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The morning soon gave way to midafternoon, Kitty had seen to it that both Newly and Festus had made themselves feel at home, before she did anything else. For right after breakfast Newly had made menschen of staying at a hotel so as he wouldn't be putting anyone out in anyway; then Festus added that he would even sleep out in the barn. Well that ruffled some of Kitty's feathers. For she wasn't about to have two men that she saw as her brothers, the ones that she had never had) spend money where it wasn't needed or sleep out in the cold, why even Matt backed her up on that one, by just giving them one of his knowable nods and the "We will talk about this later." look. So they both knew they weren't going any were and that Kitty had got her way. Then after that was done, she made herself busy in the kitchen. Matt could see the smile in her eyes a mile off. She loved to make a home for people and take care of them, he just wished that he had seen it sooner, before she had left, before the girls were born and a great many other things that where hard to put into words… There was so much to think on, that his heart felt overwhelmed. He longed for her, yet he knew that he had to wait.

He placed the remaining dishes into the sink then walked over to Kitty and kissed her on the top of the head.

"I-I'll" He cleared his throat. She really did take his breath away. "I'll be up stairs for a little while. Just send Festus, Newly or one of the girls up if you need me." Kitty swallowed hard.

She knew that they had agreed not to talk or be in front of each other's doors alone, and with the girls playing with their uncles right now it wouldn't take much. She bit her lip as she watched him walk up the stairs, "I…I will." She finely said, realizing that she hadn't replied to his statement before he had disappeared up the stairs.

She shook her head as she busied herself once again with making bread, a variation of cookies, two apple pies, and a few other varieties of baked goods. With the house having three grown men, and two little girls in it, it was more than likely that these baked goods would only last a week, if she was lucky. But more than likely it would only last a few days before she would be back at it again. In her eyes though it was all worth it.

The smells coming from the kitchen filled every nook and cranny of the house. Everyone's mouth watered at the delightful aromas; with the fresh baked pies, homemade cookies, and other delightful smells that filled the air. It made one think of a warm and welcoming home, and the thoughts of autumn, Thanksgiving, and time with family.

Kitty's mind wandered back to her beloved, she wasn't sure what he was doing. She could hear the sound of him pacing across the floor, sitting in the rocking chair, or even flopping on to the bed but that was all. How she longed to be with him. She took a deep breath and prayed.

"Oh, Heavenly Father, this is so hard..."

It was then in that moment that a child's laughter pierced the silence, and to Kitty it was a breath of fresh air. Maddie's laughter reminded her of the reason why her and Matt had established the guidelines that they had, why she chose a different life over her past, and why she now followed after Christ and not this world. Kitty could only smile as she could hear Matt shuffling across the floor once again, and the girls giggling at something.

Just down the hall in the library, Festus and Newly had corralled the young Dillon girls into playing hide and seek. But perhaps it was the other way around; Either way the two of them whereout of their parents' hair in the meantime. Festus was playing tag with young Maddie (since he had found her from her hiding spot.) She was now squealing with laughter as she had been caught by her uncle who swung her over his shoulder. He took two long strides over to the couch and sat down, both Newly and Bethany were still in hiding.

"Now, little Miss Maddie, do you think we can find those other two?"

Festus said as he placed Maddie on his knee, the young child looked around the room. A sly smile spread across her lips as she placed her finger to them. She then hopped down from his lap and slowly walked to the window and waved him over to her.

"This way Uncle Fes-Tus!" She whispered ever so quietly. He only smiled as he tip toed over to her, and she pointed at the curtains. He counted on his fingers "1…2…3!" Then they both pulled back the fabric to find the missing players. Bethany let out a scream as she was surprised. Newly only smiled as Maddie smiled up at him,

"Awe, huh ah! Found Ya!" Maddie smiled as Newly scooped her up, "You sure did, short stuff!" He said as he gave her a peck on the cheek, it caused the little girl to giggle all over again.

Bethany took a few deep breaths as she was trying to slow her racing heart as she looked up at her uncle.

"Ah! Please Uncle don't do that, you scared ten years of life out of me."

"Ten years, huh? Why fiddle you look as pink and life like than all the other people that are here. Oh, Shaw! A pretty little thing like you, losing ten years of life I have a hard time believing that." He smiled and winked as he held out his hand to her, helping her step out of the hiding place.

She looked down and only smiled, letting her mama's smile shine through and the joy in her eyes seemed to brighten a little more.

