Chapter 42 A Trip With Daddy
It was late Friday afternoon. Ruby sat on her parents' bed and watched Kitty pack her camisole into her carpet bag. Kitty was packing for a trip she planned on taking with Bess Ronniger. The two of them were going to Wichita for the week. It was a long overdue girls' trip. It had been a couple of years since their last trip together.
"Momma, if you go away, you'll miss your birthday," Ruby pouted.
"I won't miss my birthday," promised Kitty. "In fact, when I come home, it will be my birthday." Kitty could see that she was failing at making her daughter feel at ease about Kitty's upcoming trip. "I'll tell you what. As soon as I'm done packing, we'll make a paper chain like we do when your birthday is coming. This time it will be for my birthday. When you get to the last paper link, I'll be coming home and it will be my birthday."
"I'll get the scissors, paper, and paste," said Ruby excitingly as she climbed off the bed and ran out of the room.
"Don't run with the scissors!" Kitty shouted.
She finished packing and set her carpet bag next to her suitcase. Kitty walked out of the bedroom and into the parlor. The open drawer of the desk told Kitty that Ruby found everything she needed to make the paper chain. Walking over to the desk, Kitty pushed the drawer shut. Once that simple task was complete, Kitty went to join Ruby in the kitchen.
"I see you have everything all set in here," Kitty observed. Ruby had the paper, scissors, and paste on the table. "I'm going to get a pencil."
"Momma, we don't use a pencil," said Ruby.
"I'm going to draw lines and have you cut the paper links," Kitty told her daughter. "That way you can practice using scissors."
"So I can cut people and do surgery like Grandpa Doc?" Ruby questioned. She had been talking about being a doctor when she grew up.
"Yes, but right now scissors are for paper only," reminded Kitty. "Let me go and get the pencil.
Kitty returned with the pencil, and she and Ruby got to work. Kitty drew the lines on the paper to make the links and gave the paper to Ruby, so she could cut them out. When all the strips were cut out, Kitty and Ruby took one strip and pasted the ends together to make a link. From there, they constructed their paper chain.
"Where should I put it?" Ruby proudly asked as she held up the finished chain.
"Hang it on the back corner of your chair like you've done with your other paper chains," Kitty instructed. "I need to get supper started. When you're done with that, I need you to clean up the mess on the table."
"Daddy, me 'n momma made a paper chain today. It's for her birthday. When one link is left, momma will be home, 'n it'll be her birthday," said Ruby as she chewed the chicken and dumplings in her mouth.
"That sounds wonderful, but don't talk with your mouthful," Matt chided. "It's not polite.
Ruby made sure to swallow her food before speaking again. "When do I start taking links off?"
"The day after I leave, so that would be on Sunday," Kitty replied.
Saturday came and the Dillons were at the train depot waiting for the train to arrive. The Ronnigers were also waiting. A snowstorm in Denver had caused a slight delay. Kitty hoped there wouldn't be a delay when she returned. She promised Ruby she would be home for her birthday.
"There's a list in the kitchen on what to pack for Ruby's lunch. There's a list on the desk of the items Ruby needs to bring to school. There's a schedule… Mmmph." Matt's kiss stopped Kitty from talking.
"Honey, we've been over the lists and the schedule. You go to Wichita with Bess and the two of you have a wonderful time. Don't fret about us. Ruby 'n I will manage just fine."
The train whistle could be heard announcing its arrival. Several minutes later the big steam engine rolled into the depot. As it came to a stop, the brakes squealed and the train hissed, releasing its steam. The conductor disembarked the train.
"All aboard! All aboard!" he yelled. Being behind schedule, the conductor wanted to make up as much time as he could.
Hugs and kisses exchanged with their families, Kitty and Bess boarded the train. Matt and Ruby, along with Will and his family, waved as the train chugged eastward down the track. When they knew Kitty could no longer see them, Matt and Ruby left the depot.
The weekend passed by quickly. It was Monday morning and Matt was helping Ruby get ready for school. Kitty had arranged Ruby's clothes for the week in her wardrobe. Matt was grateful for that. Ruby couldn't argue with him about what dress to wear. After Ruby had her dress on, Matt did her hair. The next thing he had to do was pack Ruby's lunch. He would do that while Ruby ate breakfast.
"Let's see," said Matt as he read the list Kitty left. "Momma says to pack a ham sandwich, an apple, and a carrot"
Matt took two slices of bread and a piece of ham. He assembled the sandwich and put it in Ruby's metal lunch pail. Matt added the apple and carrot, making sure not to smash the sandwich. Once the food was arranged in the pail, Matt put a cloth on top.
"Are you almost done eating?" Matt asked. "According to momma's schedule, we have to get going."
Ruby took one last bite of her eggs and drank the last swallow of her milk. She grabbed her napkin and wiped the milk mustache off her face. "Yes."
