The Contract

An ATC to Mannon

By

AZgirl66

Chapter 13-Sightings and Goose Chasing

A/N: Thank you Phoenix and LovingmesomeMK for your kind reviews. I'm glad you're truly enjoying the journey.

Matt Dillon and Festus Haggen were hungry, dusty and exhausted, lounging on their beds in Mrs. Hanby's boarding house in Lawrence, Kansas. They had zig-zagged all over the state of Kansas for the last three weeks, searching for any sign of Kitty Russell and Will Mannon.

"Matthew," Festus sighed, "I'm plum wore out. I need a bath an' some vittles, but I can barely move."

Matt laid back to stretch out onto his squeaky bed. "I know, Festus. My backside hurts, but we need t' be ready to head out in the mornin', after we talk to Sheriff Hanson. Hopefully he'll be in his office by then."

Festus sat upright, "Tommora? Oh, Matthew, that's jus' crazy. We be needin' a rest and so do the animals. Ruth is 'bout ready t' keel over."

Matt closed his eyes and replied, "I know Festus, but we've got t' keep movin'. We need to find Kitty…just the thought of her bein' with that animal makes me sick."

"Let's think on it a minute, here," Festus used his fingers to emphasize his points, "First, we rode the train jus' like Miz Kitty did. The conductor done tol' us he remembered Miz Kitty. He saw her git off at the first stop, Garden City."

Matt put his hat over his face, "Yes, Festus. We've been over this twenty times already-"

"Now jus' hold on a minute. I'se thinkin' out loud. Meybe we done missed somthin'."

Matt propped himself up on one elbow and gave Festus his full attention, "I'm sorry, Festus. You're right. You've been a good friend to both me and Kitty through all this. Go ahead…"

"I thank ya fer that, but I love Miz Kitty, too, Matthew. You two is like family t' me. I'd do anythin' for ya."

Matt smiled at his faithful deputy, continuing where Festus left off, "Okay. Kitty got off the train in Garden City and Mannon got off the stage there. The livery man said Mannon bought a horse and tack from him-"

"Yes, sir," Festus interrupted, "a big ol' chestnut quarter horse, sportin' a white blaze and one sock on his back left leg."

"Yup," Matt let out a big sigh, "and neither of 'em spent the night in Garden City. Not in the boarding house or either hotel. I even asked at the saloons."

Festus' expression slightly lifted, "But Mr. Jensen at the general store done said he did see a purty redhead come 'n buy a few things. Beans, jerky an' such."

"Yeah, and that was the last place Kitty was seen while in Garden City. And Mannon at the livery. He had to have taken her," Matt's brow furrowed, "but they didn't leave Dodge together. Did he see her in Garden City and decide to take her there? This is so strange, Festus. I just know we are missing a piece of this puzzle."

"I reckon we are missin' somethin'," Festus sighed, then continued, "Then we went t' WaKeeney, thinkin' they'd head north t' 'nother railroad. No one saw 'em theyre-"

"Right. No tickets bought, but," Matt sat straight up, "The sheriff in Hays said someone alerted him that Mannon was on the outskirts of town with a redheaded woman."

"Yes'm. He'd caused a rookus there 'afore, so he was easy t' r'member," Festus stared at his friend, squinting his one eye, "Matthew?"

"Yeah?" Matt raised his eyebrows.

"Let's get us cleaned up an' some food in our bellies. We'll be able t' think better an' we can figger out where t' head next."

Matt studied his loyal ally for a moment. Festus did look ragged and tired. But there he sat, companionably with the big marshal, willing to do anything to help find their beloved Kitty.

"Sounds good, friend. Sounds good."

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Later that night, Matt lay in his uncomfortable boarding house bed, his arm slung over his eyes, unable to sleep. Festus, on the other hand, was snoring like he didn't have a care in the world. But Matt was glad his devoted friend was able to finally get a good night's sleep in a real bed, instead of trying to get some shut-eye on the cold, hard ground.

Over supper, the Marshal and his deputy had continued to analyze the information they'd collected from all the towns they'd visited. Some stops had been fruitful, some hadn't been. Kitty and Mannon had been spotted briefly in Salina, probably just to stock up on supplies. The sheriff's deputy there had stated that Mannon had ridden into town, still on the chestnut quarter horse, with a lovely redhead seated in front of him.

This sighting had also been confirmed by the man who ran the mercantile. He'd said that Kitty had been in the store, buying a few food items. He'd reported she'd had a big bruise on her chin and a red mark on her throat, and that she'd never made eye contact with him.

Damn that bastard. Just wait till I get my hands on you, Mannon. Just wait.

Matt placed his hands behind his head, studying the ceiling. He softly sighed and continued his ruminations. The lawmen hadn't had any luck in Wichita or Topeka, but perhaps because the cities were bigger. It would've been easier for Mannon and Kitty to blend into the crowds. Hopefully tomorrow the sheriff or someone in Lawrence would be able to offer some leads. Matt tried to get some much-needed sleep.

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"Marshal Dillon, it's been a long time," Sheriff Hanson greeted Matt with a hearty hand shake.

"Sheriff-this is my deputy, Festus Haggen," Matt introduced.

"Deputy," Sheriff Hanson nodded and shook Festus' hand.

"Jus' call me Festus, Sheriff."

"And I'm Bob. How can I help you gentlemen?" the sheriff stood tall.

"Well, Bob," Matt began, "We are on the hunt for Will Mannon."

"Will Mannon! My, God, man…Do you think he would be crazy enough to show himself here in Lawrence after what he did?! He and Quantrill, why they killed at least 150 men and boys, Marshal!" Sheriff Hanson bellowed, "They and their men were nothing but rapists and murderers! Why, they burned down half the town and stole everything they could carry."

"I'm well aware, Bob. It was a massacre. It's amazing Lawrence survived at all," Matt sympathetically sighed, "But, we need your help. We believe Mannon has a taken a woman against her will from Dodge City," Matt informed.

"God help her if he did," the sheriff blew out a deep breath, shaking his head. "He is brutal, Marshal. I'm sure she isn't getting a moment's rest. Poor thing…if she's even still alive."

Matt and Festus quickly exchanged a look. Festus offered, "Oh, I'm sure she's alive, Sheriff. This here woman's tough as nails. An' smart, too," he nodded.

"Well, what's her name and description, so I can have people around here on the lookout," Sheriff Hanson picked up a pencil, ready to take notes.

Matt swallowed hard, "Her name is Kitty Russell. She's about five feet, seven inches tall, has long red hair and is fair skinned."

Bob Hanson was leaning over his desk, waiting to write her name and description down. Once he heard the name "Kitty Russell", he froze. Everyone in Kansas knew about the relationship between the fearless marshal and lovely saloon keeper.

"Oh, Marshal Dillon…" the sheriff whispered, finally looking up, "I'm so sorry. I didn't realize…"

"No need to apologize. Festus and I are going to question some people around town. Our next stop is Kansas City. If you hear anything, anything at all, wire Doc Adams in Dodge. He and I are in touch regularly," Matt stated, shaking the sheriff's hand once more.

Festus shook the sheriff's hand and followed his desperate friend out the door. He lifted up a silent prayer that Miss Kitty and Mannon would be in Kansas City. He wasn't sure how much more the marshal could take.

TBC