Unshown Moments for Mannon, Season 14

Will Mannon sat atop the stolen mule, the scruffy man had called Ruth, and grinned. The fact that he'd probably killed the owner of this mule, didn't bother him in the slightest. That's man death, along with countless others, was nothing to him. He took what he wanted and if someone stood in his way, that someone died.

As he steadily headed towards Dodge, he centered his mind on his reason for going there. US Marshal Matt Dillon. Though he'd never met him, he'd heard of him and what he heard made his blood boil. People, who talked of Dillon, did so in respect and a certain amount of awe. Even those who detested the legendary lawman, held a grudging admiration for the man and his skill with the gun.

Mannon detested that fact. He had always been a man who commanded respect from and above everyone. The thought that a mere law man, even a US Marshal, held more acclaim than he did, was enough to send him to Dodge to make sure everyone knew that he and only he deserved respect and admiration.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Mannon walked down the quiet streets of Dodge, a song on his lips and a singular image on his mine. Beautiful, flame haired Kitty Russell. The woman intrigued him like no woman had done in a long time. She was strong, intelligent and she didn't back down, even to him. She'd shown no fear, even when he'd flat out told her he was going to kill Dillon.

And she hadn't immediately swooned over his good looks or manners. In fact, she almost looked disgusted by him. That thought both angered him and drew him to her like a moth to a flame. Stopping to get a drink of water from the troth, he looked up to see her light on and then just as quickly extinquished.

"Ah, the lady is interested in me." He told himself. "Well, let me just go and make sure we're thoroughly acquainted.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Mannon got up from the floor and looked down at his victim. She'd been hard to take; he gave her credit for that. But, as had always been, in the end, he got what he wanted. He'd not only taken the fiery red head, the woman of the man he was set to kill, but he'd proved to her who the better man was. Not the famous US Marshal Dillon, but he, Will Mannon.

"Sure did enjoy that, red." He grinned down at the battered woman as he pulled his pants up and buttoned them. "I'm gonna enjoy the next time too, you can bet on that." When Kitty didn't answer, he bent back down beside her, gently cupping her chin. He could see that, though injured, she was conscious. "I proved to you that I was the better man, now didn't I? I bet you enjoyed that too, didn't ya?"

Kitty used all of what little strength she had to pull herself away from him. "Get… out…" She managed.

Chuckling, he got back up again. "I'm going now, red. Got to get this little ol' battle scar you gave me fixed up. But I'll be back. You can bet on that. As a matter of fact, you're gonna want me back when you calm down a mite and realize how good I was and what you've been missing with Dillon."

He didn't wait for Kitty to answer, he didn't expect an answer. He knew he'd hurt her and he knew right then she wasn't of a mind to agree with him, but he was certain that sooner or later, she'd want him back. How could she not? He taken her good tonight and he'd enjoyed himself when he did it. He was positive she'd come around to his way of seeing it and next time, she'd enjoy it too.

After leaving the doc's place and sending him scurrying to check on Red, Mannon whistled happily as he made his way over to the hotel to get some sleep. The old man obviously wasn't afraid of him, but after he saw what had happened to the Russell woman when she defied him, Dr. Adams would at least show him a little more respect.

The next morning, Mannon hummed softly to himself as he sat back and ate his morning meal. Kitty Russell had had a night to think about things now and he was positive that she was probably coming around to his way of thinking and maybe even grateful to him. After all, hadn't he sent the old saw bones to fix her up when she'd caused him to hurt her? Surely that had proved to her how good he would be to her and for her.

Just then a knock came on his door and it turned out to be the old doctor, telling him 'Miss Russell' wanted to see him. Telling the old man he'd be right there, he smirked. 'Miss Russell'. Hm. It wouldn't be long and she'd be calling him Mr. Mannon as was fitting.

Grabbing his hat and jacket, he quickly left the hotel and started towards the saloon but at the last minute made a detour. Although it was a certainty that Kitty Russell had realized he was right and wanted to apologize, he didn't figure it'd hurt any to get her some flowers to show her how gracious he was in forgiving her for fighting him. The local cemetery seemed to have some fine specimens and they were at the right price too, he chuckled to himself.

Shortly after Mannon entered the saloon, he left, angry and totally bewildered. She'd rejected him! He couldn't believe it. But not only that, she'd just as boldly told him that he wasn't good enough and just as much said he wasn't a man and that Dillon would kill him.

"Red, it's been lots a years, and I ain't lost yet." He had told her.

"Ya did with me." She replied evenly, not shrinking away from him and in fact unflinchingly meeting his stare.

Mannon had never been so angry. Men who'd tried to take him in a gunfight, didn't anger him because they were fools. Those idiots who'd come into the saloon and offered to pay him to leave town, they actually made him laugh. But Kitty Russell made him angry. She'd hurt the one part of him that no other human being ever had. His pride.

"Well, she'll see." He seethed. "I will prove to her one way or the other how much a man I am and I will make her like it. I swear I will. If I have to kill not only Dillon but every other man in this town, Kitty Russell will one day come crawling to me. Then she'll see. Then she'll see."

Mannon stood in the street killing endless amounts of whiskey glasses, making sure Kitty could see him. If asked to explain it rationally to anyone, he probably wouldn't be able to, especially after the amount of whiskey he'd consumed. The old rummy, he had throwing the glasses, was actually steadier. But he had something to prove to Kitty Russell and he was going to.

Taking another swig of his bottle, he fired again, missing. Glancing up at her window, hoping she hadn't noticed, he saw that she had indeed and was actually smirking at his loss. Quickly demanding that a handful of glasses be tossed into the air, he swiftly drew his gun and fired, nailing all glasses thrown. But his triumphant look up at her window soon disappeared when he saw that she'd left the window and hadn't seen his feat. "She'll pay for that." He silently thought.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Mannon watched as Dillon flew backwards to the ground, Mannon's bullet in him. He'd done it! He'd killed Dillon! He'd proven to not only Dodge, but most importantly, Kitty Russell that Will Mannon was a force to be reckoned with. A man deserving of their respect and fear. Looking at the red head, he saw the angst on her face, after seeing her man shot down. His first thought was of taking her, right then and there, up to her room and claiming what was now completely his. But he changed his mind. There'd be time enough for that.

"Now, there's a good man." He said to Kitty. For a second, he was almost sorry for the woman when he saw the expression on her face at seeing Dillon shot. And a small part of him even held a tiny grudging amount of respect for Dillon himself, for facing him down in the street, even though he had to know that he would die at Mannon's hands.

But the larger part of him was glad it was over. He'd done what he'd set out to do in the beginning and after he'd gotten himself some rest, he was going to come back to the saloon, take Kitty Russell and anything else in town he wanted for as long as he wanted.

"Mannon!"

His heart froze at the sound of his name being called by a dead man. Whirling around, he snapped his gun into his hand to fire, but this time, Dillon was faster. This time, Mannon wasn't the better man and as he fell to the ground, grievously wounded, knowing he was going to die, he realized, that maybe he never had been.

END

AN: Anyone who knows my writing, knows I don't agree with RTD that Mannon lived so please take that into account.