Matt walked into the parlor to make sure the front door was locked and took his hat off the hook. He placed his hat atop of his head and walked back towards the kitchen. While walking through the parlor, Ruby's school satchel caught Matt's eye. It was hanging on the desk chair. Matt backtracked and snatched the satchel off the chair. He looked inside to make sure it contained everything that was on Kitty's list. Satisfied that it did, Matt returned to the kitchen.
"Alright, let's head on into town," said Matt. "You have to get to school and I have to get to the office."
Matt and Ruby pulled up to a vacant school yard. Something did not add up. Usually the school yard was teeming with children playing while they waited for Miss Grey to ring the morning bell. Matt spied a sign on the school door.
"Daddy, are you sure it's a school day?" Ruby wanted to know.
"Yes, I'm sure it's a school day," Matt responded.
"Then where is everyone?" Ruby asked with a shrug of her shoulders.
"I'm not sure, but I bet that sign on the door will tell us." Matt pointed to the door.
He brought the wagon closer to the school and brought the team of horses to a stop. Setting the brake, he hopped down and lifted Ruby off the seat. The pair walked over to the door so Matt could read the notice.
"What's it say, daddy?" Ruby questioned.
"Miss Grey is having her tonsils taken out and school will be closed for the week," Matt summarized.
"If there's no school, where am I gonna go? I can't go home. Momma's not there," Ruby pointed out.
"Well, I guess you'll have to come to the jail with me," Matt replied. A huge grin spread across Ruby's face. She liked the idea of spending time with her daddy.
Over at the jail, Matt sat at his desk, and Ruby sat at the table. Matt was working on paperwork. Ruby was supposed to be drawing and coloring a picture. Matt kept extra paper and some wax coloring sticks in one of his desk drawers for Ruby when she visited the jail. Ruby was stumped. She did not know what to draw. She walked over to Matt.
"Daddy, what are you doing?" she asked.
"Dreaded paperwork," Matt replied as he continued filling out his report.
"I can help you. I know how to write Ruby Dillon and some other letters," Ruby told her daddy.
"Thank you, sweetie," Matt smiled. "But the government pays me to do this. I thought you were gonna draw and color a picture."
"I don't know what to draw," Ruby sighed.
"You could draw some flowers for momma's birthday," Matt suggested. "I bet she would love that."
"Okay," Ruby agreed.
She went back to the table to start her picture. Twenty minutes later Ruby finished her picture. She brought it over to Matt so he could admire her artwork. Matt put down his pen and looked up at Ruby's picture.
"Those are some pretty flowers," Matt complimented his daughter.
"I wanna write happy birthday on it, but I don't know how to spell it," said Ruby.
"I'll write it on a piece of paper and you can copy it on your picture," said Matt. He took a piece of paper out of the drawer and wrote Happy Birthday on it. Matt handed the paper to Ruby. "Copy this on the top of your paper."
Ruby took the paper and returned to the table. She carefully copied Happy Birthday on top of her picture. She ran out of room for birthday and had to continue it on the next line. She was satisfied with the results.
Festus' jangling spurs could be heard down the boardwalk. Both he and Newly walked into the jail. They were surprised to see Ruby sitting at the table.
"Mizz Ruby, what are ya doin' here? Shouldn't ya be in school?" Festus inquired.
"School is closed for the week. Miss Grey is having her tonsils out." Matt answered for Ruby. "Which reminds me. I was supposed to go to Spearville on Wednesday. Newly, can you make the trip?"
"I wish I could, but Doc needs me to stay around town," Newly replied. "He's going all the way out to the Lane farm on Wednesday. That's fifteen miles out on the prairie. That's why he wanted me t' stay here."
Matt would've asked Festus to go, but unfortunately that was not an option. Things had to be read and signed, and Festus was unable to do that. Matt had no choice. He would have to go to Spearville. He looked over at Ruby. What was he going to do with her? Festus sensed Matt's dilemma.
"Are ya wonderin' what t' do with Mizz Ruby?" he asked.
"Yeah," Matt replied. "I was gonna drop her off at school and then ride to Spearville. I planned on being back before I had to get her. from school"
"Why don't ya take her with ya," Festus proposed. "She ain't goin' to school this week. You could make a little trip out of it."
"I reckon that's a good idea," Ruby agreed.
"It looks like I don't have a choice." Matt shook his head. "Sweetie, you get to go on a trip with daddy."
"Oh boy!" Ruby exclaimed.
Matt and Ruby left Dodge City early Wednesday morning. The plan was to stop at the sheriff's office to deliver and sign papers. Instead of making the trip back home the same day, Matt and Ruby would stay in a hotel. They would return to Dodge on Thursday. Normally Matt would ride Buck to Spearville, but having Ruby with him, he took the wagon. They arrived in Spearville a couple hours after leaving Dodge.
"I'll park the wagon near the hotel. We'll get a room and then we can walk to the sheriff's office," said Matt. He maneuvered the wagon down the streets of Spearville.
