Chapter 38 "Happy Birthday, Festus!"

Today was Festus' birthday. What birthday Festus was celebrating was a mystery. They didn't know Festus' exact age, but Matt and Kitty guessed that Festus probably wasn't younger than Matt. If anything, he was probably older than Matt. They just didn't know how much older. But Festus' real age didn't matter. It wouldn't change how important he was to them.

"I have Ruby's travel bag all packed for tonight," said Kitty as she entered the kitchen.

Matt and Ruby were both in the kitchen. Ruby was in her apron, kneeling at the kitchen table, waiting for her momma. They were going to bake not one, but two cakes for Uncle Festus. Ruby was practically on pins and needles. The idea of baking two cakes was exciting for the little girl.

Matt was home because he took a rare day off. He had been gone the last few days because of work and decided it would be a good day to stay home and get work done outside. Before he became a husband and a father, Matt wouldn't think of taking time off. But now that he was a husband and a father, Matt had changed his ways.

"Why did you pack my travel bag?" Ruby was clearly confused.

"You're going away tonight," Kitty answered as she put on her own apron, tying it behind her back.

"Going away? Don't you and daddy want me no more?" Ruby was starting to panic. She didn't want to go away. She loved living with her daddy and momma.

Kitty quickly realized she should have used different wording. "Of course your daddy and I still want you. You're not going away forever. You're going to stay over and sleep at Rosie and Mary's house tonight while daddy and I are at Uncle Festus' Long Branch party."

"That sounds fun!" Ruby exclaimed. "I never sleeped over there."

"You never slept over there." Kitty corrected her daughter. "I know you'll have fun."

This would be Ruby's first planned time she slept away from home without either of her parents. There were those terrible few weeks when she was away from her parents because of her kidnapping, but Matt and Kitty didn't count that. Ruby never would have been without her parents if it wasn't for the kidnapping.

"You ladies have fun baking the cakes," said Matt. "There are things that need attending to outside." He walked out the back door and towards the horse corral.

"Alright, let's bake those cakes," said Kitty.

Baking two cakes at once was no problem for Kitty. She simply doubled the ingredients. Being able to pour the ingredients in the bowl twice, put Ruby on cloud nine. Baking two cakes at the same time took a little longer, but that didn't matter. It meant that Ruby got to spend more time with her momma. Kitty poured half the batter in each cake pan and put the pans in the oven.

"These need to be baked for a half hour," Kitty told Ruby. "Let's get you cleaned up and ready for rest time. When rest time is over, you can help make the frosting."

This time Ruby fell asleep during her rest time. Kitty was grateful for that. She didn't want Ruby to be cranky at the Ronigers'. Kitty knew she couldn't make the frosting. She told Ruby that Ruby could help make the frosting. Ruby would be disappointed if Kitty made the frosting without her. Instead Kitty decided to wrap Festus' new boots.

Later that evening the Dillons, along with Doc and Festus, sat in the Dillons' parlor room. They had enjoyed a delicious meal of beef stew and biscuits and a chocolate cake with whipped cream frosting. Kitty walked into the bedroom to retrieve Festus' birthday present.

"Here you go, Festus," said Kitty, placing the gift on Festu's lap. "This is from Newly, Doc, Matt and me."

"And me," Ruby chimed in.

"And Ruby," said Matt.

"Uncle Festus, I also colored you a picture." Ruby gave Festus the picture she colored.

Festus took the picture from Ruby and admired it. "Why that there is one purdy picture. Thank ya, Miss Ruby. I'll hang it in the office."

Ruby smiled with pride. "Maybe you can take some of those bad guys down."

"Sorry sweetie," Matt apologized. "Those have to stay up. But don't worry. We'll find a spot for your picture."

"Are you going to open your gift?" asked Doc.

"I will. Jest held yer horses," Festus replied. He opened the gift to reveal a beautiful brand new pair of boots. He was speechless.

"I want everyone to remember this moment," Doc stated. "This is probably the first time that Festus Hagen has been speechless." Matt and Kitty both laughed.

"Ya ol' scudder," said Festus. "Them boots are the best boots these eyeballs have ever seen. They look like a perfect fit."

"Put them on Uncle Festus," Ruby instructed him.

Festus slipped out of his old boots and into the new boots. He started walking around the parlor room. "Yup, a perfect fit. I'll wear 'em to the Long Branch." Festus picked up his old pair, removed the spurs, and attached them to his new pair of boots.

"Do you really need to put those jangly spurs on your new boots?" Doc questioned.

"Golly bill, Doc. Ya know I have ta have my spurs," Festus responded.

"They probably are a good idea," Doc agreed. "They warn me when you're coming." Surprisingly to everyone, Festus didn't respond to Doc's comment.

Doc and Festus left shortly after Festus put the spurs on his boots. Festus made sure he had Ruby's picture in his pocket. He also took his old pair of boots with him. They were quite worn out compared to the new ones, but he decided to keep them. It would be nice to have an extra pair on hand. Matt and Kitty told Doc and Festus they would meet them at the Long Branch. They had to drop off Ruby at the Ronigers' first.

