"A Is For Apple" (Part 2)

*Author's Note: I couldn't remember if it was 3 total days for the round trip or 3 days there and 3 days back. But then I watched the beginning of "Daddy-O" and Chester told Doc that Mr. Dillon sent a telegram 3 days ago saying he was leaving Hays City. So, I changed the timeline of my story in part one. It won't change the outcome of the story.

Kitty sat on the couch in the parlor room. It was too early for her to go to bed. Even if it was later, she still wouldn't have retired for the night. She was wide awake and showed no signs of being tired. Right now sleep was the last thing on her mind. All she could think of was the heartbroken little girl in the room down the hall and her husband's trip to Hays City.

Kitty was well aware that Matt's job as Marshal of Dodge City did interfere with different events. She became accustomed to him missing dances and socials, especially early in their relationship. But things got a little better after Festus and Newly started working for him. It wasn't uncommon for one or both of them to escort a prisoner to Hays. As Kitty's mind wandered back to the day Matt left, her anger and frustration grew.

Three Days Earlier (The Day Matt Left)

It was early afternoon and Kitty was walking down Front Street, on her way to the Long Branch. She had dropped Ruby off at the Ronigers to play with Rosie and Mary, so she could get some office work done. Truth be told, she needed some time to herself, time to collect her thoughts. Kitty was about to enter the Long Branch, when she heard Festus calling her name.

"Mizz Kitty!" Festus called as he crossed the street. His spurs jangled as he did. Kitty waited for him. "I shore wasn't spectin' ta see you in town. Where's Mizz Ruby?"

"She's at the Ronigers' playing with Rosie and Mary," Kitty replied. "I figured with Matt going to Hays City, I might as well get work done at the Long Branch." Kitty shook her head. "Talk about bad timing. I can't believe he had to leave so close to Ruby's first day of school. For Ruby's sake, I hope he's back in time. He'll be cutting it close. It's too bad you or Newly couldn't make the trip."

"Me 'n Newly offered, but Matthew insisted on going," Festus told Kitty.

"What do you mean?" Kitty couldn't believe what Festus had shared with her. "Why would Matt insist on going, especially if you 'n Newly offered to make the trip?"

"I don't rightly know, Mizz Kitty," Festus replied. "I can jest tell ya that he told us he had to make the trip."

Kitty worked in her office for almost two hours, at least she tried to work. She was having a hard time focusing. She couldn't get her conversation with Festus out of her mind. Knowing she was not going to be able to get any more work accomplished, Kitty closed her ledger, locked her office, and left the Long Branch. With her mind elsewhere, Kitty didn't even notice Doc, until she practically bumped into him.

"Oh Doc, I'm so sorry," Kitty apologized. "I didn't even see you there."

Doc tugged on his ear and gave Kitty a smile. "I'm not going to complain. It's not everyday I get bumped into by a beautiful lady." Kitty smiled, but her smile didn't reach her eyes. Doc noticed. "Let's go to my office and talk."

Kitty followed Doc to his office. Once there, he poured both of them a cup of coffee. He handed Kitty one of the cups. She greatly accepted it.

"Talk ta me, Kitty," Doc encouraged the woman he viewed as a daughter.

"Matt had to go to take a prisoner to Hays," Kitty began. "I was upset about the timing, but I knew I couldn't do anything about it. I'm also aware that there are times when Matt has to be the one to escort the prisoner to Hays. I figured this was one of those times. That was until I talked to Festus. He said that he 'n Newly offered to go, but Matt turned down the offer. Festus said Matt insisted on going. Why would he do that Doc when he knew Ruby was starting school?"

"Kitty, I'm afraid I can't answer your questions," said Doc. "You're gonna have ta talk to Matt. Now, I know you can be a little stubborn, but you need ta make sure you listen to his reason for going."

Present Time (Dillon House)

Kitty walked to the window, pushed the curtains to the side, and stared out into the darkness. The sun had set a couple of hours ago. Doc's advice of keeping her temper in check kept creeping into her thoughts. She knew he was right. It would be best if she didn't let her stubbornness get the best of her. However, Kitty knew it would take a lot of willpower to do so.

Several minutes passed by, before Kitty decided to call it a night and go to bed. She was turning down the lights, when she heard the unmistakable sound of Matt's horse outside. A smile crossed her face. He had made it home in time for Ruby's first day of school. But as soon as the smile appeared, it disappeared. Kitty wanted answers.

