The petite redhead sat on the cedar ledge of the raised garden bed, trying to focus on her task of picking Sugar Ann peas. Vivienne had to admit that being in the fresh air and sunshine had diminished her annoyance since the family's time in Dodge City had been extended. Her morning had begun early, venturing to the Noonan farmhouse to help ready the place for the next tenants. Her father and uncle were on the roof to repair a place or two while her brothers were whitewashing the fence lining the property. She glanced at Josephine, diligently loosening the dirt around the ready-to-harvest carrots. Vivienne stifled a giggle as her zealous youngest sister pulled the greens and fell backward.
The overall-clad almost three-year-old grumbled under her breath while rising to her feet, kicking the toe of her shoe in the dirt. She folded her arms over her chest, aggravated by how easily Josephine plucked a carrot and tossed it into her wicker basket.
"Lark, viens à moi," Vivienne beckoned. With a sigh, she guessed Lark was ignoring her because she hadn't spoken English. "C'mere, Lark. You can help me," she proposed, breathing out a sigh of relief as Lark strolled over without a protest.
Lark dropped onto the ground in front of the vines of peas, staring at the large pods waiting to be picked. "I help you."
"Please. You pick the peas like this." She gently pulled the pod from the plant, grinning as Lark took the pod out of her hand. Vivienne decided to take the opportunity to teach her sibling. "In French, they're called petits pois," Vivienne spoke slowly. "Try, Lark. Petits pois."
"No," the moppet declared, snatching a plump snap pea off the compact plant.
"You're gonna have to learn."
"No Fwench, Vivi." Lark bit into the bright green pod with a loud crunch before grabbing a few more to stuff into her pockets. "Bye bye," she mumbled with a sudden wave of her hand, scampering off to her brothers.
Vivienne shook her head. She'd never understood Lark's resistance to learning French, but she hoped Noah would be more willing to learn. Tucking her auburn waves behind her ears, she continued tossing the snap peas into her basket until her mother came out of the house. "Maman!" she called, following the older woman's path to a stretch of unpainted fencing. Vivienne picked the rug beater off the ground as Kitty draped the rug over the fence. "Lark still won't let me teach her French."
"Sweetheart, she's stubborn." Kitty took the proffered rug beater and lightly struck the carpet. She took a step toward her daughter, placing her hands on Vivienne's shoulders to maneuver her away from the dust.
"I'll keep trying with her," Vivienne said resolutely, scrutinizing her youngest sister helping Alexandre. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that Lark would learn French if Alexandre taught her, but he wouldn't. He mostly spoke the language only during school hours.
Kitty smirked softly, meeting her daughter's eyes. "Vivi, I know you will, but I want you to realize that Lark may never want to learn French. You got a fair share of stubbornness from me, but Lark got mine and daddy's stubbornness combined."
The girl's lips pursed as her mother resumed cleaning the carpet. "But Lark already speaks one French word. She uses it nearly a thousand times a day."
"Well, she'll have to learn some French in school. She'll find out soon enough that half the day is spent speaking the language."
"It's silly that she won't learn more now. It just doesn't make sense to me, Maman."
Kitty chuckled, straightening to look at the eleven-year-old. "Honey, Lark's decisions make about as much sense as your Daddy's sometimes. She has to do things her way just like your Daddy." She turned, tilting her head toward the rooftop, shielding her eyes to view her hardworking husband. Matt was still firmly holding onto the belief that Dr. Chapman had been wrong in his diagnosis of Noah, and he didn't want to tell the children until summer was over.
"Maybe Noah will let me teach him French."
The mother prayed Vivienne hadn't detected the slight slip of her hand or heard her heart crack from the remark, but her well-meaning girl only added to her reasons for telling the children sooner rather than later about Noah. She plastered an optimistic smile on her face. "Maybe so, Sweetheart."
On the other side of the yard, the eight-year-old observed his mother's expression. All morning, Luc had noticed the physical distance between the adults. He didn't like the lingering hurt on his precious mother's face or his daddy's clipped tones whenever he spoke to her. "I'll be back," he whispered to Alexandre, imprudently handing Lark his paintbrush while Vivienne returned to the vegetable garden. He plopped next to her, taking his Stetson off to wipe his temple with his sleeve. "Vivienne," he spoke in a low voice, ensuring Josephine wouldn't hear the discussion. His younger sister seemed to be engrossed in her endeavor of luring a bunny with a carrot.
