"Six Candles For Ruby" (Part 2)
Ruby stretched and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She briefly forgot that it was her birthday, until she saw the remaining link on her birthday paper chain. Flipping her quilt off of her, Ruby sprang out of bed and ran towards the chair where the remaining link was. She grabbed the link and went to open her bedroom door. Peering out into the hall, she saw that her parents' bedroom door was open, indicating that they were awake. Ruby strolled down the hall to use the water closet. When she was finished, Ruby went into the parlor room. She could hear clamoring of pans and the smells of breakfast coming from the kitchen.
"Happy birthday to me!" Ruby exclaimed as she pushed open the kitchen door.
"Happy birthday!" Matt and Kitty wished their daughter in unison.
"Hop up onto your chair," instructed Matt. "Momma's making you a special pancake for your birthday.
Ruby climbed up onto her chair. "I could smell the breakfast in the parlor. Is my special pancake almost ready?" She was excited to see what kind of pancake her momma was making.
"Not quite. I have to flip it, and then it will be ready," Kitty replied. "Daddy can pour you some milk while you wait." Matt put his coffee cup down and was about to pour some milk in Ruby's cup.
"Wait," she said, putting a hand over her cup. "Since I'm six years old, can I drink coffee now?"
"No," Matt shook his head. "You may be six years old, but yer still too young for coffee." Ruby's bottom lip jutted out. Matt saw his daughter's disappointment and felt guilty for upsetting her on her birthday. "But maybe momma will let you drink yer milk out of one of her coffee cups."
"Can I momma?" Ruby asked.
"Considering it's your birthday, I guess that'll be fine," Kitty walked over to the table to put Ruby's special pancake on her plate.
"It's a six," Ruby happily said.
"I thought since this is your sixth birthday, I'd make you a pancake in the shape of a six," Kitty responded.
"I like it!" admired Ruby.
Kitty brought the rest of the breakfast, sausage and scrambled eggs, to the table. Being the gentleman that he was, Matt waited for Kitty to serve Ruby and herself breakfast before he served himself. Kitty made sure she and Ruby had enough to eat, but always considered the fact that Matt had a healthy appetite.
"Look. When I turn my plate like this, I'm nine years old." Ruby had turned her plate so now her "six" pancake looked like a "nine" pancake.
Matt caught a glimpse of Kitty's expression. Remembering how upset she was last night, he spoke up. "How about you turn your plate around and be a six year old. Momma worked hard to make you that special pancake."
Ruby didn't want to make her momma feel bad. She turned her plate back to its original position. Kitty looked at Matt and smiled. She appreciated what he had just done.
Once breakfast was finished, Kitty got Ruby ready for school. When the task was complete, the Dillons left the house and headed for town. Matt usually left before Kitty and Ruby, but being that it was Ruby's birthday, he decided to ride into town with them. Matt hitched the team up to the wagon, and then hitched Buck to the back. Kitty had told him she would need the wagon so she could bring Ruby's birthday present home. The buggy would not work.
Matt pulled the wagon up to the schoolyard, set the brake, and climbed down. Kitty helped Ruby put her knapsack onto her back.
"I'll be back at lunchtime to get you," said Kitty, placing a kiss on Ruby's cheek. "Have a wonderful morning."
Matt lifted Ruby off the seat. "And I'll be home later this afternoon so we can take Buck for your special birthday ride."
Ruby's face lit up. "You remembered!"
"I wouldn't forget your special birthday ride," Matt reassured her. He gave her a kiss and set her down. "Have a good morning." Ruby ran towards the playing kids.
Matt climbed back up on the wagon seat. He maneuvered the wagon and headed back towards town. He would park the wagon near the Long Branch and then take Buck to the jail. Matt knew that Kitty had Ruby's present, a brand new dollhouse, in her office.
"Do you need any help with the doll house?" Matt asked as he parked the wagon.
"No, I should be able to handle it," Kitty replied. "It's nice that Ruby's in school. That way I can get the dollhouse home without her seeing it."
"Where are ya gonna put it so she doesn't see it until tonight?" Matt questioned.
"I'm gonna put a blanket over it and put it behind our chifferobe," Kitty answered. "She won't see it."
"I'll see ya later," said Matt. Kitty smiled as she pushed open the bat wing doors of the Long Branch and stepped inside.
"Good morning, Miss Kitty," Sam greeted his boss and friend. "I take it yer here to get Miss Ruby's dollhouse." Sam knew it was Ruby's birthday and that Kitty wasn't there to do any work. Besides, Kitty told him yesterday she would be stopping by to get the doll house.
"Yes, I am," Kitty replied with a smile. She meandered around the bar and to her office.
