The Contract

An ATC to Mannon

By

AZgirl66

Chapter 15- Truth, Lies, and Trudy June

A/N: Sorry to say that the site still isn't posting your reviews. I'm hoping they will pop up for you ro see today. Thanks so much. Keep the faith, Gunsmokers!

Will Mannon pulled his horse and buggy to an abrupt halt in front of the stairs leading to Dr. Roseveare's office, forcing Kitty to grab onto his arm to steady herself.

"Will, it's okay," she informed him, "No need to kill us gettin' here," Kitty's eyes were wide, as she rubbed her belly.

Mannon jumped from the buggy and quickly approached Kitty's side, "Here, let me help you," he raised his arms to assist her. Was he sweating?!

"Do you need me to carry you?" Mannon asked, genuinely concerned.

"No, Will. I can climb the stairs on my own," Kitty informed him.

What the hell is goin' on with him? she wondered.

"My, my! What a lovely couple we have here," a young woman dressed in cheap-looking saloon garb drawled, as she glared at the couple. "This must be the tramp I've heard sooo much about," she spat out, hands firmly planted on her hips as she stood on the dusty boardwalk.

"You shut yer damn mouth, Trudy June, or I'll shut it for ya," Mannon growled as he placed his arm around Kitty's waist in an attempt to help her up the stairs.

Kitty's mouth hung open while she was trying to figure out just who this woman could be and why she would give two hoots about who Kitty was.

"Ignore her, Red. C'mon," he urged Kitty up a couple of stairs before Trudy June opened her mouth again, this time loud enough that some townspeople turned to see what was happening.

"I have no doubt this tramp got pregnant on purpose! Isn't that so, Mrs. Mannon?!" Trudy June practically hissed at Kitty, leaning toward the redhead, her brow furrowed and her eyes just slits. She resembled a rattlesnake, ready to strike.

Kitty froze on the second stair from the ground, removing Mannon's hand from her waist. She turned so slowly to look at the maniacal woman, it almost seemed like Kitty wasn't moving.

Speaking quietly and slowly, Kitty patronized, "Listen…Trudy June, is it? I don't know what is wrong with you, or why you are so angry with me, but I'm warnin' ya now," Kitty leaned over the railing for emphasis, "close…your…mouth."

"OR WHAT?!" Trudy June shouted.

Feeling a slight twinge in her back, Kitty began to ascend the stairs, completely ignoring Trudy June.

Mannon didn't say a word, but he turned around to stare at the crazed woman, in her stained, green satin dress, a tear in one of the straps. Her brown hair was haphazardly piled atop her head and she appeared intoxicated. Mannon's narrowed, cold eyes warned of what may come if she didn't stop immediately.

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Kitty stripped down to just her underthings, as she waited patiently for Dr. Roseveare to examine her. She could hear the doctor asking Mannon to leave the office and return in about an hour or so. It sounded as if Mannon didn't want to leave.

This is crazy, Kitty thought, he's nearly human.

"Kitty," Dr. Roseveare entered the small, somewhat sterile room, "You said you had a couple of back twinges?" he inquired.

"Yes," Kitty nodded, her face serious.

"Well, let me check you over. I sent Mr. Mannon away for a bit. I'm hoping I can get a little background from you," the doctor pulled his chair close to the examining table.

"O k a y…" Kitty hesitantly stated, nervously tilting her head to one side.

"Kitty, I didn't ask you before. Is this your first pregnancy?" Dr. Roseveare kindly looked at Kitty, waiting patiently for her response.

She tentatively glanced at her folded hands, resting in her lap, atop a freshly laundered sheet. "No, Ezra, it's not. Does that matter?" she asked, not looking at her friend's concerned face.

"Maybe," he reached out to pat her hands, "If you've had miscarriages or stillbirths, I'd like to know."

"One miscarriage," Kitty spoke just above a whisper, "a very long time ago."

"How long ago and how far along were you?" Dr. Roseveare was now all business, hoping to prevent another tragedy for this lovely, kind woman.

"Close to fourteen years ago…I was about, umm," Kitty slightly tilted her head back, "thirteen weeks along, maybe a bit more," Kitty wiped a single tear from her flushed cheek.

"Well, I'm sorry you lost your baby, Kitty, but I am happy to know that you weren't nearly as far into your pregnancy as you are now. That's good news. Very good news," the doctor rose from his seat and grabbed his stethoscope. "Now, lie back and let me listen to both of your heartbeats."