Vivienne arched a brow since her younger brother rarely used her whole first name. She put the back of her hand against his forehead. "You don't feel like you have a fever."
"Vivi," the boy grunted, pushing on her wrist. "Arrête ça." He scooted closer to her while his dark eyes skimmed to the roof then to the fence. "Have you noticed? Do you feel it?" he urgently asked.
"Noticed what?" She wrinkled her ginger brows. "Felt what?"
"Maman and Daddy. I think they had a fight." He felt a pod, deciding it needed to stay on the vine.
"Oh, that," she mumbled, rubbing her lips together as she studied her brother. "I've noticed, and I've felt it." She felt like she could cut the tension like a slice of pie. "Maybe they're ready to get out of Dodge as much as we're ready to, Luc."
"It's more than that. I can tell Maman's cœur hurts, but it's not just because of Monsieur Sam dying. Daddy's been quieter than a gagged gopher."
"Don't worry, Luc," she comforted, knowing he was worried since he'd used one of their uncle's phrases. "Nothing can break Maman and Daddy. Nothing at all."
Luc returned his fawn-colored hat to the crown of his head as if the hat could stop the doubts swirling in his mind.
After spreading out a blanket, the redhead settled on the grassy bank of the creek. As Kitty patiently waited, she folded her arms over her knees and kept an eye on her husband, observing his long body effortlessly glide through the water until he decided to float on his back for a small eternity. She watched him emerge from the water, dripping and invigorated. His tawny-brown hair was plastered to his forehead as he stepped to the water's edge. Kitty appreciated how the late afternoon sun cast a warm glow on his naked skin, but she loathed his sullen expression at the sight of her. She tossed a towel to him and patted the banded blanket, gnawing on her lip while he heavily dropped next to her. "Matt," she murmured as he toweled off his hair, sighing at the tension in his body.
Matt braced himself, certain the topic would be Noah. His thoughts had been plagued with his youngest boy, driving him to distraction. Matt winced as he bumped his sore thumb. For the last two days, he'd hit his thumb more than he'd hit nails while he and Festus repaired roofs and replaced the barn's rotted boards. "Yeah?" he answered, beginning to dry off his chest.
"We need to talk."
"Will you let me get dressed first before you start in on me?"
Her rosy lips pressed together tightly in annoyance, pausing a moment to allow herself to keep her voice level and calm. "We're leaving late tonight. I've made all the arrangements."
He stopped in midstroke of his torso, snapping his head to stare at her, wondering why she'd changed their departure plans without consulting him first. In two days, they were supposed to be at Delmonico's for a farewell supper since Hannah had reserved the restaurant. "You did what?"
"I've given the farmhouse to April, checked us out of the Dodge House, and sent telegrams to New Orleans and Baton Rouge."
"But, Kitty," he grumbled, getting to his feet to pull on his union suit.
"We're all more than ready to be home, Matt. I don't want to tell the children about Noah here. I don't want to add one more thing to them hating Kansas."
His jaw tightened as he thrust his leg into his pants. "No, Kitty. We're not telling them yet. I'm not ready. I need more time."
"A day? A week? Fifteen years?"
He tilted his head slightly to one side, staring at her with a quizzical gaze while buttoning his pants. "Fifteen years?"
"That's how long we were together when I got pregnant with the twins."
"What does that have to do with Noah?"
"Everything," she answered, arching a brow as he stalked around the blanket. "You're a slow learner, and Noah doesn't have that kind of time."
Matt spotted the faded slate blue of his shirt peeking from a fold of her skirt. He leaned forward, roughly snatching the shirt out from under her. As soon as she toppled over from the unexpected force, he dragged his hand down his face, swearing under his breath. Matt unsteadily took a step backward from the fiery scowl on her beautiful face. "Honey, I didn't mean to…it was an accident."
"Sure," she growled, her eyes locking onto his as she righted herself.
He raked a hand through his hair and walked to the creek, concentrating on a ripple in the water as he prayed for clarity.
