Chapter 25 "Ruby's Big Girl Hat" Ruby gets her first big girl hat.

*Author's Note: I teach 5th through 8th grade students. I have a 5th grader this year named Ruby. She told me she wants to be called The Ruby. When I remember, that's what I call her.

It was a beautiful fall Saturday morning and the Dillons were sitting around the kitchen table about to enjoy a breakfast of sausage and eggs. Kitty cut Ruby's sausage into smaller pieces so the sausage would be easier for the little girl to eat. Before putting Ruby's plate in front of her, Kitty lightly blew on the food to make sure it wasn't too hot for Ruby. Matt poured everyone a glass of milk, in addition to a cup of coffee for himself and Kitty.

Ruby took her fork and put a piece of sausage in her mouth. "Momma, this sausage is dewishes. You're the best cook ever," said Ruby as she chewed the piece of sausage.

"She's also the prettiest cook ever," said Matt as he too put a piece of sausage in his mouth. Ruby nodded in agreement.

"Oh, what am I going to do with the two of you?" asked Kitty, enjoying the compliments from her two favorite people. She then looked at Matt. "Do you remember the first time I cooked sausage for you?"

Matt smiled at the memory. "I do," Matt answered. "I never did get a chance to eat any of it. I would have if I wasn't so focused on Doc's hair-brained plan."

"I don't member that," said Ruby, putting her glass of milk down.

Ruby had a milk mustache on her face. Matt was about to wipe it off, but decided not to do so. There would be another milk mustache each time Ruby took a drink out of her glass. It was better off to wait and wipe Ruby's face after she was done eating.

"You weren't born yet," said Matt.

"Was I in momma's tummy?" asked Ruby.

"It was way before you were in my tummy," said Kitty.

"It was around the time I realized I had fallen in love with your momma," said Matt as he looked over at Kitty with a smile. Kitty returned the smile.

"Were you married?" asked Ruby. She seemed to be filled with questions.

"Not yet," replied Kitty. "We were still quite young." Kitty didn't think it was necessary to go into detail about her and Matt's relationship with a four year old.

The Dillons finished their breakfast and cleaned everything up. Being that it was Saturday, a trip to town was planned. It was their weekly town trip. Matt hitched up the wagon, while Kitty got herself and Ruby ready to go. Once Kitty and Ruby were ready to go, they stepped outside. Matt was by the wagon waiting for them. He helped Kitty and then lifted Ruby up, setting her next to Kitty. After his girls were seated, Matt climbed up and motioned the wagon towards town.

Arriving in town, Matt parked the wagon on a side street and set the brake. He jumped down from the seat and then helped his girls down. The three of them walked down the boardwalks of Front Street to Jonas' store. As they always did, Matt and Kitty each had a list. Kitty needed flour, sugar, baking powder, coffee, and beans. Matt needed ammunition and some rope for out in the barn. It didn't take long for Jonas to fill the orders. He was able to put everything into one crate. Matt carried the crate as he, Kitty, and Ruby left the store.

As the Dillons were walking back to their wagon, Kitty spoke. "Matt, I want to take Ruby to the milliner's shop."

"What's that pwace?" Ruby asked, looking up at her momma.

"That's the hat store," Kitty answered. "That's where I buy my hats. I thought we could go in there and buy you your first big girl hat."

Ruby's eyes lit up. She never had a big girl hat. All of her hats were bonnets that momma bought from Mr. Jonas' store. Ruby thought they were pretty bonnets, but not as pretty as momma's hats. Ruby always thought her momma's hats were so pretty and now she was going to have a hat just like the ones her momma had.

"Oh boy! My first big girl hat!" Ruby excitedly exclaimed. "Daddy, I'm gonna get a big girl hat."

"And I bet you'll look gorgeous in it," Matt responded to his daughter's enthusiasm. He loved to see the smile on her face. It made his day. "How much time will you need?" Matt was now talking to Kitty.

"I think twenty minutes should be good," Kitty replied. "I'm only buying a hat for Ruby."

"Alright, I'll meet you at the wagon in twenty minutes." said Matt. "I'm gonna stop at the jail and then head over to the post office to see if there's any mail."

