The Contract

An ATC to Mannon

By

AZgirl66

Chapter 16-Nightmares and Realities

"Mama, I need to talk to you," said a tall, handsome boy, entering the farm house kitchen.

"What is it, Luke?" Kitty asked, as she stirred her stew with one hand and held a sweet, redheaded toddler on her hip. She couldn't help but smile at her eldest child. He was tall for his age and had a beautiful head of thick, dark, curly hair.

"Papa says I have to go with him to the Dakotas next week. Says I need to start helpin' him, learnin' his business. Mama, he's mean t' people. I don't wanna go with him. It embarrasses me," the sensitive, preteen boy looked at the ground, kicking the toe of his boot against nothing in particular on the wooden floor, his hands in his pockets.

"I'll talk to him, don't you worry, Luke. Here, take your sister and help her get cleaned up for supper," Kitty gingerly handed the animated moppet to her brother.

"You know what?" Kitty clapped her hands at the four other redheaded children playing in the sitting room, "time for all of you t' clean up for supper. Then I'd like Anna and Lillian to set the table. Henry, why don't you go help Tommy milk the cow? He still needs someone t' help him."

"Yes, Mama," came a chorus of little voices. Kitty smiled at her brood, but studied the serious face of her most beloved son. Matt Dillon must have looked exactly the same when he was twelve.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kitty awoke with a gasp, surveying her bedroom. She sat straight up and shook her head from side to side. What in the hell was that?! Six children! God, help me…One beautiful, dark-haired Dillon boy in a sea of redheaded little…Mannons. Kitty broke out in a sweat.

She glanced over at Mannon. There he was, soundly sleeping next to her, snoring away. She suppressed the urge to punch him in the face. Six children! Clearly, he'll never leave me be, she lamented.

Kitty took a deep breath and sipped from the water glass that had been on her side table. She reminded herself, Wait a minute, Kitty…it was just a dream. Yes, just a dream.

She laid back down and tried to go back to sleep. She was so uncomfortable. Her belly was huge and she now had heartburn after her crazy dream. No, not a dream-a nightmare. Can you imagine? Me continuing to have children with this…this…maniac?! What am I gonna do? She began to flop around, seeking a comfortable position.

"Red," Mannon growled.

"Yeah?" Kitty frustratingly responded.

"Quit yer floppin' 'round. Yer shakin' the whole bed. I need my sleep, woman. You know I'm leavin' town for a long while tomorrow," Mannon never opened his eyes, "Ya know I've got business t' do before this kid comes."

"You have no idea how uncomfortable I am right now. And I had the most awful nightmare," Kitty rolled her eyes and flopped down once more, her back to Mannon.

"What was so awful 'bout it?" Mannon asked, opening one bleary, blue eye, glancing at her back.

Kitty closed her eyes, debating on telling him about her nightmare. She decided on an abridged version, rolling onto her back, "I dreamed that we had six children! Six! That's just…just…"

"Six! Good Lord, Woman. I hope it's not a window to the future. Sheesh," Mannon smiled and rolled to face Kitty.

"You hope it's not a premonition! I can't imag-"

Mannon cut her off, "This just goes to show that ya can't keep yer hands offa me, Darlin'," Mannon laughed out loud, as he rubbed Kitty's stomach.

"Don't touch me," Kitty moved his hand, cringing, "it's God-awful hot for the last day of September."

Kitty rocked and wobbled her way to a sitting position; her light-blue cotton nightgown was twisted every which way around her body.

"I'm gonna get up, I guess," Kitty sighed.

Mannon's quick draw hand grabbed Kitty's wrist, "Well, since we're both up, you can gimme another goodbye present."

Kitty turned to look at Mannon, plastering a half smile on her face, "You already had your 'goodbye present' last night. Now kindly remove yer hand," she tried to pull away.

Without warning, Mannon's mood changed. He yanked back on Kitty's arm, making her fall backwards onto the mattress, with her calves dangling off the bed, towards the floor. She shouted, "Oww! Damn it, my arm! Ouch! What the hell is wrong wi-"

Mannon espoused the agility of a man half his age, as he sprung into the air and twisted his naked self to a standing position right between her legs. He leaned over her, pinning her arms above her head and seethed, "Clearly, I have let you say disrespectful things t' me far too often. It seems you have lost control of your mouth this mornin'."

