The Contract

An ATC to Mannon

By

AZgirl66

Chapter 12-The Addendum

Kitty lazily rocked in her chair, humming a lullaby. It was still fairly early in the evening, but most businesses in Deep Ford were closing for the day. It was the time of day when "respectable" folks went home to their families and the "less respectable" folks started to appear. Kitty knew the saloons would start to fill up with men looking to drink, gamble, and perhaps, take a girl upstairs for a tumble.

She had started to read a novel that her friend Sabine had lent to her, Wuthering Heights, but she didn't really enjoy it. The subject matter seemed a little dark for Kitty with its savage cruelty and mental games. My life is stranger than this…maybe I should write a book. Kitty noisily snapped the book closed and patted her belly. "Should Mama write a book, Sweetheart?" She giggled at the thought.

Kitty continued to rock and think about her current situation and what she needed to do to plan her future. She'd decided it was time to have a little chat with Will Mannon. She'd felt it necessary to add a little extra something to their contract, but Kitty was no fool. She had known that if she asked for something, she was going to have to give something in return. That was the most difficult part. Kitty didn't really have anything left to give. Well, maybe she did. Perhaps you have one ace left up your sleeve, ol' gal. Hopefully you won't have to use it.

Kitty decided it was time to head to bed when she saw him. Will Mannon had finally returned to Deep Ford. He was on foot, leading his horse to the livery, smoking one of his dreadful cigars. It was interesting to watch him walk down the street. Not a soul seemed glad to see him and not one person acknowledged him.

"Well, well, well. Look who's back. Ya rat bastard," Kitty scoffed. She steeled herself for his homecoming. You can do this. You are Kitty Russell-tough as nails.

When Mannon entered their room, Kitty was seated at her vanity, brushing her hair. She did not react to his entrance in any way. The corners of his mouth turned up at the little game she was playing as he slowly walked up behind her. He made eye contact with her through the reflection of the looking glass.

"Red," he greeted.

"Will," she responded.

"Did ya miss me?" he rested his hands upon her shoulders.

"No," she replied flatly.

Mannon smirked and added, "I'm pleased t' see that I don't have t' set out to kill your Marshal Dillon- that you stayed put, like a good girl."

Their trance remained unbroken, until Mannon leaned down to kiss the curve of Kitty's neck. He was surprised that she didn't flinch. She did not move one muscle. Mannon reached over Kitty's shoulder and stuck his hand inside her thin, blue dressing gown to fondle one of her large, perfect globes.

Kitty's only response was to lay down her brush and close her eyes. She dug deep inside her soul and announced, "We need to talk," calmly removing his hand, as she stood to face him.

Mannon's eyes immediately went to Kitty's swollen belly. "Woah, Darlin'. Looky here. My son's growin' like a weed!" he exclaimed, as he caressed Kitty's belly.

"Just what I wanted to discuss actually," Kitty began. She removed Mannon's hands from her stomach, approaching the window so she wouldn't have to look him in the face.

"The baby?" Mannon turned as she did.

Kitty swallowed hard, "Yes. While you were gone, I did some thinkin' and I realized there were some things we overlooked in our…contract," she played with the sash of her dressing gown, "Remember, at the time we negotiated it, we didn't know about the baby."

"True. We didn't know it would take only one time for me to give you such a gift," he smiled mischievously.

Kitty rolled her eyes and turned to face Mannon. "I need a few things, and I need to know something," she began.

"Shoot," Mannon leaned his backside on the small table in the room, crossed his arms over his chest, giving Kitty his full attention.

"Were you with any whores?" Kitty boldly inquired, crossing her arms and resting them upon the swell of her belly, "While you were gone, I mean."

Mannon stood and took two steps towards Kitty. She stayed put, looking him straight in the eye. "That's none of your business, Red. I can do whatever I please, whenever I please."

Kitty balled her hands into fists, frustratingly straightening her arms along-side her torso. "It IS my business, because you spend so much time in my bed. Some of those brothels aren't 'clean'. Meaning, the women aren't properly looked after. It's not their fault, but it is a fact. I can't have you givin' me a disease-one I could pass on to the baby-or one that could kill me. So I ask you again, for the sake of the child, were you with any-"

"No," Mannon stated firmly. "I wasn't 'with' anyone."