Kitty stared at him, detecting the knots of worry and stress as he rubbed the back of his neck. She wanted to walk to him and make his world better, but she remained rooted in her spot on the warm blanket.
"Dammit, Kathleen," he muttered, threading his arms into his shirt. "I need time."
Her displeasure pricked her skin like pins and needles, tingling every short, frayed nerve in her body. He kept begging for time, but he hadn't considered her feelings at all. He'd expected her to patiently tolerate him working through Noah's circumstance. She narrowed her eyes on him. "Matt, if you can't handle this for the long haul, tell me now."
"Excuse me?" he rumbled, spinning to face her.
"Tell me now."
"I don't even know what you mean," he barked, letting his hands fall to his sides in exasperation. He was tired of her talking in riddles. He didn't understand how she seemed at peace with Noah being unable to hear.
"Liar! You know exactly what I mean!"
"Dammit, Kitty! You won't give me time to accept that Noah can't hear! I need more time."
Kitty rose to her feet, quietly padding toward her husband. "You don't get time, Matt. I don't have the time to coddle you."
"Coddle? Coddle me?"
"Yes, coddle you! That's what I've done the past couple of days."
The big man scoffed, sliding his hands into his front pockets. In his opinion, she hadn't indulged his wishes at all. She'd only bulldogged him. "Kitty, let me handle this my way. Your way isn't getting us anywhere."
Kitty arched a heated brow, crossing her arms over her chest. "Like your way is getting us anywhere? You won't even say that he's deaf, Matt. You have to accept it."
"I can't, Kitty! I'm not you. I can't just accept that my son won't ever hear."
She balled her fists, resisting the overwhelming urge to pound good sense into him. "Noah's my son, too! Don't you think I feel terrible? Sad? Worried? I've felt emotions I didn't know I had, but I can't sulk like you. Why can't I? Because I'm his mother! I have to figure out what to do, and it'll be whatever is best for Noah. Matt, I hope I'm wrong in believing what you might do, but I can tell you that I will not let you do what you did to me to our son!"
He gaped at her. "What I did to you?" he questioned, pointing to the middle of his chest. "What have I done to you? I've only ever loved you, Kitty. That's all I've ever done."
"Oh, I know you've only ever loved me, but for most of that love…you kept me at arm's length because you weren't ready to be a husband and a father. I was second place to a badge. I won't let you put Noah through that," she hedged, putting her finger over his lips to prevent his argument. "Just listen to me. I know there's no badge now, but I won't let you put Noah in second place because of his deafness. You can't go back on him, Matt. He's your son that was named after you and your father."
"Honey, I know that. I—"
"Hush. You have to decide sooner rather than later if you're going to be for him what you've been for Alexandre, Vivienne, Luc, Josie, and Lark. For better or worse, Matt. I need the man that spoke those vows and meant them…not the man that played around with my heart for fifteen years. If you can't find the man that I said those vows to, don't get on the train tonight," she finished, gathering her skirt in her fingers, swiftly walking away from him.
In the richly appointed lounge, the old man sat across from his opponent, waiting for the big man to make his move. He lifted his glass and took a slow sip of cognac, surveying his family. With a shake of his head, he chuckled as Lark launched herself onto the hillman's back. Doc knew he'd have to stay in bed for a week if he'd played in the floor as Festus had for the last half hour. His eyes drifted to Vivienne. As usual, the eleven-year-old's nose was in a book, but she'd caress her cheek every so often, the very spot where Benjamin Lavery had given her a sweet goodbye kiss. To him, it seemed as if his oldest granddaughter had finally decided romance could be something meant for her rather than others. He glanced at Kitty, reclining on a velvet couch while cuddling Noah with a sleeping five-year-old draped over her legs. Doc rested his tumbler on his knee, frowning at Matt's effort. "Pathetic," he muttered, scrubbing his hand over his mouth as he captured Matt's piece. "Lark could've made a better move than that."
He ignored the sawbones' remark, haphazardly executing another forward move.