Newly looked over to her with a coy smile in his eyes.

"Beth, you told me that this was the best hiding spot there is!"

"I-I-I said for you not for me… but I couldn't find another in time and… Oh I give up!"

She said letting out a huff.

Everyone just had a good laugh as they left the place by the window and walked over to the fireplace once again.

"So, now what do we do?"

Festus said as they all sat down looking at one another and once Newly sat down with Maddie she made her way back over to him, Newly only smiled. How that little girl had taken such a liking to the older man, but who could blame her, that man had a heart that was pure gold and it seemed that only children or close friends could see it.

Bethany hopped up and walked over to the well-known bookshelf. "We could read! There are so many good books, and…"

"Bethany, reading is borwing. Besides you're the one that knows how to read and not me." Maddie said with a sigh.

Newly looked over at her, "Well, little miss," he said sitting up straight. "I know how to read too. Thank you very much."

"Otay, so two of you do. But, I want to do something more fun than that."

Festus looked between Bethany and Newly.

"I'm with half pint on this one."

Bethany set the book back down that she had just picked up, she then walked over to Newly and set down; she let out a sigh.

It was then Maddie looked at her sister and smiled, Bethany could see what she was thinking.

Maddie looked up at Festus, and gave him, her pleading puppy dog eyes and sweet smile.

"Uncle Fes-Tus, would you like to have a tea party with us?"

"Tea party?"

Festus asked as he looked over at the little girl confused, "Why would ya want to have a tea party, for?"

Now it was Bethany's turn to shine.

"Because it's fun to pretend and act like ladies and gentlemen as we drink tea… why lords and ladies all over the world do it! Why even the Queen of England does it! There they have something called teatime, and they drink the tea with their pinkies held out and they dress nice and everything." Festus let out a little sigh, he could see the look on the girls' faces, they looked so hopeful. He reached up and scratched his chin. "The britts, huh? I was thought they were all fancy, high fluent and hoity-toit…" it was then he saw the look on Newly's face and stopped what he was saying. If he had been sitting closer to the man, he knew he would have gotten a boot shove or a kick in that moment. He paused and rethought on his words. "Well," He said taking a deep breath as he looked at both little girls. "Alright then, but if we are going to have a tea party, the four of us are going to be dressed up just like them there britts do it and go all out alright."

The girls' eyes widen with excitement then let out a squeal of joy before running off to tell their mama the news.

Newly leaned his head back and laughed, "Now Mr. Hagen. I can handle being all dressed up, for those two girls and be all sorts of fancy like," Newly stopped for a moment and then continued, "The question is, can you?" he said with laughter in his voice.

Festus narrowed his eyes and looked at the young man. "Oh Shaw! You know I can play the part right well."

"True, true. But for how long?"

Newly replied before making a mad dash for the stairs, as Festus just started to get up and chase after him.

"Why you little scamp, come back here!" the older man sighed.

Festus said but waved it off as he was standing at the bottom of the stairs, there was no need to chase after him. only a fool runs when no one is chasing him or so that's what the preacher had told him. There would be plenty of times in plenty of places that he could pay Mr. Newly O'Brien back, for he had nothing but time on his hands.

Kitty was pulling the last batch of cookies out of the oven and placed them next to the two apple pies to let them cool.

The bread dough was still rising, and Kitty now had a brake in between things and could finely sit down for the first time since she had started working in the kitchen. It was then she could hear the sound of her daughters' footsteps. She smiled as both girls came into view, they both had looks of excitement on their faces. Kitty only smiled as she knelt to their level, "Just what are you two up to?"

"We…we," Maddie said with a big old smile trying to catch her breath. "Woah, slow down there, sugar plum. Take a deep breath and try again."

"Uncle Festus and Uncle Newly are going to play tea party with us!"

Bethany blurted out as Maddy was taking to long to follow her mother's instructions.

Kitty covered her smile as she looked between the two girls, the glare that Maddie was giving her older sister right now. It was enough to match herself and Bethany combined. "Beth, I was going to tell Mama!" it was not Bethany's turn to look over at her sister; but before it could go any farther Kitty stepped in, "Alright, girls that's enough, no more arguing."

Both sighed in unison, "Yes, Ma'am."

Then Bethany nudged Maddie to speak.

"Well- They both said they would play tea party with us."

"Oh?"

