Chapter 41 "Merry Christmas, Love the Dillons!" Part 1

Jonas' Store

There was a crisp chill in the air. Winter was around the corner, as was Christmas. The businesses and even some of the saloons were adorned with Christmas wreaths and garland. The Long Branch had red velvet ribbon wrapped around its pillars and a wreath on each pillar. The Dillons were in town doing their Christmas shopping at Jonas' general store.

Kitty pulled out her list and looked it over. She had a list of items she would need to prepare dinner for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Christmas Eve dinner was reserved for her, Matt, and Ruby. Christmas Day was reserved for the Dillons along with Doc, Festus, and Newly. Granted their extended family could make it. With their professions, it was never a guarantee.

"Hello, Miss Kitty," Jonas greeted her with a smile. "Is that your list?"

Kitty handed Jonas her list. "Yes, it is. Thank you."

Jonas looked the list over. "I should have everything on here." He looked over at Matt. "How about you, Marshal? Do you have a list?"

Matt pulled his list from his vest pocket. "All I need is some harness oil and some ammunition for my rifle."

"The ones at the jail or your personal one?" Jonas took Matt's list.

"My personal one," Matt answered.

"You have that Winchester, correct?" Jonas questioned.

"Yes, I do," Matt replied.

"I'll get both of these lists taken care of," said Jonas. "Oh, Miss Kitty. I see you have a gingerbread cookie cutter on your list. I have a small selection with the baking supplies."

"Thank you," said Kitty. "Come on Ruby, let's go see what's over there."

"Wait," Ruby demanded. "Isn't anyone gonna ask if I have a list?"

"It would be kind of hard for a little girl who can't write to have a list," Matt responded.

"If I could write, I'd have a list," said Ruby. "Don't forget that I can write my name."

"Are we all set with the lists?" Jonas quietly asked.

"Yes," Kitty replied. She turned towards Ruby. "And what would be on your list?"

Ruby looked around the store. "Those peppermint sticks and some gumdrops."

"Now that does not surprise me," Matt laughed. "Are you ladies gonna go and pick out a cookie cutter?"

"Yes, we are," Kitty answered.

Kitty took Ruby's hand and led her to where Jonas kept his baking items. There were different size gingerbread cookie cutters to choose from. After looking at them for several minutes, Kitty and Ruby chose three of them, a larger one, a medium one, and a small one. Ruby said they were like her family. The big one was the daddy. The medium one was the momma. The small one was the child.

Jonas returned from the back with the items from Matt and Kitty's lists. Matt paid the bill, and the Dillons left the store. After placing the crate in the back of the wagon, Matt helped his girls climb up onto the seat of the wagon. Once they were situated, he climbed up. Grabbing the reins and releasing the brake, Matt maneuvered the wagon down Front Street and headed home.

Gingerbread Cookies

Kitty had never baked gingerbread cookies before, but wanted to learn so she and Ruby could start a new Christmas tradition. Bess Ronniger gave Kitty her recipe. She reassured Kitty that it was not a difficult task, and that Kitty could do it. Kitty studied the recipe. It didn't seem too difficult.

"Let's get our aprons on, so we can start baking." Kitty put on her apron and then assisted Ruby with hers.

While tying Ruby's apron, Kitty was reminded that Ruby was outgrowing her apron. Kitty became aware that Ruby's apron was getting too small a few weeks ago when she and Ruby were making Thanksgiving dinner together. She made a mental note to get Ruby a new apron for Christmas. Kitty would put Ruby's current apron into her cedar chest. She wanted a keepsake of when Ruby was that little and the baking memories they shared together.

"The first thing we need to do is add flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt to a mixing bowl and stir," Kitty instructed as she read the recipe.

Kitty went through the recipe letting Ruby pour the different ingredients into bowl and stir. Now it was time to form the dough into a ball, so it could be placed into the icebox. Bess told Kitty it was imperative for the dough to be cold. Otherwise it would be too sticky to work with.

Two hours later Kitty checked the dough. It seemed cold enough. Continuing to follow the recipe, Kitty rolled out the dough onto the floured table. Ruby used the cookie cutters to create the gingerbread men, and Kitty placed them on the cookie sheet. When the cookie sheet was full, Kitty placed it in the oven.

"Momma, where's daddy?" Ruby asked as she pressed the small cookie cutter into the dough.

"He and Uncle Festus went wild pig hunting so we can have ham for our Christmas Day dinner," Kitty answered.

"When can I go huntin' with daddy?" Ruby asked.

"When you're older," Kitty responded.

Kitty thought back to a couple of weeks ago when she and Matt were in Jonas' store. Ruby was spending the day and night at the Ronnigers, and Kitty knew it would be the perfect time to buy Ruby's Christmas presents from them and from Santa Claus. While shopping, Matt walked over to the rifles and picked up a boy's rifle. Kitty saw Matt examining the rifle. She walked over to Matt.

"I think Ruby's a little too young for her own rifle," Kitty told him.

Matt looked at Kitty. "You're okay with her having one someday?" He wasn't sure if Kitty would approve of Ruby having and using a rifle.

