Author's notes below.

Chapter 4

Days soon passed into weeks and weeks turned into a few months.

Kitty found herself becoming quite accustomed to the bigger city and life with her daughters. She enjoyed it since the girls kept her busy. They longed and wanted her attention every moment they were awake. But Kitty couldn't blame them. They both had missed her as much as she had missed them. She had so much time to make up for with all the moments that she had missed.

But what hurt was when her mind would wander back to Dodge and to the Marshal that held her heart.

It made the nights long and lonely when her heart would ache, but her saving grace was Bethany and Maddie.

Some nights the girls would come running into her room after a nightmare they had or a storm that was passing over. The girls would climb up on her bed and into her arms for safety.

There she would sit and comfort them, hold them close, and whisper how much she loved them and that everything was going to be alright.

But the pain of missing Matt was still there, no matter how much she tried to forget it.

Early one morning, just as every morning since Kitty had arrived in St. Louis. Both women enjoyed a cup of coffee together and talked. Then after a while, Sarah would go into the home library to read her Bible and pray.

Kitty would spend time by herself before the girls woke up.

As Kitty made her way upstairs, she realized how much Sarah Anderson reminded her of Bess Roniger. Aside from Bess having close to twenty children, they shared many similarities.

Both were kind, loving, and caring women that shared their faith in Christ.

They had opened their arms to Kitty when she needed someone to talk to when others would turn up their noses and walk to the other side of the street when they saw her coming.

Both women had a marvelous gift when it came to children.

Bess and Will Roniger had no limit to their love when it came to their children. The children were their children, and there was no difference between the adopted or born. And the family always seemed to grow in one, two, or even three years without a doubt. But it was true that the Roniger family had hearts as big as the Prairie sky.

Sarah had been a teacher for five years before she married her late husband, Tom Anderson.

She loved teaching the young minds, watching them grow, and showing them new things. How she loved to see the awe and wonder in their eyes as they learned.

The children loved and adored her as their teacher. Sometimes the girls would try to dress up to match her, and the boys would be smitten. Though they all could have their moments, each child held a special place in Sarah's heart.

Sarah and Kitty had been childhood friends and confidants ever since they both could remember.

Then when Kitty brought Bethany to her, Sarah was more than happy to help. Then five years later, Kitty had Maddie and brought her to St. Louis to be with her sister.

Oh, how Sarah loved the girls. She cared, loved, and helped raise them, just as an aunt would.

And to the girls, she was Auntie Sarah, and Sarah Anderson didn't want it any other way.

As Kitty reached the second floor. She thought of how it would be if Sarah and Bess ever met each other, they'd have so much to talk about. Along with sweet Bess meeting the girls.

She'd shower those girls with so much love, hugs, and kisses that the girls wouldn't know what to do. Bethany and Maddie would enjoy playing with all the Rongier children. There would be no lack of friends, that was for sure.

Kitty let the thought drift away from her mind as she opened the door to her room.

The sight that greeted her, was clothes draped over the trunks, one or two dresses hanging up on the closet door, and a few hats hanging on the bedpost.

She sighed. It was a mess.

Sinching the blue ribbon of her cream-colored lace housecoat tighter. Kitty set to work putting away the dresses, skirts, hats in their boxes, and other things she neglected for some time.

She had hangers on the bed, along with other clothes that she hadn't unpacked, and hat boxes that were stacked neatly on the floor.

As Kitty was busy putting things away, a hatbox that she had put up in her closet a moment ago, came crashing down. She bit her lip, paused for a moment, and listened for a child to stir.

" I hope that didn't wake either of the girls."

She thought to herself as she put the box back where it belonged.

But it wasn't long when a little girl wandered into her mother's room, with a dolly tucked tightly under her right arm.

Kitty softly sighed, as she looked at Maddie. It was too early for this little one to be up,

"Hey little one, did that loud crash wake you?" She asked giving a sympathetic smile to the child,

Maddie could only nod while she rubbed her tired eyes.

A gentle smiled spread across Kitty's lips as she picked up the three-year-old and kissed her on the crown of her head. Then once she set her down on the edge of the bed, Maddie ventured over the clothing and laid in the middle of the bed and soft fluffy pillows. Kitty smiled, she knew what her daughter needed at that moment as she sat next to the child and began to play with her hair.

"I'm sorry that loud crash woke you up, baby girl."

She kissed the dark brown-reddish curls on Maddie's forehead.

The child nodded her head again as she snuggled under the covers and rested her head on her mama's abdomen as she drifted to sleep once again. Kitty could only smile; the cleaning could wait. This moment was more important. It reminded her of something Bess told her once upon a time. "Chores can wait, but babies don't keep."

The morning seemed to pass by slowly, but Kitty didn't mind one bit. Holding her child was worth each passing moment. It wasn't long until Bethany came in, looking for her mother and sister.

"Mama?" she whispered as she saw her mother was sleeping. Kitty's blue eyes fluttered open and looked up at her oldest daughter, she smiled.

"Good morning, My Hopie girl," she said with a yawn and stretch, "I must have dozed off shortly after Maddie came in and wanted some snuggles."

Bethany stood on her tiptoes and looked at her sleeping sister. Kitty chuckled and nodded her head to the space on the bed.

"Come on, my sweet girl."

Bethany could only grin as she climbed up and snuggled in next to her sister.

Kitty smiled, she gently moved Maddie without waking her, then she made her way to the other side of the bed to snuggle with Bethany.

