Could It Be
It was a crisp, clear afternoon in Dodge City, with the early winter air sharp but refreshing. Christmas was ten days away. Kitty sat in her office at the Long Branch working on her books. She glanced at the small clock on her desk. The hands were approaching the two o'clock hour. Not realizing how late it was, Kitty quickly closed her books and put on her coat. She needed to pick Ruby up from school. In one week Ruby would be starting Christmas break. Kitty promised Ruby she would take her shopping after school so she could buy some gifts for her daddy, Grandpa Doc, Uncle Festus, and Uncle Newly. Matt had taken Ruby shopping over the weekend to buy a present for her momma and for Rusty, her new pony.
As the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Kitty made her way to the small, one-room schoolhouse. She knew Ruby's class would be one of the last to leave. Miss Grey made sure to let the older ones out first, so they wouldn't trample the younger students. Standing by the buggy, Kitty adjusted her scarf as she waited. Soon, the door opened, and out came the children. As expected, Ruby was near the back with the younger students, her small frame barely visible in the crowd of students. Her bright eyes searched the waiting adults, and as soon as they landed on Kitty, her face lit up with a bright smile.
"Momma!" Ruby ran toward her, her pigtails bouncing with each step.
Kitty knelt down and held out her arms. "Hey there, Ruby," she said warmly. "How was school today?"
Ruby beamed as she hugged her momma. "It was good! We learned about the seasons, and Miss Grey says we're going to have a seasons play soon!" Her excitement bubbled over. "I get to be a snowflake in the play, but I'm kind of nervous. You have to remember what to say."
Kitty helped Ruby up into the buggy and then climbed up herself. "A snowflake, huh? That sounds like a perfect part for you," she said with a smile. "You'd be the prettiest snowflake in the whole school."
Ruby's face lit up. "I hope I don't mess up. Miss Grey says I'm a good listener, but I don't know if I can remember what to say! Miss Grey gave me what to say. It's in my knapsack. She said they are my lines."
Kitty chuckled softly. "Ruby, you'll do great. I'll help you remember your lines. If you just stay calm and do your best, you'll shine up there." She glanced down at Ruby and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Besides, the most important part is having fun. If you're having fun, that'll show."
Ruby nodded, looking up at Kitty with a shy smile. "I think I will have fun.
As mother and daughter approached bustling Front Street, Kitty asked Ruby more questions about school. "So tell me what else happened at school."
Ruby tapped her finger to her lips. "Let's see. Oh! Janie Lewis got sick at school. She threw up all over the floor. It made a splat sound when it hit. Miss Grey made us go outside while she cleaned it up."
Kitty scrunched her face. "That sounds disgusting. I hope the stomach bug isn't going around, and I hope you don't catch it, especially so close to Christmas."
Kitty reached Jonas' General Store and parked the buggy on a side alley. She reached down on the floor of the buggy and grabbed the weight to attach to Buttercup's harness. Kitty exited the buggy and Ruby followed. Kitty attached the weight to the harness, and then she and Ruby walked hand in hand to the general store.
"Momma, I've been trying to think of what to get Daddy, Grandpa Doc, Uncle Festus, and Uncle Newly for Christmas, but no ideas come to my head," Ruby stated.
"Why don't you get each of them a bar of shaving soap?" Kitty suggested. "That's something they could use."
"But Uncle Festus has a beard," Ruby pointed out.
"True," Kitty agreed. "But he still has to trim it."
Ruby contemplated her momma's suggestion for a brief moment. "Okay, I'll do that."
Kitty and Ruby reached the store and opened the door, making the bell above ding. Jonas heard the bell. "I'll be with you in a moment!" he shouted from the backroom. A minute later Jonas emerged from the backroom. "Miss Kitty, Miss Ruby, what can I do for you?"
"I'm gonna buy some shaving soap for Christmas gifts," Ruby proudly replied.
Jonas smiled at the little redhead. "Follow me and I'll show you where I keep them." Kitty and Ruby followed Jonas. "Here they are. Do you need just one?"
"No sir. I need four," Ruby answered. She counted on her fingers. "One for Daddy, one for Grandpa Doc, one for Uncle Festus, and one for Uncle Newly."
