Chapter 36 "Happy Birthday, Daddy! Happy Birthday, Cowboy!"

*Author's Note: Like other stories in this series, this is totally out of cannon. I wrote this in honor of James Arness' 100th birthday (May 26th)

Birthdays have changed for Matt throughout his life. When he was a young boy, while his parents were still alive, Matt's ma made his birthdays so special. His mom made each birthday unique, but one thing was for sure. There was always a peach pie. After his parents died, Matt ended up in foster care. His foster parents were decent folks. They did recognize his birthday with a cake. Matt appreciated it, but it definitely wasn't the same as when he celebrated his birthday with his ma and pa. Once Matt left the care of his foster parents, the celebration of birthdays pretty much fizzled out.

By the time Matt came to Dodge City, it had been a few years since he had celebrated his birthday. Matt remembered the first time he had a birthday while living in Dodge City. He actually had to think about what age he was turning. Doc was the first person to ask Matt about his birthday. Matt wasn't sure how it came up in conversation. Doc never did anything to help celebrate Matt's birthday. He would simply wish Matt a happy birthday, and Matt was completely fine with that.

Enter Kitty Russell. Kitty had only been in Dodge City for a few weeks before she asked Matt the date of his birthday. At this time Doc, and now Chester, had been the only ones who knew when Matt's birthday was, and that was fine with Matt. In Matt's mind, the less people that knew the better. But for some reason, Matt had no problem telling Kitty when his birthday was. Thinking back, he was glad that he did. Kitty didn't make a huge public deal about his birthday. However, she did make a huge private deal about his birthday. Matt very much enjoyed the private birthday celebrations he had with Kitty.

Today Matt was celebrating another birthday. He was turning 38 years old. Matt was a mixture of pleased and surprised to be celebrating his fortieth birthday. He thought for sure he would have been dead and buried by now. The good Lord obviously had other plans.

Speaking of plans, Matt was certain that Kitty and Ruby had plans for his birthday. Actually Matt was certain Kitty had plans all set for his birthday. Ruby would just go with whatever Kitty planned. Matt had to admit that he thoroughly enjoyed celebrating his birthday with Kitty and Ruby. The celebrations were not over the top. It was being with his wife and daughter that Matt savored the most.

Matt rolled over and saw his gorgeous wife laying next to him. Her red hair was splayed across the pillow. She was sleeping peacefully. The morning sun was just beginning to invade the bedroom. Long gone were the days when Matt had to make sure he was out of Kitty's bed before Dodge City woke up. Now he could take the time and drink in his wife's beauty. She must've sensed he was watching her.

"Mmmm…" Kitty stretched. She slowly opened her eyes and focused her gaze on her husband. "Happy birthday, Cowboy." She leaned in for a sweet kiss.

Matt eagerly responded to the kiss. "I'm hoping that's a small preview of what's to come later tonight."

"That's a guarantee," Kitty promised. Kitty sat up and threw the covers off of herself. She was about to get out of bed, but two strong, loving arms pulled her back.

"Ya know. We can take that kiss preview and turn it into a little more of a preview." Matt's face held a look of hopefulness.

"That's very tempting, but I told Ruby she and I would make you a birthday breakfast. Now, she wants this to be a surprise, so stay in bed until it's ready," Kitty told Matt, as she got out of bed.

"I won't ruin the surprise," said Matt. "When should I join the two of you?"

"Give us 20 minutes," Kitty instructed.

During the last several minutes, Kitty had quickly gotten dressed and pulled her hair back in a half ponytail. She would make a quick trip to the water closet before waking Ruby up. All finished in the water closet, Kitty softly padded down the hall to Ruby's bedroom. She quietly opened the door. Ruby was still fast asleep. Kitty walked over to Ruby's bed, sat down, and gently rubbed Ruby's back.

"Sweetie, it's time to get up," Kitty whispered to the sleeping girl.

"I don't wanna," Ruby sleep mumbled. "It's too early."

Kitty couldn't stop her own smile. 'This is definitely my daughter,' she thought to herself.

"Today's daddy's birthday. We have to make his birthday breakfast before he gets up," Kitty reminded Ruby.

That woke Ruby up. "Oh, I almost forgot. Do you think daddy got up yet?"