Matt parked the wagon on a side street a block away from the hotel. With the travel bag in his hand, Matt and Ruby walked into the lobby of the Spearville Hotel. Matt told the clerk he needed a room with two beds for one night. The clerk gave Matt the keys to room 225 and Matt placed money on the counter to pay for the room. Matt walked up the stairs to their room, with Ruby trailing behind him.
Matt unlocked the door and escorted Ruby inside. "This looks like a decent room." Matt put the travel bag on one of the beds. "Let's walk over to the sheriff's office, so I can take care of business. When that's done, we can go to the general store and buy momma a birthday present."
"It's a good thing I brought my coin purse," said Ruby.
"Who do we have here?" the deputy asked as Matt and Ruby walked inside the sheriff's office.
"This is my daughter, Ruby," Matt answered.
"Isn't she a pretty little thing? She must look just like her momma," the deputy observed.
"She sure does," Matt proudly agreed. He took care of business, and then took Ruby to the general store.
"What do ya think we should get momma?" Ruby asked as she and Matt roamed around the store.
"I was thinking we could get her a new hat," Matt suggested.
"Momma loves wearing pretty hats," Ruby commented.
"They have hats over there." Matt pointed to a selection of hats. "Let's go over there and pick one out."
Matt and Ruby walked over to the hats and studied them. They had been studying them for several minutes when Ruby spotted a hat she liked. It was a black bowler hat with white and maroon flowers. The hat was on the top shelf, out of her reach.
"Daddy, lift me up," Ruby requested. Matt lifted Ruby up into his arms. "I like this hat." She took the bowler hat off the shelf.
Matt took the hat from his daughter. "I think that's an excellent choice. Momma will look beautiful in that hat. We'll ask the store clerk to put it in a hat box and wrap it up for us." Matt brought the hat to the front of the store so he could pay for it. Ruby chipped in a dime and two nickels.
It was getting close to suppertime. Matt took Ruby to the local cafe. They each ordered the special, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and peas. Since they were on a special trip, ice cream was ordered for dessert. After dinner, Matt and Ruby retired to their hotel room for the night. Matt got Ruby into her nightgown and tucked her into bed. She was asleep the minute her head hit the pillow. Matt readied himself for bed and fell asleep soon after. They headed for home earlier the next morning.
Before Matt and Ruby knew it, Saturday had rolled around. Ruby tore off the last link of her paper chain. Kitty was coming home. Both Matt and Ruby missed her something fierce. They enjoyed the time they spent together, but the house wasn't the same without Kitty.
"Daddy, what time are we going t' meet momma at the depot?" Ruby asked. She was eager to see her momma.
"The train is supposed to arrive at noon," Matt answered. "That gives us time to make momma a birthday cake."
"I can wear the apron I got for Christmas." She walked over to the swinging kitchen door and took her apron off the hook that was at a height she could reach.
Matt found Kitty's recipe for a vanilla cake. It was simple and that's what Matt wanted. He and Ruby stirred the ingredients in a bowl and poured the batter into a cake pan. Matt put the cake pan in the oven. He and Ruby mixed up some frosting while the cake baked.
"Mmmm.. this cake looks delicious," Matt declared as he carefully removed it from the oven. He placed the hot pan on the counter. "It's time to get momma. We'll let the cake cool and frost it when we get home."
Matt and Ruby arrived just in time to see the train arrive. It was actually ahead of schedule. They waited on the platform for Kitty to step off the train. Ruby's eyes lit up when she saw her momma. Matt's eyes did the same thing.
"Momma!" Ruby exclaimed. She ran over to her. Matt wasn't far behind. His long strides kept up with his daughter.
Kitty eagerly met her family. She knelt down and gathered Ruby into a hug. After giving a hug to Ruby, Kitty stood up and turned her attention to Matt. Matt took Kitty in his arms and delivered a deep kiss on her lips. Ruby giggled as she watched her parents.
"Happy birthday, sweetheart," Matt said breathlessly. "Welcome home."
"Happy birthday, momma!" Ruby exclaimed. "We have a cake and a present at home for you. The cake still needs frosting. Daddy said we can frost it when we get home. It was too hot when we left."
"I'll get your carpet bag and suitcase from the baggage car and then we'll head home," said Matt.
That afternoon Matt, Kitty, and Ruby celebrated Kitty's birthday. They stopped at Delmonico's for lunch. When they finished with their lunch, they rode home. The celebration continued at home with cake and the present.
"This hat is absolutely gorgeous," Kitty gushed.
"I picked it out," Ruby boasted.
"I don't think I've seen a hat like this around here," said Kitty, examining the hat.
"We didn't get it here," Ruby told her momma. "We got it in Spearville. Me 'n daddy went on a trip."
"A trip?" Kitty questioned.
"Yup, Ruby 'n I went on a trip," Matt confirmed. "You can tell us about your week, and then we'll tell you about ours."
The End
*Author's Note: Happy Birthday, Amanda Blake (February 20th). This story was written in honor of her birthday.