"Where in thunder is your mind tonight?" Doc wondered, twiddling his ear as he scrutinized the carelessness of his friend's move. He'd easily presumed Matt and Kitty were having some sort of argument, but he'd hoped the tension would have lessened since they were leaving Dodge City. Doc knew his grandchildren seemed more at ease. "Matt, for your own sake, you should take care of the matter…whatever it is. Just starin' at her isn't doing a bit of good."
"Huh?" Matt mumbled.
Doc shifted in his seat, checking his pocket watch. "Oh, never mind. You aren't worth my time tonight. I'm going to bed."
Matt leaned back in his plush chair, mumbling goodnight to Doc. He drummed his fingers on his thigh while chewing the inside of his cheek. His mind hadn't been able to focus on checkers. He kept thinking about how his wife hadn't uttered a word to him. He couldn't think of what more he could do. He'd boarded the train. Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed her attempting to wiggle her legs from underneath Josephine without disturbing her. He was about to get up from his chair when she successfully slipped off the settee.
"Maman," Luc yelled over the chaos. "Où vas-tu?"
Kitty turned, warmly smiling at her middle son. Earlier, she'd realized he was concerned for her well-being as soon as he'd started showing her card tricks, his go-to to cheer her up. "Baby, I'm going to put Noah down. It's past his bedtime, but you five stay up as late as you want."
While the sets of blue and brown landed on him, Matt quickly said, "Whatever your maman says is fine with me." He pushed himself out of the chair, stalking his wife on her path to the grand suite.
As she heard the soft click of the door closing, Kitty didn't look up from nursing the baby. She delicately stroked Noah's back while humming to him. His blue eyes softly closed, and his suckling stopped. She secured the flap of her corset then lowered her baby boy into the bedside crib. "Sweet dreams, Noah," she whispered, brushing her lips against his forehead, frowning at the loud thud of Matt's heavy boots.
The giant rested his hands on his belt while his wife drifted around the quarters. He realized she was beginning her nighttime routine and was stunned by her disregard for him. "Kitty," he spoke softly.
As she unpinned her chignon, Kitty fleetingly glanced his way with a heavy sigh escaping from her lungs. She decided silence was best since she was too exhausted to argue with him.
He watched her begin to undress, undoing buttons and shimmying out of the stylish fabric of her sensible traveling suit. "Kitty," he repeated.
"What is it, Matt?"
"I got on the train."
"Good for you," she replied curtly, beginning to unbutton the rest of her shirtwaist.
He caught a chill from her tone and furrowed his brow, perplexed by her demeanor. "I found the man that spoke those vows…for better or worse."
She stilled in her task, tossing the blouse aside while narrowing her eyes on him. "You have not."
"I told you six years ago that I was never leaving my children again. And I meant it."
"May I assume you include Noah in that sentiment?"
"Of course, I do! Kathleen, I got on the train for him," he assured. His eyes widened from the sound of her furious screech. He staggered backward as she barreled toward him in a whirlwind of frills. He swore, feeling the sting of her palm against his cheek while his back solidly hit the carpeted floor. "Kitty!" he hollered, dodging her blows until he took ahold of her arms. He rolled his body on top of hers, pinning her to the floor. "Why do you want to fight with me?"
"Get offa me!" she ordered, struggling underneath him. She'd wanted to crawl into bed, but she'd let her emotions run rampant. Now, she was stuck and naked save for her corset and drawers.
"Not until you answer me." He wrestled to keep her pinned while she wildly bucked, knocking her hips against him. She reminded him of a skewbald tobiano mare he'd tried to break as a teenager in Texas.
"Why?!" Kitty roared, glaring at him, feeling him press more of his weight against her body. "You haven't found that man! You haven't held Noah! You haven't since the day Chapman confirmed he's deaf. You've ignored your son!" she panted, turning her head away from him.
Matt let out a breath. He hadn't meant to ignore Noah; he hadn't even realized he hadn't held his son in days. He shifted his body, unintentionally lessening his weight on her, groaning as her knee rammed into him. He jerked his hand away from her mouth, quickly looking at the impressions of her teeth in his flesh. She'd nearly broken the skin. "Dammit. I've had enough of you," he growled while he grabbed her face, pressing his fingers more firmly against her jaw to turn her head. He studied her flushed, scrunched face and the tears lining her eyes. He finally realized her anger wasn't all for him. It was anger with nowhere to go, misplaced and seeking. He was her target, the only place for her wrath to land, since no one else knew about Noah. With his fingertip, he traced her tear's trail down her cheek.