Jonas grabbed four bars off the shelf. "Will you be needing anything else?"
This time Kitty answered. "No thank you, Mr. Jonas."
"Alright, I'll add these up." Jonas led the way to the cash register. Kitty paid for the soaps.
It was agreed that Ruby would give Kitty some money when they got home. Kitty let Ruby carry the package. They walked back to the buggy and headed for home. When they got home, Ruby put the bars of soap under her mattress and got some money to pay her momma. Ruby had to pay a nickel for each bar of soap.
A couple of hours later Matt came home to find Ruby playing in the parlor. The moment Ruby saw her daddy, she ran to him to give him his hug and kiss. "Daddy! I bought you and Grandpa Doc, and Uncle Festus, and Uncle Newly Christmas presents today, but I can't tell you what. It's a surprise."
"Don't spill the beans," Matt instructed. "I want it to be a surprise. Let me get washed up, so we can eat supper. Momma must be making something delicious. I can smell it from here."
"Beef stew," Ruby told her daddy, before going to the kitchen.
The Dillons sat around the table eating beef stew and rolls. Matt buttered a roll and turned towards Ruby. "Tell me how school was."
Ruby's face lit up. "We learned about the seasons, 'n we're gonna have a play on the last day of school before Christmas break. I get to be a snowflake. I have ta remember words, but Momma said she would help me."
"That sounds wonderful," Matt said as he gently squeezed Ruby's arm. "I can't wait to see it. I bet your grandpa and uncles would love to see it too. That is, if we are all invited."
"You are," Ruby confirmed. "Miss Grey said the more the merrier."
"Did anything else happen?" Matt questioned.
Before Ruby could answer, Kitty spoke up, knowing how Ruby would answer. "I don't think Daddy needs to know what else happened at school. That's not something that should be shared at the supper table." It didn't take long for Matt to figure out what Kitty was referring to.
The days quickly passed, and more children were being plagued with the stomach bug. With so many kids getting sick, it was agreed that the play would be postponed until after the kids returned from Christmas break. Ruby seemed to be avoiding it, but apparently brought it home with her. One morning Kitty woke up feeling under the weather. She thought she was going to be okay, until Matt rolled over, causing the mattress to shift. Kitty immediately got out of bed and hurried to the water closet. She barely made it before emptying her stomach. Matt heard her retching and knew she had caught the bug.
When Kitty was done, she re-entered the bedroom. "I think I have the dreaded stomach bug that's going around."
"I'm sorry, honey," Matt soothed as he took in her pale face. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Would you mind making me some tea?" Kitty asked.
"Sure," Matt said as he got out of bed and Kitty climbed back in. Matt went to the kitchen to prepare the tea. He returned to their bedroom a short while later with a steaming cup of tea. He handed it to Kitty.
"Thank you, honey," said Kitty as she took the cup. As she took a sip, Matt and Kitty heard Ruby come down the hall. "Matt, do you think you could take Ruby away from the house for the day? It's Saturday, so you don't have to work. Christmas is in a few days, and I don't want her near me. I'm hoping I'll get better soon and she won't get sick. Maybe you could take her riding on Rusty."
"Okay," Matt agreed. "But are you sure you don't need me around here to take care of you?"
"I'll be fine," Kitty promised.
Ruby was sad that her momma was sick, but was excited that her daddy was taking her out to ride Rusty. She loved her pony with all her heart. For Christmas, Ruby was going to give Rusty a small bag of apples. It was her daddy's idea. After riding Rusty around the corral for a while, Matt decided to take Ruby into town. Ruby insisted they take Buck, so she could ride up front with her daddy. She loved riding on Buck with her daddy. Matt didn't turn Ruby's request down.
While riding to town, Matt and Ruby decided they would visit Grandpa Doc and invite him to eat lunch with them at Delmonico's. They reached Doc's office and Matt dismounted his horse and then took Ruby down. He loosely wrapped the reins around the hitching post. The father/daughter duo climbed the steps to Doc's office. Matt knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Doc shouted from the other side. Matt and Ruby walked in. Doc smiled when he saw them. "To what do I owe this pleasure of a visit?" His face then turned serious. "Ruby isn't sick, is she?"
