Mitch and Matilda

By Lil (Mitch needs a family!)

-1-

Matilda Grace Johnson stepped off of the small train at the Fresno station and squinted through the afternoon heat and dust. She walked up to the station master to ask for directions. "Sir can you give me directions to a stable where I can rent a horse?" Matilda asked politely.

"Blake's Livery just down the road" the man said gruffly.

"Thank You very much she said to the mean man. She made her way slowly down the road lethargic in the summer heat and stopped in front of the Livery. There was a young man with blond hair and a gruff beard.

 "Excuse me sir can you rent me a horse for the day?" She asked in a loud voice.

The man looked up from what he was doing, and a smile crossed his face. "Sure, I can" he answered in a jolly voice. "My name is Cory Blake I run this place when I'm home from Tacoma during the summer. What's your business in Fresno, ma'am?”

 "I'm.....visiting an old friend," Matilda said with slight hesitation.

Cory must have sensed that and didn't press the matter more. Soon Cory walked out of the building with a gorgeous golden horse saddled and ready to ride.

Matilda said a silent goodbye to her purple dress, knowing it would be ruined beyond repair and got on the horse.

 

-2-

Matilda Knew the way to the Circle C Ranch by heart and enjoyed the pleasant ride there from town. "Just think" she said to herself "soon I'll see Mitch Carter again. It’s been so many years."

 

Mitch Carter rode towards his family's large white house tired and ready for his noon meal. As he got closer it was appearing that there was a visitor at the house. Must be a friend of Andi's he thought. Boy, was he ever wrong. As he got closer to the house, he realized that whoever was on the large golden horse in the yard was waiting for him. Or at least looking in his direction.

Finally, he rode up close enough to talk to the visitor. "Howdy Ma'am," he said bringing his horse to a complete stop and dismounting. "My mother and sister are inside getting ready for the noon meal." Mitch told the woman who, as he was looking closer at her, realized he slightly recognized her.

"I'm not looking for Andi or your mother." She said softly. "Mitch I'm looking for you."

And then it hit him. "Matilda?" He asked in bewilderment.

She nodded her head tears forming in her eyes. After all these years she had come back to the Circle C!

"Mitch, my father and mother are both dead. My siblings are scattered to all ends of the planet. I didn't know where else to go so I came back" she said the tears finally spilling over. "I came back.”

Matilda Johnson finally let the tears spill out. Oh how she had missed her best friend!

Mitch gently led her inside and brought her to the parlor where mother and Andi were sitting talking over wedding plans. They both looked up startled as Mitch and Matilda walked in the room.

"Who is she, Mitch?" Andi asked in confusion. "Why is she crying?"

"I'm sorry." Matilda said through her tears. “It’s just been so long and so much has happened.

"There, There," mother said, leading the young girl to a cushioned seat.

"Andi, your probably don't remember her but this is Matilda. She was my best friend when we were in school. She moved away a few months before father’s death." Mitch said, the sorrow of that event showing plainly on his face.

Andi's face lit up with recognition. "You were the one who brought me sugar cookies!" Andi said enthusiastically.

Matilda nodded. "Melinda and I were very close too. Where is she?" Matilda asked, drying her tears.

"She lives in town now she married Peter Wilson remember him?" Mitch said.

"Oh! Well I guess that should have been expected. Everyone's growing up and getting married now." Matilda said with a small laugh.

 

A few weeks later after Matilda's stay at the Circle C had been fully established Mitch brought her into town for a walk. "Matilda," Mitch said soberly, "now that you've come back I remembered how much I had missed you when you left. I...I would love it if you would do the honor of courting me."

His face looked flushed but he had a smile.

"Of course!" Matilda said with excitement. "I would love to court you Mitch" She gently intertwined her fingers through his and they continued they're walk through town.

 

-3-

Two years later on the Eve of their wedding, Mitch saddled up his horse and quickly rode over to the section of land that he had bought for his and Matilda's home. It was completely furnished and painted with a small barn our back and a chicken coop.

He sighed in contentment, anticipating his life here with his soon to be wife. I'm glad she came back. Mitch thought to himself. I never would have thought Matilda Johnson would end up being my wife. But Gods plans sometimes are not the same as ours he does everything for a reason.

He rode back to the Circle C just in time to sit and watch the sunset with his soon to be wife. "Matilda, I love you,” he said softly in her ear.

Mitch enjoyed the quiet ride with his new wife to they're new ranch, new beginnings ranch, and thought about when he and Matilda were young. They had been close. Best friends and they had gone riding in weather like this more times than he could count.

One day about nine months after the wedding Matilda sat down on the porch swing with her husband watching the sunset which was so like the one on the eve of they're wedding and said softly. "You're going to be a father, Mitch."

He looked over at her and smiled brightly giving her a hug. "I couldn't be more excited, Matilda!" He told her "I am the last Carter sibling to have children but I waited for a reason. I knew God was going to send the right person along for me and he sent you."

-4-

Matilda Carter knew that having children along with running a household was hard but she didn't expect this. "Gracie, honey, Please stop crying for mama and daddy. We need to sleep" she said to her two month old baby at 2:30 in the morning.

She was half asleep but the baby would not stop crying.

Suddenly Mitch walked into the room and said in a groggy voice, "Would you like me to take her so you can get some sleep?"

Matilda greatfully handed over the baby to his father and went to bed. 

8 years later

 

Mitch Carter walked out of his ranch house and looked at his family all sitting in the grass eating they're picnic Eight year old Grace loved helping her mother run the house and care for the baby. Six year old James took after his father with his love of horses and all things having to do with the ranch, and four year old Mollie did everything her brother did. Last, Mitch looked at his twin daughters, mattie short for Matilda, and Mary, sitting on they're mother’s lap.

God certainly blessed me, he thought to himself before joining his family in the grass.