"Matt, I can't give you a son to go hunting with you. The least I can do is let you take our daughter," Kitty replied.

"Kitty, you know that I don't think of that," said Matt as he put the rifle down.

"Then why are you looking at that boy's rifle?" Kitty questioned.

"Because Ruby asked how big she had to be to go hunting with me," Matt answered.

"Oh," Kitty softly responded. She was almost embarrassed that she assumed Matt was pining for a son, when all he wanted to do was spend time with his daughter.

"But if you think she's too young, we can wait," said Matt.

"I'm not a gun expert. You are," said Kitty. "What do you think?"

"I think you're right. We should wait," Matt agreed.

Kitty was brought back to the present by the sound of Ruby's voice. "How much longer momma?"

"We have a few more minutes," Kitty responded.

A couple hours later all the gingerbread cookies had been baked and decorated. The entire house smelled of gingerbread. When Matt returned home, he commented on how good the house smelled. He also informed Kitty and Ruby that they would be eating ham on Christmas Day.

Oh Christmas Tree

It had snowed the night before leaving a blanket of white on the ground. The Dillons were going to go out and search for a Christmas tree. This would be Ruby's second year searching for a Christmas tree. Before she was born, Matt and Kitty went Christmas tree hunting. After Ruby's birth, Matt went out by himself for a few years. Both Matt and Kitty missed getting a tree together, but knew it would be too difficult to bring a baby with them. Now that Ruby was older, a new family tradition was started.

"Come on, Ruby!" Kitty called for her daughter. "It's time to go and get our Christmas tree."

"Coming!" Ruby called back from her bedroom. She had her fancy shoes in her hands.

Kitty saw the shoes. "You can't wear those. There's snow on the ground. You need your boots. Besides, your fancy shoes are getting too small for you. We need to buy you new shoes."

Ruby hugged her shoes to her chest. "I love my fancy shoes. I don't want new ones."

"Your toes are getting squished in them," Kitty pointed out. "You need new ones."

"Grandpa Doc can cut them off," Ruby suggested.

Matt walked in during the middle of the conversation. "Grandpa Doc is not going to cut off your toes. Don't even think about asking him. Let momma get you bundled up. We need to get our Christmas tree. We'll discuss new shoes at a later time."

Ruby walked over to Kitty. "Do you have everything all set?" Kitty asked Matt as she buttoned up Ruby's coat and put her crocheted hat on her head, wrapping the ends around her neck like a scarf.

"I have the horses hitched up to the wagon and the ax is in the back," Matt replied.

"Alright, we're all ready to go," said Kitty as she finished dressing herself for the outdoors.

The Dillons headed outside and boarded the wagon. Matt knew where a grove of evergreen trees were and decided to take his family there. Ruby was having a hard time sitting still on the seat. Excitement over the Christmas tree was the cause of that.

"Ruby, you need to sit still," Kitty instructed.

"I'm sorry, momma," Ruby apologized. "I can't help it. I can't wait ta get our tree."

"We understand how excited you are, but you still need to sit still," said Matt. He pointed ahead to a grove of evergreens. "We're almost there."

"Yay!" exclaimed Ruby.

Arriving at the evergreens, Matt pulled the reins and brought the horses to a halt. He set the break and jumped off the seat. He picked up Ruby, set her on the ground, and then helped Kitty. Matt walked to the back of the wagon and grabbed the saw.

"Alright Dillons, let's go find a Christmas tree," said Matt.

They had been searching for a few minutes, when Ruby walked over to a tree. "I like this one. It's nice and big."

"Ruby, that tree won't even fit into the barn, let alone the house. It's way too big," said Kitty. "We need a smaller one. Keep looking."

Ruby continued searching and came upon a tree that was about her size. She sauntered around the tree, carefully studying it. Ruby was falling in love with the tree.

"Daddy! Momma! Come here!" Ruby exclaimed. "I found a tree."

Matt and Kitty strolled over to where their daughter was standing. Kitty smiled. Her daughter went from the largest tree to the smallest tree. "We could probably get a tree that's a little bigger than that."

"I like this tree. It's a Ruby tree," Ruby explained. "I can put it in my bedroom."

"I think that's a wonderful idea," said Matt. He put his ax near the bottom of the trunk and began chopping. When it fell, he picked it up and walked it over to the wagon. "Now we need to find one for the parlor."

"What about that one?" Kitty asked, pointing to a tree about twenty feet ahead. The trio walked that way.

Matt walked around the tree. "I think it 's the perfect tree."

As he did with Ruby's tree, Matt put the ax near the bottom of the trunk and began chopping. After it fell, he picked the trunk and dragged it to the wagon. Kitty and Ruby followed. Matt put the ax in the back and then the tree. Kitty already had Ruby on the seat and was climbing up herself. Both of his girls were seated when Matt came to the front.

That evening the Dillons decorated their tree. Kitty and Ruby made a red and green paper chain for Ruby's tree. Kitty had a feeling this would not be the only Christmas Ruby had her own Christmas tree.

TBC in part 2 (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)

Author's Note: Merry Christmas! I made this a two parts because I had things to do to get ready for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.