"He was still in bed when I left the bedroom," Kitty replied. "Come on. Let's get you dressed, so we can get breakfast started." Kitty quickly got Ruby into a dress and put her hair into pigtails. "Use the water closet and then come to the kitchen."

"Okay, momma," said Ruby. Ruby did as she was told and joined her momma in the kitchen.

Kitty had already cracked a half dozen eggs in a bowl and poured a little milk in them. She would let Ruby stir them up for the scrambled eggs. Ruby wasn't quite ready to crack the eggs yet, and Kitty didn't want to risk shells in the scrambled eggs. Kitty placed the bowl of eggs and milk on the table. Ruby walked into the kitchen and saw the bowl on the table.

"Do ya want me to stir that?" asked Ruby pointing to the bowl. Ruby had helped Kitty make breakfast before and knew exactly what to do.

"Yes," said Kitty. "While you're doing that, I'll fry up the sausage. When you're done, I'll fry and scramble the eggs. Let's put your apron on."

Kitty helped Ruby with her apron. She then went to fry up the sausage patties, and Ruby stirred up the eggs and milk. When they were a pale yellow, Ruby walked the bowl over to her momma. She quietly stood next to her momma, waiting for her to take the bowl. Kitty was so focused on the sausage patties, making sure they didn't burn, that she didn't realize Ruby was standing next to her, until Ruby spoke up.

"Here ya go momma," Ruby said, holding the bowl up to Kitty.

"Oh Ruby, honey, you should've left the bowl on the table," said Kitty as she took the bowl. "You know you're not supposed to be close to the stove while I'm cooking. I need you to set the table. As soon as I flip the patties, I'll get the cups, plates, and silverware for you."

"Momma, I can get the silverware," said Ruby, walking to the drawer that held the silverware.

"Okay, you do that and I'll get the plates and cups." Kitty flipped the sausage patties and walked to the cupboard to gather the plates and cups. She put them on the table so Ruby could set it.

Matt had been in the bedroom. Shortly after Kitty left, he got up and got dressed. Knowing he had some time before he had to go out into the kitchen, Matt decided to clean his gun. He always made sure he cleaned his gun when Ruby wasn't around. Matt looked at the clock on the side table. He had less than five minutes before he had to show up for his "surprise" birthday breakfast. Matt put his gun belt on and went to use the water closet. When he finished in the water closet, he went to join Kitty and Ruby in the kitchen.

"Boy! Something sure smells good," Matt exclaimed from the parlor room.

"He's coming!" Ruby excitedly whispered to her momma.

"We're all set," said Kitty. She placed the scrambled eggs and sausage on the table. Kitty also placed a pot of coffee on the table. She brewed that before she started making the food.

Matt pushed open the swinging door to the kitchen and walked in. "I thought something smelled good."

"Happy birthday, daddy!" Ruby exclaimed. "We made you a surprise breakfast."

"Thank you," Matt smiled. "I can't wait to eat it."

Ruby smiled at her daddy, but the smile quickly turned into a frown when she saw that her daddy was wearing his gun belt. He didn't wear his gun belt when he was going to stay home. The only time he wore his gun belt was when he had to leave.

"Daddy, why are you wearing your gun belt?" Ruby asked, her voice full of disappointment.

"I have to go to work after I eat the delicious breakfast you and momma made," Matt replied.

"You have to work on your birthday?" Ruby questioned. "That stinks."

"I'm afraid I do and you're right. It does stink," said Matt.

"It's alright that daddy has to work," said Kitty. "We have birthday things to do."

Ruby instantly forgot all about her daddy having to work on his birthday. She was much too excited about the birthday things she and her momma had to do. The Dillon family finished their breakfast and Matt left for work. Kitty expected him back later that evening.

After Matt had left, the kitchen was cleaned, and the beds were made, the first thing Kitty and Ruby did was wrap Matt's birthday present. They were giving Matt a new vest and new socks. Like she did with her momma's birthday present, Ruby "paid" for Matt's socks with her own money. Ruby had the socks hidden under her bed. She figured that was a good place to hide them from her daddy. Ruby went to her bedroom to retrieve the socks so she and her momma could wrap them.