Matt steered the wagon towards Silver Creek and to the Ronigers' house. He brought the wagon to a halt, set the brake, and jumped down. Once he was down from the wagon, he helped Kitty and Ruby down. Matt reached into the back of the wagon and grabbed Ruby's travel bag. The three Dillons walked to the house.

"You're not gonna forget me tomorrow, right?" For some reason Ruby still seemed to be nervous about staying the night at the Ronigers. Matt and Kitty knew they had to reassure their daughter before they left her there.

"Little gemstone," Matt addressed his daughter, kneeling in front of her. "I promise that your momma will not forget to get you tomorrow. We love ya way too much to forget you."

"What time are you gonna get me?" Ruby asked.

"I already talked to Aunt Bess. I'm gonna get you sometime after you eat breakfast," Kitty answered.

"What about daddy?" Ruby asked.

"Daddy has to go to work tomorrow," Kitty replied.

Before the Dillons reached the house, Rosie and Mary came running out. They had been waiting for Ruby to arrive. When Ruby saw the girls, she ran to them. Her fear of staying the night suddenly disappeared. Matt and Kitty's fears that their daughter would not have a good time were also quenched.

Will and Bess walked outside and greeted Matt and Kitty. Bess took Ruby's travel bag from Matt. "Do ya think they're happy to see each other?" Bess teased.

"Maybe a little," Kitty laughed. "Everything Ruby needs is in the bag. If you need us for anything, we'll be at the Long Branch until about midnight. After that, we'll be at home."

Bess could hear the anxiety in Kitty's voice. "Kitty dear, don't worry. She'll be fine." Kitty smiled at Bess. She knew Bess was correct.

"Kitty, we need to get goin'," Matt told her. "Ruby! Yer momma and I are leavin'. Come and give us a hug 'n kiss." Ruby ran back to her parents, so hugs and kisses could be exchanged.

By the time Matt and Kitty arrived at the Long Branch, the party was in full swing. Matt parked the wagon on the side of the Long Branch. After she was on the ground, Kitty walked to the back of the wagon and got Festus' cake. She made sure Matt drove carefully so the cake wouldn't be ruined.

"Alright, before everyone has too much to drink, let's honor Festus," Kitty announced.

Kitty placed the cake on one of the tables. Festus sat in front of the cake. His closest friends, Matt, Kitty, Doc, and Newly all sat around the table with him. Doc realized he was sitting right across from Festus and got up.

"I'm not gonna be a victim of his wish making this year," Doc explained. The party guests all laughed.

A round of "He's a Jolly Good Fellow" was sung and Festus made a wish and blew out the candles. This time the whipped cream stayed in place. Everyone had a good time while the beer and whiskey flowed. Shortly before midnight, Matt and Kitty said their goodbyes and left. Doc and Newly did the same. Festus stayed and continued to enjoy the festivities. It had already been decided that he would come to work later tomorrow morning.

"It's nice to have the house to ourselves," Matt commented. "Don't get me wrong. I love our little girl."

Kitty put her finger on Matt's lips, silencing him. "I know you love Ruby and I know exactly what you mean. We can make love without worrying that Ruby might walk in on us."

Ever since Ruby was born, Matt and Kitty's love making had slightly changed, but not in a negative way. They still found complete pleasure with one another. However, when they made love before Ruby was born, they could be in the bedroom and yell out each other's name in ecstasy. They didn't do that anymore. Kitty had reminded Matt it shouldn't be too difficult to not yell out. They did it for years in Kitty's room at the Long Branch.

"That is one of my fears," Matt admitted.

"Luckily for us, she's a deep sleeper like me," said Kitty. Matt smiled and nodded in agreement.

For the next couple of hours, Matt and Kitty made sweet love to one another. It was almost two o'clock before they both fell asleep. They would sleep past eight o'clock the next morning. After breakfast Matt left for work and Kitty left to pick up Ruby. She took the buggy.

During the ride home, Ruby talked the entire time. Kitty loved listening to her daughter happily chat away about the good time she had at the Ronigers. Once in a while Kitty was able to get a word in here and there. She was both thrilled and relieved that Ruby enjoyed herself. Kitty knew without a doubt that she would hear about it again when Ruby told Matt about her time at the Ronigers.

Several days later Matt and Kitty had Doc over for supper. Kitty made chicken and dumplings and an apple pie. They were celebrating Doc's birthday, but only Doc, Matt, and Kitty knew that. Ruby didn't know. Doc didn't think it was necessary for people to know when his birthday was. Matt and Kitty were the exception. Someday, when Ruby was old enough to be trusted not to say anything, they would tell her when Grandpa Doc's birthday was. Right now she didn't question it. Right now she was telling her grandpa all about staying the night with Rosie and Mary. Doc sat back and lovingly listened to his little granddaughter.

The End

*Author's Note: Happy Birthday, Ken Curtis! (July 2nd) Happy Birthday, Milburn Stone! (July 5th)