Matt dismounted Buck and led him into the barn. He removed the horse's saddle and harness. While riding up to the house, Matt could see light on in the house. That surprised Matt. He thought Kitty would be in bed. Tomorrow was Ruby's first day of school, and he assumed Kitty would also want to get a good night's sleep.

Ruby. Matt knew leaving for Hays City when he did wasn't the best decision. He also knew he would have to face the music when walked into the house. Kitty would want an explanation. Matt would give her one. He just wasn't sure if she would understand.

"Welcome home, Cowboy," Kitty greeted as Matt entered the house.

Kitty may have used her special term of endearment for him, but Matt knew he wasn't off the hook. "I'm surprised to see yer still up. It's getting kinda late."

"I was on my way to bed, but I heard you ride up." Kitty's voice was calm, almost too calm. "We need to talk."

"If yer tired, we can go to bed 'n talk in the morning," Matt suggested, hoping a good night's sleep would change Kitty's mood.

"I'd rather talk now," said Kitty. Her arms were folded in front of her and she stared Matt directly in the face.

"Do ya wanna go in the bedroom 'n talk?" asked Matt.

"No," Kitty answered. "I look at our bedroom as our sanctuary, our private getaway from the rest of the world. I don't want to go into our sanctuary with the anger I'm feeling. Besides that, I don't want to wake Ruby up. She has a big day tomorrow. Now explain to me why you insisted on going to Hays, when Festus and Newly would have gone."

Matt defeatedly sat on the couch with his head hanging down. He let out a long sigh. "I have to make sure I'm pulling my weight around here."

"What does that mean?" Kitty inquired. "You pull your weight around here. You work very hard. What makes you think you don't pull your weight around here?"

"I'm talking about money," Matt replied. "If it weren't for you owning the Long Branch all those years 'n being the savvy business woman you are, we wouldn't be living in a house this size. Let's face it. My salary would only get us a house a fraction of the size of this house. You 'n Ruby wouldn't have the nice things you do have, if we relied solely on my income."

"Why is this bothering you all of a sudden?" questioned Kitty. "It never has before. Since early in our relationship, you knew I made more money than you. So what suddenly changed?"

"A little over a week ago I was taking my turn and doing the evening rounds. I was walking past the Bull's Head and heard some men talking. They must've been sitting right by the door. I heard one of them say how it must be nice to be the Marshal because I could quit working anytime I wanted 'n let my wife support me. Then they all started laughing," Matt finished, his voice barely above a whisper.

Kitty understood. Matt's pride was wounded, but he never let what people said bother him before. "Matt, I've never known you to let what people say about you bother you before. I can think of the numerous times people made some sort of comment about the way you were friends with different Indians around here. But that didn't stop you from befriending the Indians. People's comments also didn't stop you from having a relationship with a saloon girl."

"That's because I love you," Matt explained. "I guess I can't explain why those men's words all of a sudden got to me. I know I made a rash decision with the way I left. I could've missed Ruby's first day of school, 'n I don't know if I could've forgiven myself for that."

"She was sad when she went to bed," said Kitty. "She believes yer gonna miss her first day of school." Kitty decided not to mention Ruby's tears. She knew Matt felt guilty enough. "Speaking of the first day of school, we should probably get ta bed."

"Sweetheart," Matt said, gently grabbing Kitty's arm. "Are ya still mad?"

"I wouldn't be suggesting that we go to bed, if I was," Kitty responded as she led Matt to their bedroom. Matt greatly followed.

The next morning Matt went into Ruby's room to wake her up. He and Kitty decided it would be best if he were the one to do so. Matt quietly opened the door and saw Ruby facing the opposite way. He walked up to her bed and knelt down.

Ruby heard the door open and knew it was her momma coming to wake her up for school. She was still determined not to go to school until her daddy came home. Maybe if momma had a hard time waking her up, momma wouldn't make her go to school.

"Ruby, sweetie," Matt softly said as he gently shook her shoulder. "It's time to get up. It's yer first day of school."

Not believing her ears, Ruby turned over and saw her daddy kneeling by her bed. "Daddy!" she exclaimed, launching herself into his arms. "You came home for my first day of school."

