.

"What's wrong with daddy's girl?" asked Matt.

The bouncing seemed to help. Ruby calmed down and started to babble and coo. She had been doing that for the last couple of months. However this time a new sound came out.

"Dada," she said.

Matt looked at Kitty. "Did she say what I think she just said?"

"I'm pretty sure I heard dada," said Kitty.

"Do you think she's calling me dada?" asked Matt.

"You are her daddy. I don't know who else she would be calling dada," Kitty replied.

"Dada," Ruby repeated.

"That's right sweetheart. I'm your dada," said Matt.

He felt tears come to his eyes. He didn't know he would be this emotional. Kitty saw the tears and smiled with tears of her own. Her daughter had said her first word and it was for the man who thought the world of her. Kitty knew that soon Ruby would learn to say mama. She looked forward to that day.

Present Day

"Daddy, how come you had tears when I said dada?" asked Ruby. "Were you sad?"

"No, daddy wasn't sad," said Matt. "Sometimes people have happy tears. I had happy tears."

Satisfied with her daddy's answer, Ruby asked Kitty to keep reading. "Momma, pwease keep reading. I wuv these stories."

"Let's find another story," said Kitty as she turned the page. "Oh this is a funny story. January 13th, 1878. Ruby, today you did something that I don't think any other person is brave enough to do. Today you wet yourself on your daddy. I tried to warn him…"

Daddy Should've Listened To Momma

The last few days had been rainy. That was rare in Dodge City. But since it had been so dry, the folks welcomed the rain. Because of the rain, Kitty didn't get a chance to wash Ruby's diapers like she usually did. Normally she would wash diapers a couple times a week, always making sure Ruby had several clean diapers available. When Kitty put Ruby down for her nap, she put the last clean diaper on her. Luckily it was a sunny day. During Ruby's nap, Kitty washed out Ruby's diapers and put them on the washline to dry. The dry wind helped to quickly dry the diapers. When Ruby woke up, she needed a diaper changing. Matt lifted Ruby out of her crib and placed her on the changing table. He was about to take her diaper off, but Kitty stopped him.

"Before you do that, let me go and get the diapers off the washline," said Kitty. "I don't want her wetting herself without a diaper on."

"I'm sure it will be fine," said Matt as he unpinned his daughter's diaper.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," said Kitty as she went to get the clean diapers.

While Kitty was outside, Ruby started to fuss. Matt picked Ruby up and put her against his shoulder and rubbed her back. This calmed her down. As Matt continued to soothe his daughter, he felt something wet on his shirt. He immediately knew what had just happened. Matt brought his daughter down from his shoulder and looked at his shirt. There was a wet spot from where she had just peed. Kitty walked in at the moment and saw Matt's shirt. She started to laugh.

"I warned you, Cowboy," she laughed.

"I have a feeling she did that on purpose," said Matt as he placed Ruby back on the changing table.

"Ruby, you are one brave little girl," said Kitty as she placed a clean diaper on her daughter. "I don't think anyone would dare wet themselves on the Marshal of Dodge City."

Present Day

Ruby was in a fit of giggles. "Did I reawy do that on purpose?" she asked.

"Of course not," said Kitty. "You were just a baby. You didn't know any better."

"You didn't know any better," confirmed Matt. "But I swear you had a little smile on your face after you did it."

Matt's statement made Ruby smile. Right after the smile came a yawn. Both Matt and Kitty saw this. Matt looked at the clock and saw that it was close to Ruby's bedtime.

"Miss Dillon, it's time for you to go to bed," said Matt.

"Aww, Do I have ta?" asked Ruby. "I not tired." She yawned again.

"Yes, you have to," said Kitty. "We've seen you yawn twice now. We can read from your book some other time."

Ruby agreed with that and let her parents put her to bed. She fell asleep, looking forward to when she would here more memories about herself.

TBC ("Ruby's Memory Book" will be continued in a future chapter)