"No Laughing Matter" (Conclusion)
*Thank you to those who write reviews, but I can't send a private message to (Mary and tengland2). I really appreciate you taking the time to read and write a review.
The Dillons walked to Jonas' general store, in search of new shoes for Ruby. They walked inside the store and were greeted by Wilbur Jonas. He heard about what had happened and was glad to see that Miss Ruby Dillon was alright.
"Marshal, Miss Kitty," Jonas addressed Matt and Kitty. "I heard about what happened. I'm pleased to see that your daughter is safe. What can I do for you?"
"Ruby needs new shoes," Kitty replied.
Jonas saw Ruby's stocking feet. "Did she lose her shoes during the incident?"
Kitty was about to answer, but Ruby beat her to it. "No, Mr. Jonas. I put 'em in the shoe box. My toes were skushed."
"I see," said Jonas. "You know where I keep the shoes. I'll get out of your way so you can go and see what I have."
"Thank you, Jonas," said Matt. He, Kitty, and Ruby went to the area of the stores where the shoes were kept.
"We're not outside," said Ruby. "Can I get down now?" Matt reluctantly put Ruby down. Now that her daddy was no longer carrying her, Ruby realized she was in a dilemma. She could no longer see the shoes on the top shelf. "Now I can't see the shoes."
Matt gently picked Ruby back up, mindful of her bruise, so she could see the shoes. Kitty had been looking at a pair of shoes that were right around Ruby's size, but Ruby had her eyes on another pair. The pair Ruby was looking at had fancy buttons. She reached over and picked up the shoes.
"I wike these with the pretty buttons," said Ruby, giving the shoes to her mama.
Kitty took the shoes and looked at them. She knew why her daughter wanted them. The buttons were on the fancy side. Kitty noticed the shoes would be too big for Ruby.
"Honey, I'm afraid these shoes are a tad too big for you," said Kitty. She saw Ruby's disappointed look and quickly continued on. "Of course we're at the start of winter and if we put stockings over your tights that will help make the shoes fit better. Maybe since the shoes are on the bigger size, you can wear them longer."
"Oh boy!" Ruby exclaimed. "I get the pretty shoes. Ooh wa wa." Matt and Kitty smiled at Ruby's reaction. She could be such a funny little girl.
"Matt hold Ruby, so I can put the shoes on her," said Kitty.
Matt rearranged Ruby so she was facing Kitty. Kitty put the shoes on Ruby and fastened the buttons. Ruby looked down at her feet and smiled at the shiny new shoes with the fancy buttons. Something then occurred to the little girl.
"I can't wear these. We didn't pay for 'em," Ruby said. She didn't want to make Mr. Jonas mad.
"We will," Matt reassured his daughter. "We'll go to the front of the store, show Mr. Jonas the shoes we want to buy, and pay for them."
Mr. Jonas saw the Dillons walk back to the front of the store. "Did you find a pair of shoes?"
"We did," Kitty answered, pointing to the shoes Ruby was wearing. "We'll take these. How much do we owe you?"
Jonas looked at the shoes Ruby had on her feet. "Those shoes cost two dollars and twenty-five cents."
Kitty reached into her reticule and pulled out the money. "Here you go," she said, handing the money to Mr. Jonas. Jonas took the money and put it in the cash register.
Matt and Kitty left the store with a very satisfied little girl. They both had a feeling Ruby's fancy new shoes would help her forget the ordeal she experienced earlier. At least that's what they hoped.
"I don't know about the two of you, but I'm hungry," said Kitty. "Why don't we walk over to Delmonico's and eat lunch."
"Kitty, you know I need to go to the jail," said Matt.
"I know you want to go to the jail, Matt," said Kitty. "But you also asked Ruby and me to lunch today. Now I think you would want to take us to lunch."
"Yeah, I'm hungry," Ruby piped in. "My tummy wants some food."
"Alright, let's go get some lunch," said Matt. "I'll go back to the jail later." Matt didn't want his girls to be hungry. Their needs should come first.
The Dillons enjoyed their lunch together at Delmonico's. Both Matt and Kitty had a steak, while Ruby had meatloaf. All three had mashed potatoes and green beans with their meal. When they finished, Matt put money on the table to pay for the meals.
Matt escorted his girls out of the restaurant and towards the jail. He could see that Festus had parked the horse and buggy near the jail, on a side street. Matt led the way to the horse and buggy. When they reached the buggy, Matt helped his girls get into it.
"Matt, I know you're angry about what happened, but don't do anything that you're going to regret," Kitty pleaded. "Keep in mind that Ruby is alright."
"Kitty," Matt started to say.
"Matt," Kitty responded back.
Kitty gave Matt one final look before gently flicking the reins and heading towards home. She knew that Matt would have words with the man that put Ruby into danger and caused her injury. Kitty just hoped that Matt would keep his temper in check. Harm to his girls could make him easily lose that temper. Matt had ethics, but harm to his family easily made him throw those ethics right out the window.
Matt tried his best to remember Kitty's words. Everything did turn out okay and even though Ruby had a nasty bruise on her side, there was nothing more serious. But his daughter had been injured, and he was going to have words with Ike Marden. He was going to put the fear of God in that man.
Festus was sitting at Matt's desk. When Matt opened the door and walked in, Festus stood up. He noticed that Kitty and Ruby weren't with Matt and figured they had gone home.
"Did Miss Kitty and Miss Ruby head on home?" Festus asked.
"Yeah, they did," Matt answered as he grabbed the jail keys off the hook by the door that led to the cells.
"Is Miss Ruby gonna be alright?" asked Festus.
"She has a bruise on her left side, but nothing's broken," said Matt. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to talk to our prisoner."
