The Contract

An ATC to Mannon

By

AZgirl66

Chapter 20-Moment of Truth (2)

Matt strode onto the porch and found Festus sitting on a rocking chair, waiting patiently for the doctor. He had a knife in one hand and a stick in the other, mindlessly whittling while whistling an unfamiliar tune.

"How's Miz Kitty, Matthew?" Festus looked up at his friend.

Matt's one hand was deep in his pant pocket, the other holding a wooden bucket. He answered, "She's okay, Festus. A little scared. The pains don't seem as bad since I got 'er t' lay in the bed," he finally made eye contact with the hill man.

"Did she say anythin' 'bout how she got plum all the way out here? Where Mannon done snatched 'er?" Festus scratched his temple with one finger.

"No, no she hasn't. And I haven't pushed her. She'll hold my hand, she cries a little, and breathes heavy when the pains come," Matt softly responded, "I'd best get s'more water from the well."

"Matthew, you g'head an' skedaddle back in there with Miz Kitty. I'll get the water an' leave it outside the bedroom fer ya," Festus stood and took the bucket from Matt.

Matt squeezed his friend's shoulder in gratitude and reentered the house, praying that the doctor would show up soon.

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Kitty stared at Matt when he solemnly reentered the softly lit bedroom. He left the door open, so the heat from the fireplace could keep the chill out of the little bedroom. He glanced around the room, thinking that it looked much like any farmhouse bedroom-dresser, rocking chair, clock, what appeared to be a make-shift vanity, and of course, a bed. Their bed.

"Matt," Kitty tried to smile, as she wiped a few wayward curls off her forehead.

"Hey, Honey. How ya doin'?" Matt did his best to dismisss his thoughts of Mannon with Kitty in this room. He sat next to her on the bed and enveloped one of her small hands within his big ones. His kind, blue eyes searched her deep pools of blue for answers.

"Matt, I've done some horrible things-" Kitty began, trying to figure out how to explain what had happened over the last nine months.

"Kitty, stop right there," Matt cut her off, "you've done nothing wrong. You were taken from Garden City after you left town. Festus and I figured that much out," he stopped, hoping she would continue the story.

"What else do you think you know?" Kitty focused her eyes on their entwined fingers.

The phrasing of the question gave Matt pause and all he seemed to be able to hear was the loud ticking of the clock, ringing in his ears. He took a breath and boldly stated, "I know Mannon raped you in the Long Branch the day before you left town," he lifted her chin so their eyes would meet.

Kitty looked horrified and her eyes blurred with tears, "How…how…did you know?" Her face crumpled as she squeezed Matt's hand to help her fight a contraction. Once the pain passed, Kitty asked, "Doc?"

"No. Sue," Matt calmly answered. He then softly stroked her flushed cheek with the back of his fingers, "Why would you want to hide this from me, Honey? It doesn't make me love you any less."

"Oh, Matt," Kitty nearly choked on her tears, "Look at me! Look around! Look what I've done!" She tightly closed her eyes and lowered her head, tears spotting her nightgown. She rubbed her hands over her belly, not knowing what else to do.

"Sweetheart, are you talking about the baby? Oh, Kitty, it's okay," Matt tried to hug her, but she lightly pushed him away.

"No!" she cried, "You can't just say it's okay! You don't know the things I've done! Horrible, dirty things…things I agreed to do…things I let him do…I don't know how you can even look at me," Kitty let go of Matt's hand, lifted her arms and grabbed the iron spindles of the headboard. She gritted her teeth and let out a deep groan, concentrating on the pattern of the quilt.

Once the pain passed, Matt said sternly, "That's enough Kitty Russell, do you hear me?! You can't tell me how to feel."

Kitty's breathing slowed and she steadied her nerves. She stared at Matt with fire in her eyes, hands still holding the spindles behind her, "Oh, really, Matthew Dillon?! So how do you feel, knowing Will Mannon has bedded me for the last nine months, and I Let. It. Happen. I let him do whatever he wanted," she studied his face, waiting for his reaction.

Matt took a deep breath and stood next to the bed, his hands on his hips, "I don't know why you are talking this way, but no matter what you did, no matter what you say, know this-I searched high and low for you Kathleen Russell, because I love you," he sat on the side of the bed again, holding Kitty's face between both hands, "I will always love you, no matter what. Do you understand that?" Matt searched Kitty's eyes to make sure that she understood.

Kitty pulled away a slight bit, covered her face with her hands, and wept. She truly believed Matt didn't care what she'd done with Will Mannon, but he still didn't know the whole truth. Matt Dillon still did not know that she agreed to go with Mannon for the sole purpose of protecting Matt's life. But Kitty knew she had to tell her story, and quickly, as her pains were coming faster.

"Matthew!" Festus bellowed through the sitting room, "The doc's here! I see his horse a comin'."