Kitty and Ruby crossed the street to the hat shop, while Matt walked down to the jail. Kitty said she and Ruby would need twenty minutes, but Matt knew better than that. He knew Kitty well enough that if she said she needed twenty minutes, it was best to give her twenty-five minutes. Matt reached the jail and walked inside. It was Newly's Saturday to work.

"Hey, Matt," he said as he saw Matt enter the office. "You and the family must be in town for your weekly trip to Jonas' store." Newly then realized that Kitty and Ruby weren't with Matt. "Where are Kitty and Ruby?"

"Kitty took Ruby to get her first big girl hat," Matt replied. "I was on my way to the post office and wanted to stop by to see how things were. Any occupants back there?"

"Not anymore," Newly responded. "Clyde Vogel was sleeping off a drunk, but I released him."

"I'm glad that's all there was for a Friday night," said Matt. "I better get goin'. I have to stop by the post office."

Matt left the jail and strolled down to the post office. The mail came in on yesterday's stage. But by the time it arrived, Matt had already gone home for the day. Matt wasn't expecting anything in particular, but he still wanted to see if there was any personal mail for him and Kitty and if there was anything business related for the jail or the Long Branch. If there was anything for the Long Branch, the postmaster knew it was okay to give it to Matt.

"Marshal Dillon," the postmaster greeted as Matt walked inside. "I have mail for you. Some for the jail and some personal." He handed Matt the stack of mail.

"Thank you," said Matt as he took the mail and left the post office.

The mail intended for the jail was the usual, but a letter addressed to both him and Kitty had caught Matt's eye. A smile spread across his face as he read the return address on the envelope. Matt immediately opened the envelope and pulled out the letter that was inside. He began to read it.

Meanwhile, Kitty and Ruby were at the hat shop picking out a hat for Ruby. Kitty found a white straw hat adorned with pink flowers and a pink bow. She put the hat on Ruby's head and had her look into a mirror.

"How do you like this one?" Kitty asked her daughter.

"I wuv it," said Ruby, slowly turning her head so she could carefully examine the hat on her head.

"I think it looks beautiful on you," said Kitty. "I think we'll buy it."

"Can I wear it home?" asked Ruby. "I want to show daddy my new hat."

Kitty wanted to tell Ruby no, but didn't want to squash her daughter's excitement. "Sure, but when we get home, it has to go into its hatbox. You can't play outside in it."

"Okay, momma," Ruby agreed.

The hat also had two pieces of white ribbon to tie underneath Ruby's chin. Kitty liked that feature. This way Kitty wouldn't have to buy hat pins and use those. Hat pins weren't always comfortable. Kitty tied the white ribbons into a bow under Ruby's chin. The two of them left the shop.

"Look momma!" Ruby exclaimed. "There's daddy." She pointed to the wagon.

"He's waiting for us," Kitty replied. "Let's show him your new hat."

Matt saw his girls coming towards him. He noticed Ruby's new hat. Matt had to swallow the lump in his throat. He knew his baby girl was getting older, but that hat seemed to push time ahead a little faster than he wanted. Matt saw the smile on Ruby's face and couldn't help but smile himself.

"Daddy, don't you just wuv my new hat?" Ruby asked as she slowly turned around so her daddy could see her hat.

"It's a beautiful hat for a beautiful little girl," Matt answered. He turned his attention to Kitty. "We got a letter in the mail from Chester."

Kitty's own face lit up in a smile. "We haven't heard from him in a while. What does he have to say?"

"He wrote to say that he and his family are coming to Dodge for a visit," Matt answered. "They're going to take the train from Philadelphia and should be arriving later in the week"

"That's wonderful," Kitty gushed. "I can't wait until they get here. I can't believe it's been almost six years since we've seen Chester."

"Who's Chester?" asked Ruby. She had no idea who her parents were talking about.

"He's a good friend of ours, whom we haven't seen for a while," Matt answered. "And you'll get to meet him and his family."

Matt and Kitty both realized that they would also be meeting Chester's family. They met his wife, Ann back when she arrived as Chester's mail order bride, but they never met his kids. The last they knew Chester had two boys. It was only Saturday. Matt and Kitty didn't know how they were going to wait until the end of the week for Chester's arrival.

TBC (Next chapter: "Chester's Return")