With her spirits lifted, Kitty laid down and waited.

"You sound good…" Dr. Roseveare pulled down the sheet covering his patient, "Now for baby…may I?" Kitty nodded as he lifted her chemise, moving the stethoscope to several places on Kitty's swollen belly.

"Fantastic!" Dr. Roseveare pulled down Kitty's chemise and smiled brightly, "the baby has a nice, strong heart beat."

Kitty let out a long sigh. She hadn't realized she was holding her breath, "Thank goodness. The baby is really okay? What were those twinges, Ezra?"

"Could be many things. Have you tweaked your back? Slept funny? Moved something too heavy?" he questioned, running his fingers through his thick, dark hair.

Kitty placed her pointer finger to her chin and offered, "I honestly could answer 'yes' t' every single one of those things."

"Roll over onto your side. Let me check your back."

Kitty did as instructed, letting out a slight moan when the doctor pushed on a tender spot on her lower back.

"Yes, I do think it's muscular. Nothing to do with baby," he helped Kitty to lay flat on her back once again.

"That said, I'd like you to stay the night here, just to make sure," Dr. Roseveare advised, smiling brightly.

"I'll do anything for this child, you know that," Kitty blushed. He gently helped her to sit up so he could discuss another concern with his patient.

"That I do," Dr. Roseveare sat in his chair again, holding Kitty's hand in his, "We need to go over your due dates."

"Dates? Plural?" Kitty raised her eyebrows.

"Yes," he whispered as he rose to check his outer office. Dr. Roseveare went so far as to lock the door leading to the outside, so no one could enter without his knowledge.

He returned to Kitty's side and continued, "Yes, your 'dates'. Officially, as far as Mr. Mannon is concerned, you have three more months to go. By measurements, you have just a little over two months to go. And realistically, with your age and history, maybe a week less."

Kitty propped herself up on her elbows, ignoring the fact that her chemise was practically see-through.

"So, about two months, ya think?" she asked with happy tears in her big blue eyes.

"Yes, ma'am. By the middle to end of October you will be a mother," Dr. Roseveare gently brushed his smooth palm against Kitty's cheek.

"And Kitty," he whispered, "my offer still stands to take you away from Deep Ford. The Osage would welcome you, on my behalf."

"Oh, Ezra," Kitty struggled to sit up on her own, until the doctor lent her a hand, "I so appreciate that, I really do. But I'm a big girl, and I've made my choices. Please, please, don't be angry with me…or stop being my friend."

"Never, Kitty Mannon. I could never stop being your friend," Dr. Roseveare grinned, his eyes glistening.

Kitty leaned over, embracing Ezra Roseveare. She pulled back to stare into his dark eyes, "Okay. Now I need you to tell me about Trudy June."

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Kitty heard him clomping up the stairs to the doctor's office, singing one of those songs that made her sick to her stomach. She'd decided to greet Will Mannon sitting up in the bed, needing to discuss some serious topics with him.

Entering the outer office, Mannon belted out, "...it's bright sunny waters…(hiccup)…and hosts of dear faces…gaze fondly…(hiccup), oh, hell. These hiccups are killin' me! Kitty, Darlin'-"

Kitty was shocked to see an inebriated Mannon standing in the door frame between the outer office and her room, with a tray of food in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other.

"Well, hello. I guess I don't need to ask where you've been," Kitty said flatly.

"I won at poker at the Flamingo…that's a lie! I won BIG, Baby!" he placed the tray on the side table next to Kitty's bed. "Speakin' a babies…how's my baby?" Mannon used the whiskey bottle to point at Kitty's belly.

"The baby's just fine, Will. You on the other hand-" Kitty turned her face from his in disgust, crinkling her nose. She pulled her sheet up and tucked it under her armpits.

"I'm just fine! Looky here…I brought ya a roast beef sandwich, some pretzels and a hard- boiled egg," he said with pride, smiling like a school boy.

"Well, not the strangest supper I've had. I thank ya. I was gettin' pretty hungry," Kitty reached for the sandwich first.

"Where's the doc?" Mannon asked, as he glanced around the room.

"Emergency…out on a farm. Someone nearly cut his arm off," Kitty answered with her mouth half full, "I'm glad you're here. I need t' tell ya something the doctor said."

"I'm glad I'm here, too, Darlin'," Mannon snapped off his gun belt in one swift motion and began to unbutton his shirt. He couldn't be bothered to part with his whiskey bottle.