"I sure did," said Matt. "Let's get up, so you can get ready. You don't want to be late."

"Daddy's right. You don't want to be late for your first day of school." Kitty had been observing the scene from the doorway.

It didn't take long to get Ruby ready for school. Kitty was grateful because she wanted to leave earlier than they needed to leave. Doc, Festus, and Newly wanted to see Ruby before she went to school. They had a gift for her.

Matt tied Buck to the back of the buggy. The plan was for him to go to work and for Kitty to go home after they took Ruby to school. Since Ruby was starting kindergarten, she would only attend school until noon. Kitty would pick her up. And if he could, Matt would come too.

"Look! There's Grandpa Doc, Uncle Festus, and Uncle Newly!" Ruby excitedly pointed towards the three men standing by the telegraph office.

"They want ta see you on your first day of school," Kitty explained. Matt pulled the buggy next to Doc, Festus, and Newly.

"Well look at you, little darling. I bet you're gonna be the prettiest girl at school," Doc gushed. Ruby was wearing her brand new dress and had her hair pulled back into two braids.

"She shore is," Festus agreed.

"No doubt about it," Newly added.

Ruby gave them a big smile, but then noticed the gift Doc was holding. "Grandpa Doc, who's present is that?"

"This is for you." Doc gave her the present. "It's from the three of us."

Ruby looked at her momma. "Can I open it now.?" Kitty nodded. She knew what it was and that Ruby would need it for school.

Ruby opened the present to reveal a small backpack to use for school. She was thrilled. "I can take this to school."

"You can put your slate tablet, pencil and cloth in there," said Kitty.

Ruby was currently holding her tablet and cloth, with the slate pencil rolled inside the cloth. Kitty helped Ruby put her school supplies in her new backpack.

"What do you say for your nice gift?" Kitty asked Ruby.

"Thank you," said Ruby.

"You're welcome," all three men replied.

Doc pulled his pocket watch out of his pocket. "It's getting close to eight o'clock. You don't want to be late."

The Dillons continued their way towards the school house. Ruby was delighted when she saw Mary Roniger among the group of children. This was Mary's second year of school. Kitty had told Ruby that Mary would be there. When asked if Rosie would be there, Kitty informed Ruby that Rosie would start school next year.

Before joining the other kids, Matt and Kitty gave Ruby a kiss goodbye. They told her they loved her. Watching Ruby skip off towards the other children, Matt took Kitty's hand. She looked up at her husband and saw his eyes glistening. She gave him a knowing smile, her own eyes glistening.

Miss Grey was standing in the schoolyard, monitoring the children. She pulled a watch out of her skirt pocket and saw that it was eight o'clock. Putting the watch back into her pocket, she walked to the steps of the schoolhouse and took the bell off the newel cap. Waving her hand back and forth, she rang the bell. The children came running towards the school. Miss Grey led them inside.

"Alright children, let's find a seat. We'll have our first year students sit in the front row," Miss Grey instructed. "My first year students, you will notice a book on your desk. It's a book with letters in it. You will learn your letters this year. This book will stay at school, so it doesn't get lost."

Miss Grey had a rule about her first year students not taking their books home. She was afraid the books might get lost or ruined, especially since the children were so young. She had no problem with the older students taking their books home. They seemed to be more careful.

When Miss Grey finished taking attendance, she began her first day of teaching in Dodge City. She gave lessons for the other students to work on, and then gave her attention to the kindergartners. She instructed them to open the first page of their letter book. Ruby did so and found a picture of an apple and a letter.

"That's the letter A," said Miss Grey. "Apple begins with the letter A. A is for apple. We will learn how to write the letter A and other words that start with A."

Ruby knew she was going to love going to school and learning about letters. She couldn't wait to share her joy with her daddy and momma.

Four hours laters, Kitty returned to pick Ruby up. Ruby was disappointed that her daddy wasn't there, but Kitty reassured her that daddy was waiting for them at his office. They had to go get him and then they would go to Delmonico's to celebrate.

"Oh my goodness! School is 'mazing. Miss Grey gave me a book of letters, but I have to keep it at school. She doesn't want us to lose it at home. But I can practice writing my letters at home," Ruby happily spoke, only stopping to take bites of her food. "Do you wanna know what I learned today?"

"What's that, Little Gemstone?" asked Matt.

"A is for apple," she proudly stated.

The End