"I love you, Hopie girl."

"I love you too, mama."

Silence filled the room as all three laid in the bed, but something was on Bethany's mind.

"Mama?"

"Yes, Bethany?"

"Will we, I mean, well."

Bethany sighed. She wasn't sure how she wanted to phrase her question.

Kitty looked at her daughter with a loving smile, "What is it, Sweetie?"

Bethany looked at her with unwavering eyes, "Mama, will we ever meet daddy?"

Her mother's eyes widened at the question; Kitty wasn't used to a child asking such things.

Kitty hesitated, "Well, uh-huh, one day, you will."

"But when?"

"Soon."

"But how soon is soon?"

Kitty chuckled, "You're full of questions this morning, aren't you Hopie girl?"

Kitty ran her finger down Bethany's nose, the child only smiled for a moment, but she was still waiting for an answer from her mother. She just sat there waiting patiently.

Kitty sighed as she looked down at the child. She bit her lip, why was this so hard?

She always encouraged everyone to tell the truth no matter the outcome, but why couldn't she bring herself to do it? No! Bethany was too young.

"She needs to know the truth. tell her."

That voice, she heard it once before, but she couldn't remember when, where, or who it belonged to. But it wasn't her own. Her heart raced as she thought of the voice that spoke to her.

"No! She's too young. I need to keep her safe!"

"Let me help you. Tell the truth."

"But I can't! "

Kitty cried out in her mind. She sighed, rubbing her temples, trying to think of something to say. Why was she feeling uneasy telling a little white lie to a child?

"Honey, it's hard to say when. Your daddy has a big job and a lot of responsibility."

She then looked at the little girl, who held her face low. Gently taking the child's chin in her hands, she gently lifted her face to hers.

"Bethany, sweetheart. Do you not like it just being the three of us?"

Bethany shrugged her shoulders,

"It's just the picture of you and daddy that hangs up in our room.

You both look so happy, and well I was thinking, wouldn't daddy be happy here with us?

I mean, doesn't he love us?"

Tears formed at Kitty's eyes, but she didn't let them fall.

She opened her mouth to say something, but words didn't come.

Kitty let out a sigh as she looked at Bethany.

"Oh, Child. Your daddy loves you and Maddie. He's got a lot of things to do, people to care for, and places to travel."

Kitty wrapped Bethany in her arms. She was thankful that Maddie was still sleeping. The thought of two little girls asking about their father and why they haven't met him would've been too much to bear just yet.

Bethany nodded, "Yes, But Mama, you say the same thing about daddy all the time."

Kitty looked to and fro as a smile spread across her face.

"I do, huh?" she laughed as she started to tickle the oldest child. Maddie woke up during the giggling and laughter and joined in the fun.

Both girls giggled, squirmed, and wiggled about as their mother tickled them. As Bethany moved away from her mother, she knocked over the carpetbag that sat on the edge of the bed. As the girls were catching their breath from all the giggling, Kitty walked over and picked up the bag.

There she found a white envelope and written on the front, in familiar handwriting, 'To my Beloved Kitty'.

She smiled but quickly placed it in her pocket before either of the girls could see it or ask about it.

As the laughter settled, they heard a loud and clear, "Come and get it!"

Kitty chuckled as Sarah's breakfast call reminded her of a chuckwagon cook's call.

"Alright, come on girlies, it's... "

Before Kitty could finish her sentence, both girls ran past her and down the stairs. A smile graced her lips as she followed them.

Sarah was putting the last plate on the table as the sound of giggling and laughter filled the air while the girls raced down the stairs.

"Well, by the sound of it, you both sound bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning."

Sarah smiled as both girls only nodded in reply. Sarah placed eggs, pancakes, and maple syrup on the table.

"From the way it sounded a few moments ago, someone turned your giggle boxes upside down."

Both little girls only giggled as their mother walked into the kitchen.

"I am the guilty one, on all accounts." Kitty laughed, "Maddie woke up early and came to snuggle with me."

Sarah nodded; she knew how those mornings unfolded. "Those make for the best mornings; anyone could ask for,"

She smiled and winked at Kitty, who only smiled in reply.

It was then Bethany and Maddie held out their hands to their mother, who took hold of the two small hands.

Sarah then turned to Bethany,

"Bethany, would you say grace over the food please,"

The child bobbed her head as everyone closed their eyes,

"Dear Lord,

Thank you for this food that you made, and that Auntie Sarah prepared.

Lord, please be with daddy, please keep him safe from harm that might come to him. and that we can meet him soon.

And thank you that mama is here with us, in Jesus' name, Amen!"

Kitty felt a mixture of joy and pinch of guilt as she listened to Bethany's prayer.

Bethany was right, God was watching over Matt, keeping him safe.

She could think of the countless times he was in dangerous situations, the endless times he had been shot, all the fights he'd been in, and yet he still came out alive.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized That this God must have been keeping her safe too.

But she couldn't understand why?

Why, would God, want to keep her safe? After all, didn't he look down from heaven waiting to strike her for things she had done wrong?

TBC

Hi everyone, I hope you enjoyed the next chapter as this story keeps unfolding. Don't worry that note from Matt will come into play soon.

I want to thank everyone for their kind comments and follows :). I hope that continue to enjoy the story.

I want to say, Happy Independence everyone! since I'll be working on Chapter 5, but also enjoying time with family.

Stay safe, and stay cool everyone.