Author's note below.
It was a wonderful September Saturday morning: Kitty had taken the girls out for their usual Saturday morning brunch, but today was a special day. As they walked through the park, Kitty and the girls saw the last of summer ducklings swim in the pond with their mother guiding them; the father following behind. The father was keeping a watchful eye on his little ones. Making sure no stragglers were left behind.
Kitty twirled her parasol back and forth as she watched the little duck family. Matt would be just like that father duck, keeping a watchful eye out for the girls, caring for them, keeping them safe from harm.
She was lost in her thoughts until she felt Maddie tugging at her hand.
"Mama, you said we could go to get Candy!"
"Candy? I don't remember anything about candy. Shopping yes, but candy?"
The three-year-old only bobbed her head up and down.
"Shopping means candy!"
"I thought it meant books!" chimed Bethany as they started walking again.
"Oh, you two. Are candy and books all the two think about?"
"uh-Huh!"
Both girls giggled as they walked to Mr. Thomson's General store.
Kitty was grateful for that reply from the girls. She was in no hurry for them to grow up.
As they entered the store, Kitty could hear footsteps and a voice call from behind her. "Miss Russell?"
She froze. That voice was so recognizable like an old long-lost friend from the past.
Kitty tried to think of who it might be, but before she took any more time she bent down to the children.
"Girls, you go on to the books. I'll be there in a few minutes."
Both girls nodded their heads as they made their way to the back of the store, where Mr. Thomson kept a sizable book collection. If you could name a book, he more than likely had it somewhere on the shelves.
Kitty could only smile as she watched Maddie stop to look at the candy for a moment.
Then she followed her big sister to the books.
Kitty's heart raced as she swallowed the lump that was in her throat. Who called her name?
It wasn't Festus. There was no jingling of the spurs. It couldn't have been Matt, could it?
No. He wouldn't call her Miss Russell.
What if it was nosey old Burk, and he what if heard the girls call her Mama.
Biting her lip, she turned around to see, and with great relief she saw Newly standing in the doorway, in his white cowboy hat and fancy duds to match.
.
"Newly! Newly O'Brian, what are you doing here?"
Kitty said as she hugged him, "It's so good to see you."
Newly smiled as he returned the hug.
"It's good to see you too Mis Russell. to tell you the truth, I just needed to get out of Dodge for a little while. Since this month marks two years since Patricia passed away."
Kitty sighed, "I had forgotten that it was this month. How are you holding up?"
The young man only smiled, "I'm doing alright. I miss her deeply. But I'm following in Doc's footsteps as she asked me to."
A smile spread across the woman's face. "Oh, Newly. I couldn't think of anyone else to fill Doc's shoes than you." He only nodded; it was then Newly noticed Kitty kept glancing over at two little girls that were over in the books.
He only shook his head and thought nothing of it as they kept talking until the oldest of the two children walked up to them.
"Mama, may I huh..."
Bethany stopped what she was saying when she saw her mother talking with the tall, handsome stranger. Kitty looked over to her daughter. She felt terrible; She had forgotten that the girls were with her for a moment. "Yes, Sweetheart what is it?"
"Mama, may I get this book. You said you come look at the books with us."
Kitty looked at the book, the cover read. 'Black Beauty.' Then after flipping through a few pages, she nodded to her child, "Yes, you may." the little girls face lit up with excitement,
"Oh, Thank you, Mama! I wanted to ask you about two other ones if I may?"
Kitty gave her daughter a sideways glance, then smiled.
"Alright, I'm coming." she then turned her attention back to the gentlemen.
"This shouldn't take too long, Newly. Unless you were heading somewhere."
"No, ma'am. You're the only one I know here in St. Louis."
Kitty nodded her head then disappeared to the back of the store with the child.
Newly could overhear the two little girls calling her "Mama," and the storekeeper refer to her as "Mrs. Dillon." it was confusing to him. He knew Matt and Kitty never married before she left Dodge. But she had a ring on her left hand. As he watched her with those two little girls, there was no doubt in his mind they were hers. He could tell by just looking at the girls, Matt was their father.
Newly shook the thoughts from his mind as Kitty came back with the girls in toe.
Maddie now saw the man up close; she had hoped it would be her Daddy, maybe her birthday wish from last year would have come true. But the cowboy that had been talking with her Mama wasn't her Daddy. She looked at the floor, not wanting to look up at the man.
"Maddie, what's wrong?" Bethany asked as she held on to her sister's hand.
The little girl whispered in her sister's ear. "It's not Daddy."
Kitty cleared her throat, "Girls, I want you to meet a good friend of your father's and mine, this is Mr. Newly O'Brian. Newly, this is Bethany, and this is Maddie."