Kitty held up her hand towards him, "Hold on, fella. There can't be any of that tonight," she wriggled her finger at him.

"Says who?"' Mannon removed his shirt and tossed it to the floor.

"The doctor, that's who," Kitty rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to her sandwich. Maybe if I don't make eye contact, he'll stop…

Mannon plopped himself in the chair next to Kitty's bed, pulling off his boots. He propped his feet upon the bed and said soberly, "Talk to me, Red."

"Well," Kitty sighed, "First things first. Doc says this little bundle is gonna come early-somethin' about my age and history," she munched on a pretzel.

"History?" Mannon took a swig of whiskey.

"Lady business," she eyed him archly.

"'Nough said," Mannon stared at Kitty, "And…?"

"That's really all. I hurt my back somehow, so I need to be careful how I lay, can't pick anything up that's too heavy."

"Probably the way you were layin' under that tree this mornin'," Mannon suggested, placing his bottle on the floor.

"Oh! Ezra also said we should start gettin' ready now for when it comes. Cradle, diapers, clothes," Kitty reached for her hard-boiled egg.

"Ezra, huh?" Mannon furrowed his brows and narrowed his eyes. He suddenly stood and quick as a jack rabbit hopped under Kitty's covers with her.

Kitty gasped, "Will?! This is a doctor's office," she nearly choked on the egg.

"And I'm exhausted," he placed both hands behind is head, arms bent, and stared at the ceiling. He obnoxiously yawned to prove his point, releasing one, final hiccup.

"I can imagine all that poker playing wore ya plum out. Hey," Kitty snapped her fingers, as if she had just remembered to ask, "What's the story behind Trudy June? I asked the doc, he didn't have a clue."

Will continued to stare at the ceiling, "Trudy June is a whore from the Randy Rabbit. I sampled her a couple a times a year or so ago. She's in love with me. She's slightly…possessive."

"Uh huh," Kitty sighed, rolling her eyes, "that explains her diatribe toward me. But why haven't I seen her before now?"

Mannon rolled on his side to face Kitty, one arm under his head, one on her belly, "Because she's rarely out of the saloon. When I say she's a whore, I mean she sleeps all day and at night, she-"

"I know what a working girl does at night, Will. Thanks," Kitty drily interrupted, "She's an awfully angry, young woman."

"She claims I made her get rid a my baby," Mannon looked at Kitty's face.

"And did you?" Kitty lifted her eyebrows and looked him square in the eye. She tragically remembered how Cole had deceived her.

"I didn't make her do a damn thing. She said it was mine, but the timing was all wrong. I was in the Dakotas for months and she wasn't even showin' when I got back. Next thing I knew, word was she'd rooted it out."

"Like you wanted me to do," Kitty said softly, caressing her belly.

Mannon flopped back onto his back, "I didn't really want that. I'se jus' testin' ya. Figured if it was mine, ya wouldn't want it," he briefly glanced at Kitty's face.

Kitty couldn't look anywhere but her swollen belly. She whispered, "I don't know if I can ever explain it…but I want this child," she figured now was as good a time as any to lay it on thick- to try to explain to her rapist how she could love this child so dearly.

"I've always wanted to be a mother, but, well..." Kitty spoke so softly, Mannon could barely hear her, "...so when this happened…I thought I would hate it…" Make it good, Kitty. He cannot suspect for a second that you're lying.

Mannon sat up, seemingly stone-cold sober, "Well, I'm gonna head t' the house. Want t' sleep in my own bed. You comin' home t'morra?" he began to put his shirt back on.

"I should be," Kitty was surprised at Mannon's sudden desire to leave. She watched as he put his gun belt back on, as a thought occurred to her. Just ask, ol' gal.

"Will?"

"Yeah?"

"How come no one challenges you here? I mean, no one calls you out, or ever gives you any trouble," Kitty honestly wanted to know. You even have a few friends here, she thought.

"Cause they aren't stupid… and cause I take care a them. You see any robberies or thievery 'round Deep Ford, Miss Kitty?" Mannon asked, tilting his head toward the window, "I'm what they call a 'peace keeper'. You're immune t' harm here, as well. So long as I say so."

Well, Kitty Russell had some answers. Trudy June was a crazy, jealous whore and Will Mannon was the man in charge of Deep Ford. Wonderful. Just wonderful.

TBC