Chapter 32 "My Girls" This short story was inspired by the song "My Girl" by the Temptations. Matt reflects on his girls. No plagiarism was intended.
Matt had been sitting in his office working on paperwork. He was writing a report on the latest crime that had been committed in Dodge City. Paperwork was Matt's least favorite part of his job. He wasn't always too handy with words. He was more a man of action than a man of words. Realizing he couldn't focus on the report in front of him, Matt decided to focus on something else. Before Matt knew it, he was thinking about his girls. Thinking about Kitty and Ruby always put a smile on Matt's face and happy thoughts in his mind.
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day….Kitty and Ruby are my sunshine on a cloudy day. It does not matter if it is literally cloudy or if it is cloudy because I am having a bad day. On the rainiest of days, my girls are my bright sunshine. Whenever I have a bad day at work, I know my rays of sunshine are waiting for me at home, waiting to brighten up my day. I am not even sure if Kitty and Ruby realize how much they have brightened up my life.
When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May…. I cannot even count the number of times I was sleeping out on the cold prairie, dreaming of being in Kitty's warm and loving arms, in her warm room, in that big brass bed. There are times when I still end up sleeping out on the cold prairie. But now I not only think of being with Kitty in our warm brass bed, but I also think of being in the warm home I share with Kitty and Ruby. I am not just talking about the cold in regards to temperature. Kitty has saved me from a cold and lonely life as a lawman. She could have married another man, but she chose me. Kitty not only married me, she also blessed us with Ruby, my little gemstone.
I've got so much honey. The bees envy me… I don't even know where to start when it comes to the sweetness my girls give to me. I guess I'll start with Kitty. When I was out on the cold prairie, I would dream about being in Kitty's warm and loving arms. But that was not the only thing I was dreaming about. I would dream about kissing Kitty's full and luscious lips, loving that gorgeous body, and her loving my body. Kissing and making love to Kitty is the sweet honey that I'm sure the bees envy.
I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees… I think of Kitty as my honey and Ruby as my sweet song. Yes, Ruby does give me her sweetness when she wraps her little arms around my neck and rains kisses all over my face. But it's music to my ears when I hear her precious little voice say, I love you, daddy. It's music to my ears just to hear her say daddy. I never thought I would have a child and hear him or her call me daddy. Even Ruby's little giggle is a sweet song to my ears.
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame… When I think about it, I do have fame. I know I am a well known Marshall in these parts. Some people appreciate me as a Marshall, while others do not. Because of the latter, it's not the type of fame that gives me peace. In fact, it does just the opposite. I know my job as Dodge City Marshall has put my family and friends in danger. I can't help but fear there is someone out there waiting to use Kitty or Ruby to get revenge against me. I shudder thinking about it. One thing is for sure. The fame I've gained has not given me a big fortune.
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim…I am not afraid to admit that Kitty always had more money than I did while I was courting her. She owned the Long Branch, still does, and I'm a lawman. As our relationship grew stronger, I came to realize how rich I felt. The riches definitely did not come from my job as a Marshall. The riches came from the love I felt for her and the love I felt from her. I didn't think my life could get any richer, until Ruby Kathleen Dillon came into it. I love that little girl as immensely as I love her mama.
Matt shook his head and came back to the bleak reality of sitting at his desk with an unfinished report in front of him. He knew that he could not leave the jail and go home until the report was completed. Matt had been daydreaming about his girls and decided to use them as his inspiration to finish the report. Kitty and Ruby were the reasons he wanted to go home, and they would be the reasons he would finish that report.
Ten minutes later, that's exactly what Matt did. He made sure all the t's were crossed and all the i's were dotted. Once he determined they were, Matt placed the report in an envelope and took it to the post office. The report would go out on the stage the next day.
Matt opened the front door to the house he shared with Kitty and Ruby. Ruby was in the parlor playing with her blocks. Her eyes lit up when she saw her daddy walk inside. She immediately put down the block that was in her hand and went to her daddy. Matt picked Ruby up. Ruby wrapped her little arms around her daddy's neck and hugged him with all her might.
"Is mama in the kitchen?" Matt asked Ruby. He already knew the answer. The smells of tonight's supper were wafting from there.
"Uh huh," Ruby answered. "She's making supper."
"I thought you usually helped mama with supper," said Matt.
"When mama says, 'Ruby, it's time to howp,' I go in the kitchen. Mama says she doesn't want me under her feet. I guess she doesn't want to step on me."
Matt chuckled. "Let's go find her. I'll make sure she doesn't step on you."
Matt put his finger to his lips, telling Ruby to be quiet. Matt and Ruby walked into the kitchen. Kitty was so focused on cutting the vegetables in front of her, she didn't hear Matt and Ruby. Matt set Ruby down and walked up to Kitty, wrapping his arms around her and kissing the back of her neck. Not expecting that, Kitty turned around with the knife in her hand and screamed. Her heart slowed down the moment she saw it was Matt.
"Matt Dillon, what do you think you're doing sneaking up on the woman you love, especially when she has a knife?" asked Kitty. "You could've been seriously injured."
Matt took the knife out of Kitty's hand and pulled her towards him. "I'm sincerely sorry, my darlin'. Will ya forgive me?" Matt dramatically asked his wife.
"I suppose I could for a kiss," sighed Kitty.
Matt bent his head down and gave Kitty a sweet kiss. With Ruby in the kitchen with them, he knew the kiss couldn't get too hot and heavy. Speaking of Ruby, the little girl started giggling when she saw her daddy take her mama in his arms and kiss her.
'Yup,' Matt thought as he held Kitty in his arms and heard his daughter's laughter. 'These are my girls, the girls who bring sunshine and sweetness to my life and make me feel like the richest man alive.'
The end of this story