The next thing on the birthday list was baking the cake. Ruby had the idea of making a blueberry muffin cake with white frosting. Kitty appreciated her daughter's logic. If daddy loved blueberry muffins, then he would love a blueberry muffin cake. Once Kitty thought about it, she decided that Ruby's idea might work. All Kitty had to do was pour the blueberry muffin batter in a cake pan, instead of the muffin tins, and bake it for the amount of time she baked a cake. They would bake the cake after lunch.

"I think it's time to bake the blueberry muffin cake," said Kitty.

"Yeah!" Ruby exclaimed. "When we're done, can I lick the spoon and bowl?" That was one of Ruby's favorite things about baking, licking the bowl and spoon.

"As long as you're a good helper," Kitty answered.

Kitty and Ruby put on their aprons and set to work. Ruby poured the measured ingredients in the mixing bowl and helped her momma stir. Once the ingredients were all stirred up, Kitty poured the batter into the cake pan, and placed it in the oven. She would check the cake in 30 minutes.

"As soon as you finish licking the bowl, you can have rest time," Kitty told her daughter. After Ruby was done, Kitty cleaned her up.

Now that Ruby was five years old, Matt and Kitty didn't call it nap time anymore. Ruby thought nap time was too babyish. Rest time sounded like something big girls did, and she was a big girl. The rule was that Ruby had to lay on her bed for a half hour. If she was awake after a half hour, she could get up. If she fell asleep, her parents let her sleep. But they only let her sleep for an hour or so. Normally Ruby did fall asleep during rest time. Today was no exception.

Thirty minutes later Kitty checked on the cake. Satisfied that it was completely baked, Kitty removed it from the oven. She placed the cake on the table and went to check on Ruby. Peeking inside, Kitty could see that Ruby was fast asleep. Kitty would come back in an hour to wake Ruby up. Kitty decided to use that hour to clean the kitchen and whip up the frosting. Ruby could help her frost the cake when she woke up.

An hour later, Kitty had the kitchen cleaned and the frosting made. She went to Ruby's room to wake her up. As she did in the morning, Kitty gently rubbed Ruby's back to wake her up.

"Ruby, wake up," Kitty gently said. "It's time to frost daddy's cake."

Stretching her arms above her head, Ruby opened her eyes and smiled. Frosting cakes was also a favorite baking task for Ruby. It was a favorite for the same reason she liked to bake the cake, licking the bowl.

Matt returned home later that evening. He enjoyed beef stew and homemade bread with Kitty and Ruby. After supper, Kitty put Matt's birthday cake on the table in front of him. There were several candles in the cake.

"Ruby had the idea of making you a blueberry muffin cake with white frosting," Kitty told Matt. "We hope you like it." Not that she had anything to worry about, but Kitty was hoping Matt got the clue to like the cake no matter what. She didn't want Ruby's feelings to be hurt.

"Oh, I'm sure I will," Matt responded. "I love blueberry muffins, so I'm sure I'll love blueberry muffin cake."

"I'll light the candles so daddy can blow them out and make a wish," said Kitty as she grabbed a match and lit the candles.

"Okay daddy, make a wish and blow out the candles," Ruby instructed.

Matt closed his eyes, "made" his wish, and blew out the candles. "I sure hope my wish comes true." Matt winked at Kitty. That wink told Kitty exactly what Matt had wished for. She smiled and winked back.

"Me too," Ruby agreed, completely oblivious of what her daddy had wished for. "Now let's cut this cake."

Matt and Kitty both laughed at their daughter's impatience. Matt got a knife and cut a piece of cake for all three of them. Since it was Matt's birthday, he took the first bite. Matt didn't have to pretend to like the cake. It was delicious. Ruby had come up with an excellent idea. Matt even had a second piece. When they finished their cake, Matt opened his gifts. He let Kitty and Ruby know how much he loved his new vest and socks.

Later that night, after Ruby was tucked into her bed, Matt and Kitty retired to their own room. It was now time to make Matt's birthday wish come true. Even though Matt loved the time he spent with both Kitty and Ruby this evening, he was looking forward to his private celebration with Kitty. His wife did not disappoint him. She never did.

"Happy birthday, Cowboy," Kitty said as she gave Matt a deep and passionate kiss. "I love you."

"Thank you, honey," said Matt. "I love you too."

As Matt closed his eyes and fell asleep, he hoped he and Kitty lived to be a hundred years old. Birthday lovemaking was definitely something to live for.

The End