"No, Grandpa," Ruby responded. "But Momma is."
Doc looked at Matt, waiting for a response. "She woke up sick this morning. That's why Ruby and I are here. Kitty wanted Ruby out of the house as much as possible to avoid getting sick." Doc nodded his head. "Anyway, we were wondering if you wanted to join us for lunch."
"Lunch with some of my favorite people is one thing I won't turn down," Doc replied. "Let's go."
A couple hours later Matt and Ruby returned home to find Kitty dressed and sitting at her desk. The scene surprised Matt. Kitty's face no longer held the paleness it did this morning. Her color had returned. "Honey, what's going on?" Matt inquired. "Not that I'm complaining, but you look so much better."
"I don't know," Kitty shrugged her shoulders. "As the day went on, I started feeling better. Maybe it was something I ate."
"I guess that's possible, but you ate the same thing Ruby and I ate, 'n we didn't get sick," Matt pointed out.
"I can't explain it," said Kitty. "But does it matter?"
Matt smiled. "Absolutely not."
The next couple of mornings started the same for Kitty. She would feel sick, but by the afternoon she felt fine. It was the strangest thing. What was even stranger was that whatever was plaguing Kitty seemed to be avoiding Matt and Ruby. They weren't getting sick. Christmas was the next day and Kitty didn't want to wake up sick. She wanted to enjoy Christmas morning with her husband and daughter.
As Kitty sat at her desk, she glanced at her calendar. Suddenly realization slapped her in the face. How had she not realized it? How had she not put two and two together? She had been sick the last few mornings, and she had missed her cycle the last few months. Kitty got up in search of Matt. She found him in the kitchen cleaning his gun. Ruby was in her bedroom, which was a good thing. Kitty didn't want Ruby to hear what she was about to tell Matt.
"Matt, I think I know what's going on with me," said Kitty as she walked into the kitchen.
Matt put his gun down and gave his attention to his wife. "By all means, please tell me.
"Matt, I think I'm pregnant," Kitty told her husband.
"Pregnant!" Matt shouted in disbelief.
"Shhhh! Keep your voice down," Kitty instructed. "I don't want Ruby ta hear."
Matt lowered his voice. "Kitty, you and I both know it's impossible for you to be pregnant. It's just not possible."
"I don't know how to explain it, but the symptoms are there. I think I'm pregnant," Kitty repeated.
That evening Matt and Kitty had a hard time getting Ruby to settle down for the night. It was Christmas Eve and she was too excited to sleep. Santa was coming that night and she couldn't wait to see what he brought her. "Santa won't bring you anything, if you don't go to sleep. He won't stop at this house, if he knows yer awake," Matt told Ruby.
"I have an idea," said Kitty. She walked over to Ruby's bookcase and pulled a book off the shelf. "How 'bout I read "A Visit From St. Nick"? Maybe that will help you go to sleep."
"I like that story," Ruby declared as she snuggled down into her bed, pulling her quilt up to her chin.
"Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house," Kitty started to read. By the time she was finished, Ruby was fast asleep. Matt and Kitty quietly left the bedroom.
Christmas morning came and to everyone's relief, Kitty did not get sick. To Matt that was proof that Kitty was not pregnant. He felt that whatever bug she had was gone. Matt wanted to ask Doc about Kitty's declaration, but Kitty told Matt not today. Even though Matt was convinced his wife wasn't pregnant, Kitty wasn't convinced. She still thought she could be. Afterall, Christmas was a season of miracles. The Dillons would enjoy Christmas morning together, and then enjoy time with their extended family.
Ruby sat on the floor, near the Christmas tree, and opened her presents. Ruby loved her Christmas presents. She received a new apron. Her other one was getting too small. Momma put that one in her cedar chest. Ruby also received a saddle blanket for Rusty, some riding pants, riding boots, and tabletop ninepins. Kitty hoped in the near future they could give Ruby a little brother or sister in the coming months.
TBC in the future….
*Author's Note: I've been wanting to post this story around Christmas. Is it possible? Could Kitty be pregnant or is it something more serious?