Her glare was still in place, incensed by his compassionate gesture. She'd yearned for his comfort days ago. She bucked underneath him, wailing in absolute frustration. "Get off—"
Matt shook his head. "You can be angry with me all you want," he encouraged softly, straightening while carefully resting on her thighs. To him, it appeared as if she'd finally resigned herself to the fact that she wouldn't gain the upper hand.
"There's times when I wish I were a man for a while," she muttered, chest heaving.
Intently watching the rise and fall of her bosom in the ivory ribbon corset, he smirked. "And just what would you do if you were a man?" he wondered.
"For a start, I'd knock that smirk off your face."
"You would, huh?"
"Uh-huh," she murmured.
"I don't believe you could."
"Oh, I could."
"Couldn't," Matt countered, wishing he could take back his response as her lips indignantly pursed. He'd renewed her fight. "Hell," he muttered. He thwarted nearly every attempt until the back of her hand broke loose, slapping his cheek hard enough to make his ears ring. He flattened his palm by her head, bracing himself while he rubbed his burning cheek. She'd certainly taken the smirk off his mouth.
She quickly jerked her head, cursing from the sharp sting of her auburn strands ripping from her scalp. Yet again, she couldn't go anywhere. Her head fell back against the floor, unintentionally meeting his gaze. Heat burned in his eyes as he looked at her, warming her. Kitty licked her lips, willing herself not to kiss him or breathe in the earthy, woody scent of him.
His lips crashed against hers, molding into a fierce kiss that pushed her harder into the plush carpet. Kitty nipped his tongue as it plunged into her mouth, simpering at him while he broke the kiss.
Her eyelids fluttered from him angling his physique. She felt his growing arousal and raised her head, grazing her mouth against his jaw while her fingers twisted into his shirt, ripping it apart. Her breathed hitched as the cold buttons landed on her warm skin, but she spread the cotton, pushing it from his shoulders and down his arms. Her breasts pressed into his chest until she fell back onto the floor. Kitty roamed fingertips over his abdominal muscles, slipping a hand into his pants. Her fingers wrapped around him and felt him throb.
His eyes glazed from her touch, hardening him even more, making him deeply groan. "Not very manly of you."
"I don't care about that." Kitty released him, satisfied to leave him with an intense ache. "Get those off," she ordered, gesturing to his pants while pushing her undergarments down her hips. As he stood on his knees, she splayed her legs and sank her teeth into her lip, sliding her hand into her curls to soothe her desire.
He hurriedly fumbled to take his pants off. His eyebrow arched at the sound of a soft moan. "Jesus," he muttered under his breath, viewing her pleasure herself while unashamedly gazing at him. As she beckoned for him, he was in a stupor, captivated by the way her fingers pushed in and out of her center. Her sensual whimper broke him out of his trance.
Matt threw his pants onto a glass lamp, not caring as it broke when it hit the floor. He covered her with his body, groaning at the sensation of the tip of his shaft touching her. Overtaken with need, he entered into her like he had when their relationship was fresh and new – when he'd sneak into her rooms at the Long Branch with nothing on his mind but satisfying himself and her after days or weeks away from her. He kissed her, tongues tangling until she bit his lower lip, signaling that she was fine with him being rough.
Kitty gripped his hips, crying out as he slammed deeper into her. He only slackened his pace when he scattered kisses to her breasts, his mouth hot on her nipples, biting and sucking. She reached out to grip a table leg while wrapping her legs around him, steadying herself to meet his furious thrusts. She chased him, faster and higher until she was with him. He thrust again and again, sending her out of control. Her nails dug into his back, and her heels dug into his thighs. As she clenched and shattered around him, his hoarse cry filled her ears.
Matt pulled himself from her before his own climax took him. He panted, letting his head rest in the crook of her neck for a moment. He brushed his lips over the freckles on her shoulder before he rolled off her, lying on his back next to her.
She took his hand in hers, entwining their fingers. In the aftermath of their lovemaking, her anger was gone.