Matt stood quickly, smiling, "Did ya hear that, Honey?! The doc's here! Help is here, Kitty. Help is here."

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Dr. Ezra Roseveare breathlessly entered the bedroom with a big smile on his face, "Kitty, Honey! Albert found me…I'm here, don't you fret." He rolled up the sleeves of his slightly bloody buckskin shirt, not acknowledging Matt on the other side of the bed, "How are you feeling?"

Kitty tried to muster a smile for her dear friend, "I feel awful. I'm so tired and these contractions-" Kitty's mouth opened wide, but no sound came out as she grimaced, battling yet another pain, "are so…close together."

"That means Baby is almost here. I'm gonna wash my hands real quick," just then Ezra nodded toward Matt.

"Sir," Ezra began, "I thank you for coming to Kitty's aid, but I'm here now, so if you would please wait outside."

"Listen, I don't know who you think you are, but I'm not goin' anywhere," Matt informed the oddly-garbed doctor, placing his hands on his hips.

"I happen to be Kitty's husband, as well as her physician, so I have every right to ask you-"

"Her WHAT?!" Matt shook his head in disbelief, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.

"Ezra! Matt, wait!" Kitty shouted, narrowing her eyes, as she grabbed the headboard spindles and tightly closed her eyes, grunting deeply.

Matt stared at his woman and furrowed his brows, wondering what the hell was happening.

"Out!" Ezra commanded, then softening a bit, "Please, sir. Kitty is ready to have her baby and I need to check her."

Matt solemnly left the room, not knowing what to think. He was absolutely flummoxed. First the Mrs. Mannon comments, then the Indian medicine man, who spoke perfect English- claimed to be her husband, of all things. After the baby was born, he and Kitty would have to have a long talk. Oh, my…after the baby is born. Kitty's gonna be a mama here very soon.

Matt met Festus on the porch and the two men just stared at each other, neither one moving, neither one talking. Finally, Matt grunted as he lowered his tall body onto the top step, asking, "Whad'ya do with Mannon's body?"

"I had ol' Ruth drag him inta the trees over yonder," Festus pointed to the general area, "an' I buryed 'im. But not too deep…I'se hopin' some animals have 'im fer a midnight snack."

Matt put his elbows on his knees and bowed his head, rubbing his temples with his pointer fingers.

"Matthew?" Festus whispered.

"Yeah?" Matt kept rubbing his temples. He couldn't bring himself to look up.

"Whad'ya gonna do?" Festus descended the few stairs and stood in front of Matt, waiting patiently for his friend to collect his thoughts.

Matt inhaled deeply and finally looked at his loyal deputy, "Oh, Festus, I am so…so… scared right now."

Festus sat next to Matt on the stairs and waited a moment before asking, "Scared? Is Miz Kitty okay in thayre?"

"Physically, I think so. What I mean is, I don't know what she'll want t' do. Now that…" Matt couldn't finish his sentence. The words couldn't come out.

"Now that she's havin' Mannon's youngin'? Think she'll want t' keep it, Matthew?"

"Just wait, Festus. There's more. The doctor in there said he's her husband," Matt said flatly, wiggling his thumb behind his head, pointing it towards the front door. His eyes were wide and his lips taut.

"What?" Festus stood quickly and faced Matt.

"That's what he said when he came in the bedroom," Matt stood and walked back onto the porch, running his hands through his hair. He winced when he heard Kitty's cries and moans escape the confines of the house.

"An' that Moose fella kep' on sayin' 'Mrs. Mannon'," Festus followed Matt up the steps.

"I know," Matt whispered, "What the hell went on here?"

Both men quietly paced the length of the porch, seemingly for hours. They passed each other periodically, hands behind their backs. Finally, they heard Kitty grunt primally, followed by the sound of silence. Matt and Festus froze, waiting for the tell-tale sound, signaling that Kitty's labor was finished. The quiet of the early dawn was broken with the soft cry of an infant. Kitty Russell was a mama.

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Ezra Roseveare entered the sitting room, cleaning his hands with a damp cloth. He smiled brightly as he tiredly announced, "Mother and baby are well," he paused, looking into Matt's face, "I'm Ezra Roseveare," he held out his hand for Matt to shake.

Matt quickly took the hand that was offered, shaking it he said, "Matt Dillon."

Ezra pursed his lips together and nodded his head. He admitted, "It took me a little while to figure out who you were. About earlier, I-"

Matt interrupted, "No need to apologize. You were just worried about Kitty," he lifted his eyebrows, "She's okay, isn't she?"

"Oh, yes. She's exhausted, but well," Ezra smiled, turning his head to gaze at the closed bedroom door.

Matt stuffed his hands into his pockets and shyly asked, "The child?"

"Perfect. A little small, but perfect." The doctor motioned with his hand toward the bedroom door, "She's about finished feeding the baby. Kitty wants to see you."