Kitty struggled beneath him, but her large belly made it nearly impossible to stop Mannon from attempting to claim his spoils. He continued to talk as he reached for the hem of her nightgown, pushing her legs wider with his knees, "Now, don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy yer mouth…most of the time," he forced his mouth onto Kitty's lips and pried her mouth open with his savage tongue.

When she could finally pull away to catch a breath, Kitty gasped, "You…promised…said you…wouldn't…force…" she jerked her head from side to side.

Mannon placed his mouth upon the curve of her neck, nipping and licking. Tears streamed down Kitty's flushed cheeks.

Mannon came up for air, "And you said you'd be willing," he stared into her cloudy, tear-soaked eyes.

"Will, please," Kitty searched Mannon's face, hoping to appeal to any ounce of humanity he may have had remaining in his soul. She continued to cry, but she stopped trying to escape his grasp, "Please…It's hot, I'm tired…and uncomfortable…I'm begging you, please…don't…it hurts…" she let a loud sob escape her lips.

Mannon calmly absorbed her words and studied Kitty. He looked up to his left hand, which had a brutal hold on her wrists above her head. His eyes then focused on her swollen belly, with her nightgown bunched up just above her pubic bone. Lastly, he surveyed her pale legs, half hanging off the bed, trembling with fear.

Mannon released Kitty's wrists, and backed himself off of her and the bed. He stood tall, proudly displaying his erect manhood. He sinisterly smiled at the dishevled redhead and flatly said, "Hand or mouth. Lady's choice."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kitty Russell stormed down the boardwalk with a determined look on her face. Her eyes were narrowed, brows furrowed and her lips were tight and straight. Her arms were swinging back and forth and she was doing her darndest to not waddle, as she aimed herself towards the stairs to the doctor's office. The few citizens of Deep Ford that were in her path on the boardwalk parted to make way for the fiery redhead, as if she were Moses, parting the Red Sea.

Normally friendly, Kitty ignored the "Good morning, Mrs. Mannon"s and the "How do t'day, Mrs. Mannon"s, as she huffed to her destination. Kitty purposefully stopped abruptly, at the base of the stairs leading to Dr. Roseveare's office. She wasn't at all surprised when a tall, burly, bearded man slammed into her back.

Kitty slowly turned to confront her unkempt stalker. She chose her words carefully and spoke firmly, "Moose, you do not need to follow me every damn day! I've been here for months and haven't sent a letter or a telegram to a soul. I have not tried to board a stage or buy a horse and buggy. What do you possibly think I could do at this point? Look at me, Moose. I'm as big as a house!" Kitty blew out a long breath after her tirade, resting her hands on her hips.

Moose examined Kitty's face closely, while pulling his toothpick from his lips, "Ma'am," he spit out some tobacco juice onto the dusty street, "can I ask ya somethin'?"

Kitty sighed, crossing her arms on top of her belly, "Sure. What?"

"What…happened to yer face, Mrs. Mannon?" Moose asked quietly.

In her haste to get to the doctor's office, Kitty had forgotten that her lip was split, her right cheek was sporting a fresh bruise and her left eye was a nasty shade of purple, soon to be black. Seems Will Mannon hadn't liked a certain part of his anatomy being bitten.

Kitty straightened her spine, ran her hands over her belly to straighten her pale-yellow blouse, and truthfully answered, "Your boss is what happened to my face," Kitty then leaned over, whispering in Moose's ear, "that's right. The man you work for and worship hits women. I hope that makes you real proud." Kitty pulled her head back and stared blankly at Mannon's lackey. Wait, was that sympathy she saw in his eyes?

Kitty wiped a tear from her blackening eye and turned to face the staircase. Some of her fire was gone, as she slowly climbed her way up to see her friend. Her legs ached and she just wanted to sit down and let Ezra check on her baby.

Moose watched Kitty until she entered the doctor's outer office. He shook his head in dismay and walked across Main Street, mumbling to himself, "Just doin' m' job."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Ezra?" Kitty entered Dr. Roseveare's office, seemingly calm, "Ezra, are you here?" she wearily leaned her back against the door.