"I'm just tickled that Miss Ruby's alright," said Festus.
Matt was no longer paying attention to his deputy. He opened the door and walked to the cell where Ike was. Ike had been sitting on the cot near the far wall. When he saw the Marshal with the keys, he got up and walked towards the cell door. That was Matt's plan. He wanted Ike to think he was going to let him out, and when Ike came close enough, Matt would grab him by the shirt collar.
"Well, I see yer gonna let me outta here, Marshal," said Ike as he walked to the cell door. "Ya gotta admit it was purdy funny the way that horse and buggy took off."
In one swift move, Matt dropped the keys behind him, reached between the bars, and grabbed Ike by his shirt collar. Matt had a tight grip on Ike's collar, holding him against the bars. The veins in Matt's neck and forehead were throbbing. His face was beat red.
"Funny?" Matt growled. "You think it's funny that my daughter was in that buggy and was injured? You think it would have been funny if she had been killed? You think it would have been funny if someone else had been injured or killed if that horse and buggy ran into them? You're crazy if you think I'm gonna release you. You're lucky I'm not planting you on Boot Hill." Matt pushed Ike away, causing him to stumble backwards.
"I had no idea your little girl was in that buggy," said Ike. "I wouldn't have done that if I knowed she was in there."
"Whether she was in the buggy or not shouldn't make the difference or not," said Matt. "The way that buggy took off, if anyone was in its path, they could have been seriously injured or killed."
"How long do ya plan on keeping me locked up?" asked Ike.
"I don't know," Matt responded. "I'll send a wire to Judge Brooker and see what he has to say about this."
"Judge Brooker?" Ike questioned. "Are ya trying ta get me hanged for what I did? I said I was sorry."
"I would love for you to hang for the harm you caused my daughter, but I know what you did isn't a hanging crime. I'm gonna ask Judge Brooker about prison time. Maybe time in prison will help you to see the consequences of your actions."
Ike was relieved the Marshal couldn't hang him for what he had done, but he also wasn't looking forward to spending time in prison. If any of the other prisoners found out he was there because he caused injury to a child, they wouldn't take too kindly to that. Then again, if they found out it was an injury to a lawman's child, he could be a hero. No, Ike said to himself, shaking his head. He wasn't that kind of person.
Matt picked up the keys and walked back to the main part of the jail, closing the door behind him. He placed the keys on the hook next to the door. Festus heard the conversation between Matt and Ike.
"Matthew, do ya plan on sending a wire to Judge Brooker?" Festus asked.
Matt took a deep breath. "I don't know what I'm gonna do," Matt sighed. "Right now I just want to go home to Kitty and Ruby. I'm not gonna get anything done here."
"Matthew, don't you worry none about things here," said Festus. "I'll keep everything under control. I want you to know that I'll support whatever decision you make."
"Thanks, Festus," said Matt. "I appreciate that."
Later that night, after Ruby had been put to bed, Matt and Kitty retired to their own bedroom. They both knew they needed to talk, but couldn't do so in front of their daughter. However, Ruby was now sound asleep in her bedroom, and it was the perfect time to talk.
"Is Ike still in jail?" Kitty asked. Matt nodded his head. "What do you plan on doing with him?"
"I'm thinking about sending a wire to Judge Brooker and asking him to come here to have a trial for Ike," Matt answered.
Kitty looked into her husband's eyes. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea." Matt raised his eyebrows and Kitty explained what she meant. "I know how angry you are that Ruby was hurt. I'm angry too. But what happens if Judge Brooker does come to town, holds a trial, and finds Ike Marden guilty?"
"He goes to prison to pay for what he did," Matt replied. "He can think about the consequences of his actions."
"That's my point," said Kitty. "What if he thinks about the consequences of his actions, but at the same time comes up with some sort of revenge plan for sending him to prison? Do you really want another enemy on your list, another enemy to have to worry about coming after me or Ruby?"
Matt hadn't thought about that. Kitty was right. He didn't want another enemy added to his list. His enemy list was long enough. Yet Matt still felt that Ike Marden needed to pay for what he had done.
"What do you suggest that I do?" Matt asked his wife. He valued her opinion and waited for her to respond.
"Don't wire Judge Brooker, but let Ike think you did," Kitty replied. "Let him sit in jail for several days, thinking the judge is coming. Let him feel scared and nervous, thinking he could be facing prison time."
Matt looked at Kitty and couldn't help but agree with her. "Alright, that's what I'll do. I won't wire Judge Brooker, but I'll let Ike think that I did. I'll make sure I let Festus, Newly, and Doc know the plan."
"Thank you, Matt," said Kitty as she reached up to plant a kiss on his lips. "I know how much you want Ike to pay for what he did."
"I do, but I also have to think of you and Ruby and your futures," said Matt.
Matt returned to town the next day and told Festus, Newly, and Doc about the plan. All three agreed that was the best way to go and gave Matt their support. The next few days Matt didn't go to the jail cell. He let Festus or Newly give Ike his meals. During that time, Ike was certain that Judge Brooker was coming to Dodge for the trial.
On the fourth day, Matt went to the jail cell with the keys. He placed the key into the cell door lock and turned it, unlocking it. "Get up, Ike."
"Is my trial today?" asked Ike.
"There isn't going to be a trial," said Matt. "I'm lettin' ya go. But if I ever catch you pulling another prank, I can guarantee you that I will wire the judge and you will be given a trial to face prison time. Now get outta here. I don't want to see your face for a good while."
Over the next week, Ruby continued to heal. Her bruise faded as the days passed by. Both Matt and Kitty were pleased with their daughter's quick recovery. They knew with time that their daughter's plight would soon be a distant memory for her.
The End of this story