"You mean to tell me, you, Will Mannon, went for three weeks without-"

"You'd best stop right there, Red. I told you I wasn't. Cause believe you me, I'd proudly tell ya if I was!" Mannon sat on the edge of the bed and reached for Kitty's elbow to pull her close. She took a step backwards, just out of his reach.

"My next subject: a house. I cannot continue to live in a place this confining. In about four months or so, there's gonna be a baby in here, too. You'll go crazy with a crying baby in this small space," Kitty was now pacing around the room, flailing her arms around to make her point.

"A house?! My, my, Miss Kitty. That's a mighty big request," Mannon laughed.

"You're the one who knocked me up," she said matter-of-factly, blue eyes blazing.

"That I did. Hmm…so what do I get out of this…this 'renegotiation'?"

"We aren't renegotiating anything. We are 'adding to'-it's called an addendum," she faux smiled as she perched herself by the bed's footboard.

"Okay, Miss Smarty-pants," he stood, taking his turn to look out the window, "What's for me in this addendum?"

"Hold yer horses, Mister. I have one more thing. One more VERY important thing."

Mannon whipped around, "Don't keep me in suspense, Red."

"You are to never, and I mean NEVER, drug me again. I know you did it the night before ya left on your…your so-called business trip," Kitty choked a little, trying not to let a tear fall. She pointed her finger at him, "It's more humiliating than anything you could ever do to me in bed. Me not having control over my mind, my words…" she trailed off and turned her back to him, wiping away her tears.

Mannon chewed on his bottom lip for a moment, before approaching Kitty's back. He grabbed her by her shoulders and leaned over to smell her hair, inhaling deeply. He twirled a few strands of her copper tresses around his finger and whispered, "Say I get ya a house and don't slip ya anything in yer drinks…what does that get me, Darlin'? That's a tall order. 'Cause ya know, we could just keep on keepin' on the way we have been. I don't care none about a baby cryin', and as for the other, ya know I like… that."

Kitty took a deep breath and concentrated on the edge of the rug. Once she played her hand, there'd be no going back. She turned slowly to face Will Mannon and took one small step towards him. They were only about an inch apart, with their noses nearly touching. Kitty whispered, "You want to know what you get?"

"Uh-huh," Mannon murmured, inhaling her intoxicating feminine scent.

"You get this…" Kitty slowly opened the front of her dressing gown, exposing her naked form to him. Mannon's blue eyes started to gloss over as he rapidly blinked, taking in her heavy, perfect breasts and her rounded, ripe belly.

Mannon licked his lips in approval as Kitty wrapped her arms around his neck, closed her eyes, ever-so-slightly tilted her head, and kissed him. She willingly, deeply kissed him, allowing his tongue entrance into her warm, welcoming mouth.

Mannon grabbed Kitty by the shoulders and pushed her back a bit to study her face. "What the hell was that?" he questioned, "What kind of game are you playin'?!"

"That's what you get out of this…addendum. It's all I have left to offer. My willingness," a tear trickled down her flushed cheek, while she studied the floor. Kitty felt so ashamed, but she'd felt it was her only option. Forgive me, Matt. Please, forgive me.

"I still don't understand," Mannon narrowed his eyes. "How is this different for me?"

"We can continue as we have been. I'll do what you say, when you say, begrudgingly, OR, you can accept these new terms and have me be a little more…compliant…eager," Kitty wanted to throw up as the words came out of her mouth. At that moment, she decided to go for all the marbles.

"One more thing, Will," she spoke over her shoulder as she strolled towards the water closet.

"What's that?" Mannon replied, still in shock from the searing kiss.

"You will never utter Matt Dillon's name again, nor threaten his life, so long as I keep up my terms. I mean, never. Deal?" Kitty stood in the doorway, calm expression on her face, waiting for his answer.

"Deal."

Once the word had been spoken, Kitty Russell closed the door to the water closet and threw up her supper. She had indeed made another deal with the devil himself. This time not only for Matt, but for his child, too.

TBC