A minute later she walked out with the dollhouse in her arms. The dollhouse was a perfect size, not too big and not too small. Kitty was absolutely certain that Ruby was going to love it. She placed the dollhouse on top of the bar and went back into her office to get the family of dolls and accessories that went with the dollhouse. When she returned to the bar, Sam was carrying the dollhouse.
"I'll put this in the wagon for you," he said.
"Thank you," Kitty smiled. "I appreciate it." Sam followed Kitty to her wagon. "Let's put it back here, but near the front. and on its back so it doesn't tip over. These roads aren't the smoothest. And then we can cover it with that blanket."
Sam followed Kitty's instructions, and the two of them covered the dollhouse with a blanket. Afterwards, Sam pulled out a few lollipops, tied together with a ribbon, from his apron pocket. "Give these to Miss Ruby and wish her a happy birthday for me."
Kitty shook her head. "Sam you didn't have to do that, but I appreciate it, and I know Ruby will as well. Next time she sees you, I'll make sure she thanks you. Alright, I have to make a stop at Jonas' store, and then I'm gonna head home." She put the lollipops into her handbag.
Kitty opened the door to Jonas' store, making the bell ding. Jonas looked up from behind the counter. "Good morning, Miss Kitty. An order came in yesterday, and your items were included. They're in the back storeroom. I'll go 'n get 'em."
"Thank you," Kitty replied as Jonas went to the storeroom.
About three weeks ago, Kitty had been in Jonas' store looking through his catalog. While doing so, she came across two items that she wanted to order for Ruby. She wasn't quite sure when she would give them to Ruby. Kitty considered giving them to Ruby for her birthday. But with the dollhouse and accessories, that would be too much.
Luckily, a week after Kitty had placed the order, Doc and Newly had approached Kitty and asked for ideas of what to give Ruby for her birthday. Kitty didn't have to think twice. She knew exactly what they could give to Ruby.
Festus wasn't with them and hadn't asked Kitty for any ideas, but Kitty wasn't worried about what Festus planned on giving Ruby. She knew his gifts always came from the heart, not that she was expecting Festus to give Ruby something. She didn't even expect Doc and Newly to give Ruby a gift, but knew that they would.
"Here ya go." Jonas returned and handed Kitty her two packages. Kitty paid Jonas and left the store.
In the last couple of hours Kitty gave Doc and Newly the gifts they would give Ruby, rode home to hide the dollhouse and accessories, and rode back to town to gather Ruby from school. Now she and Ruby sat at the kitchen table eating ham sandwiches for lunch.
"When's daddy gonna be home to take me for my birthday ride?" asked Ruby as she took a bite out of her sandwich.
"Not for a few more hours." Kitty finished her sandwich and dabbed her mouth with her napkin.
"A few hours?" Ruby whined. "I can't wait that long."
"Oh hush. You can help me bake your cake. That will make the time go by faster." Kitty took her and Ruby's plates to the sink.
"Yes!" Ruby shouted with delight. "That means I can lick the spoon and bowl."
This year Ruby requested a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Kitty had a recipe for that in her recipe box. Ruby enjoyed baking the cake with her momma, but the most joy was felt when she was able to lick the spoon and bowl. As Kitty had told Ruby during lunch, baking the cake did make the time go by quickly. It wasn't long after Kitty took the cake out of the oven that Matt came home.
"Is the birthday girl ready for her ride?" Matt's baritone voice carried throughout the house.
Ruby came running from her bedroom and Kitty came from the kitchen. "Daddy, I've been waiting for you."
"Well, I don't wanna keep you waiting any longer. Let's be on our way." Matt picked Ruby up and was about to walk out the door.
"Wait," Kitty stopped them. "I need to get Ruby's sun bonnet." She went to Ruby's bedroom and quickly returned with the bonnet. Kitty placed the bonnet on Ruby's head and tied the bow under her chin. The trio walked outside.
Matt hoisted Ruby up onto Buck's saddle, and then mounted behind her. He looked at Kitty. "We'll be back in time for supper."
"You two have a wonderful time," Kitty told her husband and daughter.
"Bye, momma," Ruby waved as she and Matt slowly rode away. "Daddy, can I hang onto Buck's reins with you?" She had been hanging onto the saddle horn. Matt had one of his hands holding her securely to him and the other one gripping the reins.
Matt smiled. "Sure, sweetie." Ruby gently grabbed the reins just below Matt's hand. "How has your day been?"
"It's been great! At school, when it's someone's birthday, Miss Grey makes sugar cookies for the class. The birthday person gets the biggest cookie. Since I was the birthday person, I got the biggest cookie."