Kitty smiled at the thought of Festus having a tea party with the girls, and him drinking tea… not iced tea like he would do in the summertime or even lemonade but hot tea… nope Kitty couldn't see it. Maddie then turned and nudged her sister to tell the rest. "He-He told us, that he wanted us to go all out. like the-the brit-ish people do!" Kitty smiled at Maddie's explanation of their fancy tea party. "My, it sounds like a fancy party. I'll tell you what, since your two uncles are getting duded up, why don't you two little girls go and put on your best dresses, and I will go set up the tea party and get it ready for you."

Maddie let out a little huff. "But-but Uncle Fes-Tus said to use the best of everything!" Kitty laughed, "Don't worry sugar, I will." With that she tapped each child on the nose. "Now go on. Before your uncles beat you back down here." With that the girls raced up stairs without another word.

Kitty soon had set the kettle on to the stove and busied herself with filling the tray with saucers, teacups, the cookies she had made, slices of cake and other things. She then grabbed a lace tablecloth that was in one of the drawers and she draped it over her arm before walking to the library.

She pulled out one of the side tables and started dressing it up, then once that was done she brought the tray of food and tea in, the only thing that was missing was the girls and their escorts.

Kitty could only smile as she could hear footsteps coming up behind her.

"Well, what's going on here?"

She jumped a little as she turned to see Matt standing behind her.

"Well, hello there stranger. You finally came out of your hermit hole for a little while."

"Well, I heard my deputies come running up the stairs and yelling at one another, then I heard the girls a little later. So, I thought I better come down here and see just what was going on."

Kitty softly smiled. "Oh, the girls roped them into a tea party, but not just any tea party, mind you. It's a fancy tea party. Like the brits have." She looked up at him and winked before she laughed. Matt tossed his head back and roared with laughter. The thought of Festus drinking tea with his pinky out was a thought to be hold.

"Yeah, I guess that would do it, alright."

"So, the men are upstairs getting duded up, well the girls are getting in their Sunday best."

Matt let out a chuckle.

"I see. Well, at least it's that and not some sort of fire or that they were in some sort of trouble. Though I will be honest that was my first thought." He chuckled.

Kitty only laughed.

"No, you would have known if they were cowboy. Believe me."

He thought about it for a moment then nodded, "You're right, I would have."

She only smiled, as she placed her hands onto his chest, this was the first time in a while that she could feel his heart beating, it felt like a heard of wild horses galloping across the prairie. She was so close to him that if she just stood up on to her tip toes, she would kiss him. How she wanted to, it was then she could hear footsteps coming down the stairs.

She turned to see two gentlemen walking their way, with a sigh of relief she moved passed Matt, who seemed to be relieved as well.

"My, my, don't you two look so nice all duded up for this occasion."

Festus puffed out his chest a little and Newly only smiled.

"Oh, it anit nothing Miss Kitty."

Kitty looked over to Festus and held his face in her hand. "Festus, to my two girls, it means everything to them. So, I thank you both for doing this."

With that she stood up on her tip toes and kissed them both on the cheek.

They only smiled a bashful sort of smile before they both could hear the girls coming down the steps.

Both gentlemen rush to meet them.

Kitty and Matt stepped aside and watched as Bethany took Newly's arm and Maddie took Festus's and they made their way into the library.

Kitty pondered on these things and kept them in her heart for years to come.

The couple only smiled as they quietly shut the doors as the girls and gentlemen where all settled with their party.

Matt looked at Kitty and she looked at him.

they could see the longing in each others eyes, but took a step back from each other.

"Kitty, I-I I'm going to go back upstairs…"

He said letting out a slow breath that he could have sworn that she could see his heart was racing a hundred miles a minute. She only bit her lip and nodded, "You know where to find me."

He softly smiled as he reached down and kissed her hand before disappearing back up the stairs.

Hi, everyone!

You all might have thought I have abandoned the story, the answer is: No!

But I do apologize for taking this long for getting anything up before now. Some of it was, that I thought about waiting until I had the story done. But with doing it that way; writer's block would happen, or life and I just couldn't seem to get things done like I wanted to. Other times I would think it was done, then I would think I would need to re edit it, and do it over and over, acting like a hamster on a wheel. Running, running and running but going nowhere, only to realize that I was adding too much detail and going off on rabbit trails in the chapters (while editing). Only to find out That I didn't need to because the original I had written is what I had in mind the whole time.

So once again I do apologize for all of that. I am working on and will keep working on it and will be posting more updates when I can Lord willing. Thank you, guys, so much!

RunningFree93