The man knelt to the girls' level and tipped his hat, "Hello girls, it's nice to meet you. You don't have to call me Mr. O' Brian. Newly is just fine."
Bethany smiled as she curtsied to him in reply. Maddie hesitated for a moment, but then she did something that Kitty nor Newly didn't expect.
She ran up and hugged him, throwing her arms around his neck as tightly as she could.
"Hi, Uncle Newly."
The man was taken back by little Maddie calling him. "Uncle Newly." But he didn't mind it. It seemed to fit like a well-tailored glove, and the child acted like she'd known him her whole life. Newly could only smile as those little arms held him tightly.
When Maddie let go of him, he stood back up. Kitty could only smile at him. "Well, Newly, I believe you've made a friend for life."
"I guess so." he looked down as Maddie was standing next to him, holding his hand instead of her mother's.
The shopping trip was soon over, and they started walking through the park once more for home.
A small yawn escaped Maddie's lips. Kitty could see the tiredness in her child's face, her eyes were heavy, and every now again she would yawn. Kitty was sure the child was tired of walking.
But when Newly saw the yawn, and the child rubbed her eyes. He offered to pick Maddie up. She was more than happy for someone to carry her.
As Kitty watched Newly walking with Maddie. She felt guilty. It should be Matt carrying Maddie, as she is drifting off to sleep on his shoulder, and Bethany holding his hand as they walk through the park.
She thought back to last November, on Maddie's 3rd Birthday, the child had a temper tantrum because her Daddy wasn't there like she wished for him to be.
Maddie was never a child to have temper tantrums, throw fits or have meltdowns. But that one day, she did.
Because; Maddie wanted to meet her Daddy.
Both girls had become more prompt about it lately. They would ask God to bring their Daddy home and keep him safe so they could meet him. They prayed night after night, week after week, month after month. They wouldn't stop until God would answer their prayers.
Kitty could remember Preacher Webber saying, "Have childlike faith." if that is what he meant by it, the girls had it.
She couldn't blame the girls, wanting to know their father. They had every right to, and Matt did too. Matt would be a better father than her own father was.
When they strolled up the house, the smells of Sarah's baking drifted from the kitchen. A roast was cooking in the oven with carrots and potatoes, along with a freshly made apple pie.
Bethany picked up the pace when she saw her auntie standing at the door.
Sarah smiled when she saw Kitty and the newcomer.
She knew this wasn't Matt, but it was a good friend.
"Hello Kitty, it looks like you went shopping and brought back a friend."
Kitty only chuckled, "More as he found me. Sarah, this is Newly O' Brian.
Newly, this is Mrs. Sarah Anderson. She has been a lifelong friend of mine."
"It's nice to meet you. Mr. O' Brian. "
The gentlemen only nodded his head as his hands were still full of the sleeping child.
"Oh, here, Newly. I can take her up to her room, you carried her home from the store."
He only smiled at Kitty's concern. "It's alright, Kitty. I can take her on up. I'd hate to wake up a sleeping child that's not ready to wake up. If you get my meaning."
Both women nodded in agreement, "I'll show you the..."
Just then, Bethany ran to the first step. "I can show him. I want to put my books away anyways."
Kitty nodded, "Alright, but don't wake your sister."
Newly smiled as he started up the stairs. Kitty could hear the thumping on stairs and all the sound that her oldest was making. She kept waiting for Bethany to respond, "Bethany, I said don't wake your sister." she said quietly. It was then the Child shouted her reply.
"I WON'T WAKE HER! I PROMISE!"
Her mother could only bite her lip to keep from laughing.
"Thank the good Lord, he made Maddie a heavy sleeper!"
Sarah muffled her laughed. As she could see Kitty was trying to keep it together,
"Come on Kitty, let's go make some coffee. Then when Newly comes down you two can talk."
With that, Sarah and Kitty disappeared into the kitchen.
Thank you everyone for the Reviews! So sorry for the delay these two weeks you guys. I had a hitch in my giddy up. I realized that Maddie's timeline doesn't match up like I wanted it too. because Surprise! She is to have been born around season 15 of the show. but I keep seeing her as a 3 almost 4 year old.
If you watch the ep long night you'll understand where I got the idea for Maddie being born in season 15.
so I do apologize. but I'll call author's privelege I guess when it come to sweet little Maddie. lol ;)
for those of you who are wondering Bethany is born around season 10.
Something else But I am wanting to get back into is a chapter a week. vs when ever I can, so that way I don't get burnt out or trying to scramble all the time because I haven't posted in a while. you guys are great! thank you so much for stick with me as I write this story :)