"That sounds like a special treat," Matt commented.
"Oh it was. And then momma picked me up from school, 'n we came home and ate lunch. She made ham sandwiches. Then after that we made my birthday cake. She's gonna frost it while we're gone. Guess what kind of cake I'm gonna have."
Matt had been listening to his daughter, but then got lost in thought. When he was Ruby's age, he had been on the shy side. He still was on the shy side. Ruby was quite the opposite. Matt was certain that Ruby was an exact copy of Kitty at that same age. That put a huge smile on his face.
Ruby had been waiting for her daddy to answer. "Daddy? You didn't answer my question. What kind of cake do ya think I'm gonna have?"
Matt didn't want to make Ruby feel bad by thinking he wasn't listening to her. "I'm trying to think," he fibbed. "If I can remember, you told momma you wanted a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting."
"You guessed it," Ruby confirmed. Matt and Ruby did return in time for supper. It was the first time that Ruby did not fall asleep during her birthday ride. The way she babbled on during the ride, falling asleep wasn't going to be happening.
Later that evening Doc, Newly, and Festus arrived for Ruby's birthday celebration. Doc and Newly rode in Doc's buggy. Festus rode Ruth. Each of them had their own gift to give Ruby. After the cake had been eaten and savored, everyone gathered in the parlor to watch Ruby open her gifts.
"Close your eyes while daddy goes and gets your gift from us," Kitty instructed. Ruby closed her eyes, and Matt went to the bedroom to retrieve the dollhouse. Matt came back and placed the dollhouse in front of Ruby. "Okay, open your eyes."
Ruby opened her eyes and saw the dollhouse. Her eyes lit up. "Oh boy! A dollhouse! I love it!" She thoroughly examined her gift. "I'm gonna play with it now."
"You're gonna have to wait. You have other presents to open," Kitty reminded her. "These lollipops are from Uncle Sam. You can thank him the next time you see him." Ruby accepted the lollipops.
"Alright darlin', here's my gift." Doc handed Ruby a wrapped box.
Ruby opened the box and pulled out a hat. "Daddy, look! It's a hat just like yours." Ruby put the hat on with pride. "Thank you, Grandpa Doc!"
"My turn," said Newly. "Here ya go." He handed Ruby a box.
Ruby took the box and opened it. Inside was a little suede leather vest. "Oh wow! It's a vest like daddy wears." She put the vest on over her dress. "Thank you, Uncle Newly!"
Matt knew Kitty had given Doc and Newly something to give to Ruby for her birthday, but he had no idea what she had given them. Seeing his daughter's excitement over receiving a hat and vest like his put pure joy in his heart. He looked over at Kitty, who smiled and winked at him. She knew the pride he was feeling at that moment.
"Ya got one more gift ta open," said Festus. He gave Ruby his gift.
Ruby opened the gift and looked at it. "What is it?"
"That there's a level," Festus replied.
"Oh shaw," said Doc. "What in tarnation is a six year girl gonna do with a level?"
"You ol' scudder," Festus responded. "She can see if things are level."
"Yeah because six year old girls need to make sure things are level," Doc said sarcastically.
"What do I do with it?" questioned Ruby. She was curious how her level worked.
"Let me show ya how it works," Festus replied. "Ya see that there bubble?" Ruby nodded her head. "When ya put the level on something, that bubble should be in the middle. That means the thing you put the level on is straight and level. Go 'n try it out."
Ruby tried her new level out on different items around the parlor. "My dollhouse is level. This table is level. The arm on daddy's chair is level." She climbed up next to Festus and put the level on top of his head. "Uncle Festus, your head isn't level."
"By golly! I stand corrected," Doc laughed. "She did find some use for that thing." Everyone except for Festus laughed with Doc.
"Oh fiddle," Festus mumbled.
Later that evening Matt and Kitty were tucking Ruby in for the night. "I'm a big girl now. Right?"
"You sure are," Kitty answered as she arranged Annie and Lulu on either side of Ruby and then gave her daughter a kiss. "Happy Birthday." She stepped aside so Matt could give Ruby a kiss goodnight.
"How many more years until I'm a woman?" Ruby asked.
"Thirty," Matt answered as he gave Ruby a kiss goodnight.
"Thirty?!" Ruby wasn't sure about her daddy's answer. "Really?"
"Daddy's just teasing," reassured Kitty. Of course Kitty wasn't too sure if Matt really was teasing Ruby. "Right now you need to go to sleep and enjoy being a big girl."
"How about five years?" Ruby tried to negotiate.
Matt shook his head. "Goodnight, Little Gemstone. Happy Birthday." He and Kitty left the room.
The end of this story.