Matt took one large step toward the bedroom door before Ezra stopped him, grabbing the lawman's forearm, "Just remember, Marshal-every single thing Kitty did, was for you. And then when she found out about the child…" his voice trailed off.

Matt nodded, letting Ezra know he truly believed him. He quickly turned and gently knocked on the door, "Kitty?"

"Come in, Matt," Kitty said softly, never taking her eyes off the precious bundle in her arms.

As Matt gazed at the scene before him, he could hardly breathe. There sat his beloved Kitty, her back propped up against the iron headboard, supported by several white, fluffy pillows. Her head was slightly tilted down, her eyes absolutely glued to the tiny baby, swaddled in a small, white blanket.

The early morning light streamed through the window, making Kitty's red hair glow like blazing copper. Matt felt absolutely paralyzed. He'd also seemed to have lost his ability to speak.

Kitty looked at Matt and smiled radiantly, "Come 'ere, Cowboy," reaching her hand out to bring him closer. He grasped her hand tightly and took a deep breath before stepping over to look at the babe. Tears came to Matt's eyes as he gazed into the face of the absolute angel Kitty held in her arms.

"Kitty…" Matt could barely speak, "what a beautiful baby," he pushed the blanket away from the child's face to get a better look. He had to remind himself to inhale and exhale. "Boy or girl?" Matt asked, barely above a whisper.

The new mother beamed, "It's a girl!" Kitty now had tears streaming down her cheeks. She wiped them away with the back of her hand and gently laid the slumbering infant next to her on the bed. She patted the top of the quilt on the other side of the baby, "Sit here, Matt. Let's fully examine this little one."

Kitty slowly unwrapped the baby from her white, fluffy cocoon and grabbed the newborn's tiny hands. The baby didn't open her eyes, but she grabbed onto both of Kitty's thumbs. Kitty gasped, grinning up at her handsome cowboy.

"Did ya see that?" the awestruck mother excitedly asked, her beautiful, blue eyes wide with wonder.

"I sure did," Matt answered, reaching out his enormous hand to lightly caress the child's tiny patch of light-red hair. There seemed to be a hint of curl to the downy tufts.

Kitty continued, "Let's take a look at you, Sweetheart. Ten fingers, ten toes, two arms, two legs…"

"She's perfect, Honey," Matt drank from Kitty's glistening pools of blue, "she's just so tiny, by golly."

"She's a little, early…" Kitty sighed.

"Whatcha gonna call 'er?" Matt continued to be mesmerized by the baby, while Kitty re-swaddled her.

Kitty paused for a moment, "What do you think of Adelaide? I once knew a lady in New Orleans by that name. She was so sophisticated, smart and kind," she lifted the little one to her shoulder, patting her back.

"I like it, Honey, but that sure is a long name for such a tiny girl," Matt smiled and gently rubbed Kitty's thigh.

"We can call her Addie," Kitty yawned.

"Addie it is," Matt confirmed. "I'm gonna let you get some sleep," he rose from the bed, giving a slight groan.

"Oh, no ya don't," Kitty admonished, grabbing at Matt's blue sleeve, "we've been apart for nine months. I'm not…" Kitty yawned again, "letting you outta my sight, Marshal."

"Honey, you need t' sleep. C'mon now," Matt tried to pull away.

With all the strength Kitty could muster, she placed one hand behind Matt's neck and pulled his face down toward hers, "I promise I will sleep, but ONLY…only if you strip down and get under the covers with me."

"How can I refuse such a beautiful, new mother her wish?" Matt smiled, stripping down to his union suit in what seemed like record time. He pulled the window shade down all the way and climbed into the vacant side of the bed, letting out a large sigh. He let his tired mind visit the darkness. He wondered if this was where Mannon had slept with his Kitty. If this is where he'd hurt her.

Kitty gingerly placed Addie in between her and Matt. She winced a bit and situated herself on her side, staring at the two people she loved most in the world. She leaned over and kissed Addie's forehead, "Mama loves you, sweet girl." Addie made a tiny, mewling sound and scrunched her face, continuing her slumber.

Matt rolled to his side and reached for Kitty's hand. Their entwined fingers gently rested just below the baby's legs.

"I love you, Kitty Russell," Matt whispered. He wondered if Kitty's last name was still really Russell. Recent evidence had shown it could be either Mannon or Roseveare. They needed to talk, but first they both needed to sleep.

"I…love…you, too…Cow…boy," were Kitty's last words before she drifted off to sleep.

Matt stared at the baby. He couldn't help but smile at the sweetness of her face. Her nose was all Kitty, her perfect little peach-colored lips, too. The big man leaned over and softly kissed Addie's tiny, pink cheek.

"I love you, too, Addie," Matt sighed, "no matter what, I love you."

TBC