Chapter 44 "Six Candles For Ruby" (Part 1) Ruby celebrates her sixth birthday.

"Paste that last link and then your paper chain countdown to your birthday will be complete," Kitty told Ruby.

Ruby did as she was instructed and pasted the last link. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven," she counted. "Seven more days and then I'll be six years old!" Ruby could not contain her excitement.

"That's right," Kitty confirmed. She could hardly believe that in one week her baby girl would be turning six years old. Where did the time go? "Go put the paper chain in your room where you usually put your paper chains, and then come back out here and help clean up. I need to get supper started. Daddy is always hungry when he gets home from work."

Ruby took her paper chain to her bedroom and hung it on the back of her desk chair. After making sure the chain was secure, she returned to the kitchen so she could clean up the kitchen table. Kitty had already started supper when Ruby returned.

"Momma, what are you making for supper?" Ruby asked as she gathered the supplies off of the table.

"Tonight we are going to be eating pork chops, mashed potatoes, and green beans," Kitty answered. "Take care of that stuff. When you're done, come back in here and help wash the beans."

Kitty pulled her small wooden box of recipes down from the top of the pie safe. She treasured that box of recipes. Bess Roniger had given it to her, and over the last several years recipes had been added to it. The recipes were simple ones.

Kitty had confessed to Bess that she was afraid she would not make a good wife to Matt or a good future mother because she lacked the skills to make fancy meals. Simple meals didn't seem to be a problem, but Kitty didn't want to bore Matt with simple meals. Bess reassured Kitty that Matt was not expecting her to make extravagant meals once they were married. She told Kitty to think about what Matt ordered from Delmonico's and then make meals similar to those.

Looking at the pork chop recipe, Kitty knew that Bess had been correct. Matt was not expecting anything over the top when it came to the meals that Kitty prepared. He always showed his appreciation of the meals with words and by taking at least one extra helping. Kitty had made the pork chop recipe on more than one occasion, but she always wanted to make sure that she baked them long enough and had to check the recipe to see how long to keep them in the oven.

"Okay, I'm ready to wash the beans," Ruby stated after returning to the kitchen for the second time.

Kitty was standing at the counter seasoning the pork chops before putting them in the oven. "The bowl of beans is on the table. I cut them to eating size while you were in school. I need you to snap the ends off and then put the beans in the bowl of water to clean them."

"Sure thing, momma," said Ruby. She climbed up onto one of the chairs, pushed up her sleeves, and set to work.

As soon as Kitty had the pork chops prepared and in the oven, she gathered the bowl of potatoes and a paring knife. Kitty brought the materials to the table and joined her daughter. Kitty peeled and diced the potatoes while Ruby worked on the beans.

Near the end of their tasks, Kitty looked out the kitchen window and saw Matt riding Buck towards the barn. She smiled. He had made it home safely. "Ruby, daddy's home. Wipe your hands on the towel, and then you can go into the parlor to welcome him home." Ruby jumped down from her chair, quickly wiped her hands on the towel, and ran into the parlor to wait for her daddy.

Matt removed Buck's saddle and bridle. When he finished with that, he set Buck loose in the corral. He would come back later and return Buck and the other horses to the barn. Matt walked to the front door of the house and opened it. Ruby was standing next to the couch patiently waiting.

"Daddy!" she happily exclaimed. "Yer home!" She hurried over to him.

Matt placed his hat on the hook and lifted his daughter into his arms. Ruby placed a kiss on her daddy's cheek and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck. This was one of Matt's favorite parts of the day. He never grew tired of his little girl's greeting when he came home.

"This food looks absolutely delicious," Matt complimented as he surveyed the food on the table. "I'm sure it will taste delicious."

"I snapped and washed the beans," Ruby proudly declared.

Matt smiled. "They look mighty good." Ruby smiled.

"Daddy, me 'n momma made a paper chain for my birthday countdown. In seven days I'll be six years old." She held up seven fingers and then six of them.

"Wow, seven days." Matt shook his head in disbelief. "It will be here before you know it."

Matt was correct when he made that statement at the supper table six nights ago. The next several days flew right on by. It was the night before Ruby's sixth birthday, and Matt and Kitty were having a hard time getting their daughter to settle down.

"This is the last sleep that I'll be five years old," Ruby stated. "Tomorrow when I wake up, I'll be six."

"If you don't settle down and go to sleep, you'll be a tired six year old," Kitty pointed out. "You don't want ta be tired for your birthday."

Ruby briefly thought about her momma's words. "I guess yer right. I'll try 'n go ta sleep now."

Ruby closed her eyes. Matt and Kitty gave Ruby a kiss on the cheek, Matt on the left and Kitty on the right. After the kisses and wishes of sweet dreams, Matt and Kitty left the room, quietly shutting the door behind them.

Matt expected Kitty to walk out to the parlor and sit on the couch. That's what she usually did after they put their daughter to bed, and he would join her. But instead of following her usual routine, Kitty went to the kitchen. Curiosity getting the best of him, Matt too went to the kitchen. He was not expecting the scene in front of him. There stood his beautiful wife softly crying while she looked out the window.

Now Matt was concerned. He had no idea what had upset his wife enough to make her cry. He took a couple long strides and was by her side. Matt put his hands on Kitty's shoulders and gently turned her towards him. "Kitty, honey, what's wrong? Are you okay? Do I need ta get Doc?"

Kitty looked at Matt. "My baby's turning six years old," she wept.

Relief rushed over Matt. "That's it?"

"What do you mean, 'That's it?' Matt, our baby girl is growing up so quickly and there isn't a thing we can do to slow it down," Kitty pointed out. Matt could hear the frustration in her voice.

"I'm sorry," Matt apologized as he pulled Kitty to him. "I have to admit I dread the fact that she's turning six years old. I was a few months older than Ruby when my pa was gunned down. I can't bear the thought of that happening to me and leaving her behind at such a young age, you included. Sometimes I wish I could freeze time, but I also know that's just not possible." Matt continued to hold Kitty and slowly ran his hand up and down her back.

Kitty stepped out of Matt's embrace and looked into his clear azul eyes. She had no idea he felt that way. " You never told me any of this."

Matt shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I didn't know how to approach the subject."

Kitty sighed as she ran her index fingers under her eyes to dry the tears. "Tomorrow is our little girl's birthday. We can't be in this kind of mood. It's a joyous and happy occasion. Since it's gonna be a busy day, we should probably turn in for the night.

"Alright," Matt agreed. "Let me make sure the barn and the house are secure, and I'll join you directly."

Matt made sure both the barn and the house were locked up and secure. When entered the bedroom, he found Kitty in her nightgown. She was sitting at her vanity taking her hair down. While Kitty took her hair pins out, Matt removed his clothing, leaving only his underwear. He crawled into bed and waited for Kitty.

Kitty took the last hairpin out, grabbed her hairbrush, and went to join her husband. She crawled under the covers and gave him the brush. He slowly ran the brush through Kitty's luscious crimson locks. This was another one of Matt's favorite parts of the day. After several strokes, Matt gave Kitty the brush. She placed it on the nightstand.

Matt and Kitty arranged themselves into their preferred sleeping positions with Matt on his back and Kitty snuggled up next to him, her head pillowed on his chest. They both fell asleep with thoughts of the little girl down the hall who would wake up as a six year old tomorrow morning.

TBC