The doctor entered his outer office, wiping his hands on a towel. He smiled brightly once seeing his friend, "Kitty, I'm so hap-…" he quit speaking as soon as he saw her face. "What the hell, Kitty?" he approached her with his arms outstretched.

Kitty did her best to seem nonchalant, until she realized she didn't have the wherewithal to even stand up straight, "Ezra…I need…I need," she slowly began to sob.

"Oh, Kitty, Honey, there, there…" Dr. Roseveare embraced her, gently patting her back, "what on Earth?"

Kitty felt herself collapse into her friend's embrace and she whispered, "Please, I need you to check the baby…I'm scared."

Without another word, the doctor swooped Kitty up into his arms and carried her into the back room. Kitty tried to stop crying, but the tears kept flowing, "I can't…can't lose…this baby," she sniffled.

Dr. Roseveare placed her on the bed and asked, "Why do you think that? Are you bleeding? Do you have pain? Cramping?" he handed Kitty a handkerchief.

She blew her nose and replied, "I just have a horrible feeling. I can't explain it."

"Here, lay down, unbutton your blouse so I can examine you," her friend soothed as he helped her lie back, with her head propped up on some fluffy pillows.

Kitty hesitated to unbutton her blouse. She kept her eyes focused on something on the ceiling.

"Kitty?" the doctor glanced at her, waiting for her to say or do something.

She slowly met his kind, caring eyes and gingerly unbuttoned her blouse.

"I'm going to lift your chemise to check your belly, okay?" the doctor spoke softly. Kitty nodded and resumed her examination of the ceiling.

"Jesus, Kitty!"

"Shhh…please don't yell at me," Kitty pleaded, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Oh, Honey. I'm sorry, I wasn't yelling at you. I just can't believe my eyes," Dr. Roseveare ground his teeth as he took in the sight of an angry, red strap mark across Kitty's belly. He examined the wound, looking for cuts or seepage.

"I think this should heal okay over time, Honey. I've got some salve for you," the doctor stated. He noticed Kitty beginning to hyperventilate. In an effort to calm her he offered, "Let's listen for baby."

"O…kay," Kitty hiccupped and closed her eyes as the doctor placed the bell of his stethoscope against her swollen belly, avoiding the strap mark.

"There we go," Dr. Roseveare smiled, trying to reassure his friend, "here, put these in your ears," he handed Kitty the earpieces of the stethoscope while he held the bell in place. "That's the heartbeat of your perfectly healthy little one."

Kitty began to sniffle, tears trickling down her face, "Thank God! Oh, thank God…I was so scared…Will was crazy…I've never, ever seen him that angry. He just started hitting me and then he reached for his belt on the floor…I tried to roll away…" she then whispered, once again unable to meet the doctor's gaze, "he was rough, Ezra…he hurt me. I was so worried for my baby…I just let him…"

The caring physician wiped away Kitty's tears and cupped her cheek with his gentle palm, "I'll give you a thorough examination, don't you fret," Dr. Roseveare gently rubbed the tormented woman's arm, "Kitty, I don't understand. Why? Why do you stay?" he sat on the edge of the bed.

"He's been okay since we found out about the baby. I mean, he didn't hit me anymore or anything," Kitty blew out a deep breath before she continued, "Even as I say these words, I know it sounds crazy. I thought I'd made my choice and I honestly didn't care about me. But this little one," she gazed at her belly and lovingly caressed the child within, "I thought I could protect her and her papa, but…" Kitty suddenly stopped speaking.

"But what, Kitty?" Dr. Roseveare held her hands in his.

"I want you to help me. Please." Kitty pleaded, as she finally looked into her friend's dark, kind eyes.

"Anything. What do you want to do? Name it," the doctor asserted, lifting her hands to his chest. He helped her to sit in an upright position, and she began to button her blouse.

"What will happen if you take me to the Osage? What will become of me and my child? Could Will find us there? Would I bring danger to them?" Kitty's questions came spewing out, one after the other.

She continued, "I need to be somewhere I can deliver this child safely, where Mannon can't get to us. Somewhere he would hesitate to cause a stir."

TBC